The Menite Temple

While the Menite religion played a central role in the rise of human civilization, this ancient faith has been on the decline for centuries. Only in the Protectorate of Menoth are Menites the overwhelming majority, as that strict theocracy was established specifically to restore the faith to prominence. In the Protectorate life is quite different than anywhere else in the Iron Kingdoms, as religion is an inextricable part of life. The Sul-Menites of the Protectorate claim to have restored the old traditions of their faith, but in many respects their society is unique and does not resemble that of ancient times. The priest caste is in absolute control of the government, with the temple’s hierarchy filling the positions held by the nobility in other kingdoms. The leader of the temple is also the head of state, a position presently occupied by Hierarch Severius, a formidable scrutator who leads armies of the faithful to war. The Protectorate’s army is simply an extension of the temple, and its clergy also enforce the law.

Sacred rites and rituals pervade all aspects of life, and these, too, require the guiding hand of priests. Though not all people who live in the Protectorate are equally pious, all are affected by religion daily in countless ways. The hardship of working the barren lands east of the Black River only amplifies the prayers of the faithful who look to Menoth to improve their lives and shelter them in the afterlife. For the poor, the promise of Urcaen has more appeal than daily existence, which lends greater fervor to prayer. The best chance many have to improve their standing is to serve the temple more actively and directly, such as by joining the Temple Flameguard that serves as the Protectorate’s citizen militia or by aspiring to other temple positions.

As a matter of course every Menite in the Protectorate is aware they may have to take up arms to defend the faith. They each know to whom they must report should the call to arms be given, and there are weapons stashes in most communities for this eventuality. The prospect of war and crusade is a real fact to every Menite in this nation, since they believe themselves to be the last bastions of their faith, a religion that has been under constant attack by the godless for centuries. This attitude stands in contrast with that of Menites in other kingdoms, who have had to learn to live alongside their countrymen of other faiths.

Unlike the Church of Morrow, the “Temple of Menoth” is not a single organization, but many. The Sul-Menite temple is distinct from the Old Faith of Khador, and independent temples exist in both Ord and Cygnar with no connection to these groups. While this may change in the course of the Sul-Menite crusades, at present the Menites do not share a hierarchy.

This has become a topic of heated debate after one of the most momentous spiritual events in the last decade—the appearance of the Harbinger of Menoth in 603 AR. This young woman is a conduit for the divine and can speak with the words of Menoth himself as she channels miracles on Caen. Her arrival first served to spark a call Menites from all over western Immoren to the Protectorate then to ignite the Great Crusade, reinforcing the Sul-Menite claim to being the true successors of Menoth’s chosen people on Caen. Word of the Harbinger’s existence sent shockwaves through Menite communities in other kingdoms. In addition to an initial rush of converts who left their communities to join the Protectorate, the Harbinger has been the cause of ongoing dissent within Menite communities as spiritual leaders try to reconcile their beliefs with this clear sign of divine favor.

Menites Living as a Minority Faith

Menites are a significant minority across the Iron Kingdoms, where they conduct their lives much the same way as their neighbors except on days of worship, when they attend their temples. Most Menites carry a small Menofix, a symbol representing their god as well as the creation of humanity. Menites are generally hard workers, as their faith emphasizes diligence; the most pious among them eschew sloth and selfindulgence. They are not often found in taverns, gambling halls, or other common places of entertainment. Because of this, they may be viewed as insular, humorless, and disapproving by Morrowan neighbors, who will admit they are also serious and productive in their chosen trades. Menites in turn disapprove of the indolent lifestyles they believe to be rife among Morrowans. Small daily friction sometimes masks religious tensions lying below the surface, and relations between these faiths have become increasingly strained. In large communities, incidents of religion-inspired violence are not uncommon.

Of the kingdoms, Cygnar has the smallest proportion of Menites compared to the rest of its population. The end of the Cygnaran Civil War saw the majority of Menite families emigrate to the newly created Protectorate of Menoth, and only small Menite communities persist in Cygnar. The Protectorate’s crusades have greatly escalated tensions between Morrowans and Menites in this kingdom, particularly in the east. This situation has not been helped by Protectorate missionaries and agents looking to infiltrate Menite communities to convert those citizens to their cause. Many remaining Menites choose to worship in secret, although there are no laws forbidding their beliefs and old Menite temples and shrines stand in most cities and towns. Such secrecy is particularly widespread among Menites enlisted in the Cygnaran Army. Anti-Menite sentiment is not endorsed by the Cygnaran government or ranking military officers, but as a matter of widespread and pervasive antipathy it is difficult to address.

In Ord, Llael, and Khador there are sizable and respected Menite communities with deep roots. Yet even here the spread of the Protectorate’s crusades has had an impact. In war-torn regions, the loyalties of such communities may be called into question, particularly since the appearance of the Harbinger. Away from the front lines, Menites live in relative peace and cooperation with the Morrowan majority. Khador is notable for having a particularly large Menite population, most belonging to a sect called the Old Faith, which did not suffer as great of a decline as other Menite sects during the Orgoth Occupation. There are many exclusively Menite communities in Khador as well as cities where they represent a substantial segment of the population. The Old Faith has the largest organized hierarchy of any Menite sect in western Immoren outside the Protectorate of Menoth but lacks centralized leadership. Its ranking visgoths are scattered and focused on attending to the temples in their respective regions. Below the visgoths are influential priests called sovereigns who oversee individual temples.

Menite communities usually demonstrate higher levels of general piety than Morrowan ones, perhaps due to strict upbringing and more consistent traditions of teaching religious doctrine to the young. Even the less pious prefer lives of discipline and adherence to the rule of law. Many Menites adapt readily to military service and acquit themselves admirably, with career soldiering being a respected profession. Menite communities prefer to self-govern where possible, adhering to the dictates of the Canon of the True Law, their core religious doctrine. Originally inscribed on the stones of Ancient Icthier, this ancient text has been translated and interpreted numerous times. The most widely used Old Faith transcription of the Canon differs from the one used by Sul-Menites in important respects, particularly in its explanation of the authority of the priesthood.

Menite Priests and Scrutators

Throughout Menite communities, the masked priests of the Lawgiver are viewed as legal authorities, although those outside the Protectorate must obey the laws of the kingdoms where they reside. In communities in which Menites have the right to self-rule, there are two castes of clergy: priests, who preach, teach doctrine, and lead religious services; and scrutators, who serve as judges and executioners among their people. In areas where the Menite faith is particularly strong, the authority of the scrutators over Menite citizens is all but absolute and rarely challenged. Only in the Protectorate of Menoth, where Menites are the overwhelming majority, however, does a true theocracy exist.

All Menites attend temple on days of worship, with exceptions made only for those who are severely ill, attending to other temple business, or otherwise legitimately unavailable. According to ancient law, Menites are also required to donate one-tenth of their yearly earnings to the temple. Failures to attend religious services or pay tithes are crimes and subject to punishments commensurate with the severity of the infraction. The ability of the temple to enforce this varies considerably, but the scrutators and the Knights Exemplar who serve them often take an active role in enforcing temple law, even if such measures are not supported by secular law. In most cases government officials are reluctant to interfere in the internal affairs of these communities.

Menite Attitudes Toward Outsiders

Regardless of their specific sect, most Menites do not understand how those of other faiths can easily separate spiritual matters from daily life. Menites often find it unconscionable that so many people have foresworn their Creator to bow to another god. To a Menite the gifts that humanity possesses derive from Menoth alone and should not be squandered. In the centuries before the Orgoth, when the Menites were the majority, Morrowans were forced to heed the True Law, including paying tithes and attending temple, and traditionalists among the Menites yearn for their temple to return to such prominence.

Menite communities outside the Protectorate must grudgingly accept Morrowans but are not tolerant of other faiths. Menites see the Devourer Wurm as the ancient foe of their god and its cultists as deserving of violent extermination. This is one area where Morrowans and Menites fundamentally agree. Historically, Menite confusion about the distinction between Dhunia and the Devourer Wurm has prompted violence against trollkin, ogrun, and gobber tribes as well.

Similarly, most Menites are uncomfortable with the arcane. Menites see the spread of the Gift as an affront to the Creator by Morrow and Thamar. As a consequence, those born with strong arcane abilities within Menite communities have difficulty coming to grips with their powers, sometimes denying them outright. Others feel compelled to purify themselves through ritual and prayer. In remote Menite communities, local priests have been known to put to death young children manifesting sorcery. In the Protectorate of Menoth, the only sanctioned arcane practitioners are those belonging to the Vassals of Menoth. This group performs works vital to the Sul-Menite war effort, but its arcanists are kept under constant supervision and are treated akin to indentured servants of the state, enjoying only limited freedom.

Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Deities

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