Church of the Twelve
The Church of the Twelve is more than a religious institution; it is the spiritual and cultural cornerstone of Qetish society. Binding divine authority to societal structure, the Church deeply influences governance, moral guidance, and community life. Through the virtues of the Twelve—such as wisdom, justice, and strength—it provides a unifying purpose, fostering community and guiding the kingdom’s people toward a harmonious existence under the gods' watchful eyes.
With shrines and temples dedicated to the Twelve scattered across the kingdom, the Church is ever-present in the lives of the Qetish people. These sacred sites serve as places of worship, moral instruction, and communal gathering. Festivals honouring the Twelve punctuate the calendar, celebrating their blessings and reinforcing the unity of the kingdom. The Church’s moral authority shapes laws and policies, intertwining its teachings with the governance of Qet. However, its conservative nature often places it at odds with progressive movements, such as those introduced by Viranue, highlighting an ongoing tension between tradition and change. Despite these challenges, the Church endures as a beacon of faith and a guiding force in Qetish society.
Structure
High Priest of the Twelve
At the apex of the Church’s hierarchy is the High Priest, the supreme spiritual leader and ultimate interpreter of the Twelve’s will. This individual wields unparalleled religious influence, guiding the faithful and ensuring the Church’s alignment with the kingdom’s moral and spiritual goals. The High Priest advises the monarchy and oversees the Church’s role in the governance of Qet.
Archbishop
The Archbishops are senior religious leaders who oversee large regions or groups of temples. Reporting directly to the High Priest, they ensure that the teachings of the Twelve are upheld across their domains, guiding the clergy under their jurisdiction and addressing major spiritual or social concerns.
Bishop
Bishops lead individual temples or parishes, taking responsibility for local religious practices and community guidance. They act as the primary spiritual authority within their communities, interpreting the doctrines of the Twelve and ensuring their application in daily life.
Deacon
Deacons are ordained members of the Church who perform various duties, including assisting with rituals, teaching basic doctrines, and providing community service. They form the backbone of the Church’s local operations, ensuring its presence in every aspect of Qetish life.
Acolyte
Acolytes are novices and trainees within the Church. They perform basic tasks, learn the practices and teachings of the Twelve, and prepare for higher roles within the Church hierarchy.
Specialist Orders Within the Church
- Order of the Twelve: An all-male order drawn from the Church’s guard, the Order of the Twelve is dedicated to religious devotion and conservative values. Its members serve as protectors of sacred sites, enforcers of Church doctrines, and defenders of the faithful. Their presence is both symbolic and practical, representing the unwavering strength of the Church and its commitment to maintaining tradition.
Mythology & Lore
In the beginning, Qesh, the Great Maker, opened his eyes and saw nothing. Confronted by the vast emptiness, he knew despair. To banish this void, he withdrew from his hands a multicoloured blanket and spread it across the nothingness. This became the Aether, the foundation of the divine and arcane, a canvas upon which all would be built.
Next, Qesh sought companionship and crafted from his boundless power a material being: Fanterath, the world. But Fanterath was cold and dark, lifeless and still. To bring warmth and light, Qesh cupped his hands, squeezing tight a pocket of the Aether. He breathed upon it, and as he opened his hands, Orun the Sun burst forth, radiating life-giving energy across the cosmos. Thus, the world was illuminated, and Qesh was pleased, for he had made a foundation where material life could flourish.
Yet, where the potential for life exists, so too does the shadow of its end. In the light of the Sun and the shadow cast upon Fanterath, a new entity emerged: Kethar, the god of death, an uninvited force and enemy to life itself.
Unaware of Kethar’s presence, Orun and Fanterath embraced and birthed two children: Aeran, the god of the Sky, and Calar, the goddess of the Moon. In the joy of this creation, Fanterath took a new name: Rana the Mother, symbolizing her nurturing role in the world.
Thus, six deities came to be, and life began to flourish. But Kethar was discontent. Life was too abundant, too fortunate. To tip the balance, he took mud from the ground and twigs from the trees and shaped a cunning and mischievous being: Ravos, the trickster god. Ravos would lead the living astray, sowing misfortune and discord among them.
Calar, the Moon, saw what Kethar had wrought from her vantage in the sky. To counter Ravos’s mischief, she reached down to the waters of the world and spun them into Alira, the goddess of Healing and Love, who would mend the wounds inflicted by Ravos’s schemes.
Furious at this act of defiance, Kethar plunged his hand into Rana’s core, drawing forth black smoke, molten rock, and metal. From these, he forged Ragnar, the god of War, to incite conflict and ensure that man would kill man, feeding the cycle of death.
Seeing her mother’s pain from Kethar’s violent act, Calar changed her name to Colena, the goddess of the Moon and the Hunt. She vowed to inspire heroes to rise against evil and protect the innocent. Meanwhile, Aeran, grieved by his mother’s wound, gathered the winds, clouds, and even the black smoke to create Thalos, the god of Wisdom, who would guide humanity to seek knowledge and avert unnecessary bloodshed.
In solidarity with her mother’s suffering, Aeran transformed herself, becoming Iona, goddess of the Sky, Storm, and Sea, embodying the tempestuous and nurturing forces of the heavens.
Yet, war and death continued to spread their influence. Wisdom alone was insufficient to stem the tide. To counterbalance the darkness, Thalos and Alira united their powers to create two youngest gods, symbols of human purity: Caden, the noble Hero, and Elira, the Maiden. They represented the ideals of courage and innocence, inspiring mortals to strive for greatness and harmony.
But Kethar, relentless in his pursuit to ensure the dominance of death, created seven monstrous beings: the Seven Devils, who plague mankind and perpetuate the cycle of suffering and mortality.
Now, the responsibility lies with humanity. The torch has passed to them to honour the Twelve Gods, to emulate the courage of Caden and the purity of Elira, to heed the wisdom of Thalos, and to accept the gifts of the divine. Even in death, mortals must seek lessons and meaning, for the Twelve watch over their creation, guiding them through the struggles of existence.
Thus, the Twelve Gods of Modern Qet came to be. In their light, the Church of the Twelve flourishes, a beacon of hope and devotion in a world shaped by divine will and mortal endeavour.
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