Terminus Cult Makes Inroads in Citadel Space

Terminus Cult Makes Inroads in Citadel Space

By Tobias McKaffer, Presidium Sun

Tayseri Ward, Citadel- The comparatively recent relaxation of tariffs, bans, and restrictions on trade with the Terminus Systems has seen a dramatic uptick in the exchange of goods, raw materials, technology, and information between two very different regions. Various cultural groups finding new homes in the transition is far from unusual in such circumstances, however until now few have attracted any significant following or engendered substantial local development on their own.

The religion known as the Va’liat has, thus far, defied the current trend; claiming four Ward councilmen from Tayseri, a not insignificant portion of Terminus expatriates on the Station, and no less than fifteen Tier Twenty Hierarchy officials as converts. According to notable political scientist Foles Ialdrik this development, while startling for its relative speed, is also worrying.

“A kind of social osmosis is inevitable in this situation” he stated in an interview earlier today, “that is to be both expected and accounted for. However, the main issue with this is that, like most religions, this ‘Church of Flame and Void’ promotes a sense of community and direction to people who feel adrift. Given the group’s origins, their predilection for extremist action and what could charitably be called war crimes when threatened, and connection to and cultivation of radical elements and warlordist states, it is only reasonable to be concerned about the potential impact they might have on this Station and throughout the rest of Citadel Space.”

It would appear that no few individuals agree with Mr. Ialdrik’s position, in recent days plans by the followers of the Va’liat, or the “Va’liavas”, to open a joint temple and community center in lower Tayseri have drawn criticism and fiery condemnation from other citizens of the Station’s arm.

“We don’t want these people sticking around and putting down roots, we want them gone.” Stated Ward resident Aloysia T’Sulo at the picket line outside the construction site “It’s not enough that they’ve sent our crime rates spiking up higher than they’ve been in centuries, it’s not enough that they’ve made everyone in the Wards afraid to leave their homes off-cycle, but now we have to host fundamentalists and cultists too? No. No we’ve had enough.”

“This Temple exists for the faithful of Tayseri, a place for them and their families to worship, to meet, to celebrate, to mourn, and to simply pass the time. No one is forced to come here and no one is retained against their will.” said the ranking and religious official Kirsjval, or “Cleric”, Valiheirex Amalsinia in a press release also held today.

Despite the Cleric’s words, reporters from the Sun were barred from accessing the Va’liat’s temporary Temple in Tayseri’s eight hundred blocks and deterred from seeking an interview with Amalsinia by security staff. Requests for interviews among other members of the community have yet to be answered.

We had to discourage them from looking at Denakot real estate.

I believe in religious freedom. We've got a lot of people in the hall itself, let alone the rest of Denakot, who aren't adherents of traditional Sundowner religion.

I also believe, though, in the rules and customs we've established here in Denakot. Specifically, you put the neighbourhood first. Anyone who disagrees is free to leave, but if you want to stay here, those are the conditions. We are a managed collective, not a boundless well of plenty.

The Val'iat could not prove to me that the community was their first priority and as a result we decided that Denakot was not the proper place for their temple.

Crackpot cults. Pff. How old are these war crimes of their church anyway? If it's fresher than a century I'll be very disappointed.

New religions popping up in the Wards, attracting the aimless and building a following? Other religious institutions taking offense? This could go very badly. Or very well. Religious institutes getting to close for comfort usually leads to war of one sort or another, but on some occasions it actually yields sudden cultural growth in a stagnant environment. Personally though while I support freedom of religion I don't see myself setting foot in a Va'liat temple until things settle a bit.

Why do cults always have to be about blood, fire and/or darkness?

Can't we just once have one that's about nice things like puppies, maple candy, and beer?

I can't help with the beer, Mike, but you may want to look into the asari nature spiritualism of Limvaal. It sees manifestations of spirits in certain young animals and deals with maple syrup (well, the thessian equivalent, but it's very close). I know they have many neat rites and celebrations.

While not really influential or even widespread anymore, it has a bit of a popularity with matrons and their children at certain young ages. It's very sweet and fluffy.

are you serious

Shit, Tayseri can't catch a break, I guess I'll have study up on those jokers, I'll need your help with this Laykalar.

This one will attempt to open a dialogue with the faithful at its earliest opportunity. It will enlist the aid of its fellows if need be; the opportunity to observe a Terminus religion aboard the Citadel will be welcomed, it is certain. This one will need to learn more so as to place the Va'liat in correct socio-historical context.

It agrees that the prospect of vulnerable preadults being drawn to such communities out of desperation is troubling, and contrary to these ones' efforts. It can compile a report on the situation should it be desired?

Your wife might actually know about it, Nat.
Center is the mother tree (Limvaal, hence the name) who donates the syrup, dropping from its thick leaves when the time is right. All the young animals gather under the giving tree and celebrate the sweet blessings given by the eternal mother. The syrup is the sweet spark of life and the young animals are representing spirits in the galactic ocean, it’s a small cultish part of the spiritual nature religion following the cycle of the year.

Or just an excuse for a kid to beg her mother for sweet syrup on occasions and the mother saying ‘no’ because it is not ‘that time of year’.

Ya know, I think the greatest gift you Asari gave humanity is a place that all the tree hugging peacenicks can breed themselves off into.


Also, woo another new cult/religion. Not like we still have issues dealing with the old ones here at all on Earth anyway.

I'll ask around Laykalar, my guess is they'll proselytse in the lower levels, maybe even near the foundations. And thanks, religion and social commentary aren't in my wheelhouse, but I figured you'd be up for a bit of social research.

My thoughts exactly... Should we have a talk about that with the kids? Tell them to keep a skeptical mind when cults come making them offers?

True that boss, but I'd like to scope the fire and void crowd out first. Last thing we need is to warn a duct rat convert off, but know next to nothing about them. We don't even know the cult's core beliefs. Laykalar is handling the historical/cultural fact finding angle, I'm heading to the foundations, best place to find potential converts in my opinion.

My ticker pinged.

Atleast these cultist MANIACS have the decency to not come and settle down in the Foundations. Goddamn cults take up so much space and resources down here (The ones who take the protein vats for themselves are the worst.) and then they start harassing everyone for even MORE stuff. They're UNIMAGINABLY easy to piss off.

I

oh my

come on.

You people cannot be serious, you all literally have no idea what you're even talking about do you?

I've dealt with these before, they weren't even close to the craziest out there. Fucking Xamdos.

How to be a horrible xenophobe and get the mindless masses to agree with you and actively persecute a religious minority, an object lesson:

Step One: dress up religious conversions in language used for plagues, crime waves and murders.

Step Two: Use an obvious xenophobes testimony to paint the minority as dangerous, by stripping actions of context, exaggerating them and applying Citadel Space standards of war to regions so you can claim 'major crimes'.


Two A: Paint your xenophobia and bigotry as reasonable.

Step Three: Use implication and impassioned statements from xenophobes to paint it as a matter of 'us vs. them' and to associate the target of your campaign with crime rates, murder and fear. Make people think they have to fear the minority.


Three A: Refuse to legitimize them by using correct terminology, instead use negative terminology as much as possible.

Step Four: Mis-represent events to make it seem like they're lying or hiding something, when actually you tried to press a point they notably did not promise anything about.

Step Five: Watch formerly reasonable people morph into xenophobes and display growing bigotry proudly, allowing them to feed off of each other in an echo chamber of hate and religious discrimination.


Honestly, I'm most disappointed in Vindi here. I respect her.


It's from the other thread but you're a fucking priest from an unpopular minority faith Raelon, you should fucking know better.

We all should probably just embrace the newest faith blindly without questioning it to make you feel better, right?

You could try not to be a horrible shitpile, or to give even the most cursory of examinations to the news articles you're reading, or to pretend to hide blatant bigotry, but I know you well enough to know that those are far beyond you.

You know, I wonder how many people actually know anything about these people. Has anyone here actually bothered to use an extranet search? ...Actually, nevermind, I know the answer to that.

Here, let me enlighten all of you people:


That was taken from a 2161 piece on a biotics training facility opening in Tokyo, Japan (Earth). It was an experimental private school, meant to keep eezo-exposed children safe from the prejudices and bullying they were experiencing in a normal school environment. For the record, the school never opened, because people like Mr. Hayashi and Ms.T'Sulo think they're that much better than these people.

Tell me where the difference is.

Shit like this makes me sick. Crisse.