The Holy Nation of Lightbay
The people of Lightbay and the origins of their country are not mysterious to them. They were colonies of the old nations of the east. The farthest reaching ones of Varvazar, Telarosa, and the Kherssoni Hetmanate. When the old order collapsed and the world as many knew it came to an end. These far reaching colonies were not on the best of terms with each other, and wars waged between the three ex-colonial states. For thirty years these states battled each other gaining and losing land. The Telarosans with the loss of their deity fought as if there was nothing else to go on for. At one battle where all three armies collided…battle came to a halt as a single unarmed deva parted the clashing armies and reached the middle point and called them to stop…She glowed with a light unlike anything they had seen. They stopped to listen her tale…This was the start of the nation of Lightbay
Structure
Illuminatis: Velindel was proclaimed the holy and priestly leader of Lightbay for as long as she continues to exist. She has almost absolute power of matters of state, and absolute authority of matters of spirit.
The Council of Bishops: A council of twelve bishops who help run the 12 church districts, and keep track of spiritual matters, issues, and changes within the district. They are elected by their fellow clergy members and serve till death, or resignation. In case of Deva elected they serve till they die and do not continue to serve unless reelected after re-birth.
The Grand Justicar and Legatus: The two heads of the military. The Grand Justicar is a member of the Paladin Order usually its very leader, and is usually in charge of the offensive branch of the military. While the Legatus is a member of the nobility usually brought to the Illuminatis for approval. The Legatus is in charge of the defense of Lightbay and its protection.
Comte/Marques/Kniaz : Titles of the governors/provincial lords who watch the Northern Province, the central province, and the southern province. The titles are inherited from the very lines back to the founding of the nation. Each are required to keep a priest selected by the Illuminatis to act as personal spiritual advisors.
History
After the fall of the nations of the east in Ardonia, the ex-colonial states bickered and battled for supremacy in the region. The Varvazarian cities primarily in the north and along the coast, Telarosan colonies in the central lands and the coast, while the Kherrsonii settlements and colonies were in the plains and river lands hugging the coast in the south. For thirty years they battled in attempt to dominate the coastline of the newly formed bay.
The leaders fought tooth and nail, as did their armies, bloodbaths after bloodbaths occurred. So many died in some battles that ceasefires to collect the dead could last a week, but they could not find common ground to stand on. They could not agree to any treaty as all of them demanded too much from each other. It was not until the battle of the Tarvali plains in the south did all three armies meet on the field at once. Each Leader went into this battle deciding that this was to be the last battle. This one battle was to be decider who was to rule and who was to fall. But this was not to be the end.
During the bloodiest part of the battle, where the blood turned the very ground into a marsh, a single Deva appeared, clad in white and golden raiment’s bearing only a shield with the symbol of Jehanna on it. As she walked through the vicious melee people just stopped fighting to observe and see what this Deva was doing. She walked towards the very epicenter of the battle and spoke softly, but every soldier could hear her voice as if she was speaking to them directly. She begged that they lay down their arms and cease the bloodshed, that it was causing so much pain and so much misery to the people of this land. The armies dispersed to their camps for the day, while the leaders of the armies met to speak with this Deva. She spoke to each of them of their merits, of their honor, and of their devotion to helping their people. She told them that Jehanna would not want this. That this needless bloodshed should cease and they would need to find an agreement to this bloodshed as it could not persist. They debated and talked with the Deva who had identified herself as Velindel. After discussing at length, the soul searching Telarosan leader Emmanuel dropped to a knee and swore loyalty to this woman and the ways of Jehanna. The Kherrsoni Hetman Iosef Varalslav agreed to this and swore loyalty to Velindel. The Varvazarian leader Godfrey de Marsalin kneeled last and was willing to swear loyalty but did not convert as he was a devout worshiper of Pelor.
The armies however saw her as a saint, a being of pure spirit and nature. She went through the ranks of the injured and the dying, and with a flick of a wrist she healed their wounds and forestalled their deaths so they may yet be saved. Many who were seeking out new Gods to follow took a knee and converted to Jehanna swearing they uphold her values forever more. While others wished to give praise and thanks to this godsend. The three leaders of the armies announced that unity was coming to their divided peoples. That the Gods had seen their plight and been so kind and generous to send this woman down to show them the path, it was at this point the armies like a rolling wave knelt to her, and the leaders took their swords, knelt before her and extended the hilts to her, and proclaimed her leader of their unified peoples.
This was all somewhat of a change of plans for Velindel. She had originally hoped to just stop the bloodshed amongst these people. But now she found herself lifted on high by these people to a position of power. She was taken back to a small town known as a Brightwater, it was on the north banks of a great river known as luminal river due to its shimmering and clear waters. She made this the center and the capital of the newly formed nation. She called it Lightbay, as it seemed the light always shined so beautifully on the bay which they bordered. More Deva followed and joined her in this new country and aided her in rule. The three leaders whom originally bowed also aided in governance of their provinces.
Under her reign the country began to concentrate more on religious matters, built a grand cathedral complex by the ever growing capital. She was named Illuminatis, and unlike other rulers, it never truly passed to another. For when a Deva dies they are merely re-incarnated once more in a cycle that never ends. So every death while mourned by the people of that time was always followed by the ceremony of rebirth in which she returned to her people. Under her reign several wars and crusades were waged to upkeep the demands of being a good follower of Jehanna. There were many holy wars waged against the ever growing dominion of Greyhollow, some more successful than others. But the people never wavered in their belief, and have not wavered even after the defeats suffered against the Draconians, they believe it was better to have fought and tried, then to never have fought at all.
They remain united under Velindel, and their codes. And as such they keep a close eye on those who seek to rule like a tyrant and their nation is always prepared for a new holy war. Their zealotry is well known and some nations appreciate it as there is a protective nature in their reason for their zeal. While others call them interlopers, or think them as people who interfere in matters that do not concern them.
Protect the weak, and defy Tyrants
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
Lightbay
Demonym
Lightbayites
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Location
Controlled Territories
Comments