Religion

Elan has one official religion, simply called “The Church.” Within it are two denominations: the High Church and the Low Church. It was created around the year 0 C.E. when royal houses still ruled the land, but most of the early historical information has been lost. Many historians still search to clarify its beginnings. 

The Church is often the center of a community. While not all towns or settlements have buildings devoted to it, the religious leaders of these congregations still strive to bring the people together. In this way, the Church isn’t necessarily a place. And in the places where there is a building or several buildings devoted to the religion, it often serves as a place for people to gather. Not just for services, but also for community meetings, celebrations, or less formal gatherings. In cities, many churches can be ornate and expansive, willing to welcome as many believers as possible. All that is needed are people willing to be members.

Not every town has ties to the Church, though. Not every rough and tumble mining outpost or far flung farming community wants to deal with what might be viewed as a sanctimonious busybody telling people what to think. Some places remain godless and defend that right. Likewise, it isn't unheard of for some well meaning servant of the Divine to enter distant communities or wilderness with the intent to bring God with them. Results from these endeavors tend to be mixed.

The Church has had its fair share of prophets. They, like all, began as followers and then rose through the ranks as ordained Shepherds. Some people even attribute miracles to these renowned preachers. Whether there was truly divine power at work remains unknown; it is a matter of faith.

The Church as an Organization

The Church varies from place to place but some things stay constant: the origin myth and the use of previous teachings of preachers as shared readings. However, each preacher and Shepherd have specific teaching that they hold to, so long as they do not deviate from the laws of their denomination. To put it simply, no two Shepherds may have the same central teachings. It leads to a great deal of debate within branches and definitely across. 

Some preachers and Shepherds find notoriety through certain messages and favoring certain members of the flock. Ministers that are particularly well-taught seem to be favored by those with ambition and political motivations. But in all, every flock professes to serve the same God, even though they may be very different in how they do so. This can lead to quite a bit of animosity when two people from differing communities meet.

The Parting

In 1506, the Church broke from its unification into two parts: the High Church and the Low Church. Most historical documents list the constant friction of two philosophies that led the Church to this point. Please see The Church Schism for information on this.

The Low Church

The High Church

Organization

Holy services, most preaching, and most outreach work are performed by Shepherds, the representatives of the Church who have been inducted into its holy employ. To be one, a person must first be mentored by a Shepherd and then ordained by the Chief Shepherd (the leader of the denomination, either High Church or Low Church). Regardless of denomination, these ordinations take place in Ironstead. While most attend denominational divinity schools, some are only tutored by other Shepherds (as long as they have a letter allowing it from the Chief Shepherd). Shepherds are the true crux of faith and sacrament reaching the people and the duties of the Church being done. 

The assignments of Shepherds vary, from managing an individual church in a community, supporting charitable/political work, to working in administration in Ironstead, etc. Reassignments can be made after requests are received from the Shepherd, but they tend to be uncommon. However, all Shepherds are given assignments and to deviate from that appointment can have lasting repercussions.

While Shepherds are the main focus, as they are the ministers and the symbolic representations of the holy, there is also the laity who can serve their own roles. Often these are positions of service to and within the Church without the benefits of ordination. Even though they are not considered direct representatives of the Church, they are able to spread God to places that for any reason a Shepherd cannot. Preaching, of course, can be done by anyone. However, they cannot perform true Church services.

The Chief Shepherd in the High Church is seen as the representation of Zell, the first Shepherd and is voted in by the Council of Triumphs. This is a council of nine Shepherds, each one representing one of the Nine Triumphs, meant to embody those virtues. Their purpose is to ensure the continuation of Church values by influencing and guiding the Chief Shepherd. This council can also vote the Chief Shepherd of the High Church out of their office. They have the ability to remove the current Chief Shepherd and appointment a new one at any time. 

Along that vein, in the Low Church the Chief Shepherd is given that position for life. At least theoretically. Most stay in their position between 10-20 years. Then the role will be passed to someone from the next generation through allowance from the Chief Shepherd. The next Chief Shepherd is a vote among all Shepherds in the Low Church.

Worship & Prayers

Both Low and High maintain houses of worship throughout Elan. In smaller towns or rural areas, worship can be held outside or within any building. Services on Fridays are practiced by both Churches. No other attendance is required but prayer events and blessings can also take place. While the Low Church compels humility and grace in its practitioners, preachers, and Shepherds, the High Church emphasizes forgiveness and redemption through God and the Triumphs. It is often said that the Low Church focuses on the good inherent in people and the High Church focuses on the goodness a person can attain.

Cosmology

Creation

The creation myth, as one of the central tenants of the Church, is listed below. Some ministers and preachers reimagine the myth in different ways and add embellishments to suit their particular flock, but in essence it always hits the same notes.

“In the beginning, there was God. There was nothing but God. However, God willed that there would be more than God. That is when the creations began. First, God had to limit itself and withdraw to create a space in which to create - as water must recede for there to be land. 

“The first creation was the Spirit. This was the creation of something through which God could act. The Spirit is Their will, Their action, Their intercession. With the Spirit, God could create more. It is only through the Spirit that God can act upon creation. 

“The second creation was the world. Mountains, waters, canyons, valleys, minerals and ores - all that makes up the earth was created. It was beautiful and dazzling, precious. But it was without life.

“The third creation was the celestial bodies. The sun, the moon, the planets, the stars - all were set in motion in the sky. 

“The fourth creation was the plants and vegetation. It carpeted the world, growing lush and verdant. But its growth was unchecked and unruly.

“The fifth creation was the creatures. All beings that could move and crawl and creep. These beings checked the plants and vegetation, creating balance. But there was no order.

“The sixth creation was humanity - in all forms. This was the finest of the creations. Humanity brought order to the creatures, checked the growth of the plants and vegetation, and tended to the earth - tilling, damming, and mining its bounty.”

The Afterlife

It is believed that before the people of Elan knew of God, the souls of the dead wandered through Elan after death. These wandering souls did not perceive the world as a living being does, but instead experienced a foggy existence, wholly detached from reality. After the establishment of the Church, those who were not faithful to God were left to exist in the same way that any soul would before the founding of the Church. The faithful would wander in much the same way but with a divine purpose. For each sin committed in life, the time that a lost soul must wander was increased. Once a soul's wandering had come to an end, the soul would be fully reunited with God. 

Some Shepherds and very few laity say that they can at times sense the passing movements of the spirits and recount what the souls are feeling - be it sadness or coming peace; but this is a rare gift. Some believe that only the most devoted can have this power. Others condemn the belief as perpetuating superstition. Church leadership is divided, and no true decision has been made in either denomination. 

Parishioners are encouraged to pray for those who passed, both the people that they knew and those who they did not. The Low Church has no specific customs around honoring the dead but will participate by giving blessings and prayers as the communities they are in follow their own customs. In the High Church, there are special devotions and practices in caring for one who has died - regardless of their status or lack thereof. In addition, the High Church has a special service at the start of winter to pray for those souls who still wander through the afterlife as the congregation is about to face the desolate dark and perilous cold of winter.

Sin

Sin is considered anything that goes against God’s will, teachings, or creation. It is believed that sin divides the person from God and hurts their spiritual health. Of possible sins, heresy (teaching and spreading information that is against God’s teachings) and blasphemy (speaking sacrilege) are the most common offenses. Other offenses can include such things as lying, cheating, uncontrollable rage, and undue violence. The most severe of these sins are those that harm God’s creations. 

The High Church often sees some sins as a cry for help, a chance for compassion and betterment. It is something to be counseled through and surmounted. The Low Church sees sinning as the destruction of a person’s relationship with God. Thus their main goal is to repair that relationship individually and communally. There are some sins, however, that are severe enough to result in the ousting of the sinner from the congregation. The most severe could result in the removal from the Church as a whole. For the High Church, this has a formal ceremony called the Turning, as it is believed God has turned Their face from that person. 

Sin is fully punished in the afterlife, as stated above. However, some sins are seen as irrevocable to God in life and the afterlife. Those unfaithful to God would wander, certainly. But those who actively destroy their connection with God and with God’s creation would face eternal torment. That torment would not be pain, per se, but would instead be nothingness. They would be aware of their nothingness and left there to be empty and cut off from all forever. This is the ultimate punishment for committing sin.