Verdant Flame

Discover thy purpose.

Introduction

Written and distributed throughout Isegrád in the year 991, the Book of the Heart became the first text outlining the faith of the Verdant Flame. It's opening lines became the formulated testimony for the Empyrean known as XVII as he sought out to begin spreading his message. Much of the book discussed ideas that revolved around the Empyrean being the destined children of progress and what sort of philosophies stem from such a mantle. The belief system, while centering around personal philosophies of progression and inner purpose also look towards a miracle of Isegrádian creation called the 'Emerald Heart', the origin of life for all Empyrean across the empire.

History

Before the Sarean Expedition

Coming soon.

During the Sarean Expedition

Coming soon.

The Emerald Heart

A once rumored creation of Balin Sketch's design that was said to dwell within the hard to navigate depths of the Isegrádian capital city for centuries. However, following the first nigh devastating blow of [The Convergence] it was since revealed to the masses of the Sarean isle that it resided in the lower levels of the Verdant Flame church as a well guarded secret. Its reveal covered the sky in a verdant light, ceasing a planar tragedy if but for a moment in the year 1010AC.

Sermon Excerpts

Night of Frost

While much less a typical Sermon as much as it is a history lesson, there were many attendees to whom the history of the Night of Frost was spoken about and discussed with. Delivered by Bishop DI in the year 1009AC.

Laws to Live By

One's place in the world oft seems ill-defined. Searching becomes a journey, one wrought with setbacks and failure. Oft do many lack the guidance or will to cement their feet and plant their roots. Lost are the many- Yet shelter need not be physical. Sanctuary finds the lost in ways unexpected. Conviction and purpose comes first with order and outline. Like guides, the Heart's Laws provide the weary with solace. Beckoning words draw a path forward towards enlightenment and peace. Delivered by Lady Bishop Idelle Margaret in the year 1009AC.

The Heart's Laws

The faith was established and outline in great detail with an orderly set of tenants in clear hierarchy.

• I. Follow thy Purpose - Every life has a destiny to fulfill, one that a life must be devoted to both finding and pursuing without fail.
• II. Obey thy Creators - The hands that have crafted us are both skilled and intelligent, and only animals would turn against those that they owe their life.
• III. Honor thy Country - Rebellion and disloyalty are the ways of the heathen, for it was only through an Emperor that we were born.
• IV. Be rid of Slothfulness - To go without purpose is to go without life, beware the path of the lazy and the weak for their lives have no meaning.
• V. Avoid Stagnation - One must always strive to better themselves, for there is always something to learn and always room to grow.
• VI. Be true to thy Heart - Lying to oneself is the greatest sin that can be made, for one cannot be filled with intent if they do not know themselves.
• VII. Listen to thy Soul - The cosmos speaks and we must listen, as Empyreans our souls have much to say should we endeavor to hear them.
• VIII. Seek Progression - The advancement of the world and the lives within it are what brought about our creation, and it is our duty to ensure civilization does not stall out in its way forward into the future.
• IX. Maintain Order - A land of chaos is a land without direction, and the laws of both government and morality will continue to separate the civilized from the beasts.
• X. Never Betray thy Iron Kin - The Empyrean are few in number and new to this world, and it is only together that we will reach beyond our limitations.

Practices and Rituals

Abyss

To experience 'Abyss' is to be deprived of all vital senses. The faithful is blinded, their sense of smell blocked, ears shut, food and water are taken. The minimum time for this ritual is twenty-four hours. The faithful is left only with the beat of their heart and light of their soul. During Abyss, they are to meditate deeply and reconnect with themself as a form of reflection. Disconnect from the outside and external factors to resonate with oneself, soul and thoughts without any influence. The practice is relatively new and encouraged during times of personal disunity.

Artifacts

Coming soon.

Parables

Guiding and inspiring short stories that pertain to a particular part of practice, faith, and history are canonized in the Book of the Heart as 'parables'.

The Prophet

Prologue

Beneath the earth, it spoke. Its voice akin to vibrations that webbed throughout dirt and stone. Many were not privy to these echoes but they were not for them- For the minds of feeble who worked their set paths could not hold such a mantle. The average soldier served man, the average farmer served the land. Yet the echoes path towards that in which services naught physical- the cultivation one delicate and frail. The leaves too weak for the cruelties of man and unforgiveness of the land. They require steady hands, the vibrations search- beating from the seas to the peaks and even tight crevices. Akin to a light breeze, it comes and goes without the average man batting an eye.

The wind, the seas, the dirt, the cosmos beckoned forth life in man and man gives naught in return. Instead the skies are dominated, dirt turned over, cosmos gazed upon. Man looks outward, servicing oneself and its kingdoms, its empires, its people. From given life, the extraordinary of hands band together. Utilizing the realm's gifts- the wind, the sea, the dirt, the heavens above, man created life as it did them. It beat steadily, so faint that many could not hear its calls, the yearns of a quiet, beating heart.

It did not beckon man for they did not extend inward.

Chapter 1

Coming soon.

The Lifeline

Coming soon.

Flame Ranks

Arbiter/Archbishop: The singular head of the Faith and Church. The Arbiter is given the title if he hears the messages of the Emerald Heart delivered through the Empyrean Soul. If no such individual exists, the title and mantle then fall to a bishop elected by the greater clergy consisting of the bishops and the green priests. This individual is given the title of Archbishop and leads until an Arbiter is found.
Bishop: A collective of members granted authority to work directly with the Arbiter. There will always be an odd number of bishops in order to ensure that the absence of an Arbiter does not leave the group in a situation where a stalemate vote or decision may occur. This includes elections of the Archbishop or any urgent matters that would ordinarily require the Arbiter to rule on. The bishops are expected to train the priests to either replace or join them.
Green Priest: The priests are direct subordinates to the bishops. Required to wear green armor or robes, their title was once merely a nickname granted by the populace of the Empire, but has since become an official part of the Faith. The priests are expected to be bishops and learn and train from one who chooses to take them into their tutelage. While a bishop may teach many priests, a priest may only be taught by a single bishop.
Rook: A member who subscribes themself to the faith yet hold no authority.

High Clergy

Arbiter XVII

Head of the church and active prophet of the Great Heart itself- along with the church's founder, while seen in drastic less frequency, he is a worthy source of information and guidance who doubles as a Captain of the colony.

Bishop DI

Sitting at the rank below Arbiter, Bishop DI has been a devote since arriving to the colony, holding his position for around nine years. Recently, he acts the the colony's Harbinger yet too offers unique insights as an Empyrean.

Lady Bishop Idelle Margaret

Recently achieving her rank without need for ceremony, the noblewoman is a frequent and available bastion of teachings relating to the Verdant Flame and its practices. If of note, she acts as the only human of such rank.