1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

The Theocracy Culture

Feb 19, 2016
The Theocracy Culture
  • Theocracy Culture

    Part of The Theocracy.

    To the West of the Kingdom the land has been left virtually untouched by the cataclysm. Prior to the changes, this area was left by the Republic for political reasons. It is the land of birth of the Magister and has long been under the rule of the Faith as The Theocracy. The Republic found it expedient not to have the Faith within the state but to have it as a friend nearby so they protected The Theocracy but ensured that it was not part of the Republic even going so far as to maintain a border state as a buffer, the Kingdom of Elland. The priests teach that The Theocracy was untouched by the cataclysm because the gods protected their faithful followers and once all the lands are united under the Faith the gods will allow us to drive the demons out once more. The Theocracy has always been under the protection of the Republic and had no need for a significant military. The head of the Grand Circle of Faith, The Archimandrite, relies now upon the Kingdom and the remnants of the Republic in the Shield Lands for physical protection. It is the job of the Faith to protect the spiritual well being of the people while others handle mundane, physical protection.

    While The Theocracy supports the worship of all The Divine Assembly and its lesser deities and cults, the dominant and lead faith is the worship of the Father, Mother and Warrior. The climate of The Theocracy is quite varied due to its geographic situation. Its northern border touches the Isenford and as such the area is cold and covered in snow for a large part of the year. The settlements of the northern Theocracy are heavily fortified structures that have been built to resist the historical attacks from the Northmen raiders from across the ice. The central region is more temperate and the rolling plains and low lying hills sport a number of settlements including the Temple city capital, Sarqand, the seat of the Archimandrite. As you travel south towards the borders of the Orclands, the Mountains of Fire rear up as a wall against intruders. The western edge of the land supports a number of small port towns each of which maintain a fleet to harvest the bounty of the Eismeer and patrol the waters for signs of Northland raiders.


    Country of the Gods(top)


    As its name suggests, The Theocracy is governed and controlled by The Priesthood of the Faith. At its heart is mighty Sarqand: birthplace of the Magister and sacred home for all the faithful. The Theocracy are an absolutist state ruled by the divine representative of the Father, the Archimandrite, and a group of the highest-ranking priests, the Hierophants. They are the Grand Circle of the Faith, and from their great Palace of Light the edicts and declarations of the Holy Faith are disseminated across human lands; keeping the faithful are informed of the latest doctrine and rites needed to remain true in the light of The Divine Assembly, reach the eternal bliss of Afterworld, and bar the taint of the Dark Abyss from their hearts and minds.

    Faith as a Lifestyle(top)


    Worship, ceremony and dedication to faith means everything in The Theocracy, and prayer and obedience are ingrained into the life of every citizen. They are taught from an early age that only by obeying the teachings and living a pure life through worship and sacrifice will they ascend to be with the Gods in the Afterworld when they die, and any deviation is met with stern discipline.

    Symbols of The Theocracy(top)


    The Winged Lion(top)


    The main symbol, found repeated around temples in The Theocracy is the Winged Lion. It is the symbol of the Magister, who had a great respect for cats. This has made feline beastkin popular in The Theocracy, particularly in the Capital, Sarqand.

    The Sun and the Eagle(top)


    The Sun is the Symbol of the father as well as birds, especially eagles. They are seen as symbolic of the protection the Father offers all souls upon dying.

    The Moon and the Faithful Hound(top)


    The Moon is symbolic of the Mother as she lights the gloom and protects the physical form in the dark places of the world. She is also represented by the faithful hound or wolf who guards and protects with love and affection.

    The Stars and the Gryphon(top)


    The star is seen as a powerful force that represents the warrior. Just as the stars are legion so to is the strength of the warrior boundless. The gryphon is seen as a powerful symbol of strength and resilience, is tied very closely to warrior worship. Temple Guards who are devotees of the Warrior often use the gryphon as a sacred symbol.

    Serpentine Imagery(top)


    Snakes are seen in fables and scriptures as reclusive creatures, blessed by the gods with powers of wisdom and stealth. In these stories they often impart a secret or cunning plan to the hero or show her the true nature of an adversary.

    It was with this that the Grand Circle of Faith have used to justify the acceptance of Lizard-Kin into civilised society, despite their horrific appearance.

    The smaller cults of the Designer that exist in a few places in the Northlands and the Kingdom have taken to using this imagery to represent their belief in this lesser deity.

    Daily Life in The Theocracy(top)


    As its name suggests, The Theocracy is governed and controlled by the Faith. The land is home to Sarqand, the birthplace of the Magister, and as such is sacred to the faithful. The Theocracy is an absolute state, ruled by the divine representative of the Father, the Archimandrite, and a group of the highest ranking priests, or Hierophants. Together, they are The Grand Circle of The Faith, and from the Palace of the Gods, the edicts and declarations of faith are disseminated to the populace. This ensures that the faithful are informed of the latest teachings and sermons necessary for them to truly remain in the light of the gods and keep the taint of darkness from their minds.

    The people of The Theocracy tend towards the more scholarly pursuits and a significant proportion of them are employed or are heavily involved with the running upkeep and veneration of the gods and their faiths. Many are priests or acolytes working in the places of worship or grave attendants seeing to the needs of passed arch-priests or heirophants resting in their white marble tombs.

    Others practice the path of the artisan or work with magics to the betterment of The Theocracy. This is particularly significant as the Magister told the people that magic was a source of great danger for them in that it was a route for the demons into their minds. The magical practitioners benefit hugely from the oversight and endorsement of the Faith although this creates a tendency to extreme conservatism.

    The martial pursuits are less prevalent in The Theocracy than in the Kingdom. Each temple city maintains a small standing army of Temple Guard who are responsible for the protection of the city as well as the tombs of the dead. They form the vanguard of the city's defense if attacks occur but these are rare due to the buffer afforded to the nation by the Kingdom and its natural borders with the sea and the impassable mountains. Historically the greatest threat has come from the north.

    Elves in The Theocracy(top)


    Ethrin remain barred from full ordination, but there exists a special group of “adept-initiates” who are valued for their adherence to the faith and precision in the more complicated holy rituals. It is a badly kept secret that some of these senior initiates disappeared during the Night of Blood, taking forbidden holy texts with them. The arch-priests and temple guard are keen to recover these, as the ceremonies listed could potentially be perverted for evil ends... Feralian elves are seen as feral creatures with worrying views on the faith. It is very rare for these elves to be initiated and even rarer for them to rise higher than the lowliest rung in holy orders.

    Magic and the Faithful(top)


    During his time preaching, the Magister told the people that magic without faith was a source of great danger for them as that it was a route for the demons into their minds. Consequently, magic use in The Theocracy is heavily regulated: the magically adept must pass a grueling series of tests, recitals and interrogations before being given the scroll of license from the Hierophant of Lore. Mages are always assigned to a temple, so that its priesthood guard their minds from being corrupted. Despite these restrictions, mages benefit hugely from the oversight and endorsement of the priests, gaining access to far better materials and the library of their sect. Although this creates a tendency to extreme conservatism and experimentation or deviation from the approved list of spells.

    Particularly respected senior mages, or archmages, will sometimes be assigned elven servants with magical gifts of their own. These lowly casters are supposed to help only with rituals and rarely granted approval to use any magic other than those in connection with knowledge and protection, as the elven race is seen as too untrustworthy as taught by the Magister.

    Temple-sanctioned mages are held in high regard by the Janissary regiments, who often request magical assistance to bolster their forces. There, they have proved a great asset to holding the outermost borders from complete collapse against the savage campaigns of the Khanate and heretics. Such was their reputation for magical skill that some of the more aggressive Nordländer warlords adopted the practice of tearing the hearts out of Theocracy mages on site. Despite the uneasy truce that now stands, this hatred is not forgotten.

    Outlook(top)


    The overarching view of anyone from The Theocracy is that, of all the lands, theirs are the most beloved by the gods. The Archimandrite is seen as the living embodiment of the Magister and the Hierophants of the Grand Circle are viewed with a barely lesser degree of awe. The people believe that this august body of holy men are closest to the divine, and are the reason why so much of The Theocracy was spared from the horrors of the Days of Fire.

    Other human nations are seen as somewhat beneath The Theocracy, spiritually. The Kingdom of Elland they see as arrogant and immoral; deeply suspicious of the autonomy and political position that Elland’s elite have afforded to their so called Academy of Magic, who they see as a huge liability. Likewise, denizens of the Kingdom often view their Theocratic counterparts as heavy handed fundamentalists who persecute and over-legislate.

    The Northlands have historically raided the borders and ports of the region, and despite the uneasy truce that exists because of the new enemies, old hatreds burn brightly in Tarnova, who have still not forgotten the great siege. Consequently, many in The Theocracy find it hard to hold their tongues in the presence of the Northlander heretics who used to think nothing of tearing the hearts out of their mages and priests.

    Forces of The Theocracy(top)


    Janissary Soldiers(top)


    TheTheocracy2TheocracyCultureresized.jpg
    Metin of Almitra, Janissary of the Third Kalahian Orta.
    Historically there have always been children left orphaned, abandoned by refugees escaping famine or war in other lands, or Theocracy children born out of wedlock. These forgotten youngsters are taken in by the Temples of the Mother. Some are destined to become servants or administrators, but the strongest are chosen to be sent to serve and fight for the Faith as Janissaries. For years, they train with their weapons until their master-at-arms grants them a place in a unit.

    Janissaries make up the bulk of standing Theocracy armies. Though not as revered as the Temple Guard (and seen by many of the population as low-born mavericks), these footsoldiers of the Faith are respected for their bravery. Some Jannissary units, such as the infamous Daughters of Kalash in Sarqand and the Tarnovan Nikov Patrol are chosen from the magically adept and trained with firearms, to devastating effect on the battlefield.

    The upheavals of the Cataclysm and the attacks of the Great Khan and the Lich King have caused many a great settlement and town to fall to ruin. Families have been torn apart, and countless children and babies left orphaned or abandoned. There has, therefore, been a steady of supply of new recruits.

    The Temple Guard(top)


    Due to their extensive use of Janissary soldiers, the martial pursuits are less prevalent in The Theocracy than in other human lands. Local militias exist, but for the well-to-do citizens of the temple cities, the ultimate military honour is to be called to be a Temple Guard. Tested ruthlessly at puberty, few are accepted to train as one of the sons and daughters of the Faith. They train for years in a specific form of mêlée combat until they are ready to guard pilgrims and holy sites. For carrying out their duties, the Temple Guard are supplied lavishly and need little or no money as all their needs are met. They are exempt from the normal laws and taxes levied upon the population in The Theocracy (although this is not the case should they find themselves in Kingdom lands). As such, they are expected to be a shining example to all of the faithful. They are rewarded lavishly for their service, but the punishment and discipline for any wrongdoing on their part is severe, often brutal. Such a system creates fanatical, zealous warriors who will do anything, no matter how severe, in service to the Faith.

    Each temple maintains a small force of Temple Guard who are responsible for guarding the temple and the holy places of the region, acting as a local police force. Their visored helms, armour and robes are ornate: decorated with repeating, geometric designs and holy script: rightly so in the minds of the faithful, as such luxury should only be used in the veneration of the gods. Same-coloured prayer ribbons are often tied to their weapons and armour, inscribed with holy script and wardings that flow in the wind. The exact appearance varies from Temple to Temple, as each has its own colours and imagery: Temples of the Father often use the winged lion, whereas a Temple to the Warrior may use bladed motifs or the ever-watchful gryphon. These warriors are usually heavily armed; preferring huge, bladed pole-arms or trauma weapons.

    They form the vanguard of the city's defense if attacks occur but these are rare due to the buffer afforded to the nation by the Kingdom and its natural borders with the sea and the impassable mountains. Historically the greatest threat has come from the north. In battle, Temple Guard serve as shock-troops; tasked with killing enemy elites or commanders.

    The Grand Circle of The Faith has issued a decree that a mixed force of Temple Guard should accompany the priests in their mission to The Vale; to assist in the divine works and ceremonies of the clergy; to protect all holy shrines and fanes to the gods and to fight unholy evil where it is found.

    The Grey Vigil(top)


    Feared and respected in equal measure, the Grey Vigil are the guardians of the faith. They fulfill the roles of strike-force and secret police, specialising in the investigation of unnatural creatures and dark magic. Their priestly leadership works undercover, operating in small cells throughout all human lands. The greatest leaders against the demons could be an Almitran merchant; a Noble of Elland; even a baker in the Shield Lands – such are their ways.

    The Grey Vigil do not recognise mundane or noble judiciaries, answering directly to the Grand Circle. Any warrior who believes in and worships the gods may be recruited into its ranks as a Vigilant, though such a move is not taken lightly. They will lose their name, their right to a family and all possessions when they do, and are forbidden from returning to normal society.

    Unlike the bold Janissaries or shining Temple Guard, the few Grey Vigil who are seen are usually attired in an austere fashion; wearing dark grey cloaks and robes over their armour and obscuring their faces with battle-masks, with the only decoration on their equipment being wardings against the darkest of magic. Nobody knows who or what they really are for a Vigilant must never reveal their face to any but their order and high-priests. In theory, they could be anyone and no-one.

    Any contact with an unlicensed or faithless magic user will arouse their suspicions, and their form of justice is often severe. Heretics and apostates are usually gagged, hooded and taken to Sarqand, never to be heard from again.

    Current Events(top)


    With the discovery of The Vale the Archimandrite has insisted that The Theocracy be represented in the expeditions. He has reminded King Edric that the evil forces of the demons will need to be held at bay and that Elland's forces are not strong enough to do this on their own. As a gesture of goodwill, the Grand Circle have dispatched an expeditionary force of Janissaries to assist Kingdom forces, along with a high priest and their hand-picked Temple Guard. He has also appointed a holy seer to accompany him. This holy party will set up a Fane of the gods in the Vale and organise proper worship as well as providing oversight in respect of dangerous magical operations.

    Fashions(top)


    The Theocracy is the centre of religion and worship in the Human lands. Fashions in the Temple cities lean towards the colourful and simple with symbols of the Gods boldly adorned and emblazoned for all to see as a indication of the dedication of the individual to The Divine Assembly. Facial tattooing and religious script is often inscribed upon the skin of the denizens of this land as a further indication of religious deference and as a protection against the influence of the demonic. In general The Theocracy has a distinctly religious and pious feel with less of the militaristic and feudal influence that is prevalent in the kingdom.

    Inspiration(top)


    General: Persian style robes and dress, bronze and gold accessories, priestly and pious trappings and regalia. Holy script can be on seals, dress and skin.

    Specific cities and soldiery.

    Janissaries: Turkish Janissaries, Mamluk infantry, Achaemenid Archers, Hashashin, Haradrim.

    Temple Guard: Persian Cataphracts, Magna Guard, Sarafan Warrior-Priests.

    Tarnova: Carpathian culture under Ottoman Rule, Romanian/Hungarian style.

    Sarqand: Parthian and Sassanid Empires; later cities on the Silk Roads, particularly Samarkand. Masks and head/face coverings, particularly for The Priesthood and wealthy.

    Almitra: Rhodes, Byzantine and Turkish influences.

    Kalash: Desert cultures, particularly Arabic/Bedouin.

    Please see the Geography section for more information on the places mentioned above.
  • Loading...