The Draconic Church
The Draconic Church is the only legitimate religion in Ancaepya. It follows the teachings of the Book of Dragons and worships dragons as deities and Astilabor as the most important one of all.
Mythology & Lore
Asgorath: The leader of the draconic pantheon, he (or she) was presumably not only a god, but also a primordial. Regarded as the creator of all dragonkind and of the multiverse.
Astilabor: Goddess of acquisitiveness and wealth and the most important dragon in the pantheon.
Bahamut: Originally known as Xymor, he was the god of enlightened justice and good dragonkind.
Garyx: God of fire, destruction, and renewal.
Hlal: Goddess of humor, inventiveness, and pleasure, and also the messenger of Asgorath.
Kereska: Goddess of dragon magic.
Kuyutha: A dragonborn demigod who served Bahamut.
Lendys: God of harsh justice.
Null: God of death and dead dragons. Some theologists believe Null is in fact two different gods, Chronepsis and Falazure; or that both gods are different faces of the same two-aspected deity.
Sardior: God of gem dragons and psionics.
Tamara: Goddess of mercy and healers.
Task: God of greed, regarded as Astilabor's antithesis, the evil god of wealth.
Tiamat: Goddess of vengeance and evil dragonkind.
Zorquan: God of dragonkind and "dragonness" (the essence of what it was to be a dragon).
Astilabor: Goddess of acquisitiveness and wealth and the most important dragon in the pantheon.
Bahamut: Originally known as Xymor, he was the god of enlightened justice and good dragonkind.
Garyx: God of fire, destruction, and renewal.
Hlal: Goddess of humor, inventiveness, and pleasure, and also the messenger of Asgorath.
Kereska: Goddess of dragon magic.
Kuyutha: A dragonborn demigod who served Bahamut.
Lendys: God of harsh justice.
Null: God of death and dead dragons. Some theologists believe Null is in fact two different gods, Chronepsis and Falazure; or that both gods are different faces of the same two-aspected deity.
Sardior: God of gem dragons and psionics.
Tamara: Goddess of mercy and healers.
Task: God of greed, regarded as Astilabor's antithesis, the evil god of wealth.
Tiamat: Goddess of vengeance and evil dragonkind.
Zorquan: God of dragonkind and "dragonness" (the essence of what it was to be a dragon).
Divine Origins
Right when the first kingdoms began to form on Ancaepya, dragons arrived from across the ocean. They gathered massive hoards of gold and ruled over the people, first being revered as gods themselves. Soon the peoples of the two islands learned that the dragons worshiped their own deities and realized that since dragons have gods which rule over them they cannot be gods themselves. They started worshiping the dragon gods alongside their masters.
The subjugated peoples learned the dragons' mannerisms and above all, they adopted their greed and lust for gold and precious gems. So when the dragons left to fight in the war between Bahamut and Tiamat some centuries after arriving, this greed became the foundation of their culture.
As hoarding gold was second nature to the inhabitants of Ancaepya, they mainly worshiped the deity with the largest hoard, which was believed to be Astilabor, and so she became the most important goddess in their pantheon.
The supremacy of Astilabor became official in 564 AD, when the Archpriests of all the different gods, excluding Garyx, who lacks an Archpriest, met in Wyckaryn, at the Grand Temple of Astilabor. A great meeting was held and it was decided the different dragon worshipping cults would unite under the Draconic Church, led by the Archpriest of Astilabor - the Aspect. The priests of Bahamut and Tiamat, however, refused to cooperate and so the worship of Tiamat was outlawed alongside that of Garyx, as Bahamut's followers were more numerous and influential.
The subjugated peoples learned the dragons' mannerisms and above all, they adopted their greed and lust for gold and precious gems. So when the dragons left to fight in the war between Bahamut and Tiamat some centuries after arriving, this greed became the foundation of their culture.
As hoarding gold was second nature to the inhabitants of Ancaepya, they mainly worshiped the deity with the largest hoard, which was believed to be Astilabor, and so she became the most important goddess in their pantheon.
The supremacy of Astilabor became official in 564 AD, when the Archpriests of all the different gods, excluding Garyx, who lacks an Archpriest, met in Wyckaryn, at the Grand Temple of Astilabor. A great meeting was held and it was decided the different dragon worshipping cults would unite under the Draconic Church, led by the Archpriest of Astilabor - the Aspect. The priests of Bahamut and Tiamat, however, refused to cooperate and so the worship of Tiamat was outlawed alongside that of Garyx, as Bahamut's followers were more numerous and influential.
Worship
Each one of the Gods is worshipped in their own way, but many rituals require sacrifices and donations. Every God has a main temple, usually in one of the cities and towns around Ancaepya, with smaller temples and chapels strewn throughout the rest of the kingdom.
The Grand Temple of Astilabor, where the Aspect resides and where her High Priests convene their councils, is located in Wickaryn. The King is also crowned here.
The House of Asgorath is located in the town of Altaria. Since Asgorath is not really worshipped this is the only temple dedicated to him in Ancaepya and only a few priests care for it.
The House of a Thousand stars, Bahamut's main temple is located in Orlun. The temple got its name for the great dome which is covered in gemstones on the inside and serves as the roof over the main altar.
The Great Temple of Hlal, known as the Home of Knowledge, is located in Baymore right next to Baymore University. Many of Hlal's priests teach at the University.
The College of Kereska is based in Fallcrest. Kereska's priests are scholars and students of magic.
Kuyutha's Great Hall lies on the island of Dryholm.
The Court of Lendys is home to the Inquisitiors of Lendys. It's located in White Rock.
The Hall of the Dead is Null's main temple. It's located in Tregaerion city.
The House of Sardior is based near Balgrom. The temple is a large structure carved into the side of a cliff.
The Home of Mercy, Tamara's main temple, lies in Navalusia.
Zorquan's main temple is located in Carcalles.
The Grand Temple of Astilabor, where the Aspect resides and where her High Priests convene their councils, is located in Wickaryn. The King is also crowned here.
The House of Asgorath is located in the town of Altaria. Since Asgorath is not really worshipped this is the only temple dedicated to him in Ancaepya and only a few priests care for it.
The House of a Thousand stars, Bahamut's main temple is located in Orlun. The temple got its name for the great dome which is covered in gemstones on the inside and serves as the roof over the main altar.
The Great Temple of Hlal, known as the Home of Knowledge, is located in Baymore right next to Baymore University. Many of Hlal's priests teach at the University.
The College of Kereska is based in Fallcrest. Kereska's priests are scholars and students of magic.
Kuyutha's Great Hall lies on the island of Dryholm.
The Court of Lendys is home to the Inquisitiors of Lendys. It's located in White Rock.
The Hall of the Dead is Null's main temple. It's located in Tregaerion city.
The House of Sardior is based near Balgrom. The temple is a large structure carved into the side of a cliff.
The Home of Mercy, Tamara's main temple, lies in Navalusia.
Zorquan's main temple is located in Carcalles.
Priesthood
The Clergy is divided into different Orders consisting of priests, clerics, and paladins and led by Archpriests, who serve the different gods, but they are all connected to the Draconic Church which has its own hierarchy.
The head of the Church has no name and is simply called the Aspect, or the Apect of Astilabor. The Aspect has absolute rule over the church and its holdings and also crowns the King of Ancaepya. He is elected by the High Priests of Astilabor from one of their own number, and so the Church is but an extension of the Cult of Astilabor as all of the other Draconic Orders serve the will of a worshiper of the goddess.
The different Orders have their own unique rules and laws, but Astilabor accepts only clerics and paladins with an element of neutrality in their alignment, as they have to remain pure in their goal of acquiring and increasing hoards, and then protecting their treasures. Her clerics and paladins must also abstain from getting involved in the conflicts of other dragons, and have a habit of rewarding those who had accumulated a large and valuable hoard. The priests of Astilabor are ranked according to their wealth, or the size of their "hoard".
The head of the Church has no name and is simply called the Aspect, or the Apect of Astilabor. The Aspect has absolute rule over the church and its holdings and also crowns the King of Ancaepya. He is elected by the High Priests of Astilabor from one of their own number, and so the Church is but an extension of the Cult of Astilabor as all of the other Draconic Orders serve the will of a worshiper of the goddess.
The different Orders have their own unique rules and laws, but Astilabor accepts only clerics and paladins with an element of neutrality in their alignment, as they have to remain pure in their goal of acquiring and increasing hoards, and then protecting their treasures. Her clerics and paladins must also abstain from getting involved in the conflicts of other dragons, and have a habit of rewarding those who had accumulated a large and valuable hoard. The priests of Astilabor are ranked according to their wealth, or the size of their "hoard".
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Church has some measure of influence over the political landscape of Ancaepya as they control massive amounts of wealth and the different Orders have their own armed forces. The Aspect must anoint the heir before he may be crowned as the next king, so the royal family tries to maintain a good relationship with the Church, as wars have broken out before when an insulted or corrupt Aspect refused to crown the next king.
Sects
The worship of three of the Dragon gods is forbidden by the Church and sects which worship them have formed in secret.
The Sect of Task is the largest and most well known. Their existence is officially recognized by the Church and the Sect has become the Churches sworn enemy. They serve Task, the evil dragon god of greed and believe he represents the Ancaepyan way of life best. While Astilabor is the deity of acquisition with no stigma of greed attached, Task is greed personified. He wants it all, and it matters not to him what he has to do or what it costs to others to obtain what he wants. His worshipers share the same attitude and shun any rules which prevent them from expanding their "hoard".
The Sect of Tiamat is the second one banned by the Church. It is regimented by a strict hierarchy of ranks and titles. Her followers are occupied by the twin tasks of acquiring an ever-increasing hoard of wealth for the faith and sabotaging the faiths of other deities. As a result, they occupy most of their time with an unending series of thefts, assassinations, acts of vandalism, and arson. They differ from the followers of Task who seek only to increase their personal wealth, while Tiamat's followers will put the sect and their goddess before their individual gain. Even though Tiamat is more powerful than Task, his Sect is considered more dangerous than hers.
The last Sect is that of Garyx, the insane chaotic evil dragon god of fire, destruction, and renewal. His followers are split into three groups known as the Firelord's Chosen, the All-Destroyers Servants and the Druids of Garyx. The first two groups consist of people who follow him for his destructive abilities. The Chosen believe that only trough the destruction of the world and it's cleansing may evil be destroyed and a new eternal Kingdom of Good will rise from the ashes of the destroyed world. The Servants seek to destroy the world for they believe that Garyx will create a new one where his followers will rule. The Druids worship him for the renewal aspect of Garyx, knowing that devastation is necessary for rejuvenation, but they do not seek the world's death. Garyx reputedly does not care for his worshipers and ignores them.
The Sect of Task is the largest and most well known. Their existence is officially recognized by the Church and the Sect has become the Churches sworn enemy. They serve Task, the evil dragon god of greed and believe he represents the Ancaepyan way of life best. While Astilabor is the deity of acquisition with no stigma of greed attached, Task is greed personified. He wants it all, and it matters not to him what he has to do or what it costs to others to obtain what he wants. His worshipers share the same attitude and shun any rules which prevent them from expanding their "hoard".
The Sect of Tiamat is the second one banned by the Church. It is regimented by a strict hierarchy of ranks and titles. Her followers are occupied by the twin tasks of acquiring an ever-increasing hoard of wealth for the faith and sabotaging the faiths of other deities. As a result, they occupy most of their time with an unending series of thefts, assassinations, acts of vandalism, and arson. They differ from the followers of Task who seek only to increase their personal wealth, while Tiamat's followers will put the sect and their goddess before their individual gain. Even though Tiamat is more powerful than Task, his Sect is considered more dangerous than hers.
The last Sect is that of Garyx, the insane chaotic evil dragon god of fire, destruction, and renewal. His followers are split into three groups known as the Firelord's Chosen, the All-Destroyers Servants and the Druids of Garyx. The first two groups consist of people who follow him for his destructive abilities. The Chosen believe that only trough the destruction of the world and it's cleansing may evil be destroyed and a new eternal Kingdom of Good will rise from the ashes of the destroyed world. The Servants seek to destroy the world for they believe that Garyx will create a new one where his followers will rule. The Druids worship him for the renewal aspect of Garyx, knowing that devastation is necessary for rejuvenation, but they do not seek the world's death. Garyx reputedly does not care for his worshipers and ignores them.
Possum mea auget divitiae decuplo
Founding Date
564
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
The Church, The Faith, The Cult of Astilabor
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Notable Members
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments