# Style Guide

*Conventions for the whole book. Update as decisions are made. `[NEEDS YOUR INPUT]` marks things only the author can settle.*

## The Four Voices

| Voice | Used in | Feel |
|-------|---------|------|
| **Scriptural** | Part I Doctrine | Elevated, reverent, timeless. Meant to be quoted. Short, weighty sentences. |
| **Warm-teaching** | Part II Canon, Part IV Practice | Direct address, patient, explains as it goes. Author guiding family. |
| **Plain-testimony** | Part III Testimony | First-person, honest, unadorned. Record of real events. |
| **Plain / evidence-based** | Part V Demonology | Clear, sourced, logical. Cites texts; states inferences as inferences. |
| **Field-manual** | Part VI Battle | Precise, numbered, imperative. Materials, steps, warnings. No ornament. |

## Protected Spellings — DO NOT "correct"

These are intentional. Never autocorrect, never flag as typos.

- **Fazer** — the author's term of endearment (how Sarah's father signs to her). Not "Phaser," not "Faser." Always `"Fazer"`.
- *(add others here as they come up)*

## Capitalization

- Divine names / the highest powers: **Capitalized**. `[NEEDS YOUR INPUT: list canonical Divine names + spellings]`
- Sethian/Gnostic figures (e.g. Sophia, the Aeons, the Demiurge): Capitalized, spelling fixed in `GLOSSARY-MASTER.md`.
- Hostile entities / demons: `[NEEDS YOUR INPUT: capitalize? name conventions?]`
- "the faith," "the family" — lowercase unless titling.

## Ritual Format (Part VI — Battle Manual)

Every ritual uses this template:

```
### [Ritual Name]
**Purpose:** one line.
**When to use:** trigger conditions.
**Materials:** bulleted list.
**Warnings:** dangers, prohibitions, who must not perform it.
**Steps:**
1. ...
2. ...
**Closing / aftercare:** how to end safely.
**See also:** [links to related doctrine/entities]
```

## Testimony Format (Part III)

- First person, past tense.
- Optional header block: *When / Where / Who was present.*
- End each account with a **Lesson** — what it teaches for the faith or for battle.

## Scripture / Source Citation

- New Testament: `Book Chapter:Verse` (e.g. John 1:1). Translation: `[NEEDS YOUR INPUT: which translation?]`
- Gnostic/Sethian sources (e.g. Apocryphon of John, Gospel of Thomas): *Title*, section. `[NEEDS YOUR INPUT: preferred editions/translations]`
- Family canon (oral, experiential): cite as *Family Canon* or the relevant Testimony chapter.

## Cross-References

- Link to a term's canonical home: `[Sophia](../part1-doctrine/ch-cosmology.md#sophia)`.
- First mention of any glossary term in a chapter links to its canonical home.

## Formatting

- Markdown. One chapter per file. Filename: `chNN-short-title.md`.
- Chapter top: `# Part N · Chapter NN — Title`.
- Avoid heavy nesting; prefer clear headers.