Beliefs:

Zegara (Church of Thorns, Aeldian): Never let anyone be better than you. It is okay if they are better in one aspect, as long as you are better where it matters. If they think they are better but they are not, prove them wrong, for otherwise, they will never improve. Those who are not better than you are nothing but objects to be used. You need not be the fastest runner if you have people to run fast for you, but never be the one who must run for another. If they try to use you, only allow it if you are in turn using them.

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Afterlife:

Thorn-followers believe that when they die, they will either be seen as the great being that they were and ascend to a higher form, or they will be found wanting and become a lower form. The truly worthy will find forms that are allowed in the Presence of their Divine, but some will be found so wanting they are cast into the Hells for Torment. A limbo state is possible for those who were neither worthy nor unworthy, but this is very rare. All souls of the Thorn faith believe that they will be chosen to march to war in the end times with their Goddess, and their fate (Hells, limbo, higher or lower forms, or her presence) will determine their rank in that army.