A letter from Divine Pontiff Artreus
- Gallion
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06 May 2013 08:54 #1
by Gallion (Gallion)
- James C. Kimball Director, Knight Realms
A letter from Divine Pontiff Artreus was created by Gallion (Gallion)
A letter from Divine Pontiff Artreus
As written by Divine Pontiff Artreus in the end of Winter 1213
Children of the light gods, it has been almost a year now since I dismissed the collage of cardinals, sold the trappings of the church of light and gave the proceeds to the poor. I have recently sold the immense structure that held the High Church of Valos to the Mages Guild of Kormyre who have in turn given their old tower to the use of the Paladin Order as part of our agreement.
Half of the money from the sale of the church compound went to those in need. One quarter has gone into the purchase of the Valosian Churches new home, the “Sanctus Lumanarium” A modest but highly defensible stone fort in Glangsdale, built into a mountainside. The last quarter of the proceeds went into purchasing large quantities of basic supplies to be stored in the numerous caverns that branch deep into the mountain that Sanctus Luminarium resides.
With our new home in place, we are now ready to restore structure and re-build the church of light in a more godly fashion in the name of our lords of light.
I have invited back the cardinals who’s beliefs seemed more in line with the one true word of Valos. I then filled the remaining seven seats with priests from around the world, chosen for their actions and beliefs. The structure of the church is herforth set as the following:
Divine Pontiff
The Divine Pontiff chosen by the Cardinals of the Light to serve for life as the spiritual leader of the Valosian Church
Cardinals of Light
The Cardinals of Light are chosen by the Divine Pontiff to administrate the organization of all clergy and oversee the health of the flock as a whole. They reside at Sanctus Lumiarium for only half of each year. They spend the other half either on pilgrimage to visit the flock at their homes, or attending to the troops in the chaos wastelands and other points of crusade.
Bishops of the Light
Bishops of the light are chosen by the cardinals of the light and are assigned to oversee the flock in specific geographical areas, usually coinciding with baronies of the kingdom, or in the case of larger baronies, portions of them. Bishops are whom all nearby pastors report to for guidance and leadership within the church. A bishop has the right to declare a fellow clergy member as being mis-guided and in need of re-guidance. A Bishop also has the right to declare a clergy member be excommunicated from the Valosian church; A status only able to be undone through the inclusion of the Divine Pontiff. A bishop is allowed to arrange their congregation in any way necessary, to help them administer the gods word to the people.
Pastors
All priests are Pastors. Most pastors lead small congregations and hold regular services to the public, preaching the true word of Valos. Periodically Pastors will travel to the local Bishop to seek deeper guidance.
Clerics and Templars
Clerics are the foot soldiers against the agents of darkness, and the shield that protect the church from its enemies. Templars are the elite crusaders who travel beyond the doors of the church to bring light to the darkest corners of world.
Godly Titles
Priests are referred as “Father/Mother” and Clerics are referred to as “Brother/Sister”, using their first name in many cases in place of their last name.
The Orders of the Gods
What specific light god an ordained priest or cleric worships determines what religious order they are also considered to be part of.
Valos – “Order of the Holy Light”
Andorra – “Order of the Gilded Rose”
Galladell – “Order of the Holy Spirit”
Gaia – “Order of the Kindred Oak”
The Orders of Divine Purpose
Any ordained priest or cleric of the gods of light are considered to make up the clergy of the light and may in addition choose to join one of the following orders if they so feel the calling:
The order of the Prophet
Those who believe strongly that the gods of light have pre-written our paths and that all things happen for a reason may wish to join the order of the prophet. Those of this order specialize in consoling and guiding the innocent. They use the true word of Valos to bring comfort to the masses, to explain away the darkness and usher all towards hope and faith.
The order of the Flagellant
Those who believe that the mind of mortals is weak before god and requires constant reminder to refrain from sin and become closer to their god may wish to join the order of the flagellants. Those of the order practice self-mutilation and self- condemnation. This can be done in private or in public.
The order of the Zealot
Those who’s faith is so strong that it cannot be contained easily may wish to join the order of the Zealot. Those of this order specialize in difficult confrontations, such as dealing with persistent and vial enemies or the excommunicated. They harness their passion for good and focus it at their target until their goals are met or the threat is neutralized.
The way one would refer to themselves reflects both orders and is stated thusly:
- “Brother Marcus, Zealot of the Holy Light”, “Mother Sara, Flagellant of the Gilded Rose”, “Father Samual, Prophet of the Holy Spirit”, or if they have chosen not to join an additional order, “Sister Lilliana Of the Kindred Oak”
The One True Word of Valos
The rules of the Valosian Church are simply the one true word of Valos.
I – Thou shall seek to bring others into the fold of the light gods and guide the world into their loving arms. Thou shall seek to aid or comfort the disillusioned, the lost, and the innocent.
II – Thou shall always see themselves as servants to the gods and as such servants to the people. Thou shall never think yourselves greater than others, nor close your doors to those in need.
III – Thou shall not covet power or titles nor the trapping of mortal riches, for they are the snare of the devil, designed to separate you from your most divine thought. Thou shall do your duty as called upon by your faith, and thou shall keep only what you need to protect the innocent and live your life as a servant of the gods of light.
IV – Thou shall not compromise your beliefs, as the ends do not justify the means in the eyes of our gods.
V – Thou shall seek the bloodless solution to conflict if such a solution is possible. If thy enemy seeks no conversion or forgiveness, then Justice shall be swift and with a compassionate yet absolute hand.
Re-guidance and Excommunication
Any gross infraction of the above laws of light is met with re-guidance, which is a process where all whom are part of the order of the Flagellants attempt to guide the strayed back on the one true path through self-deprivation and mutilation. Any who refuse to be re-guided are excommunicated from the church and asked not to preach in fear of the wrong message being delivered to the masses. This request is not an enforceable order, but it is made known to the public that the excommunicated are misguided and bear a false message. The excommunicated may not lead a regular congregation of faith, this punishment is enforced by the order of the zealots through non-lethal force if necessary.
As written by Divine Pontiff Artreus in the end of Winter 1213
Children of the light gods, it has been almost a year now since I dismissed the collage of cardinals, sold the trappings of the church of light and gave the proceeds to the poor. I have recently sold the immense structure that held the High Church of Valos to the Mages Guild of Kormyre who have in turn given their old tower to the use of the Paladin Order as part of our agreement.
Half of the money from the sale of the church compound went to those in need. One quarter has gone into the purchase of the Valosian Churches new home, the “Sanctus Lumanarium” A modest but highly defensible stone fort in Glangsdale, built into a mountainside. The last quarter of the proceeds went into purchasing large quantities of basic supplies to be stored in the numerous caverns that branch deep into the mountain that Sanctus Luminarium resides.
With our new home in place, we are now ready to restore structure and re-build the church of light in a more godly fashion in the name of our lords of light.
I have invited back the cardinals who’s beliefs seemed more in line with the one true word of Valos. I then filled the remaining seven seats with priests from around the world, chosen for their actions and beliefs. The structure of the church is herforth set as the following:
Divine Pontiff
The Divine Pontiff chosen by the Cardinals of the Light to serve for life as the spiritual leader of the Valosian Church
Cardinals of Light
The Cardinals of Light are chosen by the Divine Pontiff to administrate the organization of all clergy and oversee the health of the flock as a whole. They reside at Sanctus Lumiarium for only half of each year. They spend the other half either on pilgrimage to visit the flock at their homes, or attending to the troops in the chaos wastelands and other points of crusade.
Bishops of the Light
Bishops of the light are chosen by the cardinals of the light and are assigned to oversee the flock in specific geographical areas, usually coinciding with baronies of the kingdom, or in the case of larger baronies, portions of them. Bishops are whom all nearby pastors report to for guidance and leadership within the church. A bishop has the right to declare a fellow clergy member as being mis-guided and in need of re-guidance. A Bishop also has the right to declare a clergy member be excommunicated from the Valosian church; A status only able to be undone through the inclusion of the Divine Pontiff. A bishop is allowed to arrange their congregation in any way necessary, to help them administer the gods word to the people.
Pastors
All priests are Pastors. Most pastors lead small congregations and hold regular services to the public, preaching the true word of Valos. Periodically Pastors will travel to the local Bishop to seek deeper guidance.
Clerics and Templars
Clerics are the foot soldiers against the agents of darkness, and the shield that protect the church from its enemies. Templars are the elite crusaders who travel beyond the doors of the church to bring light to the darkest corners of world.
Godly Titles
Priests are referred as “Father/Mother” and Clerics are referred to as “Brother/Sister”, using their first name in many cases in place of their last name.
The Orders of the Gods
What specific light god an ordained priest or cleric worships determines what religious order they are also considered to be part of.
Valos – “Order of the Holy Light”
Andorra – “Order of the Gilded Rose”
Galladell – “Order of the Holy Spirit”
Gaia – “Order of the Kindred Oak”
The Orders of Divine Purpose
Any ordained priest or cleric of the gods of light are considered to make up the clergy of the light and may in addition choose to join one of the following orders if they so feel the calling:
The order of the Prophet
Those who believe strongly that the gods of light have pre-written our paths and that all things happen for a reason may wish to join the order of the prophet. Those of this order specialize in consoling and guiding the innocent. They use the true word of Valos to bring comfort to the masses, to explain away the darkness and usher all towards hope and faith.
The order of the Flagellant
Those who believe that the mind of mortals is weak before god and requires constant reminder to refrain from sin and become closer to their god may wish to join the order of the flagellants. Those of the order practice self-mutilation and self- condemnation. This can be done in private or in public.
The order of the Zealot
Those who’s faith is so strong that it cannot be contained easily may wish to join the order of the Zealot. Those of this order specialize in difficult confrontations, such as dealing with persistent and vial enemies or the excommunicated. They harness their passion for good and focus it at their target until their goals are met or the threat is neutralized.
The way one would refer to themselves reflects both orders and is stated thusly:
- “Brother Marcus, Zealot of the Holy Light”, “Mother Sara, Flagellant of the Gilded Rose”, “Father Samual, Prophet of the Holy Spirit”, or if they have chosen not to join an additional order, “Sister Lilliana Of the Kindred Oak”
The One True Word of Valos
The rules of the Valosian Church are simply the one true word of Valos.
I – Thou shall seek to bring others into the fold of the light gods and guide the world into their loving arms. Thou shall seek to aid or comfort the disillusioned, the lost, and the innocent.
II – Thou shall always see themselves as servants to the gods and as such servants to the people. Thou shall never think yourselves greater than others, nor close your doors to those in need.
III – Thou shall not covet power or titles nor the trapping of mortal riches, for they are the snare of the devil, designed to separate you from your most divine thought. Thou shall do your duty as called upon by your faith, and thou shall keep only what you need to protect the innocent and live your life as a servant of the gods of light.
IV – Thou shall not compromise your beliefs, as the ends do not justify the means in the eyes of our gods.
V – Thou shall seek the bloodless solution to conflict if such a solution is possible. If thy enemy seeks no conversion or forgiveness, then Justice shall be swift and with a compassionate yet absolute hand.
Re-guidance and Excommunication
Any gross infraction of the above laws of light is met with re-guidance, which is a process where all whom are part of the order of the Flagellants attempt to guide the strayed back on the one true path through self-deprivation and mutilation. Any who refuse to be re-guided are excommunicated from the church and asked not to preach in fear of the wrong message being delivered to the masses. This request is not an enforceable order, but it is made known to the public that the excommunicated are misguided and bear a false message. The excommunicated may not lead a regular congregation of faith, this punishment is enforced by the order of the zealots through non-lethal force if necessary.
- James C. Kimball Director, Knight Realms
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