The Fayth

The Fayth is the primary religion found throughout the Verda Empire, Bevany, Calcera, western Tarquinia and southern Ursal. The Fayth is led by the Erzherzog, who resides in the holy city state of Imperium in the Verda Empire.

The origins of the Fayth lay thousands of years ago in the west outside of the continent but rose to quickly become one of the most dominant forms of religion in the known world. For a religion so large, it is not uncommon to find that there are many denominations of the Fayth from place to place, with variations on what they preach and what they believe.

The Fayth's symbol is a white ring inlaid with gold. Gold rings are often worn to show faith, or display rings in other fashions focusing on the shape itself which is embellished, for example, a wreath of flowers or twisted reeds. The wealthier the patron, the more extravagant. The grandest is the white marble circle inlaid with purest gold in the Imperium's cathedral. 

Core Beliefs

Whilst various churches will preach their own interpretations, almost all subscribe to the core beliefs that act as the foundation of The Fayth.

• There is one God, and we are made in their image. They are Good in all its forms, and they protect from Evil. God is a genderless entity, too great for mere mortals to perceive. If one also identifies themself as genderless, they are viewed as being more able to understand people from many walks of life and so more able to understand God than others.

• God sends messengers to us in the form of Angels, described as all-seeing beacons of Good. They are holy warriors who fight against Evil before it can slip into our world, but Evil's power is so great that they can only prevent so much.

• Only God can bring true salvation. Humans are all born Good, but the world they live in is tainted by Evil, and therefore a life of piety under The Fayth is the only way to be welcomed into the warm embrace of Heaven after death.

• For those who fall to Evil, they are barred from the gates of Heaven and must endure eternal torment in Hell.

• Other religions and gods are merely Evil masquerading as Good, trying to tempt the weak willed to fall into the hands of Evil. Only the God of The Fayth is truly Good.

• The main religious text for The Fayth is The Litany; a book of teachings by Erzherzogs of old.

The Litany

The Litany is the holy text of The Fayth, believed to have been written in the 3rd Century by a man simply known as Ptolemy. Ptolemy is a prophet, who preached the word of God in the face of Pagans and through his righteous will was able to bring a savage world to order. 

Famous passages from The Litany:

• On God's Power:
  Blessed be the almighty God, the Architect of Heavens, whose divine hand sculpts the firmament and churns the seas. In their hallowed halls, no wickedness may dwell; for they are the Beacon that guides the lost, the Shield against the tempest, and the Sword that cleaves the darkness.

• On The Devil:
  Hearken, O ye faithful, to the whispers of the almighty God, for their words are woven into the tapestry of fate. Shun the sweet lies of the Devil, for he is the thief of truth, seeking to corrupt virtuous minds with his silver tongue.

• On resilience of one's faith:
  In the hour of twilight, when shadows merge with the waning light, the almighty God’s gaze pierces through the gloom. Fear not the creeping dread, nor the Devil’s hollow promises of power; for those who walk in God’s grace shall never falter, their spirits alight with eternal flame.

• On rituals of redemption:
  For those who confess their sins but find their souls still strained or tempted, they may seek the Church on the eve of the waning moon, the faithful gather, their hearts heavy with the weight of unspoken sins. In the sanctity of the hallowed chapels, they commence the Vigil of the Penitent. With eyes cast downward and hands clasped in silent supplication, they seek the mercy of God.
  
  Through the long hours of the night, their whispered prayers rise as a chorus of contrition that pierces the heavens. For it is said that in the stillness of the vigil, the voice of God resonates clearer, and the soul, laid bare before their gaze, finds redemption in the dawn’s purifying light.

Structure

Under the leadership of the Erzhergog, there is a strict and structured hierarchy within the church that has been followed since the formal establishment of it.

Erzherzog > Tyrian > Carmine > Azurite > Priest

The Erzherzog, Archduke, is the figurehead and leader of The Fayth as well as the political ruler of the Verda Empire. They embody the tenets of the religion and provide example of what it is to lead a pious life to those below them. They hold their position for life, and when they die a replacement is voted on by the Tyrians. The Erzherzog wears resplendent white robes and a stole of violet with the finest gold embroidery.

The Tyranic Order are senior members of The Fayth, whose titles can only be granted by an Erzherzog. The Tyrians are close advisors of the Erzherzog and help them in their day-to-day running of the church. Their roles are for life, and when an Erzherzog dies a Tyrian will be voted in to on the holy burden by the other Tyrians. Tyrians wear a white robe beneath a splendid set of dark purple robes. Ceremonial robes are embellished with silver embroidery.

Tyrians manage the Carmine. Carmine are location based and lead The Fayth in large regions. For the Verda Empire, a Carmine will oversee an entire State. Elsewhere, a Carmine may look after a collection of towns in a single region, or a county, or other large area. Carmine wear black and white robes, with a crimson red stole. For ceremonial purposes, they also wear a red and gold over coat.

Within those areas, the Carmine oversees the work of Azurites. Within a Carmine's district, it will be divided up between several Azurites who report up to the Carmine. These are the first 'rank' of religious leader that is more ingrained into daily life due to their regular presence and leading larger congregations. Azurites wear black and white robes with a deep blue stole.

Azurites then manage the lower level of clergy such as Priests. Priests will have their own flocks throughout the region of their Azurite. In more populated areas, multiple Priests may be associated with a single church. However, in rural areas you are more likely to have a single Priest for an entire town. Priests simply wear black and white robes or a black and white stole.

As well as Priests, there are also those who devote themselves to a life of study, chastity and poverty. These monastic traditions hold no true 'rank' within the hierarchy of The Fayth, but are considered above general followers of the religion and are respected by the clergy. These are people who abandon their normal lives and forgo any risk of being tempted by Evil. Friars, monks and nuns are among these honourable souls, who study The Fayth and how to lead a life filled with Good. It is common place for monasteries to run schools and hospices, providing education and healthcare for their local areas.

The Devil

The antithesis of God is the Devil. This figure is depicted in a number of ways, but most commonly as a clean shaven masculine figure with torn leathery wings, or with the legs of a rooster, but never both.

The Devil sprung forth from God’s shadow when they created the world, and tricked God into creating the Plane of Evil. The two entities are at constant war, doomed to battle for eternity. 

To Jaegers, the Devil is believed to be an Archdemon of immense power and is likely the Archdemon above all others. He has never been seen by mortal eyes, but studies of the Demonic Plane of Evil seem to show that he rules over it just as The Fayth’s stories say.