Fallen Empire - The Church of Belin

The Church of Belin

The dominant religion in Dunmar and much of the rest of the former Imperium is the Church of Belin (“the Church”), centered upon Belin, a deity associated with good, light, and the sun, also called the Increate, the Pancreator, Lord of the Risen Sun, or the Father of Light. Belin is omnipresent, yet unseen, within the universe yet not made of it, a creator whose work remains mysterious. That is, the Increate is an infinite being who is supremely good, who created all, who knows all, and can do all, who is transcendent over and imminent in creation, and who loves the mortal races. The core tenets, teachings, and dogma of his faith are primarily found in a set of books of sacred writings penned by a series of eight (since sainted) prophets. The first, written by Pavek the Oracle, details how Belin created the archangels and the celestial host, directed their creations of heaven, the sea, and the earth, the revolt of the rebellious angels who became the Fallen Lords and their followers, the jotunar, the War in Yesod, including the sacrifice of the Avatra, and the subsequent expulsion from heaven of the rebels. Pavek's book, the Compact of Pavek, is the primary basis of the faith, and outlines the vision of an ordered, just, and holy society that his account says came to him in the light of the first sunrise of spring in divine inspiration.

Appended to Pavek's work are seven books concerning the doings of the seven archangels known as the Avatra: The Book of Auriel written by the prophet Duana the Merciful, the Book of Caphriel written by the prophet Olav the Devoted, the Book of Hananiel written by the prophet Tewdwyr the Obedient, the Book of Imriel written by the prophet Maurelle the Righteous, the Book of Jophiel written by the prophet Rurik the Just, the book of Malchidiel written by the prophet Llyn the Repentant, and the Book of Uriel written by the prophet Ilisa the Faithful, each one written by a different prophet. Most Good clerics are members of the Church, and are organized into seven major orders (each venerating a different archangel), plus a number of minor ones (associated with other, lesser angels, or saints). All known paladins are also members of this faith, as are most Good-aligned rangers (although some Good-aligned rangers are members of the druidic faith, or one of the rural cults). The Church’s colors are gold and red, and the symbol of the faith is a gold disk on a red field (in heraldic terms – gules, a bezant). The shape of the circle has particular significance: The sign of the faith is a circle drawn over the heart with the forefinger and middle finger. Clerics of the faith pray for their spells at sunrise, Belin’s daily symbolic rise to power.

Basic Theology
Belin existed before everything else, as the first, and only, self-created entity (giving him the appellation the Increate). As Pancreator he gave life to the celestial host of archangels, angels, archons, eldarin, and guardinals, and directed their efforts to create Yesod and the earth. When the work was completed, he set this celestial host to maintaining, protecting, and nurturing the world. Seven of the most powerful archangels became jealous of their charges, determining that it was right and proper for their power to be recognized and served with obedience. These seven, now known as the Fallen Lords convinced many others in the celestial host to follow, and with this army rebelled against Belin seeking to seize his heavenly throne. Belin withdrew in the face of this treason, and declared that his work would have to stand or fall of its own accord. Those of the celestial host who remained faithful to Belin were at first thrown back by the jotunar (as the rebellious angels were now called) as the most powerful archangels and other celestials had arrayed against them. At this time, seven remaining faithful archangels, called the Avatra, petitioned Belin, and each made a sacrifice of something dear to them as a show of fidelity. In reward, Belin restored what the Avatra had sacrificed, and elevated them to his side as his lieutenants. Fortified by Belin’s power, the Avatra and the remaining members of the celestial host drove the Fallen Lords and their followers out of Yesod.

The faith is a demanding one that promises strength and salvation for the virtuous and obedient worshiper who faithfully attempts to follow Belin’s laws and strictures. Followers of this faith are gently intolerant of other faiths and deny the divinity of all other espoused gods. They will attempt to use moral suasion, coercion, ridicule and any other means to prevent people from following other religions and proselytize in favor of their faith. Worshipers of this religion behave with the confidence and arrogance of those who believe themselves to be infallibly directed by divinity.

As the faith is devoted to the divinity of the sun personified in Belin, the cycle of the orb plays a prominent role in religious ceremonies. The High Holy Day of Orthodox Belinism is midsummer, when members of the faith celebrate the eternal powers of the Father of Light on the longest day of the year. They also hold important religious ceremonies during midwinter as they supplicate Belin to bring forth the sun again and bless the world with his divine light. At these times worshippers plead for the return of the favor of the Lord of the Risen Sun. Each of the eight prophets recognized by the Belinist faith and each of the Avatra, as well as many angels and saints also has a holy day dedicated to their memory and special ceremonies are performed on those days. On holy days worshippers seek to gain Belin’s favor by offering sacrifices of wine, gold, precious objects and promises of faithful service.

Belin claims jurisdiction over the souls of mortals after they die and asserts the right to keep them in his realms. Belinsts are outraged by undead beings and are forbidden to raise the dead without a sign from their god that it is an appropriate act (usually in the form of an omen or portent indicating that a particular worshipper must be returned to life so that he may work the god’s will). They oppose consorting with demons, devils and other extra-planar creatures as Belin claims sovereignty over all worlds and their inhabitants. Belin’s aims and goals are said to be opposed by these evil spiritual creatures who seek to turn souls away from the Father of Light and into damnation. The faith is extremely evangelical and aggressive. Followers are directed by scripture to be dedicated to the promotion of their faith.

Clergy
The priesthood is divided into several major orders (one devoted to each of the prophets and their associated Avatra), and several minor ones, all subordinate to the Patriarch, the head of the Church. Ranked second in authority to the Patriarch, is the Lector, the successor-apparent to the position of Patriarch, the keeper of the holy scriptures of the faith, who is elevated to the position of Patriarch should the current holder of that office die, or otherwise leave the position. Each of the prophets has a holy order of priests devoted to their specific area of concern. Most members of the clergy are members of the cleric class, but a number are favored souls, paladins, adepts, or even experts. Each order has very slightly different vows, duties, and training, and emphasizes the teachings of that particular archangel. Priests of the Church use a small bracelet with thumbnail sized symbolic images of the seven archangels as their holy symbol (plus the symbolic image of the angel or saint to which a priest of a minor order is devoted), calling upon the powers of various archangels at different times for different purposes. Though all seven archangels are present in all holy symbols, the symbolic image of the archangel, angel, or saint to which a particular priest is devoted to will be depicted larger and more prominently than the others. The cycle of the solar orb plays a prominent role in religious ceremonies. The High Holy Day of the Church is midsummer’s day, when members of the faith celebrate Belin’s eternal powers on the longest day of the year. Important religious ceremonies also take place on midwinter’s day as they supplicate Belin to bring forth the sun again and bless the world with light. Each of the seven Avatra and many of the other angels and saints recognized by Belin’s faith also have designated holy days. Church teachings primarily focus on promoting the seven cardinal virtues of faith, fortitude, hope, justice, love, prudence, and temperance, and discouraging the seven capital sins of avarice, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath.

Archangels
Ranked first in primacy after Belin amongst the celestial host are the seven archangels, also called the Avatra. There are seven major priestly orders, each committed to the teachings of one of the seven archangels. Each of these major orders is headed by an archbishop, and together they form the Curia, a council that advises the Patriarch and are charged with electing a new Lector should the current Patriarch die or leave office. Those who become priests of the Church must join one of the various orders, and that choice affects domains, spells, and prestige classes available to them. All Good clerics, no matter their order, may choose from the Good, Law, and Sun domains, but members of the different orders each have one or two other unique domains available to them. All priests share some basic vows in which they promise to obey the commands of their superiors within the church, obey Church law, promote and defend the faith, and aid the weak, poor, and helpless.

Auriel: Peacemaker, the Moonmaiden. Appearing as a silver-haired woman clad in dazzling robes of matching color, Auriel is a patron of healers, sentries, guardians, and shapeshifters. Her order (the Pelerines) maintains numerous hospitals, soup-kitchens, hostels, and way-stations for the tired, poor, hungry, and indigent. During the War in Yesod, she surrendered daylight as a sacrifice to defeat the jotunar, but Belin raised the moon into the night sky, and gave her dominion over it in return. Auriel is the mother of Saint Amaethon and Saint Gwydion. Her symbol is a silver crescent moon on a black field. Favored Weapon: Staff.

Caphriel: Wondermaker, the Foehammer. Caphriel appears as a burly smith, either a hugely proportioned man or dwarf with a silver beard and muscles, bearing a mighty hammer, at his magical forge and anvil that allow him to craft the stuff of the stars. He is the armorer of heaven, and can forge weapons that never miss and amulets of unfailing protective prowess. During the War in Yesod, he sacrificed his strength to gain the skill to craft mighty weapons and armor needed to defeat the jotunar, and was granted divine prowess in return. He is a patron of dwarves, smiths, craftsmen, and engineers. Caphriel’s skill in crafting is only matched by his might in battle, and he is regarded as the strongest of the archangels. His symbol is a golden hammer on a black field. Favored Weapon: Warhammer.

Hananiel: Storm Cleaver, the Tempest. Hananiel appears as a mounting wave of a man with a dark foam-crested helm, a flowing beard of sea foam, and a coat of deep green mail. When in battle he wields his war axe that he names Retaliator. He is a patron of halflings, sailors, fishermen, and others who make their livings on or near oceans, seas, or rivers. Hananiel is the master of all creatures of the seas and waters. What Hananiel sacrificed in the War in Yesod is unknown, the portion detailing Hananiel’s sacrifice in earliest known texts detailing the sacrifice of the Avatra were ruined by water damage, and no augury or divination has ever been able to fill in this gap. To this date, transcriptions of the holy text include a blank space where Hananiel’s sacrifice would be described. Hananiel is associated with the osprey and many legends that involve Hananiel depict an osprey carrying a message or portent to a hero or saint. His symbol is an osprey on a blue field. Favored Weapon: Battle Axe.

Imriel: of the Silver Arm, the Firelord. Imriel appears as a tall, red-beaded man in mail with a silver right arm and a flaming sword. Called the Firelord for his righteous wrath, teaches protecting the defenseless, opposing tyranny and destroying those who unjustly subjugate others. He is a patron of paladins, holy warriors, and those who fight or work to ensure justice is done. While Caphriel is stronger, Imriel is more ferocious, and is counted as the mightiest warrior of the celestial host. During the War in Yesod, Imriel sacrificed his right arm to defeat the jotunar, and was rewarded with an arm of silver and an unfailing courage. He teaches leadership through service, strength through justice, power through purity, perfection of craft and self, sacrifice for the good of all, and might through righteousness. His symbol is a silver gauntlet holding a flaming sword on a black field. Favored Weapon: Longsword.

Jophiel: All-Seeing, the Binder. Jophiel appears as a silver-eyed, aged, white-haired man in heavy robes, carrying a weighty book. Jophiel is the patron of law, judgment, history, knowledge, and other endeavors of the mind, including magic. Jophiel is a patron of judges, sages, prophets and seers, and oversees a great library of thousands of tomes. In the War in Yesod, Jophiel sacrificed his eyes to defeat the jotunar, and was rewarded with all-seeing silver eyes and great gifts of wisdom. Jophiel created writing and bestowed that gift to the mortal races, and the stars are said to move in patterns established by him, and serve as vehicles of prophecy for those who can read them. In addition, Jophiel is the gatekeeper of Yesod, judging those who would enter therein according to the laws written down by Belin following the War. Jophiel’s order maintains several libraries, schools, and colleges. Jophiel’s symbol is an open book with an eye on each page on a white field. Favored Weapon: Spear.

Malchidiel: Wind-Rider, the Morninglord. Malchidiel appears as a handsome perpetually youthful man with a silver tongue wielding a bow that fires arrows made from the sun’s light. During the War in Yesod he sacrificed his tongue and voice to overcome the jotunar, and was rewarded with a silver tongue and a voice of divine purity and clarity. He is a patron of bards, poetry, art, literature, and gnomes, and is regarded as the most skillful archangel. Malchidiel is the master of the creatures of the air, and eagles are said to be especially favored by him. His symbol is three golden arrows on a purple field. Favored Weapon: Bow.

Uriel: Goldenheart, the Earthmother. Uriel appears as a silver-skinned, beautiful, gentle, and soft-spoken woman clad in green gossamer with long flowing brown hair and green eyes. Uriel is always depicted mounted on a white horse that can outrun any steed surrounded by summer songbirds. Her devotees may often be identified by the green and brown clothing they favor. She is mother and protector of all growing things, and, by her human consort Pwyll, the mother of Saint Pryderi, Uriel sacrificed her beauty during the War in Yesod to defeat the jotunar, but was rewarded with a shining visage of silver that radiated divine light. She is a patron of farmers and rural folk who rely upon the bounty of growing things for their livelihood, and is mistress of the beasts of field and wood. Uriel also maintains and guards the clouds, and brings fair weather to nourish green growing plants and ensure bountiful harvests. Her symbol is a sheaf of wheat under a yellow songbird on a green field. Favored Weapon: Sickle.

Angels
Ranked just beneath the seven Avatra in the celestial host are the venerated angels. In addition to the seven major orders devoted to the Avatra, a number (in the neighborhood of a few dozen) of these subordinate angels have followings. These minor orders vary in size and importance, some being reasonably significant, and others consisting of a single shrine or monastery dedicated to their veneration, or even merely an order of holy warrior-knights devoted to their cause. The angels have more specific areas of interest than the archangels, and thus their devoted priests may have fewer domains available to choose from. While there are far too many angelic orders to list them all, a partial list would include Oriel, the Angel of Love, Raphael, the Angel of Vigilance, Remiel, the Angel of Mercy, Tahariel, the Angel of Light, and Zuriel, the Angel of Battle.

Saints
While the Avatra and other angels are members of the celestial host, the saints are mortals who, through their exemplary virtue and great deeds in the service to Belin, have been canonized as paragons of the faith. The most honored saints of the faith, sometimes referred to as the "Sainted Prophets", are the eight prophets who wrote the eight holy books of the faith: Saint Pavek the Oracle, Saint Olav the Devoted, Saint Rurik the Just, Saint Ilisa the Faithful, Saint Tewdwr the Obediant, Saint Maurelle the Righteous, Saint Llyn the Repentant, and Saint Duana the Merciful. Each of the eight Orthodox Sainted Prophets has a holy order of priests devoted to their specific teachings, charged with keeping the integrity of the liturgy of the Sainted Prophet associated with their order. Each Order has very slightly different vows, duties and training particular to itself and emphasizes the teachings of that particular prophet. While the seven orders devoted to the Avatra are each headed by an Arcbishop, the eight orders devoted to the Sainted Prophets are headed by a Provost, and are accountable to the Lector rather than the Patriarch. Priests of Belin often use a small bracelet with thumbnail sized images of the eight prophets as magical talismans.

The Church, under the guidance of the Lector, reviews petitions for sainthood, determining if the deeds and virtues of the potential inductee merit recognition, and, if accepted, accepts their clergy as officials of the Church, and appends the records of their deeds to the holy writ. In addition to the eight prophets, the list of saints recognized by the Church is quite extensive, encompassing several dozen at least, while the number of “unofficial” saints is impossible to measure, as many of the more obscure “unofficial” saints have followings that extend no further than the village where they were born, or a mere handful of devoted disciples. Although a disproportionate number of saints were clerics or paladins in life, their ranks are drawn from virtually all professions and backgrounds, the only requirements being devout belief and deeds in service of the faith. Most were human, although a number of dwarven, gnomish, and halfling saints have been canonized. Due to their resistance to conversion to the faith, there are only a few elvish saints, and as of yet, no orcish or half-orcish saints have been officially recognized. While there are saints for many different endeavors, the most popular "lesser" saints in Dunmar and surrounding areas are the warrior-saints, such as Saint Colwyn (patron saint of dragon-slayers), also known as the White Warrior, canonized for slaying the great wyrm Odhrean in battle, or Saint Olvin (patron saint of giant hunters), canonized for overcoming an epic two-headed giant by transforming him to stone (the giant’s remains are now known as Mount Pire). Saint Gwydion (patron saint of justicars) is another popular warrior-saint, known for his pursuit of those seeking to avoid the sure hand of justice. Like the venerated subordinate angels, priests devoted to the venerated Saints generally don’t have as wide a range of options as those who are members of the seven major orders, for example, they are usually only able to select from one additional domain instead of two.

Ranks within the Church
Listed below are the basic ranks of Church hierarchy. Although there is a rough correlation between rank within the clergy, and the relative personal power of the priest, this is by no means a constant. There are certainly many priests of high rank who are not high level characters, just as there are certainly many clerics and adepts with tremendous personal power who remain deacons or priests throughout their lives. Initiates and deacons are usually referred to by the title brother (or sister), while priests of the rank of vicar and above are usually referred to by the title holy father or holy mother (or merely father or mother). In addition to these ecclesiastical rankings, there are a number of administrative offices and honorific titles within the Church.

• Patriarch: The patriarch is the overseer of the faith and head of the Church. The patriarch chooses and ordinarily installs the seven archbishops when a vacancy arises, and is often called upon to resolve matters of scriptural interpretation and establish accepted dogma.


• Lector: The Lector is the keeper and interpreter of scripture. The reader is also the patriarch-in-waiting, and ascends to that position should the current Patriarch die or otherwise leave the office. An important, but rarely used responsibility of the office of reader is to assess and evaluate petitions to canonize individuals as Saints.


• Archbishop: There are seven priests who hold this rank, one devoted to each of the seven archangels. Each archbishop heads one of the major orders, and is responsible for the administration and conduct of their underlings. Together, the seven archbishops form the Curia, a council that advises the patriarch, and is also charged with electing a new Lector should that become necessary. Only an archbishop may ordain bishops of his own order, and an archbishop also has the authority to ordain lower ranking members of his order should he choose to do so.


• Provost: There are eight priests who hold this rank, one devoted to each of the eight sainted prophets. As these holy orders are concerned with maintaining the integrity of the scriptures of the church, they maintain institutions of learning: Academies devoted primarily to the study of theology, but which have branched out to encompass almost all forms of academic scholarship from natural philosophy to arcane inquiry and research. Almost all libraries, schools, and other institutions of study were founded by and maintained by one of these holy orders. Like an Archbishop, a Provost has the authority to ordain priests within their order.


• Inquisitor: Inquisitors frequently circulate among the diocese of the faith checking on the condition of the provinces, essentially serving as inspectors for the Patriarch to ensure orthodoxy in the Church. A member of this rank is typically assigned to review the administration of a number of dioceses, and is answerable only to the Lector or the Patriarch.


• Bishop: Each diocese of the Church is headed by a bishop. The bishop is the chief liturgical figure in the diocese and is distinguished from the priest principally by the power to confer holy orders and to act as the usual minister of confirmation. The bishop has the highest jurisdictional powers within the diocese: he has the right to admit priests to his diocese and to exclude them from the practice of ministry within it, and he assigns priests of his diocese to parishes and other duties. The bishop often delegates administrative details to his vicar-general, his chancellor, or other officials. In larger dioceses he may be assisted by auxiliary or suffragan bishops.


• Priest or Vicar: Priests are usually given the responsibility of acting as minister to a flock of worshippers assigned to serve as the religious head of a parish. Many priests also hold religious administrative posts aiding more senior members of the clergy to administer their offices. Certain religious ceremonies must be presided over by a clergyman of at least the rank of priest, although exceptions are occasionally made in extraordinary cases.


• Deacon: A deacon is a junior priest, usually serving as an assistant to a more senior member of the clergy, or who has merely taken up a life as a mendicant or wandering priest (in which case, he is usually addressed by the title friar). A deacon is fully ordained, and authorized to act on behalf of the Church with respect to a number of matters, including leading the faithful in services.


• Initiate: An initiate is the first rank of the clergy, usually indicating a member who has taken his initial set of vows, but has not yet completed his training and education or been fully ordained into the priesthood.

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