Church of Andral

The Church of Andral is the original church of Barovia. The only surviving knowledge regarding them is as follows:

• The church was sanctioned by the von Zarovich family in the year 168 BC.
• Andral was sun god associated strongly with ravens.
• Sergei von Zarovich joined as a member of the clergy in 341 and he became the Most High Priest in 350 BC.
• Most High Priest Kir died creating the Icon of Ravenloft and Symbol of Ravenkind.
• The Church could create sunblades and the one known as the Bright Blade or Sunsword was Sergei's.
• The clergy fled to the Abbey of Saint Markovia (Humans) and the Wizard of Wines (Ravenkin) after Sergei's death.

Any other information has been lost to time.

Structure

Most High Priest(ess) was the head of the church with the High Priest(ess) as their second in command.

Disbandment

The Church quickly unraveled after the death of it's newest Most High Priest so soon after the last.

Mythology & Lore

The Church taught that Barovia was founded with the help of Andral and Mother Night. It's said that they gave those who most demonstrated their valued traits the ability to shift into their holy animal, the patriarch of the Von Zarovich Family gaining the ability to shift into a raven at will.
Members believe that Andral watches over those about to die. The presence of a natural raven was said to guarantee that whoever was about to die would be rewarded for their deeds in death.

Divine Origins

A group of young men, tired of violence and war, began to teach ideas of peace and unity across Barovia, leading to the founding of the Church (backed by the Von Zarovich family).

Tenets of Faith

The Church holds to the idea that Andral would wish for his followers to live in peace with all and keep to studying in order to better themselves, not gain power.

Political Influence & Intrigue

When the church still held power, it was expected that the third child to be born in every noble family of Barovia was to be sent into the church. These siblings then acted as controls on their older, often more violent in the case of the eldest, siblings. It was also common practice for members of the church to tutor all of the nobly born children, further increasing their influence on the families.

Sects

Two factions exist: the actual Church of Andral (what people actually speak of when saying the name) who are peaceful healers and community leaders and the militaristic Order of the Silver Dragon who takes the more usual Barovian outlook on problem solving and applies it to the church goals and tenets.

DISBANDED/DISSOLVED

Life in Death; Strength in Weakness

168 - 351

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Leader

Sergei von Zarovich

Subsidiary Organizations

• Order of the Silver Dragon

Deities

• Andral
• Night Mother

Divines

• Andral

Location

Abbey of Saint Markovia

Controlled Territories

• Abbey of Saint Markovia
• Shrine of the White Sun

Manufactured Items

• Holy Symbol of Ravenkind
• Icon of Ravenloft
• Sunsword

Notable Members

• Ilona Darovnya