Church of the Holy Union
“The nature of the universe is a test of the faithful. The mortal world is the crucible of honor, and the birthing room of righteousness. We issue a call to those that would rise from the muck of their mortal concerns and turn their attentions to the glory of the holy war. Be bold and brave, and We shall be with you. Be honorable and just and We shall judge you in kind. Hear the trumpets of the sacred army and purify yourself to the purpose of the destruction of evil. This life is but the first phase of that battle. By service and strength of character will you arm yourself for the battle that will come at the end of all things.
Know this: when that war is fought the cowardly servants of evil will fall to you just as their masters will fall to Us. For We are the righteous and those that follow in Our path shall join with the hosts of the heavens and end the iron grip of evil for all time.”
Know this: when that war is fought the cowardly servants of evil will fall to you just as their masters will fall to Us. For We are the righteous and those that follow in Our path shall join with the hosts of the heavens and end the iron grip of evil for all time.”
Structure
By combining two rigidly structures faiths, the church of the Holy Union has created the most convoluted system of rank of any faith in Meaghana. Making this more complicated is the presence of the numerous Paladinic Orders that are part of the church proper. The following are the basic ranks of the church, but different layers and areas of responsibility add addition forms of ranks lay over this.
Altar Keepers: Altar Keepers are young people usually no more than 13-14 years old, who have been taken in by the church. These people serve the temples in general upkeep and those that seem particularly capable begin their training to become either a Sibling of the Cloth, or a squire of one of the Paladinic Orders.
Sibling of the Cloth: Called Brother or Sister, the Siblings of the Cloth are the lowest rank of indoctrinated priest. They serve the priests of their temple and begin to learn the true rituals of the faith. Many Adventuring Clerics come from this rank, and seek to carry the power of the Union outward into the world.
Paladin’s Squire: Within the Monasteries of the Paladins the Squires are of like rank to the Siblings of the Cloth. The Squire’s day is spent in brutal physical and spiritual training to determine the truth of their soul and their dedication to the paladin’s ethos. These Squires are apprenticed to a single paladin, and serve him as a manservant during his training.
Keepers of Honor: Called Father or Mother, the Keepers of Honor are widely considered the true priests of the Holy Union. These priests serve the head priest of each temple directly, and are responsible for different areas of concern within the temple. (Ex. Almsgiving, Battle Training, Teaching, Temple Goods)
Paladin: Called Sir or Dame, the paladins are of a like rank to the Keepers of Honor within Paladinic monasteries, and typically fall under that rank when visiting other temples. All paladins are responsible for acting as the sword arm of the faith and training the other members of their particular order.
Trumpets of the Sacred War: Called Father Superior or Mother Superior, the Trumpets of the Sacred War serve as the head of a single temple. These priests command the loyalty of all the members of the clergy within their temple, and serve the bishop of their region.
Knight Commander: Also called Sir or Dame, the Knight Commander serves as the head of a single Paladin Monastery. This is the highest rank of Paladin and are in name the subordinate of the Bishop of their region. In practice, the insular nature of the Monasteries means that the Knight Commander is more typically the highest authority in matters relating to their Paladinic Order.
Bishop: Called Your Grace a Bishop is the ruling priest of a large region. Typically overseeing 5 to 10 temples a Bishop wields and extraordinary level of power and prestige. While ostensibly equal in rank, a Bishop’s true rank is often determined by the prosperity of their region.
Archbishop: Also called Your Grace, an Archbishop over sees all the temples in a given kingdom. They Archbishops have a strong level of influence both within their kingdoms and the Empire at large.
High Priest: Called Your Holiness, the High Priest of the Holy Union commands the entire legion of the faithful. Ruling from the Grand Cathedral in Hosiana, Fetesca, the High Priest sets policy for all clergy and lay worshipers. His edicts are passed down through the council of Archbishops, who in turn pass it along to their subordinates.
Altar Keepers: Altar Keepers are young people usually no more than 13-14 years old, who have been taken in by the church. These people serve the temples in general upkeep and those that seem particularly capable begin their training to become either a Sibling of the Cloth, or a squire of one of the Paladinic Orders.
Sibling of the Cloth: Called Brother or Sister, the Siblings of the Cloth are the lowest rank of indoctrinated priest. They serve the priests of their temple and begin to learn the true rituals of the faith. Many Adventuring Clerics come from this rank, and seek to carry the power of the Union outward into the world.
Paladin’s Squire: Within the Monasteries of the Paladins the Squires are of like rank to the Siblings of the Cloth. The Squire’s day is spent in brutal physical and spiritual training to determine the truth of their soul and their dedication to the paladin’s ethos. These Squires are apprenticed to a single paladin, and serve him as a manservant during his training.
Keepers of Honor: Called Father or Mother, the Keepers of Honor are widely considered the true priests of the Holy Union. These priests serve the head priest of each temple directly, and are responsible for different areas of concern within the temple. (Ex. Almsgiving, Battle Training, Teaching, Temple Goods)
Paladin: Called Sir or Dame, the paladins are of a like rank to the Keepers of Honor within Paladinic monasteries, and typically fall under that rank when visiting other temples. All paladins are responsible for acting as the sword arm of the faith and training the other members of their particular order.
Trumpets of the Sacred War: Called Father Superior or Mother Superior, the Trumpets of the Sacred War serve as the head of a single temple. These priests command the loyalty of all the members of the clergy within their temple, and serve the bishop of their region.
Knight Commander: Also called Sir or Dame, the Knight Commander serves as the head of a single Paladin Monastery. This is the highest rank of Paladin and are in name the subordinate of the Bishop of their region. In practice, the insular nature of the Monasteries means that the Knight Commander is more typically the highest authority in matters relating to their Paladinic Order.
Bishop: Called Your Grace a Bishop is the ruling priest of a large region. Typically overseeing 5 to 10 temples a Bishop wields and extraordinary level of power and prestige. While ostensibly equal in rank, a Bishop’s true rank is often determined by the prosperity of their region.
Archbishop: Also called Your Grace, an Archbishop over sees all the temples in a given kingdom. They Archbishops have a strong level of influence both within their kingdoms and the Empire at large.
High Priest: Called Your Holiness, the High Priest of the Holy Union commands the entire legion of the faithful. Ruling from the Grand Cathedral in Hosiana, Fetesca, the High Priest sets policy for all clergy and lay worshipers. His edicts are passed down through the council of Archbishops, who in turn pass it along to their subordinates.
History
In 796 (AC), a priest, scion of the House Ravennian, by the name of Carridus began spreading word of a divine revelation. Carridus preached that Duty and Bravery complete each other, and when together strengthen the forces of goodness and justice in the world, just as the union of a Man and Woman leads to the creation of new life. His followers worshipped both Gods in the name of the Holy Union. Carridus traveled the length and breadth of Fetesca, and the miracles attributed to him, drew him a great following.
Many of the more traditional priests of Thera and Starlong believed that Carridus was a heretic, and eventually he was charged as an Omadonian who was leading the faithful into ruin. Carridus was arrested by the inquisition, and his trial was a public affair held in the grand garden in Hosiana. Much evidence was brought against Carridus and when asked to defend himself he said, “This you do for the love of power, the Holy Union knows of my truth. Do as you will, for your power is as nothing to them.”
Carridus was found guilty of heresy, and sentenced to burn at the stake, the fire caught his robes and burned them to ash, but the fire would not touch the flesh of Carridus. With the fire around him, Carridus revealed the truth of the Holy Union in a sermon to the gathered. When he proclaimed the truth of the Holy Union the fires disappeared in a flash of holy light, and when the light was gone, Carridus stood garbed in pure white robes, with the Holy Symbol of the Union, Thera’s Blade clasped in the Gauntleted Hand of Starlong, set in a gold chain around his neck. The gathered people recognized the act as a true miracle, and Carridus immediately presided over the marriage of the High Priests of Thera, and Starlong, officially joining the two churches into the Church of the Holy Union.
Many of the more traditional priests of Thera and Starlong believed that Carridus was a heretic, and eventually he was charged as an Omadonian who was leading the faithful into ruin. Carridus was arrested by the inquisition, and his trial was a public affair held in the grand garden in Hosiana. Much evidence was brought against Carridus and when asked to defend himself he said, “This you do for the love of power, the Holy Union knows of my truth. Do as you will, for your power is as nothing to them.”
Carridus was found guilty of heresy, and sentenced to burn at the stake, the fire caught his robes and burned them to ash, but the fire would not touch the flesh of Carridus. With the fire around him, Carridus revealed the truth of the Holy Union in a sermon to the gathered. When he proclaimed the truth of the Holy Union the fires disappeared in a flash of holy light, and when the light was gone, Carridus stood garbed in pure white robes, with the Holy Symbol of the Union, Thera’s Blade clasped in the Gauntleted Hand of Starlong, set in a gold chain around his neck. The gathered people recognized the act as a true miracle, and Carridus immediately presided over the marriage of the High Priests of Thera, and Starlong, officially joining the two churches into the Church of the Holy Union.
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