Changes since version 1
… and/or awakening. The church preaches that even the worst can be redeemed, citing Saint Cassius the Betrayer and his eventual penitence as an example.
*Does splintering destroy or damage the soul, or is that just awakening?*
Sepulchre teaches that to splinter the soul does not have any negative consequences on its own; it is merely committing a part of yourself to Marrow, living in communion with him. It is the awakening process that causes damage, as the rest of the soul will not always adhere faithfully to the remnant Marrow holds in his bosom.
Certainly the reports of consequences and side effects do seem to come only after awakening, not after splintering.
*Is an awakened person still viewed as the same person post-Splintering by the church?*
Yes. This is the idea it all rests on - splintering and awakening allow for the theoretically eternal salvation of immortality.
Line by line
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As awakening requires a procedure done in advance with some cost (referred to colloquially as S+S, sleeve and shard fees), not everyone can take advantage of it. Exceptions might include executions by the state and church, people who just can't afford splintering because they're too poor, people who don't have time to splinter again before they tragically die again... and, of course, some rare individuals who might simply choose not to splinter at all.
But it takes quite a serious case of heresy to be blocked from splintering and/or awakening. The church preaches that even the worst can be redeemed, citing Saint Cassius the Betrayer and his eventual penitence as an example.
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+ *Does splintering destroy or damage the soul, or is that just awakening?*
+
+ Sepulchre teaches that to splinter the soul does not have any negative consequences on its own; it is merely committing a part of yourself to Marrow, living in communion with him. It is the awakening process that causes damage, as the rest of the soul will not always adhere faithfully to the remnant Marrow holds in his bosom.
+
+ Certainly the reports of consequences and side effects do seem to come only after awakening, not after splintering.
+
+ *Is an awakened person still viewed as the same person post-Splintering by the church?*
+
+ Yes. This is the idea it all rests on - splintering and awakening allow for the theoretically eternal salvation of immortality.
+