Church of Veritas
The Church of Veritas is a country/religion on the Veritian Leaf. They worship the path of Veritas, hoping to achieve Veritas through imitating the different paths of Veritas. They also organize their society around the seven paths, each having their own Paraclete (pope-like figure), thus making a class system made up of seven classes.
Structure
The church of Veritas is divided into seven branches imitating the seven planes along the path of Veritas. The branch of Neih deals with environmental, press, exploration and agricultural institutions, as they value exploration and nature. The branch of Hah deals with entertainment, transportation, and arts, valuing liberty and expression. The branch of Tuth run the secret service and education, dealing with areas of thought. The branch of More runs healthcare and social services, as well as missionary activities, valuing love and healing. The branch of Mineos deals with law and order, both internal and international, as well as finances. They are the military and justice branch of the Veritian Church. The branch of Frit is the bureaucratic and labor areas of society, valuing work. The branch of Uz deals with death, often running the unsavory parts of society such as crime and fanaticism. They are the inquisitors and executioners. This is the smallest branch, but also the most devoted to their mission. Their ultimate goal is to kill the Dread Sins of Uz, the guards of the door to Veritas, and thus though despicable are working for the benefit of all.
Culture
Citizens within the church of Veritas often choose a branch of the church and devote their lives to that branch. Moving between branches is allowed but not advised. People mostly remain within the branch which their family is in, forming sub societies and districts devoted to certain paths of Veritas. But society is structured so that one cannot be completely isolated from the other branches. It is a complicated culture, as some branches have tenets that are oppositional to other branches if taken to extremes, so the Church maintains a difficult balance to keep their nation from devolving into fundamentalist tribalism. The majority of Veritians thus tend to spend most their energy with internal issues. They also generally see those outside of the Church as minor issues (except for the Hahlian and More branches), being more concerned with their own souls. The rise of the Dormant Cult changed this mentality, as a power rivalling the Veritian Dark Ages rose temporarily. It was squashed, and the effects proved great for the Church of Veritas as they gained the most with the least amount of loss. But the Dormant brought fear, and their eyes have been outward ever since.
Assets
Being the largest nation of Lesser Races on the Veritian Leaf, they have an abundance of agricultural and productive capabilities. Also, all rivers run veer towards the Veritian Tip, thus they have an abundance of water. One thing they have had shortages is mineral wealth, as many of their mines are running empty or cannot provide for the demand. They were managing with trade, but one of the reasons for the Second Crusade was to claim new minable regions.
Being the oldest nation, they have an abundance of accrued wealth in art, treasures, and knowledge. Much was stolen in the Veritian Dark Ages, but they have recovered greater since. They are also quite financially secure, being able to fund a crusade of reconquest challenging the country of Tumult and conquering all the land in between, as well as funding a Tuthian insurgency in the Dormant Lands.
History
See the timeline of the Veritian Leaf for a general overview of their history. More specific historical events pending.
Other key current events:
- The immortal paraclete: During the Sundering era (year 430), born in Tuthis of the Stem Region (presently called Nigthmare in the Dormant Lands), a man named Vincent Netherridge became a prominent magician and disciple in the branch of Tuth. He was chosen as Paraclete after he accomplished a Dream Ending journey, returning with a coveted Tuthian Marble of great power. The previous paraclete even stepped down after hearing of this feat (mostly paracletes are chosen after the death of the previous one). But he proved an inefficient and frustrating paraclete, spending most his time studying or journeying to Tuth. When he was nearing the end of his life, the other paracletes were hopeful to have a new Paraclete of Tuth, and when Vincent disappeared for a decade they chose a new paraclete. He returned changed, having had met the Seraph of Fall. Whether he struck a deal with the deity or taken something from him nobody knows. He reclaimed his seat as paraclete, and reigned ever since. He has lived over six centuries, though he spent much of those years in Tuth Dream Ending, collecting a jar of Tuthian Marbles. After meeting one Lord Kourend Slamonpuddle, there was an accident leading to most his marbles being scattered throughout the planes of Veritas. But that did not ruin the friendships he made in the region, and he stayed there until his mysterious disappearance in the year 1100.
- The Second Mineosian Crusade: Starting in the year 1035, the Paraclete of Mineos, Griswold Wygarthe, began another crusade of reclamation. He did this for several reasons. One, as the youngest paraclete, he hoped to prove himself. Second, news of the Dormant Cult was unnerving, and the Church needed to show its power. Three, resources were needed as trade with Dakath, Tumult and the Bludgeon Halls was waning due to their own internal conflicts. Fourth, the reclamation of stolen goods and land, which the Church still believes is theirs. So far, they have annexed the cities of Armchester, Grief, Devout and the Fey stronghold of Vifiled in the north western region. They now march in the northern region of Tumult, besieging unsuccessfully Third and failed in taking the city of Dusk. The crusade has halted due to these two failures, regrouping at the northern border of Tumult. They moved on Contact to the east next, but morale was shot and the crusade fizzled out. Their last victory was establishing a governor over Contact, but the city proved unconquerable as fifty years later it still resists the Church.
- The Uzite Initiative: The paraclete of Uz, Vox, has set her branch of Veritas towards the destruction of the Dread Sin of Anger, a deity of Uz. She began the project in her early years as paraclete, around year 1015, creating the council of five Uzite paracletes, five changelings to manage the office of paraclete. The other paracletes know of this, but it is not general knowledge. After years of study, they formulated a plan to defeat the Dread Sin's lieutenant, the Dragon god Resentment. Acquiring a relic from the Tumult king, a Tuthian Arkenstone (its origins in Neih is unknown) while one of the five sabotaged a demon cult so that she could open a portal to Uz and venture to Resentment and taunt him. In the meantime, another member of the five (with the Arkenstone) went to the magic city of Val'ul to use their combined magic might as a trap to kill Resentment. Val'ul also had a Ul, an ancient obelisk structure of the Seraph of Spring that once controlled the movement of matter. She also called the paraclete of Tuth for assistance in killing the god. With the trap set, and most mages of Val'ul on board for the glory of killing such a terrible being, a portal was opened and Resentment was pulled in by the Ul. But, even all the magical might of arguably the most magically powerful city state on the Veritian Leaf, Resentment was little phased. Fire rained down on the mage's hubris. Despite Vox's continued effort to kill Resentment with the Arkenstone, Netherridge saw the futility. Mixing a piece of Tid Narvarande (acquired in his travels in Hah) and three of his marbles, Vincent froze Val'ul in a temporal bubble to forestall the destruction until he could find a way to fix it (or at least for someone else to fix it). A group of adventurers entered the temporal bubble a few weeks later, and injured Vox to the point where she had to retreat, ruining her plans. Resentment is still stuck in the bubble.
- In 1108, the Eternal Empire attacked...
Demography and Population
They have the largest population on the Veritian Leaf, doubling the next biggest nation Tumult with approximately 4 million citizens.
Territories
They control the northern tip of the leaf. Their nation is the largest Lesser Race nation in territory. Cathedral is also the largest city on the Veritian Leaf.
Military
They have four military branches:
- The Mineosian Crusaders: The offensive branch of the Church's military, mostly fueled by conscripts and zeal. They are what they use when invaded another nation or defending against foreign threat.
- The Tuthian Insurgency: The chaotic, destabilizing branch of the military. They are sent in secret into foreign nations to disrupt them.
- The Uzite Inquisition: The branch that deals with extraplanar and cosmic threats. They are given free reign to do whatever is necessary to destroy the enemies they face. Thus, many see them as an evil cult.
- The Frittian Militia: A defensive organization that arises when the population needs to be armed quickly.
Foreign Relations
The church of Veritas is politically hostile to all foreign nations (except the Hahlian and More branches). They are not openly at war with foreign powers. They just do not find any of their political authority legitimate. They are often political bullies on the international stage. If they were not so wealthy and militarily powerful, most nations would simply refuse to interact with them. They thus have a patronizing understanding of the plights of the South, seeing them as bickering savages fallen from the Truth. They are at times called in to mediate events or attend weddings (the rebel paraclete Vincent Netherridge was known for his brazen interference in foreign affairs), but if they had their way they would conquer all the peoples on the Veritian Leaf.
Divine Origins
The church of Veritas is a cult that seeks to reach Veritas, the ultimate truth beyond the limitations of all the realms. Similar to Buddhism, but rather than detachment, they seek to be completely attached to the truth. They believe there are seven stages of truth before reaching the ultimate, but the last stage always pushes the seeker back to the start of the path. They believe this push is inevitable and desirable, for every time the follower goes through the stages, the more likened to Veritas he or she becomes. At first, followers of the Church of Veritas were at a very early stage, even lower than the first stage (Neih), in a lower plane where lesser gods seek to have dominion over the nothingness that is outside Veritas, or the Absence of Veritas. They hope to ascend into the true cycle, which will eventually bring them to the ultimate truth, which they did when they entered Neih on the Veritian Leaf.
Cosmological Views
There are seven stages on the Path to Veritas, and when a soul enters the path, they enter the reincarnation cycle. If you were born in Neih, once you die, you are reborn in Hah and so on and so forth. After dying in Uz, the final stage, they are sent back to Neih to repeat the cycle. But this is not an endless repetitive cycle, there is a Gate at Uz which leads to Veritas, which the soul is being formed to enter through its numerous lives. The Church of Veritas hopes to help along this path through religious observance and theological research, but even non-believers are stuck on this path. Those who enter the path of Veritas cannot leave easily, and even if they do, once they die they are still reborn along the path.
Tenets of Faith
Each Branch has different tenets of faith, often imitating the Cosmic entity their branch serves. The notable exception is Uz, which actively fights against the tenets of Uz.
The Branch of Neih:
The branch of Neih seeks to open up the world to wonder and life.
They worship the Great Tree Neih, seeing it as the source of all life, the birthplace of the path to Veritas.
Their doctrine mainly surrounds exploration, beauty and growth.
They also welcome the unknown, as it provides more areas to learn and grow.
Morality is not their greatest concern, as they are the first stage of the journey.
They seek first to open up and welcome the essence of Neih and experience the breath of Veritas.
They are not often lecturers or teachers, preferring the arts and the environment.
They are often aloof, and do not vie for power or position.
Their goal is to experience life to its full, which sometimes makes them morally and lawfully ambiguous.
They foster life, and thus promote birth and increase. They are not completely against violence, but would prefer other means over it. But sometimes a weed must be pulled for the garden to flourish.
Lovers of nature.
The Branch of Hah:
Unto Veritas
Founding Date
3 centuries prior to their arrival on the Veritian Leaf
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Capital
Demonym
Veritian
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Theocracy
Currency
They use the same coin as every other Lesser Race nation. Attempts to make local currency has always been frowned upon as it often led to Fey shenanigans in the past.
Legislative Body
Law is determined by interpretation of the book of Veritas, a holy work passed down from the founding of the Church.
Judicial Body
Those with the power to voice these interpretations are the Council of Paracletes, the heads of each branch of the Church. These heads are chosen in numerous ways; public support, a council of elders, rule of strength, meritocracy, track record, etc. They do not limit the way to become a paraclete, as a paraclete can emerge out of the strangest circumstances. For example, Griswold Wygarthe was appointed by the previous mineosian paraclete simply for his patronage (as a warlock) to a celestial of Mineos. He has since earned his place, but at first many of the entrenched Mineosians frowned upon this choice.
Executive Body
Most law and order is maintained by the branch of Mineos, but there are Frittian organizations that deal with labor laws, and the More has reconciliation movements for criminals. The branch of Hah is in charge of the hecklers, keeping the mineosians away from tyranny. Uz deals with executions.
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Permeated Organizations
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments