Harzik’s Arbiters

Across the Federation Spaceway, numerous philosophies guide the lives of its many species. Among the more esoteric faiths is that of Harzik’s Arbiters, a sect run by Harzik's Convocation and dedicated to the teachings of its prophet, Harzik. Their core belief is that the physical form is a temporary vessel for the soul and that true salvation is achieved by ascending to a higher plane of existence.

The faith's origins trace back to the Age of Heliora and the scholar Harzik, who became engrossed in the legend of Silus Kar Dotarvayne and the Dreadforge. While most accounts depicted the Dreadforge as a weapon of immense destructive power, Harzik offered a different interpretation. He preached that the story was not a literal account of a physical forge, but an allegory for a spiritual journey. In his teachings, Silus Kar Dotarvayne was a prophet who had found the path to the next level of existence. The "Dreadforge," according to Harzik, represented the internal struggle to purify the soul of all worldly attachments, thereby preparing it for ascension.

Central to Harzik’s Arbiters doctrine is the dualism between the soul and the physical body. They believe all beings are caught in a cage of physical existence and that the universe itself will eventually undergo a cataclysmic "uncaging." Their ultimate goal is to achieve a literal and physical transcendence to a higher dimension inhabited by non-corporeal beings. To reach this state, followers must systematically shed all attachments to their terrestrial lives, including personal wealth, familial ties, and emotional desires.

A critical step in this process is the relinquishment of all material possessions to the Dota Guild. Harzik’s Arbiters view the guild not as a secular organization, but as a sacred institution chosen to safeguard the material wealth shed by those on the path to ascension. This act symbolizes a follower's commitment to overcoming materialism.

The process of severing worldly ties is known as "Preparation Graduation." Followers of Harzik’s Arbiters live in communal enclaves, separate from the wider society. Under the guidance of Harzik's Convocation, they engage in deep meditation and study the prophet's teachings to practice the mental and emotional detachment required for their final journey. Their aim is to face the uncaging of the universe not with fear, but with the serene confidence of a soul prepared for its ascension to a higher state of being.