Table of Contents
Church of Eru Ilùvatar
Eru and the Valar raw - compiled by the Emperor.
The Everything - Aslan, Eru, Lancelot and Santa Claus raw - compiled by the Emperor.
Eru
Eru is the ultimate creator of Tolkien's mythos; the benevolent everything aware of itself creating itself. He composed the music, and used the fire imperishable to bring forth the Valar to perform it. From the playing of the music, Arda was created.
After Dagor Dagorath, he will bring forth his second music, which will be greater than the first.
Eru is notable for telling disobedient beings that they are just as he made them.
Clerics of Eru consider worship of any non-evil to be worship of Eru, in part if not in whole. Gods, throughout the spheres, are creations of Eru comprable to the Ainur, or other names for Eru.
The majority of the clergy accept that the Church of Aslan's 'Emperor Over the Water' is a reference to Eru, and that Aslan and Iesu seem to be Incarnations of a 'Child of Eru'. The two churches have a close relationship, often sharing interfaith facilities, but maintaining separate hierarchies.
The Krynnic High God is probably also a name for Eru.
The Valar
Divine beings manifested to bring forth Eru's Music and create Arda. Though major deities in their own right, they defer all worship to Eru, the One, and only rule over Arda in his name. Fundamentally intercessionary divine entities.
The Valar are the greatest of the Ainur who came into Arda.
Lords of the Valar
- Manwë Súlimo, the “Elder King”, husband of Varda
- Namo (Mandos), Judge of the Dead, Doomsman of the Valar, husband of Vairë
- Ulmo, Lord of Waters, King of the Sea, “The Pourer”, “The Rainer”
- Lórien (Irmo), master of visions and dreams, husband of Estë
- Tulkas Astaldo, “greatest in strength and deeds of prowess”, champion of the Valar, husband of Nessa
- Note: Melkor (Morgoth, S. Bauglir) was no longer counted among the Valar in later days.
Queens of the Valar (Valier)
- Varda Elentári, Queen of the Stars, Elbereth, wife of Manwë
- Yavanna Kementári, Queen of the Earth, “Giver of Fruits”, wife of Aulë
- Nienna, Lady of pity and mourning
The Maiar
Lesser divine beings, though many are still of great power. Like the Valar, they had a part in the music and chose to dwell in Arda. Some fell and followed Morgoth, some remained faithful. They vary in power from near-Valar levels to minor nature spirits. The great eagles of Manwë, the hounds of Oromë and the Mearas ancestors of the horses of Rohan are all thought to be Maiar.
Very Old Elves
None of the known branches of the Church of Eru officially acknowledge saints. However, while modern elves wear out in centuries, it is accepted canon that the elves who went to Valinor did not. Further, after a time in Mandos' halls, modern elves are supposed to be re-embodied there or reincarnated.
Thus it is an article of faith that if great^x grandfather wanted to, he could go physically knock on Manwë's or Tulkas's door and ask to have a chat. An elf would be shocked to have this compared to Ancestor Worship: their ancestors are very much alive, but the Straight Road was broken an Elven hot minute or two ago, and we seem to have misplaced the portal for visiting.
It is viewed more as a form of nepotism than anything, but it also cuts across family lines, for instance in trades. Jammer crews not infrequently call on or swear by Eärendil or Cirdan. They are practical intercessionary entities with a only a patina of the quasi-divine on the most aged and respected.
In no case are they known to undrwrite spells or powers. However, like the patronage of one or more Valar or Maiar, this reverence (or irreverence) in no way conflicts with worship of Eru.
Church Projects
The main temple of Eru Ilùvatar is in Nexus Prime, built in the art nouveau style.
The temple is currently constructing a Museum of Relics, which will eventually double as a lending library of items released to church personnel for good works. It hopes to organize an expedition to look for Beleg's remains and bow Belthronding on the slopes of Tol Fuin, the island that was once the mountain Tar Na Fuin where he was buried. They plan to build a new monument at the temple to house his remains, as they fear evil influences in the sea around Tar Na Fuin.
The temple is raising a large number of beehives, developing sophistication for animal friendship with bees, and doing botanical research with magical or healing plants and trees, as well as native Arda stock.
The temple produces holy oil as well as holy water, and has been amassing large volumes of both. The temple is doing community outlook to see about organizing prayer focuses powered by the community, and which focuses might be most useful.
The temple, along with all the allied faiths that can be convinced to participate, have been making a concerted effort to cast Sun Rise on every member of the Rathkeeps Corps, every member of the Military, and indeed every citizen of the Free Imperia that can be covered by available personnel. The vampire plague will be repelled.
The church has moralistic veto power over the actions of the West Arda Trading Company, and receives a share of the profits therefrom. It also does free healings and good works at West Arda Trading Company trading posts, as part of an open inter-church service, including building temples or groves in the new Trading Posts, Tree Forts, and Sky Castles of the Fortification Initiative. It reinvested the first six months of profit into helms, giving it partial ownership of the first 100 ships.
The Church runs a newspaper named The Flame Imperishable - illuminating Arda's News. It distributes through the West Arda Trading Company, as part of the trading post plan.
The church is investing some of its profits from the West Arda Trading Company in paying the Paurgiliath Peacekeepers to devote extra resources to rooting out the Cult of Sauron, and finding the Crucible and Avatar of Sauron before the Cult does.
As the faithful view everything as part of Eru, so they view other gods as part of Eru, and often organize cooperative inter-church community works with other good aligned religions.
Personnel
Clergy
Bishop Datlat - Cleric(Scholar Priest) L18 LG Human - is the High Prelate of Eru Ilúvatar.
Madrigan Mintsilver (C14) - is a Priest of Eru Ilúvatar serving the Three Kings of the Dwarves. His patron is Aulë.
Vana's Cleric (C9) - is a Priestess of Eru Ilúvatar serving The Lady Vana.
Dame Lidia Vie - Cleric(Minstrel, Elf) L9 NG Harnic High Elf - is a Priestess of Eru Ilúvatar serving with the Purple Pine Mountain Barbarians as part of the mission to the Rainbow Barbarians. Her patron is Estë.
Vala Brightstar (C8) - is a Priestess of Eru Ilúvatar serving Thalion Paurgiliath Arch Duke of Eltán.
Captain Eastan Vail (C8) - is a Priest of Eru Ilúvatar serving Thalion Paurgiliath Arch Duke of Eltán.
Eluriel Paurgiliath - - is a Priestess/Alchemist of Eru Ilúvatar
Eluthien Paurgiliath - - is a Priestess/Alchemist of Eru Ilúvatar
Lieutenant Shayl Okarn - Cleric(Scholar Priest) L6 CG Harnic High Elf - is a Priestess of Eru Ilúvatar serving Thalion Paurgiliath Arch Duke of Eltán. Her patron is Yavanna.
Reverend Harold - Cleric L6 CG Human - is a Priest of Eru Ilúvatar serving Duke Rocha.
Glorlo is the Chief Cleric of Eru of the Dwarves of Orothiar. This branch of the church has evolved separately for 10,500 years and has many different names and practices. He tends to speak in chant, particularly for formal occasions.
Paladins and Rangers
Eltán is a Paladin of Eru Ilúvatar, and head of the Church Militant. His patron is Tulkas.
The Lady Vana - R(Noble Warrior) L12 CG Harnic High Elf - is a Ranger of Eru Ilúvatar. Her patron is Vana.
Andriero Paurgiliath - P L7 NG Mixed Elf - is a Paladin of Eru Ilúvatar.
Major Thandwë Paurgiliath - P L7 CG Harnic High Elf - is a Paladin of Eru Ilúvatar. His patron is Oromë.
Religous Orders
While many of the faith follow Bishop Datlat's lead towards general studies and call on one or more Valar or Maiar patrons, there are a number of Holy Orders.
Churches of Eru have had tens of thousands of years to evolve. Cormach's folk follow a version of the writings in which the Valar had children. In the Orothiar's writings, the Noldor seem to have been gnomes. The Gondorian Church of Eru has an enormous store of holy documents from different periods, including references to Telvido, an evil king of cats who appears in no other records. Druids say all sorts of things. Fortunately churches of Eru are non-exclusionary by mutual core canon. Datlat tends to read from multiple sometimes contradictory sources when he performs services, to remind worshippers of this.
As the Valar defer all worship to Eru, they are non competitive and work towards greater harmony together.
The Orchestra of the Valar
They are a grand example, made up of musician priests and bards of many different patrons. They are delighted if musicians of other traditions sit in. It performs in Dolornost Arnĕn, with the waterfall powered pipe organ emplacements.
Other orders, organized under single Valar and Maiar include:
Manwe
Manwë Súlimo's order of Skyrider Paladins, the Riders of the Western Wind, train at their monastery on a mountaintop above Nexus Prime. When they reach 4th level they either become Griffin Riders, or choose the solitary life of the Eagle Seekers. They set off to climb distant mountains, seeking Giant Eagles to befriend and ride. So far none have returned.
Varda
In addition to general Varda Worshippers, the Starfarers of Elbereth are an order of Specialty Priests dedicated to exploring ArdaSpace. They have access to starlight, sunlight, and moonlight spells, and a bonus to Spelljamming. The Monks of Vingilot hope someday to recreate Wa's Ki based Spelljamming Drive, meanwhile supporting the Starfarers. They study, teach, tinker, and train. The Monastery of the Million Stars, with it's astronomer monks, overlooks the Eastern Ocean near Imperial Navy Fort IN#30. The Cormachian Order of Radiance, including paladins, warrior-priests, and monks, hunt undead. They are successful enough that they are considering founding daughter temples of their order.
Mandos:
Doomsmen are a widespread organization of prophet priests and funeral monks. Speaking to spirits and the dead.
Vairë
There is an order of priestesses of Vairë known as the Weavers. They are students of history and myth, and at higher level embroider and weave magics into banners, rugs, and tapestries.
They are served by the order of the knotted fiber, herder and farmer monks, who raise and prepare the threads. Each stage of the production is integrated into ritual, and much of the power of the final weaving comes from this worthy labor.
Vaire knows all things that have happened, and weaves them into her tapestry in the halls of Mandos. An order of archeologist priests and monks are being formed in her name to create and run the new 'Relics of Arda' museum wing of the main temple.
They are assisted by the order of the shovel, digger monks, who are highly scholastic as well as sturdy laborers.
Orome
Most Rangers choose Oromë as a patron, and can cast animal friendship once per day at first level. Their chapterhouses include locations in Duchy Eltan, Cormachia, at military or naval outposts, and wherever enough congregate to make the effort worthwhile.
A Specialty Priesthood of Beastmasters has Temples in Cîwharnith, Beriad Ostaurelian, and Rhóvanost. They train dinosaurs, elephants, hippos, and hopefully soon Bulettes.
Vana
An abbey of the Lady of Flowers is sited on the lovely grounds of The Lady Vana's village of Vanaheim. They encourage harmonious agriculture and forest tending, growing many flowers and sculpting trees. A cadre of small birds report to them, and little passes without their notice. Animals, Plants, Time
Like Eluthien Paurgiliath and Eluriel Paurgiliath, many of their priestesses multi-class as alchemists, and study herb lore.
Tulkas
Paladins of Tulkas tend to the eccentric faith practiced by Thalion Paurgiliath Arch Duke of Eltán, but there is a Monastery of Tulkas opposite an Abbey of Nessa in Duchy Eltán. They are primarily wrestlers, though spikes or chain weapons are popular. A Specialty War-Priest is visiting (for the Emperor's Acknowledgement Ceremony) from Realmspace who worships another aspect of Tulkas there, and more consistent orders may form out of chaos and laughter.
Nessa
Priestesses and female monks of Nessa have a temple across a garden studded with hot springs and marble sculpture from the Monastery of Tulkas. They run with the deer, dance, befriend many wild animals, and often make wonderful scouts or diplomats.
Aulë
Under Madrigan Mintsilver, there is an order of enchanter priest engineers, sponsored by Aulë.
He has encouraged another order,the Sky Mountains, to train and study for Dwarven Spelljamming. Some are along on the first Asteroid Retrieval Mission.
The Dwarves of Orothiar are worshippers of Eru through Aulë. This branch of the church has evolved separately for 10,500 years and has many different names and practices.
Yavanna
Druids
The Druid Circles of Arda are granted their power by Yavanna, and thus part of the Church of Eru Ilùvatar, though on an entirely different hierarchy.
Treeherds
Dedicated to restoration of Ents, dryads, and other benevolent magical forest dwellers, they are an eccentric branch of nature clerics. They are enormous advocates of magical reforestation that fills our wood use, to spare uncut forest, as well as for it's own sake. They are the most skilled growth shapers.
Ulmo
Ulmo patrons an order of Specialty Priest sailors with chapter houses in most friendly port cities, and an order of Priest Engineer Ship Builders in Sîrnan.
Irmo / Lorien
Irmo's Dreamers are Specialty Priests who work in their own and others dreams, sometimes dreams of Prophecy. They are avid gardeners, and make potions at higher levels.
Monks of desire, of both genders, tend to the gardens.
Este
Estë's Healers of the Sacred Island have temples in most friendly cities. Their chief temple is in Dolornost Arnĕn, on an island in a small shady lake in the Gardens of Lorien.
Nienna
The Grey Walkers are Specialty Priests of Nienna who travel as advisors and work with the Diplomatic Service,teaching patience and compassion.
Eonwë
The Order of Heralds are specialty priests sponsored by Eonwë. They and the Paladin Champions of Eonwë are based out of the College of Heraldry between the Concourse of the Valar and the Duchy Courthouse.
Ossë
Chapters of Sea Rangers of Ossë operate in Cîwharnith and Beriad Ostaurelian, training sea-beast riders to work with ships. The River Ranger Hippo Riders who operate out of Rhóvanost are sponsored by Ossë.
Lancelot points out quite rightly that the Barbarians have conflated Osse moving the Blessed Isle with St. Brendan's Giant Turtle, and with Manannan saiving the fey folk of Man from St. Patrick, though where they got the ideas is a mystery.
The Stream-Heard are an order of Oracular advisors, with a Temple under Ossë by the headwaters of Sîrnan.
Melian
Warders of Melian focus on protective magics and prophecy, and are fortunate and much sought-after advisors. Their main temple is in Sîrnan. They are renowned for their singing voices, as well as the power of their spellsongs, and are often attended by songbirds, particularly nightingales.
Huan
Specialty priests of Huan work with Cooshie (Cù Sidhe), both strengthening the line and adventuring with giant hounds.
Laity
Elurion Paurgiliath and Elurond Paurgiliath are Lay Engineer/Artificers of the Church of Eru
The orphanage and school of the Paurgiliath Peacekeepers make services and counseling from clergy of Eru Ilúvatar available, so many of the legionaries grow up to be worshippers of Eru, and the Peacekeepers HQ and primary school and orphanage is next to the Nexus Prime temple grounds of the church of Eru Ilùvatar. Many peacekeepers invoke the patronage of Huan and of Melian.
The Dwarves of Orothiar are worshippers of Eru through Aulë. This branch of the church has evolved separately for 10,500 years and has many different names and practices.
Outside Sources
