Lore

Norland, the year 2898 since the creation of the world.

Two hundred years have passed since the great Crimson Empire perished in the flames of the religious war. Its former provinces have become the barbaric kingdoms, kept from mutual destruction only by the all-powerful Church of Holy Sophia.

While the holy prophets speak of the impending end of the world, in one of the small kingdoms, a dream of the birth of a new empire is taking shape...

Loving Family

The primary religious, economic, and military organization in the world. It is led by the Matriarch (spiritual leader) and the Strict Father (leader of Inquisition). Located in the impregnable stone castle known as the Stone of Faith. Only the Loving Family can produce Gold coins and Holy Rings.

Stone of Faith

A massive, impregnable stone castle on a mountain, surrounded by water, in which the Matriarch sits on the Crimson Throne and serves as the head of the Church of Mother Sophia. Once the citadel of the Crimson Empire, the fortress passed to the Loving Family during the War of the Sacred Flame. Inside the Stone of Faith there are shelters where selected noble families can survive the Great Purification.

Church of Mother Sophia

The dominant religion with significant power. The supreme body of the church is the Loving Family, led by the Matriarch. The church maintains a personal presence in all major cities of Norland through its bishops. The dogma of the church is described in the sacred books "Revelations of Sophia" and "Testimony of Truth".

Revelations of Sophia

A book of revelation written in a mysterious and symbol-filled language, spoken from the perspective of Mother Sophia herself. The book provides a vast field for interpretation, highlighting the following symbols as key elements: fire, key, and duality.

Testimony of Truth

The sacred book of the Church of Mother Sophia. Contains eschatology and basic canons intended for a wide range of believers. The book addresses questions about the history of creation and the prediction of the world's demise, as well as commandments for subjects of the faith. Among the commandments is a prohibition on building structures of stone taller than a person's knee and the preaching of obedience. Furthermore, the book interprets the logia of Sophia's Revelation to justify holy war against any heresy, laying the foundation for Church fanaticism and the establishment of the Inquisition. It was written by Matriarch Jadwiga in the second half of the 27th century, shortly before the conclusion of the War of Sacred Flame, and served as a stringent response to the radicalism of Cainism.

Matriarch Jadwiga

The legendary Matriarch of the Church of Mother Sophia at the end of the Crimson Empire. Under the leadership of Jadwiga, The Loving Family emerged victorious in the War of Sacred Flame and, through the Charter of Humility, laid the foundations of the modern world order. Matriarch Jadwiga authored the Testimony of Truth and was the first Matriarch on the Crimson Throne.

Crimson Empire

Once developing from a small colony of Tanaya in the west, the Crimson Empire, thanks to innovations in military and bureaucratic affairs obtained from Makha, eventually swallowed up half of Norland, displacing the indigenous inhabitants of the central plains - Varns - and putting another local people, the Kaiden, into its service. Shortly after rapid expansion came the Golden Age, whose balance remained constant: the empire is ruled by Tanaya, the few Makha engage in culture and philosophy in their old semi-independent cities, the Kaiden live on the border, defending it and earning their living through military service, while the Varn reside in the east, providing food supplies to the growing population through trade. However, centuries of balance were disrupted by the heresy that sprouted in the Makha cities - Cainism - and the subsequent War of Sacred Flame marked the end of the unified Empire, giving rise to the so-called New Kingdoms. Only thanks to the titanic efforts of the Church of Mother Sophia, the world did not descend into a prehistoric level, and for many centuries now, a new balance has been maintained, upheld by the Matriarch and the priests of the church.

War of the Sacred Flame

A war between the Church of Mother Sophia and the heretical Cainite sect that took place from 2652 to 2692. The Church and the Emperor turned a blind eye to the Cainite heresy for a long time after it first emerged in the cities of the Makha. But after several years of aggressive preaching, when riots and arson of Holy Sophia temples began throughout the west, the empire responded with repression, and the heretical cities rebelled in kind, inciting a vast war between the two sects. The war went on with varying success until 2691, when the emperor Maximilian died in battle, leaving no heirs. The empire was on the brink of complete chaos and destruction when the Matriarch Jadwiga ascended to the Crimson Throne. Seeking an end to the war, she promised amnesty and independence to the rebellious provinces in exchange for access to their cities by the Holy Inquisition and proposed a new structure for the region's monarchies. The heretics agreed, and the Charter of Humility was signed, laying the foundation for the modern structure of the world. The charter set a limit on the amount of noble titles each kingdom would have access to. As for the heretics, some of them went to the Impassable Mountains in the south, where over time, they degenerated into the tribes of marauders, while others, along with the prophet Michael, retreated to the wild north forest and eventually disappeared.

Mitraya

Devoted servants of the Cult of Mother Sophia, primarily residing in the Stone of Faith. They serve mainly as clerics, caravaners, and inquisitors. Mithraeans are typically lords who have not found their place in noble houses.

The Great Purification

Despite the great mercy of Saint Sophia and the care of the Loving Family, over time people increasingly violate commandments, fall into sin and heresies. In the name of love for humanity, Saint Sophia raises wild barbarian tribes that come and destroy cities. Only the righteous survive, saved by the Loving Family, admitting them into the Stone of Faith, where they can endure several centuries of the Dark Ages after the Great Purification. Afterwards, the gates to the Stone of Faith open, and a new Great Cycle begins with the construction of a new Crimson Empire.

Unholy Horde

An extremely aggressive and dangerous people who follow the heresy of the Dead God. They trace their origins back to the indigenous tribes of the north, who were driven out by the Crimson Empire after after its collapse. After the defeat of the Cainism heresy within the New Kingdoms during the First War, its prophet Michael was banished to the northern forests, where he preached his modified version of Cainism among the forest tribes. The tribes embraced the Dead God and have grown significantly stronger in recent decades. Now they are ready to bring death and destruction to all of Norland, as their faith demands.

Dead God

The later teachings of the prophet Michael which is adapted to the pagan tribes of the northern forests and develops the heresy of Cainism to an extreme form. It is the religion of the Unholy Horde. In a certain sense, this heresy contradicts traditional Cainism, as it preaches the very death of civilization that Cainism sought to protect itself from. According to the doctrine, the Velvet Darkness into which Cain fell after his death at the hand of Saint Sophia is a space of tranquility and will, the only place beyond the control of this rigid goddess. To be free from the endless cycles of rebirth in this world of suffering, the human soul must go there. This can be done by calling upon the Dead God Cain at the moment of death. Thus, proper death is seen as a gift of liberation to be sought. Adepts of this cult practice human sacrifice and ritual suicide. "The "proper" killing of infidels is considered a special virtue, as it signifies the salvation of the soul from under the power of Sophia. The men and women of the Horde are all strong warriors trained from childhood who are not afraid to die. This makes the raids of the Unholy Horde, which are religious feats for the cultists, especially dangerous. During their raids, they not only kill everyone and burn cities but also make a special effort to destroy books that they consider abominations, which they believe the Holy Sophia Church uses to control people. They constantly wear masks that help them deal with excessive emotions and attachments.

Cainism

A heretical doctrine from the late era of the Crimson Empire. While the teachings of the St. Sophia consider her brother Cain as the first murderer and an evil antagonist of the goddess, Cainists view Cain as a benevolent god who stood against Sophia's dominion and perished at her hands while defending humanity from her enslavement. Cainists consider the strength of human will as the primary virtue and reject many of the moral norms of the teachings of the St. Sophia. Originating in the outskirts of the Crimson Empire, Cainism spread thanks to the prophet Michael, who claimed to have received revelations from the dead god Cain and wrote the Secret Book of the Dead. As a result of the subsequent Fire War, Cainism was destroyed, and Michael was banished to the northern forests, where his trail was lost. However, the Empire could not withstand the forty years of devastating religious war and disintegrated into numerous New Kingdoms ruled by Noble Houses. It is in this state that Norland finds itself today.

Secret Book of the Dead

The main religion book of Cainism, written by the prophet Michael. It claims that the Saint Sophia is an evil goddess who keeps people enslaved. Her brother Cain challenged her to free humanity but was killed by her. However, in death, he found freedom in the Velvet Darkness, from where he revealed himself to prophet Michael and instructed him to record his words and reveal them to the people. The book asserts that the primary means through which the the Church of St. Sophia controls people is preaching submission and imposing a religious prohibition on stone structures higher than knee level, as stated in the Testimony of Truth. Which allows Loving Family to be completely invulnerable in Norland's only stone fortress, the Stone of Faith, and at any moment, they can destroy and annihilate any settlement that falls out of favor. However, this prohibition makes human settlements vulnerable to barbarian nations, and when the time comes, which is called The Great Purification, the cities of Norland are wiped out by numerous savage hordes, after which the Dark Ages ensue. However, the Church of St. Sophia remains invulnerable in her castle, and soon begins creating a new The Crimson Empire based on her doctrine and preserved knowledge. The book claims that such cycles have occurred an untold number of times, and the history of Norland has been moving in an endless circle for thousands of years, which can only be broken by rebelling against the Church of St. Sophia.