Faith, beyond any and all other concerns, is the foundation of The Concord. Were it not for a unified belief in the Divine Spheres, the blessings of those Spheres, and their continued presence in the lives of citizens, it is very possible that this fragile empire would have fractured already. Astute, or perhaps cynical priests, preach upon Cervitas’ grace for just this reason.
As 225 enters its warmer months, as the harshness of winter departs, it is the duty of priests of all Spheres, prominences, and beliefs to bring hope, strength, and determination to the people of The Concord. But such things are not always easy with the whims or mortals rarely so easily moulded.
In Tomes and Books Alone
The Council of Six stands as The Concord’s foremost body of religious authority; masters of theology and of the grand powers the Divine Spheres grant to mortals who labour under their gaze. To wear the title of High Priest is among the greatest burdens in The Concord, for thousands of souls look to them for guidance.
This past season the Council moved carefully within its realm of power. Though its reach has been felt, much of its work has turned inward: to deepen understanding of the world and to act with purpose, in the manner taught by the Star Serpent with knowledge guiding every step.
High Justicar of Stallia, Lord Tamesis Duschwynd, has raised his blade squarely against necromancy. Since the schisms of the Shardcircle centuries ago, necromancy has been a blight upon The Concord. Endless argument has circled where its boundaries lie, whence its methods arise, and how best it might be opposed. Yet the paradox remains: to study necromancy well enough to fight it risks learning how to practice it. By order of the Council, the arcane and divine repertoires of The Concord have been examined, and a list of ceremonies, powers, and relics that may skirt the edge of necromancy has been drawn up. Though the naming has been public, it falls to the Council to decide which deeds are truly foul. It is expected that a cache of forbidden lore will be presented privately to the High Justicar at this Summit.
It is not only the starlit priesthood that treads the paths of the dead. High Priest of Lumos, Dietrich Carstein, has voiced concern over matters of the lost and missing in his own city of Wolstad. At the heart of Wolstad stands the Gravetree, a colossal dead oak looming over the central plaza. Legend whispers that the souls of the holy dead, warriors and soldiers alike, are drawn to it, spectral blades in hand. This winter the priests of Lumos gathered beneath its skeletal branches, rain dripping from their robes, studying in silence. Their reports, gripped tight, remain unread; whether they carry hope or despair for the High Priest is yet unknown.
Yet not all are so burdened by death. The High Priest of Anarch, the Houndspriest Gunther Eberhardt, has called upon the Church to look outward, across the eastern seas. The Drummondite churches profess to venerate the same divine light as the Concordian faith. But it is wise to verify such claims before permitting the faithful of The Concord to be entangled in foreign danger.
Such prudence has earned the Council praise from some, who call their work wise and measured. Yet others grow restless, urging the Council to act, not only to ponder. Such is the nature of power: always questioned, never secure.
Game Information
Three endeavours have been completed by the Council of Six this past season, all dedicated to Studies within the World.
A study into the ability for the Concord to conduct necromancy has been completed and results will be given to the High Priest of Stallia, Lord Temesis Duschwynd. It is likely that there will be dark knowledge within these tomes. As part of this study and a similarly worded declaration made by the Council the following spells, ceremonies, and Artisan crafts have been identified as possibly pertaining to necromancy. The Council of Six will need to rule at the coming Summit if this is indeed the case:
Spells:
- Speak with Dead
Ceremonies:
- Bedecked in Final Glory
- God of War
- The Candle Extinguished
- Crystalline Memory
- Reach into the Abyss
Artisan Crafts and Potions:
- None in common use.
A study into the history and nature of the Gravetree has been completed and will be given to the new High Priest of Lumos upon their election.
A study into the nature and history of the Drummondite Churches of the Divine Spheres has been completed and will be given to the new High Priest of Anarch upon their election.
Tangled in the Great Escape
The refugee from Nazafeza had felt burning-hot gold before. They had been the child of a merchant, who had been the child of a Patron, who had been the child of a merchant before that. There had been more than a few days, learning to carve their statuettes, that the gold their mother had been paid sat in the midday sun, collecting its warmth until it blistered their fingertips when they picked it up.
Each time, their mother had scolded them and kissed their hand better in the same breath, reminding them that Panoply was not the Sphere of greed, nor of impatience. When they traded that gold for a meal to fill the stomachs of their whole family, they were reminded by her gentle voice that to follow Panoply was to share; to help others reach their glory just as their family had reached their own.
They thought of their mother often, in difficult times; they could imagine her words as if she were still alive to speak them - words of generosity, and of giving to The Mortal Sphere as they hoped The Spheres would give back to them. Her voice echoed in their ears as they fled from Nazafeza, carrying two of the neighbourhood children when they stumbled, and again as they passed through Obregon, offering out water to those that needed it.
She would have been proud, they thought, of her child using their skills to carve statuettes of those resting now at Abqala, for their family members to keep along with their treasured memories, in exchange for a tent in which to sleep at night.
And yet, they could not hear her words over the pounding of blood behind their eyes as the burning of gold sunk into the flesh of their forehead, The Magistrate’s index finger pressed upon it unyielding and unwavering. They could not see the mark being made in their flesh, but, in the back of their mind, presumed it to be the same black and gold mark as the other refugees arrayed around the fire; a near-perfect circle, like that on the base of a scepter.
They sunk to the ground, empty stomach heaving from the pain, as the pressure finally ceased. It burned and it ached and oh Spheres it weighed on their soul, to have been marked like this.
Through half-lidded eyes they could see the feet of The Magistrate, scroll of the law skirting the ground in front of them. They blinked once. Twice.
Then there was another set of feet before them, standing beside the Herald.
“Friend, what have these souls done wrong to have wrought such a mark upon themselves?” the stranger asked, voice warm and bellowing over the quiet whimpering of those on the ground.
“We are not friends,” The Magistrate responded, voice smooth and seemingly unburdened by the pain they had been causing mere moments ago. “And they have done nothing. Their leaders, however, have. They believe their will to be just - I am here to ensure they are aware of what that will would be, were it to be enforced upon the world as they seem to wish.”
The other figure, blurred in the refugee’s vision, put their hands up in a gesture of placation before speaking again. “And what, my not-friend, did the leaders do? What command was given to justify marking these people in such a way?”
The refugee’s stomach began to cramp and gurgle, as they curled over, clutching at their flesh, trying to ease the hunger pangs, golden ichor pooling at the corners of their mouth.
“Trade Prince Majiid gave the refugees the chance to flee - a rule of war. The Concordians felt the need to alter this rule, enforcing their own upon the Artebazzani attempting to escape to Aprivano. If they wish for this to be the will put upon the world, then it is my duty to enact it. Trade Prince Majiid did not leave the children of the Artebazzani to starve, The Concord did, and so their refugees must face the same.”
They felt the golden burning on their forehead and the golden burning of their stomach acid begin to meld together, a delirium taking hold of them. The sets of feet in their periphery became hazy as they focussed on staying conscious.
“Ah. A difficult task, and one I do not envy you for. Surely you have spoken to their leaders, to make sense of what was clearly a command spoken in error?”
“No.Their word is law; I care not for their reasons. They will have consequences of their own.”
“Well. Perhaps I shall go in your stead; it doesn’t do well for people to suffer for commands given without the understanding of those following them.”
The Magistrate did not deign a response, stepping towards Aprivano and disappearing into the night.
The stranger tutted once, then did the same, heading to the south east.
Game Information:
In response to actions taken by those in power at the last Summit, The Magistrate has enacted the will of The Concord as it sees it upon the refugees leaving Nazafeza.
These refugees, marked by Panoply, have suffered from some strange alteration of the Glutton’s Curse, vomitting up golden bile, and starving in turn. These individuals, whilst not dying, are a drain on the resources of Abqala and the greater True Wilds, causing others to go hungry across the region.
Additionally, refugees, between bouts of sickness, spoke of another figure at Abqala - one that radiated power in the same way as The Magistrate, though of a different kind. Though none of them were in a state to describe the individual in question, they were all in agreement of their intended destination - Passage.
There will be decisions relating to this for the Senator of the Tribelands and the Shepherd fo the Reeds.
Severed From the Stem and Expected to Grow Alone
There would be few corners of The Concord that would not hear of Cardinal Imbrex and his presence in Southern Esterra. The presence of an Artebazzani High Priest of Cervitas within Aprivano would be like a shock to the religious systems of the newborn Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres. In some places, this shock brings with it rage and fury, in others opportunity. In some scant few more, the shock brings to life whispers of what could be.
There are not as many who know of the actions of Concordian heroes, lacking a published motion or declaration by The Church. Their meeting with the Cardinal, their discussions, their shared words and promises, or lack thereof, hidden behind rumours and those worthy enough to know. Was the meeting led by the heroes? The Cardinal? Was it planned by those who split from The Artebazzan Church in the first place?
Answers were few and far between, for those who knew had business their own to attend to in the Winter Season.
Questions would continue to mount as word of Senate motions filtered through the hubs of community in each of the Realms. The failure of a Declaration of War, but the changing of definition of Treason against Artebazzan, however minor. Such strangeness, to the many people, and such confusion to follow. Why, the people ask. Why does a declaration of war feel necessary to bring up, yet again, only to fail as the heroic priests meet with a Cardinal? Why must Treason be redefined, The Church of Anarchia disempowered and disowned, yet The Church itself split from its foundation?
For many, it is a simple and honest question that is asked. What is more important to our Concordian Church, the origin of Nicolo and the founding of The Divine Spheres, or our interpretation of it now?
In Wolstad, a small congregation of Arcadian and Cervitas priests speak of the separation of Churches. It is no dismissive thing of conflict and disagreement, but one of circumspective thinking and theological debate. Why, in truth, did our Churches split? Was it in support of Lerona Mere and their righteous Revolution? Was it because the tenets of The Church were not in line with the requirements of The Concord’s joined voices? Was it simply because to be different in elements of belief is to be unique?
These voices are not alone, but they are certainly met with cold shoulders by many in their city. Lyam De Rosa in Legend City would not be so quaint. One of the figureheads of The Divine Church of Anarchia, stepped on in truth and legally disembowelled by The Church and Council of Six, he still ensured his fire would be roared to the streets of Lerona Mere. Vicious words, loud, and judgement deemed righteous by his own belief. De Rosa would not silently lament the discussions between heroes and enemies, no matter the perceived indecision of The Senate.
Opportunists were more level-headed about the whole circumstance. With the scholarly focus of The Council of Six this past Season, the desire to contact the more well-rounded and well-informed Artebazzani Church of The Divine Spheres appeals to any academically minded individual. Are such thoughts heresy? Worthy of disdain and hatred? Who is to say? The draw for knowledge consumes all, regardless of politics.
The draw for lucre, much the same. Perhaps more. To sell items of falsified significance is no new game, no new tactic, employed by those less scrupulous and less inclined towards the said significance of the items they sell. Merchants, in no less kind phrase, willing to take advantage of the events of the world in which they live. Items of religious and theological significance to Artebazzan and Cervitas, sold and bought no matter the truth behind their story simply due to local relevance. A lucrative market for those willing to take the risk.
Perhaps the most devout of the neutral voices would be those who simply did not know where their pilgrimage should be focused. For so long, the true final destination of religious zeal and conviction would be the Window of Nicolo. Such a thing would be called the pinnacle of devotion. Used to be called, at any rate, should you ask the oldest of those Concordians who were raised by a technical religion now mute and functionally false. It is these voices that ask, quietly in fear of accidental heresy, if our Church is wrong simply because we have no access to its origin?
Is the faith tied to the Window itself, a symbol and gateway to the Divine? If it is, does this make the city it sits within all the more holy for its presence? Is it possible, or even desired, to ignore such a theological foundation, and if so, in favour of what?
Could The Concord create its own foundation, one that rivals Nicolo’s Window and all it represents?
It is certainly not the first time such questions have been asked, and there's all the chance in the world it will not be the last. To action such things would be a task immeasurably difficult, but all the more rewarding for it. Regardless of the political, theological and military state of affairs with Artebazzan, it is impossible to ignore that The Concord is entwined with them. The future holds many paths and many questions, but once more it is up to heroes to be the ones to walk these paths and find these answers.
One only hopes that in doing so, their souls are not at risk.
Game Information
The Concordian Church of the Divine Spheres finds itself in a strange position. Heroes meet with Cardinal Imbrex of Artebazzan, various Motions of various topics are passed by various priests, The Council of Six takes actions deemed worthy of their attention, and The Senate once more brings to question the relationship to the supposed greatest empire across the seas.
Reactions from the people of The Concord are many, and just as nuanced as the circumstances to which they respond. Such responses are often posed as questions, while others become simple opportunities. It is these questions and opportunities that are posed to those in power, and the replies in kind that will once again shape the theological and political circumstance of The Church and wider world.
Various Titleholders should expect letters or opportunities regarding the state of The Concordian Church, The Artebazzani Church, Theological Foundations, and more.