Post by Kenneth New on Jun 14, 2015 13:41:40 GMT -5
Overview
This church originated among the Dweir of Rhiada, but it has spread to other races over the milennia. The church is monotheistic, with a creator god and his servants. Over the milennia, the church has developed schisms that reflect the traditions and cultures of the Dweir of various regions.
Doctrine
The world and all things within it were created by the Great Maker, a god whose name is so powerful and sacred that it must never be spoken by mortal beings. Of all the races created by the Great Maker, the Dweir are the greatest, the ones made in his image, the ones who are his chosen people.
The Great Maker creates, but he's opposed by a shadowy figure called the Adversary, or the Destroyer, who attempts to corrupt or destroy that which the maker has created. This includes attempts to subvert the moral character of the Dweir, the Maker's chosen children.
The Caladnian Church
In Elocia and Morava, the most influential Dweirish Church is the Gierzek taz Kurdan (Church of Kurdan). This tradition came from Citadel Kurdan with the Dweirish refugees fleeing the Fall of Kurdan. It's the dominant church in the Duchy of Gurkozen (north of Elocia) and the faith of the largest group of Elocian Dweir.
Religious scholars point out that this Church is the most strict in form and doctrine. They disagree over what this represents. Is the Caladnian Church the oldest and truest form of the faith, as it's adherents claim, or is it a "purified" church that has stripped itself of elements that depart from the core doctrines of the faith?
This church is strictly monotheistic. The Great Maker is depicted as a solitary and unitary being, the perfect craftsman, master of every craft. He is served by divine, but clearly subordinate figures who are called Taerzimmar. This word means "most holy or perfect", but is often translated as "saints" in the common tongue.
Faithful Caladnian Dweir follow many rituals in their daily lives, from hygiene rituals to prayers before beginning a task or when completing an act of creation. Their lives are governed by the Doctrines of Faith, which prescribe correct and incorrect procedures for many daily activities. Milestones of life are celebrated with religious rituals, as well.
The Caladnian Church is Lawful Neutral. The faithful are expected to live accordingly, to pursue proper order, both in their private lives and for the cosmos. While Lawful Good priests are tolerated, the hierarchy considers them to be less perfect in their faith. This isn't because "good" isn't a valid goal, but because it pursuit of the abstract concept of "good" distracts from honoring and pursuing "order" in the cosmos. Lawful Evil priests are not tolerated. When discovered, they are tried for heresy. Among the faithful, there is a definite tendency towards Lawful alignment.
The Priest of the Caladnian Church are divided into four orders: The Lawspeakers, the Crafters, the Hammers and the Shields.
The Lawspeakers are priests who study and interpret the Doctrines of Faith and the Traditions of the Ancestors (the two most important books for the faithful). They act as lawyers for religious law (and many of them practice secular law as well). This group of priests are the most scholarly in Dweirish society. Most Caladnian wizards are also lay members of this order.
The Crafters are the priests who work towards maintaining order, both in the physical environment and in society. This order contains master craftsmen (including artificers), builders and healers. Most Caladnian alchemists are lay members of this order.
The Hammers are priests who defeat enemies of order and of the chosen people and their faith. They bring order by seeking out and destroying chaos and other enemies.
The Shields are the priests who protect the community from outside aggression.
Most secular followers of the Caladnian Church are also lay members of one of these orders, since all education begins in the church.
The AndurianChurch
In Elocia and Morava, the second most influential Dweirish Church is the Andursh Gersig (Andurian Church). This tradition came from Citadel Andur in the west. It was brought to Elocia, Tyrathis and the Sea of Endymion with the Livonian Empire. Andur was an important part of the Livonian Empire, the Province of Anduria.
Religious scholars point out that this Church differs from other branches by several obvious influences from the Church of Light and Livonian culture in general.
This church is monotheistic, but also includes the concept of Aspects of the Maker, many of whom appear to mimic specific Lords of Light. Among these many Aspects of the Maker are the Mind of the Maker (master of arcane magic and lore), the Soul of the Maker (leader of the community), the Hand of the Maker (the master of all crafts), the Heart of the Maker (the healer), the Voice of the Maker (keeper of laws), etc.... Caladnian Dweir believe that the Anduran Dweir are basically polytheists.
While Anduran Dweir are highly religious, they tend not to allow their faith to control every aspect of their lives. In their culture, there are many institutions that are basically secular, with only the barest nod to religion.
The Anduran Church is Lawful Good. The faithful are expected to live accordingly, to pursue proper order and pure good, both in their private lives and for the cosmos. Priests can be Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral or even Neutral Good. Law and Good are considered the Two Faces of the Maker.
Priests of the Anduran Church belong to one of five orders: the Interpreters, the Chanters, the Artisans, the Healers and the Binders.
The Interpreters are responsible for studying and interpreting the most important books for the faith: The Doctrines of Faith, The Andurian Traditions and The Collection of Wisdom. The latter book is a collection of interpretations of the faith by important scholars and is the major difference between this branch of the faith and the others. Anduran Interpreters can disagree about the proper interpretation of the faith without provoking an inquisition.
Chanters are responsible for leading services and supporting the community and its needs. They act as arbiters and judges when needed.
The Artisans are crafter-priests who also teach the crafts, operates trade schools and oversee the apprentice system.
The Healers are physician-priests.
The Binders are priests focused on magic, such as binding elementals, making constructs and warding the community against magical threats.
There is also a paladin order, called the Order of the Anvil.
This church originated among the Dweir of Rhiada, but it has spread to other races over the milennia. The church is monotheistic, with a creator god and his servants. Over the milennia, the church has developed schisms that reflect the traditions and cultures of the Dweir of various regions.
Doctrine
The world and all things within it were created by the Great Maker, a god whose name is so powerful and sacred that it must never be spoken by mortal beings. Of all the races created by the Great Maker, the Dweir are the greatest, the ones made in his image, the ones who are his chosen people.
The Great Maker creates, but he's opposed by a shadowy figure called the Adversary, or the Destroyer, who attempts to corrupt or destroy that which the maker has created. This includes attempts to subvert the moral character of the Dweir, the Maker's chosen children.
The Caladnian Church
In Elocia and Morava, the most influential Dweirish Church is the Gierzek taz Kurdan (Church of Kurdan). This tradition came from Citadel Kurdan with the Dweirish refugees fleeing the Fall of Kurdan. It's the dominant church in the Duchy of Gurkozen (north of Elocia) and the faith of the largest group of Elocian Dweir.
Religious scholars point out that this Church is the most strict in form and doctrine. They disagree over what this represents. Is the Caladnian Church the oldest and truest form of the faith, as it's adherents claim, or is it a "purified" church that has stripped itself of elements that depart from the core doctrines of the faith?
This church is strictly monotheistic. The Great Maker is depicted as a solitary and unitary being, the perfect craftsman, master of every craft. He is served by divine, but clearly subordinate figures who are called Taerzimmar. This word means "most holy or perfect", but is often translated as "saints" in the common tongue.
Faithful Caladnian Dweir follow many rituals in their daily lives, from hygiene rituals to prayers before beginning a task or when completing an act of creation. Their lives are governed by the Doctrines of Faith, which prescribe correct and incorrect procedures for many daily activities. Milestones of life are celebrated with religious rituals, as well.
The Caladnian Church is Lawful Neutral. The faithful are expected to live accordingly, to pursue proper order, both in their private lives and for the cosmos. While Lawful Good priests are tolerated, the hierarchy considers them to be less perfect in their faith. This isn't because "good" isn't a valid goal, but because it pursuit of the abstract concept of "good" distracts from honoring and pursuing "order" in the cosmos. Lawful Evil priests are not tolerated. When discovered, they are tried for heresy. Among the faithful, there is a definite tendency towards Lawful alignment.
The Priest of the Caladnian Church are divided into four orders: The Lawspeakers, the Crafters, the Hammers and the Shields.
The Lawspeakers are priests who study and interpret the Doctrines of Faith and the Traditions of the Ancestors (the two most important books for the faithful). They act as lawyers for religious law (and many of them practice secular law as well). This group of priests are the most scholarly in Dweirish society. Most Caladnian wizards are also lay members of this order.
The Crafters are the priests who work towards maintaining order, both in the physical environment and in society. This order contains master craftsmen (including artificers), builders and healers. Most Caladnian alchemists are lay members of this order.
The Hammers are priests who defeat enemies of order and of the chosen people and their faith. They bring order by seeking out and destroying chaos and other enemies.
The Shields are the priests who protect the community from outside aggression.
Most secular followers of the Caladnian Church are also lay members of one of these orders, since all education begins in the church.
The AndurianChurch
In Elocia and Morava, the second most influential Dweirish Church is the Andursh Gersig (Andurian Church). This tradition came from Citadel Andur in the west. It was brought to Elocia, Tyrathis and the Sea of Endymion with the Livonian Empire. Andur was an important part of the Livonian Empire, the Province of Anduria.
Religious scholars point out that this Church differs from other branches by several obvious influences from the Church of Light and Livonian culture in general.
This church is monotheistic, but also includes the concept of Aspects of the Maker, many of whom appear to mimic specific Lords of Light. Among these many Aspects of the Maker are the Mind of the Maker (master of arcane magic and lore), the Soul of the Maker (leader of the community), the Hand of the Maker (the master of all crafts), the Heart of the Maker (the healer), the Voice of the Maker (keeper of laws), etc.... Caladnian Dweir believe that the Anduran Dweir are basically polytheists.
While Anduran Dweir are highly religious, they tend not to allow their faith to control every aspect of their lives. In their culture, there are many institutions that are basically secular, with only the barest nod to religion.
The Anduran Church is Lawful Good. The faithful are expected to live accordingly, to pursue proper order and pure good, both in their private lives and for the cosmos. Priests can be Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral or even Neutral Good. Law and Good are considered the Two Faces of the Maker.
Priests of the Anduran Church belong to one of five orders: the Interpreters, the Chanters, the Artisans, the Healers and the Binders.
The Interpreters are responsible for studying and interpreting the most important books for the faith: The Doctrines of Faith, The Andurian Traditions and The Collection of Wisdom. The latter book is a collection of interpretations of the faith by important scholars and is the major difference between this branch of the faith and the others. Anduran Interpreters can disagree about the proper interpretation of the faith without provoking an inquisition.
Chanters are responsible for leading services and supporting the community and its needs. They act as arbiters and judges when needed.
The Artisans are crafter-priests who also teach the crafts, operates trade schools and oversee the apprentice system.
The Healers are physician-priests.
The Binders are priests focused on magic, such as binding elementals, making constructs and warding the community against magical threats.
There is also a paladin order, called the Order of the Anvil.