The Church of One

In the times of strife surrounding the Division, some living in more war-torn regions turned to faith. This has originated a few cults and a few churches seeking to do good, but the largest group that’s come from this is the Church of One.

Description
The Church of One a revivalist motion of a lost religion that was ancient even before the first Lightfall, though they have taken some liberties with the source material. It is the first monotheistic church of the continent, worshipping a single Goddess. She goes by many names: Dea, Deantiae, Xanthun, Ysseluv (pronounced EES-el-of), She-Who-Waits-Beyond-All, and others. They believe Dea separates herself into different essences that form all else in the universe, from the other pantheons and the sky to the earth and sea. There is room for decent variability between different followers of the Church of One, as often a member will pray to or worship a specific essence of Dea, though they will always be simultaneously acknowledging her existence as a whole. The Church of One preaches a form of peace through destiny, that whatever will come is the Will of Dea. Throughout the Division wars they did work protecting and aiding towns and citizens in exchange for conversion and formation of a church of One. They maintained this policy even after the wars were over, and though they started as few they were fervent and well-organized, and grew into a sizable and near-militant religious organization, acquiring overwhelming amounts of funding through a few key converted nobles of Dominion. The general population are of very mixed opinions about them, acknowledging both the protection and aid they offer the weak and helpless and their fierce and often somewhat terrifying religious zealotry. Though they have committed no outright acts of violence in the name of faith, but though they do not outwardly discriminate against members of other faiths those same faiths are often frowned upon and socially shunned within Reborn communities. The “Faithkeepers” are the militant part of the Church of One. They wear metal masks with Dea’s impassive face etched upon them. They serve as both Inquisitors and a police force for The Populus Xanthunae. They did much of the protective work during the Division that strengthened the churches numbers so much.

Notable Affiliates

 * Wrenn (Son of the Pure)