The Iolite League
(What follows is a little teaser for The Seventh Chakra, detailing some of the setting background as it relates to the book. Those of you who have read Thousand Leaves might see some familiar names in here.)
"The different species of this world are not as different as they may appear on the outside."
―Book of Alexandretta, Chapter One, Verse One
Founded over a thousand years ago, the Iolite League has gone from being a small, relatively insignificant religious order to being one of the most pervasive philosophical organizations in the world. Headquartered in the grandiose Fioletovy Cathedral in Novoprypiatsk, it has members all over the planet, on every continent, from every species and from all walks of life. Its core mission is a straightforward one: to help bring about true peace and harmony for the world.
Members of the Iolite League are bound together by a set of moral and metaphysical values, as dictated by their adherence to the Iolite Doctrine, a Scriptural interpretation that emphasizes the world's diverse species makeup as being the chief factor of God's creation. According to Iolite League beliefs, God chose to populate the world with dozens of different species as a way of prompting individuals to see beyond the superficial-to force people to find the commonalities they all share despite their differences, and in so doing, give the people of the world a clearer perspective on the meaning of true harmony and understanding. One species' weakness can be offset by another species' strengths, and so only by working together can the people of the world achieve their goals.
The reason for the League being named for the semiprecious stone "iolite" has been lost to common knowledge; the history of the group's origins as a mystery cult is guarded by the Iolite League's own inner circles. Whatever the reason, however, the preponderance of purple and violet in the organization's official color scheme continues even to this day, so much so that the term "Iolite League Purple" is a recognizable shade to most people. Naturally, iolite jewelry is popular with members, its cheap cost and distinct look both making it appealing as a simple display of one's belief and devotion.
The influence of the Iolite League is so great that they are often able to have a noticeable impact on international politics. Their nonviolent initiatives and dedication to finding peaceful solutions to issues has led to the League producing an inordinate number of ranking diplomats and ambassadors, and the League itself has frequently castigated world leaders and corporate entities on the international stage for incidents deemed regrettable or criminal.
(Following the national schism in the aftermath of the Butterfly Islands War, the Democratic Republic of Ridgecrescent actually made holding active membership in the Iolite League a criminal offense in response to what was perceived as the League's "meddling" exascerbating a minor conflict into a full-scale war. Given Ridgecrescent's high population, however, it is believed that thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of League members still live there, practicing in secret. The Iolite League has publically decried this legislation, along with a number of other xenophobic initiatives passed after the war.)
Estimates place current worldwide membership in the Iolite League somewhere between twenty-five and thirty million (actual numbers have not been released or published by the League itself). Organization varies from country to country, with larger churches being more popular in some areas, and smaller community parishes being more dominant elsewhere.
"The different species of this world are not as different as they may appear on the outside."
―Book of Alexandretta, Chapter One, Verse One
Founded over a thousand years ago, the Iolite League has gone from being a small, relatively insignificant religious order to being one of the most pervasive philosophical organizations in the world. Headquartered in the grandiose Fioletovy Cathedral in Novoprypiatsk, it has members all over the planet, on every continent, from every species and from all walks of life. Its core mission is a straightforward one: to help bring about true peace and harmony for the world.
Members of the Iolite League are bound together by a set of moral and metaphysical values, as dictated by their adherence to the Iolite Doctrine, a Scriptural interpretation that emphasizes the world's diverse species makeup as being the chief factor of God's creation. According to Iolite League beliefs, God chose to populate the world with dozens of different species as a way of prompting individuals to see beyond the superficial-to force people to find the commonalities they all share despite their differences, and in so doing, give the people of the world a clearer perspective on the meaning of true harmony and understanding. One species' weakness can be offset by another species' strengths, and so only by working together can the people of the world achieve their goals.
The reason for the League being named for the semiprecious stone "iolite" has been lost to common knowledge; the history of the group's origins as a mystery cult is guarded by the Iolite League's own inner circles. Whatever the reason, however, the preponderance of purple and violet in the organization's official color scheme continues even to this day, so much so that the term "Iolite League Purple" is a recognizable shade to most people. Naturally, iolite jewelry is popular with members, its cheap cost and distinct look both making it appealing as a simple display of one's belief and devotion.
The influence of the Iolite League is so great that they are often able to have a noticeable impact on international politics. Their nonviolent initiatives and dedication to finding peaceful solutions to issues has led to the League producing an inordinate number of ranking diplomats and ambassadors, and the League itself has frequently castigated world leaders and corporate entities on the international stage for incidents deemed regrettable or criminal.
(Following the national schism in the aftermath of the Butterfly Islands War, the Democratic Republic of Ridgecrescent actually made holding active membership in the Iolite League a criminal offense in response to what was perceived as the League's "meddling" exascerbating a minor conflict into a full-scale war. Given Ridgecrescent's high population, however, it is believed that thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of League members still live there, practicing in secret. The Iolite League has publically decried this legislation, along with a number of other xenophobic initiatives passed after the war.)
Estimates place current worldwide membership in the Iolite League somewhere between twenty-five and thirty million (actual numbers have not been released or published by the League itself). Organization varies from country to country, with larger churches being more popular in some areas, and smaller community parishes being more dominant elsewhere.