The Order of Esochaia
In my WIP Strange Magic, most witches follow the faith of the Order of Esochaia, an ancient religion originating in the Southeastern Mediterranean about three thousand years ago. The Order falls under a more general collection of faiths including Paganism and Wicca, called the Paragon Sect.
The Council of Elders based in Crete governs the Order. The Council is compromised of thirteen witches and warlocks. When the positions were created three thousand years ago, they were voted upon. Nowadays, current Council members vote on new ones themselves. The Elders judge trials, make decisions on how witches shall interact with the mortal world, and create laws.
Witches part of the Order live by the Codex Paradosa, a book of ancient writings composed by the original witches on the island of Phesyra.
The Order believes in the Eight Gods:
Caelum, the god of the sky, storms, marriage, the sun, and victory.
Hekate, the goddess of prophecy, the night, magic, crossroads, and necromancy.
Mortisal, the god of the Under, death, winter, poetry, and secrets.
Anguisa, the goddess of serpents, inspiration, fertility, trade, courage, and dawn.
Patan, the god of the earth, faeries, spring, the truth, and justice.
Aquaedamae, the goddess of oceans, the moon, medicine, music, and earthquakes.
Sapti, the god of cleverness, good luck, ritual, the stars, and mountains.
Ignisia, the goddess of fire, dreams, invention, passion, and agriculture.
At the age of twelve, each witch or warlock will be claimed by one of the gods and be initiated into their respective Circles. During this time, most witches attend an academy to learn and improve their magical abilities.
Members of the Order believe that there are quite a few possible options for what happens when a witch dies. Some will become ghosts, the most distinguished will be taken into the Heavens to serve Caelum as an angel, the worst will descend into Hell, others will rest and/or party in the Under for eternity, and the forgotten will be absorbed into the Shadow Realm.
Witches pray every day, once in the morning, and once at night, typically to the god or goddess of their Circle. During meals, they must give a part of their meal to the fire as an offering to the gods. Witches convene at a church service each Friday evening at 8 pm, sitting with their Circles.
Each Circle is governed by a High Priest chosen by the Council, but locally, priests look over smaller groups.
One of the most positions in the Order is the Oracle, always called upon by the goddess Hekate. The Oracle is always a woman, and she always forsees the next apocalypse and its savior.
Good and evil is a tricky topic in the Order. “Evil” behavior isn’t necessarily revered, but it also isn’t spoken against. Most witches and warlocks want power, and will go to great lengths to get it and keep it. As long as you aren’t breaking any laws or speaking against the gods, then you’re probably fine.
The core values of the Order of Esochaia are knowledge, loyalty, performance, power, and versatility.
