Luz de Guia

The Luz de Guia is a Marcalido organization, mostly comprised of moth vampires. They are dedicated to their belief in the light and enlightenment, whose virtues compels them to protect the innocent, care for the weak, be charitable to the poor and keep citizens safe from criminals. This has lead to the countries that fall under the Luz de Guia's domain, Linterra and Pezi, to be relatively very safe for its inhabitants.
But the Luz de Guia also believe that this faith must be spread with sword in hand and that sinners must be eradicated with neither mercy nor hesitation. That is not to say they don't believe in redemption, but on the battlefield, they are to slay their enemies to the last soul if that is what it takes. Empowered by a combination of fanatical zeal and vampiric strength, the military might of the Luz de Guia is a fearsome one. And with many of their soldiers having hundreds of years of experience, they can go toe to toe with most others and come out on top.

The Luz de Guia is primarily divided into two main structures, the military and the church, though in times of conflict, the distinction is blurry at best. The church handles most matters of law and faith, while the military provides security.

Structure

Agente: Those who show prowess in social matters and subtlety may be promoted to this rank. They perform dangerous operations of intrigue from the Luz de Guia, infiltrating foreign nations to gather information and spying on their own ranks to track down heretics and traitors.
Anciano: The oldest and most revered vampires, considered saints by their fellows. Most holds positions of leadership or close to.
Capitan: Glorificadors and higher ranking military personel who demonstrate leadership skill may be given the rank of Capitan. This designates their right to command groups of fellow soldiers and allows them to command a military vessel, such as a ship.
Cazador del Cielo: Those vampires who master their skills of flight become Cazador del Cielo, tasked with keeping the skies clear of heretics and monsters alike.
Clerigo: Common members of the clergy. They handle the most basic tasks of the church and assist higher ranking members as needed.
Conquistador: Soldado trained to fight in uncommon terrains and expect the unexpected, they are the main force that takes to the battlefield when the Luz de Guia deigns to bring their enlightenment to new nations.
Diacono: Mid-rank church officials, responsible for leading common ceremonies and handle day to day affairs of the churches.
Escudero: Non-vampires who have proven themselves loyal and willing to eventually be transformed themselves. Until that day, they serve as assistant and extra guards.
Glorificador: Soldado who prove their zeal and prowess are promoted to glorificador and are given new arms and training. Most troops include at least a few glorificador among the common soldado, that they may inspire them.
Obispo: High-rank church officials, leaders of congregations and heads of major ceremonies and rituals.
Soldado: Common soldiers of the Luz de Guia's armies.
Paladin: Powerful champions of the church, combining martial prowess with divine power. They are entrusted with the most important of wartime tasks.
Predicador del Cielo: Members of the clergy whose skills at flight are unmatched. They are often entrusted as messengers and sent to bring to good word to the more distant corners of the land.
Vanguardia: Hardy soldiers who are often the first to move into areas where the Luz de Guia expects conflict.

Culture

The Luz de Guia believes that the world is divided into light and dark, virtue and sin. And that much like the light banishes the dark, so too must the virtuous vanquish the sinners. And much like a lantern keeps the light during the night, the righteous must care for the faultless less the heretic snuff them out. Most members of the Luz de Guia are vampires and believe that this transformation gives them the power necessary to fight the dark. As this power also comes with a lot of temptations, they aim to hold themselves to the highest standards. They never feed on an innocent unless blood is freely given, they defend the people that live under their command, they hunt down dangers that would outmatch others and in every aspect strive to be beacons of morality. This morality also drives their zeal in battle, for the Luz de Guia believe that every sinner slain brings the world one step closer to true enlightenment, when finally all that live will be united in the light and prosper. Thus, they fight without doubt or hesitation, for theirs is a sacred charge.

Public Agenda

The Luz de Guia promise to bring order, peace and prosperity to all lands that embrace the light.

Assets

The Luz de Guia has been building up their forces for ages. By now, they have a large and competent military and the financial backings of two countries which fall under their protection.

History

In 2043 AIT, Jose Zamorano, the first vampire of the Luz de Guia, founded Monasterio de la Polilla. Here he preached a message of enlightenment and virtue, of abstaining from acts that were cruel and malicious. He attracted many believers, a few of which he even converted into vampires. These followers would then journey across the country of Linterra, to do good by others and help those in need. In 2194 AIT, Jose left along with a group of his followers. The exact reason is unknown, though most believe it was a sacred duty of some sort. Him and his followers sailed across the seas of Marcalido, never to return. In 2326 AIT, the remaining vampires, frustrated with the corruption and vice that ruled their country, began to operate in an increasingly militant way. In 2340, this almost resulted in a confrontation between the Luz de Guia and the royal army, but King Pablo decided that an alliance was more of a benefit, naming the Luz de Guia the state church of Linterra, giving them permission to root out crime and corruption. And root it out they did. Merciless and ruthless, the Luz de Guia in short order executed several nobles and transferred their holdings to themselves. They began rapidly adopting new members and converting them into vampires, sometimes converting entire wings of the military that was once the servants of some now quite dead nobility. Criminal gangs and thieves guilds were destroyed, tax evaders and swindlers where publicly exsanguinated, burglars and seriel killers where hunted like wild game. After the kings brother was executed for his long time support of several gangs that helped drive up the prices of goods he sold, the writing on the wall was clear. The Luz de Guia were now the true power in the country and even the royal house was not immune to their scrutiny. Following their campaign of bloodshed came an equally fervent campaign of rebuilding, the Luz de Guia intent on fostering a virtuous environment by investing their considerable ressources into roads, schools and other things of public benefit. By 2347 AIT, the Luz de Guia considered their work in Linterra nearly complete and looked outwards for new lands to spread their light to. Their eyes fell on the bordering nation of Pezi and it didn't take long for the leadership to find fault with the country. The Luz de Guia made diplomatic overtures, mostly in the form of demanding that the lords of Pezi allow them to cleanse their nation of sin. They refused, to no one's surprise. This was all the justification the Luz de Guia needed and they mobilized, leading to a bloody campaign that lasted from 2348 AIT to 2397 AIT, which ended in the defeat of Pezi and it's annexation by Linterra. Since then, the Luz de Guia have spent their time marshaling their forces and building up the countries, but everyone knows that at some point, they will eye the horizon again, to spread the light beyond it.

Demography and Population

The Luz de Guia claim guardianship of both Linterra and Pezi. The population of these lands are primarily human or vampire. People trend towards good health, good education and long living, thanks to the Luz de Guia.

Territories

The Luz de Guia hold steward ship of Linterra and Pezi. The former is their homeland, whereas Pezi was conquered.

Military

The Luz de Guia is highly organized, with the soldado and conquistadors as the grunt forces, glorificado and vanguardia as specialized units and paladins as the elite.

Technological Level

The Luz de Guia is rather slow to change and most more recent inovations come in through merchants, but they have made some of their own advances, primarily in ship- building.

Religion

The Luz de Guia worships a numer of deities, viewing them as a pantheon that resembles enlightenment according to their founding philosophies. Of note can be named Malakhia, whom they worship as protector of the innoce, even if theirs is a rather aggressive take on it.  Their religion stresses mastery of the self and the purification of impure thought through meditation. It also teaches that being a vampire comes with both great power and great temptation to misuse it, so it is important that its worshippers learn how to deny their hunger and feral nature, lest it lead them to sin. There's also a heavy focus on charitable work, doing things for the common faultless that their lives are eased.

Foreign Relations

New Pezi hates the Luz de Guia and its members raid the shipping lance, taking their revenge one plundered cargo hold at the time.

Agriculture & Industry

Under the guidance of the Luz de Guia, Linterra and Pezi produce plenty of ressources. The fishers of Pezi bring in plenty of food and the fields of Linterra are very fertile. Desposits of iron and other base metal are semi-common in both countries and large forests have supplies them with lumber for ages.

Trade & Transport

The Luz de Guia does a lot of trade, using a large fleet of ships to transport goods in and out of the countries. These same ships are also the primary means of transportations within and out of the sphere.

Education

The Luz de Guia believes education is part of enlightenment. Thus, even the peasantry receive some schooling, usually with a heavily religious bent to aid the common folk in keeping their minds free of sin.

Infrastructure

Having spent ages on building up, the infrastructure under the Luz de Guia is well developed. The roads are maintained and sewer systems help prevent disease.

Mythology & Lore

Jose Zamorano is the first of the Luz de Guia and the first of their kind of vampire. But the question of how fascinates many members. Some say that Jose spontaneously transformed upon reaching enlightenment. Others that his musings caught the attention of a deity who gave him the gift to make his vision reality. Equally as mysterious is what happened to Jose. Did he and his followers ascend in some manner or are they out there, still spreading the light?

Divine Origins

Jose Zamorano is the one who fomulated the basics of their philosophy, including introducing the worship of a number of deities he felt embodied that. The orders more militant approach came to be in the many years that followed his vanishing.

Tenets of Faith

Strike down the sinful, showing neither mercy nor hesitance. Shelter the faultless and give them aid. Never take blood from the innocent, unless it is freely given. Act with restraint, honor and dignity. Keep the self under control and resist temptation. Spread the light, that all the world may be enlightened.

Ethics

Zeal, generosity, temperance, mercilessness and devotion are all considered virtuous.
Sloth, gluttony, greed and bloodlust are all considered sinful.
It is important to note that the Luz de Guia see a clear distinction between smiting the wicked with grim satisfaction and the love of carnage for the sake of it. One is pious, because it is satisfaction is removing evil from the world, whereas the other is love for violence for its own sake.

Worship

Demonstrations of piety is seen as an essential act of worship, with worshippers fasting, remaining abstinent for several days and so on, Soldiers on active duty will often, if possible, ritually sacrifice a portion of their enemies' blood, as demonstration of their zeal and commitment to making a better world. Worship is churches is often done around massive, enchanted lights. Candles and lanterns are often lit en masse during ceremonies and on important occasions, so many a lit that one can scarcely believe night has arrived.

Priesthood

Clerigo, diacono and obispo make up the church hierarchy of the Luz de Guia. Intiates who wish to join must first gain the approval of an existing clerigo, who then submits a request to their local diacono. If accepted, they become a clerigo themselves. All members wears flowing robes with the Luz de Guia insignia on them. Their roles are to lead sermons, interpret church canon and call upon the powers of the deities to assist the cause.

Granted Divine Powers

With a variety of deities comes a variety of powers. Notably, the clerics of the Luz de Guia are skilled healers and can empower the vampiric abilities of their allies. More offensively, they can bind enemies or rip the blood from their veins, mixing divine magic with their own inherent mastery of blood.

Political Influence & Intrigue

The current interpretation of the edicts of Jose Zamorano has made the Luz de Guia very aggressive and expansionist. Even if they have spent the passing of many years now building up, it is with an eye towards making future conquests possible. They are not opposed to allies that could self-govern, but living up to their standards may be difficult.

Enlightenment Shines Forth

Founding Date

2043 AIT

Type

Geopolitical, Theocracy

Alternative Names

Lamp Lickers(Derogatory)

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

Luz de Guian

Government System

Theocracy

Economic System

Palace economy

Currency

Coin: This simple currency is accepted and often funneled towards foreign trade.
Glimmers: Golden coins embossed with an eye on one side and one of the nation's many lighthouses on the other.

Major Exports

Salted and preserved fish are exported a lot to spheres with less ocean.

Major Imports

Meat and blood are both always in high demand, and preserved samples of both from foreign species are an easy way for traders to make a profit.

Legislative Body

The anciano are considered the foremost experts on the holy texts of the Luz de Guia and their counsel is sought when is applicability is unclear. Under them, the Obispo handle much of the day to day legilative work.

Judicial Body

The obispo handle much of the day to day work of carrying out the demands of the holy texts.

Executive Body

All members of the military are expected to aid in enforcing the law, though particularly egregious cases are handed over to the paladins.