The Holy Order of Saints
Gods? Never sully their names with that false title, boy. The Holy Chorus of Saints are pure, honest Souls - not corrupted with Perdition Power like the Beasts that deceived our forefathers. How dare you speak of Them thus? They are only thing standing between us and the Raven's claws in Perdition.The Holy Chorus of Saints is a religious order founded by the remnants of the Raskvaerii religion in the decade immediately following the Great Confiscation and the Hubraic Wars. Members of the order are posthumously awarded the status of 'Saint', following a rigorous investigation into their lives and, in some instances, alleged miracles. The Holy Chorus currently consists of 27 Saints.
The Creation of the Holy Order
Those creatures that masquaraded as gods? The miserable few that had survived the Raven's wrath were hunted down and butchered like vermin by the men and women who once revered them. Oftentimes, the bloodlust of the mob could not be satisifed with the death of a Hubraic Beast, and they turned their rage and devestation on those who had welcomed them into the temples.Huge political and social turmoil devestated Raskvaeric following the Great Confiscation. It has been estimated that at least 70% of the Raskvaerii's traditional noble families were forced to disown, exile or kill their kinsmen who held Power in their veins, with some families being murdered by their own serfs. As it was customary for noble sons and daughter to serve the temple, this resulted in an almost complete obliteration of the old, religious elite that had dominated society during the Hubraic Era. Those who survived found their temples looted, defaced or burned, and their political standing utterly ruined.
Raskvaeric is, however, a country that is deeply influenced by faith. In the wake of the Great Confiscation, dangerous cults began to grow within the populace: some began to worship the Raven, others the Phoenix, and others still the Throwbacks that rose from the dead at the end of the Hubraic Wars. The Raskvaerii Throwback, Čedomir Ilyuhkin, was deeply disturbed by these newfangled and baseless faiths, and was instrumental in helping to identify and eliminate them. He also penned several important treatises that denouncing the cults as dangerous for both
Ilyuhkin claims that the similar visions he and his fellow Throwbacks were subjected to before their resurrection, were given to them by this previously unknown Holy Chorus. These Souls had been gathering in an unknown location beyong life, removed from the Phoenix's realm, because They had feared the treasonous heart of the Raven would lead to misery and bloodshed both in death and in life. It was only through the Resurrection of three Saeric souls that the Saints revealed themselves to mankind, and provided their represenatives - the Throwbacks - with the understanding and
Investiture
Only deceased individuals can be considered for investiture into the Holy Order of Saints. This requires an investigation by scholars from the Mother Temple, who examine every aspect of the Initiate's life. The scholars follow a list of guidelines in order to judge a Initiate's moral character and impact on society. These guidelines consist of the following:- While it is not vital that Initiates lived a consistently good, honourable or charitable life, they must have performed some form of Excellent Work that dramatically improved life for those around them in a positive social, economic, political or spiritual way.
- It must be proven that Initiates were Powerless. Any miracles or displays must have come from other Saints working through them.
- If they did not perform any miracles, then overcoming a Significant Evil (considered to be a Servant of the Raven) is preferable.
- Dying at the hands of aforementioned Significant Evil is also permitted.
- They must not have spoken or acted treasonably in any way towards the Karr or the Empire.
Type
Religious, Divine Host
Those might be the best placeholder images I think I've ever seen. It's... It's beautiful. :') Lovely article with lots of detail about their story and context in the world they are in <3 Great stuff
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback, Q! I think the Holy Chorus of Saints was the article I was dreading the most, but I'm glad this prompt finally forced my hand. I'm glad you liked the skellies. I hoped to have a couple more finished before Summer Camp, but... well... life.