Church of Virtue

**Races**: Any

**Territories**: Isle of Purity

**Capital**: Holyhaven

**Leader(s)**:

Arch-Priest Felnin Holycrest

Paladin Archduke Yurondir Ohlir Ronindar

Grand Templar Ryn Palladius

**Primary Language**: Common

## General Information

One of the most popular faiths in the world, it's prevalent in many lands but primarily the Church's Lands, the Four Kingdoms, and it is permitted in Central by the World Standard but it cannot leverage its faith against members of the Standard.

Despite being a Church it is a nation in its own right with the leaders of the Church ruling over a large island not too far from the Civilized Lands.

For the most part the Church acts as humanitarian aid for its followers and not, helping those in unfortunate situations. They send missionaries all over the world to spread the faith and guide the lost. Beyond this though they hunt down dangerous mages to prevent them from growing too large of a threat to others.

## Faith

The faith of the Church is the same as their culture, of which they do not believe in a higher being but rather the inherent virtues of mortality. They believe it as a cosmic force of good that brings out the best of mortalkind.

These virtues are divided into six pillars. The Pillars of Strength and the Pillars of Faith.

### **Pillar of Courage**

The First Pillar of Strength. This is the virtue of being brave in times of fear, to rise above our base instincts to flee when things get hard.

### **Pillar of Retribution**

The Second Pillar of Strength. To always answer the wrong committed by those of evil nature.

### **Pillar of Justice**

The Third Pillar of Strength. To be just in all actions to never but unfair, and that you must not give in to hatred and bloodlust.

### **Pillar of Wisdom**

The First Pillar of Faith. This virtue emphasizes being smart in your life and to think things through.

### **Pillar of Redemption**

The Second Pillar of Faith. This virtue emphasizes that all can be brought back to the light, that there is good in everyone.

### **Pillar of Love**

The Third Pillar of Faith. This virtue emphasizes to love your fellow mortal and to be kind.

Beyond this though the Church believes that magic is a source of evil, as such they send out agents to find those with a talent for magic to ensure they are not a threat to the common people. Certain mages deemed dangerous are captured and taken back to the Isle of Purity. The main target though of the Church are Blood Mages and those who consort with Demons, deeming them beyond the Pillar of Redemption.

## Lore

Founded in an unknown year the Church rose to prominence rapidly, in fact almost overnight as they did not try to convert people to faith in a higher being but rather a cosmic force that comes from inside of yourself, the virtues. They have also given people a sense of security for the unregulated mages that roamed freely putting down those who abused their magic, and those who dealt with dark beings.

Despite the rather altruistic appearance of the Church, there are many who push back against them feeling they are too forceful in their attempts to convert people to their faith. Some more magically inclined societies often ridicule them for their treatment of magics and that labelling types of magic as "bad", their largest detractor is Edessa the Academy City known for their research into magic and magical technology.