Stromus Solare
Stromus Solare is the major religion of the Andric Empire. It revolves mainly around the Phoenix Myth, that the Emperors are descendants of a Phoenix and still carry that blood in their veins. The saints of Stromus Solare represent folk heroes who protected the Andric Empire in its darkest hours. The head and keeper of fate is the Lingudai and his military arm is the Order of Stromus Solare who spread the word and protect the believer of said faith.
Birds are very important to the believer of Stromus Solare; a robin is seen as a sign of luck and crows are a sign of coming wisdom. It is frowned upon to eat birds, but many members of low social classes have to rely on the food they get. Many monasteries and notable people have bird gardens, the so called Domus Avus, in which they show off their collection of birds, which have to be in pristine condition and should be well cared for. Those who can afford having a Domus Avus often look for the rarest kind of birds to enhance their prestige and status. Some people decorate their clothing with feathers of different birds if they have dropped some. Various statements are made by decorating clothing with feathers, mostly about loyalty but also about the state of the empire. It is a common rite that people collect feathers in a bowl and let them be burned by priests to achieve guidance and divinations. The ashes are used to create paintings of holy intent. The ash is often mixed with several dyes and sometimes sprinkled over the canvas. There are no works from the early era of Stromus Solare as pictures were created to be fleeting. Only surviving picture, which might be in jeopardy, is deep in the cellars of the church in Alt-Alextra.
A huge festivity starts with the last day of fall, when the days start getting shorter and the nights grow longer. Followers all over the continent built large bird effigies in their respective settlements and burned it as soon as night arrived. The grand pyre burns through the night spending light and hope. Once a year people who can afford it show off their birds at a fair, even though this is more or less a city tradition and barely practised in rural settings.
Because the Phoenix and his rebirth from flames is important in the Andric Empire, the dead are burned to ashes as well. Rich folks have their own mausoleum where they store the ashes of their dead. Most Famous of course is the Emperor Mausoleum in which the whole line and sublines of the Emperors Bloodline has its final rest. Urns of recently deceased are stored at home but after a while they are stored at the graveyards of Stromus Solare, who takes good care of them. The Urns of the Saints, if the bodies have been recovered, and emperor are decorated with relics that resemble items carried by the dignitaries. The ashes are blessed by the Lingudai, the leader of Stromus Solare, to emphasise on their holiness.
The phoenix is not just a mythical bird; Its element is fire. So naturally fire is important to the people of the Andric Empire. In every city there are temples dedicated to the fire in which burns an everlasting flame. The rumour is that as long as the flames burn the Andric Empire and the city is safe. The Custodes Flammae Eternae are tasked to keep the flames alive even if it would mean their death. Failing to protect the flame will result in the execution of that individual that failed and punishment for the rest of Flammae Eternae of this temple. Many of these priests prefer to self immolate if they fail the task. In the camps of the legions soldiers have the duty to keep a pile of fire burning. It keeps morale high and is a great way for other camps to stay in contact. Of course it is also a weakness for enemies to spot the legions quickly, but the legions are never about hiding anyways. There is a particular legion of criminals and sinners, who like to redeem themselves, that works without the fire and light as they feel not worthy of it; The Umbral Legion. Ironically the Umbral Legion has been the most loyal legion to the empire.
The Order of Stormus Solare follows the virtues of the 20 Saints, which have arisen during times of urgency. During these trying times a group of heroes from every place of society arose. They have not become saints by godly intervention but by standing up when the Empire needed them and the Order of Stromus Solare has made it their goal to preserve their stories and chose to do as they did.
Over time the people of the Andric Empire have started to worship these people as deities and some believe these Saints provide them with guidance if they pray to them. Of course there is no proof for these claims but it seems to provide the followers with a sense of security and certainty.
The sins a member of Stromus Solare can commit are manifold from killing birds, to murder, cowardice, blasphemy etc. but no greater sin can be committed than extinguishing the divine flame of the family shrines. It is even a greater sin than betraying the Phoenix Bloodline. This sin can only be redeemed by death through fire. The sinner can only be redeemed by a willing self-immolation. Granted the sinner will be burned anyways, but it helps to be remembered in a better light to do it freely. Many of the lesser sins are redeemed by getting branded by a priest. Fire symbolises rebirth and by burning that sin out of a miscreant, the person in question can be born anew. Pilgrimages to temples of Stromus Solare, built around important sides of the Saints, are for those who are truly devoted and seek redemption from specific priests.
History
When Empress Macara arrived in Kandria it is said that she and her people wielded a banner heralding a Phoenix, which continues to be the heraldic animal of every Empress or Emperor coming after her. Myths tell that Empress Macara was mortally wounded in her youth by an unknown foe and a phoenix had pity on the young woman and infused part of its essence into her. It seemed to amplify her ability to become greater than average humans. Especially the ability to lead is greatly enhanced for those infused with the phoenix blood. The reasons why the Phoenix helped Macara are lost, some state it is because of an heroic sacrifice of the young Macara or at least the Phoenix seemed to be indebted to the young human.
The first few heroes are not very well documented but their names are Faunas, Bellana and Balis. Many Recordings are lost but they are said to have arrived in Kandria before the Empress Macara and explored the lands of the western empire. Documents have no clear origin for Faunas but she is believed to belong to tribes of humans that roamed the place of the Andric Empire before they set foot there. Balis is said to be the brother of Bellana. The age difference between the siblings is not disclosed. The archaeological site of Bellana's Stella marks the end of her story. Investigation of this site seems to indicate that a large battle must have taken place. There are records of Balis and Fauna delivering a message to Empress Macara, about a sizable unknown force afterwards their traces disappear as well. Historians conjecture that Bellana must have sacrificed herself in some way to stop the force for a little while to safely assure the landing of Empress Macara. Fauna, Bellana and Balis are often worshipped on the same day and many see them as the founding figures of the Andric Empire, some count Empress Macara to this group as well but little is known about her as well.
Decilus, Bellmius and Beus were part of the almost forgotten human-elven war in the eastern parts of the empire. They are barely worshipped these days and many of the worshipers are looked upon as elven-sympathisers. While those 3 fought the elven oppressors they also had some charity for the elven and their dwindling numbers and the fallen empire. Especially Bellmius tried to take in elven refugees and hide them from the Imperial Inquisition. Beus used to be part of the Inquisition but ultimately saw the errors of his ways, while Decilus was a centurion who looked for a way to end that bloodshed. After the Andrice Empire drove out the Elves, Bellmius tried to achieve peace between them but the hatred between humans and elves was too great. He had only the option to harbour elves and refugees safely in his own patch of land called Bellmius' Solitude. Most worshippers view them as bringer of peace and mercy in a cruel world. They have the most followers at the end of wars and the least when war begins.
During this cruel time another saint rose and her story is different than most saints. Valeria, born a noble, saw her people massacred by the elven forces and was witness to their twisted games. She joined the legions to slay as many elves as she possibly could and she was quickly named "Daughter of Despair". She slew many elven and even her soldiers trembled before her wrath. She couldn't find rest after the war and her restlessness led her to Bellmius and the elven refugees. She and her band of mercenaries were ready to end this refugee camp, if not Bellmius convinced her to see otherwise. As she was in the camp and saw the pain inflicted upon the elven population she seemed to have a revelation. She realised that she inflicted the same suffering and pain upon the elven people as they did on her. It is said she dropped her sword on the spot and never turned back until she reached her home and refuge. She was welcomed home with love and worry from those who survived that faithful massacre. She started to treat the victims of war soldiers or civilians of their ailments of body and mind. This started a process where she healed a bit by bit herself. By those who know about her later days she is worshipped by those who seek redemption and peace and for those who don't know or care of her later days she is a Saint of War.
Many centuries later when the first invasion of the Tjarn Tribes happened it was only the inspiring aura of Caena, the cunning of Baldius tactical genius', and Valrius' loyalty and determination, which beat the Tjarn back. Tjarn had defeated the Imperial Legions in Gendren; This unexpected victory left the Tjarn free to plunder and roam through the empire. Adorra the capital was under siege and the break through the walls could have happened in a fortnight if it wasn't for Ceana who inspired and assembled the people of the Andric Empire and broke the siege. Many would have died if not for Valrius, husband to Ceana, sacrifice in order to protect the dam that would have flooded the city and Caenes' army. With only a handful of troops Valrius managed to hold the dam and repel the attackers. While Baldius played a background role with his tactics he managed to win an astonishing number of battles with minimal casualties. His only regret was not sending relief sooner to Valrius' Army because he figured he needed all the troops on the main assault. Later Saint Caena fell in the retreat battles of the Tjarn. Her death only made her armie more valiant to drive out the Tjarn. After the war Baldius didn't wanna take part in war games anymore and started a farm close to his twin sister's castle.
Shortly after the war the story of Lucretia , Albus and Kain should be written. Lucretia was a blind girl but as fate has it she was born with a special gift. She could glimpse into the future. Many people gifted in magic can learn this ability but her skill was beyond recognition. Sometimes she just could feel the intent of a person and sometimes she was able to sense a whole future ahead. She joined a group of wandering healers when she had to flee from her hometown and this is where she met Albus, the most excellent healer in the history of the Andric Empire. Albus' documents are still referred to in the modern days of the Andric Empire, but alas not even he could cure the blindness of Lucretia. At some point Lucretia had felt the intention of fate for her to stay at the monastery. She was trained there in language and in martial arts. After a while a vision of great evil befalls her in the monastery and it turned out that a cult, with her abilities and new training she was able to fight the cult off. She learned through Albus that a certain monk called Cilius was founding the Order of Stromus Solare. An Order that worshipped the old folk heroes and wanted to follow their virtues. Both of them joined the order. There they met Kain and Saint Cirius, who was very fond of the former. Kain had an understanding of the magical tissue like it has never been seen before or after.
In his time he wrote The Manifesta Maledictus - the legendary book that contains all the knowledge about magic and the world itself. Albus later had to sacrifice himself in order to cure a malady that would have caused damage beyond anyone's imagination. Lucreatia followed the creator of this evil into Terra Maledictum and defeated this villain making her besides Saint Kain the only one who travelled back into this accursed land. In the name of Albus Lucretia built the Saint Albus Hospital the largest and most progressive hospital in all of Kandria. Kain on the other hand created the laws every magician should follow to be an upstanding citizen. His book - The Manifesta Maledictus- and he himself disappeared after a voyage to Terra Maledictum. Kain is worshipped by mages who seek knowledge and understanding of magic. Albus is the patron of the sick and Lucretia is worshipped by those who are lost.
Not all saints and their deeds are remembered well. Faurius is said to be the son of Fauna and Balis and Keeper of the last Phoenix. Ironically Cilus seems to be the one who started keeping track of the history of Kandria and the Heroes, but a lot of him and his work has been lost through the ages. It is said the disappearance of Cilus records has to do with the vanishing of Saint Kain. Accius the Explorer was the first to map out the whole continent in great detail, but it seems she has taken the secrets of her maps to her grave. Balres seems to have prevented a large coup against the emperor's line and might be the founder of the Custodes Sacrea Sancti. He lived a life of secrets and took many of them with him. It seems to have answers about his life one has to dig deep in the forgotten archives of the Custodes. The details about Furius are vague and it isn't even sure in which millenia she was born. She is depicted as a skilled inventor and many inventions of the Andric Empire can be traced back to her.
The fire in our hearts, shall never be extinguished in the face of evil.
Founding Date
6229
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Alternative Names
The Order
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Divines
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Comments