Whilst not as well established as the other sects, The Branches of Taran is a following largely made up of those who have traveled alongside (or been smuggled to Cabina by) Pilgrim Pyxis Atreus, Kurul. The name is derived from an odd practice whereby Atreus would add those whom he traveled with to the "Family Tree" of his ship, The Tarantella, thereby making them into new branches of the family.
Atreus does not claim a mantle of leadership or responsibility, rather he tries to act as a father figure to these followers, promoting the idea that there is no single path that is correct, and that it is the duty of Pilgrims to explore whichever path they feel will bring them closer to understanding the richness of the universe.
Many follow in his direct footsteps, pledging themselves to assist those who seek the help of the Church through facilitating the Underground Railroad (though they prefer the term Pilgrims Path). Several have purchased and pledged their own ships to become sister ships to The Tarantella, including most notably The Taranovum and The Taraneska.
The Teachings[]
The teachings of this group are mainly derived from three statements that Atreus has told many of the Pilgrims during his travels. The three statements are as follows;
- "A tree with many branches bears a lot more fruit than a pile of twigs"
- "You gotta see to believe, but when you see, you gotta believe"
- "I Don't teach - I share."
These are usually interpreted to mean that it is the duty of a Pilgrim to bring more people into the family, by going forth to experience the universe and sharing those experiences with others along the way. The best way to convince others that aliens and synthetic lifeforms have souls, is to show them the wonders of the universe beyond the scope of humanity and let them realize this truth for themselves.
Heirarchy[]
Whilst there is no formal hierarchy within the Branches of Taran, generally speaking there is more reverence given to those who have traveled the furthest and experienced most of the universe. Members will often go to those with more light-years to their name for advice and guidance, however the emphasis on personal freedom and self dictation within this group means that each member is ultimately free to make their own decisions.
Notable Figures[]
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