Ecclesia Salvatori

Authors note: This is written from the perspective of those in the world. Not everything written or believed is accurate to the reality of what happened and many contesting views are held by other races.

Church history and origins of the Saviour

Thus read the teachings of the Holy Salvatori. At the beginning of things the world was created by a divine being separate from nature, yet master over it, placing mortals upon the world to share in his creation, and adore him as the creator of all. However, as time passed, these people discovered knowledge that was to their detriment. Magic, a force foreign to mortals and meant only for the divine was unlocked by sacrificing the divinity within themselves and so many evil demons arose from among mortals, becoming the demon Nerthol. The creator sent down guardians, one of which, called Custodia, took on the form of an eagle and led his faithful to the West where they settled and established kingdoms of their own. In this exile, Custodia fell in love with a human King and together they have a child named Toutheou. This child grew, and under the guidance of his Mother and father united all the human kingdoms of the West beneath his banner, by strength of arms and diplomacy.

Meanwhile, in the East, the Guardians Athana, Iadour and Aremos fell to corruption in their war with the demons, and formed new peoples by changing those under their protection to suit their needs. Thus the Athanasian Dryadalis, the Aremosian Dryadalis, the Cosmani came to be and they battled the worshipers and creatures of the demons. Finally, after much warfare and back and forth struggle, a demon by the name of Ildawr rose to prominence, having successfully slain or imprisoned his opponents he is only left with the task of mopping their followers. Seeing that this will inevitably lead to his conquest of the Western lands, King Toutheou leads his people east and aids the Dryads and Cosmani in common purpose, driving back and holding Ildawr in place for many years. In one final cataclysmic battle Ildawr slays the King and by his death the almighty, blessing the child of his guardian washes the armies of Ildawr away in storm of light undoing all his work. And so in death the King saved the world. His followers from thence forth being called the Salvatori.

After his death however, the human kingdoms divided and the treacherous Dryads rode into the vacuum and conquered their saviours driving the Salvatori underground for centuries. The Cosmani seeded themselves throughout the world and proliferated spawning many creatures that now cover the lands all around. The faith persisted, and many humans died in sacrifice to their love of their Saviour as he did for them. Thus was the state of things until the collapse of the mighty Dryadalis Imperialis and the Rise of the Atlani Republic on the Peninsular, saw the resurgence of the faith in the peninsular. Many now hope that the faith can once more spread among humanity and the restoration of the Holy Human Empire from the days of Toutheou can be attained.

Beliefs and Practices

Though they do not worship Toutheou as a god, the Salvatori see him as the ultimate avatar of the almighty's intervention in the defense of his people, and so Toutheou remains as a paragon of virtue, an aspiration to all humanity in service to the one true invisible god.

In likeness to Toutheou, the Salvatori prize all deeds that seek to further or defend humanity, sacrifice for another is the highest deed, even when done for those of other races, just as Toutheou did when leading his people against Ildawr protecting the Dryads and Cosmani.

There are many points of dispute within the Faith itself which can cause disharmony amongst believers of different persuasions. For example, it is believed by some that even those cursed by the fallen guardians can be brought back to the light of the creator if they cast off their cursed ways and embrace the light of Toutheou. Others believe that they have already lost their souls and are beyond redemption. Another point of dissention is the question of whether the Church is beneath or separate from the state. Can two separate and powerful entities of authority exist within one state without causing disruption amongst humanity? But on the other hand can an organization that serves god and the truth be set on par with one that serves only man?

Each cycle of 10 days citizens are expected to go to their local Churches and give thanks to Custodia for her protection, and to beseech god for aid and guidance for the future and provide for the needs of humanity and the world. Since no visible sign of god exists within the Salvatori Church, instead an Eagle is often used as the religious symbol. It serves as a reminder of the time that Custodia took on the form of an eagle in order to lead humanity into the West, and she is therefore seen as god's messanger and guardian of humanity, the one who carries the prayers of the petitioners to his door and delivers his response to his people. The sign is carried by the legion into battle as their standard and adorns many a structure in Atlani culture as a result, some even taking to make the sign of the eagle as a luck charm, putting a hand to the head, chest and both shoulders to signify the birds head, tail and wings.

It is a religion that is formed on the principles of self sacrifice for the good of others, and the loyalty and courage to protect and guard one's people in the face of any odds. As such the Salvatori are easily rallied to drive back external threats. The first into peril and the last to leave, and woe betide those that give the Salvatori cause to turn their swords against them.

Excerpt from "Fabulis Animantium", by Favonius Justinianus.