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Methodianism Effect for Adherents: The reactive +TN provided by using your Willpower is increased by 4.

“We hold this truth sacred: that the proper purpose of the State is to protect the rights of sentient beings.” -Declaration of Methods, Methodology

    Lur-Asko’s dominant political document is the Declaration of Methods. This charter, which emphasizes personal liberty, brought an end to the tyrannical Imperial Age and created the modern city-state system. Understandably, such a life-changing document rapidly accumulated its share of philosophers, who see the Declaration as an exemplar of good politics, or at least a worthy step along the way. They are called Methodians to emphasize their focus on the Methodology section of the Declaration, which gives practical instructions for how governments are to go about safeguarding liberty. Carrying forward this general pragmatism, they evaluate any method simply for its usefulness in protecting life and freedom. Today, Methodianism encompasses a great number of community-minded commoners, not just nobles and councilors.

    "Honor" is a common word in Methodian writings, yet rarely defined; Methodians tend to view philosophical concepts of "the good" as intuitive and self-evident, and concern themselves primarily with the means of arriving at that result. They are much more open to progress than Ascendants or Red adherents, but also more conservative than Rationalists or Prismatics - the adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" sums up much of Methodian political thought. Though they will readily admit that any broken system requires redress, they will always try rooting out dishonor and corruption first before endorsing radical reforms. And though they value multifaceted perspectives, they will not linger in endless dialogue or overthinking, especially if it flirts with the rejection of liberty. A good system will produce good results if protected from corruption and practically tweaked, with no need for dogmatic overhauls or purges.

    Critics of Methodianism are often simply critics of pragmatism, arguing that pragmatists stand on a lazily unanswered question of what is "good" to begin with. Methodians tend to counter by accusing such detractors of inaction and utopianism, rarely letting "extremists" distract them from their chosen path. In seeking an inoffensive "common-sense common ground" that is also less intellectually rigorous than many other philosophies, Methodianism absorbs many disillusioned people that may have otherwise ended up Nihilists. Their focus on external systems rather than internal virtue also separates them from more transformative beliefs; the Methodian seeks neither their own perfection nor the perfection of others, but a society that can handle the reality of imperfect people.

    Methodians have had bitter historical conflicts with more violent ideologies, as well as less-violent feuds with their dogmatic rival, Preamblianism. Still, very few other philosophies are truly inscrutable and anathema to them. The common-ground practicality of their philosophy is precisely what can make Methodians such successful negotiators and politicians.

Subschools Chthonic Replacement Effect: The reactive +TN provided by using your Willpower is increased by 2. Your maximum insight is increased by 2 for every Attribute you have which is favored by Methodianism.

"Freedom stands firmly only upon the bedrock of history. A people may seize their liberty for a day, but it is tradition that will keep it for their children." -Praetor Servia of Metarinth

    Methodianism often represents a more conservative stance relative to Rationalists or others in leadership, but this tendency is even stronger in dwarven culture. While all Methodians apply their teachings to government or individual actions, Chthonic Methodianism often applies its views of pragmatism more broadly to society and culture. In Chthon especially, Methodians criticize dwarven culture for the wild abandon often seen in its leisure time, while praising the more restrained pride typically taken in industry and art. Stability is viewed as one of the most practically important traits in any society where life is good and people are safe, especially if this is to continue across multiple generations.

    As the feud with Preamblianism intensified and the specter of a post-dec revolution or Dark Path resurgence loomed large in the minds of Lur-Asko's more paranoid politicians, Chthonic Methodianism began to spread throughout the other realms. It may or may not be referred to by name, but it always represents the strain of Methodianism that prioritizes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" above the philosophy's other adages. Critics of the subschool have accused it of being a means of promoting dragon-esque legalism without the personal effort required by actual Red Draconic philosophy. Still, even those critical of the movement sometimes concede that by providing a moderate place for those who believe in the wisdom of tradition, Chthonic Methodianism absorbs recruits that would otherwise swell the far more dangerous ranks of Heritage Ascendancy.

Chivalric Replacement Effect: The reactive +TN provided by using your Willpower is increased by 2. Your Appeal tier counts as 1 higher when calculating your crew leadership.

"My voice defends the helpless, and does not demand their praise. My hands serve those around me, and not my own ambition. My heart values the person, and not their use to me. My lance defeats the wicked, and I do not take their place." -Oath of the Manusian Knight

    The baseline concept of Methodian "honor" is poorly defined, arguably on purpose - only the dishonorable need to ask for a definition of honor, after all. But the main human expression of Methodianism departs from this. It evolved simultaneously with the Manusian ideals of chivalry, with an eye towards preventing the philosophy from being corrupted into the sort of Wynthian Ascendancy the Manusians fled. This subschool holds nobility and commoner alike to the same standards of individual honor, and perhaps emphasizes altruism and service to a greater degree than baseline Methodianism, which might occasionally restrain it in the name of efficiency.

    Chivalric Methodianism defines honor as "individual nobility of action." This places less emphasis on society and tradition than other conceptions of honor, such as the Red Macskan and Ascendant varieties. While Manusia has a noble class, the chivalric code views this as a responsibility rather than an entitlement; true nobility comes only from noble deeds. Such deeds include the defense of those weaker than oneself, service to others (always for effect, never for fame or clout), and the treatment of all individuals with respect and fairness. Although chivalric writings also describe other practices, valor, service, and fairness are held to be the most important principles, and these reappear throughout the code. Although the subschool claims no monopoly on the broader Manusian cultural concept of chivalry, it works to ground chivalry's values in the pragmatism and altruism of core Methodianism. Noble actions are noble because of their results, in the way that they contribute to the common good - not because of any decree from a higher authority, which Chivalric Methodians would view as rendering a society vulnerable to Ascendant or Eer'Kallan corruption.

Sehrishian Replacement Effect: The reactive +TN provided by using your Willpower is increased by 2. Your trauma factor is increased by 2.

"To battle, for there the true soul is bared. To honor, for I shed blood so that others may not. To death, for it shall reunite me with my comrades." - Sehrish's Pledge

    Methodianism is often accused of anti-intellectualism, but perhaps no variety embraces that criticism so happily as the one founded by Sehrish Solveig, first Jarl of the Einhayizh. Her ideals were a reaction against the overly "sophisticated" philosophers of Hal'Tayat, finding inspiration instead in Old Roc warrior culture. Although that culture is largely extinguished in its original form, Sehrishian beliefs allowed a portion of it to endure by tying its values to Methodian honor.

    Many other Methodians try to distance themselves from Sehrishians, claiming that the subschool is actually influenced by Mystic Nihilism - no doubt a conclusion based on the raucous debauchery seen at many Einhayizh celebrations. This cannot be true, however, given the many claims of purpose and meaning made by Sehrish. Her ideals prize the Roc idea of "kinship of the warrior," and the rightful honor earned by those who live and die for the protection of civilization. Those who fight for evil causes might well be respected on the grounds of their skill or loyalty, but only a good cause can imbue true honor. Sehrishians therefore embrace the warrior's bloodlust, but channel it into the practical good endorsed by Methodianism. 

    Einhayizh pledge themselves "to battle, to honor, and to death;" not all who follow Sehrish's beliefs join her faction, but plausible adherence is largely limited to soldiers and adventurers. Unlike many other ideologies, Sehrishians do not see their beliefs as proper for everyone, nor do they often try to convert others. They do not care for philosophical arguments, even with other warriors. Mere words never reveal the true person, nor does one's conduct in peacetime; one's character is revealed only in the heat of combat.