Esterrapedia - User contributions [en]

Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 226

2026-10-14T13:51:17Z

AWaldron: /* Exaltation: Spheric Council */

The following is a comprehensive list of the actions formally taken as motions raised and passed by the Council of Six at the Spring Summit of 226.

== Meeting 1 ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+High Priests Present:
|-
|High Priest of Anarch
|Houndspriest Gunther Eberhardt
|-
|High Priest of Arcadian
|Lord Lanval of House Eldermere
|-
|High Priest of Cervitas
|Gwynn ap Eirik
|-
|High Priest of Lumos
|Ritter-Apprentice Aldnar Neumann
|-
|High Priest of Panoply
|Houndpriest Adept Katja Vasilevich
|-
|High Priest of Stallia
| ''(Title Vacant)''
|}

==== Exaltation: Spheric Council ====
Where the Council of Six would usually be required to nominate two individuals to undertake the Past Life Vision through the powers of the Pulpit of Dreams, instead as instructed by the Fang of Inner Darkness, the Council of Six saw fit to Exalt 6 individuals as representatives of the Church that they might go and bear good witness regarding the Church and the Nation of the Concord to a Spheric Council of 3 Heralds. The individuals chosen are as follows:

- Houndspriest Eberhardt

- Senator Jacques d'Zisseau

- Ritter Valrick Thanshaw

- Lord Tamesis Duschwynd

- Senator Ivern of Brakkenlowe

- Duchess Winnifred Eldermere

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Arcadian: ====
"Our Church recognises the actions of the Barrow Hounds and the Path of Embers as righteous in fighting against the Onyx Aristocracy"

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Panoply: ====
"'''On Panoply - High Priest of Panoply, Adept Houndspriest Vasilevich'''

The Concord fundamentally misunderstands the Sphere of Panoply. It is my divine duty to rectify this, such that our souls may Journey on through Panoply.

That brings me to my first point. Whilst historically, it has been termed the 'Sphere of Golden Folly', the 'Sphere of the Merchant' or the 'Sphere of Glory', these are inaccurate descriptors, for Panoply is ultimately the Sphere of Power. 'Golden Folly' implies idiocy, implies that the search for power through coin is cursed or otherwise fraught with inevitable failure. This is not true. Whilst there are pitfalls of greed, of selfishness that many aspirants of the Sphere may fall into, it is not an inevitability. 'Merchant' is reductive: power is not solely held in coin, only The Coinmaster teaches of the value of money as a form of power - there are two other Eternals that cover two other aspects of power. 'Glory' is a respectable term, encompassing the drive and ambition of Panoply, but it is, again, reductive. Displays of power are right and good, but they are not as important as the gain, possession and use of power. Power is the undercurrent of Panoply.

My second point is regarding the frequent misinterpretation of the teachings of The Coinmaster and their subordinate Heralds; there are some among us driven by greed to hoard wealth. This is not of Panoply, this is not in keeping with a Spheric lifestyle. Money is of no value if it is not used well. The High encourages us to seek wealth and power but with the caveat that it must be spent, be it through the use of power to change law, the use of coin to build great monuments, or the use of both to lift others up. Priests of Panoply should seek to use their power to foster the ambitions of others, and I would encourage followers of Panoply to do the same.

I would now move to expand on our Doctrine of Panoply with my own interpretation and guidance.

'''Seek your heights, Ambition is your blood'''

You should be constantly driven to strive for more, to be ambitious. Stagnation is the enemy; live with vigour, with determination and with goals. We are not blessed with a long time on this Mortal Sphere and what time we have should be used in the pursuit of greatness, not just for oneself, but for their people, their community, their nation, their Concord. To live with no great summit to climb, no brilliant task to accomplish, no glorious plan to enact, is to not live at all.

'''To Struggle is Divine'''

There is no way to be great without struggle, striving towards your heights is in and of itself a divine undertaking. To gain power, there is hardship and challenges; the difficulty in attainment is exactly what gives power its worth. Giving up because something is too hard is failure, true ambition knows no rest and no bounds.

'''Failure is a Consequence of Progress'''

Success is never a guarantee; none can climb the mountain of greatness without stumbling at least once. But a stumble should not halt the will to climb, if not this mountain, then another. Failure is almost inevitable in striving; that should not cause you to falter, but perhaps to change path.

'''Goals Realised are Goals Spent'''

Value is created upon use; coin has no value until it buys goods, power is nothing if it is not used. Hoarding power and wealth is a betrayal of the effort spent to acquire it. What is life if not lived, what is money if not spent, what are favours if not called in, what is power if not used?"

==== Study begun by the High Priest of Anarch ====
"'''A Study into the Treatment of a traumatic wound known only as 'Doomed''''

There is a festering wound affecting several Greenwealders of the Heroic Contingent. This wound has, so far been untreatable by Surgeons, Mages, and Priests, and seems to be having an adverse effect on not only the wounded, but the people around them.

We are unsure what will happen if these wounds are left untreated.

We have no idea what affect this wound has on the souls of those who are afflicted and whether it will impact their Journey.

We have no idea if it is something that can spread.

This wound was inflicted by a Harbringer Stand known as 'Veil the Grieving Woe' that was brought down 3 Summits ago.

If this wound is something that we could expect when dealing with any of the remaining Harbringer Stands, then it is something that we NEED to known more about if we are to eliminate this threat."

- As a Study, this required an Endeavour

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Cervitas ====
"'''A Prolamation in support of Kaiella & Congregations in the Church'''

In Autumn 226, Kaiella of Vassertal, 'She Who Listens', sought to lead an expedition to the Greenweald Baronies to assist with their ongoing troubles. She sought to bring peace to those who had lost, in bringing together those who could cast Deadspeaker, performing last rites and protecting and providing aid to their survivors.

She petitioned the Church and the Council for a Conviction to strike out in this path. Because of our limitations we were unable to provide the required assistance. Because of her true faith in the Spheres' Light, and in her divine purpose as one named 'blessed of blood and purpose' by the Million Eyes themselves, she left, taking her Congregation with her and any who would follow. But did this have to happen?

Today we proclaim our support and recognise Kaiella of Vassertal indeed as one 'blessed of blood and purpose' and 'sanctified' as her honorific suggests. We call upon all Heroes of the Concord to follow their example and lift where they stand. We call upon all the Priests of the Concord to give proper thought and weight to changing their investment to a Congregation. We call upon all Priests to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Civil Service.

I finish this proclamation with the same words as Kaiella's last epistle requesting the aid they went to deliver:

May the Spheres' Light bless our Path."

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Lumos ====
- Tabled in Meeting 1, passed in Meeting 2

"'''A foreign sword for a worthy cause'''

The Council of Six accepts the help offered by Queen Gwenivere to assist in the Royal Bordevar campaign. That she claims she is still true to our Church and that the 1200 Dendarri soldiers are sent in good faith. We understand that the foes of the Onyx Aristocracy are potentially allies and expect those soldiers to act as allies.

And as long as they are willing to fight under terms outlined by our Ambassador, we ask that no harm be done to them due to their heretical beliefs. They must not preach against the Divine Spheres whilst amongst us. They will not harm our Graces."

== Meeting 2 ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+High Priests Present:
|-
|High Priest of Anarch
|Houndspriest Gunther Eberhardt
|-
|High Priest of Arcadian
|Lord Lanval of House Eldermere
|-
|High Priest of Cervitas
|Gwynn ap Eirik
|-
|High Priest of Lumos
|Ritter-Apprentice Aldnar Neumann
|-
|High Priest of Panoply
|Houndpriest Adept Katja Vasilevich
|-
|High Priest of Stallia
|Lord Tamesis Duschwynd
|}

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Lumos ====
"'''In Defence of our Faith'''

This Council of Six believes that the "Champion of the Spheres" from this time forward will officially exist as a Title and as a Protector of the Faith"

- This Proclamation serves as a request for the Civil Service to investigate the creation of a formal Title related to the historic motion referring to an individual intended to take on the Ceremony Otherworldly Challenge

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Anarch ====
"'''[Sequestered]'''

[Proclamation Sequestered by five Stallian Priests]"

==== Consecration suggested by the High Priest of Arcadian ====
- The Consecration of the Red Brick District will begin immediately. As a Consecration, this required an Endeavour.

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Panoply ====
"'''Declaration of thanks to the Frontier's League'''

The Council of Six thanks the Frontier's League for their support of our Church whilst the Mines of Mivara are inoperable this season. It is the teachings of the High that wealth and power should be used well. May the Coinmaster bless their ambition."

==== Consecration suggested by the High Priest of Cervitas ====
"'''Consignment of the Vale of Stags'''

The Iron Valley stands on a precipice. In the region of Windholme, old divisions and new extremism are drawing the valleyfolk towards competing visions of what the Valley should become, while violence and disorder take root amongst our communities. The ongoing struggled between the Bloodglass Inheritors and the Greatstone Carvers approaches its climax and the Valley is gripped by uncertainty as to the direction of our future.

At the same time the relationship between the valley and the wider Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres is being tested. Common Spheric language is not just being substituted, but rejected, and the Council of Six is called upon to address this growing Divine. This is therefore a time when the Church should demonstrate its place in the Valley through deeds rather than proclamations alone.

The Vale of Stags is a recognised Holy Site of Cervitas in the Valley. A place of longstanding worship in the mountains of Eastern Windholme, where truths are laid bare, togetherness is found in simplicity, and aggression itself is quieted by the power that rests upon the Vale. Yet it remains unconsecrated. To consecrate the Holy Site would be a tangible and enduring commitment to the Concordians within the Iron Valley, and strengthen the bonds between the Church, Cervitas, and the Valley at the moment these bonds are being tested.

Accordingly, it is proposed that by this motion the Council of Six commission the Consecration of the Vale of Stags, Windholme, as a Consignment of the Concordian Church."

- The Consecration of the Vale of Stags will begin immediately. As a Consecration, this required an Endeavour.

=== Further Reading ===
[[Past Actions of the Council of Six|Past Actions of the Council of Six Home Page]]

[[Council of Six]]

[[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

[[Motions of the Concordian Church]]

Past Actions of the Council of Six

2026-10-14T13:27:30Z

AWaldron:

Here below is a list of actions decided on by the Council of Six at previous summits, as well as the priests who nominated or were involved with each. These represent the Curate's attempts to summarize the actions for distribution, and importantly '''''are not always the exact words written on each submission'''''.

* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 225|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Autumn 225]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 225|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Spring 225]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 226|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Autumn 226]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 226|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Spring 226]]

=== Further Reading ===

* [[Council of Six]]
* [[Motions of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

Motions of the Concordian Church Spring 226

2026-10-14T12:52:36Z

AWaldron: *Lumos

Here below is a list of motions passed at previous summits. Those which required a Greater Majority to pass have been noted as such, along with the reason they needed it. These represent the Curate's attempts to summarize the motions for distribution, and importantly ''are not the exact words written on each motion''. The historic motions can be read at leisure in the office of the Church.

=== Motions Passed ===

==== In Lieu of a Bursar - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Title Amendment

Summary: A request that the Civil Service review the positions of the High Priests with a mind to allowing access to the Church Treasury whilst there is no Bursar in office.

==== Difference in Words, Unity in Faith - Ivern, the Inheritor ====
Summary: A declaration standing against the disunity of factions and cults within the Church, a call to seek Penance against those who persist with their beliefs, and a call to act together with unity against the common enemies of the faith.

==== Inquisition of Muninn Runa - Muninn Runa ====
Summary: A request for the Inquisition of Muninn Runa with no stated Inquisitor, or specific avenue of investigation.

''Due to the need for a Writ of Inquisition needing to be issued, the High Priest of Lumos was chosen to conduct the Inquisition''

==== Protect the Shrine from Desecration - Daud El’Priado Del’Anarch Al’Sabre ====
Summary: A Declaration that the Shrine of Maloza has been blessed by the falling Starmetal embedded within the Shrine, and that it is a Church Crime of Heresy to desecrate the site by mining the Starmetal.

==== Referral of Criminal Charges - Mother Brine ====
Summary: A Condemnation motion formally moving that the accusations that have been levelled against Jalen von Voyant be passed to Civil Service Magistrates for investigation and potential trial.

==== Inquisition of Alexis De'Rosa, the Second Anarchic - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Summary: A motion of Inquisition calling on Alexis De'Rosa to be brought or to willingly submit to Inquisition in Passage, with the aim of returning the Church of Anarchia to the fold of the Concordian Church.

''The passage of this motion requires that the outstanding orders for her capture and execution be stayed if she chooses to submit herself for Inquisition.''

==== Inquisition of Houndspriest Maria von Heimstad - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Summary: A motion of Inquisition related to alleged comments made by the named Houndspriest

==== Repeal the Missive to Heralds - Lord Lanval Eldermere ====
Summary: A motion repealing the motion 'Consultation of the Divine' passed in Spring 226

==== Reclamation through Fire - Lord Lanval Eldermere ====
Summary: A motion supporting the divinity and grace of the actions required to retake Royal Bordevar

=== Motions Failed ===

==== First Responsibility of a Priest - Prior Bellamy ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Addition to Doctrine regarding preaching and pastoral care in communities

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Inquisitor of the Church - Mother Brine ====
Greater Majority - Title Creation

Summary: Creation of a title to enforce Church Law

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Purpose of your Realm - Mother Brine ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Demands on each realm to formally make their demands of the Church

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Make Anathema the Old Gods and Old Ways - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Formal declaration of Anathema related to the Old Gods and Old ways

==== Passage - a Holy Site - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Proclaim Holy Site

Summary: Attempt to name Passage a Holy Site

==== Ambition is Nothing Alone - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Addition to doctrine related to Panoply

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Only the Graced are Worthy - Mother Augustina ====
Summary: Only Graced individuals should be sent to the Spheric Council

==== Further Reading ====

* [[Motions of the Concordian Church|Motions of the Concordian Church Home Page]]

Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 226

2026-10-14T12:29:09Z

AWaldron: Past actions for Spring 226 published

The following is a comprehensive list of the actions formally taken as motions raised and passed by the Council of Six at the Spring Summit of 226.

== Meeting 1 ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!High Priests Present:
!
|-
|High Priest of Anarch
|Houndspriest Gunther Eberhardt
|-
|High Priest of Arcadian
|Lord Lanval of House Eldermere
|-
|High Priest of Cervitas
|Gwynn ap Eirik
|-
|High Priest of Lumos
|Ritter-Apprentice Aldnar Neumann
|-
|High Priest of Panoply
|Houndpriest Adept Katja Vasilevich
|-
|High Priest of Stallia
|Zélie DuPont
|}

==== Exaltation: Spheric Council ====
Where the Council of Six would usually be required to nominate two individuals to undertake the Past Life Vision through the powers of the Pulpit of Dreams, instead as instructed by the Fang of Inner Darkness, the Council of Six saw fit to Exalt 6 individuals as representatives of the Church that they might go and bear good witness regarding the Church and the Nation of the Concord to a Spheric Council of 3 Heralds. The individuals chosen are as follows:

- Houndspriest Eberhardt
- Senator Jacques d'Zisseau
- Ritter Valrick Thanshaw
- Lord Tamesis Duschwynd
- Senator Ivern of Brakkenlowe
- Duchess Winnifred Eldermere

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Arcadian: ====
"Our Church recognises the actions of the Barrow Hounds and the Path of Embers as righteous in fighting against the Onyx Aristocracy"

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Panoply: ====
"'''On Panoply - High Priest of Panoply, Adept Houndspriest Vasilevich'''

The Concord fundamentally misunderstands the Sphere of Panoply. It is my divine duty to rectify this, such that our souls may Journey on through Panoply.

That brings me to my first point. Whilst historically, it has been termed the 'Sphere of Golden Folly', the 'Sphere of the Merchant' or the 'Sphere of Glory', these are inaccurate descriptors, for Panoply is ultimately the Sphere of Power. 'Golden Folly' implies idiocy, implies that the search for power through coin is cursed or otherwise fraught with inevitable failure. This is not true. Whilst there are pitfalls of greed, of selfishness that many aspirants of the Sphere may fall into, it is not an inevitability. 'Merchant' is reductive: power is not solely held in coin, only The Coinmaster teaches of the value of money as a form of power - there are two other Eternals that cover two other aspects of power. 'Glory' is a respectable term, encompassing the drive and ambition of Panoply, but it is, again, reductive. Displays of power are right and good, but they are not as important as the gain, possession and use of power. Power is the undercurrent of Panoply.

My second point is regarding the frequent misinterpretation of the teachings of The Coinmaster and their subordinate Heralds; there are some among us driven by greed to hoard wealth. This is not of Panoply, this is not in keeping with a Spheric lifestyle. Money is of no value if it is not used well. The High encourages us to seek wealth and power but with the caveat that it must be spent, be it through the use of power to change law, the use of coin to build great monuments, or the use of both to lift others up. Priests of Panoply should seek to use their power to foster the ambitions of others, and I would encourage followers of Panoply to do the same.

I would now move to expand on our Doctrine of Panoply with my own interpretation and guidance.

'''Seek your heights, Ambition is your blood'''

You should be constantly driven to strive for more, to be ambitious. Stagnation is the enemy; live with vigour, with determination and with goals. We are not blessed with a long time on this Mortal Sphere and what time we have should be used in the pursuit of greatness, not just for oneself, but for their people, their community, their nation, their Concord. To live with no great summit to climb, no brilliant task to accomplish, no glorious plan to enact, is to not live at all.

'''To Struggle is Divine'''

There is no way to be great without struggle, striving towards your heights is in and of itself a divine undertaking. To gain power, there is hardship and challenges; the difficulty in attainment is exactly what gives power its worth. Giving up because something is too hard is failure, true ambition knows no rest and no bounds.

'''Failure is a Consequence of Progress'''

Success is never a guarantee; none can climb the mountain of greatness without stumbling at least once. But a stumble should not halt the will to climb, if not this mountain, then another. Failure is almost inevitable in striving; that should not cause you to falter, but perhaps to change path.

'''Goals Realised are Goals Spent'''

Value is created upon use; coin has no value until it buys goods, power is nothing if it is not used. Hoarding power and wealth is a betrayal of the effort spent to acquire it. What is life if not lived, what is money if not spent, what are favours if not called in, what is power if not used?"

==== Study begun by the High Priest of Anarch ====
"'''A Study into the Treatment of a traumatic wound known only as 'Doomed''''

There is a festering wound affecting several Greenwealders of the Heroic Contingent. This wound has, so far been untreatable by Surgeons, Mages, and Priests, and seems to be having an adverse effect on not only the wounded, but the people around them.

We are unsure what will happen if these wounds are left untreated.

We have no idea what affect this wound has on the souls of those who are afflicted and whether it will impact their Journey.

We have no idea if it is something that can spread.

This wound was inflicted by a Harbringer Stand known as 'Veil the Grieving Woe' that was brought down 3 Summits ago.

If this wound is something that we could expect when dealing with any of the remaining Harbringer Stands, then it is something that we NEED to known more about if we are to eliminate this threat."

- As a Study, this required an Endeavour

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Cervitas ====
"'''A Prolamation in support of Kaiella & Congregations in the Church'''

In Autumn 226, Kaiella of Vassertal, 'She Who Listens', sought to lead an expedition to the Greenweald Baronies to assist with their ongoing troubles. She sought to bring peace to those who had lost, in bringing together those who could cast Deadspeaker, performing last rites and protecting and providing aid to their survivors.

She petitioned the Church and the Council for a Conviction to strike out in this path. Because of our limitations we were unable to provide the required assistance. Because of her true faith in the Spheres' Light, and in her divine purpose as one named 'blessed of blood and purpose' by the Million Eyes themselves, she left, taking her Congregation with her and any who would follow. But did this have to happen?

Today we proclaim our support and recognise Kaiella of Vassertal indeed as one 'blessed of blood and purpose' and 'sanctified' as her honorific suggests. We call upon all Heroes of the Concord to follow their example and lift where they stand. We call upon all the Priests of the Concord to give proper thought and weight to changing their investment to a Congregation. We call upon all Priests to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Civil Service.

I finish this proclamation with the same words as Kaiella's last epistle requesting the aid they went to deliver:

May the Spheres' Light bless our Path."

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Lumos ====
- Tabled in Meeting 1, passed in Meeting 2

"'''A foreign sword for a worthy cause'''

The Council of Six accepts the help offered by Queen Gwenivere to assist in the Royal Bordevar campaign. That she claims she is still true to our Church and that the 1200 Dendarri soldiers are sent in good faith. We understand that the foes of the Onyx Aristocracy are potentially allies and expect those soldiers to act as allies.

And as long as they are willing to fight under terms outlined by our Ambassador, we ask that no harm be done to them due to their heretical beliefs. They must not preach against the Divine Spheres whilst amongst us. They will not harm our Graces."

== Meeting 2 ==
{|
|+
!High Priests Present:
!
|-
|High Priest of Anarch
|Houndspriest Gunther Eberhardt
|-
|High Priest of Arcadian
|Lord Lanval of House Eldermere
|-
|High Priest of Cervitas
|Gwynn ap Eirik
|-
|High Priest of Lumos
|Ritter-Apprentice Aldnar Neumann
|-
|High Priest of Panoply
|Houndpriest Adept Katja Vasilevich
|-
|High Priest of Stallia
|Lord Tamesis Duschwynd
|}

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Lumos ====
"'''In Defence of our Faith'''

This Council of Six believes that the "Champion of the Spheres" from this time forward will officially exist as a Title and as a Protector of the Faith"

- This Proclamation serves as a request for the Civil Service to investigate the creation of a formal Title related to the historic motion referring to an individual intended to take on the Ceremony Otherworldly Challenge

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Anarch ====
"'''[Sequestered]'''

[Proclamation Sequestered by five Stallian Priests]"

==== Consecration suggested by the High Priest of Arcadian ====
- The Consecration of the Red Brick District will begin immediately. As a Consecration, this required an Endeavour.

==== Proclamation issued by the High Priest of Panoply ====
"'''Declaration of thanks to the Frontier's League'''

The Council of Six thanks the Frontier's League for their support of our Church whilst the Mines of Mivara are inoperable this season. It is the teachings of the High that wealth and power should be used well. May the Coinmaster bless their ambition."

==== Consecration suggested by the High Priest of Cervitas ====
"'''Consignment of the Vale of Stags'''

The Iron Valley stands on a precipice. In the region of Windholme, old divisions and new extremism are drawing the valleyfolk towards competing visions of what the Valley should become, while violence and disorder take root amongst our communities. The ongoing struggled between the Bloodglass Inheritors and the Greatstone Carvers approaches its climax and the Valley is gripped by uncertainty as to the direction of our future.

At the same time the relationship between the valley and the wider Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres is being tested. Common Spheric language is not just being substituted, but rejected, and the Council of Six is called upon to address this growing Divine. This is therefore a time when the Church should demonstrate its place in the Valley through deeds rather than proclamations alone.

The Vale of Stags is a recognised Holy Site of Cervitas in the Valley. A place of longstanding worship in the mountains of Eastern Windholme, where truths are laid bare, togetherness is found in simplicity, and aggression itself is quieted by the power that rests upon the Vale. Yet it remains unconsecrated. To consecrate the Holy Site would be a tangible and enduring commitment to the Concordians within the Iron Valley, and strengthen the bonds between the Church, Cervitas, and the Valley at the moment these bonds are being tested.

Accordingly, it is proposed that by this motion the Council of Six commission the Consecration of the Vale of Stags, Windholme, as a Consignment of the Concordian Church."

- The Consecration of the Vale of Stags will begin immediately. As a Consecration, this required an Endeavour.

=== Further Reading ===
[[Past Actions of the Council of Six|Past Actions of the Council of Six Home Page]]

[[Council of Six]]

[[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

[[Motions of the Concordian Church]]

Motions of the Concordian Church Spring 226

2026-10-14T11:25:45Z

AWaldron: Motions added for Spring 226

Here below is a list of motions passed at previous summits. Those which required a Greater Majority to pass have been noted as such, along with the reason they needed it. These represent the Curate's attempts to summarize the motions for distribution, and importantly ''are not the exact words written on each motion''. The historic motions can be read at leisure in the office of the Church.

=== Motions Passed ===

==== In Lieu of a Bursar - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Title Amendment

Summary: A request that the Civil Service review the positions of the High Priests with a mind to allowing access to the Church Treasury whilst there is no Bursar in office.

==== Difference in Words, Unity in Faith - Ivern, the Inheritor ====
Summary: A declaration standing against the disunity of factions and cults within the Church, a call to seek Penance against those who persist with their beliefs, and a call to act together with unity against the common enemies of the faith.

==== Inquisition of Muninn Runa - Muninn Runa ====
Summary: A request for the Inquisition of Muninn Runa with no stated Inquisitor, or specific avenue of investigation.

''Due to the need for a Writ of Inquisition needing to be issued, the High Priest of Anarch was chosen to conduct the Inquisition''

==== Protect the Shrine from Desecration - Daud El’Priado Del’Anarch Al’Sabre ====
Summary: A Declaration that the Shrine of Maloza has been blessed by the falling Starmetal embedded within the Shrine, and that it is a Church Crime of Heresy to desecrate the site by mining the Starmetal.

==== Referral of Criminal Charges - Mother Brine ====
Summary: A Condemnation motion formally moving that the accusations that have been levelled against Jalen von Voyant be passed to Civil Service Magistrates for investigation and potential trial.

==== Inquisition of Alexis De'Rosa, the Second Anarchic - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Summary: A motion of Inquisition calling on Alexis De'Rosa to be brought or to willingly submit to Inquisition in Passage, with the aim of returning the Church of Anarchia to the fold of the Concordian Church.

''The passage of this motion requires that the outstanding orders for her capture and execution be stayed if she chooses to submit herself for Inquisition.''

==== Inquisition of Houndspriest Maria von Heimstad - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Summary: A motion of Inquisition related to alleged comments made by the named Houndspriest

==== Repeal the Missive to Heralds - Lord Lanval Eldermere ====
Summary: A motion repealing the motion 'Consultation of the Divine' passed in Spring 226

==== Reclamation through Fire - Lord Lanval Eldermere ====
Summary: A motion supporting the divinity and grace of the actions required to retake Royal Bordevar

=== Motions Failed ===

==== First Responsibility of a Priest - Prior Bellamy ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Addition to Doctrine regarding preaching and pastoral care in communities

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Inquisitor of the Church - Mother Brine ====
Greater Majority - Title Creation

Summary: Creation of a title to enforce Church Law

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Purpose of your Realm - Mother Brine ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Demands on each realm to formally make their demands of the Church

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Make Anathema the Old Gods and Old Ways - Free Captain Pierre Capulet ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Formal declaration of Anathema related to the Old Gods and Old ways

==== Passage - a Holy Site - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Proclaim Holy Site

Summary: Attempt to name Passage a Holy Site

==== Ambition is Nothing Alone - Katja Vasilevich ====
Greater Majority - Doctrine

Summary: Addition to doctrine related to Panoply

Failed due to Greater Majority voting requirements

==== Only the Graced are Worthy - Mother Augustina ====
Summary: Only Graced individuals should be sent to the Spheric Council

==== Further Reading ====

* [[Motions of the Concordian Church|Motions of the Concordian Church Home Page]]

Motions of the Concordian Church

2026-10-14T10:51:43Z

AWaldron:

Concordian Documents - 2nd Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-19T03:24:36Z

AWaldron: /* V. */

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind (the power thereafter being assigned exclusively to the Senate and the Council of Six), raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects, some of which pertain to the Church, penned by Mother Brine.

=== 2nd Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Autumn after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
I cannot commence this missive without first acknowledging the joyous cargo thou hast delivered unto mine weary soul!

I note, however, that thine challenge doth somewhat boldly imply thou standest a CHANCE of halting me, should I choose to set sail upon such a course. Pray earnestly that another rival doth raise their sails in opposition to thee, for I would regret to strip thine ego to a more suitable size.

==== II. ====
With that matter of excitement resolved, I would turn mine attention to the other concerns borne upon the tides of thine letter. To take a note on more mortal concerns is a rarity, I must admit It is an edifying thing to contemplate the similarities and differences betwixt our shared paths upon this Mortal Sphere. Unlike thee, I am far more baseborn; in mine youth, mine only commerce with the silks and gold of nobility came in the exchanges of bedchambers. It is only in the twilight of my life that I, too, have turned mine gaze upon the Divine Spheres and charted the course of mine own soul - and that of Lerona Mere.

Fortunately, any voyage I might yet undertake is smoother than most. After the work of my youth, I held little desire to marry. Mine grandchildren and great-grandchildren are well into adulthood, their own vessels launched upon the seas of life. Thus unburdened by such needy cargo, I am better able to devote mineself to matters of scholarship and the gentle traditions of the needle.

Yet thou hast far more decades of study; they stretch before thee like uncharted horizons. I am confident that, in years to come, others shall look upon thine words with the same kindness and esteem thou hast shown mine own.

==== III. ====
Meanwhile, however, I am here and content to offer what guidance I can. I am gladdened that thou hast found the courage to reconsider thine actions and convictions. To do so is valiant indeed. While the teachings of the Timid Husk are oft taken as a warning against vacillation, perchance there lieth yet value in learning from one's errors upon the waves of experience.

Such views may lie somewhat outside the strict orthodoxy of our Concordian Church, but still I wonder, as one who hath oft reflected upon mine own missteps as both revolutionary and Concordian citizen.

I shall not dwell long upon those treacherous shoals, however. I know thou would prefer I steer our discourse toward finally resolving the matter of the Warheart and Gravetree. But I wish to reiterate this, brother: thine words bring me profound joy. It is good to see that I might yet lead by example rather than by dictate. Perhaps this is why mine esteem within the Church hath risen of late.

Perhaps there remaineth yet hope for the causes I pursue, even amidst the gathering storms of Legend City.

As I consider mine regrets, I am reminded of other news. I am heartened that the lessons of the Timid Husk continue to echo across the Concord, yet I remain perturbed that, as his most ardent follower, I am not granted the full courtesy of his wisdom in mine own trials. That said, I wonder whether mine frequent reflection upon the course of mine life hath spared me his attentions. Perchance the actions of the Timid Husk serve as a call for all Concordian heroes to learn from their mistakes and misdeeds, forging finer steel through honest contemplation.

Perhaps the Timid Husk is not entirely a warning against vacillation. Perhaps these developments of Lerona Mere render a new hope for this pursuit and hope for contemplation. For I believe the steel of our Mortal Sphere would ring truer if each of us but took the time to reflect, as thou hast done in thy past missive.

And as we call for reflection, I shall discuss the Church’s response to the ongoing crisis in my home with Senator D’Zisseau at our upcoming meeting, and again at Summit. At this time, however, I hold that it would be wise for the citizens of Lerona Mere to follow the Husk’s example. To turn inward, learning from our recent blights. This course, I have faith, shall best be served if the Priests of the Needle lead the way, not by command, but by living example. As yet, however, these future horizons remain veiled in mist prior to Passage. We shall have to see what winds arise.

==== IV. ====
But I hath not forgotten that thou asked of mine vision from the Warheart. Indeed, your judgement is correct. The one granted unto me was of a different cast: of being drenched in blood, exhausted by endless violence, of the guilt that gathers like barnacles upon the hull when one reaps and brings such things upon others. After a time, one craves something new - a respite, a calm harbour. The desire to be done with strife and war, to lay down the burden of bravery at last.

I am reminded of the tales of thy countryman, Ser Yulian, who craves that same respite, an opportunity to grow and change beyond the ceaseless storm. I find myself in argument as to whether it is right to grant such mercy to one, when I would not extend it to the Artebezzani - yet the Warheart doth not summon Ser Yulian to further battle. It is a complex and difficult question, as faith so often leads us into dark, uncharted waters where even the most steadfast compass wavers.

Nevertheless… as I approach this Summit, I am filled with hope once more. I do believe my Realm holds me in higher regard than I first dared to believe. And I am grateful thou aught holds me in such regard. For while Bordevar’s virtues are not those of Lerona Mere, I note there is no blight in the virtues thine nobility espouses.

Is Lysander not now of Bordevar? We are more alike than either of us would care to admit, even though it may pain our egos.

==== V. ====
I thank thee kindly for thine notes on Signore von Voyant. They have weighed heavily upon my mind for some time. Thine opinion is of… import to me. And having conferred with thee and mine countrymen at length, I have resolved what must be done.

I beseech thee to hold me in thy prayers—unto the Striking Palm, the Bloody Handed, and the Striking Serpent—that I might follow through with this course, wretched though it may prove.

May the Spheres grant us both clear skies and steady winds in the days ahead, that we might navigate these trials together.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Mother Brine

Concordian Documents - 1st Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-19T03:24:18Z

AWaldron: /* XII. */

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind (the power thereafter being assigned exclusively to the Senate and the Council of Six), raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects of faith penned by Mother Brine.

=== 1st Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Summer after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
My belaboured soul did find comfort and solace in thine recent correspondence. Thine words and concerns, did act as a balm unto my soul. Thine epistle hath found a mirrored reflection in myself; like thee, I am oppressed by profound queries and perturbations of the spirit. The weighty affairs of the Mortal Sphere, akin to the tempests that beset the mariner upon the vast and treacherous seas, hath detained me of late.

And yet, it gladdens mine heart apostolic to share my burden, and to hear of thine. As sacred wisdom doth declare, a sorrow divided is halved. And in granting our brethren succour, we oft uncover the clarity we have been denied. I pray thou find comfort in the words I have so carefully crafted.

That said, I would be truly wretched were I not to acknowledge the belated dispatch of my response, thanks to the craft with which it was prepared. But how can one swiftly render upon parchment answers to the complex questions thou hast placed before me? These are contemplations that would preoccupy the discourse of our wisest scholars for centuries. Mine own scribe was quick to advise me that three drafts of this letter had already been prepared by him this last month - and beseeches me that this be the last. Perhaps there is further wisdom to be gleaned in their request for relief from their quill’s endless wisdom. Perhaps no response I can craft will ever encapsulate the divine mysteries.

Even so, it is my solemn duty, as a fellow shepherd of the flock, to attempt to offer the counsel thou hast humbly besought, And, as a fellow student of the Spheres’ most divine mysteries, permit me to commence this with a recounting of the whirlwind that presently assails my own soul.

==== II. ====
Multitudinous are the gales that seek to divert each of us mortals from the ordained path of the Divine Spheres, and the Journey they would prepare us for. It would be a crude deceit to pretend that, at the last summit, that their efforts did not find success. I have stumbled from the path. But only stumbled.

For we are but flesh, subject to the failings inherent in our flawed souls. Though I aspire to the pinnacles of sanctity the Spheres exemplify, I must also confess my own capacity for blights and failings. My sole redemption lies in the only weapon I might bring to bear against them: to refuse that my vulnerabilities should define me.

This duality resides in all who tread this earthly Sphere. Within us lurk the abyssal depths of perversity, whither wretches such as the Warjackal or Jalen descend. But within us are also contained the divine altitudes of Paragon Halig. Our quest upon this mortal Sphere is to determine whether or not we possess the fortitude to vanquish the storms that would forever lead us astray.

Hence, I ascribe accountability for these missteps unto myself, not to any quirk of fate that did lead me to this point. Though I have endured much in recent days, I lacked the spiritual vigour to overcome all trials. I was measured, and found wanting.

Nevertheless, were another to traverse my path, I would repudiate such self-reproach. The laity cannot be held culpable for the labyrinthine voyages charted by our questions of faith and divinity. They are not initiates in the arcane lore of the Spheres; they are ill-equipped to navigate such boundless oceans.

The doctrines we impart to our faithful, as priests, are far more elementary. ‘Be faithful to thine ambition.’ ‘Safeguard the innocent.’ ‘Aspire to transcend thy bounds.’

But unto us, as leaders of the Church, falls the charge of navigating the most treacherous of moral paths, the ones that are not so easily surmised in simple statements for the layman and woman. It is our divine responsibility to delineate the course that none else may discern.

Thus, any of our failures rest squarely upon our own shoulders. We wear both the albatross around our neck, and the target upon our chest.

And so, I would not impute blame to one of our fold for faltering in the defence of Arachelli El’Obregon, nor for failing to redirect Lyam De’Rosa or Maximillian Villeneuvre unto righteousness. What is the essence of the heretic, and by what means do we redeem him from his errant ways? These and similar questions are exclusively the remit of the Church. And so we, as its force upon this temporal world, must assume this onus.

For we are the last shelter before the deluge. The final port before the open expanse of the sea. Upon our episcopal frames alone do these yokes belong.

Thus, I admit to thee my own stumbling - that I could not shoulder the burden imposed upon me by the Spheres. Three souls hath perished through my inadequacies, and I shall atone for them in the great pilgrimage that lies not far ahead of me. I know my age well. I accept that, very soon, Cervitas will bid me answer why I could not resolve the quandaries it presented.

In like manner, the interrogations raised in thine missive transcend the simplistic crusades of virtue the Heralds do enlist the common citizen of the Concord in. And, I believe like myself, thou hast faltered in thine endeavour to surmount these obstacles. Perhaps I err in this judgement. Perhaps I see too many of my own failings in thee.

But I shall still essay to furnish thee with guidance, for we constitute a holy ecclesia, and if we cannot jointly traverse these turbulent oceans, they shall remain forever unmapped. And perchance thou, in turn, mayest alleviate my own blights and failings, lest I falter before the Concord as I did at the recent Summit.

Either of these trials would seem insurmountable.

Yet we are of the Sphere of Steel.

==== III. ====
Upon profound reflection and prayer, I have reached the following conviction: that thou hast erred in thy supplication to the Warheart. In beseeching that the Legionnaire be liberated to pursue the Journey unhindered, thou hast strayed beyond the light of the Spheres. Such a deviation was doubtless unwitting. Perhaps it was discernible only in retrospection. Our Sphere is renowned for swift decisions, not for interminable navel-gazing.

But as our Curate did instruct us at the last Summit, when pronouncing sentence upon Arachelli, a decision made doth not absolve us of culpability if it proveth erroneous.

I will, briefly, enumerate my thinking for thee into eight arguments for thine review. Forgive me for basing mine approach upon the Shardcircles, but on matters of such philosophy and theology as this, it seemed the best course.

* It is manifest, upon contemplation, that our mortal judgments are imperfect, for we are of the mortal realm.
* We know that true wisdom cometh to each of us solely through the Spheres.
* Thus, it is the Church's sacred duty to shepherd souls in harmony with the Spheres' teachings.
* The Warheart's actions constitute a divine lesson for all, and are beyond question.
* They are beyond question, for the Spheres possess the divine qualities of both omniscience and beneficence.
* It is therefore inevitable that the Warheart's acts are pure of purpose and design.
* We are disciples of the Spheres, and it is not our province to dictate unto the divine.
* Though the task bestowed by the Warheart be arduous, we must embrace it. To impugn it is an iniquity.

==== IV. ====
'''Perfect dogma and judgement cannot be attained, for we reside outside of the Spheres.'''

Let us ponder, for an instant, the soul of a malfeasant.

Manifold are the guises this criminal might assume. Some that spring to mind are the capos of Lerona Mere, the New Butchers of Wolstad, or the Thralldring of the Iron Valley. Their machinations, deeds, and comportment vary as wildly as the brilliant splendour of Anarch.

And yet a singular element they all share: the certainty that their iniquities are justifiable. I harbour no doubt that such a felon could present themselves before me and offer an eloquent defence justifying their cold-blooded murder of a Concordian citizen. And I harbour no doubt that they would be wrong.

I comprehend not why the Spheres hath burdened mortals with this burden of imperfect moral rectitude. Perchance it shields us from the harsh realities of this mortal. Oft are we confronted with choices wherein all paths will yield sorrow. Mayhaps we are only able to persuade ourselves of our choice's righteousness to evade unending, inevitable remorse for each choice we make. Or perchance these are cicatrices upon our soul, inflicted by the world’s banalities, and our own failings, as they become too much to bear. Such questions transcend even the Church's purview, and answers lie only at the end of our Journey.

I despise Monsieur von Voyant's acerbic mien and vainglorious posturing. Yet I concede that my appraisal of him must be flawed, for undoubtedly, facets of his conduct mirror the gold of Panoply. (Such facets are scant, however. His soul is crude-forged, lacking even a single refinement from the Journey.) The world mires us in its mundanity, and curses our judgement to be forever imperfect.

This axiom is enshrined in our Tenets:

* "As souls adrift from our true home in the Spheres, we are imperfect and should ever strive to be worthy of the Grace that we receive, lest we lose it."

We are flawed. Whilst we may aspire to worthiness, the burdens and trappings of mortality ever veil our vision from true clarity.

Thus, I deem it demonstrated that our moral discernment is imperfect. The corollary of this argument, I believe, is evident.

==== V. ====
'''Veracious guidance deriveth only through the Spheres.'''

Let us again meditate upon one of our sacrosanct Tenets. I note it is common to both the Concordian ecclesia and our Artebezzan siblings, and thus hold the lesson it containeth as one that hath been repeatedly confirmed.

* "We know that the Spheres furnish us Precepts for our existence, each peculiar to the Spheres, each a vocation for all to heed."

The Spheres do delegate their authority unto the Church, and the Church hath repeatedly affirmed that the supreme mandate of every soul is adherence to the Spheres' doctrines. In so doing, the soul shall attain Grace and eternally abide amidst them.

Ergo: the Spheres' teachings are an immutable truth.

For instance, we know that to derive personal growth from the example of another is virtuous, as the Ardent Mind hath instructed that this is so. This can not be refuted. Wouldst thou deny that an apple, released from a hand’s grasp, inevitably descendeth earthward?

Further logic resideth in this new tenet I have proposed. As I stated prior, our moral judgment is fallible. This is known unto us through the Spheres' lessons and calls to uplift our flawed souls beyond the trappings of this mortal existence. Hence, we must trust that the Spheres' guidance is unadulterated, for it is the measure by which we know our own to be impure.

Let us note also that the quest for Grace spanneth our innumerable incarnations. It surpasses any mortal soul’s single odyssey across our world. And we are not perpetually graced with Heralds amidst us to resolve each conundrum of morality that we face. The apt application of a Herald's or Eternal's precept is a trial each soul must confront many, many times. And we shall not invariably prevail in such a confrontation.

As thou hast professed in thine epistle, thou undertook this same trial at the Summit just passed. Thou believest, as a prelate of the faith, that thine highest duty is to escort all souls along the Journey. Didst thou require a Herald to directly decree this to thee? Nay.

Yet thou hast drunk deeply from the cup of the Spheres' wisdom, augmenting thine flawed judgment with their pristine intent. A task that is only possible through dedicated study of the Spheres’ example, as passed on by our most divine Church. This leads to my third point.

==== VI. ====
'''The Church shepherds souls in concordance with the Spheres' precepts.'''

Notwithstanding the frequent clamours to the contrary - oft issuing from the alleys of Legend City, I must admit - the Concordian Church is of cardinal importance to the Concord. It is our mandate to guide our flock's souls to their celestial destiny, a task we can only accomplish by recounting the Heralds' and Eternals' teachings.

I will ask thee to imagine the Spheres' voices conjoined in celestial chorus. The Eternals form the profound basses and tenors, their lessons, deep and principled, establishing the chords and cadence for the choir to adhere to. Aloft them soar the voices of the Heralds. Their soprano tones bear the melody, occasionally ascending in individual solos, or elaborating on the Eternals' foundation.

And should the Church's voices mingle in this chorus of the Spheres, we would only furnish the harmony; the role of the alto. We dictate not rhythm, tonality, nor key. We adjudicate not right from wrong.

I personally believe this role ariseth as much from pragmatic necessity as from divine ordinance. As I previously observed, the Heralds' and Eternals' moral example cannot spread to every corner of this globe without our assistance. And yet, at all times, we must not conflate our necessary function to mean we can supplant the role of the Spheres.

If a Herald did pronounce an act immoral, we would carry that decree to every territory of the Concord. If, upon reflecting upon an Eternal's teachings, we did discern the Senate had erred in a motion, we would invoke our sacred veto. But, always and ever, this is done in accordance with the Spheres' will, not our own.

==== VII. ====
'''The Warheart hath bestowed teachings upon us.'''

I would bear the opinion that, until this point, my points would not strike thee as contentious. Their construction is robust, and firmly adheres to our Church’s orthodoxy. These are tenets we have canonized, after all.

Now must I build upon this firm foundation that was laid in earlier argument. I advance beyond truths enshrined by our Church to those less easily perceived by us. And herein, I find my conclusion that thy deeds were not in the Light of the Spheres. For let me be unequivocally clear, as far as our mortal judgement might allow me to: the Warheart hath acted. This is a lesson.

Likely, it is a lesson you and I have yet to fully fathom. I do not comprehend why the Warheart only now summons a soul felled in Wolstad in eons past, nor why it hath selected an Artebezzani. As a denizen of Lerona Mere, that the Sphere of Storms might esteem their legionnaires so highly is a revelation I have wrestled to assimilate. I am yet to discern its implications for the nature of Heralds and Eternals, or their origins.

Does the chicken assume the farmer who feeds it was also hatched from an egg? Or, far more likely, do they simply assume that their existence to be a constant that predated their own?

This, I do know: the Warheart's course hath been established. One of three most authentic facets of our Sphere hath selected this path. We know this, through our visions and ministrations with the Legionnaire. It is an empirical truth.

I return to my earlier metaphor, of another empirical truth: that of the apple's descent. In times past, we knew not its cause. Our understanding was nascent. Yet in time, we came to comprehend it. Likewise, we shall one day grasp the Warheart's rationale for its action. Even if its sagacity eludeth us at this time, we can know that it is present, for the Spheres’ impart unto us holy instruction.

It is a Divine Choice by the Sphere of Arcadian.

==== VIII. ====
'''The Spheres are omniscient and beneficent.'''

I shall not linger upon this point, as I have others. Its wisdom is self-evident.

We know the Spheres survey each soul's journey and their course upon the world. They are omniscient.

We know the Spheres bask us in their holy luminescence. They are beneficent.

Were either of these facts untrue, they would merit not our adoration. Sans omniscience, they would lack divinity. Sans beneficence, they would inspire no veneration. Thus, though we cannot comprehend the mind of an Eternal, we can take solace in knowing all of its deeds just and ultimately merciful.

==== IX. ====
'''We are students; the Spheres are our teachers.'''

Herein cometh the end of my ponderings, not solely concerning thy deeds, but the path we each ought pursue in the future. Were thou one of my flock, I would simply bid thee weigh thine finite wisdom against that of an Eternals'. As I address a peer, I will forgo a touch so genteel.

Thou art not wiser than the Warheart. The Spheres' instruction of thee continues yet.

It befitteth not the pupil to contest the teacher's edicts. An Eternal hath proffered a lesson unto thee, and this world. I will feign not any comprehension of its impulses. Perchance, upon our passings, if our Journey is triumphant, and we return to this Sphere, our soul may accrue the necessary insight. The lesson will be gleaned in generations to come. But in this sacred moment, we need not comprehend it entirely.

Recall what I have established in this letter thus far: authentic moral wisdom originates from the Spheres alone, who are omniscient and beneficent. This is the basis of our dogma, is it not? One need merely look upon the following tenet of our Church. Though it pertains to Heralds, it is assuredly applicable to their overseeing Eternals.

* "At times, it may seem that a Herald has come to act against you directly, or is hostile to you. Know that everything done by a Herald is a Divine choice, and may be some boon in disguise - a teaching moment, a needed lesson in humility, a reminder of the power of the Spheres."

Thus, through prayer and meditation, I reach a conclusion. Even absent comprehension, we must prepare this soul for the office the Warheart hath assigned it. I readily admit, I know not how to execute this with the compassion it does require of us. Yet I know we must. Perhaps, at the impending Summit, new avenues shall be unveiled to us.

Thy epistle evokes various musings in my mind, that may contain a balm for thine worries. Mayhap we simply undervalue the epochs wherein Eternals and Gravetrees transact their business upon this Mortal Sphere. The Sphere of Steel enjoins us to act with alacrity and puissance, but shall it permit the Legionnaire to spend an eternity beside the Gravetree, until his woes are transcended? Does there exist a manner we might adopt, which would rekindle his previous devotion unto the Warheart? Have our erudite colleagues from across the ocean insights to proffer unto us? At present, I cannot foresee the ramifications of thine choices. I believe that if we are to find a solution to our shared dilemma, we will need to do so as a Church.

I have discoursed amply on theology, yet scarcely on thee and my appraisal of thy deeds. Permit me now to address this with the candour due a colleague and comrade.

==== X. ====
'''Thou hast questioned not only thyself, but also an Arcadian Eternal.'''

The Church's tenets and canons deem not thy acts blasphemous by the letter of its law. Yet, this fact notwithstanding, I must maintain that thine conduct profanes the Sphere of Steel.

Not only didst thou exhort another to alter thine course, despite thy service to the Sphere of Arcadian, but the one thou exhorted was none other than an Eternal of our Sphere. I deny not thy noble intent and priestly zeal, and have no doubt that thine actions were taken with purest intent. Verily, only upon exhaustive introspection - let us note the myriad pages of this missive - do I discover thy error.

Had I accompanied thee on that Conflux, perchance I, too would have trod thy path, not seeing where it did lead. Thus, I scorn not thy deeds, and exhort thee to eschew shame. After all, hath I not bared my own soul's putrescent core at this letter’s inception, and laid bare the lapses that doth plague me? I am no more a Paragon than thee.

But we are entrusted with the gravest dilemmas of morality as servants of the Spheres. And though our role demandeth impeccable conduct, blights and failings pervade slyly, in their temptations. The gales that would drag us from our path are vehement.

==== XI. ====
And now, in noting all this, my hand is forced. I must address that most interesting contradiction of our Sphere; the tangled knot I have spent mine life laboring to untangle, and still, have not.

Let us both concur, first, that the Sphere of Arcadian dissuadeth reconsideration of thine action. Our primal impulses are those to be most trusted, as The Striking Serpent teacheth that they are oft veracious. Virtue lieth in thy displayed tenacity, and to sway an Eternal's mind is audacious. It is a formidable quest thou hast embarked on.

But I ask: is it a blight to revise one's trajectory when folly hath manifested? Such conduct doth diverge from Arcadian's precepts. Let us remember that the Timid Husk, who I adhere to most devoutly, discourages such vacillation.

I state that I have grappled with this contradiction for mine whole life. And now, in mine twilight years, I find myself championing introspection. The Striking Serpent teaches that it is meritorious to persist in error. But, perchance, its lore applieth not universally. Earlier, I demonstrated our judgment's imperfection in moral matters; it would be a fallacy to believe that we must remain committed to a cause when it has been demonstrated that our initial impulse was wrong.

Ah. Woeful are the questions of philosophy we are posed this season. Should thou reconsider? Even I cannot answer such a question. Perchance deeper wisdom gleameth from the Timid Husk beyond the Church’s prior exposition. Yet such bold questions exceedeth this correspondence, already distended with eight pages of meandering observation as it is.

Thus, I await thy thoughts before coming to any conclusion. There is no rush. Summit lies yet many months away. And this time, any decision we make can be well-considered.

==== XII. ====
Sundry matters yet remain. I remain yet vexed by Jalen von Voyant's presence and sway over Lerona Mere's souls. It is a burden that should not be shared outside mine home Realm, for matters of our politics belong solely to our people, despite the unity of our Concord. And yet, I must still decry not his Panoply devotion, but the egoism fueling it.

Even so, I concede he hath placed himself beyond my influence, and is desirous of no amendment to this fact.

This is a lesson from the Spheres I do struggle with. Perhaps I will until one of us passes from this Realm. For he is steel that, wrought and purified, could become Lerona Mere's needed leader. And it is fate's caprice that he spurneth such refinement. Is there a word, a lesson, that can pierce such gilded ego? I have doubts.

I yearn to be his salvation, but in dark moments, with doubts abundant and pervasive, always insinuating… I fear that I might instead be his downfall. Or he, mine.

I have sufficiently taxed mine scribe with my circuitous discourse. I simply hope my words confer wisdom upon thee, good Lord, in their mercy and censure, their lauded strengths and unveiled frailties. And may, in all endeavours, thou discover consolation in the Spheres' light.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Mother Brine

Concordian Documents - Radiance and Reason

2026-09-18T05:04:21Z

AWaldron:

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind (the power thereafter being assigned exclusively to the Senate and the Council of Six), raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a theological exploration penned by Friar Jacques d’Zisseau.

== '''''Radiance and Reason''''' ==
'''''Sovereign in Faith'''''

=== Preface and Invocation ===
In the name of the Spheres, whose radiance no shadow may extinguish, I set quill to parchment, that the faithful and the doubtful alike may read, may ponder, and may be stirred to seek further along the Journey. For though our Founders, in their wisdom did set to alter the Tenets of the Artebazzani Church, and though the Tenets have been sealed and set above us with resolute authority, We are called to expand and interpret, lest memory grow stale and devotion wither to mere custom.

It is not sufficient that we repeat the words of the Tenets as children repeat their lessons; we must comprehend them, we must wrestle with them, and we must allow them to take root within the soil of our reason as well as in the chambers of our heart. The Spheres, in their boundless patience, instruct us not merely by miracle and by mystery, but by the shining clarity of thought itself. To seek understanding, therefore, is no act of hubris but an act of worship; for reason is a lantern lit by Lumos, and inquiry a noble struggle sanctified by Stallia.

Thus, I compose this treatise: not as a novelty, nor as a replacement for the ancient words, but as a commentary, a mirror held up to the light, so that its beams may fall upon every facet of mortal understanding.

This work declares that the authority of the Concordian Church rests not upon Artebazzani relics nor upon Niccolò’s Window as a material proof, but upon the faith in the Journey itself. For faith rooted in objects may be seized, doubted, or divided, but faith rooted in the common pilgrimage of the soul cannot be stolen, nor silenced, nor confined.

By setting aside the Artebazzani inheritance, we cut the cords of dependency. No longer do we look outward for validation, but inward and forward to the path of alignment, to the evolving Tenets, to the councils of our own faithful.

Let us, then, invoke the Spheres whose presence girds all creation. Anarch, whose ever-turning hand makes mockery of stasis and breathes new life into the weary soil; Lumos, who calls us to faith; Arcadian, whose steadfast endurance bears the pilgrim through storm and famine alike; Panoply, whose helm defends the low and whose sword chastises the uncharitable; Cervitas, whose bonds knit neighbor to neighbor and people to people, that none may stand alone; and Stallia, whose shining unveils both truth and error with impartial grace -

To these six I bend the knee of my heart, and from them I beg indulgence: that the words which follow may not mislead, that I may not confuse my own pride with their wisdom, nor mistake my fleeting imaginings for their eternal decree. Yet if fault be found, let even error serve the faithful as an instrument of thought, so that in correcting me they ascend higher upon the rungs of comprehension.

So armed, we begin.

====== '''On the Divine''' ======
It is the first of our Tenets, and rightly so, that ''the Divine exists.'' Upon this stone every tower of doctrine must stand or fall. To confess the Spheres is no exercise in wishful fancy nor blind tradition, but an act of sober recognition. For the Divine does not hide as a thief in shadow, but manifests openly, upon the Mortal Sphere and beyond it, in power, in grace, and in testimony observable to any who possess both eyes and honesty.

Some, out of laziness of thought, claim that the Spheres are but myths clothed in symbol, inventions of priest and poet to awe the common folk. Yet such doubters must answer: whence come the miracles of Grace? By what dream are men and women touched, transformed, and set to deeds beyond mortal reckoning? Whence arise the Eternals, august and untouchable, whose appearances burn the memory of entire generations? What fable explains the Heralds, who walk among us in flesh and flaw, who teach, admonish, and at times ruin? If these be but allegories, then the allegory is more real than the doubter’s so-called reality.

The existence of the Divine is confirmed also by the great constancy of witness. Across the centuries of Empire, across kingdoms fallen and renewed, across families noble and humble alike, the record is the same: the Spheres are. Though the names by which they are invoked may have shifted in dialect, though the hymns have taken on new measures, yet the essence has remained immutable. No empire has endured so long, no philosophy has remained so consistent, as the fact of the Spheres’ being. To deny them is not boldness but blindness.

Consider too the testimony of the heart, which reason itself cannot dismiss. For within the mortal soul there is planted a hunger not of flesh nor of mind alone, but of spirit. A hunger that cannot be fed by bread, nor appeased by learning, nor quieted by pleasure. It is the hunger for alignment, for communion with that which transcends mortality. And when the faithful answer this hunger with prayer, with sacrifice, with the humble practice of the Tenets, they are met not with silence, but with response. Power descends, Grace flows, the soul is altered. To explain this away as coincidence or delusion is to prefer nonsense to sense, for a thousand consistent testimonies outweigh a single cynic’s shrug.

Yet we must not imagine the Divine to be as ourselves, merely greater in degree. The Spheres are not kings seated upon lofty thrones, nor craftsmen bound to the limitations of tool and material. They are Principles that breathe, Realities that think, Powers that call and command. Each is distinct, and yet each is united in the mystery of Divinity. The mortal mind, bounded as it is by beginning and end, cannot hope to comprehend the fulness of what it means for the Divine to exist. But we may apprehend enough to order our lives, to frame our worship, and to gird our Journey.

Here lies the paradox, which every pilgrim must embrace: the Divine is undeniable, and yet the Divine is inexhaustible. We know that the Spheres are, and yet we do not know nor shall we ever fully know what they are in their depths. This is no failure but a holy tension, for certainty breeds obedience, while mystery provokes humility. To live between the certainty of presence and the mystery of essence is to live as the Church commands: faithful, yet searching; confident, yet humble.

Thus, the first Tenet speaks with clear voice: ''the Divine exists.'' To deny this is folly; to confess it is the beginning of wisdom. And all who would walk the Journey must plant their steps upon this ground, lest they sink into the shifting sands of self-delusion.

=== On the Spheres as Instructors ===
If the first Tenet proclaims that ''the Divine exists,'' the second proclaims that ''the Divine instructs.'' For the Spheres are not silent ornaments set upon the vault of heaven; they are voices, laws, and teachers. Each is a school, and all mortals are enrolled therein whether by choice or by inevitability. To ignore their instruction is folly, to misconstrue it is danger, but to heed it is to walk upright upon the Journey.

It is a doctrine of weight that the Spheres are distinct and immiscible. As oil will not mingle with water, so too does Anarch not dissolve into Lumos, nor Lumos into Arcadian, nor any into any other. Each is a fountain complete, its lessons entire, its mandates whole. To attempt to blend them into one soft broth is to unmake their sharp savor and to lose the clarity by which the faithful discern their path. Yet though they stand apart, they are not contrary; rather, like six columns bearing one roof, they uphold a single House of Divinity.

Let us then consider each Sphere as a tutor, and what it demands of its pupils.

==== I. Anarch, the Sphere of Elemental Chaos ====
Anarch is the classroom of transformation. Its lesson is change, and its curriculum growth. To mortals bound by habit, Anarch appears terrible: storms that break ships, fires that cleanse forests, upheavals that topple thrones. Yet within this apparent cruelty is a profound mercy. For stasis is death. To be unmoved is to be already decayed. Anarch demands that we attempt, that we dare, that we accept failure as tuition and rise stronger thereby. The faithful of Anarch are ever reformers, innovators, breakers of shackles not out of idle rebellion, but out of conviction that nothing unchallenged can thrive.

==== II. Lumos, the Sphere of Hope ====
Lumos instructs by illumination. Its mandate is clarity: the uncovering of truth, whether pleasing or painful. It shows both the path and the pitfalls beside it, leaving no excuse for ignorance. Lumos demands steadfastness, for to know the right is worthless if one will not act upon it. Thus its pupils are defenders of the weak, confessors of the just cause, inspirers of courage when others falter. If Anarch is the hand that thrusts us into the unknown, Lumos is the lantern that reveals what lies there.

==== III. Arcadian, the Sphere of Steel ====
Arcadian’s school is courage tested. Its emblem is not the silent sword in scabbard but the tempered blade proven in the forge. Arcadian demands that one stand, fight, and endure, not because compelled by duty, but because inner resolve leaves no other course. Its pupils are those who rise against fierce foes, who choose the contest equal to their strength, neither cravenly fleeing nor arrogantly overreaching. Arcadian teaches a right valuation of self not vanity, not abasement, but the just measure that allows a soul to stand in line with comrades unashamed.

==== IV. Panoply, the Sphere of Glory ====
Panoply is the gilded hall where ambition is schooled. Many fear ambition as sin, but Panoply teaches it as sacrament. To strive, to rise, to achieve renown, these are not condemned but consecrated, provided that the prize be worthy and the ascent honorable. Panoply warns, however, that ambition decays when sought for vanity alone, or when hoarded as stagnant power. Its faithful are those who fail boldly, learn swiftly, and try again with sharpened skill. To strive and stumble is nobler than to slumber in mediocrity.

==== V. Cervitas, the Sphere of Imperial Wisdom ====
Cervitas instructs in the art of bonds. Its concern is not the solitary pilgrim, but the commonwealth, the oath, the office, the chain of loyalty that girds a people against ruin. Cervitas’ pupils are healers of breaches, rulers who serve their charges, neighbors who keep faith with neighbors. Its teaching is that trust is treasure, not to be squandered, and that an oath is not ornament but iron link. In the marble-latticed halls of Cervitas, the faithful learn that no soul stands alone; the Journey is walked in company, and in company one is judged.

==== VI. Stallia, the Sphere of the Stars ====
Stallia is the scholar’s firmament. Its night-sky is not absence but invitation, pricked with myriad lights that summon the curious to chart constellations of truth. Stallia instructs the faithful to question, to learn, to guard knowledge against corruption, and to apply wisdom in every trial. Its faithful are the keepers of memory, the stewards of discovery, the teachers whose labor preserves the Journey for generations unborn. To walk under Stallia’s gaze is to confess ignorance without shame, and to pursue understanding without end.

Thus do the Spheres instruct us: six voices, six paths of discipline, none to be confused with the other, yet all united in one Divine order. To deny their lessons is to squander the greatest schooling offered to mortals. To heed them is to advance upon the Journey with eyes open, mind sharpened, and heart humbled.

=== On Power and Grace ===
The Tenets teach with utmost clarity: ''The Spheres are powerful and grant salvation; they grant Power, and they grant Grace.''

Power and Grace are not synonyms, nor are they to be confused. They are two gifts, distinct as flame and warmth, and to comprehend their distinction is to avoid many errors.

==== I. On Power ====
Power is the immediate and manifest response of the Spheres to sacrifice. When the faithful offers time, blood, wealth, labor, or any worthy sacrifice upon the altar of devotion, the Spheres answer in kind. The result is force: miracles wrought, strength infused, protections established, wonders achieved. Power is the coin of the Divine, circulating through rite and deed, visible to the senses and undeniable to all witnesses.

Power proves the reality of the Divine to those who doubt. For no cunning nor trickery can account for the fire that descends, the healing that flows, the impossible that occurs in open view. Yet, though Power convinces, it does not convert; for one may be awed by spectacle and yet remain untouched in soul.

Thus we must understand: Power is the Spheres’ answer to what we give, and it is given without judgment of our inner state. The Spheres do not first inspect our hearts before granting Power; rather, they respond to the act, the offering, the transaction. Therefore Power can be abused; seized by the ambitious, brandished by the cruel, wielded without wisdom. That it may be abused does not make it less Divine, but it makes it perilous, for the user may damn themselves even while others marvel.

Power is as the sword: noble in a knight’s hand, monstrous in a brigand’s. Its presence does not sanctify the wielder, but it obligates them.

==== II. On Grace ====
Grace is of another kind altogether. Grace is not compelled by sacrifice; it is bestowed by change. When a mortal aligns their will with the will of a Sphere turning from selfishness to service, from arrogance to humility, from falsehood to truth then the Sphere answers, not with spectacle, but with transformation.

Grace is subtle. It may not dazzle the onlooker, but it roots deeply. A soul once touched by Grace cannot be as it was; its thoughts, desires, and actions begin to bend toward the Sphere’s character. The liar grows uncomfortable with lies; the coward feels shame in flight; the cruel hand begins to falter in its strike.

Grace, unlike Power, cannot be faked, cannot be stolen, cannot be commanded by ritual alone. It comes only when the heart is altered, when the mortal consents to the Sphere’s instruction. Thus it is rarer, and yet more precious, for it is the true seed of salvation.

Grace, moreover, begets Grace. As one soul is changed, so may it become an instrument of change in another. The Tenet affirms this in naming the Graces those singular mortals upon whom the Divine has poured extraordinary measure. But even apart from such great figures, every humble pilgrim who turns their heart a little closer to the Divine becomes a lamp lit for their fellows.

We may liken it thus: Power is the torch one carries into the night; Grace is the eye trained to see by its light. Without the torch, the eye is blind. Without the eye, the torch is wasted. Together, they make the road traversable.

==== III. The Salvation Promised ====
The Tenet declares not merely that Power and Grace are given, but that the Spheres thereby grant salvation. What is salvation, if not the soul’s safe passage from the Mortal Sphere into the higher Spheres, there to dwell in alignment rather than in exile? Power may aid us along the way, defending us against the assaults of circumstance and malice; but only Grace carries the soul upward, for only that which has been changed can enter into harmony with the changeless Divine.

Herein lies the mystery and the mercy: though we are undeserving (as another Tenet teaches), the Spheres nevertheless bend to us. They give Power in answer to our offering, and they give Grace in answer to our repentance. That either should be so is cause for ceaseless wonder. That both are so is cause for endless praise.

=== On the Journey ===
If the Spheres be teachers, then the Journey is the lesson itself. If Power and Grace be gifts, then the Journey is the end toward which they are granted. All the Tenets converge upon this one truth: that mortal life is not idly given, but set as a pilgrimage toward perfection, a road that begins in frailty and winds upward toward the eternal dwelling of the Spheres.

==== I. The Nature of the Journey ====
The Journey is no mere wandering, but a Divinely patterned path. It is laid out for every soul, though the steps differ by station, by trial, by circumstance. For one, the Journey may lead through halls of governance, where choices of justice or corruption set the course. For another, it winds through humble labor, where diligence or sloth weigh equally in the balance. For all, it ends where mortality yields to eternity in the Sphere that best accords with the soul’s alignment.

It is paramount, not optional. One may neglect it, resist it, attempt to flee it, but none can avoid it. As the river runs to the sea whether the stone resists or yields, so every mortal walks the Journey, willing or unwilling. Yet to walk willingly is salvation, and to walk unwillingly is ruin.

==== II. The Journey as Divine ====
That the Journey is Divine means two things: first, that it originates not in mortal whim but in the will of the Spheres; second, that to travel it rightly is to participate already in Divinity.

The first truth protects us from despair. We do not stumble blind in a world of chance, but step upon stones laid by Divine intent. The Spheres, in their counsel, have measured the terrain of mortal life and weighed each soul’s course with wisdom that exceeds our comprehension. Thus even suffering is not without meaning, for it is part of the accounting, however obscure to our dim sight.

The second truth summons us to reverence. To take a single step in earnestness toward alignment is not a small act, but a holy one. Each decision for truth, for mercy, for courage, is a moment of communion with the Spheres themselves. The Journey is not merely preparation for the afterlife; it is the afterlife begun in seed, unfolding day by day until it flowers in eternity.

==== III. The Obstacles of the Journey ====
No pilgrim travels unopposed. The Mortal Sphere is thick with snares: ambition that twists duty, greed that consumes compassion, despair that rots hope. Some obstacles arise from without, others from within, but all test the soul’s resolve.

It is here that Power and Grace prove their worth. Power defends against the assaults of the hour; Grace prevents the heart from hardening in its trials. A pilgrim armed with both may stumble, but will not fall beyond rising. One armed with neither is already lost, however confident their stride.

==== IV. The Companionship of Pilgrims ====
The Journey is walked by each soul individually, yet never alone. For the Concord of mortals reflects the Concord of the Spheres: unity in diversity, harmony in distinctness. Thus the Church insists upon fellowship, prayer shared, sacrifice offered in common, counsel given and received.

The solitary wanderer may imagine themselves strong, but when their foot slips, who shall steady them? When they err in doctrine, who shall correct them? When they lose hope, who shall lend it? No, the Journey is communal, as all life is communal. Just as the Spheres are distinct yet united, so must mortals walk distinctly yet together.

==== V. The Goal of the Journey ====
To what end do we travel? To salvation, which is not mere survival of the soul, but its homecoming into the Sphere most aligned with its nature. To the brave, the Sphere of Steel. To the just, the Sphere of Wisdom. To the curious, the Sphere of Lore.

Yet the truest salvation is not in receiving Grace alone, but in the becoming itself, that by the end of the Journey, the soul resembles the Sphere it enters. For it is not location that saves, but transformation. To ascend is not a prize bestowed; it is a self become as the Spheres.

==== VI. The Paramount Command ====
Therefore the Tenet is right to declare the Journey ''paramount.'' It is higher than Power, higher even than Grace, for these exist to serve it. To forsake the Journey is to forsake life itself, and to pursue it is to live indeed.

Every act, every choice, every sacrifice and prayer, is but a step upon this road. To walk it faithfully is the highest calling; to despise it is the gravest sin. The pilgrim who stumbles yet rises again is holier than the philosopher who stands still'''.'''

Thus is the Journey: inevitable, Divine, perilous, communal, salvific, and paramount. In it we find both burden and blessing, both command and consolation. Those who would name themselves Concordian must first name themself Pilgrim, for to belong to the Church is not to possess a creed alone, but to walk a road unending.

=== On Mortal Unworthiness ===
It is written among our Tenets: ''Mortal kind is unworthy of the Divine.'' This statement, bleak in its plainness, serves not as condemnation alone, but as illumination. For unless we understand our smallness, we cannot comprehend the greatness of the Spheres; unless we grasp our unworthiness, we cannot perceive the wonder of Grace.

==== The Nature of Unworthiness ====
What is meant by unworthiness? Not that mortals are vile in essence, nor hateful to the Spheres, for if that were so, the Divine would not condescend to walk among us, nor to pour forth Grace upon us. Rather, unworthiness signifies our inability to ''deserve'' communion with the Spheres by our own merit.

The Spheres are perfect: in Power, in Lore, in Valor, in Mercy, in all that they embody. Mortals, by contrast, are limited: bound by flesh, distracted by passions, corrupted by ambition, weakened by ignorance. Even our noblest acts bear stain. The most courageous falter at times; the most just overlook some injustice; the most merciful harden their hearts in secret. If perfection be the measure of worthiness, then who among us can stand?

Thus, the Tenet lays bare the chasm: the Divine dwells in radiance, we in shadow. To presume ourselves worthy is to prove ourselves blind.

==== The Purpose of the Tenet ====
This confession of unworthiness serves three holy ends.

# To humble. Pride is the root of many failings. Mortals who imagine themselves equal to the Divine stray quickly into rebellion, violence, or despair. To remember unworthiness is to remember place.
# To prepare. Only the empty vessel can be filled. If one believes oneself already sufficient, one will not seek Grace. But when one knows insufficiency, then one cries out for aid and in that cry finds salvation.
# To console. Paradox though it seems, unworthiness is a comfort. For if communion with the Divine depended upon mortal perfection, all would be lost. But since it depends upon Grace, all may hope. The Tenet frees us from the tyranny of self-justification and invites us to trust in the generosity of the Spheres.

==== The Balance of Dignity and Unworthiness ====
Yet let us beware of a misstep: to confess unworthiness is not to despise ourselves. Mortals are unworthy of the Divine, but not worthless to the Divine. The very fact that the Spheres reach down with Grace testifies to their love for us. If we were without value, they would not trouble themselves with us. Our dignity is derivative, granted by the Divine, not generated by ourselves.

Thus the faithful must hold a balance: neither exalting themselves into presumption, nor degrading themselves into despair. To walk the Journey rightly is to know: ''I am unworthy, yet beloved; small, yet chosen; flawed, yet called.''

==== The Implications for the Journey ====
This Tenet shapes the pilgrim’s walk in practical ways. It bids us approach worship with reverence, not entitlement; service with gratitude, not pride; prayer with supplication, not command. It teaches us to forgive, for if we ourselves are unworthy yet receive Grace, how shall we deny forgiveness to another? It instructs us to guard against judgment, for all stand equally unworthy before the Spheres, and none may boast superiority.

In this way, the Tenet of unworthiness becomes not crushing, but liberating: it tears down the idols of self-sufficiency, so that the temple of Grace may be built.

=== The Church Speaks with the Will of the Spheres ===
It is neither by whim nor by mortal design that the Church rises as a vessel of the Spheres. The edifice of our faith : its temples, its scrolls, its very hierarchies exist solely to articulate the ineffable will of the Divine. Every syllable spoken by the enlightened, every decree issued by the priesthood, carries with it the echo of the Spheres’ voice, a resonance that bridges the gulf between the Mortal Sphere and the realms of Power and Grace.

To the faithful, the Church is both compass and lantern. Without its guidance, the pilgrim would stumble in darkness, beset by temptation and uncertainty. Yet it is not blind authority that commands reverence; rather, it is the recognition that those who speak in its name have been steeped in study, contemplation, and the rigors of devotion, and thus are instruments attuned to the harmony of the Spheres.

Priests, high priests, and enlightened preachers do not merely instruct: they illuminate. They interpret the calls of Anarch, the hope of Lumos, the courage of Arcadian, the ambition of Panoply, the wisdom of Cervitas, and the truth of Stallia, rendering the ineffable into form, gesture, and word. Through them, the faithful learn to perceive not only the world as it is, but as it might be, transfigured by alignment with the Divine.

The Church exists in duality: to serve and to be served. It extends sanctuary to the weary, counsel to the lost, and instruction to the ignorant; it accepts support from those blessed with abundance, that its mission may endure. In this sacred reciprocity, the community of the faithful becomes a living testament to the power of the Spheres, a chorus in which every voice, from the humblest novice to the exalted high priest, contributes to the melody of Divine will.

Yet with authority comes profound responsibility. Should the Church fail to illuminate the path, the souls of the faithful may stray, and the stain of neglect becomes a blot upon the edifice itself. If those enlightened by knowledge, wealth, or wisdom squander their gifts, they bear culpability for the faltering of others. Conversely, the individual soul, when afforded opportunity yet failing to strive for Grace, must bear the consequence of its inaction. In this careful balance, the Church and the faithful exist in interdependence, each accountable to the Spheres and to one another.

It is the Church alone that may decree certain elements of life as sacred, that may define the limits of Heresy and Apostasy, that may pronounce judgment when mortal understanding falters. Yet even in such authority, humility is demanded; the words of the Church are never self-generated, never a reflection of pride, but a refracted light of the Spheres themselves. To speak against them is to speak against the Divine; to adhere to them is to align the mortal will with the eternal pattern.

Thus does the Church speak, not as master, but as conduit, as prism through which the power and the grace of the Spheres are made perceptible, actionable, and comprehensible. And in listening, obeying, and reflecting, the faithful do not diminish their own reason; rather, they expand it, attuning mind and spirit to the sublime harmonies that underlie the Mortal Sphere.

=== The Creeds ===
The Creeds of the Concordian Church are not mere recitations of pious words; they are, in truth, distilled expressions of the Divine will, a scaffold upon which the faithful may align thought, speech, and deed. In their cadence and structure, the Creeds encapsulate the lessons of the Spheres, the guidance of the Eternals, and the living example of the Heralds, creating a liturgical mirror in which the soul may discern its own measure against the pattern of the Divine.

Two Creeds are observed within our hallowed practice: the Formal Creed, enunciated in solemn assembly, and the Congregational Creed, offered in the intimacy of smaller fellowship. Both serve complementary purposes: the Formal Creed declares the immutable truths of the Spheres to the world, affirming our collective acknowledgment of the Divine; the Congregational Creed cultivates personal and communal reflection, drawing the faithful into contemplation of their own alignment and conduct.

The Formal Creed begins with the affirmation of the Spheres, the Eternals, and the Heralds - an acknowledgment of their existence, their influence, and the imperatives they impose upon mortal life. To recite it is to declare, in voice united with the assembly, that the Divine is neither hidden nor distant, but present, active, and instructive. It enjoins the faithful to recognize the authority of the Church as interpreter of the Spheres, and to accept, with humility, the obligations of the Journey.

The Congregational Creed, though simpler in form, demands equal rigor of mind and spirit. It is intended not merely to be spoken, but to be pondered, each phrase weighed against the daily actions, choices, and inclinations of the reciter. By its recitation, the individual pilgrim affirms the lessons of each Sphere - embracing the challenge of Anarch, the illumination of Lumos, the courage of Arcadian, the striving of Panoply, the loyalty of Cervitas, and the discernment of Stallia and commits anew to the pursuit of Grace.

Instruction in the proper recitation of the Creeds is itself a sacred undertaking. Each word must be enunciated with clarity, each pause observed with contemplative attention, and each emphasis placed in accord with the intended meaning, so that the cadence of speech reflects the harmony of the Spheres. The faithful are taught to internalize the rhythm of devotion, so that the recitation transcends mere oral tradition and becomes a conduit for reflection, alignment, and spiritual attunement.

It is not sufficient to recite the Creeds with mind absent or voice hollow; such action, though superficially correct, is devoid of efficacy. True adherence demands that the soul engage fully with each assertion, that the intellect and conscience both acknowledge the weight of the words, and that the heart imbibe their lesson. In this manner, the Creeds function not as a ritualistic obligation, but as a living covenant between mortal and Divine.

In the repetition of these sacred formulas, the faithful discover both constancy and renewal. The words anchor them to the eternal truths of the Spheres, while simultaneously reminding them of the ever-present necessity of vigilance, humility, and effort. In this duality, the Creeds serve as guide and as mirror, as scaffold and as lamp, illuminating both the communal path and the solitary journey of the soul.

Thus, the faithful are enjoined to approach the Creeds not as an exercise of rote piety, but as a practice of enlightenment, a disciplined contemplation, and a renewal of purpose. In their recitation, in their understanding, and in their application to daily life, the pilgrim nurtures the virtues of the Spheres, aligns with the will of the Eternals, and prepares the soul for the ultimate fulfillment of the Journey.

=== Concluding Benediction ===
Thus this treatise must be understood not as a catalogue of marvels nor as a defence of our decision to separate from the Artebazzani Church but as a foundation stone for a Church whose authority springs from faith in the Journey itself. For while Artebazzan cast its weight upon relics and histories, binding the faithful to proofs of stone and vision, we of the Concord have turned our faces to the path that lies before us. The Window may inspire, as any miracle inspires, yet it is not the ground of our faith; rather, it is the endless movement of the soul toward the Spheres, the ceaseless unfolding of Radiance through our lives, that confers upon the Concordian Church its true legitimacy.

In this, we establish independence not in defiance, but in maturity. The Artebazzani cling to the artefact; we embrace the living covenant of the Journey. Our Tenets, living and evolving, do not ossify faith but quicken it, inviting the faithful to wrestle with mystery, to seek alignment, and to walk together in devotion.

Here lies the authority of the Concordian Church: not in possession of relics nor in borrowed memory, but in the shared act of pilgrimage. To Journey is to affirm; to Journey is to govern; to Journey is to sanctify. By this we are free of Artebazzan’s shadow, and by this we rise as a Church whose foundation is not stone, but the Radiant path that no hand may extinguish.

Let the words of this treatise, now laid before the faithful, serve as both lamp and compass, illuminating the path of the soul as it journeys through the manifold trials and revelations of mortal existence. May the Spheres, eternal in their majesty, witness the sincerity of these reflections and extend the quiet grace that guides the hearts of those who strive toward alignment and understanding.

In the sight of Anarch, may the faithful find courage to confront their limitations, to embrace transformation, and to seek growth in every misstep. In the light of Lumos, may hope awaken within each heart, illuminating even the shadowed corners of doubt and despair. Before Arcadian, may bravery be tempered by wisdom, and valor guided by the true measure of strength and purpose. Under the auspices of Panoply, may ambition be noble, and glory sought not for selfish pride but for the edification of self and community alike. Through the counsel of Cervitas, may loyalty, trust, and the bonds of duty form the framework of society, ensuring that the Journey of each soul is not undertaken in isolation but in harmony. Within the steadfast vigilance of Stallia, may all seekers of knowledge uncover truth with patience and perseverance, guarding it as a beacon against the distortions of ignorance.

As the faithful move through life’s trials, let them remember that failure is neither condemnation nor shame, but an instrument of instruction, a reflection of the imperfection inherent in all mortal endeavors. Let them recognize the Graces among them, and see not merely the rarefied gifts of Divinity, but living mirrors of the virtues toward which all souls must aspire. Let humility temper pride, contrition guide redemption, and devotion inspire both thought and action, that each step along the Journey may be undertaken with reverence and deliberation.

May the Church stand as the enduring voice of the Spheres, a beacon of guidance and sanctuary, its word a prism through which mortal understanding may be refracted into insight and obedience. May priests, preachers, and high priests alike act always with fidelity, neither seeking dominion nor favor beyond their calling, but offering counsel, instruction, and sanctuary in harmony with the Divine will.

And finally, let the faithful receive this Benediction as both charge and solace: that the Journey is long, that the trials are many, and that the Spheres are unending in their wisdom, their power, and their grace. May every soul endeavor to traverse each Sphere, to embrace both struggle and enlightenment, and to approach the resting place of their ultimate alignment with reverence, humility, and steadfast hope.

So let it be spoken, so let it be remembered, and so let it be enacted in thought, word, and deed. In the majesty of the Spheres, in the counsel of the Eternals, and under the vigilant gaze of the Heralds, may all faithful souls endure, flourish, and find the Grace that awaits at the culmination of the Journey.

In the Light of the Spheres,

Fr. Jacques d’Zisseau

Concordian Documents - 2nd Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-18T05:04:05Z

AWaldron:

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind (the power thereafter being assigned exclusively to the Senate and the Council of Six), raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects, some of which pertain to the Church, penned by Mother Brine.

=== 2nd Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Autumn after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
I cannot commence this missive without first acknowledging the joyous cargo thou hast delivered unto mine weary soul!

I note, however, that thine challenge doth somewhat boldly imply thou standest a CHANCE of halting me, should I choose to set sail upon such a course. Pray earnestly that another rival doth raise their sails in opposition to thee, for I would regret to strip thine ego to a more suitable size.

==== II. ====
With that matter of excitement resolved, I would turn mine attention to the other concerns borne upon the tides of thine letter. To take a note on more mortal concerns is a rarity, I must admit It is an edifying thing to contemplate the similarities and differences betwixt our shared paths upon this Mortal Sphere. Unlike thee, I am far more baseborn; in mine youth, mine only commerce with the silks and gold of nobility came in the exchanges of bedchambers. It is only in the twilight of my life that I, too, have turned mine gaze upon the Divine Spheres and charted the course of mine own soul - and that of Lerona Mere.

Fortunately, any voyage I might yet undertake is smoother than most. After the work of my youth, I held little desire to marry. Mine grandchildren and great-grandchildren are well into adulthood, their own vessels launched upon the seas of life. Thus unburdened by such needy cargo, I am better able to devote mineself to matters of scholarship and the gentle traditions of the needle.

Yet thou hast far more decades of study; they stretch before thee like uncharted horizons. I am confident that, in years to come, others shall look upon thine words with the same kindness and esteem thou hast shown mine own.

==== III. ====
Meanwhile, however, I am here and content to offer what guidance I can. I am gladdened that thou hast found the courage to reconsider thine actions and convictions. To do so is valiant indeed. While the teachings of the Timid Husk are oft taken as a warning against vacillation, perchance there lieth yet value in learning from one's errors upon the waves of experience.

Such views may lie somewhat outside the strict orthodoxy of our Concordian Church, but still I wonder, as one who hath oft reflected upon mine own missteps as both revolutionary and Concordian citizen.

I shall not dwell long upon those treacherous shoals, however. I know thou would prefer I steer our discourse toward finally resolving the matter of the Warheart and Gravetree. But I wish to reiterate this, brother: thine words bring me profound joy. It is good to see that I might yet lead by example rather than by dictate. Perhaps this is why mine esteem within the Church hath risen of late.

Perhaps there remaineth yet hope for the causes I pursue, even amidst the gathering storms of Legend City.

As I consider mine regrets, I am reminded of other news. I am heartened that the lessons of the Timid Husk continue to echo across the Concord, yet I remain perturbed that, as his most ardent follower, I am not granted the full courtesy of his wisdom in mine own trials. That said, I wonder whether mine frequent reflection upon the course of mine life hath spared me his attentions. Perchance the actions of the Timid Husk serve as a call for all Concordian heroes to learn from their mistakes and misdeeds, forging finer steel through honest contemplation.

Perhaps the Timid Husk is not entirely a warning against vacillation. Perhaps these developments of Lerona Mere render a new hope for this pursuit and hope for contemplation. For I believe the steel of our Mortal Sphere would ring truer if each of us but took the time to reflect, as thou hast done in thy past missive.

And as we call for reflection, I shall discuss the Church’s response to the ongoing crisis in my home with Senator D’Zisseau at our upcoming meeting, and again at Summit. At this time, however, I hold that it would be wise for the citizens of Lerona Mere to follow the Husk’s example. To turn inward, learning from our recent blights. This course, I have faith, shall best be served if the Priests of the Needle lead the way, not by command, but by living example. As yet, however, these future horizons remain veiled in mist prior to Passage. We shall have to see what winds arise.

==== IV. ====
But I hath not forgotten that thou asked of mine vision from the Warheart. Indeed, your judgement is correct. The one granted unto me was of a different cast: of being drenched in blood, exhausted by endless violence, of the guilt that gathers like barnacles upon the hull when one reaps and brings such things upon others. After a time, one craves something new - a respite, a calm harbour. The desire to be done with strife and war, to lay down the burden of bravery at last.

I am reminded of the tales of thy countryman, Ser Yulian, who craves that same respite, an opportunity to grow and change beyond the ceaseless storm. I find myself in argument as to whether it is right to grant such mercy to one, when I would not extend it to the Artebezzani - yet the Warheart doth not summon Ser Yulian to further battle. It is a complex and difficult question, as faith so often leads us into dark, uncharted waters where even the most steadfast compass wavers.

Nevertheless… as I approach this Summit, I am filled with hope once more. I do believe my Realm holds me in higher regard than I first dared to believe. And I am grateful thou aught holds me in such regard. For while Bordevar’s virtues are not those of Lerona Mere, I note there is no blight in the virtues thine nobility espouses.

Is Lysander not now of Bordevar? We are more alike than either of us would care to admit, even though it may pain our egos.

==== V. ====
I thank thee kindly for thine notes on Signore von Voyant. They have weighed heavily upon my mind for some time. Thine opinion is of… import to me. And having conferred with thee and mine countrymen at length, I have resolved what must be done.

I beseech thee to hold me in thy prayers—unto the Striking Palm, the Bloody Handed, and the Striking Serpent—that I might follow through with this course, wretched though it may prove.

May the Spheres grant us both clear skies and steady winds in the days ahead, that we might navigate these trials together.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Concordian Documents - 1st Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-18T05:03:45Z

AWaldron:

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind (the power thereafter being assigned exclusively to the Senate and the Council of Six), raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects of faith penned by Mother Brine.

=== 1st Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Summer after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
My belaboured soul did find comfort and solace in thine recent correspondence. Thine words and concerns, did act as a balm unto my soul. Thine epistle hath found a mirrored reflection in myself; like thee, I am oppressed by profound queries and perturbations of the spirit. The weighty affairs of the Mortal Sphere, akin to the tempests that beset the mariner upon the vast and treacherous seas, hath detained me of late.

And yet, it gladdens mine heart apostolic to share my burden, and to hear of thine. As sacred wisdom doth declare, a sorrow divided is halved. And in granting our brethren succour, we oft uncover the clarity we have been denied. I pray thou find comfort in the words I have so carefully crafted.

That said, I would be truly wretched were I not to acknowledge the belated dispatch of my response, thanks to the craft with which it was prepared. But how can one swiftly render upon parchment answers to the complex questions thou hast placed before me? These are contemplations that would preoccupy the discourse of our wisest scholars for centuries. Mine own scribe was quick to advise me that three drafts of this letter had already been prepared by him this last month - and beseeches me that this be the last. Perhaps there is further wisdom to be gleaned in their request for relief from their quill’s endless wisdom. Perhaps no response I can craft will ever encapsulate the divine mysteries.

Even so, it is my solemn duty, as a fellow shepherd of the flock, to attempt to offer the counsel thou hast humbly besought, And, as a fellow student of the Spheres’ most divine mysteries, permit me to commence this with a recounting of the whirlwind that presently assails my own soul.

==== II. ====
Multitudinous are the gales that seek to divert each of us mortals from the ordained path of the Divine Spheres, and the Journey they would prepare us for. It would be a crude deceit to pretend that, at the last summit, that their efforts did not find success. I have stumbled from the path. But only stumbled.

For we are but flesh, subject to the failings inherent in our flawed souls. Though I aspire to the pinnacles of sanctity the Spheres exemplify, I must also confess my own capacity for blights and failings. My sole redemption lies in the only weapon I might bring to bear against them: to refuse that my vulnerabilities should define me.

This duality resides in all who tread this earthly Sphere. Within us lurk the abyssal depths of perversity, whither wretches such as the Warjackal or Jalen descend. But within us are also contained the divine altitudes of Paragon Halig. Our quest upon this mortal Sphere is to determine whether or not we possess the fortitude to vanquish the storms that would forever lead us astray.

Hence, I ascribe accountability for these missteps unto myself, not to any quirk of fate that did lead me to this point. Though I have endured much in recent days, I lacked the spiritual vigour to overcome all trials. I was measured, and found wanting.

Nevertheless, were another to traverse my path, I would repudiate such self-reproach. The laity cannot be held culpable for the labyrinthine voyages charted by our questions of faith and divinity. They are not initiates in the arcane lore of the Spheres; they are ill-equipped to navigate such boundless oceans.

The doctrines we impart to our faithful, as priests, are far more elementary. ‘Be faithful to thine ambition.’ ‘Safeguard the innocent.’ ‘Aspire to transcend thy bounds.’

But unto us, as leaders of the Church, falls the charge of navigating the most treacherous of moral paths, the ones that are not so easily surmised in simple statements for the layman and woman. It is our divine responsibility to delineate the course that none else may discern.

Thus, any of our failures rest squarely upon our own shoulders. We wear both the albatross around our neck, and the target upon our chest.

And so, I would not impute blame to one of our fold for faltering in the defence of Arachelli El’Obregon, nor for failing to redirect Lyam De’Rosa or Maximillian Villeneuvre unto righteousness. What is the essence of the heretic, and by what means do we redeem him from his errant ways? These and similar questions are exclusively the remit of the Church. And so we, as its force upon this temporal world, must assume this onus.

For we are the last shelter before the deluge. The final port before the open expanse of the sea. Upon our episcopal frames alone do these yokes belong.

Thus, I admit to thee my own stumbling - that I could not shoulder the burden imposed upon me by the Spheres. Three souls hath perished through my inadequacies, and I shall atone for them in the great pilgrimage that lies not far ahead of me. I know my age well. I accept that, very soon, Cervitas will bid me answer why I could not resolve the quandaries it presented.

In like manner, the interrogations raised in thine missive transcend the simplistic crusades of virtue the Heralds do enlist the common citizen of the Concord in. And, I believe like myself, thou hast faltered in thine endeavour to surmount these obstacles. Perhaps I err in this judgement. Perhaps I see too many of my own failings in thee.

But I shall still essay to furnish thee with guidance, for we constitute a holy ecclesia, and if we cannot jointly traverse these turbulent oceans, they shall remain forever unmapped. And perchance thou, in turn, mayest alleviate my own blights and failings, lest I falter before the Concord as I did at the recent Summit.

Either of these trials would seem insurmountable.

Yet we are of the Sphere of Steel.

==== III. ====
Upon profound reflection and prayer, I have reached the following conviction: that thou hast erred in thy supplication to the Warheart. In beseeching that the Legionnaire be liberated to pursue the Journey unhindered, thou hast strayed beyond the light of the Spheres. Such a deviation was doubtless unwitting. Perhaps it was discernible only in retrospection. Our Sphere is renowned for swift decisions, not for interminable navel-gazing.

But as our Curate did instruct us at the last Summit, when pronouncing sentence upon Arachelli, a decision made doth not absolve us of culpability if it proveth erroneous.

I will, briefly, enumerate my thinking for thee into eight arguments for thine review. Forgive me for basing mine approach upon the Shardcircles, but on matters of such philosophy and theology as this, it seemed the best course.

* It is manifest, upon contemplation, that our mortal judgments are imperfect, for we are of the mortal realm.
* We know that true wisdom cometh to each of us solely through the Spheres.
* Thus, it is the Church's sacred duty to shepherd souls in harmony with the Spheres' teachings.
* The Warheart's actions constitute a divine lesson for all, and are beyond question.
* They are beyond question, for the Spheres possess the divine qualities of both omniscience and beneficence.
* It is therefore inevitable that the Warheart's acts are pure of purpose and design.
* We are disciples of the Spheres, and it is not our province to dictate unto the divine.
* Though the task bestowed by the Warheart be arduous, we must embrace it. To impugn it is an iniquity.

==== IV. ====
'''Perfect dogma and judgement cannot be attained, for we reside outside of the Spheres.'''

Let us ponder, for an instant, the soul of a malfeasant.

Manifold are the guises this criminal might assume. Some that spring to mind are the capos of Lerona Mere, the New Butchers of Wolstad, or the Thralldring of the Iron Valley. Their machinations, deeds, and comportment vary as wildly as the brilliant splendour of Anarch.

And yet a singular element they all share: the certainty that their iniquities are justifiable. I harbour no doubt that such a felon could present themselves before me and offer an eloquent defence justifying their cold-blooded murder of a Concordian citizen. And I harbour no doubt that they would be wrong.

I comprehend not why the Spheres hath burdened mortals with this burden of imperfect moral rectitude. Perchance it shields us from the harsh realities of this mortal. Oft are we confronted with choices wherein all paths will yield sorrow. Mayhaps we are only able to persuade ourselves of our choice's righteousness to evade unending, inevitable remorse for each choice we make. Or perchance these are cicatrices upon our soul, inflicted by the world’s banalities, and our own failings, as they become too much to bear. Such questions transcend even the Church's purview, and answers lie only at the end of our Journey.

I despise Monsieur von Voyant's acerbic mien and vainglorious posturing. Yet I concede that my appraisal of him must be flawed, for undoubtedly, facets of his conduct mirror the gold of Panoply. (Such facets are scant, however. His soul is crude-forged, lacking even a single refinement from the Journey.) The world mires us in its mundanity, and curses our judgement to be forever imperfect.

This axiom is enshrined in our Tenets:

* "As souls adrift from our true home in the Spheres, we are imperfect and should ever strive to be worthy of the Grace that we receive, lest we lose it."

We are flawed. Whilst we may aspire to worthiness, the burdens and trappings of mortality ever veil our vision from true clarity.

Thus, I deem it demonstrated that our moral discernment is imperfect. The corollary of this argument, I believe, is evident.

==== V. ====
'''Veracious guidance deriveth only through the Spheres.'''

Let us again meditate upon one of our sacrosanct Tenets. I note it is common to both the Concordian ecclesia and our Artebezzan siblings, and thus hold the lesson it containeth as one that hath been repeatedly confirmed.

* "We know that the Spheres furnish us Precepts for our existence, each peculiar to the Spheres, each a vocation for all to heed."

The Spheres do delegate their authority unto the Church, and the Church hath repeatedly affirmed that the supreme mandate of every soul is adherence to the Spheres' doctrines. In so doing, the soul shall attain Grace and eternally abide amidst them.

Ergo: the Spheres' teachings are an immutable truth.

For instance, we know that to derive personal growth from the example of another is virtuous, as the Ardent Mind hath instructed that this is so. This can not be refuted. Wouldst thou deny that an apple, released from a hand’s grasp, inevitably descendeth earthward?

Further logic resideth in this new tenet I have proposed. As I stated prior, our moral judgment is fallible. This is known unto us through the Spheres' lessons and calls to uplift our flawed souls beyond the trappings of this mortal existence. Hence, we must trust that the Spheres' guidance is unadulterated, for it is the measure by which we know our own to be impure.

Let us note also that the quest for Grace spanneth our innumerable incarnations. It surpasses any mortal soul’s single odyssey across our world. And we are not perpetually graced with Heralds amidst us to resolve each conundrum of morality that we face. The apt application of a Herald's or Eternal's precept is a trial each soul must confront many, many times. And we shall not invariably prevail in such a confrontation.

As thou hast professed in thine epistle, thou undertook this same trial at the Summit just passed. Thou believest, as a prelate of the faith, that thine highest duty is to escort all souls along the Journey. Didst thou require a Herald to directly decree this to thee? Nay.

Yet thou hast drunk deeply from the cup of the Spheres' wisdom, augmenting thine flawed judgment with their pristine intent. A task that is only possible through dedicated study of the Spheres’ example, as passed on by our most divine Church. This leads to my third point.

==== VI. ====
'''The Church shepherds souls in concordance with the Spheres' precepts.'''

Notwithstanding the frequent clamours to the contrary - oft issuing from the alleys of Legend City, I must admit - the Concordian Church is of cardinal importance to the Concord. It is our mandate to guide our flock's souls to their celestial destiny, a task we can only accomplish by recounting the Heralds' and Eternals' teachings.

I will ask thee to imagine the Spheres' voices conjoined in celestial chorus. The Eternals form the profound basses and tenors, their lessons, deep and principled, establishing the chords and cadence for the choir to adhere to. Aloft them soar the voices of the Heralds. Their soprano tones bear the melody, occasionally ascending in individual solos, or elaborating on the Eternals' foundation.

And should the Church's voices mingle in this chorus of the Spheres, we would only furnish the harmony; the role of the alto. We dictate not rhythm, tonality, nor key. We adjudicate not right from wrong.

I personally believe this role ariseth as much from pragmatic necessity as from divine ordinance. As I previously observed, the Heralds' and Eternals' moral example cannot spread to every corner of this globe without our assistance. And yet, at all times, we must not conflate our necessary function to mean we can supplant the role of the Spheres.

If a Herald did pronounce an act immoral, we would carry that decree to every territory of the Concord. If, upon reflecting upon an Eternal's teachings, we did discern the Senate had erred in a motion, we would invoke our sacred veto. But, always and ever, this is done in accordance with the Spheres' will, not our own.

==== VII. ====
'''The Warheart hath bestowed teachings upon us.'''

I would bear the opinion that, until this point, my points would not strike thee as contentious. Their construction is robust, and firmly adheres to our Church’s orthodoxy. These are tenets we have canonized, after all.

Now must I build upon this firm foundation that was laid in earlier argument. I advance beyond truths enshrined by our Church to those less easily perceived by us. And herein, I find my conclusion that thy deeds were not in the Light of the Spheres. For let me be unequivocally clear, as far as our mortal judgement might allow me to: the Warheart hath acted. This is a lesson.

Likely, it is a lesson you and I have yet to fully fathom. I do not comprehend why the Warheart only now summons a soul felled in Wolstad in eons past, nor why it hath selected an Artebezzani. As a denizen of Lerona Mere, that the Sphere of Storms might esteem their legionnaires so highly is a revelation I have wrestled to assimilate. I am yet to discern its implications for the nature of Heralds and Eternals, or their origins.

Does the chicken assume the farmer who feeds it was also hatched from an egg? Or, far more likely, do they simply assume that their existence to be a constant that predated their own?

This, I do know: the Warheart's course hath been established. One of three most authentic facets of our Sphere hath selected this path. We know this, through our visions and ministrations with the Legionnaire. It is an empirical truth.

I return to my earlier metaphor, of another empirical truth: that of the apple's descent. In times past, we knew not its cause. Our understanding was nascent. Yet in time, we came to comprehend it. Likewise, we shall one day grasp the Warheart's rationale for its action. Even if its sagacity eludeth us at this time, we can know that it is present, for the Spheres’ impart unto us holy instruction.

It is a Divine Choice by the Sphere of Arcadian.

==== VIII. ====
'''The Spheres are omniscient and beneficent.'''

I shall not linger upon this point, as I have others. Its wisdom is self-evident.

We know the Spheres survey each soul's journey and their course upon the world. They are omniscient.

We know the Spheres bask us in their holy luminescence. They are beneficent.

Were either of these facts untrue, they would merit not our adoration. Sans omniscience, they would lack divinity. Sans beneficence, they would inspire no veneration. Thus, though we cannot comprehend the mind of an Eternal, we can take solace in knowing all of its deeds just and ultimately merciful.

==== IX. ====
'''We are students; the Spheres are our teachers.'''

Herein cometh the end of my ponderings, not solely concerning thy deeds, but the path we each ought pursue in the future. Were thou one of my flock, I would simply bid thee weigh thine finite wisdom against that of an Eternals'. As I address a peer, I will forgo a touch so genteel.

Thou art not wiser than the Warheart. The Spheres' instruction of thee continues yet.

It befitteth not the pupil to contest the teacher's edicts. An Eternal hath proffered a lesson unto thee, and this world. I will feign not any comprehension of its impulses. Perchance, upon our passings, if our Journey is triumphant, and we return to this Sphere, our soul may accrue the necessary insight. The lesson will be gleaned in generations to come. But in this sacred moment, we need not comprehend it entirely.

Recall what I have established in this letter thus far: authentic moral wisdom originates from the Spheres alone, who are omniscient and beneficent. This is the basis of our dogma, is it not? One need merely look upon the following tenet of our Church. Though it pertains to Heralds, it is assuredly applicable to their overseeing Eternals.

* "At times, it may seem that a Herald has come to act against you directly, or is hostile to you. Know that everything done by a Herald is a Divine choice, and may be some boon in disguise - a teaching moment, a needed lesson in humility, a reminder of the power of the Spheres."

Thus, through prayer and meditation, I reach a conclusion. Even absent comprehension, we must prepare this soul for the office the Warheart hath assigned it. I readily admit, I know not how to execute this with the compassion it does require of us. Yet I know we must. Perhaps, at the impending Summit, new avenues shall be unveiled to us.

Thy epistle evokes various musings in my mind, that may contain a balm for thine worries. Mayhap we simply undervalue the epochs wherein Eternals and Gravetrees transact their business upon this Mortal Sphere. The Sphere of Steel enjoins us to act with alacrity and puissance, but shall it permit the Legionnaire to spend an eternity beside the Gravetree, until his woes are transcended? Does there exist a manner we might adopt, which would rekindle his previous devotion unto the Warheart? Have our erudite colleagues from across the ocean insights to proffer unto us? At present, I cannot foresee the ramifications of thine choices. I believe that if we are to find a solution to our shared dilemma, we will need to do so as a Church.

I have discoursed amply on theology, yet scarcely on thee and my appraisal of thy deeds. Permit me now to address this with the candour due a colleague and comrade.

==== X. ====
'''Thou hast questioned not only thyself, but also an Arcadian Eternal.'''

The Church's tenets and canons deem not thy acts blasphemous by the letter of its law. Yet, this fact notwithstanding, I must maintain that thine conduct profanes the Sphere of Steel.

Not only didst thou exhort another to alter thine course, despite thy service to the Sphere of Arcadian, but the one thou exhorted was none other than an Eternal of our Sphere. I deny not thy noble intent and priestly zeal, and have no doubt that thine actions were taken with purest intent. Verily, only upon exhaustive introspection - let us note the myriad pages of this missive - do I discover thy error.

Had I accompanied thee on that Conflux, perchance I, too would have trod thy path, not seeing where it did lead. Thus, I scorn not thy deeds, and exhort thee to eschew shame. After all, hath I not bared my own soul's putrescent core at this letter’s inception, and laid bare the lapses that doth plague me? I am no more a Paragon than thee.

But we are entrusted with the gravest dilemmas of morality as servants of the Spheres. And though our role demandeth impeccable conduct, blights and failings pervade slyly, in their temptations. The gales that would drag us from our path are vehement.

==== XI. ====
And now, in noting all this, my hand is forced. I must address that most interesting contradiction of our Sphere; the tangled knot I have spent mine life laboring to untangle, and still, have not.

Let us both concur, first, that the Sphere of Arcadian dissuadeth reconsideration of thine action. Our primal impulses are those to be most trusted, as The Striking Serpent teacheth that they are oft veracious. Virtue lieth in thy displayed tenacity, and to sway an Eternal's mind is audacious. It is a formidable quest thou hast embarked on.

But I ask: is it a blight to revise one's trajectory when folly hath manifested? Such conduct doth diverge from Arcadian's precepts. Let us remember that the Timid Husk, who I adhere to most devoutly, discourages such vacillation.

I state that I have grappled with this contradiction for mine whole life. And now, in mine twilight years, I find myself championing introspection. The Striking Serpent teaches that it is meritorious to persist in error. But, perchance, its lore applieth not universally. Earlier, I demonstrated our judgment's imperfection in moral matters; it would be a fallacy to believe that we must remain committed to a cause when it has been demonstrated that our initial impulse was wrong.

Ah. Woeful are the questions of philosophy we are posed this season. Should thou reconsider? Even I cannot answer such a question. Perchance deeper wisdom gleameth from the Timid Husk beyond the Church’s prior exposition. Yet such bold questions exceedeth this correspondence, already distended with eight pages of meandering observation as it is.

Thus, I await thy thoughts before coming to any conclusion. There is no rush. Summit lies yet many months away. And this time, any decision we make can be well-considered.

==== XII. ====
Sundry matters yet remain. I remain yet vexed by Jalen von Voyant's presence and sway over Lerona Mere's souls. It is a burden that should not be shared outside mine home Realm, for matters of our politics belong solely to our people, despite the unity of our Concord. And yet, I must still decry not his Panoply devotion, but the egoism fueling it.

Even so, I concede he hath placed himself beyond my influence, and is desirous of no amendment to this fact.

This is a lesson from the Spheres I do struggle with. Perhaps I will until one of us passes from this Realm. For he is steel that, wrought and purified, could become Lerona Mere's needed leader. And it is fate's caprice that he spurneth such refinement. Is there a word, a lesson, that can pierce such gilded ego? I have doubts.

I yearn to be his salvation, but in dark moments, with doubts abundant and pervasive, always insinuating… I fear that I might instead be his downfall. Or he, mine.

I have sufficiently taxed mine scribe with my circuitous discourse. I simply hope my words confer wisdom upon thee, good Lord, in their mercy and censure, their lauded strengths and unveiled frailties. And may, in all endeavours, thou discover consolation in the Spheres' light.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Documents of the Church

2026-09-18T05:03:04Z

AWaldron:

[[File:439979594 741737331485843 4865814505581099811 n.jpg|thumb|475x475px]]
This page contains important documents that are produced by the Church of the Divine Spheres. Such documents would generally be held in any Civil Service office in a township of reasonable size. Any Concordian character could obtain a copy or at least a chance to read the documents held here.

* [[The Nomination Paragon of Halig Of Alfwen's Wall|''"We Stand Together"'' - Missiv De Virtutibus Pro Halig Vallis In Nomine Paragon - By Fr. Jacques D'Zisseau of Lerona Mere]]
* [[Nomination of Holy Site The Roiling|''Kindling for the Spheres - The Roiling as a Holy Site'' - By Daud El’Priado Del’Anarch Al’Sabre]]
* [[The Nomination of Holy Site The Iron Star Cathedral|''"O Turm aus Stahl und Wissen / O Spire of Steel and Knowledge - Nomination of the Iron Star Cathedral as a Holy Site"'' - By Houndspriest Wenche Vanatoure, of Hasselbach]]
'''Note: Documents that have been specifically published by the decree of the Church may be found on the Concordian Documents page.'''

==== Further Reading ====

* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]
* [[Concordian Documents]]

Concordian Documents

2026-09-18T04:49:41Z

AWaldron: Publications added to Concordian Documents page

This page contains documents, reports and other important written works that have been created by the official arms of The Concord (such as The Church of the Divine Spheres of the Civil Service). These documents can be added to through the requisitioning of research (such as through the High Historian's power of Research) or through making a document public and dispersed among The Concord (such as through the Senates power of Publication or the Church's power of Dogma).

=== High Historian's Research ===
Research commissioned by the [[High Historian]] can be found on the High Historian page.

=== Published Documents of the Senate ===
The following documents have been made public and widely spread throughout The Concord by Senate decree:

[[Concordian Documents - Nature of the Harbringer Stands|The Nature of Harbringer Stands]] - Published Summer 223

[[Concordian Documents - Chrisma Of The Argonas|The Chrisma of the Argonas]] - Published Summer 224

[[Concordian Documents - Gildenrat|Gildenrat]] - Published Spring 225

[[Treaty of the Corsairs]] - Signed 222

=== Published Documents of the Church ===
The following documents have been made public and widely spread throughout places of worship in The Concord by the authority of the Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres:

[[Concordian Documents - Radiance and Reason|Radiance and Reason]] - Published Autumn 226

[[Concordian Documents - 1st Letter to Bordevar|1st Letter to Bordevar]] - Published Autumn 226

[[Concordian Documents - 2nd Letter to Bordevar|2nd Letter to Bordevar]] - Published Autumn 226

Concordian Documents - 2nd Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-18T04:45:34Z

AWaldron: Publication per Church Motion

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind, raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects, some of which pertain to the Church, penned by Mother Brine.

=== 2nd Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Autumn after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
I cannot commence this missive without first acknowledging the joyous cargo thou hast delivered unto mine weary soul!

I note, however, that thine challenge doth somewhat boldly imply thou standest a CHANCE of halting me, should I choose to set sail upon such a course. Pray earnestly that another rival doth raise their sails in opposition to thee, for I would regret to strip thine ego to a more suitable size.

==== II. ====
With that matter of excitement resolved, I would turn mine attention to the other concerns borne upon the tides of thine letter. To take a note on more mortal concerns is a rarity, I must admit It is an edifying thing to contemplate the similarities and differences betwixt our shared paths upon this Mortal Sphere. Unlike thee, I am far more baseborn; in mine youth, mine only commerce with the silks and gold of nobility came in the exchanges of bedchambers. It is only in the twilight of my life that I, too, have turned mine gaze upon the Divine Spheres and charted the course of mine own soul - and that of Lerona Mere.

Fortunately, any voyage I might yet undertake is smoother than most. After the work of my youth, I held little desire to marry. Mine grandchildren and great-grandchildren are well into adulthood, their own vessels launched upon the seas of life. Thus unburdened by such needy cargo, I am better able to devote mineself to matters of scholarship and the gentle traditions of the needle.

Yet thou hast far more decades of study; they stretch before thee like uncharted horizons. I am confident that, in years to come, others shall look upon thine words with the same kindness and esteem thou hast shown mine own.

==== III. ====
Meanwhile, however, I am here and content to offer what guidance I can. I am gladdened that thou hast found the courage to reconsider thine actions and convictions. To do so is valiant indeed. While the teachings of the Timid Husk are oft taken as a warning against vacillation, perchance there lieth yet value in learning from one's errors upon the waves of experience.

Such views may lie somewhat outside the strict orthodoxy of our Concordian Church, but still I wonder, as one who hath oft reflected upon mine own missteps as both revolutionary and Concordian citizen.

I shall not dwell long upon those treacherous shoals, however. I know thou would prefer I steer our discourse toward finally resolving the matter of the Warheart and Gravetree. But I wish to reiterate this, brother: thine words bring me profound joy. It is good to see that I might yet lead by example rather than by dictate. Perhaps this is why mine esteem within the Church hath risen of late.

Perhaps there remaineth yet hope for the causes I pursue, even amidst the gathering storms of Legend City.

As I consider mine regrets, I am reminded of other news. I am heartened that the lessons of the Timid Husk continue to echo across the Concord, yet I remain perturbed that, as his most ardent follower, I am not granted the full courtesy of his wisdom in mine own trials. That said, I wonder whether mine frequent reflection upon the course of mine life hath spared me his attentions. Perchance the actions of the Timid Husk serve as a call for all Concordian heroes to learn from their mistakes and misdeeds, forging finer steel through honest contemplation.

Perhaps the Timid Husk is not entirely a warning against vacillation. Perhaps these developments of Lerona Mere render a new hope for this pursuit and hope for contemplation. For I believe the steel of our Mortal Sphere would ring truer if each of us but took the time to reflect, as thou hast done in thy past missive.

And as we call for reflection, I shall discuss the Church’s response to the ongoing crisis in my home with Senator D’Zisseau at our upcoming meeting, and again at Summit. At this time, however, I hold that it would be wise for the citizens of Lerona Mere to follow the Husk’s example. To turn inward, learning from our recent blights. This course, I have faith, shall best be served if the Priests of the Needle lead the way, not by command, but by living example. As yet, however, these future horizons remain veiled in mist prior to Passage. We shall have to see what winds arise.

==== IV. ====
But I hath not forgotten that thou asked of mine vision from the Warheart. Indeed, your judgement is correct. The one granted unto me was of a different cast: of being drenched in blood, exhausted by endless violence, of the guilt that gathers like barnacles upon the hull when one reaps and brings such things upon others. After a time, one craves something new - a respite, a calm harbour. The desire to be done with strife and war, to lay down the burden of bravery at last.

I am reminded of the tales of thy countryman, Ser Yulian, who craves that same respite, an opportunity to grow and change beyond the ceaseless storm. I find myself in argument as to whether it is right to grant such mercy to one, when I would not extend it to the Artebezzani - yet the Warheart doth not summon Ser Yulian to further battle. It is a complex and difficult question, as faith so often leads us into dark, uncharted waters where even the most steadfast compass wavers.

Nevertheless… as I approach this Summit, I am filled with hope once more. I do believe my Realm holds me in higher regard than I first dared to believe. And I am grateful thou aught holds me in such regard. For while Bordevar’s virtues are not those of Lerona Mere, I note there is no blight in the virtues thine nobility espouses.

Is Lysander not now of Bordevar? We are more alike than either of us would care to admit, even though it may pain our egos.

==== V. ====
I thank thee kindly for thine notes on Signore von Voyant. They have weighed heavily upon my mind for some time. Thine opinion is of… import to me. And having conferred with thee and mine countrymen at length, I have resolved what must be done.

I beseech thee to hold me in thy prayers—unto the Striking Palm, the Bloody Handed, and the Striking Serpent—that I might follow through with this course, wretched though it may prove.

May the Spheres grant us both clear skies and steady winds in the days ahead, that we might navigate these trials together.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Concordian Documents - 1st Letter to Bordevar

2026-09-18T04:39:41Z

AWaldron: Publication per Church Motion

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind, raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a letter on various subjects of faith penned by Mother Brine.

=== 1st Letter to Bordevar ===
Written from The Narrows of Lorricazzo, unto an Unnamed Lord of Bordevar, in the 226th Summer after the establishment of the Church of the Divine Spheres.

==== I. ====
My belaboured soul did find comfort and solace in thine recent correspondence. Thine words and concerns, did act as a balm unto my soul. Thine epistle hath found a mirrored reflection in myself; like thee, I am oppressed by profound queries and perturbations of the spirit. The weighty affairs of the Mortal Sphere, akin to the tempests that beset the mariner upon the vast and treacherous seas, hath detained me of late.

And yet, it gladdens mine heart apostolic to share my burden, and to hear of thine. As sacred wisdom doth declare, a sorrow divided is halved. And in granting our brethren succour, we oft uncover the clarity we have been denied. I pray thou find comfort in the words I have so carefully crafted.

That said, I would be truly wretched were I not to acknowledge the belated dispatch of my response, thanks to the craft with which it was prepared. But how can one swiftly render upon parchment answers to the complex questions thou hast placed before me? These are contemplations that would preoccupy the discourse of our wisest scholars for centuries. Mine own scribe was quick to advise me that three drafts of this letter had already been prepared by him this last month - and beseeches me that this be the last. Perhaps there is further wisdom to be gleaned in their request for relief from their quill’s endless wisdom. Perhaps no response I can craft will ever encapsulate the divine mysteries.

Even so, it is my solemn duty, as a fellow shepherd of the flock, to attempt to offer the counsel thou hast humbly besought, And, as a fellow student of the Spheres’ most divine mysteries, permit me to commence this with a recounting of the whirlwind that presently assails my own soul.

==== II. ====
Multitudinous are the gales that seek to divert each of us mortals from the ordained path of the Divine Spheres, and the Journey they would prepare us for. It would be a crude deceit to pretend that, at the last summit, that their efforts did not find success. I have stumbled from the path. But only stumbled.

For we are but flesh, subject to the failings inherent in our flawed souls. Though I aspire to the pinnacles of sanctity the Spheres exemplify, I must also confess my own capacity for blights and failings. My sole redemption lies in the only weapon I might bring to bear against them: to refuse that my vulnerabilities should define me.

This duality resides in all who tread this earthly Sphere. Within us lurk the abyssal depths of perversity, whither wretches such as the Warjackal or Jalen descend. But within us are also contained the divine altitudes of Paragon Halig. Our quest upon this mortal Sphere is to determine whether or not we possess the fortitude to vanquish the storms that would forever lead us astray.

Hence, I ascribe accountability for these missteps unto myself, not to any quirk of fate that did lead me to this point. Though I have endured much in recent days, I lacked the spiritual vigour to overcome all trials. I was measured, and found wanting.

Nevertheless, were another to traverse my path, I would repudiate such self-reproach. The laity cannot be held culpable for the labyrinthine voyages charted by our questions of faith and divinity. They are not initiates in the arcane lore of the Spheres; they are ill-equipped to navigate such boundless oceans.

The doctrines we impart to our faithful, as priests, are far more elementary. ‘Be faithful to thine ambition.’ ‘Safeguard the innocent.’ ‘Aspire to transcend thy bounds.’

But unto us, as leaders of the Church, falls the charge of navigating the most treacherous of moral paths, the ones that are not so easily surmised in simple statements for the layman and woman. It is our divine responsibility to delineate the course that none else may discern.

Thus, any of our failures rest squarely upon our own shoulders. We wear both the albatross around our neck, and the target upon our chest.

And so, I would not impute blame to one of our fold for faltering in the defence of Arachelli El’Obregon, nor for failing to redirect Lyam De’Rosa or Maximillian Villeneuvre unto righteousness. What is the essence of the heretic, and by what means do we redeem him from his errant ways? These and similar questions are exclusively the remit of the Church. And so we, as its force upon this temporal world, must assume this onus.

For we are the last shelter before the deluge. The final port before the open expanse of the sea. Upon our episcopal frames alone do these yokes belong.

Thus, I admit to thee my own stumbling - that I could not shoulder the burden imposed upon me by the Spheres. Three souls hath perished through my inadequacies, and I shall atone for them in the great pilgrimage that lies not far ahead of me. I know my age well. I accept that, very soon, Cervitas will bid me answer why I could not resolve the quandaries it presented.

In like manner, the interrogations raised in thine missive transcend the simplistic crusades of virtue the Heralds do enlist the common citizen of the Concord in. And, I believe like myself, thou hast faltered in thine endeavour to surmount these obstacles. Perhaps I err in this judgement. Perhaps I see too many of my own failings in thee.

But I shall still essay to furnish thee with guidance, for we constitute a holy ecclesia, and if we cannot jointly traverse these turbulent oceans, they shall remain forever unmapped. And perchance thou, in turn, mayest alleviate my own blights and failings, lest I falter before the Concord as I did at the recent Summit.

Either of these trials would seem insurmountable.

Yet we are of the Sphere of Steel.

==== III. ====
Upon profound reflection and prayer, I have reached the following conviction: that thou hast erred in thy supplication to the Warheart. In beseeching that the Legionnaire be liberated to pursue the Journey unhindered, thou hast strayed beyond the light of the Spheres. Such a deviation was doubtless unwitting. Perhaps it was discernible only in retrospection. Our Sphere is renowned for swift decisions, not for interminable navel-gazing.

But as our Curate did instruct us at the last Summit, when pronouncing sentence upon Arachelli, a decision made doth not absolve us of culpability if it proveth erroneous.

I will, briefly, enumerate my thinking for thee into eight arguments for thine review. Forgive me for basing mine approach upon the Shardcircles, but on matters of such philosophy and theology as this, it seemed the best course.

* It is manifest, upon contemplation, that our mortal judgments are imperfect, for we are of the mortal realm.
* We know that true wisdom cometh to each of us solely through the Spheres.
* Thus, it is the Church's sacred duty to shepherd souls in harmony with the Spheres' teachings.
* The Warheart's actions constitute a divine lesson for all, and are beyond question.
* They are beyond question, for the Spheres possess the divine qualities of both omniscience and beneficence.
* It is therefore inevitable that the Warheart's acts are pure of purpose and design.
* We are disciples of the Spheres, and it is not our province to dictate unto the divine.
* Though the task bestowed by the Warheart be arduous, we must embrace it. To impugn it is an iniquity.

==== IV. ====
'''Perfect dogma and judgement cannot be attained, for we reside outside of the Spheres.'''

Let us ponder, for an instant, the soul of a malfeasant.

Manifold are the guises this criminal might assume. Some that spring to mind are the capos of Lerona Mere, the New Butchers of Wolstad, or the Thralldring of the Iron Valley. Their machinations, deeds, and comportment vary as wildly as the brilliant splendour of Anarch.

And yet a singular element they all share: the certainty that their iniquities are justifiable. I harbour no doubt that such a felon could present themselves before me and offer an eloquent defence justifying their cold-blooded murder of a Concordian citizen. And I harbour no doubt that they would be wrong.

I comprehend not why the Spheres hath burdened mortals with this burden of imperfect moral rectitude. Perchance it shields us from the harsh realities of this mortal. Oft are we confronted with choices wherein all paths will yield sorrow. Mayhaps we are only able to persuade ourselves of our choice's righteousness to evade unending, inevitable remorse for each choice we make. Or perchance these are cicatrices upon our soul, inflicted by the world’s banalities, and our own failings, as they become too much to bear. Such questions transcend even the Church's purview, and answers lie only at the end of our Journey.

I despise Monsieur von Voyant's acerbic mien and vainglorious posturing. Yet I concede that my appraisal of him must be flawed, for undoubtedly, facets of his conduct mirror the gold of Panoply. (Such facets are scant, however. His soul is crude-forged, lacking even a single refinement from the Journey.) The world mires us in its mundanity, and curses our judgement to be forever imperfect.

This axiom is enshrined in our Tenets:

* "As souls adrift from our true home in the Spheres, we are imperfect and should ever strive to be worthy of the Grace that we receive, lest we lose it."

We are flawed. Whilst we may aspire to worthiness, the burdens and trappings of mortality ever veil our vision from true clarity.

Thus, I deem it demonstrated that our moral discernment is imperfect. The corollary of this argument, I believe, is evident.

==== V. ====
'''Veracious guidance deriveth only through the Spheres.'''

Let us again meditate upon one of our sacrosanct Tenets. I note it is common to both the Concordian ecclesia and our Artebezzan siblings, and thus hold the lesson it containeth as one that hath been repeatedly confirmed.

* "We know that the Spheres furnish us Precepts for our existence, each peculiar to the Spheres, each a vocation for all to heed."

The Spheres do delegate their authority unto the Church, and the Church hath repeatedly affirmed that the supreme mandate of every soul is adherence to the Spheres' doctrines. In so doing, the soul shall attain Grace and eternally abide amidst them.

Ergo: the Spheres' teachings are an immutable truth.

For instance, we know that to derive personal growth from the example of another is virtuous, as the Ardent Mind hath instructed that this is so. This can not be refuted. Wouldst thou deny that an apple, released from a hand’s grasp, inevitably descendeth earthward?

Further logic resideth in this new tenet I have proposed. As I stated prior, our moral judgment is fallible. This is known unto us through the Spheres' lessons and calls to uplift our flawed souls beyond the trappings of this mortal existence. Hence, we must trust that the Spheres' guidance is unadulterated, for it is the measure by which we know our own to be impure.

Let us note also that the quest for Grace spanneth our innumerable incarnations. It surpasses any mortal soul’s single odyssey across our world. And we are not perpetually graced with Heralds amidst us to resolve each conundrum of morality that we face. The apt application of a Herald's or Eternal's precept is a trial each soul must confront many, many times. And we shall not invariably prevail in such a confrontation.

As thou hast professed in thine epistle, thou undertook this same trial at the Summit just passed. Thou believest, as a prelate of the faith, that thine highest duty is to escort all souls along the Journey. Didst thou require a Herald to directly decree this to thee? Nay.

Yet thou hast drunk deeply from the cup of the Spheres' wisdom, augmenting thine flawed judgment with their pristine intent. A task that is only possible through dedicated study of the Spheres’ example, as passed on by our most divine Church. This leads to my third point.

==== VI. ====
'''The Church shepherds souls in concordance with the Spheres' precepts.'''

Notwithstanding the frequent clamours to the contrary - oft issuing from the alleys of Legend City, I must admit - the Concordian Church is of cardinal importance to the Concord. It is our mandate to guide our flock's souls to their celestial destiny, a task we can only accomplish by recounting the Heralds' and Eternals' teachings.

I will ask thee to imagine the Spheres' voices conjoined in celestial chorus. The Eternals form the profound basses and tenors, their lessons, deep and principled, establishing the chords and cadence for the choir to adhere to. Aloft them soar the voices of the Heralds. Their soprano tones bear the melody, occasionally ascending in individual solos, or elaborating on the Eternals' foundation.

And should the Church's voices mingle in this chorus of the Spheres, we would only furnish the harmony; the role of the alto. We dictate not rhythm, tonality, nor key. We adjudicate not right from wrong.

I personally believe this role ariseth as much from pragmatic necessity as from divine ordinance. As I previously observed, the Heralds' and Eternals' moral example cannot spread to every corner of this globe without our assistance. And yet, at all times, we must not conflate our necessary function to mean we can supplant the role of the Spheres.

If a Herald did pronounce an act immoral, we would carry that decree to every territory of the Concord. If, upon reflecting upon an Eternal's teachings, we did discern the Senate had erred in a motion, we would invoke our sacred veto. But, always and ever, this is done in accordance with the Spheres' will, not our own.

==== VII. ====
'''The Warheart hath bestowed teachings upon us.'''

I would bear the opinion that, until this point, my points would not strike thee as contentious. Their construction is robust, and firmly adheres to our Church’s orthodoxy. These are tenets we have canonized, after all.

Now must I build upon this firm foundation that was laid in earlier argument. I advance beyond truths enshrined by our Church to those less easily perceived by us. And herein, I find my conclusion that thy deeds were not in the Light of the Spheres. For let me be unequivocally clear, as far as our mortal judgement might allow me to: the Warheart hath acted. This is a lesson.

Likely, it is a lesson you and I have yet to fully fathom. I do not comprehend why the Warheart only now summons a soul felled in Wolstad in eons past, nor why it hath selected an Artebezzani. As a denizen of Lerona Mere, that the Sphere of Storms might esteem their legionnaires so highly is a revelation I have wrestled to assimilate. I am yet to discern its implications for the nature of Heralds and Eternals, or their origins.

Does the chicken assume the farmer who feeds it was also hatched from an egg? Or, far more likely, do they simply assume that their existence to be a constant that predated their own?

This, I do know: the Warheart's course hath been established. One of three most authentic facets of our Sphere hath selected this path. We know this, through our visions and ministrations with the Legionnaire. It is an empirical truth.

I return to my earlier metaphor, of another empirical truth: that of the apple's descent. In times past, we knew not its cause. Our understanding was nascent. Yet in time, we came to comprehend it. Likewise, we shall one day grasp the Warheart's rationale for its action. Even if its sagacity eludeth us at this time, we can know that it is present, for the Spheres’ impart unto us holy instruction.

It is a Divine Choice by the Sphere of Arcadian.

==== VIII. ====
'''The Spheres are omniscient and beneficent.'''

I shall not linger upon this point, as I have others. Its wisdom is self-evident.

We know the Spheres survey each soul's journey and their course upon the world. They are omniscient.

We know the Spheres bask us in their holy luminescence. They are beneficent.

Were either of these facts untrue, they would merit not our adoration. Sans omniscience, they would lack divinity. Sans beneficence, they would inspire no veneration. Thus, though we cannot comprehend the mind of an Eternal, we can take solace in knowing all of its deeds just and ultimately merciful.

==== IX. ====
'''We are students; the Spheres are our teachers.'''

Herein cometh the end of my ponderings, not solely concerning thy deeds, but the path we each ought pursue in the future. Were thou one of my flock, I would simply bid thee weigh thine finite wisdom against that of an Eternals'. As I address a peer, I will forgo a touch so genteel.

Thou art not wiser than the Warheart. The Spheres' instruction of thee continues yet.

It befitteth not the pupil to contest the teacher's edicts. An Eternal hath proffered a lesson unto thee, and this world. I will feign not any comprehension of its impulses. Perchance, upon our passings, if our Journey is triumphant, and we return to this Sphere, our soul may accrue the necessary insight. The lesson will be gleaned in generations to come. But in this sacred moment, we need not comprehend it entirely.

Recall what I have established in this letter thus far: authentic moral wisdom originates from the Spheres alone, who are omniscient and beneficent. This is the basis of our dogma, is it not? One need merely look upon the following tenet of our Church. Though it pertains to Heralds, it is assuredly applicable to their overseeing Eternals.

* "At times, it may seem that a Herald has come to act against you directly, or is hostile to you. Know that everything done by a Herald is a Divine choice, and may be some boon in disguise - a teaching moment, a needed lesson in humility, a reminder of the power of the Spheres."

Thus, through prayer and meditation, I reach a conclusion. Even absent comprehension, we must prepare this soul for the office the Warheart hath assigned it. I readily admit, I know not how to execute this with the compassion it does require of us. Yet I know we must. Perhaps, at the impending Summit, new avenues shall be unveiled to us.

Thy epistle evokes various musings in my mind, that may contain a balm for thine worries. Mayhap we simply undervalue the epochs wherein Eternals and Gravetrees transact their business upon this Mortal Sphere. The Sphere of Steel enjoins us to act with alacrity and puissance, but shall it permit the Legionnaire to spend an eternity beside the Gravetree, until his woes are transcended? Does there exist a manner we might adopt, which would rekindle his previous devotion unto the Warheart? Have our erudite colleagues from across the ocean insights to proffer unto us? At present, I cannot foresee the ramifications of thine choices. I believe that if we are to find a solution to our shared dilemma, we will need to do so as a Church.

I have discoursed amply on theology, yet scarcely on thee and my appraisal of thy deeds. Permit me now to address this with the candour due a colleague and comrade.

==== X. ====
'''Thou hast questioned not only thyself, but also an Arcadian Eternal.'''

The Church's tenets and canons deem not thy acts blasphemous by the letter of its law. Yet, this fact notwithstanding, I must maintain that thine conduct profanes the Sphere of Steel.

Not only didst thou exhort another to alter thine course, despite thy service to the Sphere of Arcadian, but the one thou exhorted was none other than an Eternal of our Sphere. I deny not thy noble intent and priestly zeal, and have no doubt that thine actions were taken with purest intent. Verily, only upon exhaustive introspection - let us note the myriad pages of this missive - do I discover thy error.

Had I accompanied thee on that Conflux, perchance I, too would have trod thy path, not seeing where it did lead. Thus, I scorn not thy deeds, and exhort thee to eschew shame. After all, hath I not bared my own soul's putrescent core at this letter’s inception, and laid bare the lapses that doth plague me? I am no more a Paragon than thee.

But we are entrusted with the gravest dilemmas of morality as servants of the Spheres. And though our role demandeth impeccable conduct, blights and failings pervade slyly, in their temptations. The gales that would drag us from our path are vehement.

==== XI. ====
And now, in noting all this, my hand is forced. I must address that most interesting contradiction of our Sphere; the tangled knot I have spent mine life laboring to untangle, and still, have not.

Let us both concur, first, that the Sphere of Arcadian dissuadeth reconsideration of thine action. Our primal impulses are those to be most trusted, as The Striking Serpent teacheth that they are oft veracious. Virtue lieth in thy displayed tenacity, and to sway an Eternal's mind is audacious. It is a formidable quest thou hast embarked on.

But I ask: is it a blight to revise one's trajectory when folly hath manifested? Such conduct doth diverge from Arcadian's precepts. Let us remember that the Timid Husk, who I adhere to most devoutly, discourages such vacillation.

I state that I have grappled with this contradiction for mine whole life. And now, in mine twilight years, I find myself championing introspection. The Striking Serpent teaches that it is meritorious to persist in error. But, perchance, its lore applieth not universally. Earlier, I demonstrated our judgment's imperfection in moral matters; it would be a fallacy to believe that we must remain committed to a cause when it has been demonstrated that our initial impulse was wrong.

Ah. Woeful are the questions of philosophy we are posed this season. Should thou reconsider? Even I cannot answer such a question. Perchance deeper wisdom gleameth from the Timid Husk beyond the Church’s prior exposition. Yet such bold questions exceedeth this correspondence, already distended with eight pages of meandering observation as it is.

Thus, I await thy thoughts before coming to any conclusion. There is no rush. Summit lies yet many months away. And this time, any decision we make can be well-considered.

==== XII. ====
Sundry matters yet remain. I remain yet vexed by Jalen von Voyant's presence and sway over Lerona Mere's souls. It is a burden that should not be shared outside mine home Realm, for matters of our politics belong solely to our people, despite the unity of our Concord. And yet, I must still decry not his Panoply devotion, but the egoism fueling it.

Even so, I concede he hath placed himself beyond my influence, and is desirous of no amendment to this fact.

This is a lesson from the Spheres I do struggle with. Perhaps I will until one of us passes from this Realm. For he is steel that, wrought and purified, could become Lerona Mere's needed leader. And it is fate's caprice that he spurneth such refinement. Is there a word, a lesson, that can pierce such gilded ego? I have doubts.

I yearn to be his salvation, but in dark moments, with doubts abundant and pervasive, always insinuating… I fear that I might instead be his downfall. Or he, mine.

I have sufficiently taxed mine scribe with my circuitous discourse. I simply hope my words confer wisdom upon thee, good Lord, in their mercy and censure, their lauded strengths and unveiled frailties. And may, in all endeavours, thou discover consolation in the Spheres' light.

In Strength, Service, and Steel,

Concordian Documents - Radiance and Reason

2026-09-18T04:23:28Z

AWaldron: /* Radiance and Reason */

This document was published by the instruction of the Church via motion, the first and only of its kind, raised by Mother Brine in Autumn 226. It is a theological exploration penned by Friar Jacques d’Zisseau.

== '''''Radiance and Reason''''' ==
'''''Sovereign in Faith'''''

=== Preface and Invocation ===
In the name of the Spheres, whose radiance no shadow may extinguish, I set quill to parchment, that the faithful and the doubtful alike may read, may ponder, and may be stirred to seek further along the Journey. For though our Founders, in their wisdom did set to alter the Tenets of the Artebazzani Church, and though the Tenets have been sealed and set above us with resolute authority, We are called to expand and interpret, lest memory grow stale and devotion wither to mere custom.

It is not sufficient that we repeat the words of the Tenets as children repeat their lessons; we must comprehend them, we must wrestle with them, and we must allow them to take root within the soil of our reason as well as in the chambers of our heart. The Spheres, in their boundless patience, instruct us not merely by miracle and by mystery, but by the shining clarity of thought itself. To seek understanding, therefore, is no act of hubris but an act of worship; for reason is a lantern lit by Lumos, and inquiry a noble struggle sanctified by Stallia.

Thus, I compose this treatise: not as a novelty, nor as a replacement for the ancient words, but as a commentary, a mirror held up to the light, so that its beams may fall upon every facet of mortal understanding.

This work declares that the authority of the Concordian Church rests not upon Artebazzani relics nor upon Niccolò’s Window as a material proof, but upon the faith in the Journey itself. For faith rooted in objects may be seized, doubted, or divided, but faith rooted in the common pilgrimage of the soul cannot be stolen, nor silenced, nor confined.

By setting aside the Artebazzani inheritance, we cut the cords of dependency. No longer do we look outward for validation, but inward and forward to the path of alignment, to the evolving Tenets, to the councils of our own faithful.

Let us, then, invoke the Spheres whose presence girds all creation. Anarch, whose ever-turning hand makes mockery of stasis and breathes new life into the weary soil; Lumos, who calls us to faith; Arcadian, whose steadfast endurance bears the pilgrim through storm and famine alike; Panoply, whose helm defends the low and whose sword chastises the uncharitable; Cervitas, whose bonds knit neighbor to neighbor and people to people, that none may stand alone; and Stallia, whose shining unveils both truth and error with impartial grace -

To these six I bend the knee of my heart, and from them I beg indulgence: that the words which follow may not mislead, that I may not confuse my own pride with their wisdom, nor mistake my fleeting imaginings for their eternal decree. Yet if fault be found, let even error serve the faithful as an instrument of thought, so that in correcting me they ascend higher upon the rungs of comprehension.

So armed, we begin.

====== '''On the Divine''' ======
It is the first of our Tenets, and rightly so, that ''the Divine exists.'' Upon this stone every tower of doctrine must stand or fall. To confess the Spheres is no exercise in wishful fancy nor blind tradition, but an act of sober recognition. For the Divine does not hide as a thief in shadow, but manifests openly, upon the Mortal Sphere and beyond it, in power, in grace, and in testimony observable to any who possess both eyes and honesty.

Some, out of laziness of thought, claim that the Spheres are but myths clothed in symbol, inventions of priest and poet to awe the common folk. Yet such doubters must answer: whence come the miracles of Grace? By what dream are men and women touched, transformed, and set to deeds beyond mortal reckoning? Whence arise the Eternals, august and untouchable, whose appearances burn the memory of entire generations? What fable explains the Heralds, who walk among us in flesh and flaw, who teach, admonish, and at times ruin? If these be but allegories, then the allegory is more real than the doubter’s so-called reality.

The existence of the Divine is confirmed also by the great constancy of witness. Across the centuries of Empire, across kingdoms fallen and renewed, across families noble and humble alike, the record is the same: the Spheres are. Though the names by which they are invoked may have shifted in dialect, though the hymns have taken on new measures, yet the essence has remained immutable. No empire has endured so long, no philosophy has remained so consistent, as the fact of the Spheres’ being. To deny them is not boldness but blindness.

Consider too the testimony of the heart, which reason itself cannot dismiss. For within the mortal soul there is planted a hunger not of flesh nor of mind alone, but of spirit. A hunger that cannot be fed by bread, nor appeased by learning, nor quieted by pleasure. It is the hunger for alignment, for communion with that which transcends mortality. And when the faithful answer this hunger with prayer, with sacrifice, with the humble practice of the Tenets, they are met not with silence, but with response. Power descends, Grace flows, the soul is altered. To explain this away as coincidence or delusion is to prefer nonsense to sense, for a thousand consistent testimonies outweigh a single cynic’s shrug.

Yet we must not imagine the Divine to be as ourselves, merely greater in degree. The Spheres are not kings seated upon lofty thrones, nor craftsmen bound to the limitations of tool and material. They are Principles that breathe, Realities that think, Powers that call and command. Each is distinct, and yet each is united in the mystery of Divinity. The mortal mind, bounded as it is by beginning and end, cannot hope to comprehend the fulness of what it means for the Divine to exist. But we may apprehend enough to order our lives, to frame our worship, and to gird our Journey.

Here lies the paradox, which every pilgrim must embrace: the Divine is undeniable, and yet the Divine is inexhaustible. We know that the Spheres are, and yet we do not know nor shall we ever fully know what they are in their depths. This is no failure but a holy tension, for certainty breeds obedience, while mystery provokes humility. To live between the certainty of presence and the mystery of essence is to live as the Church commands: faithful, yet searching; confident, yet humble.

Thus, the first Tenet speaks with clear voice: ''the Divine exists.'' To deny this is folly; to confess it is the beginning of wisdom. And all who would walk the Journey must plant their steps upon this ground, lest they sink into the shifting sands of self-delusion.

=== On the Spheres as Instructors ===
If the first Tenet proclaims that ''the Divine exists,'' the second proclaims that ''the Divine instructs.'' For the Spheres are not silent ornaments set upon the vault of heaven; they are voices, laws, and teachers. Each is a school, and all mortals are enrolled therein whether by choice or by inevitability. To ignore their instruction is folly, to misconstrue it is danger, but to heed it is to walk upright upon the Journey.

It is a doctrine of weight that the Spheres are distinct and immiscible. As oil will not mingle with water, so too does Anarch not dissolve into Lumos, nor Lumos into Arcadian, nor any into any other. Each is a fountain complete, its lessons entire, its mandates whole. To attempt to blend them into one soft broth is to unmake their sharp savor and to lose the clarity by which the faithful discern their path. Yet though they stand apart, they are not contrary; rather, like six columns bearing one roof, they uphold a single House of Divinity.

Let us then consider each Sphere as a tutor, and what it demands of its pupils.

==== I. Anarch, the Sphere of Elemental Chaos ====
Anarch is the classroom of transformation. Its lesson is change, and its curriculum growth. To mortals bound by habit, Anarch appears terrible: storms that break ships, fires that cleanse forests, upheavals that topple thrones. Yet within this apparent cruelty is a profound mercy. For stasis is death. To be unmoved is to be already decayed. Anarch demands that we attempt, that we dare, that we accept failure as tuition and rise stronger thereby. The faithful of Anarch are ever reformers, innovators, breakers of shackles not out of idle rebellion, but out of conviction that nothing unchallenged can thrive.

==== II. Lumos, the Sphere of Hope ====
Lumos instructs by illumination. Its mandate is clarity: the uncovering of truth, whether pleasing or painful. It shows both the path and the pitfalls beside it, leaving no excuse for ignorance. Lumos demands steadfastness, for to know the right is worthless if one will not act upon it. Thus its pupils are defenders of the weak, confessors of the just cause, inspirers of courage when others falter. If Anarch is the hand that thrusts us into the unknown, Lumos is the lantern that reveals what lies there.

==== III. Arcadian, the Sphere of Steel ====
Arcadian’s school is courage tested. Its emblem is not the silent sword in scabbard but the tempered blade proven in the forge. Arcadian demands that one stand, fight, and endure, not because compelled by duty, but because inner resolve leaves no other course. Its pupils are those who rise against fierce foes, who choose the contest equal to their strength, neither cravenly fleeing nor arrogantly overreaching. Arcadian teaches a right valuation of self not vanity, not abasement, but the just measure that allows a soul to stand in line with comrades unashamed.

==== IV. Panoply, the Sphere of Glory ====
Panoply is the gilded hall where ambition is schooled. Many fear ambition as sin, but Panoply teaches it as sacrament. To strive, to rise, to achieve renown, these are not condemned but consecrated, provided that the prize be worthy and the ascent honorable. Panoply warns, however, that ambition decays when sought for vanity alone, or when hoarded as stagnant power. Its faithful are those who fail boldly, learn swiftly, and try again with sharpened skill. To strive and stumble is nobler than to slumber in mediocrity.

==== V. Cervitas, the Sphere of Imperial Wisdom ====
Cervitas instructs in the art of bonds. Its concern is not the solitary pilgrim, but the commonwealth, the oath, the office, the chain of loyalty that girds a people against ruin. Cervitas’ pupils are healers of breaches, rulers who serve their charges, neighbors who keep faith with neighbors. Its teaching is that trust is treasure, not to be squandered, and that an oath is not ornament but iron link. In the marble-latticed halls of Cervitas, the faithful learn that no soul stands alone; the Journey is walked in company, and in company one is judged.

==== VI. Stallia, the Sphere of the Stars ====
Stallia is the scholar’s firmament. Its night-sky is not absence but invitation, pricked with myriad lights that summon the curious to chart constellations of truth. Stallia instructs the faithful to question, to learn, to guard knowledge against corruption, and to apply wisdom in every trial. Its faithful are the keepers of memory, the stewards of discovery, the teachers whose labor preserves the Journey for generations unborn. To walk under Stallia’s gaze is to confess ignorance without shame, and to pursue understanding without end.

Thus do the Spheres instruct us: six voices, six paths of discipline, none to be confused with the other, yet all united in one Divine order. To deny their lessons is to squander the greatest schooling offered to mortals. To heed them is to advance upon the Journey with eyes open, mind sharpened, and heart humbled.

=== On Power and Grace ===
The Tenets teach with utmost clarity: ''The Spheres are powerful and grant salvation; they grant Power, and they grant Grace.''

Power and Grace are not synonyms, nor are they to be confused. They are two gifts, distinct as flame and warmth, and to comprehend their distinction is to avoid many errors.

==== I. On Power ====
Power is the immediate and manifest response of the Spheres to sacrifice. When the faithful offers time, blood, wealth, labor, or any worthy sacrifice upon the altar of devotion, the Spheres answer in kind. The result is force: miracles wrought, strength infused, protections established, wonders achieved. Power is the coin of the Divine, circulating through rite and deed, visible to the senses and undeniable to all witnesses.

Power proves the reality of the Divine to those who doubt. For no cunning nor trickery can account for the fire that descends, the healing that flows, the impossible that occurs in open view. Yet, though Power convinces, it does not convert; for one may be awed by spectacle and yet remain untouched in soul.

Thus we must understand: Power is the Spheres’ answer to what we give, and it is given without judgment of our inner state. The Spheres do not first inspect our hearts before granting Power; rather, they respond to the act, the offering, the transaction. Therefore Power can be abused; seized by the ambitious, brandished by the cruel, wielded without wisdom. That it may be abused does not make it less Divine, but it makes it perilous, for the user may damn themselves even while others marvel.

Power is as the sword: noble in a knight’s hand, monstrous in a brigand’s. Its presence does not sanctify the wielder, but it obligates them.

==== II. On Grace ====
Grace is of another kind altogether. Grace is not compelled by sacrifice; it is bestowed by change. When a mortal aligns their will with the will of a Sphere turning from selfishness to service, from arrogance to humility, from falsehood to truth then the Sphere answers, not with spectacle, but with transformation.

Grace is subtle. It may not dazzle the onlooker, but it roots deeply. A soul once touched by Grace cannot be as it was; its thoughts, desires, and actions begin to bend toward the Sphere’s character. The liar grows uncomfortable with lies; the coward feels shame in flight; the cruel hand begins to falter in its strike.

Grace, unlike Power, cannot be faked, cannot be stolen, cannot be commanded by ritual alone. It comes only when the heart is altered, when the mortal consents to the Sphere’s instruction. Thus it is rarer, and yet more precious, for it is the true seed of salvation.

Grace, moreover, begets Grace. As one soul is changed, so may it become an instrument of change in another. The Tenet affirms this in naming the Graces those singular mortals upon whom the Divine has poured extraordinary measure. But even apart from such great figures, every humble pilgrim who turns their heart a little closer to the Divine becomes a lamp lit for their fellows.

We may liken it thus: Power is the torch one carries into the night; Grace is the eye trained to see by its light. Without the torch, the eye is blind. Without the eye, the torch is wasted. Together, they make the road traversable.

==== III. The Salvation Promised ====
The Tenet declares not merely that Power and Grace are given, but that the Spheres thereby grant salvation. What is salvation, if not the soul’s safe passage from the Mortal Sphere into the higher Spheres, there to dwell in alignment rather than in exile? Power may aid us along the way, defending us against the assaults of circumstance and malice; but only Grace carries the soul upward, for only that which has been changed can enter into harmony with the changeless Divine.

Herein lies the mystery and the mercy: though we are undeserving (as another Tenet teaches), the Spheres nevertheless bend to us. They give Power in answer to our offering, and they give Grace in answer to our repentance. That either should be so is cause for ceaseless wonder. That both are so is cause for endless praise.

=== On the Journey ===
If the Spheres be teachers, then the Journey is the lesson itself. If Power and Grace be gifts, then the Journey is the end toward which they are granted. All the Tenets converge upon this one truth: that mortal life is not idly given, but set as a pilgrimage toward perfection, a road that begins in frailty and winds upward toward the eternal dwelling of the Spheres.

==== I. The Nature of the Journey ====
The Journey is no mere wandering, but a Divinely patterned path. It is laid out for every soul, though the steps differ by station, by trial, by circumstance. For one, the Journey may lead through halls of governance, where choices of justice or corruption set the course. For another, it winds through humble labor, where diligence or sloth weigh equally in the balance. For all, it ends where mortality yields to eternity in the Sphere that best accords with the soul’s alignment.

It is paramount, not optional. One may neglect it, resist it, attempt to flee it, but none can avoid it. As the river runs to the sea whether the stone resists or yields, so every mortal walks the Journey, willing or unwilling. Yet to walk willingly is salvation, and to walk unwillingly is ruin.

==== II. The Journey as Divine ====
That the Journey is Divine means two things: first, that it originates not in mortal whim but in the will of the Spheres; second, that to travel it rightly is to participate already in Divinity.

The first truth protects us from despair. We do not stumble blind in a world of chance, but step upon stones laid by Divine intent. The Spheres, in their counsel, have measured the terrain of mortal life and weighed each soul’s course with wisdom that exceeds our comprehension. Thus even suffering is not without meaning, for it is part of the accounting, however obscure to our dim sight.

The second truth summons us to reverence. To take a single step in earnestness toward alignment is not a small act, but a holy one. Each decision for truth, for mercy, for courage, is a moment of communion with the Spheres themselves. The Journey is not merely preparation for the afterlife; it is the afterlife begun in seed, unfolding day by day until it flowers in eternity.

==== III. The Obstacles of the Journey ====
No pilgrim travels unopposed. The Mortal Sphere is thick with snares: ambition that twists duty, greed that consumes compassion, despair that rots hope. Some obstacles arise from without, others from within, but all test the soul’s resolve.

It is here that Power and Grace prove their worth. Power defends against the assaults of the hour; Grace prevents the heart from hardening in its trials. A pilgrim armed with both may stumble, but will not fall beyond rising. One armed with neither is already lost, however confident their stride.

==== IV. The Companionship of Pilgrims ====
The Journey is walked by each soul individually, yet never alone. For the Concord of mortals reflects the Concord of the Spheres: unity in diversity, harmony in distinctness. Thus the Church insists upon fellowship, prayer shared, sacrifice offered in common, counsel given and received.

The solitary wanderer may imagine themselves strong, but when their foot slips, who shall steady them? When they err in doctrine, who shall correct them? When they lose hope, who shall lend it? No, the Journey is communal, as all life is communal. Just as the Spheres are distinct yet united, so must mortals walk distinctly yet together.

==== V. The Goal of the Journey ====
To what end do we travel? To salvation, which is not mere survival of the soul, but its homecoming into the Sphere most aligned with its nature. To the brave, the Sphere of Steel. To the just, the Sphere of Wisdom. To the curious, the Sphere of Lore.

Yet the truest salvation is not in receiving Grace alone, but in the becoming itself, that by the end of the Journey, the soul resembles the Sphere it enters. For it is not location that saves, but transformation. To ascend is not a prize bestowed; it is a self become as the Spheres.

==== VI. The Paramount Command ====
Therefore the Tenet is right to declare the Journey ''paramount.'' It is higher than Power, higher even than Grace, for these exist to serve it. To forsake the Journey is to forsake life itself, and to pursue it is to live indeed.

Every act, every choice, every sacrifice and prayer, is but a step upon this road. To walk it faithfully is the highest calling; to despise it is the gravest sin. The pilgrim who stumbles yet rises again is holier than the philosopher who stands still'''.'''

Thus is the Journey: inevitable, Divine, perilous, communal, salvific, and paramount. In it we find both burden and blessing, both command and consolation. Those who would name themselves Concordian must first name themself Pilgrim, for to belong to the Church is not to possess a creed alone, but to walk a road unending.

=== On Mortal Unworthiness ===
It is written among our Tenets: ''Mortal kind is unworthy of the Divine.'' This statement, bleak in its plainness, serves not as condemnation alone, but as illumination. For unless we understand our smallness, we cannot comprehend the greatness of the Spheres; unless we grasp our unworthiness, we cannot perceive the wonder of Grace.

==== The Nature of Unworthiness ====
What is meant by unworthiness? Not that mortals are vile in essence, nor hateful to the Spheres, for if that were so, the Divine would not condescend to walk among us, nor to pour forth Grace upon us. Rather, unworthiness signifies our inability to ''deserve'' communion with the Spheres by our own merit.

The Spheres are perfect: in Power, in Lore, in Valor, in Mercy, in all that they embody. Mortals, by contrast, are limited: bound by flesh, distracted by passions, corrupted by ambition, weakened by ignorance. Even our noblest acts bear stain. The most courageous falter at times; the most just overlook some injustice; the most merciful harden their hearts in secret. If perfection be the measure of worthiness, then who among us can stand?

Thus, the Tenet lays bare the chasm: the Divine dwells in radiance, we in shadow. To presume ourselves worthy is to prove ourselves blind.

==== The Purpose of the Tenet ====
This confession of unworthiness serves three holy ends.

# To humble. Pride is the root of many failings. Mortals who imagine themselves equal to the Divine stray quickly into rebellion, violence, or despair. To remember unworthiness is to remember place.
# To prepare. Only the empty vessel can be filled. If one believes oneself already sufficient, one will not seek Grace. But when one knows insufficiency, then one cries out for aid and in that cry finds salvation.
# To console. Paradox though it seems, unworthiness is a comfort. For if communion with the Divine depended upon mortal perfection, all would be lost. But since it depends upon Grace, all may hope. The Tenet frees us from the tyranny of self-justification and invites us to trust in the generosity of the Spheres.

==== The Balance of Dignity and Unworthiness ====
Yet let us beware of a misstep: to confess unworthiness is not to despise ourselves. Mortals are unworthy of the Divine, but not worthless to the Divine. The very fact that the Spheres reach down with Grace testifies to their love for us. If we were without value, they would not trouble themselves with us. Our dignity is derivative, granted by the Divine, not generated by ourselves.

Thus the faithful must hold a balance: neither exalting themselves into presumption, nor degrading themselves into despair. To walk the Journey rightly is to know: ''I am unworthy, yet beloved; small, yet chosen; flawed, yet called.''

==== The Implications for the Journey ====
This Tenet shapes the pilgrim’s walk in practical ways. It bids us approach worship with reverence, not entitlement; service with gratitude, not pride; prayer with supplication, not command. It teaches us to forgive, for if we ourselves are unworthy yet receive Grace, how shall we deny forgiveness to another? It instructs us to guard against judgment, for all stand equally unworthy before the Spheres, and none may boast superiority.

In this way, the Tenet of unworthiness becomes not crushing, but liberating: it tears down the idols of self-sufficiency, so that the temple of Grace may be built.

=== The Church Speaks with the Will of the Spheres ===
It is neither by whim nor by mortal design that the Church rises as a vessel of the Spheres. The edifice of our faith : its temples, its scrolls, its very hierarchies exist solely to articulate the ineffable will of the Divine. Every syllable spoken by the enlightened, every decree issued by the priesthood, carries with it the echo of the Spheres’ voice, a resonance that bridges the gulf between the Mortal Sphere and the realms of Power and Grace.

To the faithful, the Church is both compass and lantern. Without its guidance, the pilgrim would stumble in darkness, beset by temptation and uncertainty. Yet it is not blind authority that commands reverence; rather, it is the recognition that those who speak in its name have been steeped in study, contemplation, and the rigors of devotion, and thus are instruments attuned to the harmony of the Spheres.

Priests, high priests, and enlightened preachers do not merely instruct: they illuminate. They interpret the calls of Anarch, the hope of Lumos, the courage of Arcadian, the ambition of Panoply, the wisdom of Cervitas, and the truth of Stallia, rendering the ineffable into form, gesture, and word. Through them, the faithful learn to perceive not only the world as it is, but as it might be, transfigured by alignment with the Divine.

The Church exists in duality: to serve and to be served. It extends sanctuary to the weary, counsel to the lost, and instruction to the ignorant; it accepts support from those blessed with abundance, that its mission may endure. In this sacred reciprocity, the community of the faithful becomes a living testament to the power of the Spheres, a chorus in which every voice, from the humblest novice to the exalted high priest, contributes to the melody of Divine will.

Yet with authority comes profound responsibility. Should the Church fail to illuminate the path, the souls of the faithful may stray, and the stain of neglect becomes a blot upon the edifice itself. If those enlightened by knowledge, wealth, or wisdom squander their gifts, they bear culpability for the faltering of others. Conversely, the individual soul, when afforded opportunity yet failing to strive for Grace, must bear the consequence of its inaction. In this careful balance, the Church and the faithful exist in interdependence, each accountable to the Spheres and to one another.

It is the Church alone that may decree certain elements of life as sacred, that may define the limits of Heresy and Apostasy, that may pronounce judgment when mortal understanding falters. Yet even in such authority, humility is demanded; the words of the Church are never self-generated, never a reflection of pride, but a refracted light of the Spheres themselves. To speak against them is to speak against the Divine; to adhere to them is to align the mortal will with the eternal pattern.

Thus does the Church speak, not as master, but as conduit, as prism through which the power and the grace of the Spheres are made perceptible, actionable, and comprehensible. And in listening, obeying, and reflecting, the faithful do not diminish their own reason; rather, they expand it, attuning mind and spirit to the sublime harmonies that underlie the Mortal Sphere.

=== The Creeds ===
The Creeds of the Concordian Church are not mere recitations of pious words; they are, in truth, distilled expressions of the Divine will, a scaffold upon which the faithful may align thought, speech, and deed. In their cadence and structure, the Creeds encapsulate the lessons of the Spheres, the guidance of the Eternals, and the living example of the Heralds, creating a liturgical mirror in which the soul may discern its own measure against the pattern of the Divine.

Two Creeds are observed within our hallowed practice: the Formal Creed, enunciated in solemn assembly, and the Congregational Creed, offered in the intimacy of smaller fellowship. Both serve complementary purposes: the Formal Creed declares the immutable truths of the Spheres to the world, affirming our collective acknowledgment of the Divine; the Congregational Creed cultivates personal and communal reflection, drawing the faithful into contemplation of their own alignment and conduct.

The Formal Creed begins with the affirmation of the Spheres, the Eternals, and the Heralds - an acknowledgment of their existence, their influence, and the imperatives they impose upon mortal life. To recite it is to declare, in voice united with the assembly, that the Divine is neither hidden nor distant, but present, active, and instructive. It enjoins the faithful to recognize the authority of the Church as interpreter of the Spheres, and to accept, with humility, the obligations of the Journey.

The Congregational Creed, though simpler in form, demands equal rigor of mind and spirit. It is intended not merely to be spoken, but to be pondered, each phrase weighed against the daily actions, choices, and inclinations of the reciter. By its recitation, the individual pilgrim affirms the lessons of each Sphere - embracing the challenge of Anarch, the illumination of Lumos, the courage of Arcadian, the striving of Panoply, the loyalty of Cervitas, and the discernment of Stallia and commits anew to the pursuit of Grace.

Instruction in the proper recitation of the Creeds is itself a sacred undertaking. Each word must be enunciated with clarity, each pause observed with contemplative attention, and each emphasis placed in accord with the intended meaning, so that the cadence of speech reflects the harmony of the Spheres. The faithful are taught to internalize the rhythm of devotion, so that the recitation transcends mere oral tradition and becomes a conduit for reflection, alignment, and spiritual attunement.

It is not sufficient to recite the Creeds with mind absent or voice hollow; such action, though superficially correct, is devoid of efficacy. True adherence demands that the soul engage fully with each assertion, that the intellect and conscience both acknowledge the weight of the words, and that the heart imbibe their lesson. In this manner, the Creeds function not as a ritualistic obligation, but as a living covenant between mortal and Divine.

In the repetition of these sacred formulas, the faithful discover both constancy and renewal. The words anchor them to the eternal truths of the Spheres, while simultaneously reminding them of the ever-present necessity of vigilance, humility, and effort. In this duality, the Creeds serve as guide and as mirror, as scaffold and as lamp, illuminating both the communal path and the solitary journey of the soul.

Thus, the faithful are enjoined to approach the Creeds not as an exercise of rote piety, but as a practice of enlightenment, a disciplined contemplation, and a renewal of purpose. In their recitation, in their understanding, and in their application to daily life, the pilgrim nurtures the virtues of the Spheres, aligns with the will of the Eternals, and prepares the soul for the ultimate fulfillment of the Journey.

=== Concluding Benediction ===
Thus this treatise must be understood not as a catalogue of marvels nor as a defence of our decision to separate from the Artebazzani Church but as a foundation stone for a Church whose authority springs from faith in the Journey itself. For while Artebazzan cast its weight upon relics and histories, binding the faithful to proofs of stone and vision, we of the Concord have turned our faces to the path that lies before us. The Window may inspire, as any miracle inspires, yet it is not the ground of our faith; rather, it is the endless movement of the soul toward the Spheres, the ceaseless unfolding of Radiance through our lives, that confers upon the Concordian Church its true legitimacy.

In this, we establish independence not in defiance, but in maturity. The Artebazzani cling to the artefact; we embrace the living covenant of the Journey. Our Tenets, living and evolving, do not ossify faith but quicken it, inviting the faithful to wrestle with mystery, to seek alignment, and to walk together in devotion.

Here lies the authority of the Concordian Church: not in possession of relics nor in borrowed memory, but in the shared act of pilgrimage. To Journey is to affirm; to Journey is to govern; to Journey is to sanctify. By this we are free of Artebazzan’s shadow, and by this we rise as a Church whose foundation is not stone, but the Radiant path that no hand may extinguish.

Let the words of this treatise, now laid before the faithful, serve as both lamp and compass, illuminating the path of the soul as it journeys through the manifold trials and revelations of mortal existence. May the Spheres, eternal in their majesty, witness the sincerity of these reflections and extend the quiet grace that guides the hearts of those who strive toward alignment and understanding.

In the sight of Anarch, may the faithful find courage to confront their limitations, to embrace transformation, and to seek growth in every misstep. In the light of Lumos, may hope awaken within each heart, illuminating even the shadowed corners of doubt and despair. Before Arcadian, may bravery be tempered by wisdom, and valor guided by the true measure of strength and purpose. Under the auspices of Panoply, may ambition be noble, and glory sought not for selfish pride but for the edification of self and community alike. Through the counsel of Cervitas, may loyalty, trust, and the bonds of duty form the framework of society, ensuring that the Journey of each soul is not undertaken in isolation but in harmony. Within the steadfast vigilance of Stallia, may all seekers of knowledge uncover truth with patience and perseverance, guarding it as a beacon against the distortions of ignorance.

As the faithful move through life’s trials, let them remember that failure is neither condemnation nor shame, but an instrument of instruction, a reflection of the imperfection inherent in all mortal endeavors. Let them recognize the Graces among them, and see not merely the rarefied gifts of Divinity, but living mirrors of the virtues toward which all souls must aspire. Let humility temper pride, contrition guide redemption, and devotion inspire both thought and action, that each step along the Journey may be undertaken with reverence and deliberation.

May the Church stand as the enduring voice of the Spheres, a beacon of guidance and sanctuary, its word a prism through which mortal understanding may be refracted into insight and obedience. May priests, preachers, and high priests alike act always with fidelity, neither seeking dominion nor favor beyond their calling, but offering counsel, instruction, and sanctuary in harmony with the Divine will.

And finally, let the faithful receive this Benediction as both charge and solace: that the Journey is long, that the trials are many, and that the Spheres are unending in their wisdom, their power, and their grace. May every soul endeavor to traverse each Sphere, to embrace both struggle and enlightenment, and to approach the resting place of their ultimate alignment with reverence, humility, and steadfast hope.

So let it be spoken, so let it be remembered, and so let it be enacted in thought, word, and deed. In the majesty of the Spheres, in the counsel of the Eternals, and under the vigilant gaze of the Heralds, may all faithful souls endure, flourish, and find the Grace that awaits at the culmination of the Journey.

In the Light of the Spheres,

Fr. Jacques d’Zisseau

Concordian Documents - Radiance and Reason

2026-09-18T04:22:54Z

AWaldron: Publication per Church Motion

Explosive Force

2026-09-14T05:34:57Z

AWaldron: No longer optional

== An [[Anarch Ceremonies|Anarch Ceremony]] - Magnitude 4 - The Crucible ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target character takes the Damage effect as the Knockback effect. Each time they are affected by knockback in this way, they gain 1 energy, which may temporarily take them above their energy limit. Any energy gained through this method that would take them over their energy maximum is lost after thirty minutes or the next time they travel through the Waystone, whichever occurs first. You may never have more than 1 temporary energy over your maximum from any source.

As long as they are enchanted the target experiences a roleplaying effect: ''You downplay anything bad that happens to you and others, with a ceaselessly optimistic viewpoint, no matter the situation.''

The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts until the end of the event.

== Description ==
[TBC]

== Performing the Ceremony ==
[TBC]

Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres

2026-09-09T05:23:13Z

AWaldron: /* Voting */

The religious heart of The Concord, the Church of Divine Spheres is a powerful organisation that has extensive political abilities in order to preserve the moral soul of the Realms. The church also acts as spiritual advisors and guidance for all members of the Concord, but particularly the Priests who minister to the people.

In 221 The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres split off from the [[The Artebazzani Empire|Artebazzani]] Church owing to political conflict between the two nations. Since this point the Concordian Church has attempted to find its own understanding of The Spheres influenced by the history they hold with the Artebazzani Church and their own modern understandings. The beliefs of the new Concordian Church are summarised within its [[Tenets of the Concordian Church|Tenets]], and its laws are summarised within its [[Strictures of the Church|Strictures]]. Common prayers to each of the Eternals can be found on the page for each of the Spheres.

= Function =
At its core, the function of the Church is to proselytize to the people, to educate them on the spheres and assist every citizen on their path to the spheres and the eventual return of their spirit to the Mortal Sphere. With this in mind they receive many plights from the common folk for assistance or guidance.

In order to ensure that this function can continue, the Church has numerous political powers that ensure the people of great power within The Concord are also acting within the accordance of the Spheres and allowing others to do so. They also act as advisors to these powerful people, hoping that the powers of the church do not need to come to bear.

Finally, the Church maintains an interest in the heretical elements at work within The Concord. Such is the nature of The Divine Spheres that to weaken the overall preeminence is to weaken the chances for the whole. As such the church stands ready with its powers of Inquisition and Anathema.

The Church splits its power into two branches:

* The Faithful, referring to the vast amounts of priests and worshippers who make up the bulk of the Church. The faithful control the religious dogma and orthodoxy of The Church, creating a living and changing understanding of the [[The Divine Spheres|Divine Spheres]]. The Faithful Vote through priests utilising the Powers of the Church.
* The [[Council of Six]] and the Church Executive (such as the Curates), referring to the civil servants, working priests, and laymen who support the Church as a political organisation. They collate funds, disperse goods, attend courts, and other such matters. These powers are controlled by The Council of Six and dispersed from them.

= Powers =
'''Declaration'''

A Church declaration allows the Church to speak public on certain issues, reflecting its collective will. At morning each day, prior to the meeting of the Church, any declarations will be read aloud in the centre of Passage. These declarations are likely to make their way out into the Concord proper and have further reaching effects. A Declaration requires a Lesser Majority.

'''Change in Doctrine'''

A serious proposition, a Change in Doctrine changes how the Church operates within The Concord. This might change what is and is not considered heresy, how the church preaches to the public and other such elements. A Change in Doctrine requires a Greater Majority.

'''Inquisition'''
[[File:Church Inquisition.png|center|thumb|680x680px]]

An Inquisition targets a citizen of The Concord, and if it passes, a Priest (usually the person who passed the motion) is granted a Writ of Inquisition, which is a legal document requiring that they be to be brought before the priest that requested the inquisition (willingly or otherwise), and are subjected to up to an hour of questioning by the Priest who exercised the Writ. This is commonly used as part of an investigation into criminal or heretical acts, and following this questioning the Inquisition is considered to have been done. The Priest performing the Inquisition is then required to report on their findings to the next Council of Six. An Inquisition requires a Lesser Majority.

While an Inquisition can be called against any citizen for any reason as long as the Church is convinced they have committed some blight relevant to the Church, it is typically seeking to answer whether the target of the Inquisition has broken one of the Strictures of the Church, which are things the Church considers punishable offences.

'''Censure'''

Following an Inquisition (although not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of Censure targeting another priest. Censure can include any of the following:

* Restricting a priest's ability to speak at Church Sessions.
* Reducing or removing the number of votes a priest holds.
* Removing a priest's access to the Sanctified Square to cast ceremonies.
* Publicly denouncing a priest or a sect or the actions of a priest.

'''Penance'''

Following an Inquisition (but not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of ‘Penance’. A motion of penance is a formal request for the listed individual (who need not be a priest) to voluntarily submit to further punishment without involving a magistrate. Penance punishments often involve public statements, donation of resources, or service to the church. If the listed individual refuses to volunteer, nothing occurs, although this may be used as evidence towards a later motion of Condemnation.

'''Condemnation'''

Following an inquisition (but not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of ‘Condemnation’. A motion of condemnation is a formal request that the individual be charged with religious crimes by a Concordian Magistrate. Successful motions of condemnation are provided to a magistrate or Captain of the Watch for investigation and arrest. This is primarily used to access punishments inaccessible by the church such as fines, corporal punishment, or execution.

'''Anathema'''

Following an inquisition, a priest can put forward a motion of 'Anathema'. A motion of Anathema is to remove individuals from the protection and membership of The Church, and in doing so strips a citizen of their citizenship. Doing so requires a magistrate's signature and while they are not required by law to provide such approval, they are unlikely to refuse except in great miscarriages of justice. If successful, the targeted individual loses any titles they currently held and are ineligible to take up any new titles, Realmic or otherwise. The Church finally has the right to claim any funds the individual has on their person when they are served the Writ of Anathema. A motion of Anathema can also be used to remove that status from a character. An Anathema motion requires a Greater Majority.

'''Appointment'''

The Council of Six may appoint individuals to position within it. The following titles are found within the Church:

* [[Abbot of Mivara]]
* [[Bursar of the Church]]
* [[Concordian Consular]]
* [[Heterodox]]
* [[High Priest of Anarch]]
* [[High Priest of Arcadian]]
* [[High Priest of Cervitas]]
* [[High Priest of Lumos]]
* [[High Priest of Panoply]]
* [[High Priest of Stallia]]

'''Reward'''

The Church may reward individuals for actions it considers in support of the Spheres in a profound way. These rewards must come from currency or resources that the Church holds. A standard Reward requires a Lesser Majority to pass. Rewards containing the following require a Greater Majority to pass:

* More than 10 Locks
* More than 5 Measures of resources
* At least 1 Wain of resources

'''Proclaim Paragon'''

The Church may choose to Proclaim a deceased (or living, due to motion passed Summer 222) individual to be a Paragon of the Church, a title of great esteem and reverence whose holders' names are known from household to household, and leave a lasting impact on the world after they have gone. The Council of Six may choose to Proclaim whomever they wish to be a Paragon, though traditionally they have looked to the Aspects of the Paragon, and usually only those who can clearly be shown to fulfil 5 out of the 7 are even considered.

The process for Proclaiming a Paragon is as follows: an investigator is chosen by the Church after a greater majority motion, who is sent to investigate how many of the Aspects the individual has successfully accomplished. They then make their findings plain (and in written form) to the High Priests, who must unanimously agree one way or the other within the span of a year since the original motion - either unanimously declaring the individual a Paragon, which can never be revoked, or unanimously declaring that they are unsatisfied. If they declare that they are unsatisfied, this does not prevent the individual being raised up for Paragon later in the future, though a different investigator must be chosen each time.

'''Proclaim Holy Site'''

The Church may choose to Proclaim a location to be a Holy Site of the Church. Holy Sites are locations that are recognised as being in some nature important to the Spheres. This nature varies from site to site but regardless can form the basis of new locations of worship, nexuses of Spheric magick, or focus points of Spheric mysteries. For some these locations are cultural in origin, always having been a part of the firmament of their lives. For others they are spontaneous miracles, crafted by the adventure that is life through the Spheres. The Council of Six may choose to Proclaim wherever they wish to be a Holy Site, though they must consider the Aspects of a Holy Site. While no precedent exists, the Civil Service suggests following the precedent set for Paragons which is that only those who can clearly be shown to fulfil 5 out of the 7 are even considered.

The process for Proclaiming a Holy Site is as follows: an investigator is chosen by the Church after a greater majority motion, who is sent to investigate how many of the Aspects the location fulfills. They then make their findings plain (and in written form) to the High Priests, who must unanimously agree one way or the other within the span of a year since the original motion - either unanimously declaring the location a Holy Site, which can never be revoked, or unanimously declaring that they are unsatisfied. If they declare that they are unsatisfied, this does not prevent the location being raised up as a Holy Site later in the future, though a different investigator must be chosen each time.

== Voting ==
Voting in the Church is atypical within The Concord. When a motion is put forward (a motion template can be found [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r5mVOnf2OLmmumVNefTHMDrGpdy3yAI1R-w23s8LP1E/edit?tab=t.0 here]), it is placed on the exterior of the Church. A priest can vote for or against it by placing their name in the appropriate section. Before the next meeting of the Council of Six, all votes will be tallied and a verdict announced in council - motions come down off the board at 11:30am each morning.

Motions require one of two different kind of vote to pass.

; A Lesser Majority
: requires more votes for it than against with a minimum of five different priests being in support of the motion.
; A Greater Majority
: requires one of the following:
: a) more votes for it than against it, with at least half of the available votes of the Church being listed in support of it.
: b) the holders of 66% or more of all unenchanted tiers of Congregations voting in support of it it.

== Past Motions of the Concordian Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Summary of Motions - Page Links
!Year
!
!
|-
|Historic (Pre-223)
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Pre-223|Motions]]
|
|-
|223
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Winter 223|Winter]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Summer 223|Summer]]
|-
|224
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Winter 224|Winter]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Summer 224|Summer]]
|-
|225
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Autumn 225|Autumn]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Spring 225|Spring]]
|-
|226
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Autumn 226|Autumn]]
|
|}

= Resources =
The Church maintains a treasury for use by The Council of Six and other titled individuals. This treasury can contain any conceivable resource and is held by The Curates. The Church Treasury pays out its required funds in a particular order to ensure that priorities are paid correctly. It is as follows:

Grants of funds or supplies from the Church are paid out in the following order:

* The Bursar's due through the Coinmasters Hand
* Requests through the larger Church Motions of the Faithful.
* The High Priest of Panoply’s due.
* The payment of any Consignments or Expeditions.
* Council of Six Endowments (in order of motion)

= Members =
The primary members of the Church are the priests who minister to the people of the Concord. Accordingly, these priests form the voting members of the church’s decision making process. Priests are granted votes from either having ranks in Divine Lore, reflecting a recognition of magical ability, or from holding a Congregation, reflecting the will of a larger group of people. Priests may submit a motion to the Curate at any point, except after the meeting of the Church on the Sunday. Provided this motion is supported by at least one other priest it will be put forward for voting by being written up and placed on the exterior of the building, at which point it can be voted on.

Finally, there is the office of the Curate, a Civil Service member whose duty it is to ensure that the Church meetings are conducted well, to act as a spiritual advisor to the priests, and to oversee their ceremonies.

= Chambers =
The chambers of the Church are open to the public, as is befitting an organisation focused on assisting the public. Within the main chamber you will find room for the entire priestly body to assemble for the purposes of church meetings, as well as for sermons outside of this time. On the exterior of the chamber, the varied motions being voted on by the Church can be found, along with the votes that have been cast. Finally, in front of the Church the Sanctified Square can be found, an enchanted location capable of focusing the energies of Sects towards their [[Ceremonies Overview|ceremonies]].

= Meetings =
The Church meets many times throughout the Summit, although these are primarily either Rites or Council of Six meetings.

There is a single rite for each Sphere at differing points throughout the Summit. Rites are public moments of worship and reflection led by the High Priest of that Sphere or the Curates. They allow layfolk and priests a chance to revel and dwell upon the Spheres and their place within them. The divine magic that infuses Rites also provides a boon to those who attend, which takes a variety of forms. More information on the Rites can be found [[Rites of the Concordian Church|here]].

The Council of Six meets twice throughout the Summit, at midday each day. More details can be found [[Council of Six|here]].

== Further Reading ==
* [[The Divine Spheres]]
* [[Spheric Beings]]
* [[History of the Church of the Divine Spheres]] (Prior to the formation of The Concord)
* [[Strictures of the Church]]
* [[Tenets of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Motions of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Council of Six]]
* [[Rites of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Paragons of the Church]]
* [[Documents of the Church]]
* [[Holy Site|Holy Sites]]

Arcadian Ceremonies

2026-09-07T11:04:34Z

AWaldron:

The Sphere of Steel and Courage, [[Arcadian]] imbues warriors and performers with new skill, rewards armies and changes the campaign.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|[[Bless the Warhost]]
| -
|The characters who are present, are in the same realm, and consent to do so are joined together magically and henceforth are made a Band. This can be performed again to add more people to the Band at a later date.
|3
|No
|-
|[[Swift Leaping Hare]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may call Knockback once per day with a melee weapon. This may affect another two additional characters of the same Band for an additional 3 magnitude. The characters experience a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|3
|Yes
|-
|[[Courageous Missive]]
| -
|The message that you have written is magically sent to the Arcadian Herald of your choice, so long as you have properly addressed it. There is no guarantee that you will receive a response, but you will receive guidance on your missive through positive or negative effects at the following Summit.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Strength of the Bull]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains one rank of the Juggernaut skill. This may affect another two additional characters of the same Band for an additional 3 magnitude. The targest experience a roleplaying effect.
This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Bedecked in Final Glory]]
|Enchantment
|Target becomes supernaturally driven to glorious purpose. If this character becomes terminal before the end of the day, they experience no pain from the Terminal status and require no support to move or act (although they still cannot fight or use any skills). The character is filled with a sense of final peace, the wisdom of the veteran and the knowledge that they have achieved their goals. They fade into nothing rather than leaving a corpse behind. This Ceremony has no effect on characters who are already terminal.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Pythons Presence]]
|Enchantment
|Until the end of the event, twice per day the two characters in the same Band gain the ability to call Shackle for no cost when landing a melee strike that would deal damage. If both characters recover all their energy from an effect within the same minute, it also recovers the uses of this ability for both of them. Both targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Poisoner's Blessing]]
|Enchantment
|The two target characters from the same Band gain the ability to deliver the Venom effect on any strike that would deal damage once per day. The targets may spend 1 energy to call Immune to the Venom call. If both characters recover all their energy from an effect within the same minute, it also recovers the uses of this ability for both of them. Both targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Surgeon's Limited Patience]]
|Enchantment
|The target character with the Surgeon skill loses access to it but gains Bulwark, Armoured, Weaponmaster, Hand-and-a-half, Bladehand, and two ranks of the Juggernaut skill. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Raise the Wounded Warrior]]
| -
|Target ‘Damaged’ Military or Naval Investment is repaired and functions as if it were one tier higher in the coming season. The target investments owner experiences a roleplaying effect.
|8
|No
|-
|[[Rally the Fallen]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may use Stay With Me twice a day as if they know the skill without spending any energy. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Chorus of the Righteous]]
|Enchantment
|Target group of musicians (minimum 3) find their talent in true alignment with the Spheres. Once per day, they may add musical support (in the form of a song or other musical piece) to a Ceremony being cast that has a minimum magnitude of 8. Collectively, they count as if they were an additional priest of Divine Lore 3 and count as having spent 3 Crystal Mana. Please see the page for detailed instructions regarding this ceremony. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Trial of Worthiness]]
|Curse
|Target character affected by this Curse loses all skills that grant them weapon, armor or shield proficiencies (noting that characters retain the ability to use light and medium armor, and wield basic weapons). If the character attends four confluxes, kills a foe at every conflux they attend, and allows the Curse to fade naturally, they gain one of the following skills for no cost: Archer, Armoured, Bladehand, Bulwark, Hand-And-A-Half, Weaponmaster. Please see the page for detailed instructions regarding this ceremony. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|10
|No
|-
|[[Powerful Growth]]
|Enchantment
|A target Wilderness investment will produce 3 Locks and six measures of herbs in addition to its standard production before the next event.Its owner experiences a roleplaying effect for the remainder of the event.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Pirate's Unity]]
|Enchantment
|The target Naval investment is treated as being one tier higher during the next season. It must take Support the Fleet as its action, but in addition it counts as having taken the Profitable Work action.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Style of the Bronze Colossuss]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains two bonus hit points and two bonus energy as long as they are wearing heavy armour. They are completely immune to the Fracture call. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|14
|Yes
|-
|[[Chamber of the Restful Warrior]]
|Enchantment
|Enchants a target area with an aura of introspection that encourages people to speak of their concerns, fears and worries. The target area need not be large, but must be at least one tent or a single table in a larger area. In addition, if you spend more than fifteen minutes resting in this location, and have a meaningful conversation about something that has been on your mind, you recover all energy and gain +1 temporary energy over your maximum. You may never have more than 1 temporary energy over your maximum from any source. Please see the page for detailed instructions on how to prepare for this ceremony. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|15
|No
|-
|[[Tree Falls Weight]]
|Enchantment
|The target may call Break twice per day with a Greatweapon for no cost. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|15
|Yes
|-
|[[Warrior's Mantle]]
|Enchantment
|The character gains the Weaponmaster, Armoured, Bulwark, Hand-and-a-half, Archer and Bladehand skills. All Heralds of Arcadian are aware this Ceremony has been cast, and will take note of the character should they happen to cross paths. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|20
|Yes
|-
|[[Lion's Roar]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast a single Arc Knockback once per day for no cost. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|20
|Yes
|-
|[[Conclave of Trees and Courage]]
|Enchantment
|A target Leyline, Mine, Herb Garden, or Wilderness becomes a Military Investment for the next season. Its tier increases by 2. This military force is particularly effective at taking the ‘Support the Army’ action, gaining +100 strength when doing so. Its owner experiences a roleplaying effect for the duration of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|22
|No
|-
|[[Ward of Ironclad Vigor]]
|Enchantment
|Target region is blessed with supernatural fortitude. Simple illnesses and infections are treated easier, if not entirely repulsed from the body. This includes early stages of severe illness such as Blasserstreit. The enchantment will have little effect on wounds or more severe cases of disease.
During the next season, Herb Gardens and Farms in the target region will produce as if they are one tier higher.
|25
|No
|-
|[[Tempests Calling]]
|Enchantment
|During the next season, the target Fleet gains an additional 5 Fleet Movement Value. In addition, the Admiral of the target Fleet gains the following roleplaying effect: ''You are the tempest on the ocean, swift both to anger and to action as the whims of the weathers of your mood lash you back and forth.''
|30
|No
|-
|[[Thunderous Wings of Griffin's Victory]]
|Enchantment
|During the next season, the target Army gains an additional 6 Army Movement Value. In addition the General of the target Army gains the following roleplaying effect: ''The character is filled with a sureness in their actions, their words, even the very steps they take. They are decisive, and quick to make decisions.''
|30
|No
|-
|[[God of War]]
|Enchantment
|The target character who has gained at least 3 experience is considered an army with a strength equal to (500 x the number of unique combat skills they have) for the purposes of campaign actions. The target character is immune to the Terminal condition. If they would receive that condition for any reason, they instead experience the effects of Recall and are stabilized on 1HP. They may enter the War Chamber, gain a vote in the War Chamber, and may act accordingly. The character will become terminal at the start of the next Summit All Heralds of Arcadian are aware this Ceremony has been cast, and will take note of the character should they happen to cross paths. The Church has historically acknowledged the prominence and power of this Ceremony as a Miracle of the Spheres for the martyr who accepts it. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|100
|No
|}

=== Alignment Ceremonies ===
The following ceremonies are only available during a Summit where the Precipice is aligned to Arcadian.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|Thunderous Retreat
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast the Recall spell once at no mana cost, with no casting time. The spell is cast at its base level and cannot be improved. The caster may be currently enganged in combat, and may be wearing heavy armour. This effect lasts until the end of the Summit or until used.
|12
|Yes
|-
|Heart of War
|Enchantment
|The target character may call 'Resist' to the next 5 combat calls that affect them. To do so, they must be weilding a shield.
|18
|Yes
|-
|Ardent Wavesight
|Enchantment
|The captains of target [[Fleet]] are enchanted with foresight into the movement of waves and nature of tides. This increases the effective strength of the fleet for calculating casualties inflicted and claim by 2,000 for the next season. In addition, any Naval Investment that takes the 'Support the Fleet' downtime action targeting this fleet functions as if it was one tier higher.
|65
|No
|}

== Further Reading ==

* [[Arcadian]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]
* [[Ceremonies Overview]]

[[Category:Arcadian]]
[[Category:Spheres]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Conclave of Trees and Courage

2026-09-07T11:03:41Z

AWaldron: Minor change - bringing in line with new Investment rules

== An [[Arcadian Ceremonies|Arcadian Ceremony]] - Magnitude 22 - The Warheart ==
THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 5 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a Leyline, Mine, Herb Garden, or Wilderness owned by a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
A target Leyline, Mine, Herb Garden, or Wilderness becomes a Military Investment for the next season. Its tier increases by 2. This military force is particularly effective at taking the ‘Support the Army’ action, gaining +100 strength when doing so.

For the remainder of the event, the owner of the Investment experiences a roleplaying effect: ''You are driven to hoard the resources that the target Investment produces, knowing that it will be scarcer over the next year, and you push others to do the same.''

== Description ==
Sometimes, wars are won by the smallest differences, and by the most unexpected people. It is no small thing to ask a skilled labourer or farmer to lay down their tools and venture off into the wilderness to fight for a nation, for they know that they will have no harvest, and a whole pile of work to do on their return, but sometimes the needs of the war outstrip the benefits of production. This ceremony paves the way for this, easing into the hearts and minds of the workers of the target investment the fervour and certainty needed to go into battle with their heads high.

These skilled workers have traits and abilities that army trained people do not necessarily have, and so they are well placed to support an army on the march - whether with produce that they carry with them, or expertise with skills like engineering or camp design; as such, they can be a huge boon to any army they are attached to, before they finally return back to their work at the end of the season.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
One common variety of this Ceremony is to have the priests and the owner of the investment write letters of support and encouragement to the individual workers that will be going to fight, promising them the support of Arcadian and the backing of those who send them forth. The courage and surety of Arcadian flows through the priests, helping them put down just the right sentiment to bolster the courageous fighters as they march forth from their groves or mines and out into the fight. Patriotism, glory, and the protection of their families tend to be strong and common themes amongst these kind of letters.

Arcadian Ceremonies

2026-09-07T10:57:39Z

AWaldron:

The Sphere of Steel and Courage, [[Arcadian]] imbues warriors and performers with new skill, rewards armies and changes the campaign.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|[[Bless the Warhost]]
| -
|The characters who are present, are in the same realm, and consent to do so are joined together magically and henceforth are made a Band. This can be performed again to add more people to the Band at a later date.
|3
|No
|-
|[[Swift Leaping Hare]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may call Knockback once per day with a melee weapon. This may affect another two additional characters of the same Band for an additional 3 magnitude. The characters experience a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|3
|Yes
|-
|[[Courageous Missive]]
| -
|The message that you have written is magically sent to the Arcadian Herald of your choice, so long as you have properly addressed it. There is no guarantee that you will receive a response, but you will receive guidance on your missive through positive or negative effects at the following Summit.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Strength of the Bull]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains one rank of the Juggernaut skill. This may affect another two additional characters of the same Band for an additional 3 magnitude. The targest experience a roleplaying effect.
This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Bedecked in Final Glory]]
|Enchantment
|Target becomes supernaturally driven to glorious purpose. If this character becomes terminal before the end of the day, they experience no pain from the Terminal status and require no support to move or act (although they still cannot fight or use any skills). The character is filled with a sense of final peace, the wisdom of the veteran and the knowledge that they have achieved their goals. They fade into nothing rather than leaving a corpse behind. This Ceremony has no effect on characters who are already terminal.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Pythons Presence]]
|Enchantment
|Until the end of the event, twice per day the two characters in the same Band gain the ability to call Shackle for no cost when landing a melee strike that would deal damage. If both characters recover all their energy from an effect within the same minute, it also recovers the uses of this ability for both of them. Both targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Poisoner's Blessing]]
|Enchantment
|The two target characters from the same Band gain the ability to deliver the Venom effect on any strike that would deal damage once per day. The targets may spend 1 energy to call Immune to the Venom call. If both characters recover all their energy from an effect within the same minute, it also recovers the uses of this ability for both of them. Both targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Surgeon's Limited Patience]]
|Enchantment
|The target character with the Surgeon skill loses access to it but gains Bulwark, Armoured, Weaponmaster, Hand-and-a-half, Bladehand, and two ranks of the Juggernaut skill. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Raise the Wounded Warrior]]
| -
|Target ‘Damaged’ Military or Naval Investment is repaired and functions as if it were one tier higher in the coming season. The target investments owner experiences a roleplaying effect.
|8
|No
|-
|[[Rally the Fallen]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may use Stay With Me twice a day as if they know the skill without spending any energy. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Chorus of the Righteous]]
|Enchantment
|Target group of musicians (minimum 3) find their talent in true alignment with the Spheres. Once per day, they may add musical support (in the form of a song or other musical piece) to a Ceremony being cast that has a minimum magnitude of 8. Collectively, they count as if they were an additional priest of Divine Lore 3 and count as having spent 3 Crystal Mana. Please see the page for detailed instructions regarding this ceremony. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Trial of Worthiness]]
|Curse
|Target character affected by this Curse loses all skills that grant them weapon, armor or shield proficiencies (noting that characters retain the ability to use light and medium armor, and wield basic weapons). If the character attends four confluxes, kills a foe at every conflux they attend, and allows the Curse to fade naturally, they gain one of the following skills for no cost: Archer, Armoured, Bladehand, Bulwark, Hand-And-A-Half, Weaponmaster. Please see the page for detailed instructions regarding this ceremony. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|10
|No
|-
|[[Powerful Growth]]
|Enchantment
|A target Wilderness investment will produce 3 Locks and six measures of herbs in addition to its standard production before the next event.Its owner experiences a roleplaying effect for the remainder of the event.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Pirate's Unity]]
|Enchantment
|The target Naval investment is treated as being one tier higher during the next season. It must take Support the Fleet as its action, but in addition it counts as having taken the Profitable Work action.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Style of the Bronze Colossuss]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains two bonus hit points and two bonus energy as long as they are wearing heavy armour. They are completely immune to the Fracture call. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|14
|Yes
|-
|[[Chamber of the Restful Warrior]]
|Enchantment
|Enchants a target area with an aura of introspection that encourages people to speak of their concerns, fears and worries. The target area need not be large, but must be at least one tent or a single table in a larger area. In addition, if you spend more than fifteen minutes resting in this location, and have a meaningful conversation about something that has been on your mind, you recover all energy and gain +1 temporary energy over your maximum. You may never have more than 1 temporary energy over your maximum from any source. Please see the page for detailed instructions on how to prepare for this ceremony. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|15
|No
|-
|[[Tree Falls Weight]]
|Enchantment
|The target may call Break twice per day with a Greatweapon for no cost. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event.
|15
|Yes
|-
|[[Warrior's Mantle]]
|Enchantment
|The character gains the Weaponmaster, Armoured, Bulwark, Hand-and-a-half, Archer and Bladehand skills. All Heralds of Arcadian are aware this Ceremony has been cast, and will take note of the character should they happen to cross paths. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. This effect lasts until the end of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|20
|Yes
|-
|[[Lion's Roar]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast a single Arc Knockback once per day for no cost. If you recover all energy from an effect, it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|20
|Yes
|-
|[[Conclave of Trees and Courage]]
|Enchantment
|A target Leyline, Mine, Herb Garden, or Wilderness becomes a Military Investment for the next season. Its tier remains the same. This military is particularly effective at ‘Support the Army’, gaining a five tier bonus to this action. Its owner experiences a roleplaying effect for the duration of the event. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|22
|No
|-
|[[Ward of Ironclad Vigor]]
|Enchantment
|Target region is blessed with supernatural fortitude. Simple illnesses and infections are treated easier, if not entirely repulsed from the body. This includes early stages of severe illness such as Blasserstreit. The enchantment will have little effect on wounds or more severe cases of disease.
During the next season, Herb Gardens and Farms in the target region will produce as if they are one tier higher.
|25
|No
|-
|[[Tempests Calling]]
|Enchantment
|During the next season, the target Fleet gains an additional 5 Fleet Movement Value. In addition, the Admiral of the target Fleet gains the following roleplaying effect: ''You are the tempest on the ocean, swift both to anger and to action as the whims of the weathers of your mood lash you back and forth.''
|30
|No
|-
|[[Thunderous Wings of Griffin's Victory]]
|Enchantment
|During the next season, the target Army gains an additional 6 Army Movement Value. In addition the General of the target Army gains the following roleplaying effect: ''The character is filled with a sureness in their actions, their words, even the very steps they take. They are decisive, and quick to make decisions.''
|30
|No
|-
|[[God of War]]
|Enchantment
|The target character who has gained at least 3 experience is considered an army with a strength equal to (500 x the number of unique combat skills they have) for the purposes of campaign actions. The target character is immune to the Terminal condition. If they would receive that condition for any reason, they instead experience the effects of Recall and are stabilized on 1HP. They may enter the War Chamber, gain a vote in the War Chamber, and may act accordingly. The character will become terminal at the start of the next Summit All Heralds of Arcadian are aware this Ceremony has been cast, and will take note of the character should they happen to cross paths. The Church has historically acknowledged the prominence and power of this Ceremony as a Miracle of the Spheres for the martyr who accepts it. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. THIS CEREMONY IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE PERFORMED
|100
|No
|}

=== Alignment Ceremonies ===
The following ceremonies are only available during a Summit where the Precipice is aligned to Arcadian.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|Thunderous Retreat
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast the Recall spell once at no mana cost, with no casting time. The spell is cast at its base level and cannot be improved. The caster may be currently enganged in combat, and may be wearing heavy armour. This effect lasts until the end of the Summit or until used.
|12
|Yes
|-
|Heart of War
|Enchantment
|The target character may call 'Resist' to the next 5 combat calls that affect them. To do so, they must be weilding a shield.
|18
|Yes
|-
|Ardent Wavesight
|Enchantment
|The captains of target [[Fleet]] are enchanted with foresight into the movement of waves and nature of tides. This increases the effective strength of the fleet for calculating casualties inflicted and claim by 2,000 for the next season. In addition, any Naval Investment that takes the 'Support the Fleet' downtime action targeting this fleet functions as if it was one tier higher.
|65
|No
|}

== Further Reading ==

* [[Arcadian]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]
* [[Ceremonies Overview]]

[[Category:Arcadian]]
[[Category:Spheres]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Pirate's Unity

2026-09-07T10:57:20Z

AWaldron: Substantial change to bring in line with investment rule changes

== An [[Arcadian Ceremonies|Arcadian Ceremony]] - Magnitude 12 - The Ardent Mind ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 5 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a Naval Investment owned by a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. An Investment may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target Naval investment is treated as being one tier higher during the next season. It must take Support the Fleet as its action, but in addition it counts as having taken the Profitable Work action.

For the duration of the event, the owner of the Investment experiences a roleplaying effect: ''You feel unrestrained, and unconcerned about the consequences of your actions, combined with a strong desire to simply take what you want - damn the consequences.''

== Description ==
While they may be the scourge of the seas, and criminals many times over, there are certain times where the skill and numbers of a pirate crew can be a huge boon, particularly if the ships they are supporting are participating in a slightly more legal version of the same thing. This Ceremony draws a crew of pirates to support the movement of a Naval Investment, providing military support but more importantly providing instruction and leadership when given opportunity to profit while otherwise acting in support of a larger fleet.

For the duration of the Ceremony, which is barely any time at all in the scheme of things, any outstanding warrants or orders of execution are Spherically stayed for the crew, and the ships are glamoured in a way such that they look like the ships of the Investment’s fleet from a distance, so that they can pass unhindered through Concordian waters. There is a truce enforced between members of the impromptu fleet created, so that they can be confident that all are working for the betterment of the group, and as the period ends, any legal-minded captains looking to apprehend their benefactors find themselves distracted and befuddled, allowing the pirates who came to their aid to escape with their share of the booty.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Drawn from The Ardent Mind, as this increase in power of the fleet really comes down to a sharing of information and skills, this Ceremony leans heavily on nautical themes in most circumstances, as can be expected. There may be stories told about the dangers of the high seas, tales of glorious prizes won and treasure found, or cautionary tales about overreaching and trying to defy an enraged sea. People participating in the ritual have sometimes found themselves to be missing some small trinket of value they had on their person, only for it to be found again in a pocket they swore they checked already.

Other things that occasionally get used in this Ceremony are sea shanties, games of chance, sword duels, and drinking - all things of essence that appeal to the pirates that are being called. The pirates themselves need not have been contacted beforehand - their minds are filled with dreams of glory and plunder, and they know the Sphere will protect them. As such, they actually turn out to be surprisingly enthusiastic allies for the season. Some of their passionate individualism certainly rubs off on the owner of the Investment through the bond that is created though, and sometimes when they meet it can be hard to distinguish which is the damned pirate and which is the previously-law-abiding citizen.

Lumos Ceremonies

2026-09-07T10:51:23Z

AWaldron:

The Sphere of Hope, [[Lumos]] ceremonies tend to empower believers, seek out foes and protect the weak.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|[[The Candle Extinguished]]
| -
|At the completion of the ceremony, if the target is a corpse, it is consumed by hundreds of candle flames that rapidly consume the remains. Not even bones will be left behind. At the completion of the ceremony, if the target is a Terminal character, they die peacefully and painlessly, with the leader of the Ceremony being responsible for deciding if there will be a corpse left behind for burial or not. This Ceremony can affect additional corpses or characters with Terminal from the same Realm. Each additional target increases the magnitude by 1 to a maximum of 9 total.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Binding of Hope]]
| -
|The characters who are present, are in the same realm, and consent to do so are joined together magically and henceforth are made a Sect. This can be performed again to add more people to the Sect at a later date - this requires either the entire Sect be present, or at least as many current members as new members for the Ceremony to work.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Release the Chain of Memory]]
| -
|Excises one or more memories from a willing character, removing it from their mind. The contents of the memory are focused on by the individual for the duration of the Ceremony, and need not be revealed to those around them. The character is filled with a sense of hope when they attempt to recall it.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Believer's Missive]]
| -
|The message that you have written is magically sent to the Lumos Herald of your choice, so long as you have properly addressed it. There is no guarantee that you will receive a response, but you will receive guidance on your missive through positive or negative effects at the following Summit.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Hearthfire Circle]]
| -
|The target character recovers all lost hit points, as well as any fractures, venom or silence effects that they are affected by. Additionally, the target character may ignore the roleplay effect of any traumatic wounds that currently affect them. This Ceremony only suppresses the roleplaying effects of these wounds - any mechanical effects must still be followed, and any wounds that aren’t fixed by the end of the event need to be placed into the target’s character bag at the end to indicate they are ongoing. This Ceremony can affect additional characters from the same Band. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 3. Additional targets must be present for the whole Ceremony as well.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Believers of the True Orator]]
|Enchantment
|During the next downtime, the target Congregation takes the Conviction, Tithing, and Mysticism actions. The owner of the target experiences a roleplaying effect until the end of the event.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Enlightened Ceremony]]
|Enchantment
|This ceremony augments a cultural bonding ceremony, such as a wedding, adoption, blood-binding of warriors or similar gathering. This ceremony binds the hopes and devotions of those two characters together. Target characters may each choose to gain either 1 additional Hit Point or 2 additional Mana. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Embrace the Living Flame]]
|Enchantment
|Target character’s energy maximum is increased by two. This Ceremony can target additional characters from the same Sect. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 6. Additional targets must be present for the whole Ceremony as well. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[The Twilight Masquerade]]
|Enchantment
|The target character changes their appearance, and appears as a Grace of their choice, taking on all the roleplay effects and physical requirements of that Grace. Please see the page for further details. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Unmask the Hidden Thrall]]
| -
|The target character becomes blind for the remainder of the night. Any Pothraxi Thralls within 3 Leagues of them will have a pale blue light shine upon their chest while the target of the Ceremony remains blind.
|8
|No
|-
|[[Antithesis of Faith]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains the ability to cast Silence and Stun as if they knew them. They may cast each of these once per day for no mana. If you recover all personal Mana from an effect it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|9
|Yes
|-
|[[Vigor of Belief]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains the Deathless skill. Target characters may spend 1 Energy or Mana to call Immune to Venom. This Ceremony can affect additional characters from the same Sect. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 5. Additional characters must be present throughout. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|9
|Yes
|-
|[[The Sunburst Armour]]
|Enchantment
|The target character is immune to the next Arcane or Spiritual wound (of any severity) they would receive. When they are given the wound by a member of The Concord team they can inform them of this effect and return it. This does not affect physical wounds.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Like a Moth to a Flame]]
|Curse
|The Cursed character is supernaturally drawn to bright lights and both shuns and fears the darkness. Whenever the character is not brightly lit, they are affected by the Silence condition. The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts for three events, including the one in which it was received, after which point the Curse fades naturally.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Grace in Forgiveness]]
| -
|The target character under the effect of a curse has that curse removed. If the original Prophet has Cursed the target more than once, any number of Curses may be forgiven and removed in this way. After the ceremony, both the Cursed and the Prophet experience a roleplaying effect until the end of the day.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Revealed to the Initiate]]
|Enchantment
|Target character with no ranks in any Divine Lore gains Divine Lore 3 in one Sphere of their choice. The character does not gain the ability to obtain extra masteries in any Ceremonies that would be granted by these ranks normally. Please see the page for further details about this ceremony. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Flame of Healing]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast Heal, Mend Limb, and Purify as if they knew them. They may cast each of these spells once per day for no mana. If you recover all personal Mana from an effect it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Inquisitor's Seeking Eye|Inquisitors Seeking Eye]]
|Enchantment
|The target military investment gains two bonus tiers as long as it undertakes the ‘Scout the Frontline’ order during the next season. The investment cannot be destroyed while undertaking this action. The owner of the target experiences a roleplaying effect for the duration of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Strength of Belief]]
|Enchantment
|All characters from the target Sect gain one additional hitpoint. If the Sect has more than ten members, the Sect leader also gains an additional mana. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Blessing of Unmade Belief]]
| -
|The target character with one or more levels in Divine Lore may immediately re-spend any and all experience they have spent on those skills. This can be on other Divine Lore levels if they wish, or anything else. This effect is permanent. If this change would cause the target to drop to Divine Lore 0 in any Sphere that they currently have experience spent in, they may never spend experience to gain Divine Lore in that Sphere again, nor gain any benefit that would give them access to that Divine Lore again. If this change would cause a target whose Investment is a Congregation to drop to zero experience spent across all Divine Lores, they must immediately and freely replace it with a Tier 1 Investment of any other type.
|20
|No
|-
|[[The Bright Soul Within]]
|Enchantment
|The target region becomes blessed against Undeath. Individuals who perish within the region cannot be raised as undead against their will for the next six months.
|35
|No
|-
|[[Hopeforged]]
| -
|The target weapon, item, or prop is immune to the Break effect. In addition, if the item is an Artisan crafted item, its remaining duration is refreshed as if it was just made. Anyone holding onto the item for an extended duration experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|35
|No
|-
|[[Rivers of Blood]]
|Curse
|Target territory gains a trait that increases the casualties taken within the territory by 100%. While the curse is in effect, its effects flow on to affect civilian life as well, increasing the mortality rates of the people living there.
|50
|No
|-
|[[Rivers of Life]]
|Enchantment
|Target territory gains a trait that reduces casualties taken within the territory by 100% (to a maximum of -80%). While the enchantment is in effect, its effects flow on to affect civilian life as well, substantially decreasing the mortality rate of the population living there.
|50
|No
|-
|[[Somnolence's Salve]]
|Enchantment
|The target army is blessed with fulfilling rest and speedy healing. During the next season, the target Army regains 3000 strength if it takes the Billet action, however in the Season after it Billets its Maximum Movement Value is set to 5. In addition the General of the target Army experiences a roleplaying effect.
|60
|No
|}

=== Alignment Ceremonies ===
The following ceremonies are only available during a Summit where the Precipice is aligned to Lumos.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|Lullaby of Twilight
| -
|The target characteer enters a gentle and deep sleep. They receive a vision of their homeland. Any limited ability they currently have is restored. This effect does not recover any energy, health, or mana.
|8
|No
|-
|Moon's Perigee
|Enchantment
|The target character with the Surgeon skill halves surgery time and whenever they must use resources for surgery, they may reduce the number required by 1 to a minimum of 0. This effect lasts until the end of the Summit.
|25
|Yes
|-
|Final Sunset
|Curse
|The target of this curse feels the sun beginning to set upon them, hope existing in a state of waxing and waning. At the next dawn they will receive a Challenge of Hope. If they fail to complete the task within a year, they gain the terminal condition. If they remove this curse through any other method, they also gain the terminal condition.
|75
|No
|}

== Further Reading ==

* [[Lumos]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]
* [[Ceremonies Overview]]

[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Inquisitor's Seeking Eye

2026-09-07T10:50:03Z

AWaldron: Minor change - bringing in line with new Investment rules

== A [[Lumos Ceremonies|Lumos Ceremony]] - Magnitude 10 - The Twilight ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a Military Investment, whose owner must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target military investment gains two bonus tiers as long as it undertakes the ‘Scout the Frontline’ order during the next season. While undertaking this order in particular, the investment cannot be destroyed by any means, but can still be damaged.

Until the end of the event, the Investment’s owner experiences a roleplaying effect: ''Your inquisitiveness will be your undoing - you can’t seem to leave well enough alone. Secrets must be uncovered and shared, lost things must be found, and foul play must be brought to light for the world to see!''

== Description ==
[TBC]

== Performing the Ceremony ==
[TBC]

Sects

2026-09-04T05:12:08Z

AWaldron: Codifying the 2/3rds membership of sects

== What is a Sect? ==
[[File:309270279 2503542616454372 3610553691868214670 n.jpg|thumb]]
A sect is a religious fratenity that binds priests together for study, the performance of ceremonies, discussion, and the other minutiea of their role. They are found across the Concord in a wide variety of forms depending on the realm they originate from and the Sphere (or Spheres) they venerate. When it comes to the heroic contingent who attents the Summit, Sects primarily allow priests to combine their powers to perform the most powerful ceremonies known to The Concord, while also providing connection with other believers.

From a mechanical perspective, a Sect is one of the two types of [[Player Groups|player groups]] (the other being [[bands]]) that characters can be a part of. They can be a part of both a sect and a band at the same time, with the indivdual player determining which one is more important to their day-to-day actions. Sects are limited by Realm and each sect can venerate a maximum of 2 Spheres. These are the two Spheres which the sect can combine their Divine lore in the performance of [[Ceremonies Overview|Ceremonies]].

== Creating a Sect ==
To create a sect you must submit your concept to the player support team [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfs5PK55UuYUo6MSvzwRGFeBMerAavh61ADhYZK7oJmO2A0qw/viewform Here]. They will ensure that your concept matches the world and your intent and grant you approval from there. A sect is limited to the Realm it is based in, the veneration of 2 Spheres at maximum, and requires a minimum of 3 members.

There is no maximum number of members in a Sect, and anyone is permitted to join any of the sects from their realms whether they have the appropriate Divine Lore or not, but at least two thirds (66%) of the sect must be comprised of individuals who have Divine Lore in at least one of the Spheres venerated by the sect. New members who do not meet that requirement will be unable to be added to a sect until after there are sufficient people with appropriate Divine Lore to allow them entry.

Following approval by the player support team, you will be able to perform the '[[Binding of Hope]]' ceremony at a summit. This ceremony binds your sect in the eyes of the Church and the Spheres, giving you the connection needed to do great things.

== Leaving and Ending a Sect ==
Leaving a sect is quite simple. Seek out a priest of Anarch and inform them of your desire to leave your sect, they will join you at the Church and, witnessed in the eyes of a Curate, you must state "I break my bond with this sect and walk alone in the eyes of the Spheres" three times. At which point the Curate will note your departure.

Sects can remove members of a sect by having two thirds of its current members (or all members present at a Summit) approach the Church and Curates and informing them of this removal.

A sect can be ended if at least two thirds of its members approach the Church and Curates with a priest of Anarch and perform the act above. A sect will cease to exist if any of the following circumstances are met:

* The sect fails to have a minimum of three members at three consecutive summits.
* The sect fails to have more than 2/3rds of its membership made up of priests with Divine Lore in one of its two venerated Spheres for three consecutive summits.
* All members of the sect leave the sect of their own volition.
* There are no members of the sect left due to movement to other realms, banishment, or similar.
* All members of the sect are dead at any one moment.

== Sect Ceremonies ==
Sects are the primary method of gaining magnitude to complete ceremonies, as members of a sect can combine their power to perform ceremonies. More details on this can be found on the [[Ceremonies Overview]] page.

== Sect Altars ==
Altars are physical locations assembled by the sect dedicated to a single Sphere that allow them to cast certain ceremonies. This enables sects to complete certain ceremonies in privacy, without waiting for the sanctified square to be available.

Altars should be at least a metre tall and should be appropriately themed to the Sphere and sect that they dedicated to and by. They should be stable, not present a safety concern, and able to survive the rigors of a weekend of LARPing. They need not be publicly facing but should be of decent quality. The Altar's primary function should be that it is an Altar, not acting as another use such as an armour stand or coffee table.

Altars must be approved by a member of the Church Civil Service team before they are used.

Each Altar may only be dedicated to a single Sphere and each altar may only be used by the sect that created it. Each Sect can maintain a maximum of two Altars, and they should be independent objects.

Once approved, an Altar may be used as the location for the performance of ceremonies marked as 'Altar Capable' in their ceremony entry. To do so, the Sect should approach the Church Civil Service team PRIOR to performing the ceremony, inform them of the ceremony being performed, any mechanical particulars required, and provide the crystal mana. At which point the Civil Service will note down the ceremony and the characters may go and perform the ceremony at their Altar. A Civil Service member may attend to provide some narration and feedback, but this is not expected.

== Further Reading ==

* [[Ceremonies Overview]]
* [[The Divine Spheres]]
* [[Player Groups]]

Past Actions of the Council of Six

2026-09-02T09:36:57Z

AWaldron: Replaced content with "Here below is a list of actions decided on by the Council of Six at previous summits, as well as the priests who nominated or were involved with each. These represent the Curate's attempts to summarize the actions for distribution, and importantly '''''are not always the exact words written on each submission'''''. * Past Actions of the Council of Six - Autumn 225 * Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 225|Pas..."

Here below is a list of actions decided on by the Council of Six at previous summits, as well as the priests who nominated or were involved with each. These represent the Curate's attempts to summarize the actions for distribution, and importantly '''''are not always the exact words written on each submission'''''.

* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 225|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Autumn 225]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 225|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Spring 225]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 226|Past Actions of the Council of Six - Autumn 226]]

=== Further Reading ===

* [[Council of Six]]
* [[Motions of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

Council of Six

2026-09-02T09:33:17Z

AWaldron:

The meeting chamber of The Concord’s High Priests, The Council of Six rules over the Church, its beliefs, and its goals. A place of great power equal to The Senate or the War Chamber.

= Function =
While the Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres is fundamentally a faith held and governed through the consensus of thousands of priests and even more faithful, the Church as an institution answers to the Council of Six. This group of High Priests, each one representing one of the Divine Spheres, oversees the Churches' many concerns, be they financial, political, or divine. Through the powers of this council they can move the vast faithful towards important undertakings, spend church funds, and more.

Importantly, the Council of Six is not infused with any powers towards theology. While each of the High Priests of the Council wields immense personal and political power, it is not the place of the Council to define and decide how the faith of the Spheres is conducted or understood. Rather, this remains the purview of the faithful as a whole. Instead the Council of Six can be seen as a political entity wielding the power granted to them as the foremost priests of The Concord.

= Resources =
Like any part of the Concordian government, the Council of Six requires resources to pursue its tasks. Primarily these are The Church Treasury and Endeavours, which are both detailed below.

== The Church Treasury ==
Much like The Senate, the Church maintains a central treasury. However, unlike the Senate, this treasury is not fed by any regular source. The Church treasury draws a vast amount of its income from donations. Heroic donations are simply funds given to the Church from the heroes of The Concord. Tithing Donations are given to The Church from Congregations across The Concord, reflecting their duty to maintain the Church. Any time a Congregation takes the ‘Tithing’ Downtime action, The Church gains a matching amount of income.

The Church Treasury can hold currency, measures of resources, wains, artisan crafts, artifacts, and conceivably any other objects.

The Church Treasury cannot be used in auctions (be it bidding or selling), make purchases or sales, or similar activities. The Church treasury can only be used to pay for Church costs or to be dispersed to individuals who then go on to take these actions.

The Church Treasury is held by The Curates.

== Endeavours ==
The Concordian Church is a vast apparatus that includes many members of the Civil Service to oversee its affairs, as well as hundreds of faithful who volunteer and support the organisation. This manpower can be utilised by The Council of Six in pursuit of its goals, but is a limited resource. To reflect this, some actions that the Council of Six can take are defined as ‘Endeavours’ and the Council of Six is limited in the amount of Endeavours it can pursue.

By default, the Council can pursue 3 Endeavours. For every 30 Tiers of Congregations (not counting temporary enhancements such as enchantments), the Council of Six gains another endeavour. The Curates will inform the Council of Six of their number of available Endeavours at the start of the first meeting of the Council each Summit.

= Powers =
'''Conviction'''

Through its weight as leaders of The Church, The Council of Six can call upon the faithful and congregations of The Concord towards particular projects. When the Council of Six calls for a Conviction, it will create an appropriate downtime action for priests and congregations to pursue in the following season. Convictions are generally limited to actions within The Concord, granting support to crises or similar actions. When in doubt, the Council can confer with the Curates to create their Conviction.

Each Conviction is an Endeavour.

'''Study'''

Calling for a Study reflects the Church descending into its archives and pursuing research in the wider world to answer questions or uncover mysteries relevant to the Council of Six. The following Summit, the Council will receive a written result of their request, for them to do with as they wish. A Study request requires a focus that can be as broad or as targeted as the Council wishes, however focused requests are advised if you want meaningful returns. Generally, it should be focused on matters of religious or divine history, theology, mythology or other similar pursuits.

Each Study is an Endeavour.

'''Consignment'''

A Consignment is the Council of Six commissioning the construction on creation of a large piece of Church infrastructure or the purchase of goods and services in the support of the Church beyond simple dispersal of funds to heroes. The list of Consignments can be found [[Consignments of the Church|here]]. All funds and resources for each Consignment must be in The Church Treasury by the end of the summit it is commissioned.

Each Consignment is an Endeavour.

'''Expedition'''

Pursuing an Expedition results in a delegation of priests, followers, and civil service workers departing The Concord for a particular foreign nation, location, or event, to represent The Church in foreign affairs or great moments. Unlike Convictions, Expeditions are composed of non-heroic characters pursuing distant causes and projects for the Council of Six such as ministering to non-spheric nations or attending vast Church meetings in foreign lands. Each new expedition costs the Church 3 Vaults and is an Endeavour. All ongoing Expeditions are managed by the Concordian Consular, who will receive their reports and manage their actions.

Each Expedition can be maintained provided the Council passes another motion of Expedition for it. These subsequent motions cost fifteen locks a season to maintain, and consume an Endeavour. This would allow the Concordian Consular to manage these expeditions as continuing projects.

'''Exaltation'''

The Council of Six has the power to recognise individuals as Paragons, Locations as Holy Sites, individuals into the positions of Throne, and to grant individuals access to Past Life Visions. The power that collectively grants these options is Exaltation. The process for recognising a Paragon or Holy Site can be found on their respective pages,

Unlike some other powers, Exaltations are automatically brought to the Council of Six as pieces of business requiring a response. As such they do not require a motion by a High Priest. Exaltations of Paragons and Holy Sites require the preceding motions to have passed through the Church Motions system, then their arguments must be brought before the Council of Six, which in turn prompts an Exaltation.

Unlike other votes, Exaltation votes must be unanimous.

The Council of Six must Exalt a visionary and guide for the Past Life Vision during their meeting on the second day of Summit.

Exaltations are not Endeavours.

'''Endowment'''

The Council of Six has the ability to spend and grant parts of the Church Treasury without requiring a Church Motion through standard channels. The Council of Six may Endow up to fifteen locks, and/or ten measures, and/or five wains, and/or 2 artisan crafts, and/or 1 artifact per endowment motion.

Grants of funds or supplies from the Church are paid out in the following order:

* The Bursar's due through the Coinmasters Hand
* Requests through the larger Church Motions of the Faithful.
* The High Priest of Panoply’s due.
* The payment of any Consignments or Expeditions.
* Council of Six Endowments (in order of motion)

If at any point during this process (fulfilled following each Council of Six) the Church treasury would be empty, all subsequent endowments or requirements for funds are voided.

Endowments are not Endeavours.

'''Proclamation'''

A proclamation is a public statement on behalf of the Council of Six that:

* Clarify the position of the Council of Six.
* Support or Decry an action, individual, cause or event on behalf of the Council of Six.
* Offer guidance on an aspect of doctrine or theology.
* Make public announcements on behalf of the Council of Six.

Proclamations are used to have the Council of Six communicate with the faithful across The Concord, rather than just the heroes of Passage. The Council of Six will do well to remember the importance of skilled articulation.

Importantly, proclamations cannot be used to:

* Change doctrine.
* Mimic any other Council of Six power.

Proclamations are not Endeavours.

'''Veto'''

The Council of Six holds one of the two vetoes within the Concord, allowing them to halt and cancel a single senate motion that requires a greater majority. Every time a motion is passed in the Senate that prompts the Council’s veto, it will be brought up at the Council meeting that follows it. The Council may veto this motion following a successful vote. The Council may only veto one motion per summit in this manner. The Council only receives one opportunity to veto a motion and once this opportunity has passed they may not attempt to veto it again.

The exception to this system is the final Senate session per summit, or any emergency Senate session that occurs after the final Council Session of a Summit. In both circumstances the Voice of the Church may use their power of ‘Voice’s Veto’, provided the Council of Six has not used their veto earlier in the Summit.

== Past Actions of the Council of Six ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Summary of Historic Council Meetings
!Year
!
!
|-
|225
|[[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 225|Autumn]]
|[[Past Actions of the Council of Six Spring 225|Spring]]
|-
|226
|[[Past Actions of the Council of Six Autumn 226|Autumn]]
|
|-
|
|
|
|}

= Membership =
Membership of the Council of Six is split into three forms:

* '''True Members''' of the Council of Six are High Priests. These are individuals whose attendance ensures that a Council of Six will begin and are responsible for decisions. True Members each have a vote on all matters requiring a vote, may speak at all times, and count towards quorum (known as having the True Right to Speak).
* '''Members''' of the Council Six are any Church title that is not a High Priest. These titles are granted seats at the Council of Six and may speak where they feel they should, but may be silenced or ejected at the request of either a True Member vote or a member of the Civil Service (known as having the Right to Speak). Members do not have votes.
* '''Civil Service''' of the Council of Six are Curates and other civil service members attached to the Church. They have control over the Council and its operation.

= Chambers =
At present, the Council of Six sits its meetings within the Senate Chamber. Appropriate setup is the responsibility of Civil Service. While the Council of Six is in session, the Senate may not call emergency Senate sessions. If the Council of Six is still in session when a scheduled Senate session is about to occur, the Council of Six session ends.

= Meetings =
The Council of Six meets twice per Summit, at midday each full day. Each Council of Six meeting requires the attendance of each High Priest and at least one curate. The Council may sit a maximum of an hour later than intended. If all elected High Priests cannot be brought to the Council chambers within an hour, the meeting is cancelled. Each meeting follows the same layout:

'''Introduction.'''

Each of the High Priests introduces themselves to the assembled members of the Council. In circumstances where a new High Priest is being announced, it will be completed during this period.

'''Opening Words.'''

A single member of the faithful is given an opportunity to speak before the Council of Six. Traditionally an opportunity for prayer and blessings. Would be speakers are selected by the Curates.

'''Essential Business.'''

Matters which are being prompted by external circumstances are completed. These include but are not limited to:

* Elections
* Exaltations
* Vetoes
* Declaration of Motions from the Church

Each matter of essential business has a maximum time of twenty minutes, at which point the motion is either dropped or a vote is called.

'''High Priest Motions.'''

Each High Priest is given a maximum of twenty minutes to speak and put forward a single motion that utilises one of the appropriate powers of the Council of Six. Given the Councils limited meeting opportunities, motions may not be tabled. High Priests may end their motion time at any point.

'''Conclusions.'''

Any clarifications that are required are given and the Council meeting is ended.

== Speaking in the Council of Six ==
There are three types of right to speak at a meeting of the Council of Six;

* '''True Right to Speak''' (Held by Civil Service members and the High Priests). These individuals may speak at any time, count towards quorum and may compel others (who do not have the true right to speak) to cease speaking.
* '''The Right to Speak''' (Held by any other Church title and The Throne). These individuals may speak at any time, do not count towards quorum and may be compelled to cease speaking by any individual with the True Right to Speak. They do not have any votes.
* '''Limited Right to Speak''' (Held by all other individuals). These individuals may indicate they wish to speak by raising a hand. If one member with the True Right to Speak recognises them (by stating “I recognise [Name] to speak, I seek a second”) followed by another member with the True Right to Speak seconding (by stating “I second the recognition of [Name].”) Following this, the individual may speak, provided they begin and end their speech with “In the light of the Spheres”. These individuals may still be compelled to cease speaking by a member with the True Right to Speak. They do not count towards Quorum. They do not have any votes.

== Voting in the Council of Six ==
Each of the High Priests has a single vote in any circumstance where the Council of Six must pass a vote. For a vote to pass in the Council of Six it must obtain 4 total votes in favour. No Councils hold a veto over the Council of Six.

=== Further Reading ===

* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres|The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]
* [[Consignments of the Church]]
* [[Paragons of the Church]]
* [[Holy Site|Holy Sites]]
* [[Past Actions of the Council of Six]]

Council of Six

2026-09-02T09:32:53Z

AWaldron: /* Further Reading */

Council of Six

2026-09-02T09:32:35Z

AWaldron: /* Powers */

Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres

2026-09-02T09:28:37Z

AWaldron: /* Voting */

The religious heart of The Concord, the Church of Divine Spheres is a powerful organisation that has extensive political abilities in order to preserve the moral soul of the Realms. The church also acts as spiritual advisors and guidance for all members of the Concord, but particularly the Priests who minister to the people.

In 221 The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres split off from the [[The Artebazzani Empire|Artebazzani]] Church owing to political conflict between the two nations. Since this point the Concordian Church has attempted to find its own understanding of The Spheres influenced by the history they hold with the Artebazzani Church and their own modern understandings. The beliefs of the new Concordian Church are summarised within its [[Tenets of the Concordian Church|Tenets]], and its laws are summarised within its [[Strictures of the Church|Strictures]]. Common prayers to each of the Eternals can be found on the page for each of the Spheres.

= Function =
At its core, the function of the Church is to proselytize to the people, to educate them on the spheres and assist every citizen on their path to the spheres and the eventual return of their spirit to the Mortal Sphere. With this in mind they receive many plights from the common folk for assistance or guidance.

In order to ensure that this function can continue, the Church has numerous political powers that ensure the people of great power within The Concord are also acting within the accordance of the Spheres and allowing others to do so. They also act as advisors to these powerful people, hoping that the powers of the church do not need to come to bear.

Finally, the Church maintains an interest in the heretical elements at work within The Concord. Such is the nature of The Divine Spheres that to weaken the overall preeminence is to weaken the chances for the whole. As such the church stands ready with its powers of Inquisition and Anathema.

The Church splits its power into two branches:

* The Faithful, referring to the vast amounts of priests and worshippers who make up the bulk of the Church. The faithful control the religious dogma and orthodoxy of The Church, creating a living and changing understanding of the [[The Divine Spheres|Divine Spheres]]. The Faithful Vote through priests utilising the Powers of the Church.
* The [[Council of Six]] and the Church Executive (such as the Curates), referring to the civil servants, working priests, and laymen who support the Church as a political organisation. They collate funds, disperse goods, attend courts, and other such matters. These powers are controlled by The Council of Six and dispersed from them.

= Powers =
'''Declaration'''

A Church declaration allows the Church to speak public on certain issues, reflecting its collective will. At morning each day, prior to the meeting of the Church, any declarations will be read aloud in the centre of Passage. These declarations are likely to make their way out into the Concord proper and have further reaching effects. A Declaration requires a Lesser Majority.

'''Change in Doctrine'''

A serious proposition, a Change in Doctrine changes how the Church operates within The Concord. This might change what is and is not considered heresy, how the church preaches to the public and other such elements. A Change in Doctrine requires a Greater Majority.

'''Inquisition'''
[[File:Church Inquisition.png|center|thumb|680x680px]]

An Inquisition targets a citizen of The Concord, and if it passes, a Priest (usually the person who passed the motion) is granted a Writ of Inquisition, which is a legal document requiring that they be to be brought before the priest that requested the inquisition (willingly or otherwise), and are subjected to up to an hour of questioning by the Priest who exercised the Writ. This is commonly used as part of an investigation into criminal or heretical acts, and following this questioning the Inquisition is considered to have been done. The Priest performing the Inquisition is then required to report on their findings to the next Council of Six. An Inquisition requires a Lesser Majority.

While an Inquisition can be called against any citizen for any reason as long as the Church is convinced they have committed some blight relevant to the Church, it is typically seeking to answer whether the target of the Inquisition has broken one of the Strictures of the Church, which are things the Church considers punishable offences.

'''Censure'''

Following an Inquisition (although not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of Censure targeting another priest. Censure can include any of the following:

* Restricting a priest's ability to speak at Church Sessions.
* Reducing or removing the number of votes a priest holds.
* Removing a priest's access to the Sanctified Square to cast ceremonies.
* Publicly denouncing a priest or a sect or the actions of a priest.

'''Penance'''

Following an Inquisition (but not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of ‘Penance’. A motion of penance is a formal request for the listed individual (who need not be a priest) to voluntarily submit to further punishment without involving a magistrate. Penance punishments often involve public statements, donation of resources, or service to the church. If the listed individual refuses to volunteer, nothing occurs, although this may be used as evidence towards a later motion of Condemnation.

'''Condemnation'''

Following an inquisition (but not requiring one) a priest can put forward a motion of ‘Condemnation’. A motion of condemnation is a formal request that the individual be charged with religious crimes by a Concordian Magistrate. Successful motions of condemnation are provided to a magistrate or Captain of the Watch for investigation and arrest. This is primarily used to access punishments inaccessible by the church such as fines, corporal punishment, or execution.

'''Anathema'''

Following an inquisition, a priest can put forward a motion of 'Anathema'. A motion of Anathema is to remove individuals from the protection and membership of The Church, and in doing so strips a citizen of their citizenship. Doing so requires a magistrate's signature and while they are not required by law to provide such approval, they are unlikely to refuse except in great miscarriages of justice. If successful, the targeted individual loses any titles they currently held and are ineligible to take up any new titles, Realmic or otherwise. The Church finally has the right to claim any funds the individual has on their person when they are served the Writ of Anathema. A motion of Anathema can also be used to remove that status from a character. An Anathema motion requires a Greater Majority.

'''Appointment'''

The Council of Six may appoint individuals to position within it. The following titles are found within the Church:

* [[Abbot of Mivara]]
* [[Bursar of the Church]]
* [[Concordian Consular]]
* [[Heterodox]]
* [[High Priest of Anarch]]
* [[High Priest of Arcadian]]
* [[High Priest of Cervitas]]
* [[High Priest of Lumos]]
* [[High Priest of Panoply]]
* [[High Priest of Stallia]]

'''Reward'''

The Church may reward individuals for actions it considers in support of the Spheres in a profound way. These rewards must come from currency or resources that the Church holds. A standard Reward requires a Lesser Majority to pass. Rewards containing the following require a Greater Majority to pass:

* More than 10 Locks
* More than 5 Measures of resources
* At least 1 Wain of resources

'''Proclaim Paragon'''

The Church may choose to Proclaim a deceased (or living, due to motion passed Summer 222) individual to be a Paragon of the Church, a title of great esteem and reverence whose holders' names are known from household to household, and leave a lasting impact on the world after they have gone. The Council of Six may choose to Proclaim whomever they wish to be a Paragon, though traditionally they have looked to the Aspects of the Paragon, and usually only those who can clearly be shown to fulfil 5 out of the 7 are even considered.

The process for Proclaiming a Paragon is as follows: an investigator is chosen by the Church after a greater majority motion, who is sent to investigate how many of the Aspects the individual has successfully accomplished. They then make their findings plain (and in written form) to the High Priests, who must unanimously agree one way or the other within the span of a year since the original motion - either unanimously declaring the individual a Paragon, which can never be revoked, or unanimously declaring that they are unsatisfied. If they declare that they are unsatisfied, this does not prevent the individual being raised up for Paragon later in the future, though a different investigator must be chosen each time.

'''Proclaim Holy Site'''

The Church may choose to Proclaim a location to be a Holy Site of the Church. Holy Sites are locations that are recognised as being in some nature important to the Spheres. This nature varies from site to site but regardless can form the basis of new locations of worship, nexuses of Spheric magick, or focus points of Spheric mysteries. For some these locations are cultural in origin, always having been a part of the firmament of their lives. For others they are spontaneous miracles, crafted by the adventure that is life through the Spheres. The Council of Six may choose to Proclaim wherever they wish to be a Holy Site, though they must consider the Aspects of a Holy Site. While no precedent exists, the Civil Service suggests following the precedent set for Paragons which is that only those who can clearly be shown to fulfil 5 out of the 7 are even considered.

The process for Proclaiming a Holy Site is as follows: an investigator is chosen by the Church after a greater majority motion, who is sent to investigate how many of the Aspects the location fulfills. They then make their findings plain (and in written form) to the High Priests, who must unanimously agree one way or the other within the span of a year since the original motion - either unanimously declaring the location a Holy Site, which can never be revoked, or unanimously declaring that they are unsatisfied. If they declare that they are unsatisfied, this does not prevent the location being raised up as a Holy Site later in the future, though a different investigator must be chosen each time.

== Voting ==
Voting in the Church is atypical within The Concord. When a motion is put forward (a motion template can be found [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r5mVOnf2OLmmumVNefTHMDrGpdy3yAI1R-w23s8LP1E/edit?tab=t.0 here]), it is placed on the exterior of the Church. A priest can vote for or against it by placing their name in the appropriate section. Before the next meeting of the Council of Six, all votes will be tallied and a verdict announced in council - motions come down off the board at 11:30am each morning.

Motions require one of two different kind of vote to pass.

; A Lesser Majority
: requires more votes for it than against with a minimum of five different priests being in support of the motion.
; A Greater Majority
: requires more votes for it than against it, with at least half of the available votes of the Church being listed in support of it.

== Past Motions of the Concordian Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Summary of Motions - Page Links
!Year
!
!
|-
|Historic (Pre-223)
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Pre-223|Motions]]
|
|-
|223
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Winter 223|Winter]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Summer 223|Summer]]
|-
|224
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Winter 224|Winter]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Summer 224|Summer]]
|-
|225
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Autumn 225|Autumn]]
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Spring 225|Spring]]
|-
|226
|[[Motions of the Concordian Church Autumn 226|Autumn]]
|
|}

= Resources =
The Church maintains a treasury for use by The Council of Six and other titled individuals. This treasury can contain any conceivable resource and is held by The Curates. The Church Treasury pays out its required funds in a particular order to ensure that priorities are paid correctly. It is as follows:

Grants of funds or supplies from the Church are paid out in the following order:

* The Bursar's due through the Coinmasters Hand
* Requests through the larger Church Motions of the Faithful.
* The High Priest of Panoply’s due.
* The payment of any Consignments or Expeditions.
* Council of Six Endowments (in order of motion)

= Members =
The primary members of the Church are the priests who minister to the people of the Concord. Accordingly, these priests form the voting members of the church’s decision making process. Priests are granted votes from either having ranks in Divine Lore, reflecting a recognition of magical ability, or from holding a Congregation, reflecting the will of a larger group of people. Priests may submit a motion to the Curate at any point, except after the meeting of the Church on the Sunday. Provided this motion is supported by at least one other priest it will be put forward for voting by being written up and placed on the exterior of the building, at which point it can be voted on.

Finally, there is the office of the Curate, a Civil Service member whose duty it is to ensure that the Church meetings are conducted well, to act as a spiritual advisor to the priests, and to oversee their ceremonies.

= Chambers =
The chambers of the Church are open to the public, as is befitting an organisation focused on assisting the public. Within the main chamber you will find room for the entire priestly body to assemble for the purposes of church meetings, as well as for sermons outside of this time. On the exterior of the chamber, the varied motions being voted on by the Church can be found, along with the votes that have been cast. Finally, in front of the Church the Sanctified Square can be found, an enchanted location capable of focusing the energies of Sects towards their [[Ceremonies Overview|ceremonies]].

= Meetings =
The Church meets many times throughout the Summit, although these are primarily either Rites or Council of Six meetings.

There is a single rite for each Sphere at differing points throughout the Summit. Rites are public moments of worship and reflection led by the High Priest of that Sphere or the Curates. They allow layfolk and priests a chance to revel and dwell upon the Spheres and their place within them. The divine magic that infuses Rites also provides a boon to those who attend, which takes a variety of forms. More information on the Rites can be found [[Rites of the Concordian Church|here]].

The Council of Six meets twice throughout the Summit, at midday each day. More details can be found [[Council of Six|here]].

== Further Reading ==
* [[The Divine Spheres]]
* [[Spheric Beings]]
* [[History of the Church of the Divine Spheres]] (Prior to the formation of The Concord)
* [[Strictures of the Church]]
* [[Tenets of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Motions of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Council of Six]]
* [[Rites of the Concordian Church]]
* [[Paragons of the Church]]
* [[Documents of the Church]]
* [[Holy Site|Holy Sites]]

Consignments of the Church

2026-08-31T07:36:08Z

AWaldron: Clarity for Valthane

What follows are the current consignments available to the Council of Six through the Consignment power. This page will contain not only the standard Consignments, but also unique Consignments.

== List of Consignments ==

=== Monastery ===
Places of learning and research, Monasteries are secluded locations where those dutifully learned priests can attempt to forward the knowledge of the Church, particularly when it comes to the magic of the Spheres.

'''Cost: ''' 10 Arcstone / 5 Vaults

'''Upkeep:''' None

'''Construction Requirements:''' May not be built in a territory that contains a named settlement.

'''Construction Time:''' 2 Seasons

'''Function:''' Monasteries can research Ceremonies in the same way that a School of Magic can. However they are notably slower at it (given their care for the soul) and require additional funds.

The Council of Six may pass a Consignment motion, asking a Monastery to research a ceremony, defining details of the Ceremony. This consignment costs 1 Vault. The following Summit the Monastery will return with details related to their research and options available to complete the work. The ceremony will then be made available to the Council of Six for their approval the following Summit (2 seasons total). Each monastery may only research one ceremony at a time.

Monasteries also provide the following trait to the territory they are within:
{| class="wikitable"
|''Trait''
|Cas. Inf.
|Cas. Suf.
|Claim
|Special
|-
|Monastery
|<nowiki>-</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-15%</nowiki>
|<nowiki>+200</nowiki>
|Bonus Claim and Casualties suffered only applies to friendly forces. Hostile forces that conquer a territory containing a Monastery receive additional spoils of war.
|}

=== Oraventure ===
It is the duty of the faithful to ensure that the word of the Divine Spheres is spread, as each soul that does not carry this knowledge will not be prepared to live their life in pursuit of the Divine Spheres. While the Church does not find it particularly difficult to find those willing to pursue these goals, it often wants for places to prepare and equip them. Oraventures act as headquarters for these expeditions, making their establishment and operation easier.

'''Cost: ''' 5 Thunder Oak / 5 Vaults

'''Upkeep:''' Nil

'''Construction Requirements:''' Must be built in a territory that contains a Port or an Embassy.

'''Construction Time: ''' 1 Season

'''Function:''' Each Oraventure can support a single Expedition, doing so removes the Endeavour cost of maintaining (but not establishing) that expedition, and reduces the upkeep cost from 15 Locks, to 7 Locks.

== [[Holy Site]] ==
A Holy Site is a location that has been Exalted through appropriate measures and recognised as a holy site. Once recognised it is possible for the Council of Six to pursue no further action, leaving the Holy Site to exist unsupported. This will cost the Church no funds but will also leave the site unsupported and likely to degrade or become unpopular. The Civil Service will provide a custom consignment for each Holy Site the summit after it has been Exalted. This reflects the Church constructing infrastructure for both priests and faithful to attend the site and experience it. Each Holy Site will have its own set of boons and incomes for the Church and The Concord, along with its own costs. Holy Sites do not have upkeep costs.

=== Holy Sites Available for Consignent ===

==== The Gravetree ====
Older than the city of Wolstad that it stands within, the Gravetree is a vast and tall Oak tree that is long dead. Over the centuries it has been festooned with the blades of the glorious dead. Holy to [[Arcadian]] it has long been a source of strength and remembrance for the people of [[Resinderholz]].

'''Cost:''' 5 Vaults / 5 Wains of Mithril / 30 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 3 Locks / 5 Hartswood / 5 Thronesboon

'''Blessing of the Gravetree'''

Once per summit the High Priest of Arcadian may bless a character who is in terminal. For an hour that characters pain abates and they experience a great feeling of wisdom and clarity. After an hour, that character disappears, their body blessed on their travel to Arcadian. Rather than a body, they leave behind a weapon that embodies their character and their life, a matching weapon appears within the Gravetree.

Congregations in the Hunters Wood that take the mysticism downtime action also produce 1 Thronesboon and 1 Hartswood.

The Gravetree has been known to call forth the spirits of the warriors whose blades reside there. For good or for ill.

==== The Vale of Stags ====
The rolling woods of Eastern [[Windholme]] are a silent and sombre place. High in the mountains this forest is a place of great untouched natural beauty and a long standing worship of [[Cervitas]]. A place where truths are laid bare and togetherness can be found in simplicity.

'''Cost:''' 3 Vaults / 4 Thunder Oak / 4 Mithril / 2 Arcstone / 15 Hartswood / 15 Essencite

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 10 Beastbone / 10 Hartswood / 1 Thunder Oak

Congregations in Eastern Windholme may take the ‘Hermitage’ downtime action. Reflecting a season spent in solitude and contemplation among the Vale and its stags. Doing so grants the Congregation 5 Crystal Mana and a random assortment of 5 Wilderness Measures. These values increase with tier. Characters who take the Hermitage downtime actions, they are often blessed with visions brought about by the solitude among the wilds.

==== The Redbrick District ====
Where the blood of the oppressors flowed with such vigor that it dyed the stones red. In central [[Lerona Mere]], the Redbrick district saw some of the most violent fighting of the First Revolution. After the founding of The Concord it was chosen as a holy site to [[Anarch]], being witness to one of the greatest changes in recent memory.

'''Cost:''' 5 Vaults / 5 Mithril / 30 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 12 Locks / 8 Bloodglass

Businesses in Legend City that diversify into Bloodglass produce 6 Bloodglass per diversification, rather than 4.

==== Deorling’s Citadel ====
The western Bulwark of the Iron Valley that broke the advance of the Artebazzani invaders during the First Mercenary War. It later became the bedrock of the Iron Valley during the great retreat, giving them a last holdout that was thankfully not needed. Its role as the cultural heart of the Iron Valley saw its induction into the role of Holy Site.

'''Cost:''' 4 Vaults / 4 Arcstone / 4 Mithril / 10 Forgesteel / 10 Beastbone / 10 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 3 Artisan Oil

'''Brace of Tivus'''

Once per Summit the Champion of the Valley may perform the ‘Cervitas’ Bulwark’ ceremony as if they had the available magnitude, at no cost. This ceremony cannot have additional targets. The ceremony must be performed in the Sanctified Square as is required. The ceremony should include the target adorning themselves with images of crenelations, and include the idea of being supported with many hands of their countryfolk.

Military investments based in Western Windholme that take the ‘Defend the Fortification’ downtime action count as being one tier larger.

==== '''Baelag’s Holdfast''' ====
The colossal fortress of Baelag’s Holdfast is ancient, older even than the Artebazzani Empire. While it has stood in many forms and for many uses over the centuries, it cannot be doubted that its strength and stature are unparalleled. It was named as a holy site by the Concordian Church in 224AE, and this consignment was issued in Spring 226AE after it was retaken.

'''Cost:''' 5 Vault / 10 Arcstone / 10 Blood Glass / 10 Essencite / 10 Beastbone

'''Construction Time:''' 2 Seasons

'''Income:''' 15 Locks / 3 Arcstone

'''Fortress of the Faith'''

Consigning Baelag’s Holdfast makes numerous changes to the Vallthane of King’s Pass title.

* The Council of Six gains the ability to remove the Vallthane
* Any candidate for Vallthane must have Divine Lore.
* The income gained from the Vallthane’s ‘Master of Fields’ power is given to the Church treasury instead of directly to the Vallthane.

In addition, the Vallthane gains the power; Defender of the Faith

'''Defender of the Faith -''' The Vallthane gains votes in the Church as if they were a High Priest, and counts has having a tier 1 Congregation for the purposes of Greater Majority motions. The Vallthane gains membership (but not true membership) to the Council of Six.

Once Consigned, Baelag’s Holdfast will also function as a Monastery.

=== Special Constructions ===
'''''The Order of the Sacred Journey'''''

'''''Cost:''' 10 Arcstone / 7 Vaults 15 locks''

'''''Construction Time:''' 2 Season''

'''''Location:''' Any Concordian Territory''

'''''Upkeep:''' None.''

'''''Function:''' Founds a monastic order focused on supporting the poor, ill, and endangered people of The Concord. Creates a Master of The Order Church title to lead the Order that will be able to deploy the Order to treat the sick, build homes, provide supplies, and similar actions to address crises across The Concord, provided it receives funding to do so. The initial cost establishes the order within a territory of The Concord so it has the base infrastructure to begin its work.''

''In addition, The Order of the Sacred Journey functions as a Monastery, but does not have a Monastery’s construction limitations.''

''This Consignment will remain available until it is built.''

This construction was completed in Spring 226AE.

=== Further Reading ===

* [[Council of Six|The Council of Six]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres|The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

Consignments of the Church

2026-08-31T05:05:53Z

AWaldron: Stripped duplicate Baelag's entry, rewordings to Defender of the Faith.

What follows are the current consignments available to the Council of Six through the Consignment power. This page will contain not only the standard Consignments, but also unique Consignments.

== List of Consignments ==

=== Monastery ===
Places of learning and research, Monasteries are secluded locations where those dutifully learned priests can attempt to forward the knowledge of the Church, particularly when it comes to the magic of the Spheres.

'''Cost: ''' 10 Arcstone / 5 Vaults

'''Upkeep:''' None

'''Construction Requirements:''' May not be built in a territory that contains a named settlement.

'''Construction Time:''' 2 Seasons

'''Function:''' Monasteries can research Ceremonies in the same way that a School of Magic can. However they are notably slower at it (given their care for the soul) and require additional funds.

The Council of Six may pass a Consignment motion, asking a Monastery to research a ceremony, defining details of the Ceremony. This consignment costs 1 Vault. The following Summit the Monastery will return with details related to their research and options available to complete the work. The ceremony will then be made available to the Council of Six for their approval the following Summit (2 seasons total). Each monastery may only research one ceremony at a time.

Monasteries also provide the following trait to the territory they are within:
{| class="wikitable"
|''Trait''
|Cas. Inf.
|Cas. Suf.
|Claim
|Special
|-
|Monastery
|<nowiki>-</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-15%</nowiki>
|<nowiki>+200</nowiki>
|Bonus Claim and Casualties suffered only applies to friendly forces. Hostile forces that conquer a territory containing a Monastery receive additional spoils of war.
|}

=== Oraventure ===
It is the duty of the faithful to ensure that the word of the Divine Spheres is spread, as each soul that does not carry this knowledge will not be prepared to live their life in pursuit of the Divine Spheres. While the Church does not find it particularly difficult to find those willing to pursue these goals, it often wants for places to prepare and equip them. Oraventures act as headquarters for these expeditions, making their establishment and operation easier.

'''Cost: ''' 5 Thunder Oak / 5 Vaults

'''Upkeep:''' Nil

'''Construction Requirements:''' Must be built in a territory that contains a Port or an Embassy.

'''Construction Time: ''' 1 Season

'''Function:''' Each Oraventure can support a single Expedition, doing so removes the Endeavour cost of maintaining (but not establishing) that expedition, and reduces the upkeep cost from 15 Locks, to 7 Locks.

== [[Holy Site]] ==
A Holy Site is a location that has been Exalted through appropriate measures and recognised as a holy site. Once recognised it is possible for the Council of Six to pursue no further action, leaving the Holy Site to exist unsupported. This will cost the Church no funds but will also leave the site unsupported and likely to degrade or become unpopular. The Civil Service will provide a custom consignment for each Holy Site the summit after it has been Exalted. This reflects the Church constructing infrastructure for both priests and faithful to attend the site and experience it. Each Holy Site will have its own set of boons and incomes for the Church and The Concord, along with its own costs. Holy Sites do not have upkeep costs.

=== Holy Sites Available for Consignent ===

==== The Gravetree ====
Older than the city of Wolstad that it stands within, the Gravetree is a vast and tall Oak tree that is long dead. Over the centuries it has been festooned with the blades of the glorious dead. Holy to [[Arcadian]] it has long been a source of strength and remembrance for the people of [[Resinderholz]].

'''Cost:''' 5 Vaults / 5 Wains of Mithril / 30 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 3 Locks / 5 Hartswood / 5 Thronesboon

'''Blessing of the Gravetree'''

Once per summit the High Priest of Arcadian may bless a character who is in terminal. For an hour that characters pain abates and they experience a great feeling of wisdom and clarity. After an hour, that character disappears, their body blessed on their travel to Arcadian. Rather than a body, they leave behind a weapon that embodies their character and their life, a matching weapon appears within the Gravetree.

Congregations in the Hunters Wood that take the mysticism downtime action also produce 1 Thronesboon and 1 Hartswood.

The Gravetree has been known to call forth the spirits of the warriors whose blades reside there. For good or for ill.

==== The Vale of Stags ====
The rolling woods of Eastern [[Windholme]] are a silent and sombre place. High in the mountains this forest is a place of great untouched natural beauty and a long standing worship of [[Cervitas]]. A place where truths are laid bare and togetherness can be found in simplicity.

'''Cost:''' 3 Vaults / 4 Thunder Oak / 4 Mithril / 2 Arcstone / 15 Hartswood / 15 Essencite

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 10 Beastbone / 10 Hartswood / 1 Thunder Oak

Congregations in Eastern Windholme may take the ‘Hermitage’ downtime action. Reflecting a season spent in solitude and contemplation among the Vale and its stags. Doing so grants the Congregation 5 Crystal Mana and a random assortment of 5 Wilderness Measures. These values increase with tier. Characters who take the Hermitage downtime actions, they are often blessed with visions brought about by the solitude among the wilds.

==== The Redbrick District ====
Where the blood of the oppressors flowed with such vigor that it dyed the stones red. In central [[Lerona Mere]], the Redbrick district saw some of the most violent fighting of the First Revolution. After the founding of The Concord it was chosen as a holy site to [[Anarch]], being witness to one of the greatest changes in recent memory.

'''Cost:''' 5 Vaults / 5 Mithril / 30 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 12 Locks / 8 Bloodglass

Businesses in Legend City that diversify into Bloodglass produce 6 Bloodglass per diversification, rather than 4.

==== Deorling’s Citadel ====
The western Bulwark of the Iron Valley that broke the advance of the Artebazzani invaders during the First Mercenary War. It later became the bedrock of the Iron Valley during the great retreat, giving them a last holdout that was thankfully not needed. Its role as the cultural heart of the Iron Valley saw its induction into the role of Holy Site.

'''Cost:''' 4 Vaults / 4 Arcstone / 4 Mithril / 10 Forgesteel / 10 Beastbone / 10 Crystal Mana

'''Construction Time:''' 1 Season

'''Income:''' 3 Artisan Oil

'''Brace of Tivus'''

Once per Summit the Champion of the Valley may perform the ‘Cervitas’ Bulwark’ ceremony as if they had the available magnitude, at no cost. This ceremony cannot have additional targets. The ceremony must be performed in the Sanctified Square as is required. The ceremony should include the target adorning themselves with images of crenelations, and include the idea of being supported with many hands of their countryfolk.

Military investments based in Western Windholme that take the ‘Defend the Fortification’ downtime action count as being one tier larger.

==== '''Baelag’s Holdfast''' ====
The colossal fortress of Baelag’s Holdfast is ancient, older even than the Artebazzani Empire. While it has stood in many forms and for many uses over the centuries, it cannot be doubted that its strength and stature are unparalleled. It was named as a holy site by the Concordian Church in 224AE, and this consignment was issued in Spring 226AE after it was retaken.

'''Cost:''' 5 Vault / 10 Arcstone / 10 Blood Glass / 10 Essencite / 10 Beastbone

'''Construction Time:''' 2 Seasons

'''Income:''' 15 Locks / 3 Arcstone

'''Fortress of the Faith'''

Consigning Baelag’s Holdfast makes numerous changes to the Vallthane of King’s Pass title.

* The Council of Six gains the ability to remove the Vallthane
* Any candidate for Vallthane must have Divine Lore.
* The income gained from the Vallthane’s ‘Master of Fields’ power is given to the Church treasury instead of directly to the Vallthane.

In addition, the Vallthane gains the power; Defender of the Faith

'''Defender of the Faith -''' The Vallthane gains votes in the Church as if they were a High Priest, and counts has having an additional tier of Congregation for the purposes of Greater Majority motions. The Vallthane gains membership (but not true membership) to the Council of Six.

Once Consigned, Baelag’s Holdfast will also function as a Monastery.

=== Special Constructions ===
'''''The Order of the Sacred Journey'''''

'''''Cost:''' 10 Arcstone / 7 Vaults 15 locks''

'''''Construction Time:''' 2 Season''

'''''Location:''' Any Concordian Territory''

'''''Upkeep:''' None.''

'''''Function:''' Founds a monastic order focused on supporting the poor, ill, and endangered people of The Concord. Creates a Master of The Order Church title to lead the Order that will be able to deploy the Order to treat the sick, build homes, provide supplies, and similar actions to address crises across The Concord, provided it receives funding to do so. The initial cost establishes the order within a territory of The Concord so it has the base infrastructure to begin its work.''

''In addition, The Order of the Sacred Journey functions as a Monastery, but does not have a Monastery’s construction limitations.''

''This Consignment will remain available until it is built.''

This construction was completed in Spring 226AE.

=== Further Reading ===

* [[Council of Six|The Council of Six]]
* [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres|The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]]

Reach into the Abyss

2026-08-23T09:01:36Z

AWaldron: Significant changes

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 30 - Machine ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 10 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets the essence of an individual who has departed from the mortal sphere within the last year.

== Effects ==
This ceremony summons a spirit of the ‘recently dead’. A dangerous ceremony - if not performed properly it may open the casters up to danger. If you intend to cast this ceremony, please inform a Church storyteller significantly ahead of time.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the spirit will arise within the Sanctified Square. It needs to be led to an appropriately prepared space where it can quietly reside. This space needs to be clearly marked as a square space using appropriately spheric items, with a maximum size of 4m per edge. It should be in a quiet and sombre location - too much noise and commotion will cause the spirit to depart.

The spirit will remain for up to half an hour, or until it chooses to depart on its own.

== Additional Cost ==
This Ceremony can be further empowered to increase the time the spirit remains for. For an increase of 5 Magnitude, the duration can be increased to an hour.

== Description ==
Whilst many arguments have arisen about the specifics of how this Ceremony actually functions, it has broadly been proven through both conversations with Heralds, and investigations of the magical natures of the outcome that what is created is a hollow imitation of the departed individual, and does not have any tie to the departed soul. The ceremony draws the power of the divine to remember what was, and creates an echo that knows what the individual knew when they died, but cannot learn new information nor change in any way.

These white spectral apparitions act and sound like the departed, but cannot interact with physical material at all - they cannot touch items, interact with food or drink, or be harmed in any way.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
The spirits that are created tend to be more subdued for some reason than their original entities, and seem to seek solace in quiet places where possible. Many priests build this tradition into the Ceremony that they use to cast it, quietly calling on people who were close to the individual being embodied to speak of their memories with them, present items of relevance to share with those gathered, and to speak on what they meant to the community. This can be a time of reflection, of grief, and of pain, so words spoken in quiet condolence are often just as frequently spoken as words of power and invocation.

== Additional Information ==
Due to the logistical difficulties of ensuring that any particular NPC or PC is available, this Ceremony can only be conducted if one of the following is true:

- The NPC you are trying to contact died at this specific summit, and an hour's notice or more has been provided to a Church ST

- A full summit's notice has been provided that you intend to cast this ceremony on a specific NPC so that it can be arranged

- The target was a player character who has died within the last year, whose player is present at the game, and has consented to be contacted in this way

It is important to keep in mind the logistics of the availability for the target of this Ceremony. You will be given time availabilities and will need to strictly keep to them if you are targeting a deceased NPC or any spirit played by a member of the Concord Team.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Tactician Verses Tactician

2026-07-14T07:23:23Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 12 - The Star Serpent ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 5 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets two Military Investments owned by characters who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The two target military investments are improved by two tiers provided they take the ‘Support the Army’ or ‘Independent Action’ downtime actions during the next season.

Until the end of the event, the owners of the target Investments experience a roleplaying effect: ''You experience an intense, temporary, and collegiate rivalry with the owner of the other Investment. You have a strong urge to hatch clever schemes, particularly those around tactical cunning, and especially if the scheme will make your rival look worse than you.''

== Description ==
Whilst Panoply is typically regarded as the sphere of plots thanks to the Esteem, Stallia teaches us that through competition we can learn not only our limits but also the limits that others will go to, and in doing so benefit everyone involved. This Ceremony gifts those blessed with divine inspiration regarding how to best use their resources, and improves their thought processes around more obscure or intricate plans that could be achieved with the forces at their disposal. Having a rival to seek to defeat in grandeur gives both people involved something to match themselves to, and a set of achievements to aspire to overcome; sometimes a distant and glorious predecessor is less of an immediate catalyst for improvement than the person sitting across from your desk preening about their successes.

This leads to troops and resources being used more efficiently, being in the right place at the right time, and going beyond what people thought was possible to achieve outrageous outcomes. Of course, this does sometimes lead to disaster, but such is the nature of military venture, and even in defeat can glory be attained and lessons be learned.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
In a partnership that will inevitably end in rivalry and grandstanding from soapboxes about compared feats of greatness, many priests elect instead to begin by having the two targets as close as possible so that when the divine effect recedes they can return to being comrades without ill will following them too strongly. As such, many Ceremonies of this nature start with those to be affected speaking of their respective failures or simply their lives, building a connection of empathy and understanding between them so that once everything is said and done there can be an understanding that at the end of the day it is simply two flawed and Blighted humans doing their best to prove themselves worthy upon the Journey.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Crystalline Memory

2026-07-14T07:13:24Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 10 - The Labyrinth ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a Terminal character (or a bound/incapacitated NPC) who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

== Effects ==
Painfully kills a terminal target (or a bound/incapacitated NPC), but creates a forged crystal of their memories which must be extracted from the skull. This crystal can be eaten to answer one question relevant to the target before being destroyed.

For any player characters killed this way, the question must be asked and answered while the body is still being physrepped, otherwise the crystal breaks inexplicably before it can be used.

For non-player characters, the crystal will last until the end of the event before its magic fades.

== Description ==
The Crystalline Memory is one of the lovely things in this world that not only sounds abhorrent on paper, but actually gets worse when actually experienced even as a spectator. It is always such a brutal execution that many places ban observers from the Sanctified Square's surroundings entirely for the duration and cleanup, with many religious orders that still utilise this Ceremony having specific subsects that are solely dedicated to this particular duty so that others need not suffer witnessing and performing it.

The worst thing is that the death is not always the same, as if some fell and invisible creatures in a Labyrinth were entrusted with this task - each with their own preferred methods of executions. Some are clawed to death, some have their heads hacked off, some wither away to nothing in the span of moments as if all the blood in their body were drained away; there are tales of some poor souls having their skin flayed from their bodies in a maze-like pattern and slowly bleeding to death. However it happens, it is never pleasant.

What is left behind in every case is a blood stained crystal of vivid purple encased in the skull where the brain would usually be. Consuming the memories within is usually treated as a religious experience, but is invariably coloured by the brutality of the demise, and rarely leaves a good taste in the mouth of the one who eats it, nor provides whimsical or pleasant recollections.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
After calling on the Labyrinth to bring its almighty power to bear, and containing the target in five restraints within the Sanctified Square, this is one of the few Ceremonies where most priests tend to leave (or if not quite leave then linger near the edges of) the Sanctified Square once the divine power descends. This is a reminder of the potent and alien nature of the Spheres, and a potent lesson of the weight of power in the hands of those who perform miracles of Grace through Ceremonies.

Due to the typically brutal death of the target, it is absolutely essential that the Square be cleansed and resanctified after the Ceremony is finished - there are tales of those using an improperly cleansed square summoning the spectres of the dead as screaming ghosts, wailing endlessly of their final mortal suffering and attacking everyone within reach.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Blindfold of the Uninitiated

2026-07-14T07:03:42Z

AWaldron: /* Performing the Ceremony */

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallian Ceremony]] - Magnitude 10 - The Labyrinth ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony. They become the Prophet as described in the rules about [[Ceremonies Overview#Some Ceremonies are listed as Curses. The power to deliver a curse is imbued in one of the individuals who performed the ceremony.|Curses]].

This Ceremony is a Curse, and therefore interacts with anything that would remove or affect Curses.

== Effects ==
The character affected by this curse cannot read or write. Words they read or write simply read “You are not permitted”, over and over again.

Individuals trying to get around this by spelling things out letter by letter inevitably find themselves somehow spelling out the same phrase, letter by letter.

The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts for a full year.

== Description ==
Whilst Curses are all experienced in a personalised manner, this one is rather more uniform than most, and one of the most frustrating. Individuals affected by this particular Curse can recognise things as language, and can write out individual letters, but even when directly instructed about which letter to write down - letter by letter - they find themselves naturally spelling out the same frustrating words even whilst they think they are doing something else.

This is, unsurprisingly, a very distressing and disruptive thing to happen to someone, particularly since there are no outward signs of it affecting someone, and it therefore can be overlooked just how incredibly debilitating this is. There are cases of individuals pretending to have been afflicted by this Curse to get out of their responsibilities, and in nearly every occasion this has led to fierce community retribution; this has led to it being nicknamed 'Blindfold of the Foolish Layabout' in some circles due to the parables written that were based off real (or at least apocryphal) events.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Hard as it is on Priests of Stallia, this Ceremony works best when performed utilising the destruction of written works. These are, therefore, usually written specifically for this purpose so that their destruction is less of a perceived sacrilege - commonly these are burned or shredded by hand in the Sanctified Square amidst muttered prayers of veneration and apologies listing all the many things that the performing priests will write in recompense.

While the Prophet is typically restricted of sight in one form or another (particularly when the Prophet intends or is intended to keep the Curse themselves), it is more a matter of tradition and symbology than something which seems to have particular necessity. The Curse is so straightforward in intent and effect that simply calling for it and understanding its Anathemic quality tends to be enough to manifest its dubious blessing.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Blindfold of the Uninitiated

2026-07-14T06:55:46Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallian Ceremony]] - Magnitude 10 - The Labyrinth ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony. They become the Prophet as described in the rules about [[Ceremonies Overview#Some Ceremonies are listed as Curses. The power to deliver a curse is imbued in one of the individuals who performed the ceremony.|Curses]].

This Ceremony is a Curse, and therefore interacts with anything that would remove or affect Curses.

== Effects ==
The character affected by this curse cannot read or write. Words they read or write simply read “You are not permitted”, over and over again.

Individuals trying to get around this by spelling things out letter by letter inevitably find themselves somehow spelling out the same phrase, letter by letter.

The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts for a full year.

== Description ==
Whilst Curses are all experienced in a personalised manner, this one is rather more uniform than most, and one of the most frustrating. Individuals affected by this particular Curse can recognise things as language, and can write out individual letters, but even when directly instructed about which letter to write down - letter by letter - they find themselves naturally spelling out the same frustrating words even whilst they think they are doing something else.

This is, unsurprisingly, a very distressing and disruptive thing to happen to someone, particularly since there are no outward signs of it affecting someone, and it therefore can be overlooked just how incredibly debilitating this is. There are cases of individuals pretending to have been afflicted by this Curse to get out of their responsibilities, and in nearly every occasion this has led to fierce community retribution; this has led to it being nicknamed 'Blindfold of the Foolish Layabout' in some circles due to the parables written that were based off real (or at least apocryphal) events.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Hard as it is on Priests of Stallia, this Ceremony works best when performed utilising the destruction of written works. These are, therefore, usually written specifically for this purpose so that their destruction is less of a perceived sacrilege - commonly these are burned or shredded by hand in the Sanctified Square amidst muttered prayers of veneration and apologies listing all the many things that the performing priests will write in recompense.

While the Oracle is typically restricted of sight in one form or another (particularly when the Oracle intends or is intended to keep the Curse themselves), it is more a matter of tradition and symbology than something which seems to have particular necessity. The Curse is so straightforward in intent and effect that simply calling for it and understanding its Anathemic quality tends to be enough to manifest its dubious blessing.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Departure of the Blessed Falcon

2026-07-14T06:45:00Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing +Extra Information Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 10 - The Labyrinth ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a location somewhere in the world.

== Effects ==
Summons and sends a blessed creature to a target location. It will arrive in a season or longer, depending on location. This creature is a target for scrying by those who know it exists, but is almost impossible to find and kill by those who don’t know what they are looking for.

This creature, while magical, travels at mundane pace, and will only be available to be scried after a season has passed. Being a specific focus for scrying, spells used to scry the Blessed Falcon count as having double magnitude for the purpose of effects that would block scrying efforts.

Unless found and destroyed through concerted effort, the magical creature will stay in position for a year.

== Extra Information ==
- The arrival of the Blessed Falcon ''does'' ''not provide a vision'' by itself, but needs to be targeted by a scrying spell in order to actively give information.

- A Blessed Falcon existing in a location makes all information gathering Ceremonies more likely to give information on that particular location (Signs and Portents, Dream in the Witch's House, etc.)

- The Blessed Falcon can be used for other purposes that need to target a specific location for as long as it exists

== Description ==
The Blessed Falcon is, when visible, eminently a creature straight from the Sphere of Stallia itself, manifested into our realm through the Grace of the Spheres. Pitch black, with red and golden pinpricks of colour across its plumage, it looks like an old Galaxy turns within its wingspan - those who gaze on it swear that it seems to move before snapping back to the original pattern after they blink. The cold eyes that gaze from the creature seem to have human intelligence within their depths, and those that climb to their hidden perches to study them swear that they whisper strange words that slide over the mind like a cold stream while they're not being directly observed.

These viewings are few and far between, for the Falcon is typically invisible, a power that seems inherently tied to their existence. Whilst their presence can be felt, and they can be detected using magic by the skilled who know what they are looking for and roughly where to look, this makes them extremely unlikely to be stumbled on by accident. They seem to prefer perching on the roof of towers or places of knowledge and/or solemnity, their cold dark eyes sending a chill through all those they observe.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Whilst some priests swear by the inclusion of items related to falconry or birds in general in the performance of this Ceremony, there is dubious evidence of the efficacy of their usage. What is absolutely clear, however, is that clear instruction and intent are absolutely vital to the success of this Ceremony. Describing in exacting detail exactly where the Falcon should go, and what it should spend its days observing seems to have a clear link to the quality of other Ceremonies targeting it - the intelligence of the otherworldly creatures is beyond doubt, and those who have been lapse in their descriptions have commonly found their summoned helper to be exactingly particular (and almost petty) in following the technically correct intent, rather than the clear intent of the instructions.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Being of Like Mind

2026-07-14T05:34:00Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallian Ceremony]] - Magnitude 8 - The Star Serpent ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a Band, all of whom must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time. The target for the Ceremony is the Band, not the individuals in it.

== Effects ==
The target Band selects a spell that one of its members knows. All other members know that spell, regardless of whether or not they have any skills that would allow them to use it. If the warband has 10 or more members who learn a spell in this way, they all gain 1 additional mana.

Any characters who join the target Band after the conclusion of the Ceremony do not gain the benefit of this Enchantment, nor do they count to the number of members for the purposes of giving the Band members additional mana.

As long as the Band remains enchanted, all its members experience a roleplaying effect: ''You hear flitting snippets of thought shared across your mystical bond that ping and bounce around, shaping your subconscious thoughts. You are more likely to agree and act in accordance with those of your Band, rather than striking out on your own.''

The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts until the end of the event.

== Description ==
To the otherworldly eminence of the Star Serpent, the human mind is simply another book in the great library of knowledge and understanding, and to reach out to allow others to read it is a blessing that transcends our ability to truly understand. The one who Gives of themselves forms a locus that the whole band is drawn into, granting them memories that are not their own - experienced in sepia, like looking through a filter at life. Memories change as we remember them, and so experiencing someone else's memory can be strange and disconcerting, and our mind rejects the knowledge the moment the Star Serpent's blessing ends.

Nonetheless, memories are the foundation of skill, and through this bond, the skill to perform magic is granted to all those who tie their minds to the one who Gives. An unintended side effect of this is that thoughts can sometimes flow both ways through this bond if they are strong enough, and seem to be true and original to each who receives them if they are not thoroughly examined; as such, the affected Band tend to agree with whoever is first to voice their opinion, acting in conspicuous unity if they are not careful to examine their own thoughts.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Whilst the powers of the Star Serpent alone are what cause this to be possible, and our minds are thus far incapable of understanding the divine nature of this bond, clarity of intent and good preparation make it easier for the mind to accept what is happening to it. As such, most priests tend to have the one who is to Give of themselves to describe the experiences and teachings that they believe will be shared as part of the Ceremony, weaving their intent into the prayers beseeching Grace.

Sometimes this might be actively describing how they were taught the specific spell that they will be sharing, but sometimes it might be instances where they have used it, or impactful moments in their lives when they experienced the effects of it instead. By sharing these contexts as their own, it helps those who Recieve to accept that these are not their own experiences, as they can sometimes be difficult to deal with, or even traumatic if these experiences were had in the heat of battle.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Shield of the Stars

2026-07-14T05:22:35Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 6 - The Star Serpent ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying (the minimum increasing appropriately if additional targets are added). This Ceremony targets a character with the Battlemage skill, who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target character with the Battlemage skill gains two additional hitpoints.

As long as they are enchanted the target experiences a roleplaying effect: The shimmering field of stars that runs through and beneath your skin tingles with the promise of new things, leading you to confidence and a drive to take action.

The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts until the end of the event.

== Additional Targets ==
This Ceremony can affect additional characters from the same Band. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 4. Additional targets must be present for the whole Ceremony as well.

== Description ==
While the weaving of protective wards and sorceries has ever been a significant field of study for all magi who take to the front lines, this Ceremony ties the personal mana of a Battlemage to the divine essence of their being, and in so doing imbues them with a variety of benefits to protect them. It empowers and invigorates, the physical presence of the mana strengthening skin and bone, but the effect is not simply physical - many who experience this Ceremony have sworn a certain split-second prescience to allow them to better know when to dodge and what to say, which manifests as a confidence and desire for action.

When performed with others in a Band, the effect is even greater, the mingling mana across the bond building stronger personal connection, and a gut instinct about when the other might be in danger on the battlefield.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
While the Ceremony does not strictly need those targeted to do anything to be the beneficiary of the spell, it is commonplace to have those who will take on the blessing to go through the processes of calling up their power to cast a spell whilst within the Sanctified Square in order to best direct the intent of the Ceremony and prepare their bodies for the wellspring of power manifesting more physically within them. This is not to say the spell should be cast, but like a fuse snuffed out at the very end, the mana for the spell should be drawn up as if about to cast it, and then allowed to dissipate back within the body's reserves.
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Signs and Portents

2026-07-14T05:14:07Z

AWaldron: Description + Performing Added

== A [[Stallia Ceremonies|Stallia Ceremony]] - Magnitude 6 - Machine ==

== Performing the Ceremony ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets up to four characters who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.

== Effects ==
Up to 4 targets receive a mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, or at the very least in the near future. The information is often cryptic, and is up to each of the individuals to recall and interpret, as they may not necessarily receive the same vision.

It is not possible to direct this Ceremony towards particular topics, as it is up to the whims of the Stallian Eternals what is seen.

All targets regain all spent personal mana.

== Description ==
From the dawn of time, every culture in every place has had those who look to the future and seek to determine what will be - each of their efforts, wherever they were successful, was drawing a small part of Machine's power in the gathering of knowledge that does not yet exist. Empowered by Crystal Mana and performed properly, the information received is always true in its indications and nature, and invariably turns out to be relevant for something that is happening right now, or will imminently occur, though in many cases this is only realised in retrospect.

The visions received can sometimes be distressing, or show things happening that seem literal but are metaphorical, and are usually experienced differently from person to person, though there are exceptions. Those targetted fall into a quiet trance whilst they experience the visions, and commonly need to be carried to a seat until they recover, magic flowing through their veins as their mana returns to them in force.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
There are a million and one ways to bequeath the future to open itself up to your seeking eyes, and it is perhaps no surprise that some of the more esoteric and inventive soothsaying techniques seem to hold favour with Machine the most. The application of human superstitions and practices such as the reading of cards, the casting of bones or runes, or any other common fortune telling techniques tend to lead to the best outcomes for those who sink into the half-slumber trance that results from the Ceremony.

There is an ongoing debate about the reading of entrails or the use of blood in the performing of this Ceremony - there is a sizeable cohort who claim that their use makes the visions substantially less vague, but what is absolutely clear is that they will make the visions nightmarish without fail. Those who seek this clarity do so at their own peril...
[[Category:Stallia]]
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Abbot of Mivara

2026-07-11T03:10:09Z

AWaldron: 226 Abbot added

The Abbot of Mivara acts as the responsible party for a small township and Abbey that serve as the home of the miners and administrators that run the two mines officially owned by the Church in the region - they serve as both the leader of the community and also the person in charge of the two mines overall outputs. They receive income and tend to any concerns that may arise with the location, though the Church will likely expect their due from the Abbot due to owning the mines in the end.

==Election==
The Abbot of Mivara is elected each Summit by the Council of Six. They may choose whoever they wish, though of course as the role involves spiritually guiding the people of the town it is preferable they are a Priest. There is no limit on how many times someone can be named Abbot of Mivara. Their term lasts only until the start of the next Summit.

This title is nationalized to Lerona Mere - only characters registered as citizens of that realm can hold this title.
==Powers and Responsibilities==
'''Income -''' The Mines of Mivara produce Sun's Iron and Forge Steel as though they were each Tier 3 Mines specialized for those resources.

'''Protection –''' The Abbot is expected to maintain the Mines of Mivara and ensure they stay in good condition.
==History==
When The Low came to Passage, it offered a number of wealthy individuals opportunities to invest in the ambitions of others, to bring them out of their own lowly suffering. In the aftermath of this, there was a resounding success by one of those who had been invested in, and they saw fit to return the investment in their prospecting with not just a large volume of resources, but also the initial work on the mines that had been purchased - all assisted by the Grace of The Low.

The Church did not immediately act to assign these boons to anyone in particular, though the workforce set aside to work them was immediately tasked with assisting in repairs to Athemer's Folly, and with the mines left in the hands of the Curateship and thus the Civil Service, they began to decline.

In Winter 224, the Church chose to spend a sizeable number of locks to establish a township for the workers, and finally get to work fully establishing the mines through re-recruiting the lost workforce and so forth. To oversee the mines, the position of Abbot of Mivara was created to ensure the proper functionality of the mines.
==Historic Abbots==
{| class="wikitable"
|Name
|Summit
|-
|Zoharian
|Autumn 226
|-
|Napoleon Le Livre
|Spring 225
|-
|Natalia De Rose
|Autumn 225
|-
|Maximilien Villeneuve
|Summer 224
|-
|Julius Di Strozzi
|Summer 224 (Abdicated)
|}
===Game Design===
It should be noted that while the Abbey of Mivara functions similarly to an investment, it does not replace the characters investment. Rather, it acts in addition to it. It provides income but does not provide any other possible actions and cannot be upgrade through standard investment-upgrade methods.
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Church]]
[[Category:Mine]]
[[Category:Elected positions]]

Tenets of the Concordian Church

2026-07-03T04:46:06Z

AWaldron: /* The Church speaks with the Will of the Spheres */

The [[Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres]] was founded in 221 AE, and remained without formal documents that served as its foundation until the end of 223 AE, at which point it amended the Foundational Documents - adopted and adapted from those of Artebazzan. This set of Foundational Documents, when compared to those of Artebazzan, is considered to be a Living document, and subject to change as the Heralds and the Eternals develop our understanding of the Spheres and their servants.

See also

- [[Strictures of the Church|Strictures of the Concordian Church]]

= Foundational Documents of the Concordian Church =

== Tenets of the Church ==

==== The Divine Exists ====
The Spheres Exist.

The Eternals Exist, and represent the true aspects of the Spheres.

The Heralds Exist, and embody the living aspects of the Spheres.

These things are observable fact, and cannot be disputed. Doing so is heinous Apostasy.

==== The Spheres Instruct Us ====
We know that the Spheres give us instruction as to how to live our lives, each unique to the Spheres, each a calling for us all to follow.

The Spheres provide us the power over their anathemic qualities in order to test our resolve - they are to tempt us, and to perform them is a blight

These instructions are observable fact, and to dispute them is Heresy.

'''We know that Anarch is the Sphere of Change and Growth.'''

Anarch calls us to challenge the strong in order to prove ourselves worthy, to live as our truest and most honest selves, overcome our limits and strive for the impossible, and gather strength and wisdom from our failures - finding humility in finding our place.

'''We know that Lumos is the Sphere of Life and Light.'''

Lumos calls us to listen to others to find the things we believe in, to hold true to those faiths, to defend our faiths and beliefs in order to inspire hope, and to share our personal truths with others.

'''We know that Arcadian is the Sphere of Combat and Courage.'''

Arcadian calls us to be courageous before all adversity, to work together with others to face fierce foes, to value ourselves appropriately, to know our own worth and place in the world, and to take on challenges that are neither beyond nor beneath us.

'''We know that Panoply is the Sphere of Ambition and Glory.'''

Panoply calls us to strive eternally for ever greater heights and renown, to struggle endlessly against everything the world throws at us, to both accept failure as a teacher and to move on despite it, and to use rather than to monopolize our power and wealth

'''We know that Cervitas is the Sphere of Wisdom and Connection.'''

Cervitas calls us to act in unison in all things, to be loyal to our betters and those worthy of it, to be trustworthy and trust others to the extent that they deserve, and to be held to our oaths as if they were unbreaking chains

'''We know that Stallia is the Sphere of Truth and Knowledge'''

Stallia calls us to seek out the Truth with persistence and tenacity, to question our world so that we may determine what is true, to protect knowledge from those who would distort or destroy it, and to use that knowledge to our benefit wherever life leads us

==== The Spheres are Powerful and grant Salvation ====
The Spheres are Divine, each an infinite wellspring of Power and Grace. Each distinct and influential, they are immiscible, and cannot be called on together.

The Spheres give Power in response to Power. We sacrifice things in our flawed world and are rewarded with the blessing of the Spheres in return.

The Spheres give Grace through Change. We change ourselves to follow the calling of the Spheres, and by growing closer to them we receive their Grace and have our souls saved in the life beyond death

==== The Journey is Paramount and Divine ====
It is the power of the Spheres that created all that is, and thus to them all things return, save that which disappoints them and is discarded into nothingness

When all living souls pass from our world, they fly through the darkness and attempt to enter a Sphere that called to them most in life. Those souls pass on to attempt to pass through other Spheres, until they have at last past through all 6 Spheres, or else they are returned to our flawed world to grow and try again. This is the Journey.

The highest calling for all souls is to pass through each of the Spheres on the Journey, and thence to reside forever in the Sphere that calls them home, to rest in Grace

The greatest failing for any soul is to fail to make the Journey, which proves them unworthy of the Spheres’ Grace, and damns them to an eternity of torment

To take an act that will knowingly prevent or hinder a soul’s path on the Journey is a heresy of the highest order, and damns the perpetrator’s own soul to eternal torment

==== We are Undeserving of the Spheres ====
As souls adrift from our true home in the Spheres, we are imperfect and should ever strive to be worthy of the Grace that we receive, lest we lose it. We do not deserve the Power of the Spheres or their servants, the Eternals and the Heralds, though it is human to wish and pray for it.

The Spheres are entities of Power and Grace, and are above the wants and desires of our flawed world - to beseech them for things that you do not deserve without sacrifice is both pointless and an insult to their purity.

The Eternals are primordial beings that embody the aspects we must aspire to. They have power to act when they see fit, and can be prayed to for intercession in times of need.

The Heralds are aspects of the Spheres designed to teach us what it is to be Divine. They are beings of Power and Grace, and deserve our respect, but neither need nor want our prayers nor veneration.

At times, it may seem that a Herald has come to act against you directly, or is hostile to you. Know that everything done by a Herald is a Divine Choice, and may be some boon in disguise - a teaching moment, a needed lesson in humility, a reminder of the power of the Spheres.

==== The Church speaks with the Will of the Spheres ====
The enlightened and learned preachers, priests, and high priest of the Church are the closest thing to a Herald’s voice, and their responsibility is to spread the teachings of the Spheres

Listen and respect the word of those who speak the teachings of the Spheres, for they will lead you to the path of spiritual salvation and Grace

The Church exists to serve and to be served - to serve those who lack enlightenment, sustenance or sanctuary on this world, and to be served by those who with wisdom or wealth to spare

The failings of the uneducated to reach Grace is the failure of the Church, who have failed to spread the truth. The failings of the educated to reach Grace is the failure of the individual, who has had opportunity but squandered both it and their soul.

As the Church speaks with the Will of the Spheres, and those that speak its voice speak with the words of the Divine, priests can be tried for Religious crimes only by those that also speak for the Spheres.

The Church alone has the power to decree certain elements of life as Divine

The Church and the Concordian state act in the goodwill of all, and therefore will not hoard or amass money or power unduly, as other states have done, nor infringe upon the inalienable rights of the common people.

The dictates of the Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres are the true word of the Spheres, and a mandate for all the faithful. To fail to adhere to them is a failing in the eyes of the Spheres. To deny them or decry them is heresy.

==== The Graces bear Grace themselves ====
Those born as Graces have been to a Sphere and forever changed with how powerful their connection was with that Sphere. The Sphere that affects the change upon them is the destined resting place of their soul.

Graces come as shards of Divinity to our world, to teach us in their own way what it is to live as a paragon of their Graced Sphere. Whether they take on the role of a priest, or fall to the life of a highway villain, their very existence is a story to be studied.

As shards of the Divine, their judgment is not ours to make. Only a Herald, High Priest, or Grace of the same Sphere can formally judge another Grace in any way, or lay a hand upon them in censure or punishment.

==== Life exists as a Test; Failure is Expected ====
To struggle is divine. Such is the purpose of life in our flawed world. All actions that do not spit on the Divinity of the Spheres are forgivable in their sight, so long as just recompense is paid.

To be contrite involves raising the blights of failure and weakness to the eyes of the Eternals, though only restitution and self-reform will wash them away, allowing Grace to be attained

The guilty must always be given the opportunity to repay the harm they have done if their lives are to be taken from them for their crimes, so their souls may have the best chance of making the Journey

== Creeds of the Concordian Church ==

==== Formal Creed of the Church ====
We venerate the Spheres, one and all:

Anarch, of Change and Growth;

Lumos, of Life and Light;

Arcadian, of Combat and Courage;

Panoply, of Ambition and Glory;

Cervitas, of Wisdom and Connection;

Stallia, of Truth and Knowledge.

We entrust our eternal souls to the Journey,

We strive forever to better ourselves to that purpose,

We seek always to return home to you.

As we give unto you our veneration and sacrifice on this world, look down upon us O Eternals, and wash from us our failings and weaknesses so that we may better embody you.

As we live our lives as you have commanded, come and be with us, O Heralds, granting us the wisdom and truth of the Divine, that we may join you amidst the Spheres.

We pledge ourselves once more to the teachings of the Concordian Church, the guidance of its enlightened preachers, and the study of the Graces

Though we fall, we rise again and strive eternally, for to struggle is divine.

In the Spheres’ light we stand.

==== Congregation’s Creed ====
We give thanks to the Spheres.

Anarch, Lumos, Arcadian, Panoply, Cervitas, Stallia.

We give our all to prepare ourselves for the Journey, where we will try to return to you.

Eternals, watch over us and take away our blights and failures.

Heralds, stand with us and teach us what it is to be perfect.

We pledge ourselves to the true Church, and pledge to follow the guiding will of its preachers and Graces.

Though we fall, we rise again and strive forever, for to struggle is divine.

In the Spheres’ light we stand.

== [[Strictures of the Church]] ==
The Strictures (laws) of the Church have their own page, where any crimes prosecuted by the church at the highest level will be recorded.

= Tenets and Creed of The Church of the Divine Spheres of Artebazzan =
The text below represents the heart of the Artebazzani Tenets of faith, the original documents by which the majority of Spheric followers of the world (and in particular those of Artebazzan) follow.

== Tenets of the Church ==

==== The Divine Exists ====
The Spheres Exist.

The Eternals Exist, and represent the true aspects of the Spheres.

The Heralds Exist, and embody the living aspects of the Spheres.

These things are observable fact, and cannot be disputed. Doing so is heinous Apostasy

==== The Spheres Instruct Us ====
We know that the Spheres give us instruction as to how to live our lives, each unique to the Spheres, each a calling for us all to follow.

The Spheres provide us the power over their anathemic qualities in order to test our resolve - they are to tempt us, and to perform them is a blight

These instructions are observable fact, and to dispute them is Heresy.

'''We know that Anarch is the Sphere of Change and Growth.'''

Anarch calls us to challenge the strong in order to prove ourselves worthy, to live as our truest and most honest selves, overcome our limits and strive for the impossible, and gather strength and wisdom from our failures - finding humility in finding our place.

'''We know that Lumos is the Sphere of Life and Light.'''

Lumos calls us to listen to others to find the things we believe in, to hold true to those faiths, to live our lives confidently, to defend our faiths and beliefs fanatically, and to share our personal truths with others.

'''We know that Arcadian is the Sphere of Combat and Courage.'''

Arcadian calls us to be courageous before all adversity, to work together with others to face fierce foes, to value ourselves appropriately, to know our own worth and place in the world, and to take on challenges that are neither beyond nor beneath us.

'''We know that Panoply is the Sphere of Ambition and Glory.'''

Panoply calls us to strive eternally for ever greater heights and renown, to struggle endlessly against everything the world throws at us, to both accept failure as a teacher and to move on despite it, and to use rather than monopolize our power and wealth

'''We know that Cervitas is the Sphere of Wisdom and Connection.'''

Cervitas calls us to act in unison in all things, to be loyal to our betters and those worthy of it, to be trustworthy and trust others to the extent that they deserve, and to be held to our oaths as if they were unbreaking chains

'''We know that Stallia is the Sphere of Truth and Knowledge.'''

Stallia calls us to seek out the Truth no matter the cost, to blindly believe nothing that we cannot be sure is true, to hoard knowledge lest it be taken from us, and to use that knowledge to our benefit wherever life leads us

==== The Spheres are Powerful and grant Salvation ====
The Spheres are Divine, each an infinite wellspring of Power and Grace. Each distinct and influential, they are immiscible, and cannot be called on together.

The Spheres give Power in response to Power. We sacrifice things in our flawed world and are rewarded with the blessing of the Spheres in return.

The Spheres give Grace through Change. We change ourselves to follow the calling of the Spheres, and by growing closer to them we receive their Grace and have our souls saved in life beyond death

==== The Journey is Paramount and Divine ====
It is the power of the Spheres that created all that is, and thus to them all things return, save that which disappoints them and is discarded into nothingness.

When all living souls pass from our world, they fly through the darkness and attempt to enter a Sphere that called to them most in life. Those perfect souls pass on to attempt to pass through other Spheres, until they have at last past through all 6 Spheres, or else they are returned to our flawed world to grow and try again. This is the Journey.

The highest calling for all souls is to pass through each of the Spheres on the Journey, and thence to reside forever in the Sphere that calls them home, to rest in Grace.

The greatest failing for any soul is to fail to make the Journey, which proves them unworthy of the Spheres’ Grace, and damns them to an eternity of torment.

To take an act that will knowingly prevent or hinder a soul’s path on the Journey is a heresy of the highest order, and damns the perpetrator’s own soul to eternal torment.

==== We are Undeserving of the Spheres ====
As souls adrift from our true home in the Spheres, we are imperfect and should ever strive to be worthy of the Grace that we receive, lest we lose it. We do not deserve the Power of the Spheres or their servants, the Eternals and the Heralds, though it is human to wish and pray for it.

The Spheres are entities of Power and Grace, and are above the wants and desires of our flawed world - to beseech them for things that you do not deserve through sacrifice is both pointless and an insult to their purity.

The Eternals are primordial beings that embody the aspects we must aspire to. They have power to act when they see fit, and can be prayed to for intercession in times of need.

The Heralds are aspects of the Spheres designed to teach us what it is to be Divine. They are beings of Power and Grace, and deserve our respect, but neither need nor want our prayers nor veneration.

At times, it may seem that a Herald has come to act against you directly, or is hostile to you. Know that everything done by a Herald is a Divine Choice, and may be some boon in disguise - a teaching moment, a needed lesson in humility, a reminder of the power of the Spheres.

==== The Church speaks with the Will of the Spheres ====
The enlightened and learned preachers, priests, and high priest of the Church are the closest thing to a Herald’s voice, and their will is the will of the Spheres.

Listen and respect the word of your religious leader, for they will lead you to the path of spiritual salvation and Grace.

The Church exists to serve and to be served - to serve those who lack enlightenment, sustenance or sanctuary on this world, and to be served by those who have those with wisdom or wealth to spare.

The failings of the uneducated to reach Grace is the failure of the Church, who have failed to spread the truth.

The failings of the educated to reach Grace is the failure of the individual, who has had opportunity but squandered both it and their soul.

As the Church speaks with the Will of the Spheres, and those that speak its voice speak with the words of the Divine: Priests can be tried for crimes only by those that also speak for the Spheres.

The Church alone has the power to decree certain elements of life as Divine, and therefore above challenge or contention by aspirants of Anarch

The Church and the Artebazzani state act in the goodwill of all, and their amassing of coin and power in order to create stability is divine, and not an affront to Panoply

The dictates of the Artebazzani Ecclesiastical Synod are the true word of the Spheres, and a mandate for all the faithful. To fail to adhere to them is a failing in the eyes of the Spheres. To deny them or decry them is heresy.

==== The Graces bear Grace themselves ====
Those born as Graces have been to a Sphere and forever changed with how powerful their connection was with that Sphere. The Sphere that affects the change upon them is the destined resting place of their soul.

Graces come as shards of Divinity to our world, to teach us in their own way what it is to live as a paragon of their Graced Sphere. Whether they take on the role of a priest, or fall to the life of a highway villain, their very existence is a story to be studied.

As shards of the Divine, their judgment is not ours to make. Only a Herald or Grace of the same Sphere can judge another Grace in any way, or lay a hand upon them in censure or punishment.

Taking the life of a Grace robs the world of the opportunity to learn from them. To do so in any way other than on the field of battle is unthinkable.

==== Life exists as a Test; Failure is Expected ====
To struggle is divine. Such is the purpose of life in our flawed world. All actions that do not spit on the Divinity of the Spheres are forgivable in their sight, so long as just recompense is paid.

To be contrite involves raising the blights of failure and weakness to the eyes of the Eternals, though only restitution and self-reform will wash them away, allowing Grace to be attained.

The guilty must always be given the opportunity to repay the harm they have done if their lives are to be taken from them for their crimes, so their souls may have the best chance of making the Journey.
----

== Creeds of the Artebazzani Church ==

==== Formal Creed of the Church ====
We venerate the Spheres, one and all:

Anarch, of Change and Growth;

Lumos, of Life and Light;

Arcadian, of Combat and Courage;

Panoply, of Ambition and Glory;

Cervitas, of Wisdom and Connection;

Stallia, of Truth and Knowledge.

We entrust our eternal souls to the Journey,

We strive forever to better ourselves to that purpose,

We seek always to return home to you.

As we give unto you our veneration and sacrifice on this world, look down upon us O Eternals, and wash from us our failings and weaknesses so that we may better embody you.

As we live our lives as you have commanded, come and be with us, O Heralds, granting us the wisdom and truth of the Divine, that we may join you amidst the Spheres.

We pledge ourselves once more to the teachings of the Artebazzani Church, the guidance of its enlightened preachers, and the study of the Graces

Though we fall, we rise again and strive eternally, for to struggle is divine.

In the Spheres’ light we stand.

==== Commoner’s Creed ====
We give thanks to the Spheres.

Anarch, Lumos, Arcadian, Panoply, Cervitas, Stallia.

We give our all to prepare ourselves for the Journey, where we will try to return to you.

Eternals, watch over us and take away our blights and failures.

Heralds, stand with us and teach us what it is to be perfect.

We pledge ourselves to the true Church, and pledge to follow the guiding will of its preachers and Graces.

Though we fall, we rise again and strive forever, for to struggle is divine.

In the Spheres’ light we stand.

Lumos Ceremonies

2026-05-02T07:03:14Z

AWaldron: Villenueve's Blessing renamed to Somnolence's Salve

The Sphere of Hope, [[Lumos]] ceremonies tend to empower believers, seek out foes and protect the weak.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|[[Believer's Missive]]
| -
|The message that you have written is magically sent to the Lumos Herald or Eternal of your choice, so long as you have properly addressed it. There is no guarantee that you will receive a response, and the Ceremony does not magically assist them in replying.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[The Candle Extinguished]]
| -
|At the completion of the ceremony, if the target is a corpse, it is consumed by hundreds of candle flames that rapidly consume the remains. Not even bones will be left behind. At the completion of the ceremony, if the target is a Terminal character, they die peacefully and painlessly, with the leader of the Ceremony being responsible for deciding if there will be a corpse left behind for burial or not. This Ceremony can affect additional corpses or characters with Terminal from the same Realm. Each additional target increases the magnitude by 1 to a maximum of 9 total.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Binding of Hope]]
| -
|The characters who are present, are in the same realm, and consent to do so are joined together magically and henceforth are made a Sect. This can be performed again to add more people to the Sect at a later date - this requires either the entire Sect be present, or at least as many current members as new members for the Ceremony to work.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Release the Chain of Memory]]
| -
|Excises one or more memories from a willing character, removing it from their mind. The contents of the memory are focused on by the individual for the duration of the Ceremony, and need not be revealed to those around them. The character is filled with a sense of hope when they attempt to recall it.
|2
|Yes
|-
|[[Hearthfire Circle]]
| -
|The target character recovers all lost hit points, as well as any fractures, venom or silence effects that they are affected by. Additionally, the target character may ignore the roleplay effect of any traumatic wounds that currently affect them. This Ceremony only suppresses the roleplaying effects of these wounds - any mechanical effects must still be followed, and any wounds that aren’t fixed by the end of the event need to be placed into the target’s character bag at the end to indicate they are ongoing. This Ceremony can affect additional characters from the same Band. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 3. Additional targets must be present for the whole Ceremony as well.
|4
|Yes
|-
|[[Believers of the True Orator]]
|Enchantment
|During the next downtime, the target Congregation takes the Conviction, Tithing, and Mysticism actions. The owner of the target experiences a roleplaying effect until the end of the event.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Enlightened Ceremony]]
|Enchantment
|This ceremony augments a cultural bonding ceremony, such as a wedding, adoption, blood-binding of warriors or similar gathering. This ceremony binds the hopes and devotions of those two characters together. Target characters may each choose to gain either 1 additional Hit Point or 2 additional Mana. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|6
|Yes
|-
|[[Embrace the Living Flame]]
|Enchantment
|Target character’s energy maximum is increased by two. This Ceremony can target additional characters from the same Sect. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 6. Additional targets must be present for the whole Ceremony as well. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[The Twilight Masquerade]]
|Enchantment
|The target character changes their appearance, and appears as a Grace of their choice, taking on all the roleplay effects and physical requirements of that Grace. Please see the page for further details. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|8
|Yes
|-
|[[Unmask the Hidden Thrall]]
| -
|The target character becomes blind for the remainder of the night. Any Pothraxi Thralls within 3 Leagues of them will have a pale blue light shine upon their chest while the target of the Ceremony remains blind.
|8
|No
|-
|[[Antithesis of Faith]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains the ability to cast Silence and Stun as if they knew them. They may cast each of these once per day for no mana. If you recover all personal Mana from an effect it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|9
|Yes
|-
|[[Vigor of Belief]]
|Enchantment
|The target character gains the Deathless skill. Target characters may spend 1 Energy or Mana to call Immune to Venom. This Ceremony can affect additional characters from the same Sect. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 5. Additional characters must be present throughout. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|9
|Yes
|-
|[[The Sunburst Armour]]
|Enchantment
|The target character is immune to the next Arcane or Spiritual wound (of any severity) they would receive. When they are given the wound by a member of The Concord team they can inform them of this effect and return it. This does not affect physical wounds.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Like a Moth to a Flame]]
|Curse
|The Cursed character is supernaturally drawn to bright lights and both shuns and fears the darkness. Whenever the character is not brightly lit, they are affected by the Silence condition. The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts for three events, including the one in which it was received, after which point the Curse fades naturally.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Grace in Forgiveness]]
| -
|The target character under the effect of a curse has that curse removed. If the original Prophet has Cursed the target more than once, any number of Curses may be forgiven and removed in this way. After the ceremony, both the Cursed and the Prophet experience a roleplaying effect until the end of the day.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Revealed to the Initiate]]
|Enchantment
|Target character with no ranks in any Divine Lore gains Divine Lore 3 in one Sphere of their choice. The character does not gain the ability to obtain extra masteries in any Ceremonies that would be granted by these ranks normally. Please see the page for further details about this ceremony. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|No
|-
|[[Flame of Healing]]
|Enchantment
|The target character may cast Heal, Mend Limb, and Purify as if they knew them. They may cast each of these spells once per day for no mana. If you recover all personal Mana from an effect it also recovers the uses of this ability. The target experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Inquisitor's Seeking Eye|Inquisitors Seeking Eye]]
|Enchantment
|The target military investment gains three bonus tiers as long as it undertakes the ‘Scout the Frontline’ order during the next season. The owner of the target experiences a roleplaying effect for the duration of the event.
|10
|Yes
|-
|[[Strength of Belief]]
|Enchantment
|All characters from the target Sect gain one additional hitpoint. If the Sect has more than ten members, the Sect leader also gains an additional mana. The targets experience a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|12
|Yes
|-
|[[Blessing of Unmade Belief]]
| -
|The target character with one or more levels in Divine Lore may immediately re-spend any and all experience they have spent on those skills. This can be on other Divine Lore levels if they wish, or anything else. This effect is permanent. If this change would cause the target to drop to Divine Lore 0 in any Sphere that they currently have experience spent in, they may never spend experience to gain Divine Lore in that Sphere again, nor gain any benefit that would give them access to that Divine Lore again. If this change would cause a target whose Investment is a Congregation to drop to zero experience spent across all Divine Lores, they must immediately and freely replace it with a Tier 1 Investment of any other type.
|20
|No
|-
|[[The Bright Soul Within]]
|Enchantment
|The target region becomes blessed against Undeath. Individuals who perish within the region cannot be raised as undead against their will for the next six months.
|35
|No
|-
|[[Hopeforged]]
| -
|The target weapon, item, or prop is immune to the Break effect. In addition, if the item is an Artisan crafted item, its remaining duration is refreshed as if it was just made. Anyone holding onto the item for an extended duration experiences a roleplaying effect. The effect lasts until the end of the event.
|35
|No
|-
|[[Rivers of Blood]]
|Curse
|Target territory gains a trait that increases the casualties taken within the territory by 100%. While the curse is in effect, its effects flow on to affect civilian life as well, increasing the mortality rates of the people living there.
|50
|No
|-
|[[Rivers of Life]]
|Enchantment
|Target territory gains a trait that reduces casualties taken within the territory by 100% (to a maximum of -80%). While the enchantment is in effect, its effects flow on to affect civilian life as well, substantially decreasing the mortality rate of the population living there.
|50
|No
|-
|[[Somnolence's Salve]]
|Enchantment
|The target army is blessed with fulfilling rest and speedy healing. During the next season, the target Army regains 3000 strength if it takes the Billet action, however in the Season after it Billets its Maximum Movement Value is set to 5. In addition the General of the target Army experiences a roleplaying effect.
|60
|No
|}

=== Alignment Ceremonies ===
The following ceremonies are only available during a Summit where the Precipice is aligned to Lumos.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Type
!Effect
!Magnitude
!Altar Capable
|-
|Lullaby of Twilight
| -
|The target characteer enters a gentle and deep sleep. They receive a vision of their homeland. Any limited ability they currently have is restored. This effect does not recover any energy, health, or mana.
|8
|No
|-
|Moon's Perigee
|Enchantment
|The target character with the Surgeon skill halves surgery time and whenever they must use resources for surgery, they may reduce the number required by 1 to a minimum of 0. This effect lasts until the end of the Summit.
|25
|Yes
|-
|Final Sunset
|Curse
|The target of this curse feels the sun beginning to set upon them, hope existing in a state of waxing and waning. At the next dawn they will receive a Challenge of Hope. If they fail to complete the task within a year, they gain the terminal condition. If they remove this curse through any other method, they also gain the terminal condition.
|75
|No
|}
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Villeneuve’s Blessing

2026-05-02T07:01:54Z

AWaldron: AWaldron moved page Villeneuve’s Blessing to Somnolence's Salve: Church Motion to Change

#REDIRECT [[Somnolence's Salve]]

Somnolence's Salve

2026-05-02T07:01:54Z

AWaldron: AWaldron moved page Villeneuve’s Blessing to Somnolence's Salve: Church Motion to Change

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Villeneuve's Blessing}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Somnolence's Salve}}

== A Lumos Ceremony - Magnitude 60 - The Ashen Moon ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 10 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets an Army.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target army is blessed with fulfilling rest and speedy healing. Even those thought to be bedridden for months find themselves on their feet, right as rain, with but a few days rest. Each night a deep sleep takes hold of the Army, and the next morning at sunrise they wake feeling refreshed and energetic. Surgeons and healers find their patients easier to work on, and this deep sleep seems to speed their recovery in ways otherwise impossible.

During the next season, the target Army regains 3000 strength if it takes the Billet action, however in the Season after it Billets its Maximum Movement Value is set to 5. In addition the General of the target Army gains the following roleplaying effect: ''The character feels like every step is slightly heavier, and every individual movement is slightly slower, but they know deep in their soul that they will rest well each and every night.''

== Description ==
While no obvious physical manifestation appears around the Army enchanted by this Ceremony, its influence is felt more deeply during the night than any other time. From midnight till sunrise, members of the targeted Army will find themselves drawn to sleep, and if they decide to do so, they are greeted by pleasant and restful dreams. The dreams themselves will vary from person to person, but a single detail can be recalled upon waking, and that is the presence of a lit candle that refuses to be dimmed.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
This Ceremony, drawn from The Ashen Moon, was developed by Headmaster Maximilien Villeneuve of The De Re School of Embers, and as such has no history to draw from. Notably, despite Maximilien’s eventual declaration and subsequent execution as a Heretic, there has been no negative consequence to the Ceremony itself.

When performing the Ceremony, Priests found it best to include words that encourage rest and relaxation, as well as performing actions and utilising items that encourage similar intent.

===== See Also: =====

* [[Lumos Ceremonies]]
* Winds of the World Autumn 226 - [[On the Edge of My Last Concern]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villeneuve's Blessing}}

Somnolence's Salve

2026-05-02T06:47:30Z

AWaldron:

Somnolence's Salve

2026-05-02T06:46:01Z

AWaldron:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Somnolence's Salve}}

== A Lumos Ceremony - Magnitude 60 - The Ashen Moon ==
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 10 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets an Army.

This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.

== Effects ==
The target army is blessed with fulfilling rest and speedy healing. Even those thought to be bedridden for months find themselves on their feet, right as rain, with but a few days rest. Each night a deep sleep takes hold of the Army, and the next morning at sunrise they wake feeling refreshed and energetic. Surgeons and healers find their patients easier to work on, and this deep sleep seems to speed their recovery in ways otherwise impossible.

During the next season, the target Army regains 3000 strength if it takes the Billet action, however in the Season after it Billets its Maximum Movement Value is set to 5. In addition the General of the target Army gains the following roleplaying effect: ''The character feels like every step is slightly heavier, and every individual movement is slightly slower, but they know deep in their soul that they will rest well each and every night.''

== Description ==
While no obvious physical manifestation appears around the Army enchanted by this Ceremony, its influence is felt more deeply during the night than any other time. From midnight till sunrise, members of the targeted Army will find themselves drawn to sleep, and if they decide to do so, they are greeted by pleasant and restful dreams. The dreams themselves will vary from person to person, but a single detail can be recalled upon waking, and that is the presence of a lit candle that refuses to be dimmed.

== Performing the Ceremony ==
This Ceremony, drawn from The Ashen Moon, was developed by Headmaster Maximilien Villeneuve of The De Re School of Embers, and as such has no history to draw from. Notably, despite Maximilien’s eventual declaration and subsequent execution as a Heretic, there has been no negative consequence to the Ceremony itself.

When performing the Ceremony, Priests found it best to include words that encourage rest and relaxation, as well as performing actions and utilising items that encourage similar intent.

===== See Also: =====

* [[Lumos Ceremonies]]
* Winds of the World Autumn 226 - [[On the Edge of My Last Concern]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somnolence's Salve}}

Spheric Beings of Cervitas

2026-04-20T07:50:06Z

AWaldron:

== Eternals of Cervitas ==
'''The Crowngrave'''

Representing the true essence of Imperial Power, The Crowngrave is not ambition, hunger, or war. It represents the authority of rulers over the community that has raised them up to be leaders. It is the duty of the leader to lead well, and of the follower to obey - this trust between ruler and ruled is essential, and woe is visited upon whichever side of the relationship betrays the other. Revealing itself in the rich sheen of dyed silks, and the comforting weight of headwear, The Crowngrave is the ultimate representation of institutional might.

'''The Masses'''

Representing the nature and power of community, The Masses is every bond between comrades, family, and neighbors. It is the strength of the crowd, the power of collective endeavor and the importance of trust in building anything of value. Revealing itself in the muddled voices of overlapping conversations, the raised voices of a crowd, and the terrifying press of bodies all moving in one direction, The Masses shows us the power of the collective spirit of a community.

'''The Blooded Stone'''

Representing the importance of tradition, The Blooded Stone represents the influence of ancestral decree, the weight of patriotism, and every ounce of history that a culture remembers. It is a celebration of the truths and actions of ancestors past, and the respect given to the actions of those who came before us. Revealing itself in the cracked but revered headstones and graves, and the knowledge imparted by the older generations, The Blooded Stone clashes frequently with the teachings of Anarch.

== Heralds of Cervitas ==
'''The Forgotten King'''

Subordinate Herald of The Crowngrave, The Forgotten King knows everything that has happened in the lands in which he walks, and is personally wounded by all the harm that has happened. Where the Heartsmason is the keeper of our pleasant lies and honorable hymns, the Forgotten King is the keeper of the truth. He knows what we did, when we failed, and where our honor was tested. He is the memory and proof that cultures cannot truly lie to themselves, or to the Spheres.

'''The Master of Chains'''

Subordinate Herald of The Crownsgrave, The Master of Chains represents the knife-edge path of the autocrat. Their followers are bound to serve and follow, but only so long as the leader fulfills their own obligations. A leader who fails in their duty is pulled down by the very chains that bound their followers to serve, and suffer the indignities only a fall from such heights can inflict. Bind and be bound in turn.

'''The Broken Word'''

Subordinate Herald of The Crowngrave, The Broken Word teaches us that no matter your authority, or even the willingness of your subjects to follow you, all commands are without purpose if they cannot be understood. It is the sole responsibility of the one who gives the command to ensure that it be given well, and it is not the fault of the one who mishears a command to correct the mistake.

'''The Iron Stag'''

Subordinate Herald of The Masses, The Iron Stag is the Herald of communities built and maintained both in and through conflict. Soldierly camaraderie, jokes about shared suffering, the sheer destruction of an army on the march, and both the damage and elevation that war can do to communities.

'''The Heartsmason'''

Subordinate Herald of The Masses, The Heartsmason represents the pride and glory of community achievement. Every moment raised high on a pedestal, and every obstacle brought low are remembered by the Heartsmason in story or in song. Always the best part of the tale is shared, that it might be used to inspire and push for ever greater achievements and unity.

'''The Oathwarg'''

Subordinate Herald of The Masses, The Oathwarg is a shapeshifter who suffers eternally. It is the warning that to betray your bonds and your vows is to lower yourself towards the bearing of a beast, as it is community and trust that elevates us above the animal. Likewise, to stay true to your bonds is to find strength in humanity and the things we create.

'''The Million Eyes'''

Subordinate Herald of The Blooded Stone, The Million Eyes teaches us that just as we judge the generations which come after us, so too do we carry the weight of the judgment of those who have come before us, and the commandment to leave the world a better place than we found it. Never forget, however, that through the Journey, you are your ancestors, and they are with you always.

'''The Patchwork Flag'''

Subordinate Herald of The Blooded Stone, The Patchwork Flag is the Herald of patriotism in every sense. Patriotism breeds and supports community, and binds together the disparate into a superior whole. No nation lasts forever, however, just as no community stays the same throughout the turning of the ages; everything must come to an end in its time.

'''The Soulspeaker'''

Subordinate Herald of The Blooded Stone, The Soulspeaker teaches us to never forget those who have made you what you are, but in service and memory to them, live your life as best you can. This is not just your past lives, but each and every person who has made a positive influence on your life. The Soulspeaker can talk to who you once were before you last took the Journey (if your soul has done so before), and can communicate learned truths from them to you.