Radiant Assembly
The Radiant Assembly is the intellectual, magical, and scientific center of the Holy Solarian Empire, overseeing the development of divine magic, theological scholarship, war technology, and arcane research. While the Church of the Radiant Flame preaches doctrine and the Solari Templars wage holy war, the Radiant Assembly ensures that the Empire remains at the forefront of knowledge and power.
Yet, knowledge is dangerous in a society where faith rules above all. The Inquisition, ever watchful, suspects the Assembly’s scholars and magi of straying too close to heresy. Their inventions and discoveries shape the war effort, but they must walk a thin line between innovation and blasphemy.
To some, they are visionaries—the brightest minds of the Empire, securing its future. To others, they are arrogant heretics, tampering with forces meant only for the gods.
"We are keepers of the light. But what if the light blinds us from the truth?"
Tactics and Influence
While the Radiant Assembly does not wield armies, it shapes the future of the Empire through:
- Education and Knowledge: Administers the Empire’s grand universities, divine academies, and scriptoria. Produces the Empire’s most elite battle-magi, cleric-engineers, and theological strategists.
- Magical Development: Refines and expands the use of divine and solar magic, creating new spells, enchantments, and arcane tools that reinforce the Solarian military and ecclesiastical dominance.
- Technological Warfare – Oversees the creation of divine-machina—holy constructs, war engines, and artillery. Collaborates with engineers and solar-smiths.
- Religious and Historical Control – Ensuring that the Church’s version of history remains unchallenged.
However, not all knowledge is safe. Many scholars whisper of forbidden truths buried in the Empire’s past—truths the Church does not want revealed.
Role in the Empire
The Radiant Assembly is not a political force, but its influence touches every aspect of Imperial life, from religion and magic to warfare and infrastructure. Its scholars are responsible for:
- Divine and Arcane Research – Studying holy magic, relics, and sanctioned forms of arcane energy.
- Relic and Artifact Development – Crafting blessed weapons, enchanted armour, and divine constructs to aid the Templars and Inquisition.
- Historical and Theological Study – Recording and interpreting the Empire’s history, religious doctrine, and political lineage.
- Education and Training – Teaching scribes, priests, artificers, and war-mages who will serve the Empire.
- Engineering and Technological Advancement – Overseeing war machines, alchemical innovations, and infrastructure development.
Their work directly fuels the war machine but often brings them into conflict with the Church, as their search for truth threatens the Church’s monopoly on divine knowledge.
Structure
Unlike the rigid military and religious hierarchy of the Solari Templars and Inquisition, the Radiant Assembly is divided into four major academies, each dedicated to a different field of study.
The Sunforged Collegium (The Engineers and Artificers)
Leader: Master Engineer Cedric Solthar, "The Architect of War" – A brilliant but reckless artificer known for pushing the limits of war technology.
- Focuses on mechanical inventions, siegecraft, and arcane-infused weaponry.
- Develops blessed war machines, constructs, and enchanted siege weapons for the Imperial Army.
- Oversees the creation of Solsteel weaponry—the sacred metal believed to be forged with divine essence.
The Luminous Archive (The Keepers of Knowledge)
Leader: Grand Archivist Elenna Vaelor, "The Keeper of Light" – A revered historian, rumored to be hiding forbidden texts deep within the Archive’s vaults.
- Home to the largest library in the Empire, containing thousands of scrolls, holy texts, and relics.
- Oversees the study of Imperial history, religious doctrine, and the philosophical nature of faith.
- Many scholars within the Archive are secretly questioning the Church’s absolute authority—an act of grave danger.
The Order of Radiant Sorcery (The Sanctioned Mages)
Leader: High Magister Varian Thalorin, "The Sun’s Magister" – A powerful war-mage, secretly obsessed with ancient Lunar magic.
- Oversees all sanctioned arcane magic, ensuring it aligns with Solenara’s divine will.
- Trains battle-mages, diviners, and arcane scholars—but only those approved by the Church.
- Faces constant scrutiny from the Inquisition, which sees unregulated magic as a threat.
The Celestial Observatory (The Prophets and Astronomers)
Leader: Seer-Lord Aldric Veynos, "The Starborn Sage" – A controversial figure who believes the Empire is approaching a great celestial event.
- Studies the movements of the stars, celestial omens, and divine prophecies.
- Houses diviners, astrologers, and mathematicians who seek to chart the heavens.
- Some scholars question the origins of the gods themselves, an idea that borders on heresy.
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