Malik (the Slythan prophet) and the Emperor each get a message. The message is to start producing and distributing two different books. The first is called 'Yaos: God of Humans'. The second is called 'Yaos: God of Ambition', but I'll get to that in another post.
The first book ('Yaos: God of Humans') is distributed to humans. The first chapter teaches that Yaos is god of all humans, without exception, regardless of whether they pray to him or not. That is all. It is a very short chapter.
The second chapter describes the reincarnation system whereby those who do not follow Yaos spend eternity living through different lives - some good, some bad. In practicality, the reincarnation system is described as useless because the reincarnates do not accumulate rewards, skills, memories, or anything and simply continue from life to life in such a way that there is no practical difference between having and not having a reincarnation system. The subtext is that it is a boring system that souls are made to suffer for all eternity.
It follows on that by describing the Human Plane, where those who worship Yaos as their primary god go. The Human Plane is described as a place where the soul remembers their mortal life. Those who enter the Human Plane become immortal, though never get bored, and are always at least content. Aside from Yaos having to be their primary god to enter, they also have to worship him well. You can't get into the Human Plane simply by neglecting to worship all other gods entirely and then paying lip service to Yaos - it has to be a true and meaningful worship.
The third chapter has to do with worship. Worshipping Yaos by praying, sacrificing animals or possessions (they must belong to the person doing the sacrificing), doing deeds in his name, and other forms of worship bestow tangible rewards on the worshipper.
When making wishes upon Yaos they are more likely to come true and in the way the wisher thought of them. Giving money to the poor and doing other good deeds both increases mortal life span without making it any more boring or tedious to live through and increases the happiness obtained when entering the Human Plane, repeating that the happiness does not wane with time.
There is, however, one specific sin that a human can commit which will result in Yaos taking away lifespan - Heresy.
The fourth chapter has to do with Heresy. Heresy is not described as worshipping other gods or worshipping gods that Yaos does not like. Heresy is described as betraying humanity.
Killing another human without good cause is Heresy.
Converting another human to heresy or getting other humans to commit heretical acts is Heresy.
To allow yourself to be eaten or harmed is NOT heresy, but having other humans to suffer the same IS Heresy.
Sacrificing humans to Yaos is Heresy.
Those who commit Heresy are Heretics.
Heretics may not enter the Human Plane even if they worship Yaos in a true and meaningful way.
There is, however, a way for those who have committed heresy to enter the Human Plane - redemption.
The fifth chapter has to do with redemption after committing heretical acts. Redemption from heretical acts is rather straightforward. Stop committing heretical acts, worship Yaos, do good things, etc.
One of the BEST ways of attaining redemption is by preventing Heresy from spreading, preventing Heretical acts from being undertaken, and convincing Heretics to seek redemption themselves. Helping those Heretics attain redemption is a small form of redemption, but it's best combined with more standard forms of redemption for maximum effect.
The sixth and final chapter is a short sum-up of the previous five chapters. It also tells readers to spread the word of Yaos and gives a few rhetorical lines about goodness and thank-you for reading and blah blah blah.
The book ends with the official tagline of the Empire: Glory to Yaos. HAIL HUMANITY.
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Topic: Tick 111: SGame Over (not the epilogue) (Read 648958 times)