Sin Theory
From Anthrodia Atlas
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Important This article's contents are very rough and early in development, and is prone to changing radically, entirely, or becoming non-canon without warning. |
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Note: This article may contain worldbuilding that will become important plot points in future media releases. While not a proper spoiler warning, caution should be taken when proceeding. |
Sin Theory is a popular conception theory among Fae anthropologists and historians, seeking to explain the origins of the modern Terran Races, their magical predispositions, and sociocultural tendencies. It theorizes that, in the wake of The Great Sundering, when the souls of the Truekin were split to create the Sea of Souls and Prime souls, each soul was split into four pieces, each of a certain set of affinities and inclinations and borne of a specific sin (hence the name), which then correlate to the four Fae races.
Soul Splintering
It is believed that the Truekin were much stronger of body and will than the Fae, and that the disparity between them and the Fae in this regard was due to the fracturing of the Truekin souls into four. The power of the whole soul, alongside its individual affinities, strengths, and weaknesses, were split and distributed between the four "splinters," creating the Fae races that exist.
The Four Cardinal Sins
The four sins that make up the basis of Sin Theory, sometimes referred to casually as The Four Cardinal Sins, can be categorized and described as follows:
| Sin | Race | Color | Magical affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curiosity | Felis | Red | Red |
| Power | Canis | Purple | Black |
| Cowardice | Cervis | Blue | White |
| Infinity | Lagos | Green | None |
The Cardinal Sin of Curiosity
The Cardinal Sin of Curiosity, corresponding with the Felis, states that man's curiosity may have uncovered a great secret never meant to be known, and the fallout and cascade of effects from this knowledge becoming widely known may have contributed to the great calamity which led to The Great Sundering.
Sin Theory proposes that this explains the Felis' natural inclination towards the sciences and to Red Magic throughout history, as well as the average Felis' inquisitive and curious outlook on life.
The Cardinal Sin of Power
The Cardinal Sin of Power, corresponding with the Canis, states that man's endless lust for more power had brought it to commit unspeakable acts of violence and hatred towards their kin, to such a magnitude that it upset the natural order and contributed to The Great Sundering.
Sin Theory proposes that this explains the Canis' natural inclination towards both Black Magic, generally agreed to be the most destructive form of magic, and physical strength. Canis are on average the most physically built and strong folk out of all of the Fae across an entire population.
The Cardinal Sin of Cowardice
The Cardinal Sin of Cowardice, corresponding with the Cervis, states that man's instinctual fear, be that of death, the unknown, or something else, led it to adopt dangerous superstitions and hatred towards their own kin, resulting in a destructive stagnation that contributed to The Great Sundering's upheaval of the world.
Sin Theory proposes that this explains the Cervis' pious and collectivist society, as well as their deep inclination towards White Magic and the Sea of Souls. Some also theorize this to explain the lower physical fortitude and higher aversion to risk across the population on average, while also being stronger of will against hardship.
The Cardinal Sin of Infinity
The Cardinal Sin of Infinity, corresponding with the Lagos, states that man's search for "infinity" led to the exploration of fantastical and impossible theories, catching itself up in its own folly, accelerating the stagnation and ruin that ultimately led to The Great Sundering. While there is no clear understanding of what "infinity" could have been, popular theories claim it to be the pursuit of The Fountain of Youth Eternal of ancient mythos.
Sin Theory proposes that this explains the Lagos' endless wellspring of creativity and excellence in the arts. While the Lagos aren't naturally drawn to any one school of Magic, they are uniquely capable of becoming capable magicians of multiple schools at once.
Apocryphal Sins
Much like the existence of non-existent, mythological races that persist in urban folklore, there are apocryphal addendums to Sin Theory that hypothesize up to five additional Sins also exist. Many of these sins overlap and contradict both the Cardinal Sins as well as one
Greed
The apocryphal sin of Greed, corresponding with the mythological Vulpes, states that man's bottomless desire for more material wealth led to a structural collapse of society, causing a cycle of ruin that fed into The Great Sundering.
The hypothesis states that, given the existence of the Vulpes, it would be linked to a natural affinity towards material wealth accumulation. Modern members of the Cryptic and Neocryptic Movements believe that the red-orange souls in the Sea of Souls are actually Vulpes souls instead of Felis souls, and bad-faith actors have used this belief in the past to support anti-Felis beliefs.
Most scholars discredit the hypothesis, alongside the lack of support of the existence of the Vulpes as a real race, due to its shallow anti-capitalist themes not based in understood pre-historic canon relating to economies and its thematic similarities to the Cardinal Sin of Power.
Discovery
The apocryphal sin of Discovery, corresponding with the mythological Avis, states that, in a desperate search for a "new world," neglected their homeland and let it fall into disarray, contributing to The Great Sundering.
The hypothesis states that, given the existence of the Avis as a flying race, this aptitude towards discovery would manifest directly in their wings. Modern members of the Cryptic and Neocryptic Movements believe that green-yellow souls in the Sea of Souls are actually Avis souls instead of Lagos souls.
Most scholars discredit the hypothesis, alongside the lack of support in the existence of the Avis as a real race, due to its significant thematic overlap with The Cardinal Sin of Curiosity.
Shadows
The apocryphal sin of Shadows, corresponding with the Lizardmen of The Endless Expanse, states that man's interest in the shadows that lurk in the night led them down a dark path, dooming them to an eternal night in the Void.
This hypothesis is unique in that it does not correlate to a Terran race, rather implying that the Abyssal Lizardmen are Fae kin trapped in the Expanse. More radical sects of the Kenophilosophical and Abyssophilic Movements believe that deep violet souls in the Sea of Souls are actually Lizardman souls instead of Canis souls.
Almost all scholars discredit the hypothesis due to the insinuation that The Endless Expanse is a realm directly accessible to the reality that Terra exists in, proven wrong by centuries of magical research to prove the contrary, as well as Lizardmen being akin to that of the Fae species, which is demonstrably false due to their place of origin, nature of existence both within and outside of the Expanse, and unnatural physical characteristics that align with no other known Fae race. This hypothesis also directly contradicts the hypotheses proposed by the apocryphal sins of Nil and Hate.
Nil
The apocryphal sin of Nil, corresponding with the races of The Endless Expanse, states that, some events in prehistory led to a mass-suicide event, on a large enough scale that it tampered with the balance of reality, and led to the events of The Great Sundering. The souls that sought the empty embrace of death were cursed to the Abyss, transforming into Abyss creatures in the absence of sense.
This hypothesis unique alongside the sin of Hate in that it does not correlate to anything on Terra, rather implying that the entirety of The Endless Expanse is the direct result of The Great Sundering.
Most scholars discredit the hypothesis due to the concrete belief in a specific "mass-suicide," when no pre-historic texts, art, or other such dated relics imply a sacrificial event of such a scale could have happened, as well as its unprovable focus on the Expanse having no qualitative truth in the Realm of the Fae to fall back on. This hypothesis also directly contradicts the hypotheses proposed by the apocryphal sins of Shadows and Hate. It is also discredited for its age, Nil preceding proper Sin Theory by several centuries, and being reshaped into the Sin structure after Sin Theory's proposal by its contemporary believers.
Hate
The apocryphal sin of Hate, corresponding with the races of The Endless Expanse, states that mankind's hatred towards itself and its kin, led to a bloody downwards spiral of society until so few people remained that it actively disturbed the stability of reality, leading to The Great Sundering. The souls who committed this grave sin were damned to The Endless Expanse for all eternity.
This hypothesis unique alongside the sin of Nil in that it does not correlate to anything on Terra, rather implying that the entirety of The Endless Expanse is the direct result of The Great Sundering.
Most scholars discredit the hypothesis due to the large thematic overlap with the Cardinal Sin of Power, as well as its unprovable focus on the Expanse having no qualitative truth in the Realm of the Fae to fall back on.