by Nick Brooke and David Hall
History
The Church of Syanor has existed since ancient times, when Saint Talor saved the whole land of Fronela from the evil Deceiver. He spread Truth and Piety throughout Fronela. All the cities of Loskalm, Dona, Junora and Syanor worshipped Malkion according to the rites he taught.
For most of the Second Age, however, Syanor was dominated by the God Learner rulers of Loskalm. It was liberated at the end of the Second Age, and the Church was revitalised when the great Fronelan hero, Jonat Big-Bear, went on pilgrimage to ancient Seshnela. He rescued many priceless artefacts of the true religion from the corrupt God Learners who held them, and returned to his homeland in Syanor, bringing with him these great relics and spiritual treasures.
The reborn Church of Syanor was widespread and united in the early Third Age. In the fifteenth century, however, a great migration of easterners came down the Janube from Peloria and settled in Dona, the central expanse of the Janube River. First they seized Eastpoint by force, using evil sorceries to achieve their ends, and then corrupted the people of Southbank and Riverjoin into joining their heresy of Moon-Worship.
As if that were not harmful enough, 125 years ago, the evil wizards of Loskalm cast a great Enchantment known as the Ban over the whole of Fronela. This created impenetrable, cursed borders, separating the different parts of Syanor from one another for almost a century. The bishoprics could not support each other: in West Jonatela the Church fell from favour under the rule of impious kings, while in the East it was wholly abandoned. Only in Junora, Karstall and Timms were there pious rulers, willing and able to support True Doctrine.
Alas! The evil Kingdom of War now sweeps across Junora, conquering every city it comes to; while the King of Jonatela, an unjust and grasping man, has ousted Holy Count Belathgert of Karstall from his rightful seat, and now moves against the free and independent county of Timms. King Congern is no friend of the Holy Church; he is also a lustful man, and a sinner. His priests and bishops have many times remonstrated with him, but to no avail.
These are testing times indeed for the Church of Syanor.
Theology
There is only one God and he is the Invisible God. His prophets were Malkion and Talor.
There are many natural spirits in the land which can be appeased and used by man. All are part of the natural bounty of the realm of the Invisible God. However, it is wrong to give these spirits worship, or to call them Gods, as the backward Pagans are wont to do.
We follow the Laws of Malkion, including his absolute prohibition on Divorce. "Do not ruin that which you Love," said the Prophet. The holy state of matrimony is a perfect expression of spiritual Love: what God has joined, let no man tear asunder. Moreover, as Love must be true and perfect, it is not possible for a widow or widower to marry again.
The spell of Tapping may only be studied by Bishops. It is only proper to use it to inflict righteous punishment on those twin desecrators of holy matrimony: adulterers and bastards.
We value the loyalty of peasants and warriors to their rightful lords.
There is no need for social mobility: the sanctity of holy matrimony ensures that children are worthy of their parents' station. Thus, each person is born into his class, lives in his class, performs the tasks of his class, and dies in his class, whether he be peasant, warrior, priest or lord. It is not for us to question God's wisdom in assigning to each his station, whether it be humble or high.
We also hold the following views:
Women are fully equal to men in spiritual terms. They can become priestesses and bishops as easily as might a man. However, as they are plainly inferior in their physical nature, they are unfit to serve as warriors or lords.
Bishops must marry, so that through the sacred rites their sundered nature may be reunited. Priests and priestesses should marry, and raise many children to succeed them.
Bastards are born into the peasant class: as the illegitimate offspring of no true marriage, they are outside Malkion's Laws.
Loyalty to Family is one of the chief virtues taught by Malkion: outside marriage, this means celibacy; within marriage, fidelity. Adulterers shall not be suffered within the Holy Church: they have desecrated God's Laws and forfeited his Love.
Many natural spirits take on an animal form, and these have been known to perform acts of great piety and bravery. Jonat's companion the Bear is the best-known example. Therefore, animals are regarded as having spiritual conscience and the same sacred responsibilities as people of the peasant caste. This does not mean that they should be treated like people, but it does mean that they have the capacity to act as moral exemplars, for better or for worse. There are a few animal saints recognized by the Holy Church.
Hierarchy
There is no recognized head of the Syanoran Church. Its bishops determine doctrine as a collegium, in which they meet as equals.
The highest officials of the church are the Bishops who each hold spiritual sway over a part of Syanor. The Holy Bishoprics of the early Third Age were: Einpor, Molene, Okarnia, Riverjoin, Karstall, Southbank, Timms, Eastpoint and Galastar. In these sad times, however, only Einpor, Karstall, Timms and Okarnia retain their fidelity to the Holy Church.
Beneath the bishops are many priests.
Important Saints
Saint Hrestol
Hrestol was a Prince who had a vision of Malkion, the holy prophet and taught many of the rules and laws which we follow to this day. He ruled that serfs and priests could not bear arms, but that warriors and nobles should. He was cast out from Seshneg after chastising his father, King Froalar, for taking a second wife after the death of his first wife, the holy Saint Xemela. His wicked stepmother was the Serpent Queen, Seshna, and everyone knows the stories of her evil deeds, and her monstrously deformed children.
Saint Talor
Talor, called the Laughing Warrior, liberated the land of Fronela at the end of the First Age. He cast out the minions of the Deceiver, an evil cult which came from the East, and united the Church of Fronela. If only we had a second Talor among us today! He would serve us well in this, our time of need!
Attitudes to Other Sects
Hrestoli
The Hrestoli hold the foolish belief that there can be upwards mobility through the classes. This is a very dangerous heresy, given the uncertainties of the time. It is possibly the reason why the Kingdom of War has emerged - the Creator is punishing them for their sins.
The Hrestoli Church is also too closely tied to their Kingdom. This has served them well in the past, but what if their King were to fall from true piety? The temporal power of secular rulers should be kept separate from the eternal dominion exercised by spiritual leaders.
Arrolians
This heretical sect from Peloria claims that a Third Prophet was born in their eastern homeland four hundred years ago. They offer pagan worship to the Red Moon, and their doctrine is full of errors. They are the present rulers of three ancient Syanoran cities: Riverjoin, Southbank and Eastpoint. We pray every day for their expulsion from our land!
Zorians
These sinful women preach doctrines of Free Love, and are a corrupting force that seeks to overthrow the sanctity of holy matrimony. They are whores and seductresses, and must not be permitted to desecrate this Council by their ungodly presence!
Carmanians
We know little of this sect, except that they played a part in liberating Fronela at the end of the Second Age, and are said to have been loyal to Saint Talor.
