The Covenant of the Twenty-Two Tears

Followers believe that Sharra Zul'Elkoen was the physical incarnation of a divine guardian known as The Watcher, a spiritual being that periodically enters history whenever humanity faces extinction.

Unlike many faiths, they do not believe Sharra was morally perfect. Instead they teach:

Divinity is measured not by innocence, but by sacrifice.

According to doctrine:

• Sharra willingly accepted eternal hatred so humanity could survive.
• The destruction of twenty-two cities through the redirection of exactly twenty-two asteroids killed nearly one billion people, yet prevented humanity's complete extinction at Nyokai hands.
• Her seventy days of mourning afterward are considered proof that she never celebrated what she had done.

The defining symbol is a single silver teardrop.

No number is more sacred. Twenty-two represents both destruction and renewal. Examples include:

The number reminds followers that great victories often carry terrible costs.

Perhaps the most beloved doctrine teaches:

After the asteroids fell... Sharra wandered Earth. She cried continuously for seventy days.

Her tears represented mourning for:

She wept because humanity lived.

A polished silver teardrop. Inside the teardrop, twenty-two tiny engraved lines radiate downward.

Only priests know all twenty-two names they represent.

The holy book is divided into five sections:

Unlike many religions, the Covenant embraces science. Followers teach:

Every discovery is another tear Sharra left behind.

It is widely believed that Sharra subtly inspired humanity after her disappearance. Many believe she guided scientists toward:

Particular reverence is given to the inventor of the Vertikron emitter, whose public statements describing dreams and visions of Sharra are viewed as evidence of divine inspiration. Scientists are respected almost as theologians. Research laboratories frequently display the silver teardrop.

The Covenant rejects hatred based solely on species. Their doctrine teaches:

Judge every civilization individually.

Most extraterrestrials deserve: dignity, diplomacy, trade, friendship.

The Nyokai are the exception. Followers believe:

Mercy toward the Nyokai must never become forgetfulness.

The Covenant teaches vigilance without extending inherited guilt to unrelated alien civilizations.

One of its strongest teachings states:

Humanity must never again divide itself while extinction waits among the stars.

Nationalism exists. Cultures remain unique. But humanity itself comes first. This philosophy helped shape later Consortium ideals emphasizing cooperation among human worlds.

War is tragic. Yet sometimes unavoidable. Followers often quote:

The sword must always cry after victory.

Every military victory should be followed by remembrance of those who died — friend and foe alike.

The Covenant teaches that divine truth may be imperfectly understood through many traditions. It recognizes the continued existence of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many other faiths.

Conversion through force is forbidden. Followers often pray alongside members of other religions during disasters.

Children memorize:

The Nyokai were not the greatest darkness.

The universe contains civilizations, and entities, far older, far stranger, and potentially far more dangerous. Humanity must remain curious. But never naïve.

Observed once every year. At sunset, cities dim their lights. Exactly twenty-two lights remain illuminated in every temple.

People wear black clothing with silver teardrop pins. No music is played during the first portion of the ceremony.

Priests read aloud the names of the twenty-two destroyed regions. After a period of silence, each attendee places a single drop of water into a communal basin.

The basin eventually overflows. The collected water is then poured beneath a living tree planted beside every temple — the ritual symbolizes transforming grief into renewed life.

The evening concludes with children lighting lanterns and releasing them into the sky, representing hope despite sorrow.

Most temples are circular. At the center stands no throne or idol.

Instead there is a quiet reflecting pool shaped like a teardrop. Behind it is a statue of Sharra — not triumphant, but with her head bowed and one hand extended, emphasizing remembrance over conquest.

Many outside the faith regard it as a personality cult, pointing to its veneration of a historical figure responsible for nearly a billion deaths.

Followers counter that they do not celebrate the catastrophe itself but the willingness of one person to bear eternal condemnation to prevent humanity's annihilation. This tension keeps Sharra one of the most debated figures in human history, with monuments, museums, and even statues serving as reminders of her complex legacy rather than simple hero worship.