The Aristocratic Church of Waukeen

"The Merchant's Friends"

The Aristocratic Church Of Waukeen or simply the Church of Waukeen is one of the three churches known under the moniker the Churches Coven. It is a major church in Eastrix that is present on all of Eastrix, however, it's the biggest and most present on the isle, Sorashana. The church is very known for praising wealth and economic growth, and will often be found present around banks, major economic centres, markets and governments. Each individual member of the church has their own individual ways of worship and religious conduct. These differences usually differ and vary in anything from how they praise economic affluence or how secretive they are about their rituals or conduct.

Many questions whether the church really is a church or if it's more of a financial cult that scams religious people with their marketing schemes. The very detailed and strict clergy however suggest otherwise.

Clergy

Clerics and Paladins of Waukeen travel the world aiding merchants or staff temples in large cities that serve as banks, safe storage warehouses, stock exchanges and other financial institutions. Waukeen’s clergy members are under orders to donate 25% of their monetary income to the church, to invest in all enterprises that have any reasonable hope of succeeding if they are run by devout worshipers of the deity, and to consider other investments if approached by entrepreneurs willing to make substantial offerings to the deity. Clerics and Paladins of Waukeen are not above manipulating trade by means of rumours, buy-ups, hired border brigands, and the like, but strong public criticism of such unsubtle tactics in the past has led the church to officially deny undertaking such things and to order its clerics to do such work only with the greatest subtlety so that no one who suspects their hands at work will be able to prove anything. Personal enrichment is the sign of a wise cleric, but this must be done through arms-length investments, not openly unlawful acts.

The church celebrates a dozen high festivals spaced over the course of the year that honour accounting (Cold Counting Comfort), wealth (High Coin), consulting (Consultants Congrationlations), stocks (Stellar Stocks Night), craft (Hephstisian Festival), and the dark side of wealth, as a solemn remembrance of the evils of excess (Hell Coin Remembrance Day).

Ranking

The Waukeenar faith is a hierarchical one that has traditionally been led by a single pontiff, known by the rank of Holy Treasurer, however now that this has been changed as the church has been more involved in conflicting international affairs as of late. The highest rank now goes by the name of Coin Pope. The ranks are as follows, starting with the highest rank first:

Coiniarch
Coin Cardinal
Arch Coin-bishop/Arch Coin-Crusader
Coin-Bishop/Coin-Crusader
Coin Priest/Coin Knight
Coin Deacon/ Coin Squire

The Dogma of The Church

The dogma for the Aristocratic Church of Waukeen goes as follows:

"Mercantile trade is the best road to enrichment. Increasing general prosperity buys ever-greater civilization and happiness for intelligent folk worldwide, bringing people closer to the golden age that lies ahead. Destroy no trade goods, raise no restrictions to trade, and propagate no malicious rumours that could harm someone's commerce. Challenge and refute unproven rumours that could negatively impact trade when heard. Give money freely to beggars and businesses, for the more coin everyone has, the greater the urge to spend and trade rather than hoard. To worship Waukeen is to know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate her, and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on her in trade, and she will guide you in wise commerce. The bold find gold, the careful keep it, and the timid yield it up."

Temples

Temples of Waukeen are almost always located in cities where commerce is in its fullest flower. Temples of Waukeen are built in many architectural styles, but there is a preference for the classical temple featuring a large portico and many columns in a stucco style. Temples of Waukeen are always constructed with the finest materials and with no expense spared. Decoration in Waukeen’s temples are usually simplistic, expensive and created with the idea of spreading a sense of wealth within the temple. These decorative elements can vary from precious metal to expensive gemstones fitted into the design of the church. However, despite their lavish adornment, inside and out, typically underneath the gold leaf is an all but impregnable fortress more secure than a king’s treasury. Such temples provide wealthy merchants who give generous tithes to the temples sumptuous cleric-guarded accommodations in town during their stays.

Some notable churches of Waukeen are The Star of Tenarius in Tenarius; Sorashana, The National Bank of Libertailia; Sorashana and The Coin River in Fellandor; Talara.

Temple attire

Waukeen’s clergy members are among the most lavishly dressed. Waukeenar ritual garb is simplistic to the untrained eye and unbelievably expensive to the trained. Usually consisting of a chlamys made white silk with golden lining and a finely created leather belt with a book of finance and a holy book as well as fine purse. Tunics, trousers, hose, or armour may be worn as desired (or as the season makes practical), but these are always of the finest, most costly fabrics, furs or metals. This is usually topped off with a least a ring for each finger and a holy amulet with the symbol of Waukeen on it.

A quote on the Church of Waukeen from Garry Berry Hart, a world-renowned tourist guide:
"Some say they're the Merchant's Friend. I say they are my Friend HAHAHHA!"

Prayer to Waukeen

People pray to Waukeen on many occasions but usually when some kind of wanted output might seem unlikely. These occasions can be anything from the start of harvest before a day at the market starts or even before entering a bank. The prayer of Waukeen goes as the following:

"Oh our Lady of Gold, grant my gatherings your favour. I stand at the precipice of wealth and you tip the scale oh Mother Alffuence. I ask of you to tip the Scales of Return in my favour this day. I pray to thee Mother Alffuence, open the gates to your Golden Gardens, Waukeen".

TENETS OF WAUKEEN

A cleric who devotes themselves to Waukeen or a paladin who takes this oath has the tenets of Waukeen written down in gold ink in a gold-lined leather book:

"Supply. Secure the future, help turn the wheels of the economy and make all the world richer. Waukeen has granted us insight into supply and demand, and money makes the world go around and we shall help."

Demand. The money you make is a symbol of the value you create. Waukeen set us upon this earth to create value, to create the motivation for creation, to create the golden paradise of riches and luxuries. For our paradise to stand, we must create a sense of want, a sense of need. Demand creates a demand of better living, better standards, a better world.

Production. For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human beings, because they—unlike all companies—have the means of reproduction. These means must always be in the safest of hands".

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Permeated Organizations