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The Church of Tomorrow

[Sorcery, Invisible God, Great Futurist]

Common Knowledge

The Church of Tomorrow is a new Malkioni religion, formed in Loskalm while it was under the Syndic's Ban. It preaches of hope, and actively works to ensure that the future is better for its members than was the past It is best known because of the actions of the Army of Tomorrow, a group of military units that, while not officially part of the Church, require all of their soldiers to join the Church as Lay Members. Through the Army of Tomorrow, the Church has spread throughout the West and into Esrolia and Dragon Pass.

Mythos and History

Mythology Before Time

In prehistoric Danmalastan the prophet Malkion selected the Hidden Keepers to preserve truth and wisdom when he was gone, as is revealed in The Abiding Book. The Great Futurist was one of those that was so chosen. He retired to a safe place to pray to the Invisible God and await his appointed time.

History Since Time Began

The appointed time was, they say, designated when the God of the Silver Feet visited the Great Futurist. At that time he turned his attention to the world, prepared to be found by whomever sought him. The Great Futurist, as commanded by Malkion, answered the holy man Dadivic.

Dadivic was a simple soldier with faith in God, and he prayed devoutly to understand the world. He was from the Kingdom of Loskalm. That realm had been struck by disaster when it was magically cut off from the outside world. The kingdom was isolated, with a gray fog surrounding it where once ocean and foreign countries had been. Liturgists led congregations in prayer to no avail, and when wizards explored the barriers they saw only terrible visions and even more destruction. Dadivic sent out his prayer of utter despair, never expecting an answer.

Yet an answer he did receive. Dadivic heard the Creator speaking in the voice of the Great Futurist, the Commodore of God. Dadivic had asked if the terrible fate of Loskalm was inevitable, and what to do whether it was or was not. The Futurist gave his instructions and Dadivic began teaching. After tribulations and difficulties he gained followers, and the truth of his vision was revealed when the Futurist’s Book opened the way to a new saintly node. After almost sixty years of teaching, the first prophecies in Dadivic’s Futurist Book came true when Dormal sailed into Loskalm. After that the isolating barriers fell and Loskalm again could contact its neighboring lands. The vision of the Great Futurist now had its form, and a score of missionaries sailed out of Loskalm with his message.

Manifestations, Icons, and Images

All aspects of the world of the future belong to the worshippers of the Great Futurist. Statues of Saint Dadivic show a man armed and armored as a simple soldier or sailor, looking up and away, as if into the future.

Otherworld Home and Life After Death

Solace and Joy, the afterlife of the Malkioni, are integral to the Futurist belief. Saint Dadivic’s node is on the Adept Plane, in the realm of Talor, though it has no direct link to Talor’s node. Exit from the node is possible to Danmalastan only (the equivalent of the Golden Age.)

Nature of the Cult

Cosmological Reason for Existence

The purpose of the Church of Tomorrow is to serve the Great Futurist, the Commodore of God who is safely piloting his people to the world yet to come. It will be a good world, based upon the righteous and moral principles of the Invisible God. The weak need the strong to protect and help them, and the Church sponsors both a high order and a holy army of soldiers to help these goals.

Role of the Church in the Society

The Church tries to remain apolitical among Western and barbarian society. It does, however, seek to be the center of life for its members. It succeeds in this because so many of its members are outcasts, homeless persons, and castaways, whose lives and even societies have been destroyed or uprooted by events. The hard core are loyal to the Church beyond their original families, clans, or societies. Because the Church accepts any member of any Malkioni church as a member, they are popular in many places in the West.

Attitudes and Relationships

Though not officially part of any major Malkioni church, and indeed considered a rival of most of the established sects, the Church of Tomorrow (through the Order of Saint Dadivic) nonetheless has friendly relations with most Malkioni. This is especially true in Esrolia and Dragon Pass, where monotheists are a minority. Nonetheless, an openness towards anyone who wishes to follow them is practiced as much as possible. In Dragon Pass this has resulted even in some nonhuman beings becoming members, which would have been unheard of in Loskalm.

Mode of Worship, Rituals, and Holy Days

The Church of Tomorrow is a minor Malkioni sect that venerates the Great Futurist and the Invisible God. The faith of the Church is summarized in its public slogans:

"We have seen the Good and move towards it. Move to the Future, Fight for Right. One Future, One Commodore."

Day 234 is the high holy day of the Church, commemorating the day that the Futurist first appeared to Saint Dadivic, and also the day that Saint Dadivic was first contacted on the Magic Plane. Other worship of Saint Dadivic and The Great Futurist generally occurs the day before any naval or ground battle in which members of the Church will be involved. At that time, church Liturgists cast their blessings upon their congregation to ensure that they bring victory for the Great Commodore, and thus for the Invisible God.

Organization

Distribution of Worshippers

The Church of Tomorrow has several thousand worshippers worldwide. Most of them are in the West, primarily in Loskalm, but there are churches in Ralios, Seshnela, and Esrolia. Each church has about a thousand members. Except for rare exceptions in the Dragon Pass area, all worshippers are humans from pre-existing Malkioni sects, primarily the Hrestoli Church.

Center of Power, Shrines, and Sanctuaries

The Church of Tomorrow has no single great holy place, although the Cathedral of Saint Dadivic (founded by Saint Dadivic himself) is the seat of the Church and home to the Order of Saint Dadivic. Members of the Church of Tomorrow believe that what they do, and how they act, is more important than relics or churches.

Although worship normally takes place in the churches, each column or ship of the Army of Tomorrow has at least one liturgist who can lead prayers wherever it is convenient to do so.

Inter-church Administration

The Church of Tomorrow has a single administration, which is the same as that of its only saintly order. The head of the Church is the Future Principle Prelate, also called the Present Commodore. He is simultaneously the head of the oldest chapter of the Order of Saint Dadivic and the Prelate of the Church of Tomorrow. He rules the Church through the bishops, who oversee the other nine churches. Each bishop is (or once was) a liturgist of the Church, and in most cases they serve as the head of the local chapter of the Order.

Church Organization and Ranks

Dadivic and the Present Commodores have blessed others to found new sites for the Church. These founders are called bishops, though their actual title is Fleet Commander. Most of them don't really have any ships in their "Fleet," since it is a metaphysical fleet of Church members. However, a couple of actual ship fleets do exist, which run errands and goods between outposts; these are separate from the fleets of the Army of Tomorrow, which is not an official arm of the Church (though blessed and supported by it). Bishops are often called Bishop Commanders, since the churches serve as a base for the Army of Tomorrow, and many commanders double as the local bishop if they were once Liturgists.

Each church has one or more monasteries of the Order. Each monastery is headed by an abbot, who is the senior Liturgist. Many wizards of the Order are liturgists as well, and it is not unusual for the abbot to be a wizard. In some churches, one of the abbots is the local bishop as well. In others, the local commander of the Army of Tomorrow is or once was a liturgist, and in those cases he serves as the bishop of the church, with the abbots acting as advisors in spiritual matters. Although the bishop is ultimately responsible for steering all members of his church toward the Great Future, he is directly responsible for discipline only among the lay members; since all lay members are members of the Army of Tomorrow as well, the association between the commanders and the bishops is easily understood. Each abbot has responsibility for the religious conduct of the liturgists and wizards.

Advancement within the Church does not depend upon magical prowess, but is granted for skill in leadership and, in many of the churches, combat. Some wizards commonly learn the veneration ceremonies of Malkionism from The Abiding Book and lead worship, but this is not required, and the Order contains many wizards who are content to remain humble members of the Order.

Lay Membership

Role in the Religion

Lay membership is open to anyone. The Church requires only that the applicant listen to a sermon, after which they obtain the mental skill of Doctrine of the Great Futurist. (The applicant may take this skill at any value between 2 and 12, depending entirely upon their acceptance of this speech.) In practice, a new member must join either the Army of Tomorrow or the Order of Saint Dadivic, since those are the only avenues of entry into the Church. However, the Army of Tomorrow accepts non-Malkioni, and so through the Army a theist, animist, or mystic worshipper may give up their previous religion and join the Church of Tomorrow.

General Expectations of Members

Members of the Church of Tomorrow are expected to attend Church each week and to practice the moral principles taught by Saint Dadivic (as expressed in the Virtues listed below).

Physical Skills, Mental Skills, and Virtues

Physical Skills: None taught.
Mental Skills: Doctrine of the Great Futurist.
Virtues: Honest, Loyal, Obedient.

Requirements to Belong

Members must tithe to the Church, though there is no set schedule for this, and each member is expected to give what they can afford. Members are not required to proselityze, and in fact this activity is frowned upon. Rather than active recruitment, the Church prefers to attract new members through the good example set by existing members and the reputation of the Army of Tomorrow.

Lay members may not sacrifice to any deity, nor participate in any shamanic or mystical practice. If they previously knew theist, animist, or mystic magic, they must give up those abilities (if possible), or never use them (if the ability is permanent, such as the talent provided by an integrated spirit).

Benefits

Members receive the normal benefits of membership in a Malkioni religion, including the comfort that they will achieve Solace after death if they follow the precepts of the Church. Members of the Church of Tomorrow also know that they are working towards building a better future, and can be secure in the knowledge that that future will benefit them.

More practically, members of the Church are protected by the local column of the Army of Tomorrow. This gives them security in a strange land, and ensures that they will be protected as long as they have brought no dishonor to the Church or the Army.

Disadvantages

Members if the Church of Tomorrow are generally outsiders in all lands, because they are members of a new Church that is not part of one of the existing Malkioni sects. This is especially true for members of the Monastery of the Rock in Esrolia, since they are a small sect of civilized monotheists in a land of theists and barbarians.

Liturgists

Liturgists minister to the members of the Church. There are two types of liturgist in the Church, though all are considered regular liturgists, and all are members of the Order of Saint Dadivic. Regular liturgists live and worship in their monastery, and serve in the churches. Chaplains leave the monastery to be an active member of the Army of Tomorrow. A chaplain is assigned to each column to provide spiritual support and lead worship services. Chaplains are treated as officers, but have no military responsibilities. Most have a clerical job as well, as quartermaster, column scribe, or something similar.

Entry Requirements

An applicant to the Order of Saint Dadivic must be a follower of Malkion. Neither the Church nor the Army of Tomorrow cares to which sect the applicant belonged before embracing the faith of the Great Futurist. In practice, most liturgists come from among the lay members of the Church. As with lay members, liturgists must give up up all other religons and forms of worship, and follow only the path set out in Dadivic’s Futurist Book.

Benefits

Liturgists are taught to read and write Western Script if they do not already know how to do so. They are supported by the Church (even if they are serving in the Army of Tomorrow as a chaplain). Liturgists who serve in the Army of Tomorrow as chaplains are taught to ride horses, and some learn basic weapon skills as well so that they can defend themselves.

Magic Available

Liturgists learn to lead worship to Saint Dadivic and the Great Futurist, and gain access to the blessings of Dadivic's Futurist Book. In the normal Loskalmi fashion, the spells and blessings learned by wizards and liturgists, respectively, come from the same book, rather than the Order having a separate rule of their saint's life. The Order also follows the teachings of The Abiding Book, and so liturgists gain access to those common blessings as well.

Grimoires:
The Abiding Book (Bless Building, Bless Corpse, Bless [Crop], Bless [Herd], Bless Marriage, Call Teen to the Church, Excommunicate, Forgive, Lead Prayer, Name Child, Resist Pagan God, Resist Spirit)
Dadivic’s Futurist Book (Coordinate Squad, Fight on Ship, Heal during Combat, Protect from Weapons, Sharpen Sword)

Liturgists that learn to cast the blessings of both of these books to a level of 1w2 may learn the secret that was revealed to Saint Dadivic by the Great Futurist.

Secret: Heal Futurist (Acts as an affinity for Healing, but can be used only on a member of the Church of Tomorrow.)

Disadvantages

Disadvantages are the same as for lay members fo the Church. Liturgists must follow the same moral precepts as lay members, but generally do not have additional requirements.

Apprentices

Apprentices are taught the sigils needed to create the Dadivic Octagon, which is required to contact Saint Dadivic’s node. They have access to the spells in The Abiding Book and also to the spells in Dadivic’s Futurist Book, the only unique grimoire of the Order. As with chaplains, neither the Army nor the Order cares to which church the applicant belonged before embracing the faith of the Great Futurist. However, most apprentices of the Order come from among the liturgists of the Church of Tomorrow.

Entry Requirements

An applicant to the Order of Saint Dadivic must be a follower of Malkion. As with liturgists, apprentices must give up up all other religons and forms of worship, and follow only the path set out in Dadivic’s Futurist Book.

Benefits

Apprentices are taught to read and write Western Script if they do not already know how to do so. They are supported by the Order, and receive the normal benefits of apprenticeship.

Magic Available

Apprentices learn the spells in The Abiding Book and Dadivic’s Futurist Book. They may not learn the Secret of the Order.

Grimoires:
The Abiding Book (see Liturgist, above)
Dadivic’s Futurist Book (Coordinate Squad, Enchant Armor with Protect from Weapons, Enchant Sword with Sharpen Sword, Fight on Ship, Heal during Combat, Protect from Weapons, Sharpen Sword)

Disadvantages

Disadvantages are the same as for lay members fo the Church. Apprentices must also follow the same moral precepts as lay members, and in addition must perform all of the normal duties of an apprentice. The Order of Saint Dadivic is not as harsh as many church orders, and failed apprentices are generally welcome in the Church. Many failed apprentices end up as chaplains in the Army of Tomorrow.

Wizards

Wizards either remain in the Order teaching apprentices (and often serving as liturgists as well), or else join the Army of Tomorrow and serve with a column. These field wizards provide magical support to the Army, and are well protected in combat. Each is equivalent in rank to a captain and commands a special squad of bodyguards. As with chaplains, neither the Army nor the Order cares to which church the applicant belonged before embracing the faith of the Great Futurist. However, outside wizards are subject to intense scrutiny if they wish to join the Order, so that the Church can be sure they are there for the right reasons, and are not simply attempting to steal the Order's special knowledge.

Entry Requirements

An applicant to the Order of Saint Dadivic must be a follower of Malkion. As with liturgists, wizards must give up up all other religons and forms of worship, and follow only the path set out in Dadivic’s Futurist Book. They must meet all of the normal requirements to become wizards, including knowing having ability ratings of 15 and knowing three spells from each of the two grimoires used by the Order.

Benefits

Wizards are supported by the Church (even if they are serving in the Army of Tomorrow as a field wizard). Field Wizards are taught to ride horses; few if any learn basic weapon skills so that they can defend themselves, relying instead upon their bodyguards and spells.

Magic Available

Wizards learn the spells in The Abiding Book and Dadivic’s Futurist Book.

Grimoires:
The Abiding Book (see Liturgist, above)
Dadivic’s Futurist Book (see Apprentice, above)

Wizards that learn to cast the spells of both of these books to a level of 1w2 may learn the secret that was revealed to Saint Dadivic by the Great Futurist.

Secret: Heal Futurist (Acts as an affinity for Healing, but can be used only on a member of the Church of Tomorrow.)

Wizards of the Order may research spells in Dadivic’s Futurist Book, and are free to learn spells from other sources if they can find them. The Church has a strict prohibition against any form of Tapping, but few other spells are prohibited.

Talismans

Wizards of the Order of Saint Dadivic often have multiple talismans for their spells, but all are formed out of iron or bronze into Dadivic’s holy symbol (an octagon etched in the center with his rune). These talismans are often affixed to weapons, armor, or the battle standard of columns of the Army of Tomorrow.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages are the same as for lay members of the Church. Wizards must also follow the same moral precepts as lay members, and in fact are required to be exemplars of the principles taught by Saint Dadivic and the Great Futurist. Most are very pious, even if they are not an active liturgist.

Subservient Cults

The Order of Saint Dadivic
[Sorcery, Invisible God, Great Futurist, Saint Dadivic]

The Order of Saint Dadivic is a high order, whose wizards and liturgists support the members of the Church of Tomorrow with faith, direction, and magic. It is the only order of the Church of Tomorrow, and Saint Dadivic is not venerated by any other Malkioni church or sect. As such, the Church of Tomorrow and the Order of Saint Dadivic are essentially the same magical organization.
 Latest revision: 24 May 2000, new 		Core Runes