The United Church of Divinity

Second Pillar of Rule

The United Church of Divinity is one of the most powerful organisations in the world. The church oversees it's own form of judgement and has different laws then the Realms of West-Edin. To ensure that no realm or kingdom can be corrupted by the dark forces in the world it can act with inpunity.

Branches of the Church

The Clergy of Nerol
The Clergy of Garriëlley
The Clergy of Dinru
The Clergy of Amphitra
The Clergy of Kelemvor

Enemies of the Arcane

The church sees arcane magic as evil. Whether or not the person wielding it has good intentions, he or she will eventualy fall into the temptation of power. The warriors of the church hunt down these sinners at all costs. Some are given a swift execution, others are simply locked away and their grimoires are burned along with any possesions they have. Monstrosities such as witches, devils and sorcerers are executed on the spot. If the creature is magical by nature they will show it no mercy.
The church teaches that magic was the cause behind the Great Calamity which almost ended all life on the world and many societies have acknowledged this. Most people refer to this event as 'The Great Calamity' or 'The Black Death'.

The Great Calamity

At the end of the first century of the 2nd Age the people of Édin faced a horrible disaster known as 'The Great Calamity'. Records state that the common men, elves and dwarves had to work together to survive this blight. Over the next century the people of East- and West-Edin suffered millions of casualties. Mankind became divided and lost six of their nine kingdoms, the dwarves abandoned the halls of their forefathers and foremothers to escape a dreaded fate. Elvenkind lost almost all of their precious woodland homes, most of their culture and their immortality.
The end of the great calamity marked the start of a new age and the four chosen formed The Church of the United Divinity to rebuild their world and protect the people in the troublesome times to come. Despite what the annals of history say humans aren't unwelcomed by the church, it is after all the nature of the gods to forgive. To this day most of the churchs' members are human.

Structure

Acolyte:

An initiate of the church that has accepted a vow, but is not yet sworn to any clergy.

Friar:

A brother or sister of the church that has completed their vow and are placed in the clergy of their superior's choosing.

Bishop:

Also known as a 'Father' or 'Mother', these priests hold positions of authority in societies that have accepted the teachings of the gods. Bishops are often women and give lectures on the gods and their tennets of faith.

Deacon:

The Deacons of the church are the part of The Diaconte, a branch of the church that maintains the written word and recorded history of the world as mortals know it. The Diaconte belongs to The Clergy of Garriëlley and even relativly few members of the church that are not Deacons are allowed to enter their enormous libraries.

Inquisitor:

Dressed in black along with the colors of their Clergy, the inquisitors are interrogators of the church that show no mercy to anyone that holds heretical ideas against their god. These men and women seek out secret cults and groups that wish to overthrow the Church.

Prelate:

One of the highest ranks obtainable by the United Church of Divinity, a Prelate carries the authority to command the lords and ladies of the realm and obey only the word of a Vicar and respect the commands of the Sovereign.

Vicar:

Once only given to the oracles, this position is now reserved for those whose own nature aligns with the god of their respective clergy. Vicars are unmatched in their convictions and seek signs for their deity in every moment of their lives, but ever since the end of The Great Calamity the cries of the gods have been reduced to whispers and easily overlooked omens.

Enemies of the Divines be ware, the children of Light will banish the Dark.

Founding Date

4 Po.C.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Divines

• Alonnell God of Ambition, Adversity and Self-sacrifice
• Amphitra Goddess of the Sky, Harvest and Fertility
• Dinru God of the Mountain, Kinship and the Forge
• Garriëlley Goddess of Knowledge, The Ocean and Temperance
• Hala Goddess of Mercy & Redemption
• Kelemvor God of Death
• Nerol God of the Sun, Sovereignty and Civilization