Church of Light
Church History
The Church of Light is the largest religious institution in Dexia. Many families send a son into the Church and it is an influential force in politics. The primary reason for this influence dates back to when the Church was one of the few literate organizations within Dexia. They served as a history and as arbitrators in disputes mainly because they had the records that could determine such things.Due to other forces, the Church of Light and the Followers of Lady Darkness became estranged. This resulted in widespread religious persectution. The Followers of the Lady were centered in the Eastern side of Dexia, and the Western side was the home of the Church of Light. The East was fairly isolated due to mountains with a narrow pass in the north, and impassible mountains in the south. The only entrance into the East was a port town. It is because of this isolation that the Followers of the Lady became a weaker and smaller organization.
Possibly from a trade ship, a disease called the fever hit Dexia. This disease ravaged the port towns first. It's first symptoms was a fever and chills, and it seemed consistent with standard illnesses. However, without treatment, the disease would suddenly and rapidly progress into delusions and then a coma. The City's port was hit badly, and then the disease followed the trade routes north into a small port city in the Moors. This small town (now called Plague Bay,) was practically elminated in the space of a few months. The disease eventually travelled to the East, and it wrecked a path of death there. The cure was discovered in the literature of the Church of Light. Due to the tension between the east and west, the cure was not sent heavily to the east. Over the space of about twenty years, eight communities of Lady Darkness were lost. These communities included many of the priestly body, and the remaining followers of Lady Darkness were, for the most part, a quiet group.
The Church of Light, on the other hand, did not loose as many followers and it was, throughout history, a far more evangalistic religion. The numbers of followers, called Flock, increased sharply after the fever first hit, and the numbers have continued to climb.
Church Ranks
The highest ranks in the Church of Light are restricted to men. The first rank for a member of the Church is a novitiate. These are students of the Church of Light who study in the City, and are usually between five and thirteen years of age. When novices, men or women graduate they usually become a travelling preacher called a Vicar. They travel around the towns and give inspirational speeches to people. Women, at this point, are restricted to becoming Lak. Men go on to become Reverand - basically a Vicar with a set location, church, and group of followers. The Ministers are the local poweful Reverands. They have influence over local politicians, but for the most part have no larger influence. The Ministers vote at the Council of Mer de Lun et Sol to choose the Council. The Council are led by the Prime Leader, called the Primary or the Ab Sol Minister. The Primary does have control over the Church in so far as he can call ab finit on those who insult the Church. This does not mean that the Flock follows his word. However, it is traditional that Ministers and Reverand follow the words of the Council. The council can ab finit the Primary only if the entire council agrees. This has never happened. The Council once a decade travels among various communities to seek the new Prince of Light. These are young children with blond hair and blue eyes who have been raised in a pure and holy family. The prince will be raised among the Council in the Primary's household, and will, upon the death or resignation of the present Prince of Light, take over office. The Primary must approve the public actions of all sub shoots of the church.The Prince of Light is the public figure head of the Church. Most Princes are active in policy, however, they are guided by the Council. Gregory, a Prince of Light contemporary with the trial of Yonathen Iglesias, is a reformer in the Church. He's also a woman. All Prince's gain large amounts of power from their diety, and they frequently claim to talk with Lord Light.
The sub shoots are Scribes, Lak, Vicar, and Dan Sai. Scribes are mostly people who failed to make properly charasmatic Vicars. Owl, a Monger, works as a book repair person for them, and frankly thinks they're idiots. There are serious scholars among them, but Owl hasn't found any. Scribes can be female, but rarely are.
Lak are female ex-reverands and ministers. They work as a psuedo mystical counsellors for micro parrishs. They run hospitals, poor houses, orphanages, and houses for travellers. In the City, many of the Lak feed the orphans. They are well-loved and well protected by their neighbors.
Dan Sai are male church peace keepers, and are a typical retirement post for elderly soldiers. They do manual labor for the church, or, as they age, help out Scribes.
Winter's Fair - a Church Holiday
This is accurate for small towns in rural Ni'Rushka - mostly since they'd be small enough to not be too big and fancy. About an hour before sunrise, the people gather in the churchs. They carry candles from house to house to wake the neighbors, and then extinguish them at the door of the church. The church is in darkness.The minister usually gives a small speech, and then he, or the nearest dignitary, talks for a while on the new year, and the meaning of the ceremony. The Winterfair festival is called the end of the year, and the Festival of the Children. It is to remember those who were lost and to give a sort of wake / mourning / rememberance to them. Usually, if there is a capable member, someone summons the shining aura of Lord Light, and the spear while standing at the pulpit. This usually happens at around sunrise.
Then, the congregation takes each other's hands, and repeats a traditional saying - likely something like, "With your spear and power, on this holy night, let our people flower, and we keep the light."
Most people then grab some breakfast before sleeping for a few hours until the party starts going. There's likely a beast of some sort - cow, lamb, deer - whatever they had handy roasting in the central square, and likely broth being boiled, and ale and wine for the Mainlanders.
Most houses have their doors open and a roaring fire. People go from house to house to have a mug, sing a little, tell a story. There's probably a tradition of either greeting the host, or leaving a small gift.
The minister goes from house to house to give the people his blessing, and recieves likely a portion of the food. He also prays with and blesses the sick. There may be a showcasing of the laywarch trained over the winter in the square. Usually the older members of the community settle in some inn or large house.
The church opens again at noon, and the people gather there to serve the roasting meat which is likely done by then. Everyone takes candles there to be blessed. After the meal, the children are likely corralled into sweeping up the graveyard next to the church, and as a reward, are given small gifts and sweets. This is probably a remenent of an older All Hollow's Eve type ceremony.
The people then filter back through the town, and settle for more singing, stories and talking. At midnight, the church bells are rang. Usually the adults share traditionall little cakes - likely filled with a dark filling (dates, poppy seeds, something like that). These are probably crescent shaped - some earlier ceremony about a tying together of the Followers of the Lady with the Followers of the Light. Some families wake the children to hear the bells ring.
Most people are asleep by the time that the sun rises again, but there is a typical morning service at the church in the morning. The minister will say his wishes for the new year, and name the list of the villagers who have died in the previous year. The traditional ending of the list is a typical blessing - something like, "Lord Light save us all."