Evangelists
Evangelists are the public face and sharpened edge of the Church of Hope. They walk the camp and beyond its walls, bringing the Maker’s word with fire, fervor, and unwavering certainty. Their duty is not merely to spread doctrine but to confront corruption, test purity, and convert the wavering. Where Theologians preserve faith and Wardens guard its boundaries, Evangelists expand it—whether through persuasion or righteous force.
Every soul is a battlefield, and I will not rest until the Maker’s banner flies over it.
Alternative Names
Torchbearers, Crows, Street Priests
Type
Religious
Demand
Evangelists are a staple profession—the Church cannot grow or maintain its control without them. Their presence is constant in Camp Hope’s markets, schools, and streets.
Qualifications
Like all professions of the Church, Evangelists begin in Hope Academy:- Children may test for admission at age 10.
- Most begin by age 12, with tuition generally provided by their families.
- Gifted individuals may receive scholarships.
- Upon completion of general studies, students must declare their profession.
- Skill in rhetoric, debate, and public speaking.
- Charisma and a commanding presence. (Min starting Cha 12)
- Loyalty to doctrine without hesitation or compromise.
- Physical strength and courage, as Evangelists often work among hostile audiences. (Min starting Str 12)
- Rhetorical drills and persuasive performance.
- Study of Hope’s Purpose and authorized theological argument.
- Basic combat instruction (staff, blade, or sidearm) for self-defense and enforcement.
- Exposure to corrupted zones or heretical groups, under supervision.
Hope is not a gift—it is a command. Refuse it, and you choose your own damnation.
Payment & Reimbursement
The Church meets the basic needs of Evangelists: housing, food, clothing, and ritual tools. Higher-ranked Evangelists are sometimes granted:- Personal attendants.
- Choice housing closer to central temples.
- Access to travel resources and escorts.
- Social Credibility: Evangelists command awe; their words often carry the weight of law.
- Influence: They sway not only the unfaithful but also factions wary of Church authority.
- Protection: As visible servants of the Maker, harming them brings communal outrage.
- Fear: For outsiders, an Evangelist’s presence often signals confrontation.
The unworthy call us cruel, but mercy to corruption is betrayal to the pure.
Purpose
Evangelists fulfill the role of:- Missionaries – bringing doctrine to new ears.
- Enforcers – confronting corruption and impurity in public.
- Voices of the Faithful – ensuring the Maker’s will is heard everywhere.
- Recruiters – swelling the ranks of both believers and Church loyalists.
Social Status
- Evangelists are highly visible and highly respected, but not always loved.
- The faithful admire their zeal.
- The fearful avoid them.
- The corrupt despise them.
- Their position makes them both sought after and resented, depending on perspective.
To speak the Maker’s word is to wield a sword sharper than any steel.
History
After the Fall, the Church of Hope realized that survival alone was not enough—it required unity through faith. Evangelists emerged as the first organized missionaries, bringing order to fractured survivors. Over the decades, they became increasingly militant, taking on the dual role of preacher and purifier. Their evolution mirrors the Church itself: from desperate comforters to commanding enforcers of purity.
I have no enemies, only those who have not yet bent their knees.
Tools
- Scripture Scrolls or Books (portable copies of Hope’s Purpose).
- Staffs, rods, or ceremonial blades (doubles as ritual and weapon).
- Voice Amplification Tools (simple TL2 megaphones or ritual horns).
- Purity tokens – small icons or charms given to converts.
Materials
- Ink, parchment, and chalk for writing scripture in public.
- Candles and oils for purification rituals.
- Basic weapon maintenance supplies.
- Grain or water for sacramental blessings.
Workplace
Evangelists do their work in public:- Market squares, street corners, camp gates.
- Open-air platforms, ritual scaffolds, or portable pulpits.
- Their spaces are alive with chanting voices, the smell of incense or smoke, and the roar of argument or song.
Provided Services
- Preaching and public teaching.
- Conversions and initiations.
- Ritual purifications and condemnations.
- Counsel to wavering members.
- Presence at public trials or executions, providing the theological voice of judgment.
When I preach, I do not ask if you believe. I demand you remember what belief should cost.
Hazards
- Violence from hecklers, heretics, or Syndicate enforcers.
- Exposure to plague zones or Others during missions.
- Burnout from constant confrontation and public scrutiny.
- Doctrinal danger—a slip of the tongue can be considered heresy.
Legality
- Evangelists are fully legal and sanctioned in Camp Hope. Their work is seen as an extension of the Church’s law.
- Outside Camp Hope, they are less welcome—many communities treat them as agitators or spies.
- Within outlaw zones, Evangelists are sometimes attacked on sight.
The Others hide behind their excuses, but the Maker does not excuse rot. Fire does not apologize to the wood it consumes.
Rank and Renown
Rank 1: Hopeful Preacher
- Prerequisite: Renown 1 with the Church of Hope, Cha 12, Str 12
- You gain access to the Hope Academy and are given a Hope Insignia.
Rank 2: Witness
- Prerequisite: Rank 1, Renown 3 with the church
- You gain access to Church of Hope Building. you gain access to the library within the church that contains scripture and religious writings.
- The church ensures that your needs are met. You can maintain a modest lifestyle.
- You are taught basic combat. Choose one simple weapon proficiency.
- You are proficient with one handed small arms.
Rank 3: Missionary
- Prerequisite: Rank 2, renown 10 with the Church of Hope, Cha 14, Str 14
- You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.
- You gain a side kick. Use the Basic Combatant for this side kick.
- Choose one simple weapon proficiency.
Rank 4: Purifier
- Prerequisite: Rank 3, renown 15 with the Church of Hope, Cha 16, Str 16
- You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.
- You gain an additional side kick. Use the Basic Combatant for this side kick.
- You can have 2 side kicks adventure with you rather then the standard 1.
- Choose one simple weapon proficiency.
Rank 5: Herald of the Maker
- Prerequisite: Rank 4, renown 25 with the Church of Hope, Cha 18, Str 18
- You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.
- You gain an additional side kick. Use the Basic Combatant for this side kick.
- You can have 3 side kicks adventure with you rather then the standard 1.
- Choose one simple weapon proficiency.
Rank 6: Wrath of the Maker
- Prerequisite: Rank 5, renown 50 with the Church of Hope, Cha 20, Str 20, must be human or passing as human, must be 40 years old or more. Chosen from the ranks of the Heralds.
- You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.
- You gain an additional side kick. Use the Basic Combatant for this side kick.
- You can have 4 side kicks adventure with you rather then the standard 1.
- Choose one simple weapon proficiency.
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