Laying claim to the first miracle since the Fall of the Empire, the Messengers locate and destroy the lich Jarlerus the Corrupter, banishing its soul to the netherworld. Once barren lands around the Corrupter's tower begin to flourish. The Messengers take possession of the tower, renaming it The Needle and creating the new church.
Church of the Messenger
The Church of the Messenger has played an important role throughout Anvirmar, maintaining communication and funerary rights while civilization otherwise faltered.
The Formation
136 AE 208 AE
The Ursian Empire has fallen and the gods have retreated to the Empyrian Temple. Most of Northern Anvirmar falls fighting among local warlords. While the faith of some falters, the Messengers know their service is simply more vital than ever. They maintain their faith and their place on the fringe of society.
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136 AE
Clodagh Defeats Jarlerus the Corrupter
Religious event -
137 AE
147 AE
Centralizing the Church
Political eventOver the next decade a large focus is spent in centralizing the church, using the Needle as focus point. In an age of upheaval and with a notable victory behind them, the growing sense of stability within the Messengers is an attractive feature. The church begins to draw an unusually large amount of followers. Centralizing helps the messengers expand their secondary service: post. While couriers, errand runners, and pages often whispered a prayer to Waymein for help in difficult tasks, this organization gave the church political pull and inroads towards rulers and, eventually, guilds. The church became the defacto delivery service before the post-empire world knew it was ready for such service.
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148 AE
The Visions are added to the official texts of the church
Religious eventThe church had been built upon a set of texts known as The Rites, which detailed legends of Waymein as a messenger to the gods and in his post as psychopomp, the journey to the afterworld, prayers and rites of burial. The church now adds to this The Visions, which detail how Clodagh and her followers were able to win their victory and the claiming of the Needle.
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178 AE
Clodagh names Daenumer Shadesmith Successor
Political eventAt the age of 74, Clodagh the Blessed names Daenumer Shadesmith her successor to guide the church. From this point on most of her time is spent in spiritual isolation, excepting a few chosen close friends and acolytes. Daenumer functionally heads the church.
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208 AE
Death of Clodagh
Life, DeathAt the age of 109, Clodagh dies from very old age.
Expansion
209 AE 436 AE
A period focused on expansion of the church and securing its place in society. Although some initial turmoil leads to lively debate, the inner politics of the church remain consistent for a lengthy time.
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213 AE
Formation of the Needle Knights
FoundingPartially to protect their own material interests, but also to combat threats related to the domain of Waymein a militant arm of the church is founded. The Order of the Needle consists of war trained priests and holy warriors who have sworn to protect the mortal realm against those who would do it harm by trying to escape the natural path of life-death-and-afterworld.
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216 AE
9 Jorim
Needle Knights Purge Devil's Deep Canyon
Military actionWith debate still raging in the church about the formation of the knighthood, Daenumer sends a faction of knights to Devil's Deep Canyon in the neighbouring Kymora. The canyon was once a wealthy mining spot for the Kymorian republic, but had become the home to a powerful banshee and the spirits of her victims. When the Needle Knights were able to rid the canyon of the undead and return it's wealth to the republic, they won a powerful boon for the church. This quelled further debate on the subject, though it had cost Daenumer much of his support.
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249 AE
Needle Knights extend their services as hired protection
Political eventHaving gained a reputation for honour, strength, and indepence from political ties, the Needle Knights are sought after for private protection. They provide it mainly for travelers journeying from city to city.
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293 AE
Daenumar names his successor
Political eventDaenumer appoints Zhanna Hallowind as his successor. Having spent most of his political capital in the formation of the Needle Knights, the rest of his time as High Priest was unremarkable compared to his rise.
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297 AE
Steps to Expansion
Civil actionZhanna Hallowind proves to be less divisive than Daenumer with a refocus on the religious and postal aspects of the church, although the knights by no means suffer. Zhanna works towards bringing the church deeper into the community, building shrines in places other than necropoli, paupers fields, and burial mounds. She also has the delivery arm separated from the religious arm for the first time, finding places in cities where delivery can be arranged in a more businesslike fashion. These moves do have their dissenters, but the overall effect is to draw more in to the church.
Volshkan Cruesade
437 AE 476 AE
Emergence of a plague reveals an undead infestation in the lands of Volshka and the messengers go to war.
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437 AE
Plague! The Grey Mask!
Plague / EpidemicA strange plague erupts in the Eastern land of Volshka and quickly overflows its borders, threatening Anvimar.
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438 AE
13 Kaulim
Twelve set forth to Volshka
Diplomatic actionCardossa Banninddare selects nine knights to join her and the priest Casimir, along with his acolyte, on a journey to Volshka to search out the source of plague spreading throughout Anvimar.
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438 AE
18 Thaunim
Strange Encounters
Diplomatic actionAfter exploring a twisted landscape and encountering several towns where the once vibrant Volshkan's have become wary of people, they messenger retinue send one knight back to report their findings thus far.
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438 AE
21 Thaunim
Razing of Brachau
Military actionHaving found the city completely overrun by undead, Brachau is razed by an army sent by the Needle.
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476 AE
27 Briidaim
Assault on the Needle
Military actionAs the Messenger's closed in on Vasile, he had one last surprise. Behind the lines, where the lands were beginning to be restored and resettled, appeared nine knights. Their armour was blackened, their swords broken, and their eyes flame. They cut a swath of destruction to the base of the Needle. Overdrawn and over-committed to the war, the Needle was ill prepared. Though the messengers remaining managed to hold off their assault, it was at great loss and they were unable to destroy the newly created death knights.