The High Church

The High Church is a religious institution. It is the dominant religion in Westrath, but it has prominent followings in the other continents. The church is both a religion and a powerful cultural, political, and even military organization. The church commands many holy orders (which operate to varying degrees of autonomy), most of which contain their own military forces of knights and paladins. Through these knightly orders, and soft power, the High Church remains perhaps Varden's singular most popular organization. 
Following the Great Schism in 1106, millions of priests and followers left the church to form a new religious faction, the Cathars. Ever since, the High Church and Cathars have been embroiled in a global religious war. The High Church's persecution of the Cathars remains a contentious political subject.
== Theology ==
The number sixteen plays a significant part in the theology of the High Church. The church has sixteen archbishops, sixteen Holy Tomes, and sixteen divine vows.
== The Holy Tomes ==
The High Church's religious scripture is the sixteen Holy Tomes. The tomes are divided into sections: the Books of Men, the Books of the Dead, and the Books of Gods. Fifteen of the books are commonly studied by priests and devout worshipers, while the Book of the Exile is forbidden to all but the most eminent clergymen.
The Books of Men:
* The Book of Origins
* The Book of Kings
* The Book of Lords
* The Book of Commons
* The Book of Testaments
* The Book of Chronicles
* The Book of Prophecies
The Books of Gods:
* The Book of Divinities
* The Book of Thrones
* The Book of Dominions
* The Book of Virtues
* The Book of Authorities
* The Book of Principalities
The Books of the Dead:
* The Book of the Drowned
* The Book of the Ashen
* The Book of the Exile
== Trivia ==
* The High Church is modeled after the Catholic Church.