Communion of Balance
The Communion of Balance is an organized religion based on the Credoth Pantheon that is seen in the Jouilat culture. It is often referred to among its patrons as just 'The Church'. On the mainland the church could be found operating inside various nations and took a back seat to geopolitical affairs, however on the Isles the church has taken a more direct role in politics. They provide both law enforcement and security from outside powers for its worshipers, to the point where many would consider the church to be its own nation. The majority of people who worship the church are Jouilat.
Public Agenda
The church frequently sends missions to the various countries throughout the Isles to help spread their religion. The clergy preaches of the balance of the world and maintaining it. The public goals laid out by the church include spreading the joys of 'proper' religion and helping maintain justice and fairness in the world. The church also promises that while it is the governing body for the island of Sielles, they have no plans in removing governments in place. They promise only to work side by side with other nations to help spread peace and knowledge.
History
The church was founded in the city of Paris by various scholars who supposedly received the Tomes of Balance from envoys of the four. It was founded around a hundred years after the disappearance of precursor cultures. Its patrons believe the disaster described in the tome of absolution is what caused the disappearance of the precursor's.
Mythology & Lore
The churches mythology is laid out throughout the Tomes of Balance. The tomes tell a variety of stories and poems about the deeds of the gods and the elder gods and layout what they believe to be the history of the world
Cosmological Views
The church believes that Credoth is the main realm that is surrounded by 16 planes for each of the gods. Unlike the other cultures, the church does not believe that Credoth sprang forth from the chaos of the primordial origins, and instead was created intricately by the four.
Tenets of Faith
The churches main focus is on the balance of the natural world and many of its believes are laid out in the Tomes of Balance. In the fifth tome, Tome of Absolution, the four laid out 7 commandments for the mortals of the world to follow:
- Thou shall live a demure lifestyle
- Thou shall not take more then one partner
- Thou shall not lay with a person of the same sex
- Thou who steal shall be receive punishment of equal value to the crime
- Thou will live to serve the gods and the realm
- Thou shall not jeopardize the balance of the realm
- Thou shall not lust for power
Worship
The church believes in very strict worshiping. Worshiping occurs several times a day and its expected of patronage to visit their local church at least once a day. Unlike many of the other cultures, the church has ordained the typical Market Day as 'Church Day' instead, and instead of using the day for relaxation and shopping, its used for prayer and worship.
Priesthood
The church's structure is made of five different tiers of various clergymen. The majority of the organization is made up in Tier 3. All tiers of the church leaders are restricted in having romantic and personal relationships to help keep them from making decisions out of lust or love instead of what best for balance.
Tier 0
The highest tier of the churchThe Pope
The pope is the highest position in the church and is a position that is supposedly selected by the four themselves. It's believed the pope is the same soul being reincarnated repeatedly. After the passing of the current Pope, the cardinals set out across the world attempting to locate the child that was born at the same time of the previous popes death. It typically takes several years and many tests but once the pope is selected they grow up in the Grand Vatican Palace until they turn 16, and then they serve for life.Tier 1
This tier consists of Cardinals and the Vice Pope. The vice pope is a fairly new addition to the church hierarchy and is only seen on the Catalaunii Isles.Vice Pope
This position was created by the Catalaunii Isles branch of the church. Because the islanders were unable to return home or even contact the main branch of the church, they created created the role to work as an intermediary. The Vice Pope functions as the pope until the isles are able to contact the main branch again. The Vice pope is selected by the cardinals on the islands and serves for the rest of their life. Typically the cardinals elect one another to the role.Cardinal
The cardinals control various sections of the church and are typically the most experienced members of the church. Their are 200 total and whenever one passes away the Pope chooses a Bishop to promote and fill their duty. Cardinals fill a variety of roles within the church from commanding their holy legions of paladins and clerics' to managing the goings on in the Grand Vatican Palace.Tier 2
Bishop
Grand Paladin
Grand Cleric
Tier 3
Paladin
Cleric
Priest
Tier 4
Deacon
Sects
The party has learned that dissent inside the church is frowned upon and quickly rooted our by the Inquisition. However the party has also heard rumors that some unknown higher ups were talking about electing a new pope. The party currently does not know much about who it is that is saying such things, or how true the rumors are. It is well known that the Isles branch of the church has held the policy for the last several hundred years that until they could be sure the pope was dead, they could not search for a new pope on the isles. This was the reason the Vice pope position was originally created.
By the grace of the four
Founding Date
0
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Leader
Parent Organization
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
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