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, events unfold on the eastern outskirts that will influence the entire history of the world.

Loving Family

The primary religious, economic, and military organization in the world. It is led by the Good Mother (spiritual leader) and the Stern Father (leader of Inquisition). It is situated in an impregnable stone fortress called the Stone of Faith. Only the Loving Family has the authority to mint gold coin and holy rings.

Stone of Faith

A colossal and impregnable stone fortress of a mountain, surrounded by water, where the mitraya dwell. Belongs to the Loving Family. Within the Stone of Faith, there are sanctuaries where selected noble families endure the Great Purification.

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.

Church of Mother Sophia

The dominant religion with significant power. The supreme body of the church is the Loving Family. The dogma of the cult 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 cult of Mother Sophia, containing eschatology and basic canons intended for a wide circle of believers. The book discusses the history of creation and the prophecy of the world's demise, as well as commandments. Among the commandments is the prohibition of building structures from shone higher than the knee of a person and the preaching of submission.

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.