The Lit

Home / Factions / The Lit

The Lit are a faction of Torch City who believe to be appointed by The Torch to keep watch over the city and its inhabitants. The Lit hold to the belief that The Blackout was caused by humanity straying from the path of righteousness and that only by "staying in the light" can the people of Torch City truly find their way back to prosperity and happiness.

Mission
The Lit firmly believe that the only reason for the lights getting dimmer and dimmer is that people stopped communing their pure souls with The Torch. Their mission is to return the people to their purest selves and have everyone contribute to keeping the lights lit forever. The Lit firmly oppose opening the gates and getting out of the city in any way, stating that such return to decadence would mean certain doom for the people of Torch City, their souls already tainted by the darkness that surrounds them.



Religion
"The Lit" is a blanket term reffering to followers of the way of The Lit, that requires its devotees to show adoration to The Torch and the light stemming from within it. There is no praying for The Lit, only "staying in the light," a simple mediation process that involves gazing into a light source (without blinking) for hours on end. Followers of the way need to delve in such rituals at least weekly, with Lighters of the Way spending half their waking time just contemplating the holy light of The Torch. During such rituals, one is required to empty their mind and let the light flow into them, until the mind and light are as one.

 The firmly held belief of The Lit is that by watching and communing with the holy light, their conscience will slowly transfer itself into the light source and that it will live inside the light forever. Most Lighters of the Way turn blind in their old age, this achievement considered to be proof of perfect communion and of the fact that there is nothing of their conscience left to transfer. Blind Followers of the Light are revered by their peers and spend their old age teaching the way to young children and begging for alms in The Torch square.

 The Lit refer to all others as The Dim and look on them with pity and regret. It is every Lit's duty to try to convert one of the Dim to the path of righteousness.

The Lit follow the Book of Light, written in the days after The Blackout by an unknown prophet and copied to this day. It is said that the first Book of Light shines in the dark and can be seen even in the blackest of nights.

Organisation
The Lit pride themselves with having no hierarchy to speak of. All brothers are equal to the holy light and the only measure of one's value is one's brightness of soul. Not all can serve the light in the same manner, however, and, as such, there is a distinction to be made:


 * The Lighters of The Way - the de facto priests of The Lit, responsible for guiding the inhabitants of Torch City, gathering alms for the Torch temple and taking care of the blind and the sick.
 * The Lit - all other followers who devote their lives to the holy life, but work in different areas of the city, for the benefit of its people.

There are 3 Lighters of The Way on the Council of Elders, the chairman himself being council-member Ryoto, one of the most devoted members of The Lit, partially blind in his old age and piety, but adamant in his conviction and power of persuasion.