Gold is an exceedingly malleable material. With the right application of force, one can always get the desired results.—Midas, The Transcendence of Wealth
Midianism (pronounced MIH-dee-an-ism) is a philosophy and secular mystery cult prevalent mostly within the Kingdom of Eretrebus.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Acquire wealth, maintain cleanliness, give offerings to the Bank-Temples, follow Midas' teachings
- Anathema
- Share secrets of the Midianites' practices and rites, break the law, give away wealth
History
The name Midianism originated as an homage to Midas, the Eretreban noble whose collected writings shaped the philosophy of the faith. Born in Y8996*, Midas had a reputation in his early life as a somewhat idiosyncratic individual. Following in the footsteps of his family, he was a moderately successful merchant, even if he attracted some notoriety for his alchemical experimentation. Despite his wealth, Midas spent most of his life within his estate on Mount Kedros. In his early adulthood, after an extended years-long period of seclusion on his estate, Midas returned to Eretreban high society with the miraculous ability to magically transmute touched objects to gold.
For the next few years, Midas enjoyed a position of almost absurd wealth. However, it did not take long before he slowly began to retreat back to his seclusion, eventually refusing almost all visitors and isolating himself on Mount Kedros. When a curious family member attempted to locate Midas in Y9040*, they reportedly found him deceased in his overground manor, apparently for years at that point.
After his death, Midas' reputation became that of a clever alchemist, eventually turning into more of a slowly waning Eretreban legend. Almost one hundred years later, in Y9133*, a collection of writings purportedly by Midas was published by an unknown benefactor in Iareios. A remarkably brief volume, this book contained letters and short musings in which Midas explained his philosophies, beliefs, and understanding of magic. The Transcendence of Wealth, as the book was titled, was initially regarded by most as only a curiosity, a collection of notes on matters of trade and lifestyle. A small circle of Eretreban merchants, however, saw something more in Midas' writings - they saw hints and clues in how to achieve a form of immortality.
One of the last letters in The Transcendence of Wealth, addressed to an unnamed recipient, obliquely mentions a method of using vast amounts of riches to preserve the body and soul after death. The initial Midianites, as they came to call themselves, seized upon this fragment of information and believed they could complete Midas' notes. Though they initially attempted to maintain secrecy, they were unable to contain the news when one of their members, Adrastus, determined the missing steps and underwent the process himself, preserving his body with molten gold and casting his soul into a personal demiplane.
With their activities surfaced to the broader world, many of the wealthy on Eretrebus flocked to the new philosophy. While they faced significant resistance from traditional religious institutions and figures, the Midianites grew rapidly. Through a set of events known as the Midian Transformation, by Y9200* Midianites were influential and powerful enough that effectively all of Eretrebus was at their command, at least indirectly. The monarchy of Eretrebus had become vestigial, with the newly established position of Grand Treasurer functionally controlling the kingdom.
Tenets
Above all else, Midianites prioritize wealth accumulation as the foremost tenet of their philosophy. Becoming wealthy, or further increasing one's existing wealth, is seen as the most righteous achievement in life. Methods of coming into possession of riches in ways that counteract their other tenets, however, are seen as far worse than having the status of a pauper.
A true Midianite follows Midas' teachings closely, as they do with all laws. Both excessively good and evil deeds are viewed with distaste by Midianites.
Midianites highly prioritize personal cleanliness and bathe regularly. This belief has contributed to the development of central plumbing in many cities in Eretrebus.
Midianism is a secular cult - as long as one follows its tenets, worship of any, all, or no gods is permitted. Some Midianites follow Khalkeus, and others venerate Rhadamanthus or deities more broadly popular on the island kingdom. Many Midianites, however, do not profess any faith. For centuries, atheism has not only been tolerated but officially sanctioned by the Grand Treasurers.
As a mystery cult, prospective Midianites must be approved then inducted into the faith by the Tellers. Though knowledge of their greatest ritual has long since escaped into the world, Midianites continue to maintain great secrecy for the details of its process and their other rites. Most who are inducted into the Midianites are already at least somewhat affluent.
Followers
The vast majority of Midianites are wealthy figures in Eretreban society - the philosophy has seen little adoption by the lower classes, or by those living outside Eretrebus.
Midianism has a rigid hierarchy, with the Grand Treasurer seen as the foremost authority on the philosophy and arbiter of the meanings of Midas' writings. The Grand Treasurer also serves a role in Eretreban government. While officially only in charge of the kingdom's finances, in practice the Grand Treasurer has the ability to direct all aspects of the island's governance. Legends hold that some prior Grand Treasurers have had the same supernatural ability possessed by Midas, able to turn objects to gold with a simple touch.
The Tellers, experts in divination and administrators of the Bank-Temples, occupy another important position to Midianites. Tellers are frequently consulted to foresee the best course of action in regards to trade deals and other matters of wealth accumulation. Those that seek their services are strongly encouraged to make generous donations to the Bank-Temples in return. While Midianism is secular, the Bank-Temples treat financial business with almost a sense of reverence, turning loans and other forms of financial services into almost spiritual matters.
Rituals
Upon the conclusion of a Midianite's life, they prepare themselves for a ritual known as Purification. In a complex set of practices, their bodies are cleaned, both physically and magically, placed flat in a reclined position, and cast in molten gold. The Midianite is alive for this entire process - if they are already deceased, the Purification cannot be performed. Simultaneously, a demi-plane is created to the Midianite's exact specifications. Purification is always a fatal process, but once complete the soul of the Midianite is transported to their new, private demiplane, where they can enjoy an eternity in luxury. These souls even retain their memories and personality from their prior lives.
Not all Midianites wait until they are on their deathbeds to undergo Purification. Some choose to do so to escape severe consequences in life, and others when they believe they have come into possession of as many riches as they ever will.
A significant aspect of the Purification that appeals to Midianites is how it neatly avoids sending the soul for judgement in Purgatory. Regardless of their deeds or religious beliefs in life, wealthy Midianites can die knowing their will enjoy a luxurious afterlife, with a strong connection to their former selves. This is a major factor in why so many Midianites are atheists.
Some Midianites that undergo this burial process have their bodies interred in their opulent residences, maintained as if they were still alive for as long as the remainder of their estate lasts. The burial practice itself is somewhat uncommon to perform, and maintaining an estate in this manner after death is even more so - in any case, this arrangement usually does not last long before the remaining family of the deceased find loopholes in their last will and claw the money back for themselves.
The Purification is a significant part of the draw to join the Midianites - the ability to construct one's own afterlife is incredibly appealing to many.
Knowledge about the intricate details of Purification is not public - for the most part, only the Grand Treasurer and the Tellers fully understand the process, and it is taught only to those that with to undergo the process when the time is right. As such, to receive Purification most Midianites must be on good terms with the authorities of their philosophy, and have been prosperous enough for them to take notice.
Many Midianites regularly provide monetary donations to the Bank-Temples, under the belief that doing so will grant further prosperity. This is by and large true, if only because the Tellers favor and provide advantageous information towards those that support them the most.
Bank-Temples
Most Bank-Temples are broadly similar in design. Exterior doors usually open into a single, large chamber, typically an cross-arched dome. Fountains or golden statues of a hand are frequently used as centerpieces, with the rest of the of the chamber typically dimly lit and divided into areas for seclusion. Those of high standing within the Midians may be invited to the lower levels, below ground, where the vaults can be found.