Orthodox Communion
When the world falls to ruin and chaos, and the will of man breaks whom should they seek for their salvation?
Formed from by the priests, holy orders, the desperate and most zealous of folk. The Communion dominates the western region of the continent. The head priests of all the human pantheon of gods have been made rulers of these lands. Placed in this position of power through the will of the masses and the strength of all the holy orders combined. Granting the Communion legitimacy and the force of arms to be a major power in this broken world.
Structure
The Communion is ruled by a collective of high priests that are elected from each of the religious sects representing the deities of the human pantheon. Each of the sect holds responsibility for different side of governence within the Communion, together they form a well structured governing body.
Central Council
Order of the Eternal Flame
Followers of Boros the God of Light. They are one of the most prominant order within the Communion, leading their meetings and settling disputes between other sects. Serving as guides for the commonfolk priests and clerics of the Order are tasked with leading masses and spreading the light of Boros to all others in order to keep the faith strong. The Arch Rector is the head of this sect and acts as speaker of the council for all the other sects.
Sisters of the Eclipse
A entirely female sect that worship Vuna Goddess of the Moon. The equal half to the Order of Eternal Flame, the Sisters are much loved by the people who turn to them for clarity and wisdom. They ease the minds and worries of the people, making sure they do not stray from the righteous path. The First Sister is the head of this sect.
Custodians of Lore
A sect of scribes, scholars and archivists that worship Minerva Goddess of Knowledge. Every library, school and place of learning is under their charge. They decide what is taught, which books are written and who is permitted education, through the Custodians the people of the Communion are contained to blissful ignorance. It is better that way, lessens the risk that the commonfolk might discover forbidden teachings and lose their faith. The High Curator is the head of this sect
Circle of Cessation
A sect that worship Dispater God of Graves and the Passing of Life. The Circle have a taken on the task of ensuring that those who die within Communion lands are laid to rest, able to pass on from this realm to that of Elysium or Hades never to return again as undead creatures. They are one of the most wide spread sects, with resident priests in every town and city, with travelling groups roaming from villages, hamlets and shires offering their service to those in need. The Head Embalmer leads this sect.
Three Arms of Law
Inquisition of Cadon
Followers of Cadon the God of Law and Order. The Inquisition is the largest of all the sects offering many great benefits to those who pledge themselves to Cadon. They are the first arm of the law, tasked with making the laws and enforcing order onto the people. Guarding the towns and cities, judging criminals and maintaining the peace is their duty, and they will do so with ruthless efficiancy. The Grand Inquisitor is head of this sect.
The Night Templars
A small sect that worship the Goddess of Protection and Twilight Diana. The second arm of the law and the smallest of them due to the dangerous nature of their duty. Tasked with protecting the citizens of the Communion from threats of an abberant nature, monsters, fiends, undead any supernatural being that terrorizes the lands is subject the The Grand Templar is head of this sect.
Heralds of Hecate
Followers of Hecate the God of Magic. As the third arm of the law the Heralds duty is towards safeguarding magic, maintaining a strict order over magic and those who can weave it. Magic has been the cause of much destruction, pain and suffering in the world and the Heralds believe mages practicing the dark arts of magic were the cause of the Harrowing, therefore they contain and monitor all mages within the Communion to ensure this never happens again. The Grand Herald is head of this sect.
Divine Defenders
The Black Crusaders
Divine warriors of Bellona the Goddess if War. The Communion didn't get the place it was without an army and the Black Crusaders make up the bulk of it, alongside the other holy orders but none match the Crusaders for their martial prowess. They are rarely seen around the Communion unless there is a need for them, otherwise they are hauled up in their barracks like temples training and drilling for the next war they may have to face. The Onyx Marshall leads this sect.
Hospitallers of Dawn
Knightly physicians and healers in service Ceres Goddess of Life. Dedicated healers, physicians and surgeons the Hospitallers are much loved and respected, during war times they march with the army alongside the Black Crusaders providing medical aid to the holy orders and levies. Outside of war they run hospices, caring for the sick and injured, they work alonside other physicians and surgeons who lack the magical healing powers of Ceres. The Supreme Patriarch leads this sect
House of the Underworld
The God of Death Orcus' small sect of believers. The god of death is not well loved, more feared than worshipped. Yet the House understand the need for Orcus. Though small in numbers they are terrifying warriors on the battlefield. Blessed by Orcus they are the only ones permitted to use the dark magics of necromancy in all the Communion. This has led to many worrying that they are just a small step away from heresy. The Last Commandant is head of this sect.
The Union of Tranquility
Servents to the Goddes Pax who presides of Peace. As purveyors of peace the Union would seem out of place being assigned to the Communions military however they serve dutifully to make certain that the wars waged and battles fought are ended swiftly with as little unnecessary death on either side. Outside of war they try to maintain peaceful relations with the other nations around them acting as dignitaries and ambassadors. The head of their sect is the High Steward.
Commerce and Customs
Hammers of Vulcan
The Forge God Vulcan's sect of artisans, crafters and smiths. As servents of Vulcan the Hammers are dedicated to the task of creating, maintain and developing all manner of tools, buildings, industry and just about all things needed to be crafted within the Communion. They guide and aid the commonfolk in building their homes, running smithys and carpentry workshops and laying down roads, they have helped make the Communion a well constructed region. The First Journeyman leads this sect.
Faunus' Caretakers
A sect dedicated to Faunus the God of Nature. Charged with all the agricultural needs of the Communion the Caretakers seek to aid the farmers, hunters and herbalists of the Communion to produce enough food and gather plenty of medicinal herbs to keep the region fed and healthy. They work closely with the Hospitallers of Dawn and the Union of Tranquility often sharing temples and chapels with the other sects. The Prime Caretaker is head of the this sect.
The Lodge of Storms
A sect to Tempestas God of Storms. Friends of sailors, fishermen and sea traders the Lodge runs all the maritime proceedings in the Communion. They manage the trade ships, harbours and aid the shipwrights in building and fixing up vessels, with the help of the Hammers of Vulcan. The Lodge also admirals the Communions navy, though they do little more than patrol for pirates than conduct naval warfare. The Storm Proctor leads this sect.
The Whispering Crows
A sect to Laverna Goddess of Trickery. In charge of collecting taxes, issuing trading permits and finding out secrets. In public they are seen as little more than just priestly officials and administrations. The people you your money to and who let you open a stall. In secret they are listening to everything you say and reporting it to the Inquisition or Heralds. They are the actually the forth arm of the law, just no one knows that. The Arch Whisperer is head of this sect.
Public Agenda
The Orthodoxy Communion have a few simple goals in mind, firstly unite the former nations of the Kingdom of Polliers under their guidance, protection and leadership. For the former Kingdom cannot be remade as it was and the current lords are far to self driven and weak to ever rule justly, therefor it is duty of those closest to the gods to lead the former realm back to the position of glory it once held.
Second is to rid the world of the Harrowing, the devastating plague that has decimated the lands and destroyed so much. It must have been born of something dark, corrupt and evil, the Communion will route out the source and cleanse the the world of this accursed burden.
Lastly, they seek to diminish and replace the heretical gods the other races worship, only the Pantheon is true and righteous, only they can save this world from its downfall. Not the Aesir of the jotnar, the elvish Tuath Dé, the dwarven Seann Daoine or the longzhu Tiānshén. They are all false deities that only serve to steer the devoted away from the path of righteousness and weakens the true gods, allowing the dark elder gods of ancient times free reign to spread their corruption.
Assets
Through taxation, consistent trade and the initial conquering of the old counties of Estadia and Albia the Communion has amassed a considerable wealth, one that they have put towards rebuilding, construction and maintainence of the towns, cities and roads of their lands. Alongside financing their ever expanding armies, navy and fortifications the Communion never seems to shy on coin or unwilling to spend it too many mercenary troops often find themselves in their employ and paid handsomely for their work.
History
The Orthodoxy Communion was formed when the Kingdom of Polliers started to collapse during the Harrowing, the commonfolk had lost hope in the lords and nobles that once protected feeling desperate and dissolussioned many turned to the gods for salvation, or more importantly the priests of those gods. The various churches of the Pantheon always acted independently before, never truly working together or even sharing the same space for some. However once the people had placed their trust and faith into them the heads of each church sat down together and formed an ecumenical council, whereby they agreed to unite all the churches to form one powerful body that could stand up to the fractured warring counts and dukes of the former Kingdom. Combining the holy orders and zealous followers of each church the Orthodoxy Communion amassed a sizeable army and set forth for the west.
The old Count Henry of Albia was shocked to find an angry horde of zealous peasants and holy knights marching through his lands towards his capital, growing in size as they passed through villages and hamlets convincing the locals to join their cause. The count rallied his banners and set out to meet the rebellious fanatics in battle out on the open fields north of the Forrey Wilds and Balster River. The Communion army was far larger than the counts, though most were simple peasant folk armed with tools and farming equipment, the only true warriors on their side were the holy orders of knights while Count Henry had well less troops they were better trained, not to mention the famous longbowmen of Albia capable of shooting arrows up to 600ft away. The battle was fierce and brutal, with many losses on either side after several hours the old count was struck down from his horse by the Black Crusader Anette who was heralded as a hero of the gods. The counts army routed and the Communion army marched on to the city of Wolfsill, the city open it's gates not wanting to anger the thousands of fanatics outside the walls currently high off their recent victory.
Claiming the city as the new capital of the Orthodoxy Communion they quickly sought to recuperate their losses, the old counts family was executed on a pious pyre, his lands and wealth redistributed to the church funds, the remenants of the army assimilated into the Crusaders and mercenary troops hired. No one was expecting the Communion to go to war again so quickly, least of all Countess Maria of Estadia who was at the time warring with the neighbouring Baron Garnot of Calere. With the County of Estadias forces away from home the Communion army was able to march down the coast to Granavia and capture the Countess's capital with no resistance. Trapped between the Orthodoxy to her west and the Baron's forces to the east the Countess cut her losses and fled on horseback with as many caballeros as she could muster south towards the Fawiyyah Emirate, choosing exile over certain death. The Baron Garnot chose not to risk relations with new global power that was now on his border and allowed them to take all the lands west of Castillo Vendra.
Once claiming the lands to the west the Communions expansive turned towards the channel islands that lay in the Sea of Lorley, however the naval presence they had claimed from Granavia and the former city of Wolfsill renamed to Borosoni was small and untrained. Unlike the newly declared pirate republic led by the former Viscount Ocrax who held almost all of the old kingdoms ships, sailours and marines, the Communions one and only attempt to take the isles sank swiftly to Ocrax and his marauders.
Returning home from their defeat at the hands of the pirate rebels the Communion had found that the other regions of the old kingdom had stabilised somewhat, with four dominant nobles reigning over the north, south, east and central regions of what once was Polliers. Lacking the strength to continue their crusade the head priests turned inward and began solidifier their rule over the west. Now the Orthodoxy Communion stands as a regional powerhouse on the continent of Tír Suaimhnis with huge potential to become one of the most powerful nations.
Demography and Population
Humans make up the highest percentage of the population. Halflings, gnomes and dwarves are common here though normally in small communities seperate from humans. Elves, orcs, longzhu, kobolds, hellions, daeva, elementalis and the occassional firbolg and goliath sometimes reside in these provinces but are rarely welcomed.
Territories
Occupying the western coastal regions of the continent, Estadia in the south and Albia further north. These two regions were seperate counties before the Harrowing and fracture of the Kingdom of Polliers. Neither could defend against the united churches on their own and were swiftly defeated, their counts deposed and lands transferred to the new Orthodox Communion.
Military
The holy orders of each faith make up the armed forces of the Communion with each specialising into a different field.
Sentinels of the Burning Light
The chosen elite of Boros the god of light. These knightly clerics have been gifted with the power to wield Boros' fire. The Sentinels are one of the largest of the holy orders due to the popularity of Boros. Most missions the Sentinels are sent on involve cleansing a tainted area with Boros' holy flames.
Inquisition of Cadon
Largest of all the orders and one of the most respected and feared. First of the three arms of law and order in the Communion. The Inquisitors juristiction is monitoring the commonfolk, rooting out criminals, heretics and those intent on disrupting order. They are the guards, the lawmakers, judges, juries and executioners. Wielding the mace of justice with ruthless effeciency.
The Night Templars
Protecters of the people the Templars are the second arm of law in the Communion. Tasked with tracking down and eliminating dangerous creatures that threaten the world. They are few in number by highly trained and blessed by their Goddess Diana. The people respect them but with great reserve, for if a Night Templar shows up in your village then that means something horrific is nearby.
Black Crusaders
When people mention the Orthodox Communion's army what they mean is the Black Crusaders. Unparalled paladins in service of Bellona the Goddess of War, they are drilled and train daily for the for battle. Coated in heavy armour painted black wielding, halberds, longswords, maces and shields they one of the most well equipped army after the Mor Garium dwarves.
Hospitallers of Dawn
Ceres' chosen are the most beloved of all the holy order. The Hospitallers are more than just elite knights, they are trained physicians and magical healers. Travelling from town to village to city offering protection and aid to whomever needs it. When they are not tending to the ailing they are marching alongside the Black Crusaders, serving as field medics ensuring no Crusader falls in battle.
Heralds of Hecate
The god of magics holy order. The Heralds are the third arm of law and hold the most specialist task of all. They dictacte the laws of magic in the Communion. The Heralds decide which magics are allowed, which are taboo and whether a mage has the right to live or die. Any mage living inside the Communion lands and neighbouring regions must be housed in a sacacrium. Monitored closely by the Heralds for any sign of dark magics.
Laverna's Larks
Perhaps the most unusual holy order the Larks serve the trickster Goddess. They act more as spies and informants for the Communion. Without them the Inquisitors, Templars and Heralds duties would be far more difficult. The Larks use their blessings to blend in, charm and fool others into revealing all to them. Any heretics, apostate mages or enemies of the Communion are swiftly discovered.
Guardians of the Eclipse
Vuna's chosen knights may not be the fiercest warriors with the powerful magics. Their speciality lies in defending and empowering others around them. Alone on the battlefield they are vulnerable but paired with a Templar, Crusader, Inquisitor or Legionary their true power shines.
The Legion of Orcus
A small but formidable order within the House of Hades. These clerics and paladins march to war wielding the dark arts of necromancy alongside strength of arms. They are feared on the battlefield by both enemies and allies alike. Armed with the most brutal of weapons like morningstars, flails and other weapons that inflict the most pain.
Thunder Dragoons
When thunder booms and lightning arcs across the battlefield it can only mean Tempestas' chosen have arrived. The Dragoons are powerful by any standards. Clad in heavy armour, wielding great weapons and casting devastating magics. Not only this but they have amassed a fleet of ships within their order. Serving as a small but elite navy prescence.
Foreign Relations
They are respected by the other human nations on their border. The Duchy of Frémilar and the County of Aviroux. They keep up good relations but whether that is because they fear the Communions influence and power spreading to their lands.
The dwarves of Dern Daral regularly trade and work alongside the Communion. Particularly the town of Westburg due to it's proximity to the Dern.
The Zhìzūn Lóng Dynasty have established an mutually beneficial agreement with the Communion. Mostly focused on trade, however the longzhu are rarely allowed to disembark or stay for too long in their cities.
The Fawiyyah Emirate continue to trade with the Communion via sea and land. However they are still wary due to the volatile and expansive nature of the nation.
High elves from the Illamel Ríocht will make the long trip to the cities of Granavia and Borosoni via ship. Mostly for trade however recently emmissaries have been seen travelling between the two nations.
Ocrax Marauders are hated by the Communion. The corsairs of these islands harrass the trade routes and fishing vessels endlessly. Anyone bearing the kraken mark will face swift judgement.
The March of Teutonburg and County of Zaskayova are indifferent. They will accept priests and paladins into their lands but they do not agree with the churches hold sway over the people.
Trade & Transport
Naval trade is the most efficient and effective method for the Communion due to their coastal cities.
The highroads that connect the towns and cities are well mantained, allowing merchant caravans to travel between them and neighbouring countries.
However both the seas and highroads are not safe from banditry. With Ocrux Marauders raiding ships in the Sea of Lorley and the Highroad Brotherhood ever present to rob any wayward merchants.
Maps
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Borosoni
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