The Reformed Vaticine (VAH-tih-seen) Church is one of the most powerful and influential organizations in all of Théah. Drawing power from the common people — and the nobles who support its beliefs — the Church and its flock are a force to be reckoned with. Beginning with the first Prophet who spoke to the Old Republic so long ago, it has amassed its own army, developed a system of education, and instigated most of the world's technological and philosophical advancements.

In recent times, however, the Church has fallen under harsh criticism. Accusations of corruption and greed have caused many to doubt both its authority and its veracity. The Objectionist Movement that began in Eisen over one hundred years ago has altered the Church forever; almost a third of its flock has turned to the Objectionists for guidance.

The Message and the Messenger

The message of the Vaticine Church is simple. The Creator made the world as a riddle for humanity to unravel. The closer to solving the riddle mankind comes, the closer he comes to understanding the mind of the Creator.

The Creator's message was first delivered sixteen hundred years ago by a mysterious figure known as the First Prophet. He taught that mankind's highest virtues were his intelligence and free will, and it was mankind's duty to use these tools and encourage and educate others in their use. He also taught that sorcery violated the sanctity of Creation. One year after his teaching began, it was put to a violent end. He was tortured to death for crimes against the Empire, but before he died he prophesied that three Prophets would follow him, each with his own message and duty. His message grew, and the Prophet's faith became the official Church of the Empire and within three centuries was a significant force in Théah.

The Second Prophet came from the East around thirteen hundred years ago. His swarthy skin and dark eyes frightened many, but his words were as potent as his predecessor's. He spoke of separation, saying society had become too corrupt, and the faithful needed to leave it behind them. When the Second Prophet went on his Great Pilgrimage, he left behind a small band of followers to spread his message. When he reached the East, he and those who followed him were slaughtered by fanatical and opportunistic Crescents.

The Third Prophet brought a sword of pure flame to Théah, and divided the righteous from the unrighteous. He emerged in Castille around six hundred years ago, and arranged for a political coup that removed the sorcerous nobility from power, and replaced them with families whose blood was uncorrupted. He declared the Crescents the unlawful and unclean murderers of the Second Prophet, worthy of nothing more than unmarked graves, beginning a great crusade to remove all Crescent influence from Théah once and for all. When he was done, he declared Castille was the new holy center of the Church, an announcement that brought open warfare between Castille and the traditional home of the Church, Vodacce. After two years of warfare, Vodacce's forces broke and retreated, the Vaticine capital was raided and the Prophet declared victory. He Third Prophet restructured the Church to focus on research, and created the Inquisition to gather information about sorcery and its practitioners. The Third Prophet died in his bed on the day of his birth, at the age of sixty.

For centuries, the Church promoted a holy war against the Crescent Empire, pushing its influence further into the East. When the homeland of the Second Prophet was captured, a group of knights who had participated in the siege devoted themselves to protecting pilgrimages to and from the sacred site. The "Holy Order of the Poor Knights of the Prophet" were among the most celebrated men in the world. In 1312 they were condemned as heretics and obliterated for their unholy crimes. When the Poor Knights fell, so did the era of crusaders.

The Objectionist Reform

In October of 1517, a monk named Matthias Lieber nailed a piece of paper to the door of the High Priest. On the paper were a list of questions that Lieber brought with him to the annual Diet in Castille. He denounced his fellows in the presence of the Hierophant, demanding an explanation for "the Church's inexcusable crimes and decadence." He Hierophant excommunicated him on the spot and demanded his death. However, he was smuggled out of Castille by King Franz II (rumor holds that the King used the Knights of the Rose and Cross for the rescue), and returned to Eisen.

In the safety of his homeland, Lieber invented the printing press to spread his news, and he also translated the Books of the Prophets into Low Eisen, and distributed them throughout the country. The book challenged the authority of the Church, and the Hierophant ordered Eisen to surrender the heretical monk; Eisen refused. The Church turned to Castille, demanding action.

Both armies were ready and waiting, and a long staring match ensued. It wound end over one hundred years later in 1636 when Objectionists in Eisen threw three governors sent by the Imperator out of a window. The War of the Cross had begun, and by the time it was over, nearly every continental power would become involved, and the face of Théah would be changed forever.

The war ended inconclusively thirty years later in 1666 with the surrender of the Imperator and the forfeiture of significant parts of Eisen to Castille and Montaigne. Eisen had lost nearly a third of its population and watched its countryside fall into ruin. Shortly thereafter the Imperator hanged himself, and Eisen splintered into provinces.

After the War of the Cross, Théans came to the inevitable conclusion that the continent would remain forever divided between Objectionist and Vaticine faiths.

The Nations and their Faiths

Avalon: Elaine refused to acknowledge the Castillian right to rule Avalon by throwing off the Church's control in 1659. She declared herself the final authority on all spiritual matters, making her the Hierophant's ecclesiastical equal. Inismore and the Highland Marches have always resented Church authority and were quick to follow her lead in breaking from Vaticine influence.

Castille: While Castille may be the stronghold of faith for the Vaticine Church, she still finds a vengeful foil in the Vodacce cardinals. The Vodacce have such a firm hold on Church hierarchy that Castille must bargain for any political ground.

Eisen: No other nation shows the scars of the Church's recent troubles more than Eisen. Half of Eisen is Vaticine, and half is Objectionist.

Montaigne if the Cardinals had their way, the entire nation of Montaigne would be excommunicated. However, it takes a Hierophant to perform such an act, and the Church is missing one of those these days.

Ussura: The Ussuran Orthodox Church follows the teachings of the First Prophet only. He got it right the first time, after all. Why do you need a second and third? The Church, on the other hand, couldn't care less what a country of backward barbarians believes.

Vendel: The Vestenmannavnjar cling to their ancient pagan religion, while the Vendel have taken up with the more forward-thinking Objectionist movement.

Vodacce: Vodacce was, is, and always will be Vaticine.