Ruled by: The Pontiff, with the Conclave
HQ: The Holy City, Ecclesia
Tropes: Crystal Dragon Jesus: Modified (Polytheistic)
Symbol: a 9-spoked wheel

Perception

Origin and History

• Began as a splinter-cult out of the old, traditional forms of worship
• Officially recognized by the Old Empire 1500ya
• Very old rivalry with the Druids for influence
• Schism in the Old Empire at the formation of the Church regarding the worship of the whole Pantheon in the same temple (polytheism vs henotheism); the church in Tyrantium still follows the old way, and does not recognize the Pontiff
• Ecclesia gifted to the Church by Vesterland

Locations

• The Holy City in Ecclesia
• Archvicarships (per Duchy; =archdiocese)
• Vicarships (per County; =diocese)
• Patronships (per Holding; =parish)
• Abbeys
• Priorys

Ranks

• His Holiness, Pontiff X; =Pope
• His Eminence, Heirant X, Archvicar of X; =Cardinal
• His Grace, Archvicar X, Archvicar of X; =Archbishop
• His Lordship, Vicar X, (Lord) Vicar of X; =Bishop
• Patron/Matron X, Patron/Matron of X; priest
• Brother/Sister X; members of religious orders under vows (both monastic and non-monastic) who are not priests

Brothers-Militant

• Brothers taking up arms to protect the helpless—Church's version of the Heroes' Guild (and easy way to get troublesome lay-brothers out of the way)

Practices

Unlike the old ways, whose worshipers are looked down upon by members of the Imperial Church as unrefined, the Faith is based on a number of holy texts and complex social rules. The central holy text of the religion is The Holy Scripture. The Faith of the Pantheon has an organized clergy with a complex internal hierarchy. Both men and women can be priests of the Pantheon.

Church Organization

The head of the Faith is known as the Pontiff, who resides at the headquarters of the Church of the Pantheon, the Great Cathedral, which is located in the Holy City in Ecclesia. The ruling council of the Faith is known as the Conclave, who meet regularly at the Great Cathedral. The Conclave is made up of the Heirants, who rank just below the Pontiff and are chosen from among the Archvicars of the Faith; they are responsible for electing a new Pontiff when the current one dies. Archvicars are appointed from among the vicars within the archvicarship, and are the ecclesiastical equivalent of a duc, overseeing a number of vicarships. Vicars are the ecclesiastical equivalent of an arl or conte, and rule cathedrals in important holdings, overseeing the local patronships. Vicars and archvicars who are also sworn vassals to a secular liege are referred to as Lord-Vicar or Lord-Archvicar. Patrons oversee the local village, town, or city churches.

Notes

• Actually Polytheistic, which is unusual in Clichéa

Holy Orders

[Monks]

• =Dominicans/Franciscans/etc.

The Crusaders

• =Templars/Hospitallers/Teutonics/etc.

Rumor Has It…

Behind the Scenes

• Obvious Catholicism ripoff is obvious