The Church of Veritas
The Church of Veritas is known to Imperial Agents, Inquisitors, Immortals, and keepers of the law as one of the single most dangerous rogue terrorist cells in the Empire. A strangely dedicated and utterly fanatical church, they live and die in service to their deity known as Veritas, alleged god of Vengeance, Humility, Order, and Suffering.
The Church of Veritas wages an informal, sometimes violent sometimes peaceful 'war' of attrition and worship against the Empire, seeking to one day cause or help with the birth of their both existing and yet to exist god known as Veritas.
Structure
The Church of Veritas, or 'The Bright Church' is an organization that exists in the shadows of Edrias, beneath the Empire. Organized by a simple hierarchy that feeds down from the Bright One, the lead priest, it is centralized to this one leader. From the Bright One, there is a council of four Shining Ones, who then command upwards of twelve Lightbearers. Lightbearers are something of a Cardinal, being a lower authority over so called 'Light Priests', who then disseminate the word of their church across the world.
Culture
The culture of the Church of Veritas is unique. It is an utterly fanatical belief system that borders upon a cult, with the Bright One being considered having been vested with the power of their god, Veritas. Members have a fanatical belief in their god and his coming arrival. Due to Veritas's domains, the followers of this religion tend to attempt to abide by those domains in their entirety but most disturbingly of all, folliwing that of Suffering most closely. They believe that through their, their enemies, and through all suffering, Veritas's birth may come about sooner.
Public Agenda
The public agenda of the Church of Veritas is first and foremost to avoid being destroyed and or caught by the Empire and their agents. They are highly selective with who they allow to attend their sermons, ceremonies, and especially join the Church. Sessions and sermons are never held in the same spot, and it is incredibly hard to even obtain the information of where they will be held.
Assets
The assets of The Church are unknown, although they are believed to be in possession of several ancient artifacts from the Old World that could endanger the Empire if given the opportunity, yet they are not openly hostile for the most part.
History
The Church was founded in 45 PFE, when a being known only as the Visage of Veritas spoke to four mortals. A Human male, a Tiefling female, an Aasimar female, and an Elven male. It spoke to them, and stated that it was a visage of a god from the future, yet to be born. Allegedly it showed them this future, displaying a being of immense divine power, awaiting its birth in the far future. It stated that with the birth of Veritas, the god of Humility, Vengeance, Order, and Suffering
Disbandment
The Church of Veritas is still active
Mythology & Lore
In the mythology of the Church of Veritas, it is said that of all the gods, one not yet born but always present was Veritas himself. Residing in the spirit of all mortals, he is said to be the inner nature of all living mortals, being their humility, their hope, their vengeance, their order and their suffering. Despite his lack of existence it is said that he has always existed and yet also has never existed, an eternal state of simultaneous being and unbeing. Only when the time is right, would their glorious god shed his eternal paradoxical nature and appear before them and all mortals, and smite the Great Heretic. This was dictated to the four co-founders of the Church by the Visage of Veritas, who stated to be no more than a vestige of his power, an emissary, instructing the children of Veritas to built a great church in his name, to prepare for his arrival in the near future.
It states that Veritas will be birthed from the collective screams and pleads for salvation of all mortalkind, pleads of mercy to save them from the jackboot of a tyrannical overlord who claimed dominion upon their lives. When he rises, birthed anew, he will do battle with the Great Heretic and strike him down, claiming dominion over the released heavens, and ushering in a new era of divine rule.
Divine Origins
The Visage of Veritas essentially created all of the rituals, beliefs, and myths that the church now refers to. His, or its power was unebelievable, recorded and eyewitness testimony stating that the Visage could heal the wounded and dying with but a touch, could hear lies just by listening, could lift a boulder with a single hand. It was as if he was truly a divine being, an angel sent to them to inspire and help them. Yet after a decade of the Church's formation, the Visage disappeared. Leaving behind only a single note of parchment with the now infamous statement and axiom of the Church.
'In light, they die.'
Tenets of Faith
The basic laws and commandmentso of the Church of Veritas are as follows:
Humility above all: One is no more than the sum of their actions, beliefs, and desires. Do not place yourself above your fellow mortal, for any reason.
Vengeance for the wronged: The wronged, the weak, those unable to protect themselves should be avenged if they cannot be saved. Do not spare the enemies of Veritas a single thought of mercy, for they will not show you the same.
Order guides chaos: To live in order is to be able to overcome any obstacle. Do not allow the taint of chaos to alter your orderly existence.
Suffering brings salvation: To suffer and to suffer justly is to bring salvation and know your work is just. Do not fear suffering, be it spiritual, emotional, or physical.
Ethics
Ethics inside the church are rather simple. Obey the tenets, do not expose the Church to unecessary risk, obey your superiors, and you will do well. Do not do these things, and you will not do well. The Church tolerates very little failure and indiscretion from it's adherents, going so far as to be willing to murder to protect itself, even if that means a fellow priest ends up on the wrong end of the bullet or blade.
Worship
Worship in this religious organization is rather simple and ascetic. The Divine Book of Veritas is typically read from during a typical sermon which occur both at the first and last day of the week on alternating weeks, as well as once a month on the first day of the month. These sermons typically are short by requirement of preventing staying in one place for a long period of time. It is rumored that at Last Point, a more permanent and grandiose temple has been built underneath the ruins of the now desolate city, where the group grows their numbers and congregation in private.
Priesthood
The priesthood of the Church of Veritas are denoted by their rank. The Bright One wears the only other thing left behind from the Visage, that being its mask. The Visage's Mask is the ultimate symbol of authority. The Shining Ones wear replicas of the Visage's mask that are cast from bronze rather than the iron composite the genuine mask is. They also wear black robes instead of the white robes that the Bright One wears.
Lightbearers are denoted by their grey clothing with red and orange highlights as well as the never extinguishing lanterns they are required to keep on their person at all times. This lantern allegedly helps purify the soul of those in their flocks, and protects them from evil.
Granted Divine Powers
The Bright One is noted as being a supremely powerful magical caster, the mask of the Visage being believed to grant the Bright One these incredible abilities. As such, the Bright One can, in lieu of Veritas himself, grant limited divine powers to Clerics, Paladins and other agents of the Church. Notably though, these typically fade after a period of time, but the period of time depends upon both the strength of will of the Bright One and the recipient themselves, as well as outside external forces that are believed to be influenced by their unbirthed god himself.
Sects
There are various sects inside of the Church of Veritas. The most notable ones follow below:
Visage of the Ebon Blade: A sect that believes in an Ebony Blade hidden in the abyss that if utilized to kill the Bright One, will jumpstart the birth of Veritas. The blade, known as Kendratix'al, has never been located, yet the sect continues their search for it and information regarding it. These followers are denoted by a black tattoo of an image of the blade upon their left forearm that is imprinted when they fully embrace the sect.
Visage of the Deathborn God: A dangerous and even more fanatical more terroristic organization that seeks to cause a mass genocide of mortals to overflow the suffering of Veritas and force his birth, bringing his divine power to the fore and ending the evil Empire and Harbinger.
Visage of Endless Humility: A more humanitarian and kind sect, this sect focuses on peaceful cooperation with all mortals from all walks of life. These members are hard to denote as they are only noted by a secret phrase they exchange between one another. They are a sort of guiding hand, seeking to ensure the safety of those who cannot protect themselves when protection is needed.
There are many more sects that have spawned, and many more that fade into obscurity, never to be remembered.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
'In light, they die.'
45 PFE - Active currently
Type
Religious, Temple
Capital
Alternative Names
The Cult of Veritas, Veritas's Children, VC, The Bright Church, The Golden Blooded Killers
Demonym
Veritan
Leader
Leader Title
Founders
Gazetteer
Above all, The Church seemingly has placed a large, prophetic value upon the island that now houses The Eye, the Imperial stronghold believed to be a spy and subterfuge training facility.
Deities
Divines
Location
Notable Members
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