The Silver Flame
The followers of the religion are called the Purified.
The Church of the Silver Flame is broadly divided into three orders - the Order of Ministers, the Order of Templars, and the Order of Friars. The church is led by the Keeper of the Flame and the Council of Cardinals, and includes several secretive groups.
At its core, the Silver Flame is an active religion that calls upon the faithful to fight evil. For the warriors of the church, this means combating the many supernatural threats present like undead and fiends. For the ministers and friars of the church, this means leading others to be more compassionate. And for the laity, this means simply living a virtuous life.
Rites and Prayers The Silver Flame is a practical religion with short, purposeful rites and prayers. A purified farmer doesn't associate a good harvest with the blessings of the flame and doesn't involve prayer in ordinary and mundane activities. Simply acting virtuously and embodying the ideals of the church is devotion enough. However, a faithful purified may pray for strength or guidance in a time of hardship or in the face of temptation to do evil. Rites are similarly practical, oriented around purification and preventing the spread of unnatural evil. Both friend and foe are purified after death by the burning of an alchemical substance known as silverburn, which is also used in other rites. Purification rituals are also used for the sick and for those ordained into the ministry. Since the start of the theocracy, the church has also performed purification rituals on behalf of the state.
Symbol Per its name, the most common representation of the faith is the image of a flame inlaid with silver. Arrowheads are also associated with the religion. Symbolically, arrowheads represent shafts of light piercing the darkness. Practically, ranged weapons provide safety against the claws and fangs of supernatural threats while providing flexibility. Furthermore, a quiver of arrows can feature many special arrowheads at a much cheaper cost than a bag of swords.
Order of Ministers
The Order of Ministers is the largest and broadest of the three orders. Outside of Thrane, the order of ministers is only charged with administering to the matters church, although many ministers still find themselves involved in local politics. Structurally, the Order of Ministers makes up the majority of the top levels of the church's hierarchy, privileged with purely bureacratic duties.
Order of Templars
The Order of Templars is the militant arm of the church, historically charged with protecting the innocent from evil. Whether a vampire, witch, or fiend, the Knights Templar have destroyed or imprisoned countless threats. Templars are supposed to protect all innocents regardless of whether a local town pays many tithes to the church, although corrupt opportunists sometimes extort communities.
Order of Friars
Charged with wandering the world and spreading the light of faith, the Order of Friars is the least hierarchical of the Church's three orders. While Friars never lead cities or regions, some rare few friars have made the jump to the Council of Cardinals. Pilgrims are the initiate rank of the order and below all other ranks in the church. While not required to perform missionary work, pilgrims do lead by example and represent the faith. Friars travel, attempting to convert new followers to the Silver Flame. Furthermore, Friars are typically trained in investigation, acting as the eyes of the church to report instances of supernatural evil such as cults or possessions.
Rites and Prayers The Silver Flame is a practical religion with short, purposeful rites and prayers. A purified farmer doesn't associate a good harvest with the blessings of the flame and doesn't involve prayer in ordinary and mundane activities. Simply acting virtuously and embodying the ideals of the church is devotion enough. However, a faithful purified may pray for strength or guidance in a time of hardship or in the face of temptation to do evil. Rites are similarly practical, oriented around purification and preventing the spread of unnatural evil. Both friend and foe are purified after death by the burning of an alchemical substance known as silverburn, which is also used in other rites. Purification rituals are also used for the sick and for those ordained into the ministry. Since the start of the theocracy, the church has also performed purification rituals on behalf of the state.
Symbol Per its name, the most common representation of the faith is the image of a flame inlaid with silver. Arrowheads are also associated with the religion. Symbolically, arrowheads represent shafts of light piercing the darkness. Practically, ranged weapons provide safety against the claws and fangs of supernatural threats while providing flexibility. Furthermore, a quiver of arrows can feature many special arrowheads at a much cheaper cost than a bag of swords.
Order of Ministers
The Order of Ministers is the largest and broadest of the three orders. Outside of Thrane, the order of ministers is only charged with administering to the matters church, although many ministers still find themselves involved in local politics. Structurally, the Order of Ministers makes up the majority of the top levels of the church's hierarchy, privileged with purely bureacratic duties.
Order of Templars
The Order of Templars is the militant arm of the church, historically charged with protecting the innocent from evil. Whether a vampire, witch, or fiend, the Knights Templar have destroyed or imprisoned countless threats. Templars are supposed to protect all innocents regardless of whether a local town pays many tithes to the church, although corrupt opportunists sometimes extort communities.
Order of Friars
Charged with wandering the world and spreading the light of faith, the Order of Friars is the least hierarchical of the Church's three orders. While Friars never lead cities or regions, some rare few friars have made the jump to the Council of Cardinals. Pilgrims are the initiate rank of the order and below all other ranks in the church. While not required to perform missionary work, pilgrims do lead by example and represent the faith. Friars travel, attempting to convert new followers to the Silver Flame. Furthermore, Friars are typically trained in investigation, acting as the eyes of the church to report instances of supernatural evil such as cults or possessions.
Beliefs
The Silver Flame is force of light that holds evil at bay. Those who seek to defend the innocent from evil can draw on the power of the Flame. Every mortal soul can find the light. Inspire and guide others to virtuous behavior; force is a last resort. Listen to the Voice of the Flame; beware the deceiving whispers of the Shadow in the Flame. They also follow The Commandments of the Silver Flame
The Silver Flame is force of light that holds evil at bay. Those who seek to defend the innocent from evil can draw on the power of the Flame. Every mortal soul can find the light. Inspire and guide others to virtuous behavior; force is a last resort. Listen to the Voice of the Flame; beware the deceiving whispers of the Shadow in the Flame. They also follow The Commandments of the Silver Flame
The entities of Evil
Entities of alien evil.
Fiends and aberrations fall into this category, as both malevolent and foreign. While the Gatekeepers are the primary group in the church concerned with aberrations, a templar of the silver flame would absolutely recognize the threat as important.
Entities of unnatural evil. Undead and lycanthropes are abominations fundamentally corrupted by malevolent forces.
Entities of innate evil.
Monsters like medusas, yuan-ti, and hags. (These beliefs have long led to conflict between the church and the natives of lands they "explore") Those who choose evil.
Evil humanoids are covered by this. Only the most zealous followers believe all evil humanoids must be put to the sword - the church broadly espouses ideals of mercy and repentance for those who choose evil.
The evil within.
The time of two keepers has highlighted the importance of staying vigilant for the whispers of the Shadow in the Flame, which seek to mislead and corrupt the purified.
Entities of alien evil.
Fiends and aberrations fall into this category, as both malevolent and foreign. While the Gatekeepers are the primary group in the church concerned with aberrations, a templar of the silver flame would absolutely recognize the threat as important.
Entities of unnatural evil. Undead and lycanthropes are abominations fundamentally corrupted by malevolent forces.
Entities of innate evil.
Monsters like medusas, yuan-ti, and hags. (These beliefs have long led to conflict between the church and the natives of lands they "explore") Those who choose evil.
Evil humanoids are covered by this. Only the most zealous followers believe all evil humanoids must be put to the sword - the church broadly espouses ideals of mercy and repentance for those who choose evil.
The evil within.
The time of two keepers has highlighted the importance of staying vigilant for the whispers of the Shadow in the Flame, which seek to mislead and corrupt the purified.
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