Difference between revisions of "Imperial Church of the Light"

Revision as of 10:50, 3 April 2006

The Divine Imperial Church of the Light is the first and only religious organisation currently tolerated within the expanse of the Divine Imperium of Roania. Founded by the first Patriarch, Louis DeRechelieu, after the Shadow Years, it has been a bulwark of stability for more than 2000 years.

History

After the fall of the Empire of Shadow, the Divine Imperium was founded by the leading general, a Joseph Black. Secular organisation was thus quickly secured; however spiritual organisation was nonexistent. The Roanians had, over the 600 years of fear, for the most part abandoned their spirituality out of a belief that God had abandoned them.

Then one of Joseph's generals stepped forward and claimed that he had had a vision. A vision of a universe freed from magic, freed from the shadow that such powers created. A vision of a new 'god', the Light. "In the beginning was the Light, and in the end all shall be Light once more." While initially slow to be accepted, many of the surviving priests and their proteges quickly subscribed, bringing an eclectic mix of rituals into its initial form. Still, popularity amongst the people was lacking, many Roanians having an inherent distrust of all spirituality.

Until Joseph and the newly ennobled Duke Leopold d'Arquis both converted after hearing Louis preach at the city of Valens, in the land now known as Adytum. With the two heroes of the war as members, first Roan and Derricks subscribed, and then the beliefs spread throughout all of Rudan Prime.

Louis became the first Patriarch of the Light, and was later declared a Servant of the Light. By the end of his long (some spoke of him as 'blessed by the light') reign of nearly 350 years, the Church was firmly established, to the point where he could be acclaimed a Prophet of the True Faith, an intercessor with the harsh Light to make itself known to humanity.

The First Imperial Civil War and the years preceeding it

The Church continued to grow in power for another 700 years. Then a terrible schism occured, with a section of the Church being corrupted by power and withdrawing to form the Temple of the Eternal Darkness. Merrech's spirit had reached out from beyond the Veil of Shadows to take possession of King Ricardo II of Agua, inspiring him and many of his soldiers to abandon their self-control and embrace the darkness within. A broad section of the Aguan Church turned with the ruler, and Lorodecrast was scoured of life. The armies of the darkness marched almost up to the walls of Valens itself. The city would have fallen right then had it not been for the courage of a member of the garrison, Sir Lucius Reginald, who stitched a sunburst to his sleeve and led an assault in the name of 'Prophet Louis, And the Lord-Emperor!'

This surprise attack drove the invading armies back for long enough that the Imperial Legions, which had been struggling with mass revolt elsewhere, could come to the city's aid. Though not soon enough to save Sir Lucius, who was eventually slain by an ambush in the cavern now named in his memory. The King of Agua and all his family were eventually captured by loyalist Aguans, who brought him before Lord-Emperor Alexander I. In a 24 hour period, the entire De Silva family was eliminated.

The Council of Blackport

After the Civil War, the weakened Church called a council in the town of Blackport, while reconstruction of the newly renamed Adytum commenced. Also attending the council in the name of His Divine Imperial Majesty was the newly ennobeled Duke Cassius Drakharn, who had served with distinction in the fields of Roan and recaptured for the Imperium New Bristol.

The key question was the future defence of the Church, and the Imperium as a whole, from other such dangerous heresies. While the Imperium had always had its own intelligence service, the Shadow Angels, granting religious authority to them would seem far too much like the Imperium was interfering in religious affairs. Therefore, Duke Cassius, in the name of the Imperium, granted the church permission to form its own private army, provided it was made up of no more than 10000 members. It is believed that Emperor Alexander was infuriated at this, however his advisors quickly convinced him that it was the best option for the safety of both the nation and the safety of his throne.

Thereafter, the Church became recognised almost as a national body in itself, placing its military on a seperate but equal ranking to the Altaran Riders, the Derricks Guard, and the Alaitoc Rangers. The Aguan Marines had been absorbed into the Roanian Legions, thus officially creating the Imperial Holy Legions. The remaining national defence forces were also absorbed into the Imperial Military within the next thousand years, leaving the Order of the ArchAngel's sword the only non-Imperial military force in the Divine Imperium's borders.

That was far in the future for the council, which had the immediate problem of training and arming such a body. Luckily, many of the former Aguan Marines had left the military rather than serve with Roanians, and using Sir Lucius's name as a call-to-repentance they were able to gather a large enough force to reach their quota within 10 years, though in future the newly named Order of the Archangel's Sword would become far more selective.

Almost unnoticed during the formation of the 'Inquisition', so called because of the titles its membership recieves, was the standardization of the Imperial Belief System and the creation of the Book of the Light and 'The Names of the Stars'.

The Second Imperial Civil War

The Second Imperial Civil War was primarily a secular conflict, with Warlord Despan using his twisted beliefs to justify the utter obliteration of Roania's elven community, and then launch a 'crusade' against the government and church for daring to oppose him. It ended with the interference (for the second time; the first was shortly after the foundation of the Divine Imperium when Imperial Forces acted without orders to launch a crusade against all elves) of Menelmacar, whose military aided the governmental forces and then declared the Divine Imperium to be a protectorate for 500 years.

The Church Today

Today the Church is everywhere. And while on the outside many Roanians might appear less fervent than some people from other nations, this is a product purely of ubiquitousness. The Church and Roania are one. The average Roanian might visit a religious center once or twice a year, or every week. They might never. But they remain followers of the Church, as to be a Roanian is to be a member. It is a defining trait, and everything every Roanian does is coloured by this fact. The church provided comfort and solace during the long years of tyranny under Alexander II, when people began to speak of a second Age of Shadow. When one of the Imperial Colonial Worlds was hit by a severe solar-storm, it was the Church which donated the most and provided the most material support. When a problem occurs in a Roanian's life that family, friends or the government cannot help, it is normally the Church that they turn to, and they will always find a listening ear.

Because of this strict indentification with the Roanian people, the Church is generally considered unwilling to accept outsiders. While this has a grain of truth, the message of the Church as such can be accepted by anyone, even if they still worship their own faith. As Patriarch Louis said, "True belief is a choice. No one can tell you how to worship the Light. All we can tell you is what the Light wants. Trust in yourself and your own strength, and the strength of your friends. It is only in this strength, not in the darkness of sorcery, that redemption can be found."

Doctrine of the Church

The Church's doctrine is quite simple. At its core is a simple premise. All magic is evil, and must be destroyed. The church's definition of magic is very simple.

• Psionics and related 'sciences'
• Elemental magic
• Summoning
• Non-elemental magic (teleportation, etc.)
• Healing magic (more of a gray area, not considered a top priority)
• Necromancy in all forms.

Etc.

The method of destruction varies. Ideally, the Church would convert everyone to its way of life, and force them to abandon magic. This is the preferred way of dealing with people such as [Elentari Sirithril] and other [elves].

More frequently, though, those responsible are marked down