The Holy Church of Achaea, based in the Chrysalis Basilica within Shallam, is an organisation dedicated to the ideals of Good. Guided by the Codex of Light bestowed upon them by the Gods Pentharian, Lorielan, and Tarah, the Church strives to uphold Righteousness, Order, and Light while opposing Evil, Darkness, and Chaos. Two Houses, the Guardians of Light (once called the Templars, then the Paladins) and the Empyreal Assembly (once called the Priests), form the bulk of Church membership along with the Imithians who are from other Houses or no House at all.
History
The Church was founded by Imithia, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Pasiphae, when she held the Rite of Ending to both commemorate the life and mourn the death of the last of the Offspring. Though originally composed of a few devout friends of Imithia, the Church grew quickly, eventually giving birth to the Templars and Priests. Though much different from their modern-day counterparts, they each played important parts in the functioning of the ancient Church.
Though based in the Delosian Basilica, the Church had many branches and chapels in other cities, including the Tower of the Luminai in Shallam. The Luminai were the most ardent opponents of the ancient Occultists and guided the Church's fight against them. Though denied by the Church, the Occultists claim that the Luminai and the Church perpetrated many injustices against them, including torture and the destruction of their scholarly texts. The Luminai, likewise, claim that the Occultists were responsible for the arson that destroyed their tower within Shallam. Two members of the Ancient Luminai survive today, Gladius and Dawn, the latter of whom ascended into Mithraea, Goddess of the Sun.
The Church is also responsible for much of the highways within Sapience, built under the Archprelacy of Raphael I. Through their construction, the Church was able to extend its influence to a greater degree within Ashtan and Shallam, an influence that waned greatly in Ashtan but continues into modern times within Shallam. The Church also had some influence within the Seleucarian Empire whose founder, Nicator, the Church named Fire Saint.
The Modern Age has seen the relocation of the Basilica, and therefore the Church, from Delos to Shallam by the Logos, and the renaming of the Templar guild to the Paladins Guild. In more recent days, the Guild has become a House and has been appropriately renamed.
The year 568 AF saw the end of the Church era. On Miraman 24th, years after a prophecy by the spirit of Imithia, followed by a string of miraculous signs in all five city-states, divine symbols appeared in the air above the Chrysalis Basilica and Royal Palace, creating a silent explosion which bathed Sapience in its incandescence. A spire of emerald appeared in its afterglow, henceforth named the Citadel of Light.
Prelates
The Church was lead by a council of three Prelates who selected an Archprelate to serve as their chief. The three prelates were the Mayan Prelate, House Lord of the Empyreal Assembly; the Justiciar Prelate, House Lord of the Guardians of Light; and the Imithian Prelate, who was chosen by the Divine Patron of the Church.
Archprelates
| # | Name | Term | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isildur | 223-276 | First modern Archprelate |
| 2 | Brigit | 276-293 | |
| 3 | Aldair | 293-334 | Longest serving Archprelate |
| 4 | Dru | 334-360 | |
| 5 | Roncli | 360-379 | |
| 6 | Meri | 379-386 | |
| 7 | Keturah | 386-405 | |
| 8 | Meri | 405-408 | |
| 9 | Arithorn | 408-426 | |
| 10 | Torain | 426-453 | |
| 11 | Tanaar | 453-457 | |
| 12 | Rho | 457-470 | |
| 13 | Verrucht | 470-481 | |
| 14 | Meleah | 481-482 | |
| 15 | Silas | 482-496 | |
| 16 | Ellodin | 496-502 | |
| 17 | Runa | 502-508 | |
| 18 | Palanor | 508-519 | |
| 19 | Mathonwy | 519-540 | |
| 20 | Lachlan | 540-546 | |
| 20 | Colgano | 546-568 | Last Archprelate |
Imithian Prelates
| # | Name | Term | Comments |
| 1 | Brinn | 285-298 | First Imithian Prelate |
| 2 | Kyrienne | 298-319 | |
| 3 | Alpine | 319-340 | |
| 4 | Starrsong | 340-368 | |
| 5 | Itkovian | 368-400 | Longest serving Imithian Prelate |
| 6 | Solontus | 400-423 | |
| 7 | Julya | 423-448 | |
| 8 | Tanaar | 448-453 | |
| 9 | Vivienne | 453-467 | |
| 10 | Lachlan | 467-498 | |
| 11 | Zenui | 498-503 | |
| 12 | Quoren | 503-519 | Resigned in order to serve as Mayan Prelate. |
| 13 | Sethai | 521-528 | |
| 14 | Azor | 528-542 | Defected to Mhaldor |
| 15 | Colgano | 542-546 | Appointed Archprelate |
| 16 | Ferrous | 546-568 Last Imithian Prelate |
For a list of Mayan Prelates, see the list of the Patriarchs/Matriarchs of Angels of the Empyreal Assembly. For a list of Justiciar Prelates, see the list of Grand Champions of the Innocent of the Guardians of Light.