The Chantry
Follow the Radiance, it's light shall give you purpose
The Chantry is a small secluded city state located in the wastes of the Sundered tips Mountain range closer to FernGul than Stormgarde, The Chantry is ruled by the church with the IRON FIST of theocracy, practicing a religion they call Divinity. Through promises of power, their utmost desire’s, and protection from death this religion is seductive to most who seek it. Venerating an entity they call “The Radiance”, would be followers who pledge loyalty to The Radiance are seemingly given a visible shift in their personalities, usually becoming more upbeat and confident. Some, who ascend the ranks of the religion are granted what they desire most, this has all who practice Divinity hope that The Radiance will someday grant them what they seek. Within the city’s walls the theocracy dictates most of the lives of the citizens. The Chantry creates and enforce laws, They placate the masses with gladiatorial executions adjacent to their monastery. The Chantry has never formally traded with or Exported to any other city, it is cut off from wider Alethkar.
This massive complex houses the nucleus of the Divinity ranks. Flanked with large statues of winged Devas (Angel like celestial‘s) Here the city gathers in mandatory church services in which the priests of Divinity preach their hollowed words. Inside this gothic cathedral is an artifact the divine call “The Prism”, a dodecahedron shaped object that glows softly with golden light, the priests commune with this object claiming it to be the voice of Radiance itself. When one wishes to become a member of divinity they must open themselves wholly to the Prism, only then are they accepted into the city state.
Caretakers mark is further altered to include a diagonal line across the middle of the first circle that ends in an arrow, this unlocks the ability to cast enchantment and healing magic, allowing Caretakers to calm young children or ease over burdened minds. This mark glows orange along with yellow when used to heal when in use and is visible at all time.
Handlers need to enact their control over others. Their Mark is one of a circle with a diagonal line striking it’s center. Another small line is added to the top of the circle. This mark allows the user to summon and apply radiant binds (hand bindings made from the radiants light). The mark can also be used to create a staff of light the handler can use. This mark glows orange when in use and can be hidden by the will of the user.
Templars are the fist of divinity, they are the ultimate enforcers of law the Chantry applies, as such their mark is one of force, consisting of the original circle with an added inverted triangle within its center. A thick black line is drawn vertically down the length of the arm from the tip of the triangle that connects to another thick line that wraps the width of the templars forearm. This allows Templars to summon weapons of radiance that emanate from the mark, making the Templar always have a weapon. This mark glows red when in use and is visible at all times.
Keepers use their mark of two open circles connected by a single line to gaze into the mind of anyone they deem worth of investigation. They also use the mark to look upon subjects without the need for the keeper to be in the same place. This mark glows with a violet light and can be hidden by the will of the user.
The Revered Mother/Father has radiant markings all across their body, these glow as sickly yellow when the revered is preaching the divinity doctrine or applying marks of the radiant. These marks disappear when they’re not in use.
The Executioner
Because Murder is the worst sin, a Divine can’t kill murderers. Instead, they summon “Demons” under their control to carry out punishments. The highest ranked Keepers of Divinity initiate a ritual of summoning that brings forth a fresh executioner if one should fall during combat or old age. To the wider audience the summoning is an elaborate ceremony that brings forth a demon from the depths below, but in fact a sinister act is carried out. Members of the Chantry named Handlers are sent to neighboring cities or villages to find a child of one of the so call “ harvester races”, being orcs, half orcs, bugbears and hobgoblins. When selected a poor unfortunate family is “taken care of” under the veil of night. With the parents gone the child is imprisoned and raised to be a gladiator. Enduring the hardships of intense combat training at a young age, along with brainwashing that has them Believe they are a “demon”. This abhorrent act of kidnappings brainwashing and torture isn’t known by the wider congregation and when they are “summoned” a flash of illusionary magics and flare accompanies the trained and brainwashed executioner as they are revealed. Executioners are marked with a magical brand that further enhances the Divines control.
Initiates Wear white robes with a red sash, Learn of the ways of The Radiance, apprentice under caretakers or warriors
Caretakers - Look after children in orphanages or, in special cases, young “freshly-summoned demons”. Also function as teachers to for the Chantry city state.
Templar - have combat brands allowing the use of magic, brought forth by the Radiance itself. Less well-versed in scripture than the Keepers. Lower ranked Templar act as guards.
Handler - In charge of moving the executioners from place to place, and procuring new executioners.
Templar Commander - In charge of Templar squads or Caretaker teams.
Keepers - The only people who know the guarded secret of The Radiance and Divinity.
Revered Mother/Father - The head of Divinity itself, Chosen by The Radiance its self.
This massive complex houses the nucleus of the Divinity ranks. Flanked with large statues of winged Devas (Angel like celestial‘s) Here the city gathers in mandatory church services in which the priests of Divinity preach their hollowed words. Inside this gothic cathedral is an artifact the divine call “The Prism”, a dodecahedron shaped object that glows softly with golden light, the priests commune with this object claiming it to be the voice of Radiance itself. When one wishes to become a member of divinity they must open themselves wholly to the Prism, only then are they accepted into the city state.
The Sunless Colosseum
Woe to all who are sentenced to endure battle in this brutal area. Those who are deemed unworthy of the Radiance , reject the law of divinity or commit a crime in the city are sentenced to execution within the blood stained Sunless Colosseum. Named by the poor souls who have been in combat here, it is said that the Suns light doesn’t pierce through the shadow that permeates the grounds. The sentenced must do battle against the Chantry’s chosen executioner. There has never been a sentenced who has actually won against an executioner, but if that were to happen the sentenced gains their freedom because the divine see it as is was the Radiance’s will that the sentenced survived. They are then given another chance to accept Divinity, if this chance is rejected then the person is marked and banished from the city. It is unknown what would happen to the executioner that lost.Marks of The Radiant
The Chantry as a whole doesn’t believe in taking any kind of alchemical potions or salve, as such they believe that The Radiance will heal them. They transfuse energy from their “radiant mark” tattoos etched onto their skin. Each tattoo transfers a different kind for power to the user depending on the rank of the individual within the Divinity hierarchy. Starting initiates are granted a small circle tattoo on their forearms, this mark allows for simple magic to flow even if they themselves aren’t magically inclined. The mark glows white when in use and it visible at all times.Caretakers mark is further altered to include a diagonal line across the middle of the first circle that ends in an arrow, this unlocks the ability to cast enchantment and healing magic, allowing Caretakers to calm young children or ease over burdened minds. This mark glows orange along with yellow when used to heal when in use and is visible at all time.
Handlers need to enact their control over others. Their Mark is one of a circle with a diagonal line striking it’s center. Another small line is added to the top of the circle. This mark allows the user to summon and apply radiant binds (hand bindings made from the radiants light). The mark can also be used to create a staff of light the handler can use. This mark glows orange when in use and can be hidden by the will of the user.
Templars are the fist of divinity, they are the ultimate enforcers of law the Chantry applies, as such their mark is one of force, consisting of the original circle with an added inverted triangle within its center. A thick black line is drawn vertically down the length of the arm from the tip of the triangle that connects to another thick line that wraps the width of the templars forearm. This allows Templars to summon weapons of radiance that emanate from the mark, making the Templar always have a weapon. This mark glows red when in use and is visible at all times.
Keepers use their mark of two open circles connected by a single line to gaze into the mind of anyone they deem worth of investigation. They also use the mark to look upon subjects without the need for the keeper to be in the same place. This mark glows with a violet light and can be hidden by the will of the user.
The Revered Mother/Father has radiant markings all across their body, these glow as sickly yellow when the revered is preaching the divinity doctrine or applying marks of the radiant. These marks disappear when they’re not in use.
The Executioner
Because Murder is the worst sin, a Divine can’t kill murderers. Instead, they summon “Demons” under their control to carry out punishments. The highest ranked Keepers of Divinity initiate a ritual of summoning that brings forth a fresh executioner if one should fall during combat or old age. To the wider audience the summoning is an elaborate ceremony that brings forth a demon from the depths below, but in fact a sinister act is carried out. Members of the Chantry named Handlers are sent to neighboring cities or villages to find a child of one of the so call “ harvester races”, being orcs, half orcs, bugbears and hobgoblins. When selected a poor unfortunate family is “taken care of” under the veil of night. With the parents gone the child is imprisoned and raised to be a gladiator. Enduring the hardships of intense combat training at a young age, along with brainwashing that has them Believe they are a “demon”. This abhorrent act of kidnappings brainwashing and torture isn’t known by the wider congregation and when they are “summoned” a flash of illusionary magics and flare accompanies the trained and brainwashed executioner as they are revealed. Executioners are marked with a magical brand that further enhances the Divines control.
Ranks of Divinity
Initiates Wear white robes with a red sash, Learn of the ways of The Radiance, apprentice under caretakers or warriors
Caretakers - Look after children in orphanages or, in special cases, young “freshly-summoned demons”. Also function as teachers to for the Chantry city state.
Templar - have combat brands allowing the use of magic, brought forth by the Radiance itself. Less well-versed in scripture than the Keepers. Lower ranked Templar act as guards.
Handler - In charge of moving the executioners from place to place, and procuring new executioners.
Templar Commander - In charge of Templar squads or Caretaker teams.
Keepers - The only people who know the guarded secret of The Radiance and Divinity.
Revered Mother/Father - The head of Divinity itself, Chosen by The Radiance its self.
Comments