Religion

Today, in 2489, Religion has a strong influence on Ikaanian society. Over 40% of all Ikaanians belong to the official state religion, The Church of the Two Moons, and a majority of them claim to be genuinely devoted to the preachings of the moon priests. People living in Ikaanos have religious freedom, however, and there are many smaller cults that have either been imported from Earth or risen from the ashes of The Great Chaos.

The MC starts as an Atheist, but can choose to convert to any religion later in-game. By increasing his Devotion through religious actions he'll gain benefits depending on which religion he belongs to.

The MC will have Manipulation and Charm bonuses when dealing with NPCs of the same Religion, if his own Devotion is high enough (see below for details). He will also experience Manipulation and Charm penalties when dealing with NPCs of certain other Religions, depending on his own (e.g. -25 if the MC is Aesir and the NPC is CTM); see below for details.

The MC can also attempt to convert NPCs under his influence to his own Religion; see Conversion for more details. There may be benefits to the MC for NPCs in his employ being of certain religions (e.g. the combat damage bonus for Aesir); many Religion penalties and bonuses apply to NPCs as well as to the MC.

Beliefs

• CTM: 41%
• Atheism: 25%
• Christianity: 10%
• Cult of The Elder: 8%
• Brotherhood of Ryzan: 6%
• Hinduism: 4%
• Asatru: 3%
• Islam: 2%
• Other: 1%

Wife limits

While polygamy is legal in the state of Ikaanos, some religions have their own rules regarding the maximum allowed number of wives a man can take. Marrying more than is allowed by your religion adds a -100/day Influence loss per wife. There's also a small risk (5%) to lose one Standing point with that religion, down to a minimum of 50.

Atheism

Atheism is the belief in Science. There are no intelligent beings controlling the Universe - everything follows a strict rule-set that eventually can be deduced if given enough scientific focus.

Wife limit: None.

Devotion effects

• Devotion 0-99: No effects
• Devotion 100+: There's a 10% chance to increase Willpower one point per day, up to a maximum of 100.

How to increase Devotion

• By lecturing at Whitehaven Academy (40% chance per held lesson).
• By maintaining a Science skill of 75+ (3% chance per day).

Enemy religion effects

None.

Church of the Two Moons (CTM)

With their gleaming Cathedral towers in Emerald City's Crystal Hills almost 300 feet tall, it's not hard to realize that the Moon Priests wield absolute power over the religious world of Ikaanos. They are devout advocates for slavery and the Mayorship of Ikaanos, immensely aiding the ruling body of The Republic by holding the unruly masses far away from rebellious thoughts. The Moon Priests do this with fiery preachings that speak of the importance of a united front against the Davidian houses of New Eden, and the need to stand strong against forbidden cults roaming outside the city.

Wife limit: One.

Beliefs

The CTM is rooted in the archaic Hebrew scriptures from Earth, with strong influences from the Vedas and the Mahabharata. They preach about how the thousand headed All-God sent humans to Raana with the mission to restart "the great race of the arch" (archs being planets). They say that the All-God destroyed Earth after humans tried to be gods themselves by extending their lives and acting in "unreligious ways". CTM was founded as an obscure cult in Pre-Severance Ikaanos (ca 2260).

The formal leader of CTM is The High Priest, a title currently held by Joseph Swanson.

Read more here.

Devotion effects

CTM is primarily a city-state religion that gives social and economic benefits.

• Devotion 0-24: No effects
• Devotion 25-49: +2 Influence/day.
• Devotion 50-99: +5 Influence/day, -$5 tax.
• Devotion 100+: +15 Influence/day, No house tax.

How to increase Devotion

• By praying at the cathedral.
• By giving donations at the cathedral.
• By building a home temple.
• By praying at a home temple.

Enemy religion effects

• -25 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to The Cult of The Elder.
• -25 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to Christianity.
• -25 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that are Muslims.

NPC effects

• Devotion 60+: +50% Influence when working as a Herald.

Asatru (Æsir)

Ásatrú is faith in the old Norse (Germanic, Scandinavian, Icelandic) gods who are collectively known as the Æsir - a polytheistic paganism also referred to as "Heathenry". Most Aesir worshipers congregate in small shrines in backwater hamlets outside Ikaanos. The Grand Temple of Odin in Watery Eyes is an exception, gathering roughly 500 devout Scandi warriors that make more than enough noise to let the people of Ikaanos know that The Old Gods are still very much alive.

Wife limit: Five.

Beliefs

More information here.

Devotion effects

The Aesir religion follows the old ways - devotion to the Gods will bring happiness to your family and fighting for the glory of Odin and Thor provides the warrior with a place next to the gods, should he vanquish in combat.

• Devotion 0-24: No effects
• Devotion 25-49: +5 combat damage. -2 Influence/day. +5 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.
• Devotion 50-99: +8 combat damage. -5 Influence per day. +10 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.
• Devotion 100+: +11 combat damage. -15 Influence per day. +25 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.

How to increase Devotion

• By praying at the grand temple of Odin (Warrior's Hall).
• By giving donations to the grand temple of Odin (Warrior's Hall).
• By investing in the Fälth brother's business.
• By praying at a home shrine.
• By giving captured slaves to the high priests of Odin (Warrior's Hall).

Other religion effects

• -15 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to the Christian faith.
• -15 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that are Muslims.

NPC effects

• Devotion 60+: +3 combat damage.

Christianity

Christianity, dominated by the Catholic church, spread to Raana during the final two decades before The Severance. Today's Christians have kept their religion relatively intact, praying for centuries in cellar shrines and faraway churches in the countryside. Catholicism is still the most abundant of the Christian sects on Raana, so their magnificent cathedral, The Church of the Holy Virgin in Ikaanos' Westside Heights, acts as the HQ of the Republic's Christian faction.

Christianity battled The Church of The Two Moons during the mid-24th century - leading to the Holy Saint's massacre of 2355. While the two religions try to officially co-exist today, raging hostility remains underneath the surface.

Wife limit: One.

Devotion effects (MC)

Christians are known for keeping themselves mentally and physically fit. They are also a very tightly knit community.

• Devotion 0-24: No effects
• Devotion 25-49: +3 Stamina points per day. +15 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.
• Devotion 50-99: +5 Stamina points per day. +25 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.
• Devotion 100+: +8 Stamina points per day. +40 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.

How to increase Devotion

• By praying at a home shrine.
• By giving donations to orphanages (082).
• By building a home shrine.

Enemy religion effects

• -15 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to The Church of The Two Moons.

Slave/Wife effects

• Christian slaves have a 10% chance to decrease Corruption with one point per day if they don't have the Nymphomaniac or Perverted trait.
• You receive a Christian slave's Devotion as a chance penalty during bondage sessions - if it's above 39.

NPC effects

• NPCs automatically increase their Devotion with one point (20% chance) if City Corruption is 75+, their Corruption is below 30 and if their WILLPOWER is 20+.

The Cult of The Elder

"The Cult of The Elder" or "The Cult of the Old Ones" are both contemptuous words given by Ikaanians to the religious beliefs of the first-wavers of the Kingdom of David. The Davidians call their faith "Raana worship" or "The faith of the All-Seeing Eye". Possibly founded at Sentinel Hill in Ikaanos City, the center of the faith has moved to New Eden.

Wife limit: Two.

Beliefs

Those belonging to the Cult of The Elder believe Raana is a sentient and highly intelligent being that evolved after a large meteorite containing the seeds of life crashed into the arid planet of Raana billions of years ago. Aboard that meteorite was the being called "The Eye", whose main body now dwells in the inner core of Raana, with tendrils connecting to every living thing on the surface.

Devotion effects

Elder cultists are known for their relaxed attitude toward Raana's unforgiving nature.

• Devotion 0-24: No Stamina drain (storms/heatwaves).
• Devotion 25-49: No Stamina drain (storms/heatwaves). +5 to all Survival rolls (Hunting, Fishing, Scavenging).
• Devotion 50-99: No Stamina drain (storms/heatwaves). +15 to all Survival rolls. +10 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.
• Devotion 100+: No Stamina drain (storms/heatwaves). +1 Stamina point while walking through an outskirts district. +25 or 30 to Survival rolls. +25 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers.

How to increase Devotion

• By praying at a home shrine.
• By building a home shrine.
• By praying in the wilds (special action in "Investigate Area" section).
• By praying at Sentinel Hill in Raven Woods (+5, once per day, takes an hour, also gives +5 Stamina).
• By praying at Tancred's Stone near Preacher's Pond (+5, once per day, takes half an hour).

Enemy religion effects

• -25 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to The Church of The Two Moons.

NPC effects

• Devotion 60+: +20% yield when assigned as Scavengers.

Islam

The muslim faith on Raana came mostly through the quantum gates during the mid 23rd century after The Caliphate declared a universe-spanning Dawah. The mission on Raana was relatively successful but only a couple of thousands muslims remain in Ikaanos today, as most of their kind settled on Gandaria, a continent that lost all communications with Irendoria several centuries ago. Those in the Ikaanos City are lucky enough to have on their doorstep the Caliphate's Raana HQ, the beautiful Great Mosque of Ikaanos, in the Procoms district.

Wife limit: Four.

Devotion effects

The Muslims in Ikaanos are known for their tightly knit community and resourcefulness. They have a very traditional view on male-female relationships and it's considered a sacred gesture to devote oneself to the head of a household. Hassan Al-dāhiya, a powerful merchant from the dark ages, established a muslim-only trade network that still operates today.

• Devotion 0-24: No effects
• Devotion 25-49: +5/25 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers (male/female).
• Devotion 50-99: +5-7% revenue from most Investments. +10/50 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers (male/female).
• Devotion 100+: +8-12% revenue from most Investments. +25/100 Persuasion/Charm bonus with other followers (male/female) if the follower's WILLPOWER is below 20.

How to increase Devotion

• By praying at a home masjid.
• By building a masjid.
• By praying at the holy mosque in Procoms (0.8.6+).

Enemy religion effects

• -25 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that belong to The Church of The Two Moons.
• -15 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that are Atheists.
• -15 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs that are Aesir worshipers.
• -20 chance penalty when charming/manipulating slaves and NPCs belonging to The Cult of The Elder.

Unique effects

• A Muslim MC NOT praying five times per day will lower his Devotion with five points, down to a minimum of 70.

NPC effects

• Muslim slaves have a 10% chance to decrease Corruption with one point per day if they don't have the Nymphomaniac or Perverted trait.
• Devotion 60+: +10 Accountant skill.

Other cults and religions

• Brotherhood of Ryzan: 75,000
• Hinduism: 50,000
• Buddhism: 2,000 members.
• The order of the Red Tide: 2,000 members.
• Judaism: 1,000 members.
• The Yellow Queen: 800 members.
• The Golden Dawn: 250 members.
• The Dagosa Cult: A few hundred members.
• Hermes Mysteris: 250 members.
• Hellenism: 300 members.
• The Group of Hope: a few hundred members.