The Flamefolds of Cathlidia
Overview
The Nine Flamefolds are the foundational provinces of Cathlidia—each ruled by a Flamewarden Ecclesiarch and built atop one of the nine Hellrifts opened during the Hollow Moon Calamity. Founded by Solmara after her martyrdom, the Flamefolds were designed as both administrative sanctuaries and cosmic countermeasures—each one aligned to a divine virtue that seals and opposes a corrupted Hell below.
These are not mere regions. They are wards against damnation, the living structure of The Ninefold Seal that binds Azhi-Kael to the Chaos Planes and prevents their return to the mortal realm.
Divine Structure
Each Flamefold:
- Embodies a sacred virtue aligned to Solmara’s doctrine
- Is built upon a rift to a corrupted Hell, sealed by flame rituals
- Is governed by a Flamewarden Ecclesiarch, who is ritually soul-bound to the seal
- Channels its people's faith, pain, obedience, and ritual into the metaphysical flame lattice keeping the world intact
The Nine Flamefolds
1. Solrest Proper, The First Flamefold
- Virtue: Obedience
- Seat: Basilica of the Undying Flame
- Role: Capital and religious epicenter. Seat of the High Flamewarden.
2. The Ironfold – Western Marches & Drelvar Hold
- Virtue: Endurance
- Role: Militarized frontier fold overseeing Cathlidia’s borders with the Shattered Reach. Hosts the Order of the Gilded Flame.
3. The Emberfold – Industrial Heartlands
- Virtue: Sacrifice
- Role: Home to sacred forges, labor sanctums, and weapon-crafting facilities. Site of the infamous Chainwell.
4. The Veilfold – Cloisters & Oracle Orders
- Virtue: Silence
- Role: Encloses cloistered flame-seers and ash-veiled oracles, including the Sisters of the Blazing Veil.
5. The Flamewake Fold – Coastal Evangelism & Naval Bastions
- Virtue: Mercy (interpreted as “cleansing mercy”)
- Role: Oversees coastal missions, baptisms by flame, and sea-based purging rites.
6. The Ashfold – Inquisitorial Heartland
- Virtue: Judgment
- Role: Seat of the Inquisition of the Flame. Home to the Hall of Unbroken Chains.
7. The Lanternfold – Rural & Pilgrimage Lands
- Virtue: Humility
- Role: Tends to agricultural supply and the upkeep of pilgrim sanctuaries and martyr shrines.
8. The Scorchfold – Desert Exile Wastes
- Virtue: Penance
- Role: Host to exile camps and monastic trials. Domain of the Emberwalkers and flame hermits.
9. The Gildfold – Noble Estates & Church Bureaucracy
- Virtue: Discipline
- Role: Where faith and wealth converge. Seat of economic command cloaked in sacred gold.
Function of the Flamefolds
- Spiritual Role: Each fold educates, governs, and sanctifies its population in accordance with its core virtue
- Planar Role: Each serves as a pressure seal on the corresponding layer of Hell, through mass rituals, ecclesiastical law, and faith-fueled discipline
- Political Role: Each Flamewarden Ecclesiarch sits on the Embered Synod, the ruling body of Cathlidia’s theocracy
Ritual Duties
Each Flamefold maintains:
- Anchor Sites (cathedrals, forges, tribunal halls, shrines) located directly above the rift
- Monthly Ritual Purifications to reinforce the seal
- Ashbinding Festivals to re-ignite community flame loyalty
- Public Trial by Flame ceremonies to burn heresy and “tensions in the lattice”
by Seraphan of Veilspire
Included Locations
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