Church of the Builder: Difference between revisions
From NFNC
(→Theology: Slavery bit. Needs editing down, last sentence may not want to be there.) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
Many churches have no Inquisition, although there are often Templars ready to guard a temple from any threat. Templars are particularly conspicuous in their defense of Preachers- any who move to strike a preacher quickly find two Templar blades at their throat. Builder’s preachers not only exalt Builder, but often take it upon themselves to preach against the five evils of society- want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. Most Builders consider the Stranger to be a creature of Ignorance and Idleness, whose nature is to revel in the Realm and not work for the betterment of all. As such, anyone who works or associates with Strangers should find no place in their Community. |
Many churches have no Inquisition, although there are often Templars ready to guard a temple from any threat. Templars are particularly conspicuous in their defense of Preachers- any who move to strike a preacher quickly find two Templar blades at their throat. Builder’s preachers not only exalt Builder, but often take it upon themselves to preach against the five evils of society- want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. Most Builders consider the Stranger to be a creature of Ignorance and Idleness, whose nature is to revel in the Realm and not work for the betterment of all. As such, anyone who works or associates with Strangers should find no place in their Community. |
||
| + | |||
=== Builder and Slavery === |
=== Builder and Slavery === |
||
| + | Large-scale open slavery is all but unheard of under the Treaty of Ozgur-Sehir, but some Churches of the Builder take criminals, those who choose service over destitution, and the children of parents who cannot care for them as indentured servants. There is always a choice involved, though it may be the decision of a child's parents or the choice to commit a crime. This can produce fanatically devoted labourers and Templars. [[Slavery in the Builder Church|Read more...]] |
||
| − | Many years ago, a sizable proportion of Builderite communities openly practiced slavery. Our community is strong, the argument went, and so we should bring others into this community - by force if necessary. Communities following this approach to the Builder would send organised warbands of fanatical troops to conquer their neighbours and bring them into the fold. Those who surrendered and joined the conquering community could often become as valued as any other citizen; those who refused to assimilate were enslaved. |
||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Costume== |
||
| + | Guild or Church costume features are those that add to the base look of the culture your Agent belongs to. |
||
| + | Popular fashions and styles within the Church of the Builder: |
||
| + | *Belts of thick rope or chain. |
||
| − | The Treaty of Ozgur-Sehir makes such actions against other Factions illegal, and even before the Treaty, the size and strength of the Nations made it far less common. Slavery persists in some Churches of the Builder, but in a much different form - those who can no longer support themselves or their dependents, or who simply wish to escape their old life and can see no other way to do so, give themselves to the Church, receiving aid and shelter in return for a period of indentured servitude, joining members of the faith who have committed a grievous sin against their fellows and been sentenced to penitential service. Approaches vary, but in some Churches, this period can be indefinite - particularly for children to the Church by parents who believe they cannot look after them. |
||
| + | *Hammers. A useful tool, also good for smiting. |
||
| + | *Detailed contracts for any indentured subordinates, or a copy of your own. It is not uncommon for Builders to sign temporary contracts of servitude to their superiors, even though they retain their freedom. |
||
| + | *A symbol of your home community. If you're a group, share the same one. |
||
| + | *Preachy literature to hand out to the Shipwrecked. |
||
| − | Some resent the demands the Church makes of them when they have no other option, but for those with a strong faith in the Builder and an understanding of the arguments in favour of slavery of this kind - the sacrifice of independence and service in return for aid, the equal and opposite responsibilities of master and servant, and the sanctity of giving oneself over to be defined wholly by service to Community rather than selfish wants - it is a religious experience. These devoted slaves give their Churches unstinting labour, and those with the right training make terrifying Templars who fear pain and injury only because it hinders their service to their Preacher and their Church. The service of the most devoted ends only when they die - or, in a very few cases, when they realise their master serves themself, not their community... |
||
== Five points on the Builder == |
== Five points on the Builder == |
||
| Line 32: | Line 41: | ||
;Ensure that the Strangers of Mat Sellah are seen as a danger, not an opportunity, |
;Ensure that the Strangers of Mat Sellah are seen as a danger, not an opportunity, |
||
;Strive to ensure that the Portal is well organized, and that the laws are upheld. |
;Strive to ensure that the Portal is well organized, and that the laws are upheld. |
||
| − | :Lest the Portal too falls prey to |
+ | :Lest the Portal too falls prey to chaos and the communities here are endangered. |
;Preach the importance of the Builder, and encourage others to spread the importance of her virtues |
;Preach the importance of the Builder, and encourage others to spread the importance of her virtues |
||
| Line 38: | Line 47: | ||
== Supplemental Reading == |
== Supplemental Reading == |
||
* [[History_of_the_Builder_Church|Legends of the Builder]] |
* [[History_of_the_Builder_Church|Legends of the Builder]] |
||
| + | * [[Slavery_in_the_Builder_Church]] |
||
[[Category:Factions]] |
[[Category:Factions]] |
||
[[Category:Builder]] |
[[Category:Builder]] |
||
| − | [[Category:Unfinished]] |
||
Latest revision as of 11:44, 7 October 2014
God of Community and Loyalty. The Perfect City. Never depicted the same twice in any church or artwork, as the Builder is the spirit of community. Identified by the bronze trowel or shovel she holds.
Faction Skill: Will
Common Faction Symbol: A trowel or shovel
Theology
The modern Church of Builder dates to the beginnings of the Hegemony. It is believed that Builder helped communities form during this time, and that when those communities who worship Builder pass through this world join together again in the next one. Builder Churches have no laws against slavery, but are less open about keeping their slaves after the Treaty, because keeping a member of another Faction captive in such a way may be seen as criminal.
They are certain the Builder favours a strong, hierarchical community. Some believe she wants them to be strong enough to withstand outside threats, to weather storms and profitable enough to make merry during the Winter. The clergy support communities who protect their own and suffer no insult to even the smallest of them and theirs. They believe people should proclaim Builder and all her glory, by word, by deed, by example, by choice.
Inquisition
Many churches have no Inquisition, although there are often Templars ready to guard a temple from any threat. Templars are particularly conspicuous in their defense of Preachers- any who move to strike a preacher quickly find two Templar blades at their throat. Builder’s preachers not only exalt Builder, but often take it upon themselves to preach against the five evils of society- want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. Most Builders consider the Stranger to be a creature of Ignorance and Idleness, whose nature is to revel in the Realm and not work for the betterment of all. As such, anyone who works or associates with Strangers should find no place in their Community.
Builder and Slavery
Large-scale open slavery is all but unheard of under the Treaty of Ozgur-Sehir, but some Churches of the Builder take criminals, those who choose service over destitution, and the children of parents who cannot care for them as indentured servants. There is always a choice involved, though it may be the decision of a child's parents or the choice to commit a crime. This can produce fanatically devoted labourers and Templars. Read more...
Costume
Guild or Church costume features are those that add to the base look of the culture your Agent belongs to. Popular fashions and styles within the Church of the Builder:
- Belts of thick rope or chain.
- Hammers. A useful tool, also good for smiting.
- Detailed contracts for any indentured subordinates, or a copy of your own. It is not uncommon for Builders to sign temporary contracts of servitude to their superiors, even though they retain their freedom.
- A symbol of your home community. If you're a group, share the same one.
- Preachy literature to hand out to the Shipwrecked.
Five points on the Builder
- They are here to Strengthen.
- Castaway villages should follow your example, becoming outposts of their former Nations or countries in their own right.
- The inhabitants of Mat Sellah fell to something. Their community was weak.
- Find the nature of this weakness, so that the societies of today can protect themselves.
- Ensure that the Strangers of Mat Sellah are seen as a danger, not an opportunity,
- Strive to ensure that the Portal is well organized, and that the laws are upheld.
- Lest the Portal too falls prey to chaos and the communities here are endangered.
- Preach the importance of the Builder, and encourage others to spread the importance of her virtues