GURPS: Church and State History

Metagame note- Much of the info here is only known to PCs/NPCs with appropriate skills, and even then, the historians of Argoth may be no more accurate than our Medieval historians, and some is openly disputed among scholars.

Holy Church of the Quadrant's creation mythology

The creation mythology is long, complicated, and contradictory in many aspects. All of this, in the eyes of the Church, takes place before the formation of cities in Suri. Basically, the All-father formed the universe from chaos and while begetting many children (the gods), crafted worlds for his children to live on and rule. The All-father cares not for earth, for he has the universe to defend against chaos, but left it to four of his progeny. To those four, he divided everything into four houses that they each would hold sway over. Ampul created the sun, and fire, while Enus beget the many children that would become life on earth. Her union with Ampul created man and the noble creatures such as horses, dogs, bears and such. Draef tricked Enus into thinking she was a man, and Enus lay with her and Enus beget the creatures of the night, from cats and bats, to worms, owls, lycanthropes and others; most notably the twins of fate Ina (the pull, or good luck) and Ono (the push, or bad luck), from which the two moons take their name. Enus, who could never turn down an offer, lay with Houdish and beget insects, flys, viruses, plagues, rot and the scavengers.

When the Four recognized that man held the inspiration of light inside his head, they lay down laws for man, and explained how the Houses of the Gods worked. Ampul held sway over light, truth, inspiration, invention, organization, hierarchy, law. Enus held dominion over fertility, birth, crops, babies, mothers, and the forests. Draef held sway over politics, deception and secrets, the markets, thievery, lovers (especially the unwed, or adulterers). Houdish had the areas of judgment, justice, death, warfare, and the souls of the dead. The other three cared not for this at the time, and Houdish has laughed since then at his usurpation of such an important aspect. From man, the gods would elevate those worthy to occupy positions within the houses, these were called the Ascendants, all others would go to Houdish and pass his gates of eternal judgment.

Houdish (often call Hood for the cowl he wears), holds final judgment over all men's souls. Hood is the final arbiter, and through his gates all must eventually pass, even the Ascendants. Hood's reckoning is feared by all, for those unworthy will live in eternal damnation making up for their wicked ways and being tormented beyond imagination. He regards the gift of light from Ampul to Enus' children a mistake, but now the children must bear the responsibility for the powers of mind. Hood's reckoning is in the balance of a man's life, whether in the final summation, he led a good life, or a poor one. Repentance and genuine contrition can hold some sway with him, but a truer measure of a man's fate in afterlife is the balance of his good deeds vs his vile ones.

Seeing Hood's power, the other three swayed Hood to accept some of their laws to be used for judgment, which they used Ina and Ono to communicate to man, as the twins had become frequent messengers for the gods.

Ampul, being by far the most ascetic of the gods, decreed that man shall control himself, and not steal, covet other women, fornicate outside of a marriage sanctioned by one of the four, break an oath, or give false testimony and should always seek to know the truth deliver the truth to others.

Enus commanded man to be plentiful, but also to husband their resources and use them wisely. Bringing new life to the world is her most favored act of devotion. She further commanded man to protect the weak, provide charity to those in need so that life will not suffer needlessly, and to have mercy.

Hood commanded that only just killings be pursued, and that man's pride should not make him think to take Hood's judgment as his own, nor to think they are somehow exempt from him. Hood further banned man from practicing necromancy, declaring the art his sole providence, and it's use by anyone an affront to him. Undead were to be killed on sight, and ghosts and spirits directed to Hood's door.

Draef merely whispered in Hood's ear the rules she wanted to judge man by, and honoring her request, Hood has never told anyone what they are, making Draef's Secret the most coveted knowledge. Ampul was of course furious, as his pride demanded he know everything, but his will has ever been thwarted to this day.

Ina and Ono, knowing the strict discipline they were held under, felt sorry of man, wanted to help man take more control of his own destiny. To this end, they stole the spark of magic, and gave it to the most favored among man, meaning to provide it to all. Ampul caught them before they could complete their action and banished them to the heavens. Since the twins started with the most favored, man now knew who the gods favored, and Ampul decreed that they should be held in higher respect than others, and Houdish countered that they will than be judged harsher than others, and Enus relayed that they will then have dominion over other life in their area, and Draef said nothing, knowing that mages would hold secrets, and Draef was pleased.

Ina and Ono still attempt to interfere, but they must hide from Ampul lasting fury, and they only shine at night as they know Draef cares not what Ina and Ono do with man.

First Cities and Foundation of the Church of the Quadrant (c. -500 to c. 250 HQC)

The Suri people founded the first known cities south of Boden Sea, a land locked see in the middle of the continent of Argoth. The Suri cities were fiercly independent and each held their own patron god. Suriana's patron god was Ampul, who is regarded as the Lord of Light, which in part explains his dominance of the Church of Four today. Enus was the the patron goddess of Enui, and is the Lady of Light. Drafus looked to the Lady of Dark for protection, Draef, and the Lord of Death, Houdish patronized the city of Houda. The child gods, Ina and Ono shared their patronage over the city of Jeshera. These cities were city states, often ruled by a semi-literate priest class. Those with magical talent were seen to be touched by the gods, and often rose higher in the ranks than those without talent. This tradition continues still today. It is from these early dark times that the stories of the first heroes come from; brutal, dark, vengeful heroes whose rapine ways bathed the Suri lands in blood. Suriana was the First City in foundation as well as prestige and power. Suriana rose to preeminence and began to conquer her sister cities, forming the First Empire. Suriana's control was not outright, and she had to make some compromises, one of which was recognizing the rights of the clergy of the patron gods of some of the more powerful cities, from here the Quadrant was born and the foundation of the Church of Four laid (from which the present year of 3217th year of the Holy Church of the Quadrant (or 3217 HCQ) is calculated, but even that is disputed). The Suri were early to mid TL 2 (think late Mesopotamian, or Egyptian). From this period, many of the traditions, myths, and religious principals of today can still be seen.

The Suri were never able to enact a ecclesiastical body like the ecumenical councils of the early catholic church [1], so the Holy Church of the Quadrant retains much more internal inconsistencies, doctrinal disputes, and various teachings than Catholicism. This lack of central authority hurt the Suri when the Quani came. Jeshera never truly adopted the Church of Four, and her people continued to see themselves as the favored of the Twins. It helped matters not, that the Twins seemed to take a far more proactive stance with Jeshera than the Four did with any other people. The Jeshera were soon seen as apart, and persecuted, but their beliefs did not falter, and in part they were saved by the Quani. The Suri recognized the heads of the various clergy in given cities as sitting together and forming the Curia. They then elected an Arch Prior to oversee the Church.

Quani invasion (c. 250 to c. 1150 HQC)

The Quani came from the south, crossing the Sea of Waves on massive ships beyond the ken of the Suri. There were not many of them, but their mastery of magic far surpassed the Suri. The Suri's cities' independence from central authority worked against them, and the first to fall was Jeshera, which saved the Jesh from persecution. The Quani themselves numbered only in the hundreds to few thousands, but they brought with them their lizardmen warriors and servants who laid waste to Suri lands and quickly conquered every known land south of the Boden Sea between Boden and the Sea of Waves. The Quani came in several clans, and there were rivalries between them, and they soon subjected their slave populations to warring against each other. At first, the Suri and others knew little, and were thrown into a dark period where their leaders and priests were sacrificed on Quani alters, as the Quani worshipped only Hood and Draef, and they did so in such ways that were unrecognizable to the Suri. By about 500 HQC the initial anarchy and conquest was over, and the Suri, Hanti, Kavi, Saomsite, Lewvan, Astan and other peoples began to learn the true malevolence of the Quani.

The Quani came from a dark continent to the south, hot and humid. Their dark ways had turned their skin black, and they practiced foul arts of necromancy and magics of bloodletting. The Church claims they had some special dispensation from Hood to practice arts, and they were a power grab by Hood and Draef to take the Suri lands from control of Ampul, who was still the leader of the four. What is known is the Quani had sacrificed everyone in their own country who did not have any magic, as a human sacrifice releases more magic than any other kind. The Quani had also mastered breeding, and had created strange hybrids between reptiles and men who were their warriors.

When the Quani overtook the lands south of the Boden, they gradually took the peoples lives away, and took them into their palaces. To the brightest, prettiest, and those with magic, they took into their homes, as concubines, students, and stewards. From the craftsmen, they made laborers, and from the bloodthirsty, vicious and mean, they made warriors to augment their lizard men.

Foundation of Valderland and Rotbrueck

Rotbrueck started from the Maguirian settlement of the Greywater and Snow river valleys when King Trious I gifted the land to the Maguirian Chieftain. The first Maguirian, Colburg, received the title of Baron as did all of Trious' original supporters, with only one lord being granted title of Earl. Colburg, and all further Rotbruecks are considered Uradel, or original nobility that cannot be sundered by the king [2]. Since then, many of the titles have inflated, resulting in anything over their original title being considered Breifadel [3], as well as any new titles which have been created to honor service to the crown. Breifadel titles are granted by the sovereign and can be taken away, they are 'patents of nobility'.

GURPS: Church and State