The Church of the Devout Orders

The Church

The Church of the Devout Orders is one of the oldest and most influential religions on the continent of Midwin. Originating in the country of Vydern, it has spread across the continent, shaping the beliefs and traditions of countless followers. The church maintains a deep and enduring alliance with the Vydern Empire, its influence woven into the fabric of imperial rule. The Empire enforces the church’s will, while the clergy affirms that the Empire’s conquests and governance align with the Divine Father’s sacred plan.   Beyond Midwin, the church’s presence is far weaker, particularly in Alboric, where many refugees of the Imperial Expansion Wars have taken shelter. These displaced peoples have brought their own beliefs and traditions, resisting the dominance of the Devout Orders.Many believe the church played a direct role in urging the Empire’s invasion of Alboric, declaring the land to be the hallowed ground foretold in their scriptures—the very place where the Demigod Son may have pursued the Elderborn.  

The Devout Doctrine

The Church of the Devout Orders teaches that the Divine Father, an all-powerful god, set forth to create the universe, shaping countless realms, including the world in which humanity resides. However, his creation was vast beyond measure, and so he appointed his three of his demigod children—The Elderborn, The Daughter, and The Son—to watch over and shape this realm according to his divine vision.   At the heart of Devout doctrine lies the Divine Orders, sacred commandments given by the Father to his children, each with a distinct purpose. The Daughter was entrusted with guiding humanity, teaching them the Father’s Will and nurturing civilization. The Son was tasked with upholding justice and protecting mortals from chaos and corruption. The Elderborn, enigmatic and shrouded in mystery, were charged with shaping the fundamental laws of nature, forging the land, sea, and sky to be habitable for mankind. Scripture is unclear on the Elderborn's true nature—whether they were a singular being or an entire race. Church doctrine generally holds that they were many. Once their task was complete, the Elderborn were commanded to relinquish their power to humanity and depart from the realm.  

The Fall of the Elderborn

In what Devout scripture refers to as The Elderborn Conflict, the Elderborn defied the Divine Orders. They did not complete their work, leaving the world imperfect and fractured. Worse still, they refused to surrender their power to humanity, choosing to keep their dominion over creation. In response, The Son rose against them, seeking to enforce the Father’s command. But even he, mighty as he was, could not stand against them alone.   Seeing that the Elderborn would not yield, The Daughter made the ultimate sacrifice. She chose to relinquish her divine power to humankind, believing that only mortals could shape their own destiny. Yet, such a transfer required an unfathomable cost—her own life. Upon her orders, King Darrien, ruler of the free peoples, struck her down, becoming the first to receive her divine essence. Empowered by this newfound strength, he and his armies joined The Son, and together, they waged a brutal war against the Elderborn for control of the continent of Midwin. The conflict raged for years, scarring the land and reshaping the world. At last, the Elderborn, unable to withstand the might of the free armies and The Son’s divine fury, fled across the sea, retreating into lands unknown. Thus, their dominion over Midwin was shattered, and humanity claimed its rightful place as the stewards of the world.   With the Elderborn gone, Darrien remained in Midwin, guiding humanity into what would later be seen as a golden age. But The Son was not satisfied. The betrayal of the Elderborn could not go unanswered. Swearing vengeance, he vowed to hunt them to the very ends of existence. With unrelenting fury, he crossed the sea in pursuit of his foes, vanishing from history, never to be seen again.   Scripture proclaims that The Son will one day return, bearing the power that the Elderborn refused to surrender. It is said that in humanity’s darkest hour, when the world stands on the brink of ruin, he will return, bringing with him the final gift meant for mankind—the dominion over creation that was long denied. Until that day, the faithful wait, steadfast in their belief that The Son’s vengeance is not yet complete and that his return will mark the dawn of a new age.  

The Five Orders

With The Daughter sacrificed, The Son lost, and the Elderborn exiled, the faithful were left to uphold the Divine Orders in their absence. Thus, the Church of the Devout Orders was founded, devoted to carrying out the will of The Father as it was first decreed. The Church is composed of five sacred orders, each tasked with fulfilling the roles left behind by the divine. Two of these orders follow the path of The Daughter, Another two devote themselves to The Son, and the final order has assumed the mantle the Elderborn abandoned.   The Daughter’s orders consist of the Order of the Silent Vigil, guardians of her resting place and the keepers of the Church’s sacred wisdom and scriptures. Alongside them stands the Order of the Blessed Daughter , dedicated to spreading her teachings and guiding humanity in accordance with her sacred duty.   The Son’s orders include the Order of the Crimson Vow, tasked with rooting out traitors and deceivers, much like The Son’s own judgment upon the Elderborn. The second order, the Order of the Wayward Warriors, is a roaming force of justice, traveling the lands to bring retribution and ensure balance is maintained.   At the heart of the Church stands the Order of the Promised Dawn, the central authority overseeing all other orders. This order has taken responsibility for maintaining and shaping the natural order, a sacred duty once held by the Elderborn, who abandoned their charge. Under the leadership of The Promised Dawn, the Church stands as the steward of The Father’s design, ensuring that the world remains as it was meant to be until the day The Son returns to grant humanity the power the Elderborn refused to relinquish.