Pale, Theocracy of

The Pale, a theocracy devoted entirely to Pholtus, has remained fiercely independent and isolated since breaking free from the Great Kingdom and Nyrond. Though wealthy in minerals and militarily formidable, its rigid religious laws and intolerance of other faiths make it a land of order and oppression in equal measure.

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History

Originally settled by persecuted followers of Pholtus fleeing the Great Kingdom, the Pale gained its independence alongside Nyrond and Urnst in 356 CY before falling under Nyrondal rule. The Great Council of Rel Mord in 450 CY granted the Pale full sovereignty, allowing it to pursue its vision of a divine paradise. Though it has suffered conflicts with its neighbors, the Pale has since maintained relative peace, governed by religious leaders who uphold the authority of the Church of the Blinding Light.

Politics and Society

The Pale is ruled entirely by the Church of the Blinding Light, which tolerates no worship outside of Pholtus, the One True Path. Theocrat Ogon Tillit sits upon the Throne of the Sun in Wintershiven, advised by the Council of Nine, the prelates of the Pale’s nine cities. Though political intrigue simmers within the council, the Church-Militant and the Knights Templar of Pholtus ensure absolute loyalty.

The people of the Pale are industrious and live in relative prosperity thanks to the nation's mineral wealth, despite its harsh climate and scarce farmland. Yet, personal freedoms come second to religious law—arcane magic, heresy, and rival faiths are brutally suppressed. Hidden shrines to nature gods persist in rural areas, but their followers live in constant fear of being brought before the Question, the inquisition of the Church-Militant. “Cold weather is Pholtus’s way of telling you to throw another heretic on the fire” is more than just a saying.

While the Pale trades with Nyrond and the Urnst States, it denounces them as corrupt, decrying both good and evil nations alike with the same zeal reserved for the Fiend-Seeing Overking or Iuz the Old One. The Tenhas, in particular, are viewed as dangerous heretics and rivals for influence in the region.

Religion

The Church of the Blinding Light is the only recognized faith in the Pale. Visitors are forbidden from openly practicing or displaying symbols of any other deity. Numerous shrines to Pholtus exist throughout the land, drawing pilgrims from far and wide. Among them are:

• The Shrine of the Heavenly Courses, nestled in the Rakers, where Pholtus is said to have commanded the sun and moons in their orbits.
• The Temple of Doubting Folly, near Ogburg, where those struggling with faith seek purification from doubt.

Military

The Pale maintains a standing army of 2,000 cavalry and 2,000 infantry, capable of raising an additional 10,000 levies in a week. The Church-Militant’s forces are highly trained, with the Knights Templar of Pholtus particularly feared across the region. Despite constant raids from barbarians, bandits, and humanoids, the Theocracy’s forces remain steadfast in their duty.

Notable Locales

The capital, Wintershiven, is home to the Grand Cathedral of the Light, a breathtaking structure of stone and glass that gleams for miles beyond the city walls. It also houses the Basilica of Wintershiven, where the Theocrat rules and the Council of Nine convenes.

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Proper Name: Theocracy of the Pale

Ruler: Supreme Prelate Ogon Tillit (human)

Government: Theocracy, high-ranking clerics wield power in a feudal system with the Supreme Prelate at the top of the hierarchy

Major Settlements: Wintershiven; Eltison, Hawkburgh, Hatherleigh, Holdworthy, Landrigard, Ogburg, Rakervale, Stradsett

Resources: Foodstuffs, copper, gems (IV)

Population: Human, Halfling, Elf

Alignment: LN

Allies: Many churches across the Flanaess; Nyrond (tenuous), Urnst states (tenuous)

Enemies: Empire of luz, Stonehold, evil humanoids and giants; all other states and peoples of the Flanaess are considered pagans or heretics, minor enemies of the Pale by default; wizards are suspect as they often worship other gods; all religions with criminal or evil aspects

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