Church of The Immortals

Structure

The Church of The Immortals follows a simple organizational structure. At the top of the organization is The High Imam. She is the ultimate intermediately between The Immortal Forces and the people of Ishal. The High Imam consults the Chosen Prince on spiritual and religious matters and spends her time performing religious rituals and prayers for the Principality of Ishal. She also is the one to appoint leaders of The Immortal Church's sub-organizations and has the sole authority to excommunicate remembers of the church. In addition to her other powers, The High Imam decides how the church's tithes will be divided between the Lesser Imams, the religious leaders of communities, or ummahs. The Lesser Imams mediate between the gods and the common folk and interpret and adjudicate divine law. They serve as spiritual leaders in rituals, like funerals or weddings, and collect tithes to be stored by the local mosque or transported to The High Imam. The 'Iimam Mujahid, or Militant Imam, is the leader and organizer of the faith's various militant holy orders. Amin Sunduq Alamam, or Treasurer Imam, is the organizer of the church's funds and charity efforts. Finally, the Sayaad Alsaahira, or Lady Witch Hunter, leads the Tartib Alsayaad the Demon/Heretic Hunter Order of the church.

Culture

The followers and Members of the church believe in the Great Jihad. The Great Jihad is the personal struggle of all men against the four aspects of reality within the harsh desert and arid planes of The Ishal Desert. These four aspects of reality are represented by the Four Gods of the Immortal Forces Pantheon. They see the various banes and hardships brought upon by these gods as tests that if passed will result in a beautiful and worthwhile afterlife. Because of this, the people who follow the church are dogmatic and rules-oriented, wanting to ensure they can enter the afterlife.

Public Agenda

The Public Agenda of the church is to save the souls of all of the Ishalan people and make sure that as many of them as possible can get into Aljanat Almajida, Glorious Heaven.

History

The Church was formed after survivors of The Wrath banded together in the early Third Era. The Wrath was the event that caused The Ishal Desert to form, and the reason for this wrath is heavily speculated amongst historians and theologians alike. The First High Imam, Aaliyah, came to lead them. She was an intelligent and charitable Aasimar, who preached that The Wrath was a punishment from The Gods and that if they all wanted to repent and atone they must follow the gods will. Even though the region the Desert Princeability was divided, the religion of The Immortal Forces came to unite them. The kings soon threw down their titles and recognized there was only one King, Cadceed, leader of the Immortal Forces. The desert is filled with natural riches, like gold and coal, causing many rival kingdoms and Magedoms to invade and make war, particularly Tracia the predecessor to modern-day Amatrace. The lowest point was when an Adult Blue Dragon invaded the kingdom, and destroyed the Great Mosque, building its lair inside the rubble and hoarding the wealth of the nation. The people despaired, but the Church kept them together preaching that this was a test of their faith and conviction. The Blue Dragon was slain by a Holy Paladin and a group of other warriors. This Holy Paladin, Muhamed Aldih, would lead The Desert Principality of Ishal as the first Chosen Prince and his family would continue to hold the title into the 5th Age.

"Fi yad alaliha" (In the hands of the gods)

Founding Date

Early 3rd Era

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Alternative Names

The Immortal Church, The Ishal Church, Relgion of Ishal

Demonym

Tabie

Leader Title

The High Imam

Permeated Organizations

• The Desert Principality of Ishal

Related Ranks & Titles

• The High Imam

Related Species

• Humans

Related Ethnicities

• Ishalans

The one true Faith?

The Church of The Immortals is not the only group that worships The Immortal Forces. Not only is there a sect that believes Liftn, the Orphan God of Light, to be the ruler of the pantheon, but there is also a sect of the faith that rejects the organization of the religion entirely. This sect is called the Sunni Church, as prefers a more spiritual and religious connection with The Immortal Forces. It focuses less on Dogma and more on deep meaningful introspection and connection with the ummah and the desert. They can be found in remote desert monasteries or in the mountains to the east.  The Church of The Immortals however sees the Sunni Church as a threat to the salvation of the Ishalans, and the Tartib Alsayaad devotes most of its time to locating and destroying it's monasteries and followers.