The Church of the Black Star
This church spans nearly the entirety of the globe, but its strongest influence is in the western countries of Kenor. Strong, conservative, and fanatical were a great many of its followers. The races that worship within this Church tend to be human and near-human races, with dark elves and dwarves in charge of its hierarchy. The Church is also in charge of a great many monster and demon-hunting organizations due to the Adventurer's Guild making their home in the capital of Church, Elofscuro. The Universale Church is based in the Holy Republic of Drukalsteim.
Many of these factors would change with the advent of the Pantheon of the Black Star coming into prominence in the world and the Second Great Holy War. Many of the gods in the Empyrean Gods' pantheon were either overthrown, converted into the Pantheon of the Black Star, or abandoned their place in Empyrea. With the advent of Asherah's revival, the Church reformed itself into the Church of the Black Star.
Acceptance and inclusion of all races were decreed by the gods along with slavery, child abuse, and more becoming anathema. Every cathedral that the Church had emplaced took years to change titles and doctrine, but the Church continues now to be a force speaking for the pantheon as a whole.
Structure
Supreme Patriarch/Matriarch (the Pope)
Principales
Major Archibishop
Patriarch/Matriarch
Archbishop
Bishop
Deacon
Principales
Major Archibishop
Patriarch/Matriarch
Archbishop
Bishop
Deacon
Culture
The Church lends itself to a culture of charity and openness to those in need. The Church proudly promotes various businesses that bring joy and growth to people along with contributing heavily to charity. Many in the Church volunteer themselves to aid their local communities and to bring hope to many.
Public Agenda
To spread the Church's teachings to the entirety of the globe and to enlighten the populace of the love of the gods.
Mythology & Lore
The Universale Church based its beliefs on the factor of there being only seven living gods in the world after the The Great Holy War. They feverishly believed that all must be worshipped in equal value, or it lessens the degree to which a god must be worshipped. This equity of worship comes into play when looking at the Universale Calendar. In it, all gods have an equal day of worship according to their months and days, except for Marzanna on the month of Marzan. This is due to the fear that all must fear and revere the Goddess of Death above all, even the gods.
This would be abandoned in favor of the truth of the cosmos being revealed to the public that followed the Church of the Black Star. Now, there are 13 gods of worship in the Church of the Black Star and the Church is open to individuals worshipping one god over the others but all must remember the reverence of the Mother. She is the one who started the creation of the universe and ensured the closing of the Worldwound.
Divine Origins
The Church's origins lie in that of Drukalsteim. When dark elves first came to be, they pleaded with their greedy and capitalistic neighbor's, the Dwarves.
The dark elves wished for unity in both worship and country, but the dwarves, at first, only wished to hoard their gold and isolate themselves from a world that was but very recently on fire. The dark elves prayed and pleaded with the gods for a miracle to show the dwarves the error of their ways. Seven days and nights of prayer erupted when a woman, who is now known as Saint Mary, into the dwarven sanctuary of Elofscuro. She pleaded that if they would not unite as a nation, that the dwarves would suffer the gods' wrath. To prove her point, St. Mary held her dagger to her heart and plunged it deep within her heart when the dwarvish patriarchs refused her solemn appeal to action. However, Saint Mary's believed that the gods would not allow her to die from such a wound. This was proven to the patriarchs who scoffed at Saint Mary when [Captiel appeared and healed her wounds.
Upon seeing the power of prayer and faith over their own selfish greed, the patriarchs pleaded with Saint Mary and Captiel to show mercy for their foolishness. Captiel, being a god of temperance, showed them mercy and pleaded a political marriage to unite both races. The patriarchs agreed and so both races formed what is now known as both Drukalsteim and the Universale Church. The Church would be reestablished in 1263 after a massive schism due to the events of the Second Great Holy War. It now stands to ensure the lessons and edicts that the Pantheon has put in place is spread globally.
The dark elves wished for unity in both worship and country, but the dwarves, at first, only wished to hoard their gold and isolate themselves from a world that was but very recently on fire. The dark elves prayed and pleaded with the gods for a miracle to show the dwarves the error of their ways. Seven days and nights of prayer erupted when a woman, who is now known as Saint Mary, into the dwarven sanctuary of Elofscuro. She pleaded that if they would not unite as a nation, that the dwarves would suffer the gods' wrath. To prove her point, St. Mary held her dagger to her heart and plunged it deep within her heart when the dwarvish patriarchs refused her solemn appeal to action. However, Saint Mary's believed that the gods would not allow her to die from such a wound. This was proven to the patriarchs who scoffed at Saint Mary when [Captiel appeared and healed her wounds.
Upon seeing the power of prayer and faith over their own selfish greed, the patriarchs pleaded with Saint Mary and Captiel to show mercy for their foolishness. Captiel, being a god of temperance, showed them mercy and pleaded a political marriage to unite both races. The patriarchs agreed and so both races formed what is now known as both Drukalsteim and the Universale Church. The Church would be reestablished in 1263 after a massive schism due to the events of the Second Great Holy War. It now stands to ensure the lessons and edicts that the Pantheon has put in place is spread globally.
Cosmological Views
The Church recognizes all realities, or planes, that surround the physical one along with its moon, Korya.
Tenets of Faith
Edicts encourage others to strive toward their own potential, give your all to work and play, have hope that tomorrow will be a better day, stand up for the oppressed, rest on Hayday
Anathema cheat, give into or spread despair, keep silent when faced with oppression, work without respite or enjoyment, do not rest on Hayday
Worship
The book of worship for this religion is The Holy Scriptures.
Sects
Church of Carnival and Pioneer's of the Long Road
Deorum Vult! (Gods will it!)
Founding Date
0 E.D. and 1263 E.D.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
The One True Church
Demonym
Tridact
Leader
Leader Title
Subsidiary Organizations
Divines
Notable Members
Comments