Post by facemelter on Feb 4, 2012 16:54:20 GMT -5
The most powerful contemporary religion throughout Thedas is the Andrastian Chantry, a faith whose teachings are modeled after the sermons of Andraste, the prophet of Maker. These collected teachings are called Chant of Light, and its bulk consists of hymns and songs on a wide variety of topics including history and moral behavior. Emperor Kordellius Drakon I of Orlais founded the Chantry as its presently exists in seeking to codify into a single coherent religion the beliefs and practice of many cults that sprang up in the wake of Andraste`s death.
Andraste was a slave. She escaped from the Tevinter Imperium in the chaotic years following following the death of the Archdemon Dumat, during the Empires struggle to recover from the First Blight. Returning to the land of her birth, she rose to power as the wife to a powerful Almarri warlord named Maferath. According to the Chantry`s modern teachings, Andraste song of the world`s woes to the Maker, and to Andraste alone the Maker listened.
The Maker chose Andraste as His Bride and entrusted her with spreading His words across Thedas. The prophetess gathered an army and set out to topple the forces of the corrupt mages of the Imperium. But at the brink of her success her mortal husband Maferath. whose jealousy had led him to secretly bargain with Archon of the Tevinter., betrayed Andraste to her death. Andraste was immolated at Minrathous, before the collected Armies of the Tevinter and the Almarri. Ironiccally - or perhaps mriaculously-the Archon Hessarian saw his error immediately; he spared her continued suffering by piercing her heart with his sword.
The Maker, in rage and sorrow, turned once more from creation.
The major religious group in Thedas. It's based on the Chant of Light, a series of teachings written by Andraste, the prophet of the Maker, and was founded by Kordillus Drakon, the first emperor of Orlais. Its followers are known as Andrastians. "Chantric" is also an acceptable adjective to refer to something or someone that is of the Chantry religion.
The view of the Chantry on non-humans is that they need saving—they have turned even further from the Maker's grace than humanity has. Elves were, and in some cases still are, pagan and dwarves do not worship any gods at all. The Chantry's goal is to spread the Chant of Light to all four corners of the world, that includes non-humans as well. Once all peoples have accepted the Chant and practice its teachings, supposedly the Maker will return to the world and return it to its previous Edenic state.
The actual priesthood of the Chantry is made up entirely of women, on the basis that Andraste was a woman. Men can be brothers, serving as academics and initiates, but it is a junior position and non-ordained. Those who have received religious and martial instruction while being raised in the Chantry may become templars. At the head of the Chantry is the Divine, who leads from her seat in the Grand Cathedral of Val Royeaux. Below her are the grand clerics, some of whom administer the chantries of major cities.
The Chantry calendar is used everywhere in Thedas, save for the Imperium, and is the source of the Ages for which the game is named.
It was an Orlesian emperor who made the Chantry into an organized religion. Before that, those who believed in Andraste's message were scattered throughout Thedas.
The funeral rites of the Chantry involve cremation. As Andraste's body was burned, and her spirit ascended to stand by the Throne of the Maker, so too will that of her followers. It may also be to ward off the possibility of the corpse becoming the subject of demonic possession.
The Maker`s second commandment, "Magic must serve man, not rule over him," never held the same meaning withing the ancient Tevinter Imperium as it did elsewhere. The Chantry there interpreted the rule as meaning that mages should never control the minds of other men, and that otherwise their magic should benefit the rulers of men as much as possible. When the clerics of Tevinter altered the Chant of Light to reflect this interpretation of the commandment, the Divine in Val Royeaux ordered the clerics to revert to the orginal Chant. They refused claiming corruption within Val Royeaux, an argument that grew until, in 4:87 Towers, the Chantry in Tevinter elected its own "legitimate and uncorrupted" Divine Valhail - who was not only male, but also happened to be one of the most prominent members of the Tevinter Circle of Magi. This "Black Divine" was reviled outside Tevinter, his existance an offence to the Chantry in Val Royeaux.
After four Exalted Marches to dislogde these "rebels", all that the Chantry in Val Royeaux accomplished was to cement the seperation. While most aspects of the Imperial Chantry`s teachings are the same, prohibitions against magic have been weakened, and male priests have become prevalent. The Circle of Magi today rules Tevinter directly, ever since Archon Nomaran was elected in 7:34 Storm directly from the ranks of the Enchanters to great appplause from the public. He dispensed with the old rules forbidding mages from taking part in politics, and within a century, the true rulers within the various Imperial houses-the mages-took their places openly within the government. The Imperial Divine is now always drawn from the ranks of the First Enchanters and operates as Divine and Grand Enchanter both. An utter heresy to any member of the Chantry outside of Tevinter, a return to the days of the Magisters, which brought Blights down Thedas.
Divine – Male/Female
The Divine is the titular head of the Chantry, although since the schism split the Imperial Chantry into its own faction there are now in fact two Divines at any one time. One Divine, informally called the White Divine, is a woman housed in the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux. The other, known as the Black Divine, is a man housed in the Argent Spire in Minrathous.
Neither Divine recognizes the existence of the other, and the informal names are considered sacrilegious. No matter the gender, a Divine is addressed as "Most Holy" or "Your Perfection." The White and the Black Divine is always selected when the current Divine dies, but in two different ways. The White Divine is selected by a group of Grand Clerics due to voting and by the wishes of the previous Divine; the Black Divine however is selected from the Magistrates themselves as the Tevinters are ruled by them, and their superior who is Archon, either way both Divines hold great power over the people and is perhaps more valued than any ruler, holding a string grip on the people`s faith.
Grand Cleric
Beneath the rank of Divine is the Grand Cleric. Each Grand Cleric presides over numerous chantries and represents the highest religious authority for their region. They travel to Val Royeaux when the College of Clerics convenes, but otherwise remain where they are assigned. All Grand Clerics are addressed as "Your Grace." The Andrastian Chantry is known to host female Grand Clerics and the Imperial Chantry is known to host male Grand Clerics. Within the Imperial Chantry, Grand Cleric is the highest position one may reach without being a Mage.
Mother/Father (Revered)
Beneath the grand cleric is the mother (or, in the Imperial Chantry, the father). If a mother is in charge of a particular chantry, "revered" is appended to her/his title. These are the priests responsible for administering to the spiritual well-being of their flock. A mother/father or revered mother/father is addressed as "Your Reverence."
Senior Cleric
The most Senior Clerics are placed in charge of archives and are given the title “elder”, although such a rank is still beneath that of a mother.
Cleric/Templar
Clerics are the true academics of the Chantry, those men and women who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. They are often found in Chantry archives, sages presiding over libraries of books and arcane knowledge. The brothers and sisters are addressed simply by noting their title before their name, such as "Brother Genitivi”.
Initiate
Only those folk who take vows become initiates. These are men and women in training, whether in academic knowledge or the martial skills of a warrior. All initiates receive an academic education, although only those who seek to become Templars learn how to fight in addition. This is where an affirmed member of the Chantry can choose which road to take, either becoming a fighting Templar or a studying Cleric.
Affirmed
Affirmed are the lay-brethren of the Chantry, those regular folk who have turned to the Chantry for succor. Often they are people who have led a difficult or irreligious life and have chosen to go into seclusion, or even orphans and similar unfortunates who were raised into the Chantry life. The Affirmed take care of the Chantry and are in turn afforded a life of quiet contemplation, no questions asked.
The Maker`s Chosen
Andraste was a slave. She escaped from the Tevinter Imperium in the chaotic years following following the death of the Archdemon Dumat, during the Empires struggle to recover from the First Blight. Returning to the land of her birth, she rose to power as the wife to a powerful Almarri warlord named Maferath. According to the Chantry`s modern teachings, Andraste song of the world`s woes to the Maker, and to Andraste alone the Maker listened.
The Maker chose Andraste as His Bride and entrusted her with spreading His words across Thedas. The prophetess gathered an army and set out to topple the forces of the corrupt mages of the Imperium. But at the brink of her success her mortal husband Maferath. whose jealousy had led him to secretly bargain with Archon of the Tevinter., betrayed Andraste to her death. Andraste was immolated at Minrathous, before the collected Armies of the Tevinter and the Almarri. Ironiccally - or perhaps mriaculously-the Archon Hessarian saw his error immediately; he spared her continued suffering by piercing her heart with his sword.
The Maker, in rage and sorrow, turned once more from creation.
The Andrastian Chantry
The major religious group in Thedas. It's based on the Chant of Light, a series of teachings written by Andraste, the prophet of the Maker, and was founded by Kordillus Drakon, the first emperor of Orlais. Its followers are known as Andrastians. "Chantric" is also an acceptable adjective to refer to something or someone that is of the Chantry religion.
The view of the Chantry on non-humans is that they need saving—they have turned even further from the Maker's grace than humanity has. Elves were, and in some cases still are, pagan and dwarves do not worship any gods at all. The Chantry's goal is to spread the Chant of Light to all four corners of the world, that includes non-humans as well. Once all peoples have accepted the Chant and practice its teachings, supposedly the Maker will return to the world and return it to its previous Edenic state.
The actual priesthood of the Chantry is made up entirely of women, on the basis that Andraste was a woman. Men can be brothers, serving as academics and initiates, but it is a junior position and non-ordained. Those who have received religious and martial instruction while being raised in the Chantry may become templars. At the head of the Chantry is the Divine, who leads from her seat in the Grand Cathedral of Val Royeaux. Below her are the grand clerics, some of whom administer the chantries of major cities.
The Chantry calendar is used everywhere in Thedas, save for the Imperium, and is the source of the Ages for which the game is named.
It was an Orlesian emperor who made the Chantry into an organized religion. Before that, those who believed in Andraste's message were scattered throughout Thedas.
The funeral rites of the Chantry involve cremation. As Andraste's body was burned, and her spirit ascended to stand by the Throne of the Maker, so too will that of her followers. It may also be to ward off the possibility of the corpse becoming the subject of demonic possession.
The Imperial Chantry
The Maker`s second commandment, "Magic must serve man, not rule over him," never held the same meaning withing the ancient Tevinter Imperium as it did elsewhere. The Chantry there interpreted the rule as meaning that mages should never control the minds of other men, and that otherwise their magic should benefit the rulers of men as much as possible. When the clerics of Tevinter altered the Chant of Light to reflect this interpretation of the commandment, the Divine in Val Royeaux ordered the clerics to revert to the orginal Chant. They refused claiming corruption within Val Royeaux, an argument that grew until, in 4:87 Towers, the Chantry in Tevinter elected its own "legitimate and uncorrupted" Divine Valhail - who was not only male, but also happened to be one of the most prominent members of the Tevinter Circle of Magi. This "Black Divine" was reviled outside Tevinter, his existance an offence to the Chantry in Val Royeaux.
After four Exalted Marches to dislogde these "rebels", all that the Chantry in Val Royeaux accomplished was to cement the seperation. While most aspects of the Imperial Chantry`s teachings are the same, prohibitions against magic have been weakened, and male priests have become prevalent. The Circle of Magi today rules Tevinter directly, ever since Archon Nomaran was elected in 7:34 Storm directly from the ranks of the Enchanters to great appplause from the public. He dispensed with the old rules forbidding mages from taking part in politics, and within a century, the true rulers within the various Imperial houses-the mages-took their places openly within the government. The Imperial Divine is now always drawn from the ranks of the First Enchanters and operates as Divine and Grand Enchanter both. An utter heresy to any member of the Chantry outside of Tevinter, a return to the days of the Magisters, which brought Blights down Thedas.
Chantry Hierarchy
Divine – Male/Female
The Divine is the titular head of the Chantry, although since the schism split the Imperial Chantry into its own faction there are now in fact two Divines at any one time. One Divine, informally called the White Divine, is a woman housed in the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux. The other, known as the Black Divine, is a man housed in the Argent Spire in Minrathous.
Neither Divine recognizes the existence of the other, and the informal names are considered sacrilegious. No matter the gender, a Divine is addressed as "Most Holy" or "Your Perfection." The White and the Black Divine is always selected when the current Divine dies, but in two different ways. The White Divine is selected by a group of Grand Clerics due to voting and by the wishes of the previous Divine; the Black Divine however is selected from the Magistrates themselves as the Tevinters are ruled by them, and their superior who is Archon, either way both Divines hold great power over the people and is perhaps more valued than any ruler, holding a string grip on the people`s faith.
Grand Cleric
Beneath the rank of Divine is the Grand Cleric. Each Grand Cleric presides over numerous chantries and represents the highest religious authority for their region. They travel to Val Royeaux when the College of Clerics convenes, but otherwise remain where they are assigned. All Grand Clerics are addressed as "Your Grace." The Andrastian Chantry is known to host female Grand Clerics and the Imperial Chantry is known to host male Grand Clerics. Within the Imperial Chantry, Grand Cleric is the highest position one may reach without being a Mage.
Mother/Father (Revered)
Beneath the grand cleric is the mother (or, in the Imperial Chantry, the father). If a mother is in charge of a particular chantry, "revered" is appended to her/his title. These are the priests responsible for administering to the spiritual well-being of their flock. A mother/father or revered mother/father is addressed as "Your Reverence."
Senior Cleric
The most Senior Clerics are placed in charge of archives and are given the title “elder”, although such a rank is still beneath that of a mother.
Cleric/Templar
Clerics are the true academics of the Chantry, those men and women who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. They are often found in Chantry archives, sages presiding over libraries of books and arcane knowledge. The brothers and sisters are addressed simply by noting their title before their name, such as "Brother Genitivi”.
Initiate
Only those folk who take vows become initiates. These are men and women in training, whether in academic knowledge or the martial skills of a warrior. All initiates receive an academic education, although only those who seek to become Templars learn how to fight in addition. This is where an affirmed member of the Chantry can choose which road to take, either becoming a fighting Templar or a studying Cleric.
Affirmed
Affirmed are the lay-brethren of the Chantry, those regular folk who have turned to the Chantry for succor. Often they are people who have led a difficult or irreligious life and have chosen to go into seclusion, or even orphans and similar unfortunates who were raised into the Chantry life. The Affirmed take care of the Chantry and are in turn afforded a life of quiet contemplation, no questions asked.
