Exemplar
Exemplars is an umbrella concept in the Orkanan religion. An exemplar is a title given to people considered to have gained realized truths and eternal knowledge through their acts and reflections. Exemplars are deceased Orkanan people of high esteem who are allowed by Vind to manifest themselves to guide people according to Vind's master plan. They are revered for their contribution to this plan and function as spiritual masters. Due to the wide variety of congregations and branches within Orkanan, the exact definition of what an exemplar is or how they are acknowledged varies. A common feature among exemplars is that they can only be recognized as such after their death. Living inspirational and spiritual masters are referred to as "Alfs" or "Wayhands."
History
The term "exemplar" is found in the earliest versions of the scriptures, dating back to the early days of the Orkanan Realm of Stoldavia. At that time, the definition of an exemplar was straightforward: being mentioned in the scriptures automatically made a person an exemplar. The high clergy of Fyrhygggin Orkanan formed the religious council responsible for maintaining this legacy. After the fall of the Orkanan Realm, many parts of the scriptures were lost or reconstructed, and the exemplars mentioned in the surviving texts became universal in Orkanan.
Since 5700 RH, the process of confirming exemplars became decentralized, leading to a wide variety of claims and confirmations. The most significant schism exists between the Northern Anarian Mellanhand and the non-interventionist branches of Orkanan. "Mellanhand exemplars" include all those whose status was confirmed during the Greater Stoldavic Empire. The Northern Anarian branches show more continuity in confirming exemplars due to strong and continuous political entities aligned with different Orkanan branches.
Several attempts have been made to unify the concept of exemplars across the various branches of Orkanan. These efforts have included campaigns by followers of specific exemplars and organized meetings between high-ranking clergy of different denominations. However, exemplars from other denominations rarely achieve the same status as local and regional exemplars. Following the fall of the Greater Stoldavic Empire, most successor states in Stoldavia combined worldly and religious leadership, resulting in local variations of Mellanhand and a diverse range of regional exemplars.
Manifestation of Exemplars
The concept of manifestation is debated among Orkanans. Some branches believe manifestations should be interpreted according to written accounts—biographies or complete works represent the entirety of an exemplar's manifestation. In contrast, congregations with a more mythical approach believe exemplars can manifest as spirits or souls, providing guidance or advice on finding a role in Vind's master plan. Documented spiritual encounters are required for confirmation as an exemplar in these congregations.
Governing Bodies
The first register of exemplars was maintained by the emperor of the Orkanan Realm of Stoldavia, who had a separate secretariat responsible for confirmation and registration. During the expansion of the realm, the secretariat played a key role in integrating pre-existing belief systems into the new Orkanan collectivity. Since the fall of the Orkanan Realm, confirmation and registration have been managed by several congregations. The original Skiöldavik Canon was destroyed, but efforts were made to gather surviving information into a joint canon during the Skara Samverkan.
The Kulla Canon remains the most comprehensive list of exemplar confirmations on Gotha. Registering an exemplar in Kulla through pilgrimage is considered the final step in the confirmation process for most Orkanan congregations, although it does not necessarily enhance the exemplar's status. At the Kulla registry, all exemplars are given a name in Imperial Stoldavic, making them identifiable across different languages.
Exemplars
Generic or universal exemplars have been defined in the oldest surviving or reconstructed scriptures, commonly referred to as First and Second Era texts. Some of these exemplars may not have been historical figures, but rather composite figures created from various anecdotes and stories.
Realm Era Exemplars
Hundreds of exemplars were confirmed during the Realm Era. Many were lost due to cultural cleansing following the fall of the realm, but some survived through biographies, studies, or oral traditions.
Non-Interventionist Exemplars
Non-interventionist branches of Orkanan, which do not believe in a master plan by Vind, view exemplars differently. Exemplary lifestyles are attributed to great minds who managed to impose some structure on the chaos of everyday life. Non-interventionists recognize only a few exemplars, apart from those in the First Era scriptures.
Peratolian Exemplars
The Peratolian Orkanan maintains one of the largest collections of recognized exemplars in Orkanan, called the Aula Exemplorum in Pastanan (lit. "The Court of Exemplars"). Unlike other interventionist branches, the Peratolian Church of Pastana has canonized many exemplars, including some not recognized by other Orkanan communities. The Aula Exemplorum is organized into three groupings: canonical exemplars from the First and Second Eras, exemplars recognized in Mellanhand Orkanan during the post-imperial period, and those unique to the Peratolian Church.
Mellanhand Exemplars
All exemplars confirmed during the Mellanhand line marriage coinciding with the Greater Stoldavic Empire have a "Standard Imperial" name. The Mellanhand exemplars are universal among all post-Mellanhand branches, although some denominations do not include certain exemplars in their teachings. There is ongoing debate among scholars and clergy regarding the status of unused exemplars.
Post-Imperial Mellanhand Exemplars
Exemplars from the post-imperial era also have a standard Imperial name and are referred to as post-imperial exemplars. Most of these exemplars have regional importance and do not belong to the standard.