Cradle of the Faith

 

For as long as anyone can remember or the tales record, the people of the Troth have been unwavering in their faith to a higher power. Before the Great War, the Troth was the center of the Eldra faith and the home to more temples to the Old Gods than any other region. Their strong faith has created a people that are devout in their beliefs and often unafraid to die in the name of a cause. In the years following the Godsfall, the entire region was devastated and many faithful lost their way, turning their beliefs to bitterness, bitterness to anger and anger to rebellion. The arrival of the Aurorym faith provided a direction and a purpose to many and the religion was widely and eagerly adopted by many. Today the Aurorym religion is widespread in the Hearthlands and has the largest adoption of any protectorate. It is extremely rare to come across someone in the Hearthlands who is not an Aurorym faithful. Those that are not are often shunned or not trusted by their communities.

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There have been extensive inquiries as to why the Troth has such a powerful connection with the Old Gods and some have speculated that it is cultural, but others have proposed more wild theories that the Hearthfolk were bound to the Gods in somewhat and still bear a shred of their essence in them. Rumors continue to persist in the Hearthlands of a cult who still worship the Old Gods and are seeking a way to return them from the dead. These rumors also indicate that the Old Gods can only be brought back by the sacrifice of thousands of Hearthfolk, so that their essence might allow the deities to reconstitute themselves. While these rumors have been all but discounted by anyone credible, the ‘death’ of the gods has been a source of interest for many, particularly the Apotheca.

 

Of particular interest is the fact that despite the Aurorym faith itself not revering any deity, the veneration of Saints seems to have taken its place. It is very common to see one or more shrines in a village to various local or well-known Saints and almost all Hearthfolk take a patron Saint upon their kindling into the faith. The Saints become the living personification of the faith and while the Aurorym often seek their strength from within, they also pray to these hallowed beings for guidance and invention on their behalf when facing difficult situations. The process of becoming hallowed by the Aurorym faith has been a source of great speculation among many in Arnesse and while there are quite a few who deny that such a thing is possible, the Living Saints of the Vellatora have proven that such beings can and do exist. They serve as living, breathing embodiments of all that the Aurorym aspire to be and give confirmation that their faith and devotion are not for naught.

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Saints of the Aurorym

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Saint Austra the Sanctified

 

Austra was one of the original Witnesses to Magnus Blayne. It was she who penned the Litany of Shelter and died for her faith, becoming the Sixth Martyr of the Dawn. Austra came from humble beginnings as a serf in the service of a noble. When her husband and three children were killed in an attack by the lord’s knights, she was badly beaten and left for dead. Perhaps it was providence, as she was found by Magnus Blayne as he passed through the area. He took her into his care and nursed her back to health. When she was strong enough, she joined his mission as a Witness. She was taught to read and write and became known among his flock for her mercy and desire to aid others. Rumors were persistent at the time that Austra and Blayne were more than simply teacher and student but evidence to support this alleged affair never came to light.

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When Magnus Blayne died, Austra was devastated, but she carried on his mission. She would go on to become an Auron, serving the faith not only as a Witness but as a priest of the faith. Originally a native of the Dusklands, she returned there and established one of the first Aurorym missions outside of the Troth. Though she was constantly harried by nobles and locals, Austra’s charity and good works made her popular. She died in 640 and was the last Martyr of the Dawn. The circumstances of her death have been written about but are subject to a good deal of speculation but the most credible account seems to say that the town she lived in came under attack by a horde of remnants, undead from a local graveyard that was unhallowed by some dark force. Witnesses say that she manifested a great hallowed ward to keep the creatures at bay until the townsfolk could flee. Once all were safe, she could no longer hold back the tide and the undead took her life. Another interesting note about her story is that her body was never recovered and while the locals made a tomb for her near the village, her body does not rest there. While she was Hallowed for her incredible life and sacrifice, there are some who worry that she may have been taken and transformed into that which the Aurorym fear the most, an anti-Saint or Dark Apostle. Her symbol is a fortification set upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Cuthbert the Fearless (the Lion)

 

Cuthbert was once Ser Cyril Valewood, a knight of House Corveaux. He was sent by his lord to find and kill Magnus Blayne but instead saw the truth of the Aurorym faith and joined his ministry as a Witness. Renamed Cuthbert, he would serve by Magnus’ side as a warrior over the course of the next two years. During that time, he penned the work that would later become the Litany of Courage and was instrumental in helping train many of the earliest Aurorym in martial combat.

 

Shortly after Magnus’ death, Cuthbert travelled to Exeter, where he joined the Vellatora in helping defend against the invasion ordered by King Richard II. There, he would lay down his life to defend innocents who were attacked on the order of the Bannon commander. His body was taken and a tomb built within Exeter to honor the sacrifice he made. In doing so, he would become the Second Martyr of the Dawn and forever honored by the soldiers of the faith for his courage. Some have called him the Lion of Dawn and the Knights of the Vellatora have an elite unit named the Lionguard in his honor. Cuthbert’s symbol is a lion’s head on the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Orione the Pure

 

Saint Orione was once a whore who came to Magnus Blayne and pleaded with him to cure her illness. She swore she would turn her life around and would join his faith, but wise Magnus Blayne saw through her lie and refused. He bade her go and instead, confess her sins to those she had harmed and seek their forgiveness. Orione returned and said she had done this, begging him again for his aid. She offered him her body in exchange, but Magnus refused again and bade her go and aid a group of poor farmers who lived in a nearby village. She did this and returned, a third time begging him for help. Magnus Blayne said to her, “Now you are ready. To cleanse the body, one must first cleanse the spirit.” He then took her down to the river and there, immersed her body in the wash and cast the Light of the Dawn upon her. And so was her body purged of every impurity and wickedness. The Son of Dawn then said, “Behold and rejoice for you are born once again. I send you into the world as an innocent. Go now and let all the world bear witness to the healing power of redemption.”

 

Orione never saw Magnus Blayne again but she left him and travelled Arnesse spreading the good word of what she had experienced. Indeed, she was born again as a pure spirit, purged of all the wickedness of her former life. In her second incarnation, Orione exemplified the virtue and righteousness which has become the very definition of what is expected of an Aurorym. She took no lover, drank no wine, and never spoke a lie. After the death of Magnus Blayne, she would travel far and wide for five years to spread the word of the Aurorym. Orione may have been reborn but she could not escape her past. One day she was stabbed during a sermon by a man working for the brothel she’d run away from. She would dictate the Litany of Virtue upon her deathbed and when Orione passed she was Hallowed as the Fifth Martyr of Dawn. Orion’s symbol is a white river upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Symeon the Illuminated

 

Symeon started life as a farmer who attended one of Magnus Blayne’s sermons and challenged him as to his worthiness to be the savior of prophecy. The answer that Magnus Blayne gave him made the man lay down his tools and join the Dawnson’s ministry. Symeon was known as a burly man with a good heart and a spirit full of light. Everywhere he went, others felt inspired by his presence and had hope for the future. Much of his time in the service of the faith was spent doing outreach and missionary work to the needy, bringing hope to places which had long forgotten what the word meant. He helped many villages in the Troth during hard times by bringing farming knowledge so that they could prosper and grow. To this day, Symeon is well regarded in rural villages of the Hearthlands and shrines to him are often erected there.

 

It is Symeon who wrote the Litany of Hope while he travelled and it is one of the most widely read of the Litanies for its inspirational message and jovial writing style. He would meet his end in the Corveaux town of Holbeach, where he was accused of witchcraft by a local mob then stoned to death in the town square. Loyal followers secreted his body away to a nearby tomb they had prepared and there laid him to rest. Upon his death, he was Glorified as Saint Symeon, the Third Martyr. To this day, the tomb of Symeon remains hidden and its true location is only known by a few faithful. It is often sought by pilgrims of the faith as it is said that if one prays there they will receive wisdom to guide them through dark times. Symeon’s symbol is a wheat sheaf upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Sabine the Sacred Flame

 

The Hexen order predates the Aurorym faith. But with magic disappearing, the creatures that once needed magic to survive vanished as well. With fewer and fewer creatures to hunt, the Hexen slowly became relics of a long-forgotten age. The story goes that Sabine was on the trail of a particularly powerful creature that had been plaguing a local village. She tracked it for days and when she found the beast, it was locked in combat with a small band of men and women who looked no better armed than a band of peasants. Sabine was about to leap to their aid when she saw a man in the group raise his hand and with a mighty retort, banished the creature in a blast of pure light. Shocked by what she saw, the Hexen woman approached the man and bade him tell her what he had done and how one could acquire such power. He said his name was Magnus Blayne and if she followed him he could show her how. Sabine joined him and became one of his Witnesses.

 

From that time forward, word spread among the Hexen of the gifts that Magnus Blayne possessed and many came from far and wide to see them. Sabine also took notice that the few creatures of the dark that remained in the world often sought out the Aurorym and thus, the Hexen could perform their duties. Sabine also learned that she could enhance her already formidable abilities with the Light of the Dawn and be a better fighter. But she was not a Witness who came to walk beside the Dawnson, but instead travelled and brought what she learned to her order, teaching them new ways. Some Hexen chose to convert and others to remain on the path of the ancient scholas. Sabine would come to write the Litany of Flame on her travels and it largely speaks of the terrors of the dark and how to combat them. How she met her end is deeply shrouded in mystery. Some say that the Hexen know more, but it was whispered that this mighty warrior died in battle against a creature of great evil and power. After her death, she was named Saint Sabine of the Sacred Flame, Fourth Martyr of the Dawn. Sabine’s symbol is a flame upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Philip the Servitor

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Saint Philip was the first Witness of Magnus Blayne and his most devout disciple. He was originally a noble of House Bannon who had been sent to encourage Magnus Blayne to submit to the will of the King. Magnus refused and after a long talk, Philip laid down his mantle of nobility and became one of his Witnesses. When word came that Magnus had been imprisoned and was to face trial, Philip sent word to the lords of the Sovereignlands in the hopes that his allies could set him free. These efforts did not work and after the Living Saints of the Vellatora failed to rescue him, Magnus was put to death. While the Bannon army marched on Exeter, it was Philip who rode to the capital of the Troth, Scrow and convinced Lord Haldric Ulster to allow sanctuary for the persecuted faithful.

 

After the famous Battle of Exeter, Philip took leadership of the faith and Hallowed the heroic sisters as the Living Saints of the Vellatora. As the first Auron, he would go on to spend the rest of his life trying to establish the foundations of the formal Aurorym faith that persist to this day. He organized the Aurons, Hexen, and Vellatora knights into a cohesive organization. After forty-seven years of dedication to the faith, he was Glorified as Saint Philip the Servitor upon his death for his utter devotion to the faith. Those that aspire to serve the church as an Auron often follow the path of Saint Philip. Philip’s symbol is a stack of books on the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Jamie the Redeemed

 

Saint Jamie was once Ser Jamie Blayne, Oath-breaker. There are few greater shames or betrayals than to break an oath in Arnesse. For the crime of abandoning his patrol in the middle of an ambush in the Howling Bog, Ser Jamie was labeled an oath-breaker, stripped of his rank, and cast out from the Blayne family. Jamie spent the next five years going village to village and tavern to tavern as a little more than a homeless drunkard.
It was in one such village that Jamie settled in for the night. He was not three drinks in when the village’s bell began to ring. Jamie followed the villagers outside. And a sight it was, for a band of brigands had set upon the village and set it to the torch. The brigands were too busy murdering defenseless villagers to notice Jamie as he dispatched the first of them. After killing five or six of the attackers, Jamie’s valor inspired some of the townsfolk to join him in defending their village.

 

As the ringing of the bell ceased, the villagers discovered Jamie dying from his many wounds. The count of how many he killed has often been exaggerated by history, but it was at least twenty and some tales have it at more than fifty. With his dying breath, he begged that his sword and ashes be given to his mother. When word reached Scrow of his deeds, Lady Paragon Agnes Blayne pardoned her wayward son of his oath-breaking. Shortly thereafter, Sir Jamie Blayne was Glorified as Saint Jamie the Redeemed for his incredible act of heroism. The symbol for Jamie is a knight helmet upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Mary the Defiant

 

Little is known of the young child prior to her Glorification. What is known is that around a hundred years ago, a little girl of about eight to ten summers lived in a forest near a village with her parents. One night, the girl stumbled into the village covered in bloody rags with a completely smashed left arm. She rambled warnings of bad men attacking and tearing apart her parents and brothers. The girl succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter, but the warning saved the village. After defending themselves, the commonfolk Glorified the child Saint Mary the Defiant and spread her story across the Hearthlands. For in the Aurorym faith, even the youngest member of the faith can be a hero if they are brave enough. The symbol for Mary is a single flower upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Felicia the Departed

 

Ser Felicia was a knight of the Vellatora stationed at Beggar’s Keep. During a patrol in the Howling Bog, her troop came upon a ferocious werewolf. Knowing they stood no chance against the terrible beast, Ser Felicia gave the order for the rest of her patrol to sprint to Harker Manor to seek their aid while she lured the beast away from the nearby village. Hours later the patrol returned with a Hexen in tow and followed the tracks of the battle between Ser Felicia and the beast. The tracks led on for twenty minutes before ending at the lifeless corpse of the knight at the entrance of a small cave. Adjacent to the corpse was the beast, pinned to a wall, furiously trying to free itself from Ser Felicia’s great sword protruding from its chest. For her heroism, Ser Felicia was soon Glorified as Saint Felicia the Departed. The symbol for Saint Felicia is a wolf’s skull with a sword piercing it upon a field of the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Celestine the Eternal

 

The greatest living hero of the Age of Kings, Saint Celestine has commanded the Fervent Order of the Vellatora since its founding. It is said that she so impressed Magnus Blayne with her dedication to the faith, that he imparted to her the secret of immortality. So long as she continued to follow the tenets of the Aurorym faith. This gift has allowed her to allegedly lead the knight order for almost two centuries. Celestine is best known for her brilliant military mind and strategies she has perfected over her long life. It is considered vain by many to choose Saint Celestine as a patron saint. To do so is to claim that you embody the Eternal Saint’s perfection. Celestine’s symbol is a staff and sword crossed set upon the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Decima the Immaculate Aegis

 

Rarely is Saint Decima not seen at Celestine’s side. Decima is a mighty, towering warrior has never been seen outside their armor and never speaks a word, leading to much speculation as to who exists under the metal. As explained by Celestine, Decima is her protector and a shield of the faith. Decima wields an intricate and massive shield that bears a sigil that none can identify. On the field of battle Decima is a sight to behold as they defeat foe after foe, all the while maintaining a perfect harmony with Celestine. Those that aspire to be true guardians of others generally venerate the deeds of the Aegis. Many who revere Saint Decima also take a vow of silence as it is viewed as the utmost dedication to serve their charge without objective. The symbol for Decima is the Dawn Sun with a great shield generally placed in front of or below it.

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Saint Casilda the Dawnbreaker

 

It is said that in combat, none are a match for the Casilda, the Dawnbreaker. For to meet Casilda on the battlefield is to be on your way to see the Lady of Death. Casilda has never been defeated in combat and stands as the champion for House Blayne. Much of Casilda’s time is spent traveling around the Hearthlands serving as a protector of the people wherever they go. There are countless stories of the deeds of heroism performed by Casilda over the years in every city, town, village and settlement across the whole of Arnesse. Saint Casilda does not travel alone, for she brings a cohort of elite sword masters, men and women known as the Justicars. Those that aspire to become martial champions and defenders of the downtrodden choose to follow Casilda. The symbol of the Dawnbreaker is a shattered tower in front of the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Luciana the Hallowed Hero

 

Saint Luciana is known to be an archer and hunter of great renown. She is known to also have many terrible burn scars covering her body. There are many rumors and speculation concerning the origins of these scars. Some of the more outlandish tales say she single handedly fought and slew a mighty behemoth to protect a village at great cost to herself. Saint Luciana travels Arnesse in search of creatures to hunt and kill. Luciana traditionally travels with a single Saint Aspirant and no one else. However, she is sometimes seen in the company of the Hexen order, with whom she shares many common goals. Those that aspire to become great hunters of the unknown and are willing to live a life of relative isolation choose to follow the path of Luciana. The symbol of Saint Luciana is a bow and clutch of three arrows on the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Genevieve the Divine Precepta

 

Saint Celestine may be the greatest strategist in Arnesse but the Fervent Order of the Vellatora would not be the force it is today if not for Saint Genevieve. Ever humble, Genevieve does many of the tasks that typically fall to a Knight Master. She oversees the training of most Vellatora knights from her office in Exeter, where she also serves as the castellan of the town. Genevieve is said to also be a great architect. It is said that the town of Exeter was built according to her exacting specifications and beneath her watchful eye. Those faithful that aspire to become administrators, builders, and teachers often choose to follow the path of Genevieve. The symbol for Saint Genevieve is a compass and a sword on the Dawn Sun.

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Saint Sachi the Pure Prophet

 

Saint Sachi is known for travelling the lands and evangelizing the Aurorym faith. Stories about her include saving a faltering hamlet which had fallen to despair, and deposing a tyrannical lord from power that had been corrupted by the Unhallowed. Saint Sachi travels the lands preaching the good word of the Aurorym to anyone that will listen, be that in the dirty fields of a farming community or the extravagant halls of noble courts. Many seek her council as it is said that speaking with her will relieve you of troubled thoughts. Those that aspire to spread the good word of the faith and demonstrate the rewards of the Aurorym follow the path of Saint Sachi. The symbol for Sachi is a scroll and fine quill crossed upon the Dawn Sun.

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Estates of the Realm

 

While the concept of social castes is omnipresent throughout Arnesse, it has a special impact in the Hearthlands due to the strong presence of priests. Estates of the Realm originated from the ancient times when holy men and women were a part of the social structure. The outward goal of the estates was to create an earthly expression of that the god’s plans. The basic concept was that everything had a place in the divine plan and thus each person had a place within society. A person’s estate became their lot in life; their proper place in the mortal world. Estates also served a secondary role in that they defined the place of a clergyman as not that of a ruler. Thus, it kept the Troth from descending into a Theocracy where the religion ruled the government and they do so to this day. Estates also told the commoner of their place in the order of things and defined their role as not that of a priest or a noble. While the Estates did not specifically prohibit people from moving from one to another, it did say that one could not occupy the roles of more than one Estate. However, in the modern day, this has not resolved what is an evolving argument in the Hearthlands. There are those who wish to see all the Estates of the Realm dismantled and the Aurorym take a more active role in the governing of the Hearthlands. While this has met very stiff resistance among many nobles, it the sentiment to abandon this ancient practice continues to grow among the faithful.

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The First Estate

“Those who rule.”

 

Consisting of the nobility and other wealthy or powerful individuals in society, this group is a small fraction of the population of the Hearthlands. It is not only landed nobility, but includes gentry, and anyone who has the right to bear a surname or is of noble blood. It is also possible for powerful members of guilds, knights, and merchants to buy or earn their way into this estate and be counted among the good and great.

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The Second Estate

“Those who pray.”

 

In earlier days, this consisted of priests of many long dead deities, but in modern times, the Second Estate now is only the Aurons of the Aurorym faith. There has developed a split in this estate between those born from great wealth and privilege who choose to join the priesthood and those who are of low birth. While the Aurorym faith tends to attract more priests from lower castes, as the religion has matured and become more popular, it is becoming increasingly common for noble children who do not stand to inherit land, to become Aurons. With their noble families at their back, these noble-born Aurons can become quite powerful and influential and it is these priests who risk the very foundations of the Estates.

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The Third Estate

“Those who toil.”

 

This estate makes up most of the Hearthland’s population and consists of both freemen and serfs. By far the lease influential group, they have a hard life of hard physical labor and food shortages. Most born within this group and die as a part of it, too. Even in the Hearthlands it is extremely rare for people of this ascribed status to make it out into another estate. Those who did so managed as a result of either being recognized for their extraordinary bravery in a battle, entering religious life, or joining the Vellatora knighthood. Over the years, some of the commonfolk have managed to marry into the first estate and become nobles themselves, but this is a rare occurrence.

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Pilgrimage

 

A pilgrimage is the act of traveling to sacred places of the Aurorym faith and are quite common among the Hearthfolk. These pilgrimages can be to sacred shrines, many of which are dedicated to saints of the Aurorym or other significant hallowed sites throughout Arnesse. Most Hearthfolk go on at least one pilgrimage in their lives and some go on many more. It is common when a young Hearthfolk comes of age for them to do pilgrimage as a sign of their submission to the Aurorym faith as an adult. Many also travel to these sites so that they may have prayers answered, troubles resolved, and illnesses cured. Not a few have used pilgrimage to escape troubles with the law or personal issues at home. Some sacred sites are close journeys of only a few days, but some can take months of overland travel and entail a significant amount of cost and personal risk. Because of the risks involved during travel, pilgrims often band together for protection and even employ men-at-arms or knights to escort them to their destinations.

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When on pilgrimage, many faithful dress in a simple fashion in order to reflect their piety, often choosing to carry banners or other markings that denote them as followers of the faith. This serves to shown others of their dedication to the faith but also that they are folk on a religious mission, in the hopes to dissuade attack from bandits or highwaymen. In some cases, this encourages attacks as some bandits see faithful as easy targets and the Aurorym are not well regarded among some factions in Arnesse. While on pilgrimage, many take sacred vows and vows of silence, celibacy, and non-violence are commonly taken. Most of these vows are held for the duration of the journey to the shrine with the intent of purifying the animus of the pilgrim before they reach their final destination.

 

When the pilgrims arrived at the sacred site, they often have to pay coin to be allowed access to the area or the relics. In some cases, pilgrims were even allowed to touch and kiss them. The keeper of the sacred site typically gives the pilgrim a metal badge that had been stamped with the symbol of the shrine. These badges are then fixed to the pilgrim’s hat so that others know they had visited that location. The hats of those who go on frequent pilgrimage are often covered in medals. In addition, sacred sites often have several merchants selling religious paraphernalia and even what they claim are sacred relics and artifacts. While almost all of these are fakes, during the high season, these merchants can do a lucrative business.

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For many in the Hearthlands, pilgrimage is a sign of one’s faith but it the distance one has travelled and times one has gone on pilgrimage can confer some social status. While people often go on pilgrimage themselves, the wealthy and nobility sometime pay others to go to pilgrimage on their behalf. Common sites of pilgrimage are Highcourt to visit the site of Magnus Blayne’s death, the sacred city of Exeter, the shrine of Saint Symeon near Holbeach in the Midlands, and the Nare River, north of Beggar’s Keep, where Saint Orione was said to have been purged of her sins. Other sites include shrines to various local saints in Hearthland villages and even battlefields that were the site of a significant victory by the faith, such as Lanton. The Dawnbringer Rectorix in Scrow is said to house a collect of sacred relics that has no rival and is a frequent destination for many travelling Aurorym faithful.

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Relics & Sacred Items

 

Carrying or having sacred items or images close at hand is an important feature of Hearthfolk society. Most followers of the Aurorym wear the sacred symbol of the Solyx, the Dawn’s Sun, somewhere on their person at all times, be it a ring, a necklace, or sewn into their clothing. When taking on an action that is particularly important, difficult, or dangerous, Hearthfolk faithful will seek out an Auron to bless them or an item they will be using in the task. This is particularly true of battles, where whole armies often seek a priest’s blessings and the warriors ask to have their armor or weapons consecrated. Though no one has been able to prove these blessings or prayers actually do anything, they do provide a morale boost to the individuals and in a fight, this can give them an edge.

 

Even more significant among Hearthfolk is the acquisition and possession of relics or other sacred artefacts. Relics are typically a piece of a saint’s body or something formerly in their possession. They can include items such as weapons, clothing, blood, bones, and even items tied to their actual deaths. Possession of a relic is said to bring special blessings upon a faithful and grant them unique gifts to heal the sick, ward against evil, or great battle prowess. Many faithful seek to attain a true relic of a saint but, given the Aurorym habit of burning their dead, it can be a bit of a challenge to obtain a body part from the newly dead. Some have speculated that the burning was in part instituted among the Aurorym to prevent wholesale mutilation of corpses. However, grave robbing is still surprisingly common in the Hearthlands, and the resting places of those revered by the faith are often their first targets.

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Relics of the Aurorym

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The Wood of the Wheel

 

When Magnus Blayne was executed by King Richard II he was placed upon a breaking wheel and tortured before being burned alive. The Wood of the Wheel is said to be pieces of the breaking wheel upon which the First Martyr died. Over the years, many have claimed to possess fragments of the wheel, including House Bannon itself, which is said to have kept the piece not as a relic, but as a trophy – a source of great agitation for many Aurorym faithful. The fragments of the Wood of Wheel are said to confer near invincibility to those who possess it, be able to cure any ailment, and legends say that any army who marches with the Wood of the Wheel at its head cannot be defeated in battle. This legend was all but confirmed at the Battle of Lanton when Giles the Younger marched with a fragment of the Wood of the Wheel at the head of his invading army and won an impossible victory.

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The Chains of the Martyr

 

These chains allegedly where the ones which bound Magnus Blayne shortly before his death at the hands of King Richard II’s executioners. The chains are said to unbreakable and cause great agony if they are placed upon anyone who is unjust or wicked. The tales say that the wicked who wear the chains will be forced to confront the harm they have done to others and that the evil they have wrought upon the world will either be purged from their animus or consume them entirely.

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Shield of Saint Cuthbert

 

The shield is said to have been worn by the legendary warrior, Saint Cuthbert during the Battle at Exeter, during which he laid down his life to defend a group of innocents. According to tales the formidable bulwark allegedly unbreakable and it is also said that so long as the bearer is of pure heart and deed, the shield will make them invincible while they are defending those who cannot defend themselves. While it is unknown who holds the shield now, rumors say that it sits in the armory of the Fervent Order of the Vellatora and has been used in combat by the Living Saint Decima on several occasions, turning this already formidable warrior into a true juggernaut.

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Finger of Saint Sabine

 

The body of Saint Sabine was never found but it is said that in the days after she became a Witness to Magnus Blayne, the Hexen master lost a finger in combat against a terrible beast. Rumor has it the finger was claimed by the Hexen order and has been kept by them in secret for many years. Those who claim to have seen the relic say it is little more than an old, withered finger often worn on a leather cord. The finger is said to have the power to always point towards source of the greatest evil in a region and possess very powerful warding effects that can drive off or protect an area from creatures.

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Quill of the Servitor

 

This relic is said to have been the quill that was used by Saint Phillip the Servitor to build the foundations of the Aurorym faith. Some have claimed the quill is a thing of extraordinary beauty, trimmed in gold and silver, but others say it is little more than a rather plain, well-worn writing instrument. Those who wield it to write the written word are said to be struck with true inspiration and otherworldly insight, particularly about matters of the Aurorym faith. The scholar Lubinus allegedly used the Quill of the Servitor to pen his famous In Nomine Fides essays on the nature of the Aurorym religion in 623. It is also said that whomever wields the quill cannot speak or write a lie. The location of this relic is unknown but credible rumors exist that the Apotheca have managed to acquire it and are extensively testing its potential applications.

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Dawnbreaker

 

Dawnbreaker is the legendary sword wielded by the Living Saint, Casilda the Dawnbreaker. Allegedly forged from the broken weapons of the first warriors who fell in the name of the Aurorym, it made its first appearance on the field at the Battle of Exter, where it claimed the lives of many who stood against the faithful, including the commander of the Bannon expedition. The blade’s prowess has been on display quite a few times since then and it is said to be able to cut through almost anything and imbue the wielder with incredible combat abilities. In addition, the blade is said to bear an aura of sanctity that repels evil and that it can put the bring peace to the restless spirits of remnants if it is thrust into their grave.

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Veil of Mercy

 

This relic is said to be the cloth that was used to tend to Saint Orione in her last days as she lay dying. The Veil is said to be little more than a soot and blood-stained cloth but allegedly once the relic is soaked in the waters of a river, it possesses the power to cure any disease or curse, no matter its state or origin. The cloth also is said to be able to purify any impure water that it touches. Rumors about where this relic lies are many and varied. Some say it’s in the possession of the Aurorym in Scrow but has also been linked to the Corveaux house of Peneose and their knight order, the Order of Mercy.

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Cup of the Illuminated

 

This common-looking wooden cup is said to have been owned by Saint Symeon. Allegedly possessing incredible restorative powers, any injured who drink from this cup find themselves fully restored from the most grievous injuries. It is even said to be able to restore life to those who have recently died. The cup also is said to have an uncanny ability to give its possessor the ability to sway others to their viewpoints and should a group of people drink from the cup, for some hours after, they will find themselves more agreeable to working toward a mutual and peaceful agreement. The cup is held as part of a relic collection in the Cradle of Light rectorix in Highcourt and has been used by Giles II in negotiations to settle various disagreements during his reign. Some say this relic is the sole reason that the King has managed to keep his throne despite having so many potential rivals and enemies.

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Sacred Vows

 

Oaths are as important to Hearthfolk as they are in other land, but sacred vows are held in even higher esteem because they represent a sacrifice in one’s life to show their devotion to the faith. In a land that is so centered on religion, there are few more serious ways of expressing one’s commitment to a person, a thing, or an ideal than to swear a sacred vow. These are generally sworn before an Auron and entail the faithful declaring what vow or vows they are swearing, why they are swearing the vow, and how long they will hold it for. True traditionalists will also have the Auron impose a punishment upon them if they are found to have broken the vow. These can range from minor acts of contrition to harsh physical punishment or even being removed from the Aurorym faith. The individual is now called a Vowsworn in the faith and as long as their vow is maintained, they are accorded additional respect for their devotion and piety. To fail a vow is a deep humiliation and source of shame. It is not uncommon for direct servants of the faith such as Aurons or Vellatora to maintain one or more permanent oaths as a sign of their ongoing service. It is less common for a faithful to take a long-term vow but somewhat common to take a short-term vow when engaged in a particularly pious activity such as a pilgrimage or while in mourning for the death of a loved one.

 

Below are some of the most common sacred vows:

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• Vow of Poverty – The Vowsworn promises not to ask for or take any income or coin or goods. They may take charity that is freely given but must give coin they receive to the needy.

• Vow of Chastity – The Vowsworn may not engage in any type of sexual contact with another. This can also be extended to even something as innocent as touching. Chastity is often sworn as part of a knightly devotion and is thought to exemplify and demonstrate purity of body and animus.

• Vow of Silence – The Vowsworn may not speak a word when under this vow. They may write to communicate with others.

• Vow of Pacifism – The Vowsworn may not take any hostile action towards another, even if they are being attacked. This can also mean that they cannot bear a weapon of any kind. The Vowsworn can be defended by others not under this vow.

• Vow of Obedience – By taking the Vow of Obedience the Vowsworn promises to do the will of whomever they swear the vow to. Aurons take a Vow of Obedience to the faith and to obey higher-ranking priests. All Vellatora knights and many nobles in the Hearthlands take this vow alongside their traditional Oath of Fealty to ensure their loyalty and fidelity.

• Vow of Enclosure – The Vowsworn promises to be enclosed within a certain location or specific area. This is meant to be a somewhat small place, such as a castle or chantry, but can be a region around a town or other such geographical limitation. The Vowsworn can travel anywhere within the enclosure but no matter the reason, must never cross a specified boundary.

• Vow of Celibacy – Similar to a Vow of Chastity, a Vow of Celibacy also means the Vowsworn cannot marry and also may not have any sort of sexual contact with another. This vow is often undertaken by those who have fully committed themselves to their faith and do not wish to place another within their heart. Vows of Celibacy are very commonly long-term commitments and often last for an entire lifetime.

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The Dawn Charter

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Signed in 664 after the death of the Lord Paragon Theodric Blayne, the Dawn Charter brought an end to one of the darkest times in Hearthlands history, the Regnum. Though the Paragon who succeeded Lord Theodric, Lady Emalia, signed the document under duress, it is still seen as a significant step forward for the rights of the commonfolk. The Dawn Charter did what few documents in history had ever done, giving the common people some documented rights and a level of equality with the nobility. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, the implementation of the Charter, while still providing some rights, certainly did not deliver all that was promised. The reality was that most commoners were happy to be free from the tyranny of the Regnum and while the Dawn Charter did not provide everything they wanted, it was progress. To this day, it stands as one of the most important documents of the Age of Kings and is an inspiration to all commonfolk in Arnesse who toil beneath the yoke of tyranny.

 

The Dawn Charter consists of four tenants:

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I. Freefolk in tenancy upon the lands of House Blayne are entitled to a trial in a noble court overseen by their peers.

 

This tenant of the Dawn Charter allows those accused of a crime to request to be heard by their peers. An allegedly impartial group of peers must be chosen before a court session. This group of peers will listen to the case alongside the noble and supposedly render advice to the lord or lady. The intent behind this was to render out any class bias that may go on when a commonfolk has their case heard. While any freefolk has the right to ask to be heard by their peers this is done infrequently, because having the uneducated and often very inexperienced advising a noble can often do more harm than good. In addition, the selection process has often proven problematic with numerous cases of these peers being bribed or coerced to a certain decision. In the last few decades some freefolk have taken upon themselves to learn the law and offer services as “Professional Peers” for those who can afford their exorbitant fees. While it a Professional Peer does not ensure a good outcome, it provides a chance that someone is present who can advocate for the accused with a reasoned argument.

 

II. Freefolk upon the lands of House Blayne are entitled to be consulted on matters pertaining to taxes and taxation.

 

This is by far one of the most controversial tenants of the Dawn Charter, for the nobles have long held that taxation rights belong to them and no one else. This tenant entitles freefolk to be consulted when a tax is created or changed. This tenant was intended to mitigate frivolous and excessive taxation by nobles. During the implementation of this tenant, the nobles demanded that the representation be an elected office and thus the position of actuary was created. Actuaries must be commonfolk and are charged with representing the people to the nobles on matters of taxation. They are elected to two-year term and can serve more than one term. While actuaries have accomplished some goals of the Dawn Charter, many are alleged to be on the payroll of nobles and allow the same taxation problems that have existed for years to persist.

 

III. Freefolk upon the lands of House Blayne are entitled to hold beliefs of their choice without fear of persecution or prosecution so long as they do not violate the King’s Laws.

 

This tenant of the Dawn Charter was specifically put into place to protect against religious persecution of commonfolk. Of all the provisions, this one has been adhered to by most of the nobility throughout the years. Though this appears to allow a great deal of freedom, the fact that it is limited by the King’s Law still allows nobles to take legal action against beliefs that the nobles determine are subversive or treasonous.

 

IV. Freefolk upon the lands of House Blayne are entitled to inherit or give inheritance of property without interference.

 

This tenant was put into place to protect freefolk from greedy landlords who would retake their land when the original deed holder passed on. While not all nobles engage in this type of behavior, it has happened enough that it was included in the Dawn Charter. While not an ironclad provision, this tenant at least provides some potential legal recourse for families to avoid eviction upon the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, because of this provision, those greedy landlords have now taken to using knights or brigands to run families off their land or simply kill them when they wish to reclaim a property.

 

Violation of the Dawn Charter by a noble, if proven, goes before the Paragon of the Dusk for review and judgment. However, this is extremely rare and only three times in the century since the Charter has been signed has this happened. Of those three times a noble was only found guilty once, and even then forced to pay minor reparations to the injured party.

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Alms & Charity

 

Hearthfolk are looked down upon in most lands for being a simple people, but they are renowned for their charity and care for their community. Because of the frequent and serious hardships placed upon the residents of the Hearthlands, few places in Arnesse have communities so close-knit and willing to aid each other. Families that experience hardships are often aided by others and it is not uncommon for larger families to choose to live together in a commune-type arrangement. Children with parents who have died are often taken in by their next of kin or the larger community if they don’t have any. Unfortunately, this sense of community often does not extend to outsiders or strangers as they are often treated with suspicion, skepticism, and even hostility if they create trouble. The one exception to this is those of the faith, who will generally be welcomed with open arms by other Aurorym.

 

One major tenant of the Aurorym faith is almsgiving, or any material favor which is done to assist the needy. The Aurorym feel that the process of aiding those who are less fortunate increases one’s own virtue and they are renowned for their generosity. However, the state of the Hearthlands has created some intriguing social dynamics around this generosity. Firstly, the nobility is almost the universal exception to this. As a matter of fact, their greed often rivals or exceeds the generosity of their people. Secondly, given the generally poor conditions in the Hearthlands, the most generous, often the commonfolk, don’t have much to give, so much of what is exchanges hands is services and goods rather than actual coin. This is only compounded in towns and cities, where living conditions are even worse, and people have even less to give. It is not uncommon to see actual homeless and street-people in town and cities, whereas those are non-existent in the countryside. Lastly, as with most of the Hearthlands, the generosity is often restricted to other Hearthfolk and faithful.

 

One highlight of the Hearthlands society is its network of orphanages. Originally founded by the current Lord Paragon’s father, Clovis, to shelter the children of nearly a decade of civil war, these orphanages have become recruiting grounds for the knights of the Fervent Order of the Vellatora. While they are a form of charity for children in the Hearthlands, they also serve in a practical capacity as well. But some of these orphanages have developed a reputation over the years for poor conditions and overly harsh treatment and many children attempt to avoid going to them at all costs. Because of this, homeless children are still fairly common in the Hearthlands, particularly in urban areas such as Scrow, where they are referred to as ‘street rats’. Due to the homeless problem in some areas, nobles frequently offer bounties for these orphans, employing bounty hunters known as ‘ratcatchers’ track these children down, capture them, and deliver them to an orphanage. It is also not unheard of for the nobles to also offer bounties for homeless and vagabond adults, who, when captured, are then turned over to the Vellatora knights to be pressed into service as a foot soldier in the Hearthlands army.

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Crime and Vice

 

Criminality is a fixture in Arnesse and the enforcement of the King’s Law is something that all nobles in the Kingdom contend with. However, in few places are illicit behavior, criminal activity, and corruption as deeply seeded as the Heathlands. Scholars have speculated why this is the case, especially in a land that is so traditionally faithful. The best that anyone can conclude is that the frequently poor and often dire living conditions present in the Troth, coupled with the oppression by nobility, has led to a state of mind where people feel they must do anything in their power to survive. This mentality has led many Hearthfolk to believe that hard work is not enough, but that they must take from others, just as they themselves are taken from. Desperation and despair have led many to chase the dream of wealth; for most, the only quick path to this end is illegal and often dangerous.

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Early on, the people of the Troth realized that wealth from throughout the Kingdom passed through it. Thus, this wealth became a ripe target for Hearthfolk looking to better their fortunes. So, while many among the Hearthfolk are honest and upstanding, working their farms and jobs common in the Kingdom, others take up illicit professions such as bandits, highwaymen, con men, and thieves. While some of these criminals work alone, many realized that there was strength in numbers and formed gangs or organizations around their illegal enterprises. Today, the Hearthlands has one of the highest concentrations of criminal organizations anywhere in the Kingdom. This has made the Hearthlands one of the most treacherous places to visit and due to its reputation, only the unwise go there without some sort of reasonable precautions.

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One might think that the nobles of this land could do a better job of enforcing the King’s Laws and protecting the roads, but many times the lords and ladies of the Hearthlands are as guilty or guiltier of crimes than their own subjects. Mind you, the nobility are rarely seen doing crimes themselves, but they are often at the head of operations that involve acts of bribery and corruption that stretch across many layers of Hearthlands infrastructure. They frequently overtax and oppress their subjects and are unafraid to demonstrate the severe price of disobedience. While not all nobles in the Hearthlands are corrupt, enough are that the system of government there has largely adapted to it as a normal state. Bribes are king in the Hearthlands; little gets done without paying a bit extra to accomplish the simplest things. This bribe is often called a tax or a duty to hide implications of corruption. Graft among the nobles and officials is shockingly common as someone is always seeking a piece of the action.

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Two things have emerged among this criminal culture, likely as a result of the strong influence of faith in the Hearthlands. Firstly, many lower-level criminals among the Hearthfolk have a code of honor, or honor among thieves, as some may call it. Most will steal from outsiders but not those native to the Hearthlands, feeling that their peers already suffer enough and generally don’t have much to steal. Secondly, while people may be hurt in their crimes, the Hearthfolk are not a particularly murderous lot; committing a bloodless crime and making a profit is ideal. Therefore, many have taken to theft and things like grave robbing to make a living. Though this has a practical application in that punishments for murder are far more severe, it also is thought to be kinder on the animus should one suddenly die and then be judged in the afterlife.

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The Aurorym faith has had a big impact on criminals in the Hearthlands. The faith discourages lawlessness in general and as the religion has grown, in places that it is strong, crime tends to fade and be far less common. This is one of the primary reasons that the Aurorym faith has come into conflict with the nobles as it often calls them to abandon their wicked ways and be more virtuous leaders. However, the faith has yet to change the fact that the Hearthlands people still suffer and as a result, desperation still drives people to do what they must when out of sight of the faith. This is compounded by the fact that power tends to corrupt and as the faith has grown in influence, Aurons have taken increasingly important roles in Hearthlands society. They are human like anyone else and this subject to vice and corruption. So, while it in its purest form, the faith is a bulwark against wickedness, the Aurorym have continued to struggle against vice and corruption within their own ranks, even as they preach the values of virtue to others.

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Holidays

 

The Godsfall

 

The death of the Old Gods and the abolishment of religion has not been quickly forgotten within the Hearthlands. So, while the rest of the Kingdom celebrates the establishment of the Bannon monarchy and the rule of the first Queen Catherine, many Hearthfolk hold a vigil to remember the faithful who have died in the past so that they could practice their religion today. King’s Day events tend to be somewhat muted in the Hearthlands are instead often replaced with more somber events that mirror Remembrance Day rather than a celebration.

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Saints Day

 

This is not a singular day, but the name given to each of the days of celebration held throughout the Hearthlands, each celebrating a single particular Saint. Each of the major Saints have their own specific day and many small villages have local Saints that have their own days of celebration. On a Saints Day, faithful of the Aurorym will gather to recite the deeds of heroism performed by the Saint and reaffirm their devotion to the faith. Festivals generally accompany this recitation as the day turns to night with the setting of the sun.

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Remembrance Day

 

On this day none in the Hearthlands work. Instead faithful families come together as one to spend the day in quiet contemplation of the deeds of their ancestors. Families will rise with the dawn and gather within the familial urn room. No meals are served in the morning as the deeds of their ancestors are recited by the youngest member able to do so beginning with the dawn of the sun. Afterwards, the family will spend the day in quiet meditation in the presence of the family’s Urn. It is encouraged for individuals to focus on what they might be able to do in the coming year to bring the light of the dawn with their own deeds or bits of heroism to the community. As the last vestiges of light disappear with the setting of the sun, the family will have supper together. As they finally break their fast, it is customary for each member to speak of what they contemplated on as they all meditated.

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Funeral Rites

 

The Aurorym faith has specific funerary rites and in many places in the Hearthlands they have become common practice. When a loved one dies, their family members, close friends, or comrades will set a vigil in the night as the body of the deceased is burned to ash. Over the course of the night, those present will speak on behalf of any deeds performed by the departed. Should the deeds be heroically significant enough, they may be declared a Saint of the faith. Once the last ember has cooled, the ashes are gathered together and distributed to those present. For the commonfolk, a family may have a single large urn that houses all the ashes of their ancestors. For fallen knights of the Vellatora, the ashes are typically spread to each of their surviving comrade in arms to carry in their personal reliquary, for the knights are each other’s family

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