Cathedra of the Sacred Dawn
The Cathedra of the Sacred Dawn is the highest ecclesiastical body of the Church of Pelor, an institution that wields both spiritual and temporal power across the Sea of Riches. It governs not only doctrine and ritual, but also directs diplomacy, cultural patronage, and war by proxy. Revered as the radiant voice of the Dawnfather on earth, the Sacred Dawn speaks with the authority of centuries, its decisions shaping empires and faiths alike. Its strength lies not in soldiers or fleets, but in the weight of divine legitimacy, the magnetism of moral leadership, and the vast coffers it controls through tithes, tributes, and investment.
The Archbishop of the Sacred Dawn rules from Santa Luce, a former mountain shrine turned spiritual capital and citadel of holy authority. The city’s white-marble terraces rise like sunstruck waves along the Tyrennian cliffs, culminating in the Santuario della Luce, the holiest cathedral of Pelor in all Avalor. Here, beneath golden domes and sunbeam-filtered vaults, the Archbishop of Santa Luce presides not just over sermons, but over states. Elected for life by the Sacred College of Cardinals, the Archbishop holds absolute spiritual and civic authority. His rule is supported—and, in some cases, subtly checked—by the Consiglio dei Nobili, a council of aristocrats, senior clergy, and merchant-lords who manage the day-to-day governance of the city. Though advisory in principle, the Consiglio’s influence is considerable, particularly in matters of diplomacy, economic reform, and mercenary oversight.
Santa Luce’s true engine of power lies in its economy and strategic neutrality. The Divine Treasury, administered under charter by the House of Morello, ensures a steady flow of wealth through tithes, tribute, and investment. Based in the rival city of Port Savona, the Morello bankers serve as the Church’s financiers, and their presence within the Sacred Dawn's vaults is both reassuring and quietly controversial. While the Archbishop speaks with divine authority, it is Morello gold that makes vision manifest.
Militarily, the Sacred Dawn has no standing army, but commands the loyalty—and contracts—of the most elite mercenary companies in the Sea of Riches. The Via della Spada is a grand avenue lined with the barracks and guildhouses of dozens of storied free companies, many with lineages tracing back to the Dawnfather’s Crusade. Santa Luce’s holy prestige and neutrality make it the region’s premier staging ground for war, and the Church’s subtle hand in shaping which contracts are approved is one of its most potent levers of influence.
The current state of affairs reflects a paradoxical blend of opulence and austerity, stability and ambition. While Archbishop Caius V remains a beloved and controversial figure, his bastard son now leads a missionary-campaign in the River Nations that some believe heralds a new wave of Pelorian expansionism. The Consiglio grows ever more entangled in the logistics of war profiteering and cultural patronage. And though Santa Luce styles itself as the conscience of the Tyrennian Peninsula, critics whisper that it has become a crucible of quiet power struggles, gilded hypocrisy, and sun-blessed imperialism.
Yet despite these contradictions—or perhaps because of them—the Sacred Daawn endures. Revered by the masses, respected by nobles, and feared by its enemies, it remains an institution both spiritual and shrewd—an immovable beacon in the turbulent tides of the Sea of Riches.
Goals
The Sacred Dawn, under the leadership of Archbishop Caius V, seeks to expand the spiritual and cultural supremacy of the Church of Pelor across the region. At home, this means canonizing the city of Santa Luce as a “Second Sun upon Avalor,” and establishing its sanctity as unquestionable. Abroad, it means securing the Church’s voice in matters of statecraft, art, and war. The Sacred Dawn also aims to remain the premier patron of the Tyrennian Renaissance, commissioning art, architecture, and philosophy that glorify Pelor and project the city’s moral authority. Its campaign in the River Nations, however, has raised concern. The Archbishop has granted his bastard son near-unchecked authority to “liberate” the fractured region—an act cloaked in divine language, but laden with ambition.Relationships
The Sacred Dawn maintains a posture of diplomatic neutrality, preferring to extend its reach through faith, coin, and culture. Though small in size, its authority is widely respected, and few risk offending the city lest they alienate the Church of Pelor itself. Its closest ties are with the Marquisate of Savona, primarily through House Morello, whose financial empire stretches from shrine to senate across the Sea of Riches. While tensions occasionally flare between Savonan ambition and ecclesiastical conservatism, the relationship remains firmly profitable. The Republic of Caspia, though more secular in its political structure, maintains cordial and respectful relations with the Sacred Dawn. Most Caspians venerate or at least acknowledge Pelor’s primacy, and the Church’s role in sustaining the arts and stabilizing the region is broadly appreciated. Caspia benefits from Santa patronage and neutrality, and many of its nobles seek favor with the Church for both spiritual and practical ends. In the east, the ongoing Xvimnian War has drawn attention across the Sea of Riches. Though the Sacred Dawn has publicly denounced the worship of Bane and all conquest carried out in his name, the Church has not intervened directly, militarily or diplomatically. This policy of nonintervention has drawn quiet criticism from some corners of the faithful, but the Archbishop has insisted that neutrality is necessary to preserve the city’s sacred impartiality and mercenary commerce. With many companies headquartered in Santa Luce profiting from the conflict, few in the Consiglio are eager to see that change.Key Figures
Archbishop Caius V
Male human To the public, Archbishop Caius V is the very image of a Renaissance pontiff: a man of learning, taste, and divine dignity. Once a cardinal-theologian by the name of Alvizzi Vitelli known for his eloquent sermons and mastery of Pelor's tenets, he was elevated to the highest office of the Sacred Dawn by unanimous acclaim after a brief and scandal-laced conclave. In the years since, Caius has proven a skilled administrator and a generous patron of the arts, revitalizing the clergy’s influence and drawing pilgrims—and artists—from across Avalor. To his admirers, he is wise, charismatic, and unafraid to make bold choices for the Church’s future. To his critics, he is a subtle tyrant who cloaks political maneuvering in gold-threaded vestments. Rumors persist of lavish spending, secret mistresses, and convenient disappearances—but none of it touches him. In the streets of Santa Luce, the faithful kneel when his litter passes, and poets praise him in verse. Whatever the truth, Caius V remains beloved, feared, and undeniably effective.Captain Cassian Vitelli
Male human The Archbishop’s illegitimate son and commander of the Compagnia di San Cielo, Cassian is a brilliant tactician and controversial rising star among Santa Luce’s military elite. Educated in both the cloisters of the Solar Academy and the brutal realities of Tyrennian warfare, Cassian combines charisma, discipline, and a visionary sense of strategy that has earned him admirers and critics in equal measure. His campaign in the River Nations is officially framed as a mission of liberation—but some suspect his ambitions extend far beyond the battlefield. Despite whispers of ruthlessness, even rival commanders concede that Cassian has the makings of a leader destined for greatness—or catastrophe.Alessandro Morello
Male human A senior member of House Morello and steward of the Divine Treasury, Alessandro is the Church’s trusted point of contact with one of the wealthiest financial institutions in the Sea of Riches. Trained in both theology and economics, Alessandro is known for his calm demeanor, precise diction, and talent for navigating the tensions between sacred duty and economic pragmatism. While he wields no direct political power in Santa Luce, no major commission, acquisition, or reform passes through the city’s finances without his careful authorization. He is a man who understands that influence lies not in the pulpit—but in the balance sheet.
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Capital
Alternative Names
Sacred Dawn, Cathedra
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Comments