Church of the Bloodrose Raven
"Do not fear your impulses, your wild desires; they are the evidence that you are alive! Indulge and revel in them, that when you pass on your memories of a life fully-lived may comfort and speed your soul on its next journey. But even in this, remember: it is not our place to obstruct the development of our neighbor's souls any more than our own. When your own desires would seek to undo all that others might accomplish, that is when your soul may yet grow further through abstinence and reflection."
-Priest of the Bloodrose Raven
Structure
For roughly the last 500 years, the largest temple of the Bloodrose Lady of Ravens has been located in Beremen, the better to assist the many wayward souls of the Spirited Lands in moving on their way. The church does not recognize any particular member as being the leader, unlike most mortal organizations. The Lady of Death is far and away the most active of deities, regularly making personal appearances or sending her direct servitors for the same within grounds consecrated to her, so there is no need for extensive mortal roles of authority within the church.
Generally, the "highest" position one can attain by conventional standards is that of Overseer. These individuals are in charge of a given temple's upkeep, and other members of the church will accede to their wishes without complaint with regard to tasks needed to maintain a location. However, within the church, acolytes would much rather be out in the field in some way, doing the Lady's works directly.
Assets
The Church of the Bloodrose Raven performs its services free of charge but does not dissuade grateful people and organizations from offering it gifts. People from all walks of life are called to the service of death and shepherding lost souls, as well, including those with an eye for finance or other useful life skills. Over the millennia since the church's inception, multiple locations and resources have found their way into its hands. Today it not only claims locations in nearly every settlement on the known map but also has several seafaring vessels regularly traveling from port to port. Referred to collectively as Death's Fleet, these seafarers bearing holy symbols of roses and ravens and their vessels are welcome on any trip through The Spirit Sea in particular, especially if not otherwise escorted by a vessel of the Geisturmers.
Cosmological Views
The Lady and her servitors teach that Tempax, and other worlds like it, are small pieces of an inconceivably-large system she refers to as 'The Engine of Creation,' whose proper function depends on the birth and flow of mortal souls. Even the deities are, in the end, mere caretakers who assist in the growth and protection of mortal souls.
It is for this engine the Lady toils, and it is for this reason undead and those who traffic in undeath are especially hated by Death and her servitors; she teaches that when an undead is raised or created, even if mindless, it binds an available soul to itself in order to do so. These souls are kept from the cycle they are meant to move on to, stagnating until released. Her greatest revulsion and hatred is reserved particularly for creatures such as liches, who willfully seek to restrain themselves from moving on to their proper next experiences of existence.
Curiously, she doesn't seem to have an issue with alchemists and wizards who seek methods of eternally prolonging life in its living form, bearing them no ill intent when asked.
Tenets of Faith
"Live to your desires to their fullest."
"Inhibit not the growth of others."
"Allow souls to clash as souls needs must."
Ethics
"Live your desires to their fullest," is the first piece of advice one will ever receive when counseled by a follower of death. The Bloodrose Lady of Ravens is first and foremost concerned with the maturation of mortal souls, which she preaches is most achieved by finding fulfillment within one's lifetime. It is important to note that the 'live' portion of this tenet holds a high priority; a short life spent pursuing an impossible dream in vain is less fulfilling than a long life spent achieving true happiness in a dozen smaller ways.
"Inhibit not the growth of others," is a nod to the fact that one's own desires will run counter to the desires of others at times. The Lady teaches that in such times, the best course of action is that which least inhibits the largest number of souls from achieving fulfillment. If two find their urges at cross-purposes directly, and no others will be affected, those two should practice restraint while seeking a compromise each can accept.
"Allow souls to clash as souls needs must," is an acceptance of the nature of a world filled with such varieties of mortals as exist on Tempax. A raiding tribe of orcs have souls and needs no smaller in importance than those of the settlement they are attacking. Ordained members of the faith are not obliged to stand aside in such encounters, and may act to support whichever side they please as their own desires dictate; it is forbidden for them to simply forcefully halt an occurrence along these lines without meaningful resolution for one side or the other, however. Normally, in this specific example, priests of the Bloodrose Raven on both sides of the conflict will first attempt to establish talks between the forces involved, to seek a fulfilling compromise for both sides. Smaller and larger conflicts follow similar interpretations.
Granted Divine Powers
The powers granted to the priests of the Bloodrose Raven center on death; keeping it at bay, or speeding it closer. Generally, one can find them using their powers for healing, but shouldn't forget that the inversion of those granted abilities is every bit as potent.
Deserving special mention, however, are the abilities granted to them which hold a special edge against undeath in all its forms. If hunting undead, or seeking protection from ghosts and the like, there is no better ally to have than a priest of the Church of the Bloodrose Raven.
"Do as your soul wills, until souls do clash."
Founding Date
-5612 BE
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Leader
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
Comments