Church of Augus

The religion of the Augustian Empire.

The state religion of the Empire of Augustia. The Church of Augus is the organization central to worship of the Holy Way of Augus, and is heavily involved in running the country. The continent of Cansanda sets its calendar around the Ascension of Augus.

Divine Origins

In the Millenium of Wickedness, there was no right or wrong, and people lived like animals. Might made right, and evil men prospered while everyone suffered under their tyranny. War was perpetual as these warlords fought each other for control of more fiefs and lands. Then, a man named Augus began searching for a better way to live, a way to find peace and hope for the common man. Then, he found it: The Holy Way of Augus. The more he lived his life as he did, the more the natural world around him made sense. However, this new sight allowed him to see that there was a doom, a Cataclysm of Sin, that was soon to come, and the only people who would likely survive were those who knew what he knew, lived as he lived. He sought out worthy men who would help him, and formed what the Warlord over their land called a cult. Fearing them, the wicked man sent soldiers to kill them, but the soldiers could not find Augus and his followers. This was the first Great Miracle Augus performed, and marked what most considered the beginning of the Time of Miracles. Augus went about the land preaching his word, healing the sick and afflicted, and giving blessings and powers to those he had tasks for. Quickly, and to the horror of the warlords at the time, Augus's Way spread throughout western Cansanda, and the world was ripe for destruction as the wicked men fought back against Augus. They hunted down and killed believers in droves, fighting each other for more land while the killing and unrest was taking place. Soon, every warlord was at war with every other warlord, and the land descended into the bloodiest war it had ever seen. Augus's followers were lifted up and away from the fighting, into a better place, as the rest of the land collapsed into the Cataclysm of Sin. Warlords were toppled, lands were destroyed, and death reigned supreme. Then, as the dust settled, the few wretched survivors stood up and faced each other once more. They prepared to finish each other off, but then, light shone down from the skies, and the spirits of all those who had died in service of Augus descended back to Etephe, stopping the bloodshed and calming the hearts of the desperate few who remained before they destroyed themselves. And then, Augus himself appeared. He had achieved the greatest enlightenment possible, and had found that there was a heaven waiting for all those who lived like him. He commanded them to come together and form one nation, the Augustian Empire, shaped after the Holy Way of Augus, undivided and ruled by a man picked by Augus himself. And so the Augustian Empire was formed, and its first king was crowned. The Holy Way of Augus pervaded the land, and there was peace and prosperity.

Cosmological Views

Humans emerged from nature, and became wicked, selfish creatures, leading to the Millenium of Wickedness and subsequently the Cataclysm of Sin. The Holy Way of Augus does not explain how the Earth was formed; it was just always there.

Tenets of Faith

Classic ten commandments-type stuff.

Ethics

Non-Augustians are not seen as capable of attaining the same enlightenment as Augustians. When a man is stolen from or his wife has an affair, he is not to experience any shame. That is entirely his wrongdoer's fault. Women and men are to serve their classic functions in society.

Worship

Attend church every weekend (church meets both Saturday and Sunday). Entertainment and eating are forbidden on the evening of Saturday and the morning of Sunday, however procreation is only allowed at this time.

Priesthood

A priest presides over each sect which is a region around a church. Then there are bishops who preside over a region of sects. Finally, there is the High Priest, who is the chief religious authority with the power to weigh in on the King's decisions and sometimes even overrule him in favor of what Augus has told him.

Granted Divine Powers

Religious authorities as low as Priests are capable of receiving direct answers from Augus himself. However, Bishops are capable of influencing local government, and the High Priest is capable of influencing national government, as well as editing the Librinium, the holy book of Augus.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Bishops are capable of influencing local government, and the High Priest is capable of influencing national government, as well as editing the Librinium, the holy book of Augus. Sometimes the authority of the High Priest supercedes the authority of all other parts of government,and if the High Priest exercises this authority (through Augus, of course) and anyone stands in his way, they can face serious consequences. Kings have been killed by High Priests in the past when they disobeyed them.

Sects

Each city in Augustia has its own sect, and they do not differ greatly due to oversight from bishops who regularly report to the High Priest to ensure no such thing happens.

Permeated Organizations