It is well known that the states themselves (The sophisticated High Kingdom, the robust Empire of The Flame, and the newly reformed United Populous) vie constantly for power and influence among themselves. It is also known that the Orders (Order of Seraph, Order of Mirrah and The Order of Many Fathers) conduct their own struggles independent of these states. What is less well known, however, is the relationship between State and Order.
The great States, results of many hundreds of years expansion, are too large for direct governance beyond the major cities, and instead are better understood as protectorates. They set laws, collect taxes, and raise armies, but do little else to affect the lives of most citizens.
The Orders, with their origins in wealthy religious organisations, have grown to fill this void. The beginning is simple. A religious organisation takes its own guard, grows capacity to conduct minor expeditions and protect local villages, creates fortified positions to defend themselves against bandits and aggressive States (back before our current three State continent), and so on. As noted above, as the states grew in size, they reduced in local influence, and as such allowed the Orders to exist, maintaining local law and organisation.
Then came the War of the Orders. We all know someone who lost in that war, and the effects are clear around us even today. Politically, it changed everything. The States realised how powerful the Orders had become, and in many incidents, came into direct conflict with them. The most notorious being the Siege of Carthane, where Hextor troops came up against the Royal Mages of the High Kingdom.
In the wake of this conflict, the weakened Orders found themselves the center of two threats. Firstly, the States took the opportunity to push back against the Orders, imposing strict taxes on religious organisations, and using these taxes to establish closer controls over their lands. It has not been unusual to see guards storming temples over vague tax disputes, or to hear preachers threatening dire consequences to any who threaten their Order.
Secondly, they are losing followers. The Orders, once protectors of the people beneath absent States, are now seen as power hungry and violent. Their gods have lost worshipers, their clergy has lost respect, and their donations have dropped dramatically. (It has also been made illegal for religious organisations to impose mandatory taxes).
Indeed, it looks as if these mighty warriors, these holy crusaders who burnt our lands, are suffering and withering in the light of financial policy, and are still too fragile to make a fuss.
Also worth mentioning is the rise of Pelor. During the war many churches of Pelor, not united under a single organisation, conducted work as peacekeepers and healers. This has been remembered by the people, many of whom have flocked to join this religion, seeing it as a peaceful and sane alternative. It has no Order or centralised leadership, and as such no means of beginning wars. It is also true that within the last decade, both the Empire of Flame and the United Populous declared Pelor the state God, and granted generous subsidies to his worship. It would appear that the States are attempting to fill the void left by the Orders, and drive them into irrelevance.
So, what of the future? We see States increasing control, orders weakening and growing bitter in the face of wavering faith and governmental reform, and the rise Pelor. Will the Orders stay down? Will they fade away? Or will they make a final struggle? Only time may tell, but it is the opinion of this author that we may have seen the last great holy armies in these lands. Times are changing.
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