The Church of Sobruus, God of Ardità
For eons upon eons, mortals have always looked to the sky for answers. The heavens were always seen as the home of the gods, and the fabeled lands of Ardità are no diffrent. However unlike other faiths, the god Sobruus came to the lands not from some whispered prophecy of old monks, but of a gloriously burning comet high up from the sky. Dragons have always lived in the mountaintops and forests of Ardità, and have always been commonly linked to astrological events. It was only natural in the darkest time of Ardità's history for the people to see the burning comet and fall to their knees in prayer. So it has been since that calamitous fall and rise that the Church of Sobruus has taken form. So it will continue to stand forever more, for the darkness of ignorance and decay must be driven back not with book and word, but with fire and steel.
Mythology & Lore
While Sobruus is the main god, there are technically more gods within the panethon, but they are also seen as mere reflections and lesser focused aspects of Sobruus. These gods being Mukadi of the Afterlife, and Nannith of Fertility and Home. They are all dragons just like Sobruus, and for this reason dragons are of significant cultural impact in Ardità society. While dragon attacks are still bad and a concern for cities, its more likely for Arditàns to try and work out a deal or some form of bargin with dragons rather than having to fight them. Some call this cowardice, and others more just smart survival skills, but the point remains its better to not get eaten by such legendary creatures.
Cosmological Views
The Church of Sobruus believes that the world was born of several comets crashing together, and one massive comet flying across the world six times, where each time spawned more and more life upon the world. After the sixth time the large comet, Sobruus, flew away, promising to come back to watch his children should the times grow so dark as to drown out the sky.
Tenets of Faith
The main domains of the Church of Sobruus are the guiding philosophy of the church. These domains being:
- Civilization
- Industry
- Law
- Light
- Progress
- Decency
- The Stars and Sky
Priesthood
The priesthood are typically those who submit themselves to become followers of the faith. Typically orphans and younger people join the church, as joining the church means to give up earthly titles and ranks, save for the clothes on ones skin and no more than 1 backpack worth of items. While members of the priesthood are paid, for their first 4 years they will not earn even a copper. The first 4 years are seen as general teaching of basic education as well as a basic guide to religous doctrine and theory. After this, should they be found accpetable they begin apprenticeship under one of the many churches and monestaries around Ardità, where a senior member of the church tutors them and has them help with service and other practicies. Time can vary for how long this apprenticeship lasts, but when the apprentice is found sufficant, they go through a ceramony to commemorate their raising from apprentice to priest, and are allowed to practice the faith of Sobruus in any way they see fit. Most join with others to form wandering monk groups or continue to help at the church the served under as an apprentice. Those found of a more martial persuassion will instead of apprenticeship, be sent to one of the churches orders to learn the ways of combat and of channeling the power of faith itself. These men and women will in turn become the clerics, paladins, and warrior priests of the comet lord. It should be noted that no matter what, a basic understanding and insight on the practice of astronomy, astrology, and other fields realted to the stars is required to be learned by the churchs institutions.
Political Influence & Intrigue
For being in a land so divided, the Church of Sobruus is perhaps the only real united orginization in Ardità. Unlike the Church of the Flame, The Church of Sobruus has had relatively few schisms if any, and largely stay out of local politics as much as they can. While they will of course be involved if the city a church is in is invaded by rival city states, they largely try to maintain the area with which the church's walls stand as neutral, sacred territory. While this hasn't stopped some clerics from serving in the may armies of the city states, the offical statement run by the church is that they care not for the politics of the nobles, and instead only care about the heavens.
