Church of the Disciples of the King (Elvisites)
Created by: Garry Stahl
Appearance: From the 20th century onward. The religion has evolved.
Number of Members: 4 to 6 million
Nature of Members: individuals.
Organization: Theocratic hierarchy more or less.
Game Role: One of those new religions.
World Role: One of those new religions.
Relative Influence: Minor. Elvisites control Las Vegas
and consider it a point of faith to keep the place plastic and tacky.
There is a mostly friendly rivalry with LA over tourist credits.
Public or Secret?: Public
Publicly Stated Goal: Bring the world to a state where Elvis can return, rock on.
Relative Wealth: Minor
Group advantages: Generic advantages of most religions. With the Earth energy economy charity is meaningless.
Group disadvantages: Generic religion disadvantages.
Those who favor them: Party people (They do throw a good party) Ecumenical councils. (They are agreeable participants.)
Those opposed to them: Mormons (They got pushed off Vegas
by Elvisites, never mind the theological differences). Those that think
religion is something man is better off without.
Area of Operation: Earth mostly. Less than successful
attempts have been made to export Elvis and the Vegas lifestyle. The
failed Little Vegas in Crystal City, El Nanth was recently redeveloped
by the Romulan trade mission. They had a lot of questions.
Headquarters Location: Arguments exist as to whether Graceland, or Las Vegas is more important. Most agree that It's Vegas baby.
Public Face: Happy People living in the favor of the
King. They practice a generic golden rule ethical system with a heavy
element of having fun as a holy duty. Elvisites take fun seriously.
Notable Members: Larry Baker . Larry is the man
that first got the Elvisites taken seriously as a religion. He ditched
the fake hair, and the jumpsuit. "No one but Elvis is the true King. We
can only be princes." He preached his simple message and sang without
pretense. He was assassinated by Mormon Free State agents in 2043. The
Mormons should have known better. In death his message attracted even
more followers and had the opposite effect desired.
Big Daddy Clastio:
"Big Daddy" was the first of the "party princes". He started the sect
that abandoned the apocalyptic message for one of continued parties and
the "holy luck offering" He put slot machines in the church and urged
churchgoers to deposit their offerings in them. "If Elvis blesses you
shall receive more than you give." Considered a bit far out even by
Elvisite standards he eventually brought the rest of the church to his
way of thinking. He preached from 2140 to 2195.
Princess Rani: Rani
is the currently accepted Head Princess of Rock & Roll. While it is
unusual for women to lead Elvisite congregations it is not unheard of.
Rani is a Betazed that came to Earth and went native. If she uses
telepathic influence in her preaching, well nobody minds, the message
is that much better. We are all just having fun.
History of the Organization: Elvisites started as fans of
the singer popular from the 1950 through the 1970s. After his death in
1977 the fans if anything became more intense, not less so. As the
world moved again into war Elvis fandom took on the trapping of
religion becoming throughly mixed with elements of Christianity and
Santeria. By the mid 21st century the Church of the Disciples of the
King was formally formed.
The usual dogma of the of the
early Church saw Elvis as a returning Christ figure who found the world
unready for him and departed. Exhorting his followers to try and again
and make the world ready for his coming. The last wars are seen as a
punishment by God for not being ready. Once the Disciples made the
world ready, the King would return and Earth would be a Heaven once
again. The current practice is less apocalyptic. However even among
apocalypse religions Elvisites are mild. The world doesn't end, it just
rocks on.
Current dogma states that
Elvis helps you achieve a "heaven on Earth, and a trip to the "Last
Vegas" The eternal party in Heaven. It is a happy religion that wants
and seeks no enemies. They don't mind that you don't believe, you can
still party, but the party will bless you better if you did.
The followers of Elvis are
believers in totems. The few remaining relics from the Life of Elvis
are jealously guarded. A threat to the relics is about the only thing
that will drive an Elvisite to violence in the name of religion.
Likewise phonograph records. (LPs being far more valuable than later
formats). Posters, paintings that date from "The Life" and other items
are sought and actively venerated and prayed over. Those items that he
actually wore or touched are the most venerated. Modern medals that
have been blessed at Graceland are the most common, but least
venerated. Every Elvisite strives to have one.
In the 24th century Elvisites
have the patina of age, and are taken as seriously as is any religion.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and
situations are fictional. Any resemblance to persons, places, or
situations living or dead is coincidental.
© Garry Stahl: 1997-2006 unless other Copyrights apply. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission.
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