Church of the Spear
The Church of the Spear stands as more than a religious institution; it is the spiritual heart and martial soul of the Kirtothian Empire. Binding divine authority to military might, the Church weaves a unified purpose that sustains the empire’s relentless expansion and internal stability. To the faithful, it is the earthly manifestation of Varnok’s will, guiding humanity toward its divine destiny: to rise above all other races through conquest and dominion.
Deeply entrenched in governance, the Church of the Spear shares power with the First Sword and the War Council, shaping policies and ensuring all actions align with divine edicts. On the battlefield, it inspires and leads. Religious warriors ignite fervour among troops, while combat mages, imbued with divine purpose, unleash destruction in Varnok’s name. The Church’s reach extends beyond the battlefield, ensuring that spiritual devotion underpins every facet of Kirtothian life.
Through its teachings, the Church reinforces the empire’s social order, declaring humanity as divinely chosen and destined to rule. It sanctifies the enslavement of demi-humans and the extermination of monstrous species, presenting these acts as sacred duties ordained by Varnok. This doctrine not only justifies the empire’s actions but also instills unwavering loyalty among Kirtothian citizens, who are promised divine favour in return for their faith and service.
The Church of the Spear epitomizes the duality at the heart of Kirtothian society: the unity of faith and war, spiritual devotion and martial dominance. Its strict hierarchy ensures that every member, from the High Spear to the humblest acolyte, plays a role in the empire’s grand design. To the Kirtothian people, the Church is a beacon of divine purpose, a guiding force leading them through conquest and sacrifice toward a destiny they believe is preordained.
Yet even an institution so formidable is not without its trials. Heresy, resistance, and internal rivalries test its unity, while the unyielding demands of conquest strain its resources. Despite these challenges, the Church endures, its foundation unshaken and its mission unwavering. For to the faithful, the Church of the Spear is not merely a pillar of their empire—it is the living embodiment of Varnok’s will, a divine force driving the Kirtothian Empire toward ultimate supremacy.
Structure
The Church of the Spear stands as a theocratic cornerstone of the Kirtothian Empire, blending faith and martial purpose into a unified institution. Its strict hierarchy reflects the ideals of discipline, divine purpose, and the seamless integration of spiritual guidance with military support. Leadership is restricted to members of the Varnvari—those drawn from the divine and noble houses of Kirtoth.
High Spear
At the apex of the Church’s hierarchy is the High Spear, the supreme leader and ultimate interpreter of Varnok’s divine will. This individual wields unparalleled spiritual and political influence, guiding the faithful and ensuring the Church’s alignment with the empire’s goals. The High Spear advises the First Sword and oversees the Church’s role in military campaigns, embodying both spiritual authority and martial strategy.
The Lower Table
The Lower Table consists of senior clergy who oversee all operations of the Church. Members of the Lower Table hold both religious and secular authority, reflecting the divine structure of Varnok’s Holy Table. They guide doctrinal purity, strategic initiatives, and the integration of faith with empire-wide governance.
Lesser Vari
The Lesser Vari ensure the consistency of Varnok’s teachings across the empire. They disseminate sacred texts, oversee worship practices, and train clergy in both spiritual and martial disciplines. Acting as judges, they resolve disputes, enforce doctrine, and root out heresy to maintain the sanctity of the faith.
Regional Varnaron and Varnakai
Often referred to as Senior Aron and Senior Akai, these leaders represent the Church in provinces and territories. They oversee local clergy, manage temples, and ensure conquered peoples are integrated into the Kirtothian faith. Reporting directly to the Lower Table, they uphold order and loyalty in the outer reaches of the empire.
Temple Varnaron and Varnakai
Known simply as Aron and Akai, these priests serve at the local level. They conduct daily worship, offer spiritual guidance, and educate the populace in Varnok’s teachings. Their duties extend to practical services, such as first aid, childbirth assistance, and maintaining holy sites. Additionally, they recruit and train new clergy to sustain the Church’s influence.
Initiates and Acolytes
At the Church’s foundation are initiates and acolytes, aspiring clergy in training. They maintain temples, assist priests, and demonstrate their devotion through acts of service and discipline. This tier ensures a steady flow of dedicated followers ready to ascend through the Church’s ranks.
Specialist Orders Within the Church
- Varnilith: Combat mages devoted to Varnok, the Varnilith wield magic as a weapon of war. Unlike the scholarly mages of the Arcane Academies, they dedicate their lives to battlefield magic, serving as living weapons under the Church’s banner.
- Varnorim: Warriors of the Church, the Varnorim are tasked with guarding sacred sites, protecting high-ranking clergy, and providing defense for Varnilith in battle. They are warriors first, priests second, embodying martial devotion.
- Varnoruk: Cloistered monks pursuing a direct understanding of Varnok. While sanctioned by the Church, the Varnoruk operate independently, with broad mandates to self-govern as they seek enlightenment and communion with the God of War.
Mythology & Lore
In the time before history, when the world was young and chaos reigned, the God of War had no name, for He was war itself in every language, a force both primal and unrelenting. For generations, He listened to the cries of the people of Fanterath—the wails of the oppressed, the gnashing of the defeated, and the desperate prayers of those longing for peace amidst ceaseless strife. Their voices reached Him, not in words, but in the cadence of their suffering and the echoes of their pleas.
Moved by these cries, the God of War descended from the heavens, manifesting Himself as Varnok, a name He chose to mark His presence among mortals. He appeared as a towering figure, unmistakably Human, wielding a spear imbued with divine power. This spear, both a weapon and a symbol of His authority, could crack the earth and call forth lightning, never missing its mark and returning to His hand with but a thought.
Varnok journeyed across the world, not as an indifferent deity but as a witness, seeking to understand the struggles and triumphs of humanity. On His travels, He came upon a village scarred by war, its people ravaged yet victorious through the skill and courage of two brothers: Kir, a master swordsman of unmatched prowess, and Toth, a cunning master of stealth. These men embodied the resilience and strength of humanity itself.
As Varnok approached, Kir took to the road, his long blade gleaming, and challenged the God with unshakable resolve. Toth, ever the strategist, flanked the divine figure, moving with silent precision. The brothers attacked as one, and the conflict that followed was a spectacle of glory, strength, and determination.
Varnok sought no harm to these warriors, for they were the embodiment of what He revered in humankind. Yet even with divine restraint, He found Himself unable to subdue them without lethal force, as the brothers left Him no avenue for mercy. For an entire day and night, their battle raged, until finally, Varnok struck the ground with the butt of His spear and commanded them to stop. With the authority of a god, He held them fast, their mortal wills overcome by His divine power.
Seeing their indomitable spirit, Varnok chose not to punish but to honor the brothers. He recruited Kir and Toth as His retainers—His right and left hands—and together, they journeyed across the mortal plane. As a trio, they destroyed giants, felled dragons, and laid waste to armies that sought to oppress humanity. It was through this mission that Varnok, inspired by the brothers' courage and devotion, committed Himself to the elevation of humankind above all other races.
In time, Varnok wearied of the mortal plane, for His mission was complete. Humanity had been set upon a path to conquer and rise. Yet, in this journey, Varnok found clarity: those who prayed for peace and ease had misunderstood the divine nature of conflict. It was not peace but the joy of struggle, the purity of battle, that defined humanity's ascension. Without Kir and Toth, Varnok might have turned against the very people He had sought to uplift, seeing weakness in their cries for rest.
Resolved, Varnok ascended to the heavens. Scaling the obsidian walls of Drafin, the mountain fortress of the gods, He captured an elder dragon by the throat. Riding the mighty beast, He rose to the divine realm, crushing its life force as He ascended. With contempt, He cast the dragon’s corpse from the heavens, its body crashing to the earth. From this act, the Golden Vale was born—its decaying flesh fertilizing the fertile lands, its bones forming towering mountains to shield and sustain humanity.
Kir and Toth, having witnessed their god's triumph, continued to wander the earth. Their journey brought them to the Iron Isles, a place where the shores of Vircune could be seen beyond the sea. The brothers recognized the divine significance of these lands, a chosen place from which humanity could rise to fulfill Varnok’s vision. Naming the larger southern island Kir and the smaller northern island Toth, they laid the foundation for the Kirtothian people.
Here, they prophesied that the people of the Iron Isles would one day cross the seas, conquer the verdant lands of Vircune, and establish human supremacy, as ordained by Varnok. Having established the Iron Isles as the heart of their legacy, the brothers ascended to the heavens, joining Varnok’s side for eternity. Together, they stand as the divine triumvirate, guiding Kirtoth to its destiny as the rightful ruler of Fanterath and beyond.
Thus, the Kirtothian people are born of divine favor, their path illuminated by the God of War and the immortal brothers, Kir and Toth. Their destiny is not merely to exist but to conquer, to rise, and to embody the will of Varnok for all eternity.
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