The Kyriarchtry of the Holy Spirit

The **Kyriarchtry of the Holy Spirit** or **Igniteism**

The Holy Spirit is an abstract energy or force, and not a physical being, despite the acknowledged abstract nature of the **HOLY SPIRIT**, the Spirit is refered with male pronouns. The HOLY SPIRIT appears -according to Kyriarchtry canon- as an impersonal force which fills one like a fluid. The Holy Spirit is rarely refered to as "God". One of the most common depiction of the Holy Spirit is a dove made out of fire or the burning chalice. The Holy Spirit is also refered to as *the Pale Flame, the White Flame, Holy Ghost, The Uncreated Fire, Unceasing Flame, Holy Flame, The Chalice of Holy Essence, Holy Fires, Sacred Fire, The Spiral of Glow, The Clean Flame, The Cleansing Spirit, Vineyard of Life and the Burning Sword across the Firmament*, by various faithful.

While acording to Kyriarchtry canon, the only "metaphysical" force is the **Holy Spirit**, who is in turn oppossed by the "**Longing to Evil**" and her Cold Children (Daimons/Pneumas/Heretics/Pagans) who pervert man's thoughts, it is only the Holy Spirit, the source of all goodness, that can empower (**Divine Grace**) his followers with spiritual gifts such as the Pyromancy, Charma and Miracles, the usuage/receiving of such spiritual gifts is not seen as "magical" but merely the Grace of the Holy Spirit and his divine intervention.

Magic is seen by the Ignites as evil and a drawn from the powers of the Longing to Evil who corrupted the **Grace** of the Holy Spirit into a negative and corrossive force.

It is said that the **Longing to Evil** rules a realm of sinners trapped in ice and stuck in place and covered in an eternally cold blizzard, the -**Cradle of the Deep**-. The *current* world that everyone lives in now is considered to be "hell", with the **Cradle of the Deep** being simply a colder, crueler and deeper circle of "hell". While those whos body is given over to the flames, to be cleansed from corruption, will merge with the HOLY SPIRIT. The Faithful and those who died in Holy Struggles (those walk the "path of truth") will be reborn in a fiery inferno during **the Great Rejuvenation**, where they will forge great chains to imprison the Intent of Evil beneath the **Lake of Silent Salts**, while the Infidels will be cast in rivers of molten metal. The Great Fires will then wash upon the surface and those who remain unreconciled to the Uncreated Flame are eviscerated by them.

Due to the fact that Humanity betrayed twice -**The Great Nadir**-, the HOLY SPIRIT has turned its back on humanity and his Grace has been lesser given out, the days have instead grown harsher. The First
Nadir was the failure of Irogenius, leading to the Century of Soot, the second Nadir was the blasphemous reign of the Ninth Wanderer, the punishment being the Nefarian Tides and the growth of the Pneuma.

According to a commonheld legend, not declared cannon by the Kyriarchtry, the Intent of Evil is the amalgamation all the imperfections and negative emotions, shed by the HOLY SPIRIT when it became the divine force of all goodness. Falsehoods spread by Heretics tell of a conspiracy in which the **Longing to Evil** actually impersonated the Holy Spirit and cast him into the **Cradle of the Deep** and the Ignites unwillingly work for her evil plans.

While the Kyriarchtry encouarges and sanctifies behaviors that lead to wounds on the body, self-harm with the intent to kill or maim is considered a sin. Suicide is considered a disrespect to the Holy Spirit, as it was HIS GRACE that gave humanity its current form. For the Ignite Faith, intent is above action. An known example being Venerable Preciuse, famed for her so pious face that sculptors took her as a model for divine icons, fearing that man will worship her image instead of the HOLY SPIRIT, she flayed her own face, disfiguring it in the processs, an action which greatly pleased HIS GRACE. The HOLY SPIRIT is not refered to as a "god" or "The God", since the HOLY SPIRT is something much more grander.

Places of worship are usually called **Kyriakon** or **Kathisma** (for larger cathedrals and great churches).

Charmas are usally called **Segen** by the people of Sudveg, in Angevy **Sain** remains prevalent, while in most other regions such as Casance or Laresia the term Charma reigns paramount.

**Sanpurvam** is the langauge of the Kyriarchtry. It was once the language of the ancient Myrmidonian Mahajanapada. The Holy Book of the Kyriarchtry **Synaxaria of Graced Flame** is written exclusively
in Sanpurvam.

## Volumes of the Synaxaria of Graced Flame

* Volume of the Spirits
* Volume of Clesydria
* Volume of Agony
* Volume of Lavus
* Volume of The Graced
* Volume of Flames
* Volume of the Children
* Volume of Irogenius
* Volume of The Repentless
* Volume of Orbelius
* Volume of Remorse and Absolution
* Volume of Contrapassy
* Volume of Lost Mothers
* Volume of Pain
* Volume of Dread and Ravenousness

## Ignite Calender & Holydays

While the Kyriarchtry has a standarzied calender for all of the faithful, in due part to help with record keeping done in the vast **Hidden Liberay** of the Grand Kathisma. Each Nation uses a localized version of the Ignite Calender. The Calendar itself is based on local agricultural periods, which are of course different everywhere else. While the Sancta Sedes itself uses the Ignite/Laresian Calendar, other Nations such as Almaine (uses the Imperial Calendar) or Angevy (The Royal Calendar) or Pachora (The Incarnation Caldendar) have tailored it to its own needs.

Time is dived into Ages, Times, Dawns and Thirds. In common speech one might say "in the 1:12 Miry Age, the 30th Dawn of Brachzeit" or "I saw the fishermen leave the harbor 30 Thirds ago". People born in the same Age (which spans a decacde) are often said to be of the same Age.

**Mensio (Times) of the Ignite Caldendar;** *Nevosa (Granular Snow), Matrona (Mothers/Childbirth), Agonia (Sacrifice), Arvuo (Field), Parllia (Shepard), Bacchanio (Hedonism), Caristia (Offerings), Robigo (Wheat Rust), Medendo (Healing), Volupia (Pleasure), Februa (Purgings), and Breviso (Short).*

**Ères (Times) in the United Kingdoms;** *Nivos (Snowy), Ventos (Windy), Tenebris (Darkness), Germine (Spring), Frima (Frosty), Fleurie (Flowering), Fructi (Fruit), Thermonie (Summer Heat), Vendemie (Vintage), Messie (Harvest), Pluvie (Rainy), and Brumar (Winter Cold).*

**Zeiten (Times) in Almaine;** *Tauzeit (defrost time), Hornung (spring), Bußzeit (atone time), Keimzeit (budding time), Winnezeit (grazing time), Brachzeit (plowing time), Heuzeit (hay time), Aranzeit (harvest time), Rodezeit (deforest time), Traubzeit (vin time), Welkzeit (wither time), and Frierzeit (freezing time).*

The rotation of a new set of Axions, marks the end of an "era", such as the recent transition from the **Miry Age** to the **Age of Abeyance**. The last dozen ages where the *Age of Screams; Basting Age; Age of Slate; Freezing Age; Age of Thrist; Granular Age; Age of Remorse; Silent Age; Flossy Age; Age of Deceit; Miry Age; Age of Abeyance.*

Bußzeit is the biggest occasion of a year, it is the only real period of time where men must lay down their work and seek repentence. During Winter where some of the Old faith place gifts for each other under the gut-hung Sacrifice Trees, the Ignites dont celebrate but pray for forgiveness, as it is the time when the HOLY SPIRIT and his warmth light is furthest away from mortal mankind.

## Tasks & Duties

Axions are the highest ranking members of the Kyriarchtry and are only ones allowed to be seated in the Council of Fire, where they vote and debate on world affairs and the direction of the Kyriarchtry.
An Axion must shed their birth name and take up an regnal name. Regnal names must carry a symbolic nature relating to virtue and holiiness (Pantaleon "all-compassionate" or Eogos "dawn-born" or Pyrocheirus "fire-hand").

Due to the heavy usage of Charma, many older clergical figures are heavily disfigured and malformed, due to the grotesque appearance the older eremites become **anchorites** or "**blessed souls**" , which are hidden away from general society. **Ichorists** well-versed in matters of mystism and are charma expert they also oversea the anchorites.

For clerical members of lower rank, veiling or masking the face and body is considered a essential sign of humility before the Holy Spirit. To show piety some believers sow their mouth shut or take a vow of silence. Mortification of the flesh by the way of Self-flagellation is commonly practied and encouraged by the **Mortificators**, holy men who oversee matters of punishment, confession, redemption and death, the burning sensasion caused by self-inflicted wounds are said to be the fiery embrace of the Holy Spirit. Often the highly pious burn themselves to death in an act known as "fire baptism", less extreme believers only burn certain parts of their bodies. Execution by burning at the stake, is often seen as a last chance at redempition and acknowledgement of faith for heretics or relapsed pagan. Criminals are not burned, as the death by fire is only reserved for people blessed by the holy spirit.

Gibbeting is common across all of Ignite territory.

Sworn clerics of the Kyriarchtry are refered to as **Brother** (male), **Teleios** (anchorites or those who have forsaken all material possessions, neutral) or **Venerable** (female).

## Kyriarchtry Hierarchy

#### Council of Fire

The Council of Fire the ruling body of the Kyriarchtry is housed in the Grand Kathisma in the Sancta Sedes. Only clerical members who have reached the rank of Archimandrit can be elevated by council degree to become an Axion, while not all Axion sit on the Council itself, it is very rare for an Axion to not do so. The Council is lead by a roatating paramountcy, each decade a set of three are tasked with leading the Kyriachtry and its faithful. Its only these Three members that have an exclusive veto on any Council decisions. Decisions are made on a majority vote by all of its members, only the three paramounts have the right to veto. The rotation of a new set of Axions, marks the end of an "era", such as the recent transition from the **Miry Age** to the **Age of Abeyance**.

While the Sancta Sedes is proteced by a professional army, the Council of Fire itself is protected by the **Anthinine Guard** primarily composed of settlers and traders from the overpopulated **Spice Islands** *(Almain: Gewürzinseln, Angevin: îles des Melange)* which lies beyond the Eastern Tides, especially the from the furthest, a tropical island kingdom known to the local traders as **Paitonofo-Isatabu**. The people of the Spice Islands are said to live in castles made from dead corals and seashells and trade cinnamon, olibanum, cassia, cardamom, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, star anise, clove, and turmeric with the Morrowlands.

## Holy Struggle

**Armed Righteous** or **Peregrinites** spread the Faith and combat Pagans as a sworn warrior priests/warrior monks, women are allowed to join these struggles of faith, but rarely do so. The Armed Righteous forsake all worldy desires and take a vow of chastity, however unlike the priesthood of the Kyriarchtry, the vows sworn as a Armed Righteous are not nessecraily for life and one can return to a material lifestyle anytime, it is not uncommon for a noble peregrinite to renncounce his vow, if for example his house is in need of heirs or he is next in line to inherit, which has often led to disputes by heirs futher down the line of succession. More strict are the rules for acolytes who have taken up the sword as a peregrinite as they are pressured to lead as moral guides to the other non-clerical members.

The Council of Fire can sanction an **Holy Struggle** against pagan or heretical forces, the area affected could be just a city or even an entire nation of unbelievers. During these Armed Struggles every Ignite Nation is required to aid the cause with soliders, material, logistics, or by any other means. Non-participation is heavily frowned upon and may lead to a more loyal head of state taking over soon after. The drive for a homogenous faith encourages holy wars against any group with which there are differences, prime example was the ancient bloodfeud between the Dark Lord and the faith, leading to the systematic eradication of the Bloodline of Malvech and the **Bulla of Blood**, a document declaring any Black Seed condemed to death. The Council of Fire has come to use holy wars to further their own political ambitions.

## Bußzeit

**Bußzeit or Tenebrae** (in Angevy) was instituted by the Council of Fire, under the leadership of Axion Pyrokar, to repent after the horros of the first Nefarian Tide, it is the largest holiday in the year. While traditonally a great feast is thrown to mark the end of Bußzeit, in pious Angevy, Xerophagia is commonly practied, many young children and elderly do not survive this time.

## Star Signs

The *Archetypes* or **Vangelo delle Simulacra**, are an cultural phenomenon in Laresia where the position of the stars in the heavens is believed to shape the personhood/lifepath of every person born under them. It is said that the people of Laresia must follow the Archetype their birth sign as layed out for them, or suffer severe consequences. While only the people of Laresia aspire to extrem conformitiy of these Archetypes, many outside of Laresia still believe that the position of the Stars when a child is born reveals some truth about a person, shaping their personality, outlooks, hopes, and dreams for the rest of their life. The Kyriachry tolerates this "peasant" supersition, due to this prominent place in Laresian society.
Over the centuries, certain stars have acquired names, characteristics, and some supernatural significance.

## Charma & Shamir

Too frequent magic use can be fatal as a sulphuric substance similar in appearance to gallstones can build up in your veins and kill you. The terminal stage of frequent charma casting is the transformation into an **Anchorite**. Most Sworn-Brothers are preemptivly removed from society before the transformation is complete. The Anti-Magical ideology of the Kyriarchtry prevents heavy research into the topic. Texts and non-Creed Charma are usually destroyed by the Ichorists.

To prevent the death of a ordained brother due to **Phleoboliths**, the Kyriarchtry has instituted the use of the mineral **Shamir**, mostly mined in the **Kingdom of Manden** beyond the **Garden of Gehane**, which makes it rare in Firangi, **The Sancta Sedes has a monopoly over the Shamir trade**. Shamir desolves the Phleoboliths. However long-term use lead to addiction, mental instability, increased rate of "anchoritization" and, in extreme cases, mutations similarly suffered by the Wildmen. Shamir can grounded up and snorted, for the quickest results, alternatively it can be consumed in drink or food. Shamir is the color of Kuruvinda, its also used for protection runes/charms that are painted/engraved on the body parts are supposed to be protected.

A **Skufia**, which is used to enhance the effect of a Creed Charma, can often be used to induce Shamir, as usually the Skufia is grafted to the illion or Wrist veins. Kyriarchtry Skufias are usually round, like a curled snake.

## List of Creed Charma

Creed Charma are Charma approved for usage by the Council of Fire. They are studied and overseen by the Alchemists and Ichorists of the Scholomantze of Firangi. According to offical Kyriarchtry procedur, the decision to approved of a Charma (and for it not be considered to be Magic and therefore evil and blasphemous) is intentse prayer and meditation seccssions lasting years.

Creed Charma
 Dancing Flare | User's body generates a weak electrical charge. Increased usuage causes Saturnineness.

## View on Forms of Magic

Igniteism does not see itself as magic, and views itself as part of a dichotomy non-magic (gifts from the HOLY SPIRIT, good) vs magic (all other forms, evil and corrupting). They blame mages as causing corruption of the natural world and working for the Intent of Evil, Lady of all Evils.

### Office of Blasphemy

A longstanding rumor concerns an "Office of Blasphemy" of the Kyriarchtry. Due to the dark arts unleashed by Malvech, The Council of Fire reputedly established a secret The Hidden Liberay to study Umbral Magic, the so-called **"Sanction of Darkness"** or **Office of Blasphemy**. To futher help protect the Holy Mother Flame against evil forces, an exclusive group of spiritually-gifted children are sequestered in the Deep Circles of the Grand Kathisma, wasting away in dark rites to uphold magical barriers, communicate with dark entities, have prophetic visions to gain knowledge. The Repentant Panoply was also allegedly created by the Kyriarchtry for its secret inqusitors and witch hunters. Due to harsh views the Kyriarchtry holds regarding Magic, such an Office would severly contradict everything the Sancta Sedes stand for...

## Agrotto Ducula

The infamous and secret prison of heretics and breaker of vows, aswell as retiring place for anchorites. Agrotto Ducula is located in the Marches near the Free Marquisate of Parnasso and the Laresian city-duchy of Mirellano. Agrotto is build above the Malus Porta and is therefore under constant threat of Pneuma incursions. It is said everykind of measure to achieve redemption in its inmates, is employed by its staff. Agrotto Ducula is overseen by a **Archmortificator-Commander**, a trusted associate of the Council of Fire, who must be experienced in wielding sword and seven tails. The Curreent is Archmortificator-Commander **Sir Orfeo Farnesi**, who replaced **Dame Emperia Malize**, who retired to serve the Council of Fire as an delegate.

Agrotto Ducula is shrouded in dark mystery, giving rise to outright lies. Among the lips of nullifidians, Agrotto Ducula is a place for human experimentation, where the effects of charmas are tested by and on human subjects to study their corrupting effects before becoming Creed Charma, less kinder lips tell of Agrotto Ducula as a place of unimaginable depravitiy, where every horror is inflicted upon its residents under a thin disguise of a altruism.

## Monastic Orders

### Silent Repenters

The Silent Repenters are a monastic order, dedicated to upkeeping religious sities and graveyards. They lead a life of self-punishment to make way for the redemption of man and take a vow of silence. The Silent Repenters are the "opposite face" to the Nekrophores Encarmine, as they care for the living while the Nekrophores care for the dead.

### Order of the Nekrophores Encarmine

The even more feared "Dark Angels" of the Kyriarchtry, unlike the Silent Repenters, this order makes no requirements to take vows of silence, although speaking little is highly encouraged. These Holy Women (although men are not barred from joining, very few do) have taken vows of chastity and obedience. The Nekrophores Encarmine attend to the dead and some say they can talk to the dead, even going as far as accusing them of necromancy. The Nekrophores Encarmine are trained in the arts of phlebotomy, usually greatly aiding in the removal of Phleboliths from clerical members.

Like many of the devotees of the Ignite Faith, they keep their faces cowled. Due to the fact that many disgraced noble women and girls are send to the order as punishment, The Nekrophores Encarmine administers harsh discipline. Admist their ranks the previous status, gender and appearance of new recruits matter very little, and new members must forsake worldly possessions or the right to them, their family names as well as referring to themselves in the third person. The Nekrophores Encarmine attire is usually comprised shaved bald and wear dark sinster robes. The order's clothing is inspired by the robes of the Mortificators, who they are often closely in contact with.

## Sancta Sedes

Also known as The Council of Fire. Build on the fossolized ashen remains of Old Myrmidon which perished in the eruption of the **Holy Flame**. The Heart of the Sancta Sedes is the **Valley of Decision** where the Grand Kathisma which houses the Council of Fire is build over the **Abaddon of Chidron**, a dark place of sacrifice (where ancient laresians offered up magic users as sacrifice), since time immemorial.
The Valley of Decision is divided into Campo, mostly populated by civilians and merchants. The Sancta Sedes is protected by the **Gufalonier**, a title held by the nobility of the Sancta Sedes and military leader of all the faithful in the city.

###### **Components of Sancta Sedes**

* **Valley of Decision** *(Caldera around the Abaddon)*
	+ **Campo di Aceldama**
		- Blacksmith Quaters
	+ **Campo di Melchiade**
		- Castello del Cicisbei
	+ **Palazzo Gonfalone**
	+ **La Piazza Flemmatico**
		- Mellah del Rivoalto
* **Abaddon of Chidron**
	+ The Grand Kathisma
* **Porto di Ostia** *(Costal Port of the Sancta Sedes)*
	+ Casteltuscolo
* **Valle de Tefra** *(Breadbasket of the Sancta Sedes)*
	+ Grey Noble Latifondos
	+ Colli Peperino
* **Canosa** (Guards the land passage to the Sanca Sedes)
* **Grottaferrata** (natural seashore grotto, used for iron mining)
* **Borghetto di Sorgento** (small villiage near natural seashore grottoes and sacred springs)
* **Arna** (Trading town on a popular highway out of the Sancta Sedes)
* **The Corridors of Revulsion** (a narrow passage at the entrance of the Underground Laurinling Highway that spans Laresia, filled with ancient monsters and the Dark Lords creations, it is avoided due to the danger and the violent traumatic hallucination emited by the strange architecture.)

### The Holy Mother Flame

Also known as the **Holy Flame** or **Mother Flame**, is the most holiest site in all of Igniteism. This ancient Supervulcano was once the center of the fallen city of Myrmidon, according to the Synaxaria, the cautionary tale of the Fall of the Myrmidonians speak of the Holy Flame suddenly erupting and therefore destroying Myrmidon and turning its population into stone, due to the "sins" of the old empire. It was said that before the eventual end of the city, the **HOLY SPIRIT** appeared to the humble blacksmith **Irogenius** in his furnace to pleading him to find "five righteous people" (besides his own family) or otherwise mymridon would be destroyed, a task which Irogenius was not able to complete and he ended himself by pouring out his innards onto the ground on future the -**Campo di Aceldama**- due to guilt, his family chose to stay behind and perish with the others.

Nowdays the cold remains of the Holy Flame is a prime destination for all faithful, adorned with statues, shops and palaces. Even the dirt of the Mother Flame which the pious folk now tread upon when they reach the Sancta Sedes is considered sacred by the faithful. The entiretly of the Sancta Sedes is contained on the dormant Supervolcano -The Holy Mother Flame-. Around the Mother Flame is a valley, known as **Valle de Tefra**, a region of fertile volcanic soil suitable for the cultivation of grapes and olives. The Sancta Sedes is filled with statues of Martyrs who died during the Nefarian Tides.

The Heart of the Sancta Sedes is the caldera of the Mother Flame known as the **Valley of Decision**, where most of the residents of the Sancta Sedes reside.

### Abaddon of Chidron

The Capital of the Faithful is the Grand Kathisma which houses the Council of Fire. This Grand Kathisma is suspended over the **Abaddon of Chidron**, a deep dark pit of sacrifice (where ancient laresians offered up magic users as sacrifice), since time immemorial. According to crueler tales, the Abaddon of Chidron is still used to dispose of "imperfect" or "unfit" infants and little children.
The Council of Fire still uses it as a method of execution for the most heinous of crimes, where heretics are thrown from a hole in ground located in the Chambers of Judgment into the bottomless pit below. The Grand Kathisma is located in the center, its connected to the caldera -The Valley of Decision- by the famed long **Drawbridges of Blessed Talgeto**.

### The Grey Nobility

The **Grey Nobility** according to their own family legends are descended from the politcal dynasties of ancient Myrmidon. As the aristocracy of the Sancta Sedes, many of the Grey Nobility provide Axions to the Council of Fire. They hold vast estates across Laresia. The Grey Nobility remain arbiters of Sancti politics and religion. In addition to the council influence, they held lay power through consulships and senatorial membership. Like the other Lord Magistrates of Laresia, the grey nobility is famed for their splendid and costly appenerences.

The Grey Nobility are aristocratic families who sided with the Council of Fire when a myrmidonian army entered the Sancta Sedes overthrew the council and took over the Mother Flame. For the next 33 years, the council confined themselves to the Valley of Decision. The loyal Aristocrats kept the front doors of their cosmati palaces in the city closed to mourn the Council's confinement, which led to their nickname "The Grey Nobility".

The Grey Nobility would once again refuse to give up the City during Melekh al-Nasdira's invasion of Laresia. Traditionally the **Tuscolo family**, the most prominent of the Grey Nobility, were anti-Sudvegian in their political affiliation, leading the struggle against the Dark Lord in anicent times. One of their greatest member was **Lord Magistrate Telegono "The Prognosticatior" Tuscolo**, a reputed seer and collector of dark relics. The city of Tuscolo, where the family takes its name from was an early rival of Myrmidon, the city was brutally sacked by marauders during the century of soot, before its destruction by the Ninth Wanderer for resupplying the Rasuls of al-Nasdira. According to the **Letters of Apocalypse** sent to the allied forces of the infidels, The City of Tuscolo was called lukewarm and insipid. The Tuscolo House now owns the Ostia of the Sancta Sedes.

The **House of Farnesi**, the traditional rival of the Tuscolo, often allied themselves with outside forces to crush their competitors, the Farnesi family rarely places Axions on the Council of Fire, but influence Sancta Sedes politics by using the powerful female courtesans of the family. The House of Farnesi owns vast vinyards and olive groves, as Counts of Parosia, inherited by the union of Gufalonier Isidore Ignatio Farnesi and the Lady Magistrate Restituta di Vannucci, the last of the di Vannucci family, who were upjumed highwaymen risen to control Parosia. The House takes its name from the small castle town Montefarnese.