A middle-aged wizard who had studied dark magics his entire life finished preparing the Enlightenment ritual. Once everything was in place, he stood in the center of the magic circle and recited the spell. Suddenly, he found himself standing at the edge of a dense forest as the twilight cast long shadows through the trees. The air was thick with a sense of mystery and magic.

  As he explored deeper into the forest, he came across a clearing bathed in a gentle, ethereal light. In the center of the clearing, ancient runes glowed softly on the ground, pulsating with latent power. They emitted rays of light, radiating warmth and protection.

  However, beyond the clearing was a darker path, shrouded in mist and filled with eerie whispers. Here, the wizard sensed the presence of darker spells, potent with raw energy and unpredictable forces. Symbols of darkness flickered in the shadows, tempting him with their forbidden power.

  As the dream unfolded, the wizard grappled with the choice between the comforting light spells that offered clarity and benevolence, and the seductive dark spells that promised strength and dominance. Each path held its allure, but the wizard was torn by indecision. As he awakened from the vivid dream, the wizard realized that his path to mastery was not only in mastering spells of both light or darkness, but also in understanding the delicate balance between them, harnessing their energies to achieve his true potential.

  Slowly, I started stirring on the ground, realizing that I had a dream within a dream. I snorted, faintly amused because I was starting to believe the system might actually be sentient, much like Hyggiandi, although with a weird sense of humor. However, I had no proof to support that theory, so I decided to just be happy about the fact that I was now a seventh level wizard and was able to cast fourth level spells.

  What I was unhappy about was that I didn’t know how to use all the faith I had gained. I also didn’t know how to achieve a divine rank of one instead of my current zero. I definitely felt like a god among mortals, but I didn’t have a few powers that every real god possessed. I couldn’t hear prayers. I couldn’t bestow spells upon my clerics. I didn’t even have any clerics. More than likely, I wouldn’t be able to advance to the next divine rank until I created a divine focus. Clerics needed a divine focus to cast their spells, so their divine focus would probably be similar to the divine focus that I would create.

  Actually, a lot of gods had something that focused their powers like that. Zeus had his lightning bolt. Poseidon had his trident. Even Christianity had a divine focus, the cross. Therefore, I probably needed something to represent me as a god. However, first, I would need to know what was important to my religion.

  Sighing, I sat up as I tried to imagine what else I lacked. One thing was a bible or some other type of holy text. While I wasn’t certain every god possessed one, I was pretty sure having some type of dogma, doctrine, or tenant. In fact, I probably needed to have all three.

  Dogma was a set of essential beliefs, principles, or doctrines that are identified by an authority as absolutely true. Christians would say that Jesus was born. He died for their sins. He was then resurrected. If someone believed in him, they would go to heaven. If they didn’t believe in Jesus, then that person would go to hell. Dogma could be considered the general beliefs of a religion.

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  The Ten Commandments could serve as tenants of Christianity. Even the “golden rule” could be considered a tenant. However, just like honoring your father and mother might be open to some interpretation, treating others as you would be treated could also be interpreted in different ways. However, in general, tenets could be considered the moral and philosophical rules that defined their religion, and all worshippers were expected to follow them.

  As for doctrine, that was like the teachings in the Bible. The church believed everything in them to be true, but Christians could interpret what was written quite differently. Priests might even place more importance on some aspects of the religious text in particular. Some passages might even be ignored or explained away. For example, Christians might place a lot of importance on the sanctity of marriage and of baptism. Doctrine determines what is considered important by the church, such as haircuts, what is eaten, or even if someone should be circumcised.

  I needed to create all three. However, first I needed to focus on the dogma. After that, I could then create the rest. I started rubbing my chin, almost as if I still had a beard as I tried to crystalize what my core beliefs should be. I didn’t want to be just a god of death, but also one that promised a chance of life. Twilight actually went quite well with that, since twilight is both the end of the day and the beginning of the day.

  So, I needed something about death being a time of transition instead of something that only destroys. That would fit in well with reincarnation. However, I didn’t want everyone to reincarnate the same no matter what. If someone was evil, they needed to pay some type of price before reincarnating and being given a second chance. As for those who were good, they needed some type of reward. Even though I might not be able to deliver on whatever these punishments and rewards might be, I at least needed to incorporate them into my dogma.

  Basically, I needed something like death was needed and that everyone would eventually die. However, don’t worry, because death is just a transition into whatever comes next. Then I need to come up with some virtues that are related to death that almost everyone could agree with.

  I also wanted something that would deemphasize death as being evil. I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into only getting along with the Pantheon of Darkness. I wanted to have some common ground with the Holy Pantheon. While I might still be seen as evil, maybe I could be viewed as a necessary evil. After brainstorming for an hour, I finally had an idea of what my church would be like. While I didn’t have everything, I did have the basics from which I could start creating a Holy Book.

  Just as I was about to start writing my holy book, Alsvartr contacted me. Apparently, she had been able to catch up with Einvaldskonungr despite his head start. Another thing that she let me know was that he was also visibly upset. When she caught up with him, the red dragon was devouring a green kobold who was coming out of his lair. However, despite stopping one kobold, many others must have long since left because as soon as the red dragon entered his lair, he let out a deafening roar, filled with frustrated rage.

  Judging by his reaction, whatever part of his hoard that he had been forced to leave behind was gone. I was actually a little surprised that he immediately set off in search of Groenneitr, but I attributed it to the fact that he was a hothead who couldn’t cool down his temper. If I was injured and needed to recuperate from a ballista wound, I would have chosen to wait until I healed. However, the red dragon was different. He set off immediately while my familiar trailed along behind him like a shadow.

  Nóttormr was considering including in his Holy Book.

  Dogma

  

  
• Balance in Existence: Just as twilight balances day and night, the presence of death balances the existence of life, ensuring harmony and equilibrium in the universe.


  
• Death’s Embrace: Death is not an end but a transition, much like twilight marks the passage between day and night. As the sun sets and rises anew, so too does life continue beyond the veil of death.


  
• Guiding the Departed: As twilight guides the world into darkness and back into the light, the God of Death and Twilight guides souls through the shadowy realms of the afterlife and ushers souls towards their rightful place in the cosmic order.


  

  Tenants

  

  
• Courage in Confrontation: Stare boldly into the eyes of death, for therein lies the courage to face our mortality and acknowledge the fleeting nature of existence. Embrace this confrontation as a catalyst for personal growth and enlightenment.


  
• Embrace Change: Embrace change as a constant in the universe, for just as twilight changes the landscape, death changes our perception and understanding of life's meaning and purpose.


  
• Remember the Past: Remember the departed with reverence and love, for their presence continues to shape the tapestry of life. Through memory, their spirit endures, bridging the realms of the living and the dead.


  
• Honor Life's Journey: Life is a sacred journey, and every soul's path deserves respect. Cherish the moments of light and darkness, for each contributes to the richness of the soul's experience.


  
• Live with a Purpose: Embrace the truth that death comes to all beings sooner or later. Live each day with gratitude and purpose, knowing that the twilight of life is as sacred as its dawn.


  
• Be a Sanctuary: Offer solace to those who mourn the passing of their loved ones and provide comfort to those who face the inevitability of death’s embrace.


  
• Embody Acceptance: Like the delicate balance of light and darkness in twilight, strive for harmony within yourself. Balance your desires with responsibilities, your dreams with realities, and your passions with compassion.


  
• Light in the Darkness: Be like the light of the sun and stars. Strive to be one of the lights that illuminate the darkness instead of a pale reflection of someone else’s light.


  
• Resilience in the Face of Loss: Through the experience of loss and mortality, discover resilience and fortitude. Let grief transform into resolve and let the lessons of death guide you towards greater empathy, compassion, and understanding.


  
• Final Judgment: Be true to yourself, but also take responsibility for your actions, because once the darkness falls, a light will be shown upon your deeds and a judgment will be made.


  

  Doctrine

  

  
• Unity in Diversity: Recognize that just as twilight paints the sky in myriad colors, the paths after death are diverse and unique. Respect the diversity of beliefs and experiences surrounding death while upholding the universal truth of transition.


  
• Duality of Existence: Teach that existence is shaped by dual forces—life and death, creation and destruction—and both are necessary for the universe's balance. Feel free to embrace life with open arms, but know that everyone and everything will eventually be embraced by death.


  
• Permanent Impermanence: Just as every life begins, every life will end. Then they will pass into the afterlife. Some will be rewarded. Others will be punished. Some will be reincarnated. Others will fall into oblivion. However, every life is permanently woven into the tapestry of the world, even after their souls have faded away.


  
• Life in Death: A part of each person’s soul is woven into the lives and world around them, so even after death, even if they have been reincarnated, a sliver of their soul can be revived.


  
• Death in Life: Envision twilight as a realm where the boundaries between worlds are thin, allowing for communion with spirits, ancestors, and even the divine. Even though they are gone, they can still be contacted if you follow the light.


  

  Possible Religious Symbols

  

  
• Veil: Symbolizes the boundary between life and death, as well as the mysterious and hidden aspects of twilight and the afterlife.


  
• Candle: Symbolizing the light of the next world, candles also represent hope and the passage of time. Light them in remembrance of departed loved ones.


  
• Hourglass: Represents the passage of time, which is closely tied to the concept of twilight (the end of the day) and death (the end of life).


  
• Eclipse: The symbol of a solar or lunar eclipse, symbolizing the temporary darkening or blending of light and shadow, and the crossing of thresholds.


  
• Mist: A swirling mist or fog that obscures and reveals, symbolizing the veiled nature of death and the transition between realms.


  
• Skeletal Hand: A skeletal hand or fingers reaching out, representing death's grasp and the boundary between life and the afterlife.


  
• Moth: A moth drawn to light but also symbolic of the ephemeral nature of life and its transitions between light and darkness.