John Ivory

You are a great guy smelly, keep in touch on Discord, and I will keep you in my prayers.

Please just blow this one up. It should not be a bridge, as there’s a road that wraps around the lake.

imagine being banned and making a leaving thread bruh you already gone?

LEGENDA SANCTORUM; OR, THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS A GOLDEN TOME BEARING WITNESS TO THE EXALTED, SANCTIFIED, BEATIFIED, AND VENERATED WITH LIVES OF THE SAINTS, MEMORIALS TO THE BLESSED, AND TRIBUTE TO THE VENERABLE FROM THE FIRST DAYS OF MAN TO THE YEAR SEVENTEEN TWENTY-FOUR VOL. I AS PROMULGATED BY HIGH PONTIFF DANIEL VI c. 1724 PREAMBLE In our time, there has gone a great lessening in reverence for the saints. In many ways this might be attributed to the lack of a proper book by which the faithful may learn of their lives, and the miracles by which they proved themselves. The last edition of a legenda was published nigh half a century ago by Bl. High Pontiff Jude, without inclusion of any of the so necessary hagiographies, the tales which give the saints their lasting power. With the intentions of remedying this great problem, and for an increase in the faith, knowledge, and morals among the clergy and lay faithful, a new edition of the Legenda Sanctorum shall be published, and promulgated with Pontifical imprimatur. DANIEL VI THE EXALTED PROPHETS The Prophets, or Exalted, are determined by the Canon and are noted for receiving their respective Scrolls from the Aenguls Artifai and Tesion, along with innumerable acts of faith, good works, and miracles. HOREN I “THE FATHER” – GOLDEN LAUREL Patron of Humanity, Covenants, and Humility. OWYN I “THE PURIFIER” – FLAMING SWORD Patron of Purity, War, and Fire. GODFREY I “THE REDEEMER” – SILVER SCEPTER Patron of Dominion, Glory and Justice. SIGISMUND I “THE PRESERVER” – IRON GLOBUS CRUCIGER Patron of Clairvoyance, Wisdom, and Sight. THE CALENDAR OF SAINTS This is the calendar of saints. Their lives may be found in the last chapter of this book. One is traditionally canonized if he or she lives a supremely pious and virtuous life and has proven he or she is in the highest skies by performing miracles posthumously. Thus, they are often attributed symbols to identify with. ST. ADRIAN OF LEUVAARDEN - OPEN BOOK Patron Saint of Statesmen, Lawyers, and Politics ST. AMYAS OF YORE - WILD HERB Patron Saint of Medicine, Healing, Botany, and Wild Herbs ST. CATHERINE OF FELSEN - PAIR OF GLOVES Patron Saint of Integrity, Innocence, Refugees, and the Vessian People ST. CHARLES OF PETRUS - GOLDEN CROW Patron Saint of Strength, Fortitude, and Prisoners of War ST. DANIEL OF AL’KHAZAR - WOODEN STAFF Patron Saint of Peace, Cities, Pilgrims, and Travel HIGH PONTIFF, ST. DANIEL I OF ABRESI - AN AGED SCROLL Patron Saint of Scholarship, Canonist Coalitions, Fidei Defensors, and Literature ST. EDMOND OF LACHSIN - KNIGHT OF HORSEBACK Patron Saint of Knights, Hospitality, Baronial lords, and the Auvergnian People ST. EMMA OF WOLDZMIR - WHITE SWORD Patron Saint of the Schism War, Soldiers, Loyalty, Valour against Odds, and Adrians HIGH PRIEST ST. EVERARD I OF AL’KHAZAR – RED CROSS Patron Saint of Holy Tradition, and Those Persecuted for their Faith ST. GODWEIN OF HUNTSHILL – OAKEN SHIELD Patron Saint of Honesty, Woodworkers, and Skin Afflictions ST. GODWIN OF PARADISUS – SKULL Patron Saint of the Deceased, those Haunted by Poltergeists, and Heartlanders ST. HENRY OTTO OF ALBAN – WOODEN SCALES Patron Saint of Commoners, Justice, and Fatherhood ST. HUMBERT OF BAR – COLOSSUS Patron Saint of Regents, Perseverance, and Defiance against Evil ST. JOHANNES OF AESCULUS – GREEN STAFF Patron Saint of Missionaries to Foreign Lands ST. JOREN OF PARADISUS – IRON SHACKLES Patron Saint of Mountainfolk, Winter, the Imprisoned, and Highlanders ST. JUDE OF PETRUS – INKWELL Patron Saint of Scholastics, Authors, and Monasteries ST. JUDITH OF CZENA – COWL Patron Saint of Wayward Women and Nuns ST. JULIA OF PARADISUS – GOLDEN RINGS Patron Saint of Mothers, Matrimony, and Exorcism ST. KRISTOFF OF HANSETI – ROSARY Patron Saint of Martyrs, Victims of Strife, and Bishops ST. LOTHAR OF BALIAN – LORRAINE CROSS Patron Saint of the Lorraine Cross, Princes, Courage, and Heraldry HIGH PONTIFF ST. LUCIEN I OF ULMSBOTTOM – KAEDRENI CROSS Patron Saint of Crusaders, Change, and the Family ST. MICHAEL OF CORDOBE – WHITE BULL Patron Saint of Passion, Exiles, Service and the Eighteen Years’ War ST. OTTO ‘THE BALD’ OF VANDERFELL – BALD EAGLE Patron Saint of the Schism War, Ward Fathers, and Haeseni Peoples. ST. PETER OF GAEKRIN – FLAMING ROSE Patron Saint of Military Orders, Victory in Battle, and Plight against Heathens ST. PUBLIUS OF PETRUS – BRONZE CHALICE Patron Saint of Military Officers, Mercenaries, and Deacons ST. ROBERT OF METZ – CHICKEN LEG Patron Saint of Poetry, Feasting, and Inquisition ST. RUDOLPH OF MARKEV – SILVER KEY Patron Saint of Redemption, Musicians, and Beggars HIGH PONTIFF ST. SIXTUS IV OF FELSEN – BRASS BELL Patron Saint of Theologians ST. THEODOSIUS OF ISTIAM – GRAY PIGEON Patron Saint of the Hussariya Cross, Messengers, Falconers and Fowlers, Translators, and the Raevir People ST. THOMAS OF GAEKRIN – WHITE ROSE Patron Saint of Virtuous Leadership, Discipline, Frontiersmen, and Kaedreni Peoples ST. TOBIAS OF SARKOZ – SILVER COMET, GOLD COINS Patron Saint of Merchants, Comets, Wealth, and Charity ST. WILFRICHE OF HANSETI – BLACK MACE Patron Saint of the Teutonic Cross, Brotherhood, Chancellors, Opposition of Setherin, and Franciscan Martyrs THE BLESSED One is beatified if he or she lives a wholly pious and virtuous life and is either martyred for his or her faith, or posthumously performed a miracle upon a High Pontiff's prayer. Bl. Gwenael Ashford, progenitor of the de Bar line who recovered the relics of St. Amyas. Bl. Baldwin Ashford de Bar, commandant of the Lotharingians and Tarchary Crusader. Bl. George Ashford de Bar, keeper of the holy primates and simian zoo of Cyriaum. Bl. Richard Ashford de Bar, discovered the holy city of Junavos. Bl. Otto II Georg Barbanov, Norland crusader. Bl. Robert Lothar Barbanov, virtuous patron of the Church. Bl. Lorethos Basileus, companion to the Ex. Godfrey and commander of the Twilight Army against Witch Queen Dawn Perea. Bl. Claudius Bracchus, a prince-bishop of great renown. Bl. Laurens Bracchus de Ruyter, virtuous knight, martyr at the hands of Elven sorcerers Bl. Hunwald Coalmein, companion of the Ex. Sigismund and St. Theodosius, pious peasant. Bl. Adelran Coulthard, first commandant of the Holy See. Bl. Leon of Amaury, a pacifist surgeon-monk who first settled Lesser Tarchary. Bl. Rafael de Cordobe, pious clergyman. Bl. Patrick Denims, companion of the Ex. Godfrey and patron of the Church. Bl. Thomas Denims, companion of the Ex. Sigismund and sworn monk renowned for his talent and contributions to architecture. Bl. Jorji Fisher, companion of the Ex. Sigismund, famed exorcist. Bl. Melchior Guillen, monastic martyr of Rosenyr. Bl. James Hightower, restorer of the Kingdom of Salvus. Bl. Stephan Himmel, Tarchary crusader who was turned to stone in martyrdom. Bl. Alexander Frederick Horen, legal reformer and Bishop of Courland. Bl. Ari Horen, companion of the Ex. Godfrey and pious empress. Bl. Charles Polycarp Horen, hieromonk who avenged Savoyard abuses against the church, engineered the Johannian restoration and imperial reconstruction of Felsen. Bl. John Sigismund Horen, second Emperor of the Fifth Empire, patron of faith and warden against pagan invaders. Bl. Richard Horen, brother and companion of the Ex. Godfrey and pious Duke of Marna. Bl. William Horen, final Emperor of the First Empire, companion and spymaster of the Ex. Sigismund. Bl. Istvan Ivanovich, missionary to pagan magi. Bl. Jan Jeremi, founder of the Burgundians and savior of Canonist Lahy. Bl. Francis Karovic, Franciscan Martyr Bl. Damon Kovachev, Franciscan Martyr Bl. Jan Kovachev, veteran of the Eighteen Years War. Bl. Duncan Lysander, companion of the Ex. Sigismund and architect of the Krelmstad. Bl. Zacarias Mosquera, pious Prelate to Radomir I and founder of the holy site Cavan . Bl. Edmund Myre, Count of Myreton and missionary to the pagan swampfolk. Bl. Peter Pavel, Franciscan Martyr. Bl. Jon Renault de Savoie, last prince of Savoy. Bl. Jack Rovin, a commander of the Order of St. Lucien. Bl. Fredek Royce, Franciscan Martyr. Bl. Wigbrecht Schulze, monastic martyr of Rosenyr. Bl. Uthor Silverblade, companion to the Ex. Godfrey and a virtuous grand knight. Bl. Aran Talraen de Rennes, devout Arch-Seneschal and patron of the Church. Bl. Temp Thersist, pious officer of the White Rose. Bl. Adaldag Wanderfoot, monastic martyr of Rosenyr. Bl. Noah of Petrus, Bishop of Brelus. Bl. Andrew Vydra, Fidei Defensor and champion of the Schism War. Bl. Nafis Yar, conqueror of Vanderguan and missionary to the Rassidi. Bl. Dmitri of the Dreadfort, Franciscan Martyr Bl. Edward of Kingston, chaplain of Kingston and renowned matchmaker. Bl. Enoch, noble hieromonk and missionary to the elves. Bl. Foltest of Aeldin, defender of the Brelusian Cathedral. Bl. Humpfrey of Belvitz, Bishop of Villavia. Bl. Jon of the Whirlwind, Fransciscan Martyr. Bl. Bionn of the Black Sepulchres, renowned Commander of the ancient Order of the Black Sepulchres, Saviour of Canonist Lahy. Bl. Peter ‘the Goatherd’, Franciscan Martyr. Bl. Radovid of Blaviken, dwarven missionary to the elves. Bl. Stephen, a Franciscan Martyr. Bl. Wilhelm of Hermann, knight of the Black Sepulcher, Tarchary crusader. Bl. Vladislav ‘the Vile’, companion of St. Wilfriche and conqueror of Setherinites. Called ‘the Vile’ by Setherinic forces who cursed his cunning and guile in battle. Bl. Vytenis of Luciensport, Tarchary crusader and standard-bearer of the Nauzica Brigade, died in martyrdom. Bl. High Pontiff Adeodatus I, companion to the Ex. Godfrey and beloved Pontiff. Bl. High Pontiff Pius II, martyr in defiance of Darfeyist plots. Bl. High Pontiff Sixtus III, maintained peace and neutrality amongst the clergy in tumultuous times. Bl. High Pontiff Daniel II, helped end Chivay caesaropapism alongside High Pontiff Saint Daniel I, led the inquisition against Kaedreni heretics and patron of the Tarchary crusades. Bl. High Pontiff Everard II, reformer of ecclesiastical law and staunch inquisitor. Bl. High Pontiff Lucien III, enthusiastic converter of heathens and martyr by Urik’Azog. Bl. High Pontiff Owyn II, martyr at the hands of Courlandic heretics. Bl. High Pontiff Clement II, mender of the Evarasite Schism. Bl. High Pontiff Everard IV, prolific author and theologian Pontiff. Bl. High Pontiff Jude I, strong militant Pontiff and fervent ecclesiastical reformer. Bl. High Pontiff Daniel V, benevolent Epulonist loved by the laity. THE VENERABLE The venerable are those who the Church chooses to memorialize for their good deeds in life and for their beneficial acts towards the faith. v. Lily Ashford v. Roland Ashford v. Marius Baruch v. Adrian of Kaedrin v. Alexander de Stolistes v. Alistair the Savage v. Charles Greymane v. Gaius Marius v. Segari v. Richard Palmer v. Pertinax Horen v. Lorik v. Baldir Toov v. Alistair ‘the Savage’ v. Tuvya Carrion v. Fyodor Carrion v. Sigismund of Couentre v. Vladimir ‘the Golden-Handed’ v. Hugues Sarkozic v. Olivier de Savoie v. Brother Fabian Virosi v. Helen of Carolustadt v. Leric Tresery THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS WITH DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF LIVES, AND MEMORIALS TO ATTRIBUTED MIRACLES ST. ADRIAN OF LEUVAARDEN – OPEN BOOK + Patron Saint of Statesmen, Lawyers, and Politics Born as Hadrien de Sarkozy, Saint Adrian was born in the Viceroyalty of Leuvaarden in the far off continent of Gaekrin. Raised in a household of middling burghers, Hadrien’s youth was marked with a characteristic rivalry with his elder brother and passionate ambition. His renown grew when he was sent to the continent of Asulon and read about potential legal work, posted by Velwyn Ashford (Later High Pontiff St. Lucien of Ulmsbottom). Hadrien set out for Asulon with meager supply and ended up in the Duchy of the Holy Lands, where he found work under Seneschal Ashford, acting as an advisor, barrister, and political theorist. His work found himself managing the many accounts and ledgers of the Order of the White Rose, and his stellar diligence and natural talent caught the eye of Velwyn’s other companions, prominently Thomas Chivay (Later St. Thomas of Gaekrin). He was quickly promoted to the rank of Conseiller and acted as a personal advisor to both Thomas and the Senior Command of the Order. His political works condemned the unholy city of Crestfall, and he personally participated in rooting out heretics among the city’s populace. When the Empire of Oren came to the continent of Anthos, Hadrien’s reputation as an able advisor had grown throughout the Empire. Countless sought his political expertise as he forged treaties, documents, and alliances throughout the realm. Hadrien also endeavored to promote a new Kaedreni culture in the kingdom, patronizing countless musicians and artists, whose works would spread throughout the newly conquered frontier. St. Adrian, above all others, that established a true Kaedreni culture among its people – a culture of nationalism, pride, and civic duty. What St. Adrian is most renowned for among the Canonist communion is his role in being the chief architect of Lucienism. His creation of the papist doctrine exemplified and outlined the theological goals of High Pontiff Lucien I, and its influence spread quickly throughout the Imperial west. Lucienism is regarded as a pillar of the Canonist faith due to his defiance of caesaropapism and the Horen cult. Thus among Canonist theologians, St. Adrian is praised for his philosophical and dogmatic contributions. Along with his involvement in the Kingdom of Kaedrin, Hadrien was also awarded other titles in the Empire. He was granted the title of Lord Privy Seal in the Emperor’s Council; and the County of Norfolk in the Prince-Archbishopric of Savoie, where the city of Aldersberg was established. Aldersberg would become a bountiful and industrious city, its inhabitants raised under the care of Lucienist teachings and Sarkozy protection. Hadrien was also one of the few lords in Orenic history to be a direct papal vassal, and it was he who also swore his devout faith to Lucien and championed the High Pontiff’s full papal authority as a separate body from the state. Lauded for his diplomatic ability, religious scholarship, political philosophies and diligence with the quill, St. Adrien worked tirelessly in service to the Pontificate, the Kingdom of Kaedrin, and most of all his faith. He would remain a devout follower of the church and capable statesman until his death in 1419, butchered by an unknown burglar in his own office. Miracles: When St. Adrian was found slain in his office in Ard Kerrack, he had with him a ceremonial golden shortsword, bloodstained after an intense struggle against his killer. When the guard went to alert their superiors, they returned to find the blade cleaned of all its stains and resting in the crease of an open book, revealing the building projects for Lucienist churches throughout the frontiers of Kaedrin. Upon the Exodus, clergy rushed to Aldersberg to preserve what works they could before looters preyed on the chaos. When the entered St. Adrian's chambers, the various books there began to fly about in his room in a heavy gale. As they landed, only one tome was left open, a scripture detailing a pentarchy. Later, the Holy Oren Empire would split five-ways. ST. AMYAS OF YORE – WILD HERB + Patron Saint of Medicine, Healing, Botany, and Wild Herbs Little is known about Saint Amyas' early life, but what is known is his family's lowborn background. Born in a household of merchants, the young Amyas quickly grew disillusioned with the decadence of the Perea kingdom of Salvus and found himself disowned by his father when he refused to work in the family business. Mustering what money he could from a mother's farewell gift, Amyas became an apprentice physician in a wandering caravan. The novice apothecary's talents grow exponentially over time due to his genuine passion in medicine. During the wars against the Perea regime, Amyas found ample work in tending to those wounded and maimed by bandit, orc, and man alike. His selflessness enabled him to become a pioneer in his field, devising the triage method of healing and various poultices to remedy the wounds of war. These growing talents would be put to test during the Great Plague of Asulon. A calamity which killed over a tenth of the human population, the Great Plague of Asulon was characterized by a pandemic of countless ailments, but none as feared as the wicked rotbrain. The virus was notorious for inducing mind-numbing agony and savagery to those afflicted, who often were kept together in cages and treated as animals for their conditions. In the bustling city of Solace, Amyas, in a routine trip through the quarantines to treat the infected, was once forced in the quarantine by two guards, who refused to let the doctor out. Amyas spent ten days among these sick, three without food or water, yet despite the circumstance, Amyas continued his treatments whilst praying to God for freedom. When another apothecary of his caravan finally managed to bribe the guards into letting Amyas go, Amyas was miraculously found free from all affliction despite his vulnerable state. Taking this as a sign from God, Amyas enlisted among the clergy and became a prominent monk. Spending his days administering last rites to the terminally ill, healing the sick despite prejudice and quarantine, pioneering new methods of medicine, and selflessly risking his life for the damned wherever he went, Amyas became the embodiment of the godly physician. Miracles: A lame boy was brought before the tomb of St. Amyas and at once managed to kneel, the function in his legs restored. The body of St. Amyas was immaculate upon his death, and said to smell distinctly of rose petals. ST. CATHERINE OF FELSEN – PAIR OF GLOVES + Patron Saint of Integrity, Refugees, Innocence, and the Vessian People Saint Catherine was born Catherine Francesca Horen, youngest daughter of Emperor John Frederick Horen. Raised in a time of war, Catherine strove to reach out to the people of Felsen, giving them food and clothing when there was none. After the rise of the Flays, their attack on Felsen, and the near-death of her brother, Emperor John Sigismund, Catherine was so moved by the chaos and damage that had been caused she took both an oath of honesty and an oath of purity - deciding she would remain true to not only herself, but to God. In her office as Imperial Princess, Catherine was known as a benevolent caretaker of refugees. The Dukes’ War which had occurred around the beginning of her life left many poor Adrians without food and shelter, and so Catherine used all in her might to bring the later generations into the city of Felsen, even keeping some of them in Anpalais itself. Whilst still young, Catherine would marry the Archchancellor Stephen de Beaufort. Together they vowed chastity, and their wedding bed never was shared, for the mutual increase of virtue and faith of both man and wife. In the years to come, Catherine would stand alongside her brother through the highs and lows of his rule, and became a strong and stalwart figure in the city of Felsen, her actions dictated only by compassion and truth. Her vows were left unbroken, passing away at the age of 50. Miracles: It is said that upon her death, Catherine looked not a year past thirty. Even years after her burial, her body did not decay, the deceased woman looking to be slumbering in the casket. A family of demons which had made their residence in Felsen sought to unleash havoc upon the funerary procession of Catherine’s. In doing so, the leader of the devils went to topple her perfumed casket, only to remarkably find that on touching it he and the rest of his pack had become humans. ST. CHARLES OF PETRUS – GOLDEN CROW + Patron Saint of Strength, Fortitude, and Prisoners of War Son of Emperor Alexander Carrion, Charles’ early life was turbulent and chaotic. The most blessed Duke Karl Barbanov was renowned for his settlement and civilization of the Dwarven North, carving out an expansive realm that restored Northern and Carrion culture after the calamities of the fourth empire. In many ways, St. Karl’s life was a testimony to the resilient spirit of the Highlander man, that despite whatever setbacks of his forefathers he had found triumph and glory in his Orenian conquests and occupations. Yet, vastly different from his peers who aspired to worldly glory, the lord Karl sought the acquisition of virtue, holiness, and god-given governance. His private life, work for Canonism, and eventual martyrdom distinguish him above his peers and afford him reverence as a holy saint. Born to the Emperor Alexander and his first wife, the Waldenian princess Anabella Rovin, the young Karl would find himself caught in the turmoil of his parent’s disastrous union and the downfall of the Fourth Empire. Spirited away from the fallen city of Petrus, he was reared among various holy figures such as St. Emma, St. Otto, and St. Daniel the Reader throughout lands such as Woldzimir, Aesterwald, and Karovia. Through these titans of faith, the young Karl earned a deep respect for church tradition and the importance of religious unity. After Petrus was retaken and the Schismatic-Renatian front collapsed, St. Karl’s wardfather, St. Otto, took to the North, marshaling the armies of Oren to subjugate its dwarven holds and bring the splinter-states of Aesterwald into the fold. Through the diplomatic handiwork of his mentor, Karl would come to inherit the estate of Ayr and use it to press onwards to the dwarven citadel of Hiebenhall. At the thick of the night, the young Karl with the aid of four score Vladovic bannermen, took the castle in a legendary display of grappling and sabotage. Not long after, the dwarves were forced to cede the North to the Reformed Kingdom, its jewel lost to the young lord’s clever machinations. Yet despite being surrounded by countless heathens, St. Karl did not succumb to altering the dogma of faith to appease the various Faolain and wildling factions of the north. His first missive upon taking the castle of Hiebenhall was that to send a chaplain to sanctify the dwarven hold. His first construction was that of St. John’s chapel, built by his own hand; Karl was renowned for his immense strength and often accompanied his men in harvesting timber and laying down supports. Through the rigor of construction his seat of Siegrad around the Castle Siegrad, Karl instilled zeal, diligence, and prudence among his soldiery and citizenry. Each were obliged to carry prayer books and learn the articles of the faith; St. Daniel the Reader marveled at the transformation which had took place over the decades, proclaiming Siegrad a holy center of faith. Over time, the many sons of schismatics and pagans had become devout Canonists, multiplying the strength of both the church and its patron, Oren. His exploits as Duke range from his fondness for children, establishing countless orphanages, to ensuring justice for the commons against tyrannical bureaucrats, to even maintaining the High Pontiff as his personal confessor. Yet the legendary life of the ‘Boulder of Barbanov’ came to a swift end at the face of natural disaster. The massive worm of Athera, long dormant, arose and devastated the continent in a tempest of rage. When the North looked to fall, St. Karl’s soldiers, the Brotherhood of the Golden Crow, kept vigil and held fast to ensure the citizenry of Siegrad could flee and take refuge in the boats to come. The great worm made a fierce adversary for the burly Barbanov, though he would not yield before the monstrosity. Instead, he elected to utilize his first inheritance, that of his late grandfather, the Emperor Tobias, to defeat the creature; a cache of explosives leftover from the golden emperor’s ardent passion of siegecraft. Jumping into the belly of the beast, the young Karl clutched the worm’s innards and perished in an explosion of gore. Martyring himself for the preservation of All-Athera, St. Karl lived on as a hero to the sons of Canonist world, an apostle in the holy succession and tradition of the Highlander St. John. He is often evoked by smallfolk against pestilence and plague given his triumph over the great worm of Athera, a hardy northman renowned for his sense of justice, temperance, and holiness. Miracles: Late one night, a Haensetic monk found himself lost in a blizzard with no torch, lantern, map or compass. As the night grew colder and colder, thinking he’d freeze, the monk prayed to St. Charles for veneration, and in the distance saw a flash of golden light. The cawing of a crow soon followed after, and the monk followed the sound to the safety of his monastery. The Brelus granaries had faced consistent pestilence by locusts, mice, and maggots due to its poor conditions. However, after an icon of St. Karl was kept to keep vigil over the grain, it was found that no pest bothered the stores again. During the Siege of Kraken's watch, a contingent of Gold Corps soldiers were trapped beneath the rubble by a huge piece of shrapnel. The Serjeant leading the company prayed to St Karl to lend him strength, and managed to lift the huge boulder off of his comrades, saving the lives of nearly two score of men and his descendant Petyr Barbanov. ST. DANIEL OF AL’KHAZAR – WOODEN STAFF + Patron Saint of Peace, Cities, Pilgrims, and Travel The legendary Saint Daniel is celebrated throughout the Canonist community as a model monarch and pilgrim. Born as the third among brothers, St. Daniel was not expected to inherit, and thus his father had introduced him to the world of theology in hopes of finding a vocation for the pretender. Yet in a stroke of misfortune, the princeling's elder brothers fell ill to a sweeping plague, and Daniel took upon his father's mantle as King of Oren. He never forgot his theological training, however, and found himself engrossed in matters of faith. Daniel Horen's first act as King was shifting his capital away from the traditional Horen seat of Jrent to a small fishing village northwest, in hopes of being closer to the holy sites of Aegis and finding the lost city of Paradisus. This village, under his competent administration, became the bustling metropolis of Al'Khazar, the jewel of Aegis and city of world's desire as a center of commerce, culture, and prestige. Yet he never forgot his faith in his fortunes; he financed and led the construction the grand King's Road, a highway from the Cloud Temple to Al'Khazar in hopes in popularizing the tradition of pilgrimage and travel. But despite his success as a monarch, Daniel loathed to sit in his palace, an ardent admirer of the world around him, often slipping the guise of a beggar at dusk and blending in with his subjects. After twenty years of peaceful reign, the burdens of statecraft began to take a toll upon Daniel's ability to spread the word of God, and he promptly abdicated. Lacking sons at the time, Daniel yielded his throne to his seneschal, and the Sheffield regime henceforth commenced as Daniel retired to his estate in Alstion. Though never officially ordained in the Temple of the Faith, many contemporaries dubbed 'Good King Dan" as a missionary due to his nature of converting countless peoples in his voyages. A popular cult revolved around the former king as he traversed the land spreading the faith to the remote corners of the world, one famous pupil of the cult being St. Everard. After years of wandering, preaching, and delivering the faith, St. Daniel passed away in his sleep. Four hours after his death, he was canonized, with throngs of faithful rushing to Horen's Cathedral in Al'Khazar claiming miracles on behalf of St. Daniel. Often times, St. Daniel of Al’Khazar is referred to as “St. Dan”, to reflect his folksy nature and distinguish him from High Pontiff St. Daniel. Miracles: St. Daniel's wooden staff is said to have miraculous powers; during the 5th Great Drought of Kramoroe, it was used by a priest of the Canon to find fourteen wellsprings, which saved the city. The footprints left behind in St. Daniel's travels throughout Krugmar never faded, despite the region's volatile sandstorms. HIGH PONTIFF ST. DANIEL I – AN AGED SCROLL + Patron Saint of Scholarship, Canonist Coalitions, Fidei Defensors, and Literature Born Siguine Barrow, he was led immediately into the spiritual life by the Franciscan martyrdom and the Darfeyist plots to seize the Church. Together with Basil of Sabris, caesaropapism in the Church was undone, leading to great fame for the young scholar. Siguine was then elected to the seat of High Pontiff, taking for himself the name Daniel. Whilst on pilgrimage, warfare erupted, led by the schismatic Kingdom of Aesterwald. In regency, St. Humbert led the initial efforts against the schism until St. Daniel returned. The Schism Wars were a concerted effort to destroy the unity of the Church by maleficent heretics and pagan allies. In combating this schism, Daniel played an essential part: he formed together a united coalition of Canonist kingdoms, namely those of Akovia and Savoy, and led the war effort as its spiritual head. The crusade was a smashing success, and the Aesterwaldian schismatics had rather blown their city apart, than have the humble Daniel step victorious foot inside. When the Canonists of the Schism War finally declared victory, Daniel leapt at the opportunity to properly elaborate and adapt the Canon. He translated the Canon from Flexio into the common tongue, leading to a renaissance of religious knowledge and devotion. Praised by many at the time for his deep passion for academia, he was given the epithet ‘The Reader’ by his fellow clergymen, and is responsible for the texts still used today. Miracles: A bishop who had suffered from a stroke was struck by an inkwell that sat on a shelf above him during an earthquake. When the quake ended, his speech had completely returned to him, and he could speak in both Common and Flexio fluently. A monk by the name of Augustine had said his evening prayers before taking to rest from his transcribing of texts, in which he invoked the intercession of St. Daniel. When he awoke, he and several of his brothers miraculously found that a floating quill had been working on manuscripts the whole night long. ST. EDMOND OF LACHSIN – KNIGHT ON HORSEBACK + Patron Saint of Knights, Hospitality, Baronial lords, and the Auvergnian People Known in life as Ser Edmond Brunswick, the Auvergnian rose to become a veteran of many wars, serving the empire loyally and virtuously. Ser Edmond began his fortunes as a soldier in the Order of the White Rose. In the battles that brought him to, Edmond became renowned for his mercy, earning him the ire of many a bloodthirsty compatriot. His reputation for valor preceded that of his mercy, however, and he was quickly knighted by St. Peter, King of Kaedrin. After his knighthood was consecrated, Edmond retired from the life of combat, choosing instead to settle the Auvergenian people in homesteads on the Kaedreni frontier. As a landed knight, he took all his friends and his enemies in good will. He practiced humility and hospitality as a landowner, offering the native elves of his lands amnesty and protection from marauding Orenian soldiers. When called to war once more, this time against the Urguanian dwarves, Edmond heeded the call. He acted as the epitome of all virtues of a good knight and soldier until his final days, perishing on the battlefield. Miracles: During a chivalrous duel between two knights, one of the knights attempted to cheat by poisoning the end of his blade. In the midst of the fight, he somehow managed to cut himself, mumbling in Auvergnian until his death, which was not a tongue he had known prior. After his death at the Battle of the Bridge, an Urguanian flanking maneuver was revealed to Orenian commanders by his sword alighting in flame, and levitating towards the direction from whence it was planned. ST. EMMA OF WOLDZMIR – WHITE SWORD + Patron Saint of the Schism War, Soldiers, Loyalty, Valour against odds, and Adrians Born into the Vladov house, Emma often prayed for something greater than the chaotic life brought upon her and her family. One particular evening as she drifted off into sleep, it is said that she dreamt of a grand battle, shouting at the top of her lungs trying to aid the armies, but either side only continued fighting in their rage, witnessing the death of every single soldier in the slaughter. When Emma awoke, she found that her following years were haunted by this one dream, and was motivated to learn to take up the sword and shield. The more she trained, the more her faith grew, realizing that to fight for GOD was the key to victory. Through a series of chance encounters, Emma found herself becoming the commander of the Canonist forces at the high tide of the Schism Wars. With nothing but her faith in GOD and her sheer willpower, the woman went on to bring victory to the Canonists. Miracles: During the bloodshed of the Ducal War, an Adrian maiden with her babe was tangled up in the battle of Barrowyk. A single arrow shot out from the sky, striking the cobblestone beneath the maiden’s feet, splitting the ground in two. She fell from the battlements, only to discover a hidden escape route beneath the keep. In the nascent stages of the Dukes’ War, Adrian soldiers implored the intercession of their patron St. Emma. It is said that in an apparition, Emma then revealed herself to the soldiers, leading to zealous tumult and fervor. The apparition then led the troops in battle against the excommunicated Titus de Sola, having for themselves a crushing victory. HIGH PRIEST ST. EVERARD I OF AL’KHAZAR – RED CROSS + Patron Saint of the Holy Tradition, and those Persecuted for their Faith Born in the late 1200s as a prince of the antique House of Hightower, Saint Everard is widely known for his active resistance and persecution against the Iblees cults and Sheffield regimes. Among the unsophisticated clergy of High Priest Bernard's peerage, Everard distinguished himself as as scholar and keeper of holy rites, a traditionalist through and through. He was a disciple of St. Daniel, establishing various enclaves of his faith in the Oren frontiers and helped standardized the Church in a time of uncertainty. Yet, while the city of St. Daniel, Al'Khazar, was aflame with pro-Iblees sentiment, its very King conducting in the black worship, Saint Everard remained steadfast in his communion, performing secret vigils and taking to exile to insure the faith would survive against the onslaught of the Undead. Tortured, branded, and persecuted, the mythic Hightower never submitted nor faltered in his dogma, refusing to accept Iblees as anything more than a wicked fallen Archdaemon. His adherence to traditional Canonist sentiments and devotion to his Creator have exemplified him as a model for all the priesthood to follow, as Everard kept his faith and vows despite the world around him crumbling to ash. He passed in his sleep in 1320. Miracles: A group of Aegan clergymen were traveling north to administer the faith, when a Red Cross appeared in the night sky. Being students of St. Everard, they took the sign as an omen and turned away later to discover an Undead warlock nearly crossed their path. Undead prophets stumbled upon the tomb of St. Everard and attempted to resurrect him with their dark arts. Their attempts were a miraculous failure, as their lightning spells were reflected back to their caster, and their hexes proved useless. ST. GODWEIN OF HUNTSHILL – OAKEN SHIELD + Patron Saint of Honesty, Woodworkers, and Skin Afflictions As a youth, St. Godwein was reared in the Asulonian badlands, a noble refugee from the destruction of Aegis. Losing his family at an early age due to the bandits so common in the region and period, "Honest Godwein" took up his hatchet and swore to his Creator that he would live on and prosper, but through virtue and honesty, not through sin as those that took his family away from him. The young Godwein opened a woodworking business, exporting fine frontier timber with the merchants who traveled all across the human realm. His merchant contacts informed one day that one of Daniel's grandsons, a certain Godfrey Horen, had come into power. An ardent admirer of the selflessness and traveling spirit of St. Daniel, Godwein set out for Arethor upon hearing this news and swore utter loyalty. Aiding his king and later, Emperor, in combating heresy in reuniting the human kingdoms, Godwein became a beloved figure in the court of man, who was reputed to have never told a lie in his life. In an attempt to conduct in theological discourse with the Mori'quessir on a voyage to Menocress, Godwein was afflicted with a fungal growth upon his visage. Many physicians grew concerned as the blemish grew and grew, until it encompassed half his face. Yet, it is said that in response to this life-threatening illness, Godwein went to St. Everard's Church and prayed deeply for three days and three nights, and the growth did not grow anymore. Recognizing the ultimate power of God and his institutions, Godwein poured countless resources in aiding the poor and the priests of the faith. He passed away quietly, keeping his word with his Creator by going from a common lumberjack to a Marquis of the Empire without betraying his principles and living an exceptionally earnest life. Miracles: Godwein's axe nor shield has never dulled, even after consistent use centuries from his death. Godwein's body is miraculously preserved, and its fungal growth still living, despite lacking a host to draw nutrients from. ST. GODWIN OF PARADISUS – SKULL + Patron Saint of the Deceased, those Haunted by Poltergeists, and Heartlanders The second of the three sons of Horen, Godwin and his brothers took it upon themselves to collect the scattered peoples of Humanity after the murder of Horen and his wife Julia at the hands of Krug the Betrayer. Godwin established the kingdom of Aaun within the valley of Jrent, and this became the most prosperous of the brother’s three kingdoms. Aaun continued to progress and flourish under his reign, but this was tragically brought to an abrupt end when Godwin was murdered by his own brother, Harren, at the beginning of a twisted conquest; Harren smashing Godwin’s skull. This would eventually lead to the rise of Owyn, son of Godwin, and the fall of Harren. Miracles: Due to the violence of his death, it is said that Godwin appears as a ghost to the children of humanity to guide lost souls to the Skies. It is said that a malevolent spirit plagued a homestead of a Savoyard family, leading to the disappearance of one of their small children. In her grief, the mother of the family invoked St. Godwin’s litany for a succession of seven days. On the seventh prayer, St. Godwin revealed himself to the family, casting out the demon and returning to them their lost child. ST. HENRY OTTO OF ALBAN – WOODEN SCALES + Patron Saint of Commoners, Justice, and Fatherhood Henry Otto Barbanov was a headstrong, proud figure of his house. Alongside his cousin, King Stephan, the city of Alban was built- starting as nothing but a mere war camp out in the wilderness of Tahn’s snowy wastelands. Guided by only his faith and his loyalty to his people, Henry reinspired the noblemen, gained the admiration of the common men and women, and worked towards progress, laying the foundations for a promising future for the kingdom of Haense. He was often keen to stop corruption and decadence within court and amongst commonfolk, constantly finding a way to maintain the balance, and was thus often referred to as ‘Henrik the Humble’. Miracles: In the midst of a particularly harsh winter in the early years of Markev, a farmer of seven years and father of seven children wept and asked for veneration from Henry to give his starving family strength to survive the winter. When he awoke the next morning, the wheatfields had suddenly become abundant with grain, with cows and sheep grazing about the fields. A falsely accused gentryman was led to court by corrupt bailiffs in the city of Felsen. The wicked judge provided him with no trial, and demanded of him an unfathomable sum of his property, knowing that it would impoverish the man. In his prayers, the gentryman begged the intercession of St. Henry, and the symbolic scales of the courtroom were lit aflame. The judge, cowed by this feat, immediately fled and the gentryman was freed. ST. HUMBERT ‘THE TITAN’ OF BAR – COLOSSUS + Patron Saint of Regents, Perseverance and Defiance against Evil Despite being born into the Savoy cadet branch of de Bar, Humbert rather quickly took the cloth, delving deeply into the scholarly works of the faith and prospering underneath the tutelage of Pontiff Daniel I, and thus quickly became the Pontiff’s Vice-Chancellor. When Daniel I had gone on pilgrimage, and the Schism Wars erupted, it was Humbert who stepped into the limelight, fervently defending the faith in the Pontiff’s absence. He declared himself regent, and called on Savoy, Akovia, Adria, and the proto-Haensic states to rally together to fend off the schismatic threat. Such bold strokes earned Humbert the title ‘Titan of the Faith’, and he was recognized as the second most influential clergyman of the Schism War. Miracles: A heartlander nobleman and a clergyman had gotten into a heated debate over the causes of the Schism War, a hundred or so years after it took place. In the heat of the moment, the nobleman caused an idol donning the titan of Humbert to be knocked over, broken in two. When the nobleman went to pick it up, however, the idol resealed itself, the symbol glowing faintly for a fleeting moment. A rampaging olog came to cause destruction to a hamlet of pious Canonists. Invoking the intercession of St. Humbert, it is said by legend that the reeve grew to a colossal height of nine feet, and grew for himself the strength of a bull. The reeve then sallied forth from his home, giving the olog a wholloping, and rescuing the village from his devastation. ST. JOHANNES OF AESCULUS – GREEN STAFF + Patron Saint of Missionaries to Foreign Lands and those Falsely Accused Johannes Vos Bracchus IV de Ruyter , son of Saint Publius Bracchus, was already an eminent scholar of law and theology before his decision to become a priest in 1501. Proving himself to be indispensable to the Pontifical court, Father Johannes quickly rose to the Diocesan seat of Courland, and held a variety of other positions such as Auditor of the Tribunal and Dean of State. During his first few years post-ordination, he developed a method for standardizing citations from the Holy Canon. Bishop Johannes’ legal abilities were also brought to the notice of Emperor John I Frederick, who appointed him High Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1545, High Pontiff Lucien III appointed him Archbishop of Cistercia, charging him with the task of converting heathens in Vandoria. However, after High Pontiff Lucien III’s death, Archbishop Johannes and Archbishop Oliver Blackwell-Greymane both nominated themselves to sit upon the Immaculate Throne. Archbishop Oliver, soon to be known as High Pontiff Tobias I, won the Synod of 1546, and the rift between these two clergymen would continue for the foreseeable future. Archbishop Johannes was soon excommunicated and thrown in prison, for allegedly speaking against the new High Pontiff in private and plotting against him. In 1551, the destitute Father Johannes was found dead in his cell, supposedly due to starvation. Soon after, High Pontiff Daniel III lifted Father Johannes’ wrongful excommunication, and posthumously apologized for his mistreatment. Miracles: Whilst on a mission to a settlement of Norlanders, a pair of Judite monks were harangued by the local warlord. He seized the men, and planned for their execution by a blot. Begging the intercession of St. Johannes, they were miraculously freed of their chains in the dead of night, and fled the village with their lives intact. ST. JOREN OF PARADISUS – IRON SHACKLES + Patron Saint of Mountainfolk, Winter, the Imprisoned, and Highlanders The third and youngest son of Horen, Joren established the kingdom of Edel upon the scattering of Horen’s people. When Harren attacked the kingdom of Aaun and murdered their brother, Godwin, Joren took it upon himself to provide sanctuary for Godwin’s only son, Owyn, and named him ‘Prince of Alstion’. Upon Harren’s treacherous capture of the uncle and nephew, Joren cast Owyn into the sewers of the holy city’s ruins, saving his life. Joren would spend many years trapped as a political prisoner in his own brother’s keep, each day praying and remaining strong in his faith. It was this act of sacrifice that paved the way to Owyn’s rise in power as ruler of Idunia, where he finally defeated Harren and freed Joren from his shackles and the years of imprisonment. Miracles: When the dwarves had kidnapped a platoon of Canonist soldiers in the midst of the Schism War, the soldiers found themselves deep in the mountains with nothing but the chains that bound them. However, on the seventh night of their capture, an apparition of St. Joren revealed itself, blinding the Urguanite captors. The apparition did then free the men with a swipe of its hand, and led them to their freedom. ST. JUDE OF PETRUS – INKWELL AND QUILL + Patron Saint of Theses, Scholastics, Authors, and Monasteries Born in Petrus, Jude began his holy journey at a young age, becoming a deacon in the holy city of Cyriaum. Dedicated to his studies and the spread of the faith, he quickly became the first abbot of the Cyriaum monastery, where he personally taught those who flocked to the Church. He soon developed a strong friendship with H.P. St. Daniel I, and rose to be a bishop of the faith. As the Schism Wars began, Jude was unafraid to defend the Canonists from the schismatic threat, becoming the first warrior monk amongst the Church’s ranks. However, Jude was most well known for his numerous published theses and sermons. Out of the thirty-five he had written, only twenty-four have been discovered thus far, but each of them stand as powerful, thought provoking pieces to guide the future generations of Canonists and clergymen. His writings were so influential, that near the end of his life, Jude managed to convert hundreds of heretics, most notably an entire band of orcish apostates. Miracles: After the fall of Adria in the Ducal War, the Belvitz church had caught fire in the midst of a chaotic raid, leaving nothing but rubble and ash. However, a wandering monk sifted through the wreckage of the abandoned city, and discovered a locked away chest. When he opened the box, he discovered seven of Jude’s theses, completely unharmed and undamaged. ST. JUDITH OF CZENA – COWL + Patron Saint of Wayward Women and Nuns Sister Judith Ann of Czena rose to prominence in 1648, when Archbishop Elphias of Metz (later High Pontiff Jude I) appointed her Abbess of the Annsden and Jorenus Abbeys, and Mother Superior of the Sisters of Annsden. Beginning with a meager band of sisters, Mother Judith established a strong following of monastic women, using her abbeys to educate and enrich the lives of those all across Haense. On several occasions, local girls of poor reputation were placed under her care to repent and reform, each of which returned from the Abbey with newfound faith in GOD and His word. When monastic clans of tonsured sisters in Belvitz, Evereux, and Jorenus were consolidated under the Order of Blessed Catherine, Mother Judith was the obvious choice to be appointed Holy Mother of the Church of the Canon. For three decades, Holy Mother Judith fervently promoted works of the faith both within her monastic sisterhood and secular localities. She found herself active as a healer in High Pontiff Jude I’s holy war for Halsworthy, and in the Cyrilsburg mayoral elections. While a competent stewardess of her lands, however, the sisterhood gradually fell out of popularity, and Holy Mother Judith abdicated from office in the 1680s and perished soon after. Miracles: A nunnery in Belvitz was taken by the flame of arson by a heathenous troupe of Reiver bandits, and the nuns therein were forced to flee. After seven days of prayer invoking the intercession of St. Judith, the nuns returned to their former home, and miraculously found it perfectly rebuilt, as if the lick of the flames had never touched it. ST. JULIA OF PARADISUS – GOLDEN RINGS + Patron Saint of Mothers, Matrimony, and Exorcism The wife of Horen, Julia was a gentle soul who was devoted to her husband, children, and the Lord. After her husband embarked on his journey to the Grotto of Gamesh, pious Julia was left with her young children to tend to the camp of Horen. It was then that Iblees, in disguised as Horen came to the camp, trying to lull the people down a path of sin and iniquity. Before he had the chance, however, it was Julia who stepped forth, seeing Iblees for what he truly was: the Deceiver, and she cast him out from the camp. She would go on to defend her children from the iniquity of Saul, preserving the holy bloodline of Horen. Miracles: When a disguised necromancer tried to corrupt the flesh of an expectant mother, a bright light erupted from her golden wedding band about her finger. When the light faded, the necromancer was blinded, and its true form was revealed, allowing the woman time to escape. Months later, the woman birthed triplet sons. ST. KRISTOFF OF HANSETI – ROSARY + Patron Saint of Martyrs, Victims of Strife, and Bishops Kristoff of Hanseti began his journey as a recruit of the Order of Saint Amyas, and alongside them and the imperial legion, aided in the coup of the Chivay Empire. After he tragically lost his hand and an eye, he decided to retire from his time as a knight and join the ranks of the now independent Church clergy. He’d rise to become the bishop of Petrus, most notably known for unrelenting courage in holiness, which lead him toward his eventual martyrdom at the hands of Dunamis raiders, in his own cathedral. Miracles: When a humble monk of the faith was being robbed by a highwayman, an idol of Kristoff fell from the monk’s satchel. A blinding light erupted from the idol, blinding the bandit; allowing for the monk’s hasty escape. ST. LOTHAR OF BALIAN – LORRAINE CROSS + Patron Saint of the Lorraine Cross, Princes, Courage, and Heraldry Born as the Prince of Balian in the year 500, Lothar is most notably recognized as the warrior philosopher behind the Lorraine Cross. He elaborated on his campaign banners, explaining that the Cross of Lorraine is a variation on the normal two-barred cross, consisting of one vertical bar pierced with two horizontal bars in the upper half. The upper horizontal bar represents the Seven Skies, the lower represents the World, and the emptiness beneath them is the Void. Miracles: Soon after the death of Lothar, a raging orc wandered into a village on the countryside, causing havoc. One such event that came of this, was the orc’s theft of a nun’s Lorraine cross and rosaries. The orc tried to bend the golden cross, but again and again, it did not bend or break, and in fact broke his hands after his seventh attempt. HIGH PONTIFF ST. LUCIEN I OF ULMSBOTTOM – KAEDRENI CROSS + Patron Saint of the Kaedreni Cross, Crusaders, Landholding Clergy, and the Family. Born as Velwyn Ashford in the dreary penal colony of Ulmsbottom, Saint Lucien’s background was that of the son of an exiled patrician. His father, a courtier, had been banished from the royal court of Pampo Perea under dubious circumstance, and at the first opportunity young Velwyn hired passage on a slave galley from Ulmsbottom to the Teutonic state of Hanseti. There he began a new life for himself, quickly rising through the secular ranks of the Teutonic Order, building his assets and reputation until he was eventually appointed Landmeister (or governor) of the city of Dresden. In addition to this, for a brief time he acted as an ambassador from the lands of Hanseti to the court of Renatus, where he was exposed to the religion of the Renatian people. His tenure ended when Hochmeister Mirtok of Hanseti betrayed Godfrey of Renatus in the Salvite Wars, Ashford being quickly pronounced persona non grata and recalled. Ashford found himself unable to cope with the dilemma which he then faced - to him, Renatus had been a land of opportunity and moral principles, whereas his own realm of Hanseti had exemplified only betrayal and warmongering justified as pragmatism. He resigned from his post as Landmeister and was baptised into the Church of Oren, disappearing for a certain time. He reappeared around the time Godfrey unified the human realms into the Holy Oren Empire, having undergone a religious epiphany and joined the clergy. With Thomas (Later St. Thomas of Gaekrin) and Peter Chivay, he was one of the three founders of the Order of the White Rose, a religious military order which was the first and most powerful organization to espouse the more zealous principles of the Empire - the subjugation of nonhumans, the establishment of religious uniformity and the destruction of monsters, rebels and dissidents. It would later grow to become one of the most formidable forces in the history of the Empire, establishing the Kingdom of Kaedrin and almost entirely conquering the elven lands. In addition to his post as Seneschal of the Order of the White Rose, he was instated as the Bishop of Crestfall and Pontiff of the Church by the High Pontiff at the time, Adeodatus I the Simple. Under his proselytization, the Diocese of Crestfall would be scoured of infidels and heretics. In 1395, Adeodatus would resign from his position as High Pontiff and Velwyn Ashford would be elected in his place, taking the papal name of Lucien. Taking a far more active role in the operation of the Church than his predecessors, Lucien I proved to be one of the most devout leaders of the Faith in recorded history, casting aside the lax and corrupt precedent which had been maintained by James, Pius and Adeodatus. Upon the arrival to the promised land of Anthos, Lucien would be granted the northern fief of Savoie, becoming Prince-Archbishop of Savoie. A staunch defender of the family unit, the High Pontiff would become a model for virtuous and righteous families, providing charity and patronage to households with children. During his reign, he called the First Crusade on the Orcish Lands and established the Order of Saint Amyas, charging Guy Varodyr with the post of Grand Master. This First Crusade was a great success, many of the pious riding south to secure their place in the Seven Skies by fighting the orcish infidel. Varodyr would establish the fortress of Antrim before being forced to retreat when the crusade achieved its ultimate goal reclaiming the relics of St. Lothar, known more commonly as St. Lorraine. Known for the copper Kaedreni cross he bore, he resigned in 1420 upon leaving for Aeldin during the Exodus, having restored the good name of the Church as a pious and selfless organization which protected family values. Lucien died some time in the 1430s, his relics being recovered by Arjen de Sarkozy on an expedition sponsored by Radomir the Ecclesiarch. Afterwards, they were transferred into the custody of his grandson, Olivier, where they remain to this day. Miracles After kissing the hand of Lucien’s cadaver, a married couple of fifty-one and fifty-five were able to conceive and successfully raise a healthy child despite years of infertility. Saint Lucien’s crozier and Kaedreni cross, fashioned out of lead and copper respectively to show his humility in regards to his predecessors, were both buried with him in his tomb. When Arjen de Sarkozy exhumed his relics, the knight found that both the crozier and the cross had been transformed into solid gold. Alarmed by this discovery, he transferred both artifacts into the custody of the Church. ST. MICHAEL OF CORDOBE – WHITE BULL + Patron Saint of Passion, Exiles, Dutiful Service, and the Eighteen Years’ War Miguel Cortez was born the son of a Canonist convert on the island of Cordobe. He and the other Canonists of the island were driven away and forced into the sea by the pagan inhabitance. He eventually fled with the Cordobonese converts, led by Blessed Rafael de Cordobe, across the ocean to Vailor, landing in Luciensport. Everard II welcomed them with open arms and they in return, aided him in the construction of the fledgling Papal State. Later in life he, along with his Uncle Rafael, formed the backbone of what would become the Inquisitorial Tribunal, formed to combat pagans, protect the Pontiff, and purge heretics. Miguel fought many battles against endless foes, participating in holy war against the Dwarves and the Qalisheen, and purging both the Xanist, and Clerical heretics from human lands. He was also responsible for capturing the renegade Abbess, Lorina Carrion for the breaking of her vows, and her conversion to the Qalisheen faith. Miracles: While hunting the rogue Lorina of Ruska, Michael and his inquisitors were lost in the deserts of Khalestine. After seven nights of wandering, Michael had a vision in which a purely white lion came to him in the night and led their party to the city of Al'Wakrah, where they learned of the oathbreaker's whereabouts. While the Pontiff Lucien III lay dying in his bed, following the Battle of Marnadal, Michael placed his hands upon a stab wound inflicted by the Azog berserker. After a prayer to God, Michael transferred the suffering of the wound to himself and therein he suffered for three nights. ST. OTTO ‘THE BALD’ OF VANDERFELL – BALD EAGLE + Patron Saint of the Schism War, Ward Fathers, and Haeseni Peoples Otto was born into the Rovin family, but during the Schism Wars he was forced from his home of Vanderfell. It was after this incident that he worked relentlessly, finding himself at the center of the chaotic papal court, becoming a strong, guiding voice. With the Pontiff’s guidance, he soon succeeded in reclaiming his homeland upon the end of the wars. Again he worked tirelessly, and realized a new purpose: to help the ruined countryside destroyed by the Schism Wars. He rebuilt and established settlements for the peoples who were without a place to call home, bringing stability back to a people who had nearly forgotten the meaning. It was through these efforts did the beginnings of Haensetian states begin to form. Along the way, he took Saint Charles into his care, and groomed him to be the next Duke of Vanderfell. Miracles: Near the end days of Vanderfell, a human child was kidnapped by a dwarven ex-soldier and his elven concubine. As they ran through forests, trying to flee from the Vanderfell soldiers that pursued them, they found themselves hopelessly lost, tailed by an eagle, and wound up right back at the front gates of the city. ST. PETER OF GAEKRIN – FLAMING ROSE + Patron Saint of Military Orders, Victory in Battle, and Plight against Heathens The second of the co-founders of the White Rose, Peter was the Order’s leader. Passionate and outspoken, Peter was relentless in his efforts to better the world and end the iniquity of the world’s heathen religions alongside his brother Thomas. He would go on to become the King of Kaedrin, and eventually the Emperor of the Imperium. Miracles: An elven heathen attempted to wander into the capital of Kaedrin to convert and corrupt devout Canonists that resided there. But as the elf passed by a bush of roses, the buds erupted into flames, singeing him greatly, and he thus fled. ST. PUBLIUS OF KAROVIA – BRONZE CHALICE + Patron Saint of Military Officers, Mercenaries, and Deacons Born of a mercenary and a baron's daughter, Publius Bracchus had been driven from his country estate by bandits into service of the Reformed Kingdom of Oren, before beginning a long and illustrious career in the military. Following an enduring service leading the Second Akovian Regiment until its reformation under Vanir rule following the death of King Vydra, he shortly was enrolled into the Order of Saint Amyas. During that service, Publius helped improve the reputation of militant holy orders by insisting on repentance and confession rather than execution for the sins of non-humans, and he was soon made privy by King Olivier de Savoie. Serving as the first Lord Steward of Felsen, Publius enjoyed a reputation of being both kind-hearted and highly motivated, often promoting the values of Canonism to the metropolitan city. His faith, like many others, was tried by the Duke's war - even losing a cousin he had sided against, Count Jace Bracchus, after Jace was caught in an extramarital relationship with a nun. Following Jace’s execution, it is said that Publius had made many offerings to the church on his own behalf, hoping to preserve his soul. Never losing heart, Publius then intervened against the genocide of Highlanders and the Raev by offering refuge to all clergymen of Adria and old Haense following the death of Siguine Barbanov. Protection of the clergy led to a broader protection of Highlander laity, who had been mercilessly killed due to racial hate from Savoyard and Lotharingian Heartlanders. After undoubtedly saving many lives, his son Deacon Aemolius' death in a raid led him to defend all members of the church. Growing older, more of Publius’ children would join the church and also form the de Ruyter family in respect to their mother's culture, as his second wife's children were designated the heirs of the Barony of Aesculus. Amongst such descendants were Saint Johannes de Ruyter, Lord Magistrate Laurens de Ruyter, Blessed Ser Laurens de Ruyter, and High Pontiff Pontian the Second. Serving as the first Arch-Chancellor of the Quintus under Emperor John Frederick, Publius played a key role in mending the rifts of humanity, often citing its chosen status aneath the Canon as the primary reason for political unity. These efforts came in a timely fashion during perhaps one of the most pivotal wars in history - the Eighteen Years’ War. Battling pagans and heretics alike from Vandoria, Urguan, old Haria, and many other long-extinct nations, it is said Publius Bracchus eventually retired due to old age. Appearing only once after his retirement from the privy council as he assailed Rocco Romstun for his repeated disrespects of the passing Emperor John Frederick, it is said that he died of natural causes in the Anpalais palace soon after having an audience with Emperor John Sigismund. Miracles: During a pilgrimage to the ruined Temple of Exalted Horen in Atlas, an Adrian traveller in dire need of water stumbled across an empty chalice within the Elven forests. After requesting intercession from Saint Publius, the chalice soon overflowed with water, allowing the pilgrim to proceed with his journey. ST. ROBERT ‘THE FAT’ OF METZ – CHICKEN LEG + Patron Saint of Poetry, Feasting, and Inquisition Christened Robert Rovin upon his birth in 1595, this portly scholar became a monastic after offering his vows to High Pontiff Everard IV in 1629. Succeeding a pilgrimage throughout the entirety continent of Axios, where he discovered bastions of Xionism and other vile heathenry, Brother Robert returned to Adelsburg to be appointed Titular Bishop of Metz and Grandmaster of the Order of Saint Lucien in 1633. His Grace Robert Rovin, after several years of loyal service in the Order of Saint Lucien, led the Order in a successful crusade against the Kingdom of Santegia in 1639. Eventually overburdened with his multiple prominent positions within the church, Rovin was replaced by Grandmaster Rakim Yar and appointed as Grand Prior. Upon relocation to the continent of Atlas, Grand Prior Rovin quickly went to work exploring its uncharted wastes, exploring the ruined Temple of Exalted Horen and unearthing its ancient secrets. Maintaining the faith amongst these emigrants from Axios for several decades, Grand Prior Rovin wrought the destruction of the City-State of Halsworthy during the 1655 Crusade, and the Global Assembly via the execution of its undead chairman, Lotte Baptiste, in 1660. In 1662, High Pontiff Jude I appointed Rovin as Coadjutor Bishop of Rhodesia, and promoted him to Auxiliary Archbishop after the disbandment of the Order of Saint Lucien in 1667. Unfortunately, Archbishop Robert’s girth was the source of considerable health issues throughout his tenure as a clergyman, and he passed away in his sleep in 1670. One of humanity’s foremost poets during the 17th century, Robert was responsible for the Hymn of the Fat Monk and the Hymn of Exalted Godfrey, and his written work A Holy Man’s Perspective of the War and a Prayer to Resolve Haense’s Sin was lauded by contemporaries as an exemplar of rhetoric. Miracles: A pious baron had assembled his courtiers and subjects for a feast in St. Robert’s honor. Marauding reivers then assaulted the manor house, causing a tumult which ended the festivities; miraculously, however, the reivers then did find themselves growing absurdly fat, rendering their weapons useless. In his good will, the baron invited the obese bandits to the feasting table, and all partook once more in jovial harmony. ST. RUDOLPH OF MARKEV – SILVER KEY + Patron Saint of Redemption, Musicians, and Beggars A quiet, introspective minister of middling origin, many of the personal details of Rudolph Wagner’s life are lost to time. The majority of knowledge about his life comes from his written works, and the public records of the Holy Canonist Church. By the time of Rudolph’s ordination in the mid-to-late seventeenth century, he was already an established Highlander tradesman for several decades. In 1686, he published his first political treatise, Pax Cordis(Common: “Peace of Heart”), which was immensely popular amongst clergymen of the time. In 1689, he gained his first official post within the clerical hierarchy, as Bishop of Cyrilsburg. Following the deposition of High Pontiff Siegmund I, Rudolph was promoted to Archbishop of Jorenus and Pontifical Secretary under Blessed High Pontiff Daniel V in 1693. It was during his tenure as Pontifical Secretary that Archbishop Rudolph published the compilation of his life’s theological work, Hymnal and Prayers of the Canon. A collection of hymns, parables, and prayers, Hymnal and Prayers of the Canon quickly proved to be a valuable tool in both liturgy and the education of the faithful. Tragically, Rudolph resigned from his clerical posts due to poor health in 1700, and died soon after due to gout. Miracles: A group of monks preparing for their evensong chant found that their rubrics had been destroyed. Without their breviaries, the chant was damned to disharmony, as the men had not yet memorized their parts. Invoking the intercession of St. Rudolph, the brothers miraculously found that their song chimed with heavenly beauty, angels themselves partaking, and each remembered his due part. HIGH PONTIFF ST. SIXTUS IV OF FELSEN – BRASS BELL + Patron Saint of Theologians A heartlander of burgher stock, Benegar Gotthold began his career on the docks of Felsen. As tranquil and content a soul as young Benegar possessed, several decades worth of charter fishing in the Imperial capital left this impoverished amateur scholar yearning for a more spiritually fulfilling vocation. Thus, in his mid-forties, he was frocked as a priest in 1562. Proving himself to be a well-read and well-travelled zealot, Father Beneger was quickly appointed to the Diocese of Erochland and Electoral Synod of High Pontiff Theodosius I. Later, he was sent to oversee GOD’s flock in the marshy Archdiocese of Erochland, a position in which he would remain until the death of the High Pontiff. Despite his inexperience as a member of the clergy, Cardinal Benegar had gained the respect of his fellow electors, allowing him to collect a majority of votes in the Synod of 1567 over opposing candidate Fabian ‘the Lesser’ Virosi. Upon coronation, High Pontiff Sixtus IV hastily set to work establishing doctrinal traditions that would last for decades to come within the Holy Canonist Church. His Apostolic Constitutions, spanning such subjects as liturgy, canonization, and the Holy Canon, reaffirmed the strength and unity of the Canonist faithful, and were lauded by his colleagues as unmatched works of theological significance. However, following his reforms, High Pontiff Sixtus IV retired a mere decade into his reign, content to retire from public life to continue his studies in solitude. For two decades, High Pontiff Emeritus Sixtus IV remained an advisor to future clergy until his ascent to the Seven Skies in 1597. Miracles: A pompous heathen chieftain, when a missionary had entered his lands, demanded a contest between the Canonist missionary and the local warlocks. In his amusement he ordered that the warlocks cast a spell on the books which the missionary carried. If the books were burnt, then the missionary would be cast out; if the books survived, the chieftain and his people would convert to the Canonist faith. The warlocks threw balls of fire at the books, but were confounded when they realized their magic did nothing against them. The chieftain then fulfilled his promise, converting to the faith. The books which the missionary carried were tomes of St. Sixtus. ST. THEODOSIUS OF ISTIAM – GRAY PIGEON + Patron Saint of the Hussariya Cross, Messengers, Falconers and Fowlers, Translators, and the Raevir People Born Bogdan, St. Theodosius was a companion of the Exalted Siegmund. In his early days, Siegmund commanded that Theodosius take the vows, in order that the Kraltan people have a priest for themselves to celebrate the necessary rites. Theodosius proved to be the most ardent of all apostles, famous for his large-scale baptisms. At his height, Theodosius baptized several thousands, most of whom came on pilgrimage to Kralta for the sacrament. In his later years, Theodosius was regarded a patriarch of Ruskan Orthodoxy, the particularly Raevir rite of the Church. In this capacity, he functioned with his characteristic zeal, ensuring with diligence that the faith was promulgated and defended. Miracles: St. Theodosius lived well into his old age. After having celebrated mass, and departing by the narthex of the cathedral, he was taken up in spiritual ecstasy. The townspeople were confounded when they witnessed hundreds of pigeons uplift St. Theodosius, carrying him bound towards the heavens, never to be seen again. ST. THOMAS OF GAEKRIN – WHITE ROSE + Patron Saint of Virtuous Leadership, Discipline, Frontiersmen, and Kaedreni Peoples One of the Co-Founders of the Order of the White Rose, Thomas Chivay, as the Order’s Grand Marshall, sought to bring an end to the power and influence of the pagan elven nations. With approval from the Pontiff himself, Thomas embarked on a twenty year’s journey to convert heathens across all of Anthos by any means necessary, spreading the faith with zeal. Miracles: A priest who had been blinded by an orcish clan stumbled into the church of Kaedrin, praying fervently through the night before falling asleep, exhausted. When he awoke, his blindness had been cured, and his first sights was that of a white rose in the stained glass of the cathedral. ST. TOBIAS OF SARKOZ – SILVER COMET, GOLD COINS + Patron Saint of Merchants, Comets, Wealth, and Charity Born as Toveah Goldman, his name anglicized from its Sarkozic root, St. Tobias is renowned for his immense fortunes. Ledgers indicate his wealth spanned beyond mortal comprehension, dizzying sums that definitively marked him as the richest human in the realm. Yet, Toveah was not born this wealth; a humble and impoverished manservant to Hadrien de Sarkozy, later known as St. Adrian, Goldman distinguished himself in the Count of Norfolk's council through his legendary stewardship. The Goldman Company helped settle and administer the Pontifical lands held by High Pontiff St. Lucien, enabling countless institutions of the faith to prosper. It is said Goldman had the Minas Touch; every business he ran prospered and returned its investments tenfold. At first, Toveah embraced his worldly wealth, erecting statues of himself of gold and being indulgent with his newfound wealth. But after assuming a monopoly on the Abresian port of "Tov Avev", Tobias had a religious epiphany. Realizing his great bounty would never satiate him as it was a worldly desire, he quickly took upon a vow of celibacy, and tirelessly worked to satisfy his spiritual desires. Patronizing countless religious institutions, from the St. Bogdan's Cathedral in Kralta, the Kaedrini Orphanages, the Hammerspoint Observatory and the Pontifical Palace in Savoie, Saint Tobias had distinguished himself by his utter devotion to charity, foregoing family, status, and prestige for the betterment of Anthosian society. Yet, the selfless Tobias later in life began to succumb to a lethal disease, ballooning his weight and forcing him to consume thrice his normal appetite at particular intervals less he pass unconscious. To eat so lavishly was to suffer for Tobias, who bemoaned this wealth could not go towards charity; one day when a Hansetian family of refugees approached the benevolent Tobias begging him for foodstuffs. Tobias, in his charity, gave his meal to the family, before realizing that he had missed his feeding interval. He passed into a coma and later perished, dying in ultimate altruism. His will dictated that his enormous fortunes did not go to his distant kindred, but rather various institutions of the Church and state, demonstrating the epitome of charity in both life and death. A common myth around St. Tobias is that he comes to give good children gifts with his "little goblins" during the month of Joma. Miracles: During the reign of High Pontiff Owyn I, the attempts at demolishing the ghost town of Aldersberg were met with failure due to various Adunian raiders harassing the peasantry. Praying to Tobias for intercession, High Pontiff Owyn found the next day that a silver comet had struck and demolished the city in one blow, while also providing countless minerals and precious metals for the commons and Church. Upon a naval excursion to Hammerspoint, a group of sailors and clergymen alike were met with a vicious storm that lasted for twenty days. Nearly out of supply and facing mutiny, a silver comet soared through the sky pointing north. The captain swung north at behest of his chaplain, and found a small island littered with fresh fruit, meats, and coins bearing the image of St. Tobias. ST. WILFRICHE OF HANSETI – BLACK MACE + Patron Saint of the Teutonic Cross, Brotherhood, Chancellors, Opposition of Setherin, and Franciscan Martyrs St. Wilfriche was born to a Hanseatic yeoman and his wife under the Kingdom of Hanseti in 1426. His early life was characterized by brutal strife as both Blackmont and Sethrenic forces ravaged his homeland. It was not long before Wilfriche was orphaned and his homeland destroyed, claimed by the Black Scourge. He managed his way south to the bustling town of Kralta and sustained himself through ill-means, but eventually was caught stealing two loaves of bread from a local bakery. The boy was apprehended by the local militias and brought forth to be judged by the Marquis of Raev. The traditional punishment for theft in the empire was a hand, but the exalted Siegmund took pity on the Hansetian in rags and ordered him instead to serve under the Bishop Bogdan, later canonized of St. Theodosius, as an Acolyte to atone for his theft. Wilfriche thus grew up in the ornate and mystic rites of the Ruskan Orthodoxy, undergoing a clerical education and becoming an ordained clergyman. Wilfriche and his trusted companion Blessed Vladislav, son of St. Theodosius, left Kralta to minister their faith in the newly settled Kaedrini region after the ascension of their mentor. The pair became well-loved by the Raevir colonists as beacons of faith under the reign of the apathetic High Pontiff Regulus. However, these Kaedrini backwaters were infamous for Setherinic raiders and cultists. Under St. Wilfriche's leadership, the Ruskan fellowship erected a mighty holdfast known as the Flotstad and surrounding it the village Flotsam. The Flotsamites grew to be the first bulwark against Setherinic invasion and were instrumental in reclaiming Hanseti from Setherinite clutches and defeating the foul Daemon. Wilfriche fostered a strong brotherhood bound by creed through the Jolly Band and was characterized by his jovial and amiable spirit, making friends with countless Anthosians. St. Wilfriche was also characterized as an ardent theologian, publishing countless articles on the faith and spreading the missives among its communion. He stood against the sectarian communalism of Oren, recognizing the blasphemies in permitting sects to possess dogmatic differences. Approaching the High Pontiff, he managed to list a series of grievances and help unite the faith into one universal dogma, marking him a pioneer of Canonism. However, the Order of St. Lucien soon attempted to check Wilfriche's rise in influence and power by petitioning to the High Pontiff to declare war on the Flotsamites for claims of vigilantism and banditry. Regulus accepted the prospects of civil war, and the two parties battled it out until a white peace was declared. Wilfriche later became Lord Chancellor to the King Henry and King Francis before being slain in the Franciscian Massacre. His power in the ministries were notable as he swayed the stalwart cynic Joseph Lane to erect an Abresian Church by purging the Abresian sewers of an unholy plague festered by cultists, spread the faith through mass baptisms, arranged feast days, and led battles against the Zionist menace before his death. His symbol is a black mace due to his purification of various Setherinite maces and also his Orthodox vows, which forbade clergy from bearing bladed weapons. Miracles: A man possessed by Setherin was clubbed once about the head by Wilfriche's mace. After rising from the blow, he was exorcised of his demons. The week following Wilfriche's death, three sets of twins in Ancien were born with black mace birthmarks.

THE CATECHISM OF THE CANONIST CHURCH FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE LAY FAITHFUL AND FOR THE GREATER EVANGELIZATION OF SOULS. AS AUTHORED BY CARDINAL FABIAN THE LESSER c. 1570 IMPRIMATUR ST. HIGH PONTIFF SIXTUS IV c. 1570 AS PROMULGATED BY HIGH PONTIFF DANIEL VI c. 1723 Introduction Who is God? What is Canonism? What are the Holy Scrolls? Who are the Exalted? What does it mean to be a Canonist? How did the Church of the Canon come to be? What is the Scroll of Virtue? What does it mean to be virtuous? Who can read the Holy Scrolls? The World and the Descendants Who made the world? Did Aenguls and Daemons create the descendants? How did the descendants acquire their different traits? What about races that aren’t descended from the Four Brothers? What is the relationship of humans to God? Are humans better than members of other races? The Seven Skies and the Void What are the Seven Skies? What about the Void? Do Aenguls and Daemons go to the Seven Skies when they die? What about non-descendants? Who lives in each of the Seven Skies? What are the Seven Skies like? Who lives in the Void? What is the Void like? Why do people go to the Void? What about the Problem of Evil? If God is infinitely good, why does he allow people to suffer in the Void? Church Administration and Sacraments What are priests, bishops, and cardinals? What is the High Pontiff? What are sacraments? What is excommunication? What is marriage? What is sexual immorality? How do I address members of the Church? What are heathens, heretics, and apostates? Saints and Symbols of Canonism What are Saints and Blessed? Do Canonists worship Saints? Do Saints and Blessed reward veneration? What is the Cross of Lorraine? What does it represent? What is the significance of the number 7 in Canonism? Why do bishops and cardinals carry shepherd’s staves? Introduction Who is God? God, sometimes called “the Creator,” “Godani,” or “the Lord,” is the single omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent creator of the universe. It is He who drives the motion of all things, and who is the source of all goodness and righteousness. He spoke the Holy Scrolls to the Exalted, and He rewards virtuous mortals in the Seven Skies. God has no aspects, no internal divisions, and no physical form. What is Canonism? Canonism is the religion of the Holy Scrolls, or “the Canon”, which are the Word of God delivered to the world. Followers of Canonism are members of the Church of the Canon, which was called the Temple of the True Faith in times of yore. What are the Holy Scrolls? The Holy Scrolls are a set of four scrolls containing the Word of God as delivered to His prophets over the course of history. The first scroll, the Scroll of Virtue, was delivered to Exalted Horen at the beginning of the ages and defines the universal laws of morality. The second scroll, the Scroll of Spirit, was delivered to Exalted Owyn during a time of sinful heathenry and defines the nature of God. The third scroll, the Scroll of Gospel, was delivered to Exalted Godfrey during his uniting of the human race and recounts the history of the faith. The final scroll, the Scroll of Auspice, was delivered to Exalted Siegmund after he divided Church and State, and prophesies the coming of the last days. Who are the Exalted? The Exalted are the four prophets of Canonism, who are the fulfillment of a promise by God to humanity in the first days. Horen was the first human, who sired three sons by his wife Julia. These three sons failed in their assigned tasks in certain ways which led to the spread of sin and strife. Merciful God, however, promised Horen that he would sire three “sons of spirit”, who would repair the damage done by his three sons of flesh. These sons were the Exalted Owyn, Exalted Godfrey, and Exalted Siegmund. What does it mean to be a Canonist? Canonists embrace the truth of the Holy Scrolls which were delivered by the Exalted, and the Church which was established by Exalted Owyn. Canonists worship only one god, the God of the Holy Scrolls, and accept only the High Pontiff as inheritor of the spiritual leadership of the Exalted. By following the laws set out for them in the Scroll of Virtue, and by obeying the Church which guards those laws, Canonists seek to honor God. How did the Church of the Canon come to be? The first iteration of the Church of the Canon was called the “Temple of the True Faith”, and was formed by the passing on of the Scrolls of Virtue and Spirit by Exalted Owyn. The receivers of these scrolls were the twins Evaritus and Clement, the first priests of the Faith, who jointly held the title of High Priest. Over the course of a thousand years the Temple of the True Faith carefully guarded the first two of what would become four Holy Scrolls, awaiting the next prophet. This prophet was Exalted Godfrey, who formalized the Temple’s role by making it the state church of his united human empire and delivering the Scroll of Gospel into its reliquary. Though at the time the Temple was under the authority of the Holy Emperor, it was later made independent by Exalted Siegmund after his delivery of the fourth and final scroll, the Scroll of Auspice. To honor this culmination of God’s prophecy for humanity, the Temple was rebranded as the Church of the Canon What is the Scroll of Virtue? What does it mean to be virtuous? The Scroll of Virtue is a set of moral laws delivered by God to Exalted Horen. These moral laws reflect the will of God, which must be obeyed by all sapient creatures. They prohibit murder, thievery, sexual immorality, miscegenation, judging one’s own virtue, lying, disloyalty, apostasy, blasphemy, covetousness, sloth, wrath, ambition, pride, and indulgence. To be virtuous is to obey the commandments laid out in the Scroll of Virtue. Additionally, for humans, it means to obey the covenants established by God and the Exalted. Who can read the Holy Scrolls? The Holy Scrolls are written in an ancient form of Flexio, the language of the Aenguls and Daemons before their spread across the Planes. This language is appropriately nuanced for such immortal beings of pure spirit, and therefore requires careful interpretation and years of study. Any translation of the Holy Scrolls into the common language loses important context which is only available in the original Flexio. Thus, the Holy Scrolls in their long form are only available to priests in training who will be instructed in the method of reading the text. The World and the Descendants Who made the world? Canonists believe the whole universe was created by God, while the various lands and creatures were shaped by Aenguls and Daemons at His instruction. God enlivened all creatures; no being lives except that a spirit was placed into it by Him. Did Aenguls and Daemons create the descendants? How did the descendants acquire their different traits? No. Although Aenguls and Daemons created animals and plants, God personally created the first man and woman, who bore the Four Brothers. The Four Brothers were each born somewhat different from one another, but they gained their most particular traits in three separate events. First, when the first woman would not leave her children to enter the Sixth Sky, God uncovered the flaws of the Four Brothers so that she would understand His glory and the importance of obedience. Second, when the Four Brothers fought Iblees they acquired various curses which altered their appearances and disposition. Finally, God sent the Aengul Aeriel to alleviate the curses of the four races by granting blessings particular to each. What about races that aren’t descended from the Four Brothers? Any sapient creature which is not an Aengul, Daemon, or member of the four descendant races is an abomination, likely created by the corruption of a descendant by one of Iblees’ servants. Because they are debasements of God’s creations, abominations may lack many of the moral and intellectual faculties of true descendants. They are to be treated at best with pity, and at worst with extermination. Under ideal circumstances, abominations are regarded as victims of Iblees’ wickedness, and allowed to exist provided they do not reproduce or make use of their unnatural abilities. What is the relationship of humans to God? Are humans better than members of other races? When each race received a blessing from the Aengul Aeriel, God prevented the humans from receiving one, and instead brought Horen up into the Seventh Sky to reveal the Scroll of Virtue and make a covenant with him. This covenant is the foundation of humanity’s special relationship with God: that all humans must remain pure of faith, and that the four prophets would be humans descended of the line of Horen. Contrary to some erroneous beliefs, individual humans are not necessarily inherently better than members of other other races. God created all four brothers, and all four brothers were cursed when they consorted with Iblees. All living beings descend from these brothers, flawed and accursed as they were. However, humans do have a special relationship with the Creator which is to be respected. Horen’s covenant is that all humans would follow the faith; thus, the true racial blessing of humans is that they were the first to receive God’s word. Accordingly, humanity as a race must take a role of spiritual leadership. To be lax in our duties in spreading God’s word and virtue would be a sin. The Seven Skies and the Void What are the Seven Skies? What about the Void? Canonist cosmology holds that there are 9 primary planes of existence--the Seven Skies, the World, and the Void--and a number of other limbos which are mere distractions. The 9 planes are not strictly spatial, but are instead states of spiritual nearness to God. A person who was virtuous in life travels nearer to God in death, while the sinful reside in the Void with Iblees, where they await the final battle. Humans who have the opportunity to convert to Canonism but do not are guilty of the grave sin of apostasy, as Owyn swore a covenant with God that humans would remain pure of faith. Non-humans are not obligated to follow the Holy Scrolls or worship the Creator, but they must obey the moral laws of the Scroll of Virtue. Do Aenguls and Daemons go to the Seven Skies when they die? What about non-descendants? Canonists believe the Seven Skies are seven distinct states of reward for virtuous mortals. Aenguls and Daemons may enter and reside in the Seven Skies, but their state of virtuousness or sin is irrelevant, because they do not possess souls as mortals do. Wicked Aenguls and Daemons will be destroyed in the last battle between God and His enemies. It is unknown whether non-descendants may enter the Skies, although God is merciful; it is likely that an abomination who forsakes sin and worships the Creator will have its soul purified upon death. Who lives in each of the Seven Skies? Seventh Sky: The Throne of God Sixth Sky: The Righteous in Ministry (Exalted and their Wives) Fifth Sky: The Righteous in Faith (Saints) Fourth Sky: The Righteous in Virtue (Blessed) Third Sky: The Justified in Ministry (Canonists who spread God’s word) Second Sky: The Justified in Faith (Canonists) First Sky: The Justified in Virtue (Virtuous Pagans) The First Sky is the abode of virtuous pagans; humans who never received the chance to convert to Canonism but still acted morally, and any non-humans who obeyed the Virtue. The Second Sky is the abode of Canonists who obeyed the Virtue, but did not spread the word of God. The Third Sky is inhabited by Canonists who obeyed the Virtue and spread the word of God, particularly priests, but also crusaders, charitable noblemen, and pious believers. Above the Third Sky are those who distinguished themselves among other believers; the Fourth Sky is inhabited by the Beatified, who obeyed the Virtue to a notable degree, and the Fifth Sky is inhabited by the Saints, who dedicated their lives to faith. The Sixth Sky is the abode of the first man and the first woman, and four Exalted and their wives, who honored the Word of God by receiving the Holy Scrolls. The Exalted sit beneath the Throne of God which is in the Seventh Sky. Only Horen was blessed to enter this Sky, and only temporarily, to witness the magnitude of God’s plan at the beginning of time. What are the Seven Skies like? The Seven Skies are a place of endless reward, where mortals are healed of their flaws and released from the desires of the flesh. All exist in harmony, rejoicing in the infinite kindness of the Creator. Other than this, the Holy Scrolls do not describe the rewards of the Skies in particular detail, although we know that they are by definition greater than any possible in this world. Who lives in the Void? The Void is the prison of Iblees, who was corrupted by its touch at the beginning of all things. He resides there, bound by chains of his own making--the chains of faithlessness and sin. Also in the Void are the various Aenguls and Daemons which serve Iblees, and the souls of mortals who rejected the Virtue in life. God does not send people to the Void; they send themselves, by turning away from God. What is the Void like? The Void is a place of emptiness and despair. Whoever has entered the Void has unequivocally forsaken God, and has therefore forsaken all good things. Although it is often depicted as full of fire and brimstone, the only substance in the Void is that of other beings existing in torturous separation from the Creator. Why do people go to the Void? God is not only a being, but a state of infinite virtue emanating from His throne in the Seventh Sky. Whoever is virtuous is alike to God, and thus is near to him. Whoever is unvirtuous is unlike God, and thus is spiritually distant from Him. The Void exists as the farthest spiritual distance from God, a place completely deprived of His virtue or His mercy. Thus, whoever is unvirtuous cannot enter the Seven Skies upon their death, because the Seven Skies are close to Him and the unvirtuous are far. If a soul leaves the World and cannot enter the Skies, where else is there to go except the Void? What about the Problem of Evil? If God is infinitely good, why does he allow people to suffer in the Void? On the nature of evil, we quote the exposition of Msgr. Fabian the Lesser, The Nature of Evil. Church Administration and Sacraments What are priests, bishops, and cardinals? What is the High Pontiff? A priest is an adult male member of the Canonist faith who has received the sacrament of ordination from a bishop of the Canonist faith. He is he permitted to perform the sacraments of matrimony, baptism, consecration, and penance, and is engendered to act as a pillar of virtue and aid the faithful in virtue however he can. Priests are celibate; they cannot marry or engage in sexual activity. This is an administrative law, rather than one deriving from the Holy Scrolls. It is intended to prevent the establishment of family dynasties within the church, or the inheritance of church property by sons of priests, as has been attempted in the past. A bishop is a priest of sufficient age who has been assigned authority over a diocese or group of priests by the High Pontiff. He is permitted to perform all the sacraments of a priest, as well as ordination. A cardinal is a priest who has been selected by the High Pontiff to join the Holy Synod, which elects a new High Pontiff on the death or abdication of the title’s previous holder. The High Pontiff is the undisputed head of the Church of the Canon, the Vicar of God, and the inheritor of the spiritual authority of the Exalted. What are sacraments? Sacraments are rituals particular to the ordained clergy of the Canonist Church. They produce an spiritual mark upon whatever they are performed upon. Baptism inducts a person into the covenant of Horen and God, joining them with the Canonist Church. Matrimony unites a man and woman in an indissoluble union before God. Consecration dedicates a particular relic or house of worship to God’s name. Penance offers God’s mercy to a person who has committed a sin and confesses it. Ordination endows an individual with the ability to perform God’s sacraments, making them a priest. What is excommunication? Excommunication is a severe punishment administered by the High Pontiff to unabashedly sinful individuals; it separates an individual from the body of the Church of the Canon and therefore from the mercy of God. Excommunicated individuals cannot receive sacraments, particularly penance, until they are reunited with the Church. An excommunicated individual will almost certainly enter the Void upon death, because they cannot be forgiven of their sins without penance. What is marriage? What is sexual immorality? Marriage is an everlasting union of two individuals before God for the purpose of procreation and love. Each party makes certain vows of fidelity and love to the other, and are thereafter referred to as husband and wife. Children of a married couple are considered “legitimate” and possess certain rights beyond those children of an unmarried couple, who are considered “illegitimate” or “bastards”. All couples should seek to emulate the marital virtues of Horen and Julia: love, fidelity, obedience, trust, and godliness. Marriage is indissoluble. The Church of the Canon does not recognize any divorce, although it does grant annulments. Annulment is a process by which one party to a marriage requests further inquiry into whether all requirements for marriage were met at the time of the ceremony. If these requirements were not met, the marriage is considered null and both parties are free to marry another, or attempt the marriage again under better circumstances. Children of annulled marriages are considered legitimate. Sexual immorality is any voluntary sexual act which takes place outside of a lawfully contracted marriage. A marriage between two non-Canonists is considered valid insofar as it adheres to Canonist requirements: an adult man and an adult woman of the same race, who are not kin and have no mental afflictions which would preclude them from the ability to make moral decisions, willingly uniting to the exclusion of any other union. A marriage between two Canonists must be contracted by a priest of the faith, or it will not be considered valid. A marriage performed between a Canonist and a non-Canonist is invalid. A marriage contracted between two non-Canonists, one of whom later converts to Canonism, is still valid. Sexual immorality also refers to any voluntary sexual act which results in climax and cannot result in procreation, or a sexual act deliberately interrupted to prevent climax for the purpose of avoiding procreation, even within the context of marriage. How do I address members of the Church? Because the Canonist faith is ubiquitous in human society, it is not necessary to use a special form of address when speaking to a lay believer. Occasionally, particularly pious commoners address each other as “Brother” or “Sister.” This is not mandatory. Priests are addressed as “Father,” because they govern their parish as a father governs his family. Priests, as a rule, do not use surnames. Bishops are addressed as “Bishop” or “Your Excellency”. Cardinals are likewise referred to as “Cardinal” or “Your Eminence”. The High Pontiff may be referred to in many ways, reflecting the position’s long history and occasional change of title. Some of these are “Your Holiness”, “Your High Holiness”, “Vicar of God”, “Holy Father”, or simply “High Pontiff”. What are heathens, heretics, and apostates? A heathen is an individual who does not follow the Canonist faith. They may not believe in God’s existence, or they may worship other beings. It is forbidden for a human to be a heathen, but other races are permitted to practice their faith provided they do not proselytize Canonists. A heretic is one who believes in and worships the God of the Holy Scrolls, but accepts false doctrines regarding His nature or the nature of His faith. All who worship the Creator exclusively but do not adhere to the dogma of the Church of the Canon are heretics. An apostate is a member of the Canonist Church who has renounced his faith. Any person who has received the sacrament of baptism, even in infancy, is a member of the Canonist Church. Unrepentant apostasy is punishable by death, because apostasy is a violation of humanity’s covenant with God. Saints and Symbols of Canonism What are Saints and Blessed? Saints and Blessed are residents of the Fifth and Fourth Skies, respectively. They are believers in the True Faith who distinguished themselves in life through faith or works, and have been rewarded by God. The process by which a person is recognized as a Saint is called canonization, while the process for Blessed is called beatification. Do Canonists worship Saints? No. Canonists do not worship anyone but the one God of the Seven Skies, who created all things. What Canonists offer to Saints and Blessed is called “veneration,” which is sincere respect for their holiness and virtue. It is distinct from worship because the venerator does not believe the Saint has any power outside of that granted by God, and does not offer his submission or obedience to the Saint. The difference between veneration and worship is the difference between honoring one’s elders and obeying one’s father. Do Saints and Blessed reward veneration? Yes! Often, when Canonists pray, they ask a Saint or Blessed to offer up a prayer to God for them. This is called “intercession”, and usually occurs when the saint has a special interest in the matter prayed about. What is the Cross of Lorraine? What does it represent? The Cross of Lorraine is a variation on the normal two-barred cross, consisting of one vertical bar pierced with two horizontal bars in the upper half. The upper horizontal bar represents the Seven Skies, the lower represents the World, and the emptiness beneath them is the Void. What is the significance of the number seven in Canonism? Seven is a number of great significance to Canonists because it appears frequently in positive contexts the Holy Scrolls. Each of the first three scrolls contains seven books, there are Seven Skies, and God has seven primary attributes. Why do bishops and cardinals carry shepherd’s staves? The crooked staff carried by a bishop or cardinal is called a “crozier”. It is representative of their guidance of the faithful, as a shepherd has over his flock. These croziers are often decorated with gold or silver, two substances which are harmful to many of God’s enemies.

HIS HOLINESS DANIEL VI, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Keeper of Varoche, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of God doth sign and seal this treaty, imparting Apostolic blessing, consecration, and enforcement upon its statutes and clauses.

“The Bloody Palace” Siege of Helena, c. 1716 On the morn of the 18th of the Tobias’ Bounty did the carrion vultures feast. Their beaks bloodied and their bellies full. The decimation and collapse of the pretender’s army quickly spread across the realms of Men, Elves, Orcs and Dwarves. At last, after a year the bloody siege of Helena was lifted and the traitors driven to their lands. In response to the victory, Emperor Godfrey III rallied his generals and ordered them to begin a minor raiding and pillaging campaign across the riverlands between Ves and Reza whilst his army regrouped with his Orcish and High Elven allies. The morale of the Imperium Renatum and its allies were at an all time high, traitors defected en masse and swore their blades to Emperor in fear of his wrath. The Sohaer of Haelun’or had come out victorious against Snow Elven raiding brigades and the Orcish Rex saw Vessian bandits run down and eaten by his mighty orcish war beasts. In an amazing feat of Renatian military supremacy and might, news of the Battle of the Rivers and the Battle of Leuven reached the Empire’s war camp. The time to invade was now. The armies loaded their provisions, equipment and horses onto the ferrying boats and sailed across the sea before landing their armies east of Haelun’or. When the soldiers landed on the beachfront camp was set up on a hill overlooking the surrounding area. The Emperor, The Rex and the Sohaer were hunched over eyeing a table with various chips when a scout dressed in Norlandic garb stormed the tent. He rested his hands on his knees, eyes weary and panting. Godfrey looked upon the scout with an uneasy look, he could tell something was wrong and as news of his friends demise was told he brought his hands to his face and sighed. From the walls of Helena, a single boat would be seen slowly guided by the wind before erupting into flames. The body of Alvar I, the redeemer and restorer of the Norlandic people was lit ablaze after he had been killed by cutthroats on an attack on Dunharrow. The Norlandic army which had arrived late after dealing from the turmoil of the chiefs moot began aiding in the construction of a siege camp alongside the Imperial Renatian Legion. Soon to follow were the recently independent Curonians, marching in long columns to join the Imperial troops in their war. The false pretender who sat on the throne of the Unholy Orenian Empire had long since been fighting an internal conflict over his generals incompetency and infighting. The Imperium Renatum utilized its comradery as a strength, a single cause and a single leader, each man loyal only to the Emperor. Type of War & CBs (if applicable) Rebellion, Claimant, Rivalry, Demands, Border Friction (Renatus>Haense), Aiding an Enemy (Fenn), Denouncement, Attack on Leadership (Defy+Gusano+Ajax) with a Conquest War Goal Attackers Imperium Renatus & Allies Defenders Haense & Allies Wargoals: Restoration of the Empire, Control over the rebelling territory of Haense Location & Proposed Time Saturday 3PM EST / 8PM GMT - 8th of June Contact Information Ricky#6002 / vegetarianism#8288

Raids are a joke the better solution is to cap them at 4 guys and only valid when a wc is posted on a settlement

grool built coziest city in lotc history (ves) so therefore he deserves our support

where are the bounty boards.... @Cracker

Alfred signs the treaty.

Prince Alfred of Ves leaves his signature.

Prince Alfred signs.