Radiant Flame

The Radiant Flame is one of the world's major religions.

Doctrine and Dogma
Lead a noble life and encourage others to do the same. Remain vigilant against evil in all forms. The best way to defeat darkness it is by being an example of virtuous behavior. If you die with a pure spirit, you will be forever bound with the Radiant Flame.

Holy Books
The Church of the Radiant Flame has a single holy book, a tome known as the Book of Exalted Radiance. The Book of Exalted Radiance is split into three sections: the Chronicles of Balard Middleson, the Eight Scrolls, and the Canticle of Radiance.

The Chronicles of Balard Middleson is a semi-historical biography of Middleson and his companions written sometime after his reign as king of Valouria by an unattributed, unknown author. Detailing his early life up until the Battle of Sandpiper’s Bluff in which he died and was reborn, the book is not a true historical document, as it establishes Middleson as a prophetic and messianic figure with details that are either at odds with the historical evidence or simply cannot be proven true.

The Four Scrolls were written by an unattributed, unknown author, though tradition claims that they were uttered by Ballard Middleson and recorded by one of his companions. The Four Scrolls make up the heart of the dogma of the church and are simply the four main tenets of the faith.

The Canticle of Radiance, a collection of prays written by Brom Silvereyes, a famous poet-priest.

In addition to the Book of Exalted Radiance, countless treatises have been written analyzing, clarifying, and expounding upon it. These books are canon, but generally are only referenced and used by priests and scholars looking to argue doctrine.

Worshipers
Adherents of the faith are known as ‘The Purified’.

Hierarchy
Known colloquially as “Keepers of the Flame”, the Church of the Radiant Flame is a highly structured hierarchy.

Monks and nuns sit at the bottom of the hierarchy. These men and women are not fully ordained priests, but have taken partial holy vows. Referred to as “Brother” or “Sister”, monks assist priests in their day-to-day activities, and in more rural areas, can be empowered to perform basic priestly duties such as hearing confession or maintaining shrines. Above monks and nuns sit priests. Priests make up the overwhelming majority of the church. Referred to as “Father” or “Mother”, priests are the backbone of the church, as they perform the day-to-day duties of the church.

Above priests sit archbishops. Archbishops are former priests who were promoted by the Council of Cardinals. They hold authority over and are responsible for large territories. Above bishops sit cardinals. Referred to as “Eminence”, cardinals are bishops that were specifically appointed by the pope to serve as legal scholars and theologians, reviewing and drafting doctrine. Above cardinals sits the pope. Referred to as “Holiness”, he is considered blessed by the Radiant Flame and bestowed with special knowledge as a result.

Day-To-Day Activities
Ordained servants of the Radiant Flame perform many services. Most commonly, these services are practical, providing the community with moral guidance and philosophical advice. In smaller communities, these services sometimes blur into more worldly services, such as document reading/writing, drafting contracts, and other secular duties.

Priestly Vestments
Silver and blue are symbols of the church, and as such, all ordained clergy members wear robes with these colors. Rank and status generally matters, as the garments of countryside monks or priests are generally simple, whereas the clothing of high-ranking clergy is generally ornate.

Denominations, Orders, and Sects
Composed of militant priests and warrior laypersons, the Knights of Maximillian are the largest martial order within the faith. More a ceremonial order than an actual standing army, the Knights of Maximillian were founded by a knight hundreds of years ago and are sworn to protect the holy sites of the faith.

Main Centers of Worship
The main temple of the Radiant Flame is located in Sandpiper’s Bluff, the capital of Valouria. The Cathedral of the Flame is one of largest buildings in the city, on par with Castle White, the seat of power of the country. Made of white marble like most of the rest of the city, the blue dome atop the structure houses the eternal flame and is the holiest site in the entire religion. Because of its status, the Cathedral of the Flame is tended to by the pope and the Council of Cardinals.

Outside of the Cathedral of the Flame, the church maintains too many churches, chapels, and shrines to list. Most are maintained by priests, though some smaller, more rural shrines and chapels are maintained by monks or nuns.

Relationships with Other Faiths/Groups
The most righteous Purified refer to other deities “savage gods”, considering them uncivilized and vestiges of a barbaric world before the Radiant Flame manifested itself to the world, enlightening those who glimpsed upon its grandeur. They see most non-believers as simply ignorant to the truth and will make attempted to convert them.