Church of Ore-Tsar
ORE-TSAR came to earth to relive the suffering he saw being caused by the WARS OF THE WINTERS DARK. He quickly gained followers among the many fleeing from the ruins of these wars. His worship became organized into an ecclesiastical organization that provided a strong clerical presence in settlements providing pastoral care and charitable actions.
The Church is centered in AVIGNON. With the BISHOP OF ORE-TSAR being it's head, although his authority is only as strong as the local cleric accepts.
The Church of Ore-Tsar actively seeks converts and pushes out missionaries to anywhere that there is not an active local church. They build churches and cathedrals in the towns and cities where they founded local bodies.
History
PHILIP the Guileless, the prophet of Ore-Tsar, passed through Avignon in 1124md, and stayed for many months spreading the word of the Horse God to high and low. Those who remained were a pitiful sight, poor and bedraggled; deserted by all, they leapt at the new faith and the new hope. When Philip spoke, people flocked from all quarters of the city and they followed his word. They built churches and a monastery, dedicating both to the name of Philip. In turn, Philip appointed one of his disciples, SIXTUS, to remain in Avignon and rebuild it.
Sixtus busied himself with organizing the merchants, gathering a small fleet of ships to begin fishing and rebuilding the inner city. He also established way points on the ancient pylons of the URSAL BRIDGE which served as hauling junctures for barges to cross the straits. This brought a wealth of goods from Aachen. All this activity encouraged commerce to some degree. In 1127md, WILLIAM of ANGLAMAY contacted Sixtus seeking legitimacy for his claim as king. William knew that many of his folk had fallen under the spell of Philip and hoped that by securing the blessings of the high priest that his seizure of power would be all the easier. Sixtus, with much fanfare, came to ANGLAMAY-OT-NEIDER and crowned William king of that realm. The grateful lord sent several caravans laden with foods and wine to the city and granted them a wide stretch of territory surrounding the walls. In a very short while, the city recovered enough to attract some few immigrants.
In 1128md, Phillip returned and with Ore-Tsar’s disciples began the construction of a magnificent church in Old Avignon. They built it upon the foundations of the governor’s palace. They founded a prelacy and named Sixtus its first bishop. Sixtus used the position of the city to enrich the church by tithing barges and caravans that passed through. He rebuilt the city’s walls and towers, and soon thereafter, Avignon flourished as merchants, traders, and all manner of people came to live within the safety of its impregnable walls.
Avignon saw the face of war only once during the Winter Dark Wars. In 1129md, smarting from his defeat at the Battle of Olensk KAIN, DUKE OF ALTENGRUND, came to the great city. He saw that much of it remained in ruins and that it was not worth attacking. He called upon the city fathers to pay him coin for his kindness in mercy. Sixtus came forward to speak with Kain, for he had it in his mind that he could lay enchantments on the fell creature and induce him to leave, but Kain saw through his spells and laughed. He slew Sixtus, leaving his headless body upon the ground. Kain left without his coin, but he took the head in its place.
The people of Avignon were horrified at the tragedy and took Sixtus’ remains and lay them in the CHURCH OF PHILIP. His tomb became a holy place where pilgrims came to lay sacrifice in foodstuffs at his feet. More than one has claimed to be healed by the spirit of Sixtus. The clerics and monks of Avignon elected PIUS I to the bishopric in Avignon. Pius ruled for many years and brought more wealth and prestige to the city. He crowned WILLIAM II, king in Anglamay, introduced grape farming in the land, and granted tax relief to all those who owned a boat and brought trade into the city. This last spurred a host of ship captains to land cargo and sell it, cheaply, to caravans and by 1159md the city was well on its way to mirroring its past glory.
PIUS II, once elected to the bishopric, ruled the church in a far more careful manner. He maneuvered himself in various church councils to be recognized as the preeminent cleric of Ore-Tsar. This touched off a series of religious conflicts throughout the world of Ore-Tsar, which only ended with Pius’ death. Pius II crowned WILLIAM PHILIP, king of Anglamay, the last time a bishop of Avignon did this. He also instituted a draft which called for four troops of city guard to be established. The call went out, far and wide, for men of skill in the art of war, to come to Avignon and join the well paid ussars, as the troops were dubbed. To allow people to distinguish each ussar, one from the other, the various troops took on distinctive coloring in their uniforms.
HONORIUS I followed Pius II in the bishopric in 1176md. A very religious man, he disdained from worldly politics. He appointed a governor to aid him in running the commercial affairs of the city, and he rarely interfered unless the tithing dropped off. Avignon prospered again, trade flowed into her harbors and out, and a contented people grew larger than life. In 1190md, Honorius I died and his successor, Honorius II, took the miter of Avignon.
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Religious, Organised Religion
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Permeated Organizations
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