The Church of Ezreal

The light of Ezreal will protect all who are worthy.

A war with the Orcish warbands of Old Caledor preceded the inception of the Kingdom of Humanity. After a hard fought war was won by mankind, one man took on the mantle of hope and led the humans into a new era. This man was Ezreal Killian, a mortal man turned God during his two century rule over Caledor. A guiding light, an ever burning flame - Ezreal was the pinnacle of man and an everlasting example for all kings, knights and peasants to pursue. How could a single man bear so much power? Contain such magic power? These are questions that evade the common man but encourage the followers of the Church. A God-King deserves no less than the praise of his loving subjects, and love him they do. The Church of Ezreal, an order dedicated to the loyalty of the "true" King of Caledor. Is this a simple religion? Or is it a coup in the making? Only time will tell.

Mythology & Lore

It has been centuries now but the stories still ring true in the ears of the followers of the Church of Ezreal. Long ago when the Kingdom of Man was first established in Caledor, the first King took the mantle of hope for humanity and transcended mortality. After a few centuries of guiding the humans into a new age, Ezreal discovered powers that allowed him to ascend into Godhood. Becoming the first divine entity to have graced Unicorta on a material level, Ezreal is believed to be the holiest of beings to have ever existed. Although not a traditional God, he is certainly worshipped as one. Of Ezreal's feats, it is believed that he was one of the first beings to have discovered 10th level magic, corroborated by his ability to become a God. Although no one has any proof, many ideas about what he was capable of have been imagined by many dreamers, but ultimately the truth eludes him. Old accounts say he summoned beings from other worlds, others say that he built an entire city in a day. Some believe these are simply over exaggerated events, but to the followers they are simply naysayers.

Divine Origins

The Church was originally established only a few years after the Second King of Caledor was chosen. After Ezreal left them, a zealous leader known as Morpheus Fayden decided that the new King was a false one. The Church of Ezreal was created as a means to honor their old king. Originally, the organization was not known as the Church of Ezreal, but rather the Followers of Ezreal. It wouldn't be until decades later that the Church would officially be recognized and serve a more theological function rather than a political one. However, some would say that nothing has really changed...

Tenets of Faith

Followers of the Church adhere to several rules: 1. Revere the God-King, for he was your father and leader - Fear his judgement. 2. The flames of Ezreal will warm your heart and light the way - Live without fear of the world. 3. Ezreal's flame lives on through you. - Live not as a sinner, but as though the father is with you. 4. The laws of your home are the laws of your King. Hate not the new King, but love the legacy of the Father. - Respect Caledor and its law. 5. Ezreal is the light, banish darkness from your heart and the land. - Beings that go against the law of nature, go against the Father. The Tome of Ezreal contains many more rules and guidelines for a way of living, but the first five (known as the Ezreal's Tenets) are the most prominent in teachings.

Worship

Followers of the Church stick to two main rituals within the day, every day. In the morning they are to pray to their God-King and hope for a plentiful day, and end the night with another prayer for protection. The Church itself is not a demanding religion however it does demand subservience when upper-echelons of the order are present. For example, Paladins and Clerics must be treated with kindness and respect (and as such the other way around) or it would be like staining the reputation of the God-King. Likewise, this behavior is meant to go both ways. But, as with all creatures, there are always a few bad apples. A more dedicated practice that many followers commit to is visiting The Cathedral in Gryphon's Peak. Being as it is the home of the order itself, many followers may visit the Fortress City with the soul intent of paying respects to the Cathedral and its Pope, traveling miles on end. Some people have labeled this a controversial practice since it seems as though the ritual focuses more on the Pope and his humble abode rather than the God-King they worship. There are many divided opinions on what place the Pope has in this religion.

Priesthood

Ultimately there is one leader - The Pope. Recognized as a representative of Ezreal, he or she is the face of the Church. It is not known how this belief nor structural design came into play, but ultimately those whom followed the original Followers of Ezreal made the decision to allow this design. Besides that, the Pope acts as a symbol of Order and Hope for the people of Caledor. But under him are Acolytes (of Ezreal). These are appointed members that (usually) lead the churches that exist out in the world. They enact the laws of the Church but, in a sense, also act as leaders to the Paladins and Clerics that follow. Since the footmen of the Church rarely ever see the Pope in the flesh, they look to the Acolytes for guidance. Ultimately, the goal is to become an Acolyte that will guide the future generations.

Granted Divine Powers

Generally, Clerics and Paladins of this holy order harness the powers of light and flame - cleansing the world of its abominable impurities. However, Acolytes of this order are known to be able to cleanse mortal bodies of almost any ailment, save any disease brought on by disastrous magics. Additionally, an Acolyte that has followed the order for some time are capable of changing the weather over a small village - albeit after a ritual that may take hours to complete. The Pope is rumored to be able to commune with Ezreal himself, an ability that one may find to be invaluable as a said messenger of the God-King himself. Aside from that, though, the Pope is said to maintain elemental fire powers that are bolstered by his connection to Ezreal, allowing him to cast even simple fire spells with devastating effects.

Political Influence & Intrigue

In Caledor, the Church does not stop at being a Church. In the past, there was a schism of power between the King and the Church (Followers) of Ezreal. Although that feud has been quelled, today there are still remnants of that relationship. Ultimately the one true hope of the Church is the return of Ezreal, but until then they must serve their king. This semi-loyal relationship leaves a bad taste in the mouth of loyalists, let alone the King. As such, it is common for citizens of Caledor to either wholly associate with the Church, or remain identified as a subject of the King. Although no signs of civil war are represented, an uneasy feeling still lingers in the air.