Church of the Seven Emperors
HOLY CHURCH of the SEVEN EMPERORS
LAWFUL NEUTRAL | GARGANTUAN | STATE RELIGION; PANTHEONMuch like the Elurians themselves, Elurian theology is uniquely arrogant and self-centered. Rather than admitting worship to those greater than themselves, they worship those who were themselves. In Elurian theology, while the gods are immortal and eternal, each had elected to become mortal for a brief period of time, in order to lead the Elurian Empire. Only one was recognized as a god made flesh during his lifetime (Sutos the Just was celebrated as Irori during his reign), the others were "discovered" to be divinities at a later time (and even some due to canny PR campaigns).
Title or Organization Synopsis The Church of the Seven Emperors is the dominant religious faith in the Elurian Empire, as well as a few of its former subordinate states.
Scope and Influence The Church is preeminent within the Empire in social, economic and religious spheres. The temples to Abadar function as banking institutions and trade regulators. Iomedae's temples act as law libraries and schools of jurisprudence, and so on. There are few aspects of everyday life not supported (or at least addressed) by some element of the Church. Indeed, the Episcopal Curia forms one bureau of the Imperial Parliament.
Outside Imperial boundaries the influence of the Church is more dynamic. It tends to be strong in areas with a direct former Imperial foundation, such as Varisia and the League of Five Ports, moderate (at best) in the River Kingdoms and absent in the Independent Lands and Old Rindolia.
Goals The Church exists to promote classical Elurian virtues. It also acts to regulate aspects of culture under the aegis of divinity.
Headquarters The central nexus of authority is the Cathedral of the Seven Emperors (usually called the Temple, for reasons shortly explained). This is the home of the Archpater and Episcopal Curia, as well as the Hierarchs. Auxiliary installations are called Temples when devoted to a single deity and Shrines when devoted to several. The Cathedral is technically seven Temples under one roof; hence, its dual title.
Key Members Two of the most important and influential members of the Church are the Archpater, Elamon Mundros and his ally and Hierarch of Iomedae, Wimea Amienne. Their policies have seen the Empire through the Demonfall Plague and subsequent reconstruction.
Allies Within Imperial borders the Church is ubiquitous. Outside of it, the weaker (some might say dependent) branches found in the south might be called allies.
Enemies The enemies of the Church mainly dwell in the shadows or outside Imperial borders. Most oppose the evangelism of the faith, or its use of the inquisitorial Hellknights.
Assets The Church has resources and reach into nearly every aspect of Imperial life, and so what it does not already have, it can acquire. In extreme matters, there is an Inquisition which may be employed.
Membership Requirements There are no requirements. Any Imperial citizen is assumed to be a member, and any who express an interest is welcome.
Accepted Alignments Any. Evil alignments may be suspect, but adherence to the faith is the only true measure.
Values This entry lists characteristics the organization appreciates in its members, such as creativity, combat prowess, dependability, generosity, loyalty, skill at performing particular tasks, or social station. These are akin to the edicts in a deity entry.
Anathema These are acts against the organization's beliefs. Performing them can lead to a member being dismissed from the organization or subject to various other forms of punishment.
Structure
There is an informal network of laypersons who choose to be active in local church matters. While not formally organized or bear titles of importance, these people are the muscular system of the church. They each arguably report to their local parish Chaplain (the lowest tier of ordained cleric in the church, responsible for a village or neighborhood). Each of the chaplains report to a Provost, usually the highest-ranked cleric in an average-sized town or city quarter.
Provosts, for their part, are the senior church supervisors. Most of the local decisions are appealed no higher than the provost. However, there are higher authorities. The Episcopus is the second-highest tier of polytheist clergy in the Empire, ruling over not only a city or metropolis, but the region around it (called a diocese). Every episcopus sits on the Episcopal Curia — a council of leading clergy and theologians.
Not surprisingly, the Archpater (or Archmater) is the head of the entire Church. Their decisions, pending the support of the curia, affect all congregants.
Each of the deities has its own archpriest, called a Hierarch, usually recruited from among the episcopi. These clergy also sit on the Archmater’s curia, and have veto power over decisions affecting their deity and its supporters.
Cosmological Views
Worship
Worship days tend to cluster around weekly devotions each Reverence and Godsday as well as the deity's high holy day. Rural and especially devout businesses will often close on these days, but in the recent past it has become less common for urban shops to do so.
| Date | Holy Day | Deity |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Deepfrost | Mastery Day | Irori |
| 17 Windsway | Passage of the Silken Veil | Calistria |
| 24 Windsway | Ritual of Covey and Coin | Erastil |
| 25 Harvestsong | Highmarket | Abadar |
| 35 Greenmeadow | New Horizon | Iomedae |
| 20 Goldenleaf | Feast of Color | Shelyn |
| 12 Snowfall | Festival of Light | Desna |
Sects
Each deity comprises its own sect; however, it is not uncommon for subsects to form around alternative interpretations of theology.
Other officially recognized sects, although not officially recognized as former emperors, include Sarenrae, Pharasma, Gorum
Ovatus
Priestess/Priest
Chaplain
Provost
Episcopus
Hierarch
Archmater/Archpater
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