The Universal Church
of the Celestial Sun
The
Universal Church of the Celestial Sun is a massive organization
that dominates the Known Worlds. The Church touches the lives of
each
and
every sentient. Even pagans and apostates define themselves in
terms of their opposition or difference from the Church. Perceptions
of the Church obviously vary, but the majority
of people in the Known Worlds look to the Church for guidance and
attend services at least once a week. They are devout, and are
much more likely to follow the direction of a priest
than their own Noble masters. This then is the source of the Church's
enduring power: Nobles who fall afoul of the Church often find
their serfs running away and freemen
refusing to work for them.
Because of this, almost all Nobles appear to be
devout supporters of the Church. Many really are devout believers. The Church
is full of the sons
and daughters of Noble families. Others Nobles are less than
devout, but they understand that without the Church's blessing, they could and
probably would lose all they have. The
Noble families and the Church have an implicit understanding:
The Nobles support the Church through their tithes and the Church support the
Noble's position to rule, which
carries immense weight with the serfs. The League of Merchants
also has a contradictory relationship with the Church. The League is a much younger
institution than the Church and
the relationship is often rocky. Yet many lower level guild
members come from or are themselves believers. And the League could not withstand
a crusade against it by the
Church and allied Noble families. Of course, there is balance,
and the Church itself relies on Guild technology, often technology it bans for
the rest of the Known Worlds.
The Universal Church, is ironically, not quite
Universal. There are other religions, although they are practiced in secret for
the Church will stop at
nothing to exterminate them. Even within the Church, there
are distinct divisions. The basic priesthood is divided into white and red. The
White Priesthood is the largest group:
its members are permitted much greater social freedoms and
are usually parish priests. The Red Priesthood members take vows of chastity,
but
often reach
higher offices and learn greater
rituals than their White counterparts. There are also significant
theological differences in the church. The Mahayana is the more liberal branch,
the Hinayana branch is much more
conservative. The Hinayana branch has dominated the church
for the last century. The Eskatonics represent the greatest challange to the
Orthodoxy. They were a banned and
hunted sect until it was realized they knew secrets that made
them valuable weapons against the Symbiots. Despite the fact they have been accepted
into the Church, many
members of the Orthodoxy view them with suspicion and contempt.
| Urth Orthodox
The largest
sect, it is the Orthodoxy that most people associate with
the Church. Its priests can be found on all worlds, from
the ostentatious bishops of
the capital cities to the more humble parish priests in the most
poverty-stricken fiefs. While the Orthodoxy has gained a
reputation for their cunning political maneuvers, most
priests know little of such things, being entirely too busy protecting
the souls of the simple faithful in their parishes. The Orthodoxy's
self-serving machinations during the Emperor Wars disillusioned the
flock on many worlds, creating opportunities for other sects
to make inroads. Yet when tragedy strikes, it
is still to the
Orthodoxy that most of the faithful turn
for consolation. |
|
| Eskatonics
These hermetic
sages are often thought of as wizards by the common folk,
but the nobles and guildsmen know them for the kooks they
often are.
While there are many within the order who possess profound wisdom
and learning, there are just as many who are obsessed with
the end of the universe and who stand on street corners
telling everyone about it. Once considered a heresy by the Orthodoxy,
the Eskatonics were admitted into the fold when their theurgical
rites proved effective against the Symbiots. Some see this
concession as a sign of weakness as the Orthodoxy struggles
to regain ground lost during the Wars, but others quote the
old saying: "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." |
|
| Brother Battle
This order
of warrior monks is the most elite fighting forces
in the Known Worlds, surpassing even the Emperor's Phoenix
Guard
in martial prowess.
Originally chartered to protect pilgrims and pursue heretics,
the order is now petitioned by noble houses, other Church
sects, and even guilds to perform military operations
on
many
worlds, including the infamous Stigmata Front against
the dreaded Symbiot invaders. Despite rumors of heresy and usury
within
their
ranks, everyone wants a Brother Battle monk by
their side in times of trouble. Though technically bound to obey
the directives of the Patriarch, some worry that the Brother
Battle are gaining too much power as they accumulate lands
on frontier worlds where barbarians and heretics
remain a threat. |
|
| Temple Avesti (Avestites)
The Avestites
long ago seized most of the seats on the Inquisitorial Synod,
but even pilgrims
who hold no Inquisition seal
have a habit of sticking their noses in other people's business.
Avestites consider it their duty to search the Known Worlds for
signs of heresy, demonism and any other threats to the
faithful, and are not about to let such technicalities as law
or status get in the way. Their rejection of learning
and dogmatic adherence to certain extreme scriptures makes
them the object of fear and hatred for the enlightened,
although the peasantry might cheer when one of their betters
is the target of Avesti ire.
Publically, they are obeyed, but Avestites who wander alone
into dark
alleys are
sometimes never seen again. Only the
most fanatic and ascetic initiates are admitted to this sect. |
|
| Sanctuary
Aeon (Amaltheans)
This
order of healers
and compassionate mystics is as old as the Orthodoxy, although
the Amaltheans conceded leadership of the Church long
ago, preferring to dedicate themselves to the perfection
of their salutory arts. Everybody loves the priests
and priestesses of Sanctuary Aeon,
followers
of Saint Amalthea, for their very touch can effect
miraculous cures of injuries and sickness -- at times
even when artifact tech of the Second Republic
has failed. When an Amalthean comes to town, there is
always
someone willing
to provide
hospitality
for
her. Indeed,
so beloved by the commoners are they that when one was
once accused of witchcraft by an overzealous Avestite,
the Avestite was
seized by the populace and burned at the stake instead. |
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