The Church of the Just

The Just Pantheon rules over the Church of the Just- a religious organization that has influenced nearly every civilized continent known to man. The Church follows its leaders with strict discipline, often to an extreme, and has several dogma's that arguably conflict with pure text readings of the Pantheon's decrees. Demi-G-ds born under the Just's divinity or extremely notable devotees are given Saint status.

## The Pantheon

### Judgement

The G-d of Judgement is the leader of the Pantheon as he is the most powerful of the four, being the most deadly with his decreed laws and final judgements. He has made it clear that nobility who follow the Just have been granted a right to rule under his light. This has given the noble class legitimacy and allows them some sway in a political system that would otherwise be fully run by the Church. Judgement has also explicitly declared that his Holy laws take precedent above any mortal ones. His avatar and iconography is represented as a man with an immense book in one hand and a gavel in another. His face is always obscured in some fashion.

His High Holy day centers around the court system. His light is celebrated through mass executions for those who have been charged of terrible crimes such as serial murdering, rape, and child abuse. This day also pardons all who have been imprisoned on little evidence, have built themselves into the church and repented, or are imprisoned for laws that have been overturned after their arrest. It's also the only day where all trials must be held publicly. Despite Judgement being the favored G-d of the Inquisition, the organization is rarely active on His day as they cannot use their intimidation tactics for fear of Divine rebuttal.

### Mercuio of Merry

The G-d of wine, bread, and marriage is very popular domestically and is seen as a crucial part of homesteading. Mercuio focuses on feeding the poor, directing his followers to offer bowls of wine and bread to poor beggars. He is the source of Virdia's lush vineyards that decorate its coastal mountainsides. His views of marriage are far less charitable however. Mercuio enforces monogamous, heterosexual relationships only and his laws are the primary cause of homophobia throughout the entire Church. His symbol is of two hands, one holding bread and the other a vine of grape, and is often put over the front doors of homes. His High Holiday is filled with feasting, wine drinking, and is a perfect time to be married. Mercuio's Clerics also get a Water to Wine transmutation spell.

### Chorus of Chivalry

Chivalry is never dead in the Just Pantheon. Chorus is a G-d dedicated to protecting the defenseless, fighting off the beasts that threaten civilization, and realizing your inner potential as a protector of the world. While these ideals are wonderful in his scriptures, in reality Chorus doesn't live up to his boasts. Followers of Chorus tend to fit the 'white knight' stereotype and are often ignorant to the actual needs of the very people they claim to protect. This is because many of His devotees learn honor directly from his scripture and books made by his Clerics, Paladins, and other Priests. It's been proven that reading too much of his scripture can cause delusions. People have hallucinated windmills as deadly dragons and peasant girls as defenseless maidens in need of rescue. Though is all people acting like this are actually Divinely influenced or genuinely believe this is 'okay' behavior is up for debate. Some heretics even say he is a G-d of insanity in disguise.

Despite this, Chorus does bring in good by motivating warriors and the everyday man to protect the innocent and defenseless. Some of his laws also directly contradict the Church which allows for moral leeway as the Inquisition cannot take action against the hypocrisy of a Just G-d Himself. Many of his followers enter the Crusades. Granted, these starry eyed soul are normally the first to crumble under the pressure because a soldiers life isn't filled with the romance and court politics stories lead them to believe. Those that last turn into actually good, kind people that counter act the image of an Evil, violent Crusader. These worshipers work towards truly moral principals and help people while standing up to a moral code not influenced by the Church's confines. His High holiday is celebrated by recreations of fairy tales and plays starring the deeds of Him, Saints, and notable Chorus followers. Chorus' symbol is a sword raised up with three shields- one above and two to the side.

### Clasi of Charity

The Goddess of charity, mercy, and saviorship has an immense following. Much charity work is done in Clasi's name for obvious reasons and her followers are encouraged to work with Priests of Mercuio to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor. Interestingly enough, Clasi has a decent following in the blood thirsty Inquisition. Death is seen as a mercy to some, as well as a saviorship. She was also the G-ddess who ruled that teiflings could live if they entered the Inquisition and, as such, a vast majority of Redeemers pledge allegiance to her. Clasi's symbol is a hand open pointed down with a four pointed star in the palm.

## The Fifth; Justica

#### The Shattering

Three hundred years ago a trial that would tear apart the G-ds themselves began. A man who'd killed another in revenge for the murder of his wife and unborn daughter was being sentenced to execution for his crimes. The judge was unable to properly create a ruling due to the moral strain and consulted Justica, who declared the man be let free as the revenge was fair. As the man walked from the courthouse a challenge to the verdict arose. Judgement disagreed with his peers conclusion, claiming Justica had unfairly allowed a murderer to go free.

This disagreement sparked an entire civil war that ended Justica's life. The G-dess of Justice and Fairness was shattered into nothing but an aspect of her former self. Her worshipers hunted down and forced to convert to the new Pantheon lest they be murdered. The Shattering caused the nations of Pyra and Cyra to split from the Church and create more secular forms of government. Given that Pyra's prize city of Roma used to be the Church's capital, the split caused major upset for the Pantheon at large.

## Discrepancies between the Church and Pantheon

#### Sex and Pregnancy

Mercuio states that abstinence until marriage is preferred but not strictly required. His texts do not condemn those who do have sex. However, many regions that follow the Just have very little if any sexual education. Popular birth control options are abstinence, informal hormonal cycle planning, and pulling out. Prostitution is typically also frowned upon. A combination of ignorance and shame have led the Church to declare that sex before marriage is prohibited. In Virdia, people discourage premarital sex to the point where the Inquisition targets people for breaking dogma. Palmier however, who also worships the Just, are far less strict about premarital sex and don't legally punish people for it. Rape and sexual assault is not considered premarital sex regardless of cultural influence. All of the Pantheon has strict laws that criminalize and firmly denounce rapists, pedophiles, and sex offenders. Ever since The Shattering abortions have also fallen under scrutiny and are discouraged, as Justica is now unable to assist pregnant mothers with fair access to the practice.

## Sects of the Just

*Main articles: Pyra, Virdia*

Pryan worship is notably different from other Just nations. The Pyran people rejected the erasure of Justica and, as such, still acknowledge and value her contributions to the world. Roma is known for having Justica worshipers still within its city, lurking in the catacombs that stretch under the island. Though few are aware of this, the remnants of Justica herself reside in the catacomb. She is guarded by two sphinxes, candlewax golems, and any devotees that reside in her sanctuary. The sanctuary itself is a giant library with a Seek Reader within that will assist people with finding the right books and attack any intruders.

Virdian worship is perhaps the most extreme version of the Church of the Just possible. The capital city of the Just resides in Virdia and is overwhelmingly protected by its massive religious army. Every aspect of life in Virdia is influenced by the Church to a point where the Church's teachings often outweigh the direct words of the Pantheon they worship. No part of Virdia is fully secular and the nation is steadfast in remaining that way. The Inquisition is a major factor in maintaining this status quo as those who deviate from the Church's teachings face heavy taxation, intimidation, property damage, corporal punishment, and even death.

The Priestesses of the Free are a female dominated cult that worships Justica. They work to restore her spirit and believe that Justica should replace Judgement when she is reborn. They seek to eliminate unjust practices like slavery, discrimination, and other civil rights violations. The Priestesses of the Free rely on a piece of scripture known as *The Heresy of the Blind,* which that states Justica will come back and take the mantle of law from Judgement.

The Cult of the Eye devotes themselves to preventing Justica's possible return. They are responsible for killing many of her surviving worshipers and destroying her remaining temples.

Zimbata Navalla's home town practiced following the Just scriptures purely by its text rather than intent. Her Church believed that ‘damned' races could be good people, women could hold slightly higher positions than usual, and the typical violence of the mainstream religion was not Holy or Just. This style of interpretation clashed with several of the Church's rules and was considered deviant enough from the norm to be targeted by monthly visits from Inquisitors.