White Covenant

The **White Covenant**, also known as the **Faith of the Painter**, or simply as the **Temple** and the **Covenant**, is a religion focused primarily in and around the New Monarchy and Erideon.

Its popular name is a metaphor for the blank canvas of life, in which the various races each color the world according to their perceived strengths and divine direction.

## Principal tenets

### Divinity

The faith asserts the existence of central God, the Painter, the Master of Creation. Nonetheless, he is accompanied by numerous other divine figures, effectively rendering the religion polytheist in character.

### Castes

The faith asserts that the Gods have created diverse roles for the races to fall into.

#### Humans and Half-elves

Humans and Half-Elves are known as the Pigment of the Earth, and they are supposedly given the mastery over all arts and crafts. A human or half-elf can dedicate him or herself to nearly anything, and be deemed virtuous within the Covenant.

#### Elves

Elves, as the Covenant argues, have been given the gift of Intelligence, and are best found in the Arcane arts.

#### Dwarves

Dwarves, supposedly, are most virtuous when they dedicate themselves to crafsmanship and mining.

#### Orcoids

Orcs and Half-Orcs are considered virtuous if they embrace the warrior ethos of their people, and train as Barbarians and soldiers.

#### Dragonborn

Dragonborn have the gifts of strength of body and being, for which reason they are virtuous when they dedicate themselves to the noble oaths and arms, the ways of a Paladin.

#### Halflings

Meanwhile, Halflings are the servants of the other races: they are most virtuous as butlers, stewards, and servants.

## Organizational hierarchy

### The Holy Office of Exaltation

The Holy Office of Deification contains the primary orders of priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns of the White Covenant that spread worship and reverence of the Painter and his Order of Demigods. All clergymen in the White Covenant are members of the Holy Office of Exaltation, though some are also members of the other offices.

* **Grand Exalter**: The Grand Exalter is the nominal *de jure* head and leader of the White Covenant, although the authority of the current Grand Exaltress, Mother Léone Yselde d'Escoffier, has been uncompromisingly seized by the Grand Inquisitor.
* **High Exalters**:
* **Exalters**:
* **Vaticinators**:

### The Holy Office of Philanthropy

This office runs a number of charities throughout Aldia that aim to provide nourishment and education for the poor and disenfranchised. Charitable workers are usually laymen and laywomen who have received an education in the **White Covenant**, and have pledged a portion of their time and effort to the Painter in the service of Creation.

The Usual Suspects encountered a soup kitchen run by this office in the streets of Roulan, being run by a certain Hallah.

* **Grand Philanthrope**: Mother Maren Rodine is the Grand Philanthrope of this office.
* **High Philanthropes**: Serve directly under the Grand Philantrope, especially in the areas of procurement of nourishments and medicines for the needy.
* **Philanthropes**: The rank and file of the Holy Office of Philanthropy, these are usually laymen and laywomen who volunteer their time or resources to the Holy Office.

### The Holy Office of the Inquisition

* **Grand Inquisitor**: The Grand Inquisitor is the head of the White Covenant's inquisition, but he has accrued enough power that he nominally governs the White Covenant.
* **High Inquisitors**: High Inquisitors serve directly underneath the Grand Inquisitor, overseeing various departments.
	+ High Inquisitor Grandahl: Before his death at the hands of the Usual Suspects, the Warden of the church's dungeons.
* **Inquisitors**: The lowest rank of the religious services of the White Covenant.
* **Auditors**: The strongest enforcers of the church's earthly ambitions. Technically, they are lower-ranked than ordinary inquisitors, but *de facto* they have become more powerful than them.

## Criticism

### Racism

Radical sociologists and historians agree that the faith was created to support and perpetuate the caste-based racial model at the social nucleus of the New Monarchy.

### Human supremacism

As the "pigment of the Earth," the religion heavily favours half-elves and humans. For this reason, this faith has come under heavy scrutiny.

## Notes

1. ↑ Not to be confused with Philanthropist, Philantrope is the official title