Church of Edros

The people of the land mostly adhere to the dualist religion of the twin-gods. The Good God, known as Edros and his Evil brother, Bolnir. Edros is the God of the spirit which the devoted believes reside deep in our material bodies, he is also the God of the Spirit Realm, which can be accessed when the devoted become ‘perfects’ and abandon all their ties to material matter. The sooner the person becomes a perfect the more appreciated it is by Edros, however many people only become perfects when they know death is nearing. This is especially the case with the wealthy classes who sign a writ of passing all their material possessions including land to a family member, a friend or even the church itself - though this is a gamble, and not a proven way to enter Edros’ realm unlike becoming an acolyte and after years of training, a ‘perfect’. Those who do not become perfects at all, are definitely condemned to be reincarnated as a new person in the material realm, which is, the creation and realm of Bolnir. The most faithful devotees of Edros may enter a monastery and become acolytes from the age of 17. Usually, noble sons without inheritance opportunities and abundant children of poor serf families enter the monasteries to become acolytes. This means that the wealth and class gap present outside the monastery is equalized within its walls, all acolytes are treated the same in theory and are open to the same magical education in order to later become Wizards or Pastors. Though forced to abandon all their material matter or stuff, the Acolytes are not considered ‘Perfects’ until they finish their training in scripture and wizardry. After 12 years, the Acolytes are given a choice whether they want to become wizards or pastors (perfects). Wizards are used as Courtly advisors to the various noble houses and even guilds. They make sure to keep heresy at bay and that nothing is done that would dissatisfy Edros and they make sure that the court and all its members are blessed with Edros’ goodness and knowledge. This is the path usually chosen by Acolytes with a destitute background. Pastors are assigned a parish whose population they guide in the light of Edros, they tend to the sick and needy and also act as shields against the influences of Bolnir to the more vulnerable and uneducated rural communities. This is the path usually chosen by Acolytes with a wealthy background.
Paladin orders are also present in the Northern Realms, in Carolan and Rúne these orders are independent from the monarchy, and in some aspects even independent from the church. Blades of Edros is a famous Knightly order based in Adanfurt. Paladins become perfects at the time of their death, in the meanwhile owning a suitable arsenal or weaponry and specific learned Paladin magic to further Edros' and Zengin's messages through battling Bolnir's evils.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion