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=== Races | Culture | Worldview and spirituality  ===  

====== COVENANT OF THE NEW DAWN ======  

===== Overview =====  

The Covenant of the New Dawn is a small Christian religious movement among the [[the_humans|ExoHuman]] settlers of [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]. It traces its origins to the spaceship [[last_frontier|Last Frontier]], where a group of Christian passengers, alongside some converted settlers, formed the movement in response to their growing isolation from mainstream religious institutions.  

The Covenant rooted itself in [[arla_town|Arla Town]], where 35 members established the only church in the [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]] - the [[Church of the New Dawn|Church of the New Dawn]]. This modest wooden structure, raised in 2627, became the Covenant’s spiritual home. While small, it was unique: in all other settlements, religious communities met only in private houses.  

Each year at Easter, Covenant members from across the Free State — roughly 170 in number — traveled to Arla Town to gather, worship, and reaffirm their communal ties.  

The church was destroyed during the [[great_war|Great War]], when [[arla_town|Arla Town]] was burned down by the [[alliance_of_native_tribes|Alliance of Native Tribes]]. Since then, the Covenant has had no formal place of worship. Members continue to practice their faith quietly in private homes, scattered across the settlements.  

===== Key Beliefs of the Movement =====  

**1. VOI 700 D is a Trial, Not a Reward:**  
  * //"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."// — Genesis 2:15  
  * The Covenant teaches that God originally entrusted [[the_earth|Earth]] to humanity, but due to greed, corruption, and environmental destruction, they failed their duty.  
  * The landing on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]] is not a gift, but a test — a second chance for humanity to prove they can live in harmony with God’s creation.  

**2. Humanity Must Redeem Itself Through Stewardship**  
  * //"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."// — Psalm 24:1  
  * The movement believes that humanity’s survival on VOI 700 D depends on embracing sustainability and communal responsibility, which they see as aligning with God's will. Living within the constraints of limited resources and environmental balance is viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate humility and discipline.  

**3. Materialism Led to Humanity’s Downfall**  
  * //"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."// — Matthew 6:19  
  * The Covenant rejects excess materialism, teaching that the economic systems of the past led to humanity’s downfall.  
  * They see life on VOI 700 D as a way to live in accordance with God's will, focusing on community rather than personal wealth.  

**4. Faith is a Personal Journey, Not a Public Institution**  
  * //"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."// — Matthew 6:6  
  * Unlike historical Christian churches, the Covenant of the New Dawn has no formal hierarchy. Pastors are part-time leaders, elected by the community while maintaining their official jobs.  
  * The church in Arla Town was their one exception: a communal gathering space that symbolized faith as shared life rather than private devotion. Its destruction in the Great War marked the end of churches among the Covenant.  

===== Beta Age: Role within the Free State of Settlers =====  

During the [[beta_age|Beta Age]], the Covenant’s community in Arla Town played a more visible role than in later times. With their small church, they became the only faith movement in the Free State to maintain a dedicated building. Annual Easter gatherings of nearly all Covenant members — about 170 in total — made Arla Town their spiritual center.  

  * **Full-Time Pastors:** In this era, up to seven pastors worked full-time, guiding religious study, worship services, and providing pastoral care.  
  * **Christian Clusters:** While attempts to form Christian clusters in other settlements were mostly unsuccessful, Arla Town’s small church allowed at least one enduring nucleus of faith life.  

===== Gamma Age: Role within the Federal Confederation =====  

After the destruction of Arla Town in the [[great_war|Great War]], the Covenant lost its only church. In the [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]], the newly founded [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]] imposed a strictly secular framework: religion was tolerated as a private matter but held no recognition in public life.  

**How the Covenant Functions in Society Today:**  

  * **No Churches:** With Arla Town destroyed, all gatherings now take place in private homes.  
  * **Part-Time Pastors:** Pastors are elected and serve while holding [[gaia|GAIA]]-assigned jobs.  
  * **Scattered Communities:** No longer centralized, Covenant members remain spread across all settlements.  
  * **Annual Easter Gatherings Ended:** Without Arla Town, large-scale meetings ceased. Today, Easter is marked only in small, local groups.  

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====  

The Covenant of the New Dawn offers strong roleplaying opportunities: balancing **faith versus secularism**, memory of Arla Town, and secret gatherings in the Gamma Age.  

==== Beta Age Hooks ====  

  * **“Pilgrimage to Arla”:** PCs escort Covenant members traveling to Arla Town for Easter. Along the way, they must guard against raids or ensure that secular settlers do not interfere with the gathering.  
  * **“The Last Sermon”:** Rumors spread that one pastor in Arla Town preaches resistance against secular authority. PCs may be asked to investigate whether it is a faith matter or a political one.  

==== Gamma Age Hooks ====  

  * **“Ashes of Arla”:** Survivors ask PCs to recover the charred remains of sacred objects from the ruins of Arla Town’s church. But [[federal_sheriff|Federal Sheriffs]] guard the site to prevent illegal gatherings.   

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====  

  * [[beta_age|Beta Age]]
  * [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]]
  * [[arla_town|Arla Town]]  
  * [[lake_arla|Lake Arla]]  
  * [[Church of the New Dawn|Church of the New Dawn]]
  * [[beta_age|Beta Age]] / [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]]  
  * [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]]  
  * [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]]  
  * [[exohuman_funeral_rites_in_the_beta_age|ExoHuman Funeral Rites in the Beta Age]]