Church of the Inheritor
The Church of the Inheritor is the sovereign authority over the territory of Selene. In addition to being the largest unified religious institution in the region, the Church of the Inheritor also serves as the principal civil bureaucracy for the defense and administration of the domain. One of the first territories founded during the collapse of the Empire, the Church quickly grew from merely a religious union into an entire secular government, responsible for tens of thousands of followers, refugees, and loyal adherents.
The Church is lead by the Holy Scion (A title currently held by Exalted Archpriestess Talia Agani). Imbued with both official and divine mandates, the Scion rules over the Church hierarchy as well as the larger Territory as a successor to their founder, Priestess Edriessa, as well as their guiding prophet, Aetia Seleria. To that end, the Scion is served by a governing assembly known as the Seldin Curia, which is composed of Veisars, who serve as a conduit to the larger collection of priests and followers. The Curia assemble to discuss all matter of issues relevant to the church and its domain (both divine and secular), and administer the daily affairs of interest to the Holy Diaspora.
Relations and Current Events
Only within the last few centuries has the Church of the Inheritor, and Selene as a whole, shifted from being a relatively reclusive territory to a politically active actor on the world state. Despite its relatively smaller military and resources, the Inheritor Church has the largest number of devout followers of any organized religion in Rynn. The Royal Seminary of Svain and Church of Mordune arguably possess more political and cultural influence, however the Inheritor Church remains completely sovereign and autonomous. The Church views its sphere of influence not in terms of physical borders, but through culture and tradition. While its reach is not as long as Svain or Muscova in this regard, its sway is strong, and has been growing. For many of its rivals, Selene has been a sleeping threat, whose power and influence are only just coming to light. Recent agreements with Ikaros and Thele, as well as agents from Thvisch, Scietti, and Maeron have brought to light the types of leverage Selene can wield. In the centuries since its founding, The Church of the Inheritor has grown from a small community of lay-priests and acolytes into a complex hierarchy of ordained officials and quasi-secular functionaries. While the Church has established clear articles rejecting the appearance of autocratic rule, the growing demands of civilization and order have required ever more delegation of authority and discretion. In the struggle between the Scions responsibility to the spiritual needs of the Holy Diaspora, and the mundane administration of the Selene territory, the Church has taken several steps to partition its influence in order to avoid the corruptible nature of imperious rule.The Selendrie
The Selendrie refers to specific beliefs and vows of the current and ancestral members of Selene (and the Inheritor Church). They still hold many of the core beliefs of old Paragonism, such as the Ascension of the Paragons to the Celestial Court, the sanctity of the mortal soul and obligation to shepherd its passing to the astral sea; the need for prayer and sacrifice to guide the aid of the gods, and the appeal to the Paragons as their envoys to them. Importantly, the Selendrie have renewed the key tenant in Divine Consubpothesis, and re-expanded the belief to apply to all chosen, where previously that right was reserved exclusively for the Emperor and their followers. Other deviations include the belief that there are a finite limit to of living chosen at any time. As such, the Selendrie believe that securing the allegiance and fealty of more chosen is one of the greatest paths to gaining the favor of the gods.The Holy Scion
The Holy Scion is imbued with authority over the entirely of the Church, and is the only official with the ability to promote a high priest or arch priest to the title of Veisar. In addition to the Head of State, the Scion serves as the chief ambassador for the Church. Most importantly, however, the Exalted Scion serves as a living conduit to both their founder, High Priestess Edriessa, as well as their seminal prophet, Seledrine. In this capacity, the Exalted Scion is expected to uphold the tenets of the faith, and is believed to be a holy avatar for the faithful - one with arguably the strongest connection to the gods held by any mortal. Prior to the Holy Diaspora, Edreissa is believed to have received a vision outlining the Inheritor’s Sacrament, and undergoing the ritual at the tomb of the prophet Aetia Seleria. Considered one of the few true miracles, the Inheritor’s Sacrement is the holiest event that can occur within the Church, and among the Selendrie faith. Since that first ritual, the Inheritor’s Sacrament has been a cornerstone of the faith, as well as the Church’s authority. By tradition, once a new Scion has been annointed, a public day of worship is called and faithful from across the Diaspora are called capital. Along with the funeral remains of the last Scion, the faithful are guided in a ritual of prayer and magic. Settled in a sacred pool within the city, the ritual is said to transfer of mantle of power from predecessor to successor. It is believed that this imbues the new Scion with the power of each previous Scion, including the power of divine revelation dating back all the way the prophet Seleria.The Curia
The Seldin Curia is a body of approximately thirty Veisars - senior priests who have been promoted to serve the Exalted Scion in a direct capacity. While Veisars still hold a titular position as a high priest of their former parish, Veisars give up the duties of administering prayers and overseeing rituals in order to aide the Scion and the Church in a more direct capacity through the Curia. The Curia is nominally led by a Grand Veisar, elected from among their members. The Curia is arguably one of the most equitable and democratic bodies in Turath. The only requirement to join its ranks are to be an Ordained High Priest (or higher) within the Church, and to be nominated and approved by the current body and Exalted Scion. With two Veisars already inducted without having previous heritage or family within the territory of Selene, there is a discussion about the limits of future promotions and possible dilution of power for the Church as a whole, given time. The Curia are responsible for the legislation and deliberation of Church doctrine and administrative rules. While the Conclaves can recommend new codes or bylaws, they must be approved by the Curia, on behalf of the Scion. Once approved, much of the governing is left to the Conclaves.The Conclaves
At present, there are five sub-committees that organize the various duties within the Curia, known as Conclaves. Each conclave is given wide authority to legislate and administer operations within their jurisdiction. The head of each Conclave is by a Veisar Majora, elected by the Curia, and serves as the senior official. Other Veisars are in turn elected to serve the Majora in the affairs of the Conclave. Below is a brief summary of the Conclaves jurisdictions and duties. Piety - The conclave of Piety is responsible for maintaining the official records of all church activities; including historical texts, amendments to church doctrine, and records for trials or rituals done on behalf of the church. It is also responsible for the collection and allocation of church finances. The conclave of Piety is currently lead by Rica Iager. Censure - The conclave of Censure is tasked with deliberating and defending church doctrine against heresy and secular influence. This includes the investigation of aberrant or unusual activities or events deemed significant by the Church, as well as the coordination of the church’s militant militia, the Selendrie Host. The conclave of Censure is currently lead by Korneli Moartu. Solemnity - The conclave of Solemnity is responsible for the review of Priestly activity, including the ordination of new Priests to the church, as well as the trial of conduct for current members. As the official head of the Seldin Tribunal, this conclave serves as the final authority on all legal appeals, and embodies the highest court in the realm. The conclave of Solemnity is currently lead by Augustina Varias. Zeal - The conclave of Zeal is charged with the exploration and recruitment of new followers and patrons to the Church. In an effort to expand its influence, and secure additional resources, this conclave recruits allies both domestically and internationally. They seek to enlist new Chosen into their ranks, as well as form financial or informational relationships with external powers. The conclave of Zeal is currently lead by Viridia Kyriakou. Devotion - The conclave of Devotion oversees all aspects of social welfare and civil investment for the Church and its followers. The conclave seeks to provide services that improve the lives and prosperity of its adherents, and further the Church’s reputation as a benefits force for good. This conclave employs the largest amount of secular or temporary volunteers, many of whom give their time and labor in service to the Church in lieu of tithes. The conclave of Devotion is currently lead by Teo VaintuOther Associations
Below are a few other offices or associations that operate within the auspice of the Church of the Inheritor.The Seledrine Host
Assembled along with Church itself, the Selendrine Host serves as the totality of armed forces of the territory. Established originally to protect the Church and its followers from reprisal from the Turathi Empire, the Seledrine Host has remained as a bulwark against military conquest and aggression from neighboring kingdoms. It consists mostly of devout, volunteer soldiers - though its senior officers and elite warriors are renowned to contain some of the continents strongest divine spellcasters and champions of any nation. The Seledrine Host is divided into two main groups - The Elite Auroran Guard, and the Grand Militia. Together, these units protect Selene from foreign threats.Amarus Telum
Commonly known as the Bitter Blades, the Amarus Telum are an open secret, and serve as the Church’s clandestine agents. Considered to be directly beholden the Exalted Scion, the Amarus Telum are thought to be expert spies, assassins, and saboteurs who safeguard the Church against threats far and wide. Given the relative weakness of the Selendrine Host in comparison to the vassal armies of its neighbors, most consider the efforts of the Amarus Telum as a key reason why the Church as kept Selene as a Sovereign territory for so long.Seldin Tribunal
Composed of select members from all Conclaves, as well as a jury of priests as peers, the Seldin Tribunal serves as the official judicial court for crimes and transgressions. While the conclave of Solemnity oversees the regulations and duties for all courts under Church jurisdiction, the Seldin Tribunal is the final court of appeal for any defendant. While the tribunal is primarily reserved for judging members of the Church itself, any resident can appeal to their authority with the endorsement of a Church priest. Sentences for priests often include demotions or expulsion from the church, and may possibly lead to fines or excommunication of residents. Death sentences are rare, and usually reserved for anyone deemed to be irredeemably malformed or corrupted by an unholy force.The Selendrie and the Holy Diaspora
The Church of the Inheritor, regardless of one’s current faith, is nonetheless recognized as the descendant of an ancient and bitter schism among the Pargothi faithful. Heirs to a magnetic Imperial priestess and prophet, as well as a more recent religious revolutionary, the Church is rooted in antagonism against entrenched authority. After the death and martyrdom of the prophet Aetia Seleria, many of the religious factions in the late empire fell into conflict with one another, each seeking to reclaim a mantle of divine supremacy. After nearly three centuries of irregular conflicts, one faction was able to rally around a shared set of ideals and was able to marshal a large enough resistance to guarantee religious independence. Lead by the High Priestess Lucia Edriessa, this sect would become known as the Selendrie, and would make an exodus from the empire into the northern territories. Edriessa is said to have received a vision from the prophet herself, and led the people of the Selendrie to the headwaters of the Annalles river, on the fringes of the Ishdan province. With grace and charisma, Edriessa not only guided these followers to a new home, but helped form a new identify and crede between them. Initially, the Holy Diaspora referred to the seven year exodus of Edriessa and her Selendrie followers from their former homes to the lands in Ishdan province. However, over the next few generations, as dispersant followers and refugees found their way to ‘the land of the Selendrie’, the Holy Diaspora became associated with not just a territory, but a sphere of political and religious influence. Within a few generations, the loose associations of the Selendrie faithful was cemented, and the Church of the Inheritor was founded. Among their first doctrinal declarations was the posthumus declaration of High Priestess Edriessa as the first Exalted Scion, and the establishment of her connection to the holy prophet Seleria.The Territory of Selene
There was a brief period during which the Church of the Inheritor co-existed in some measure of peace along with the Imperial priesthood. Embroiled in several regional conflicts, along with growing tensions Alkandra province, The Empire was ill-prepared to muster a large enough force to bring the Selendrie to heel. Having gained allies in the recently independent Thvisch, Ishdan province slowly fell under the sway of the Selendrie, and the Empire struggled to collect taxes from the region, let alone enforce the Emperor’s law. While the Empire never officially recognized the shift, many of the provincial residents and lords began referring to the province as Selene, in honor of its faithful occupants. Some saw the formation of the church as an escape from the constant battles of petty religious feuds, while others believed in the divine revelation of the Scion. It wasn’t long before official decrees from the Church, as well as some governors, adopted the language as well, cementing it in the lexicon of the larger empire. When the Last Partition occurred in the 26th century, the only reference to Ishidan that could be found were in the Bael Lyceum. The end of the Empire was not as climactic as the tales may wish. Despite the lack of a coronation of a new Emperor after the assassination of High Warlock Orinieth, many of the bureaucracy of the empire kept churning along, now ensconced in Camenant. In an effort to sever any remaining ties, the Church moved quickly to absorb any assets within its outlying territories, and forcefully disbanded or recruited any former imperial staff or soldiers. Few resisted, content to have a competent authority rather than a distant wayward commander. With an organized priesthood and experienced administrative state, the Church moved to solidify its hold on the region. Once in possession of former imperial aides and records, the Church dissolved any remaining governorships and local councils, and installed their High priests to serve as reagents while new civic leaders were elected from the populace. While the more democratic civil rulers where met with optimism, their relative inexperience led them to lean heavily on the Church for guidance, thus cementing their authority over the region."By Their Wisdom"
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
Inheritor Church, the Holy Diaspora
Demonym
Seldin
Government System
Democracy, Parliamentary
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Controlled Territories
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