by David Hall and Nick Brooke
History
The Church was founded by the great Wizard and Prophet Valkaro. He was sent to us by the Creator to show us the way to Heavenly Paradise. He came to us before the time that the whales walked, but after the time that the sky changed.
Valkaro was a Holy Saint and Prophet of Malkion from the great lands of the West. When he had reached spiritual purity he was called by the Creator to Solace and Joy. He journeyed to Heavenly Paradise in a great ship, made of a giant sea-shell and pulled by seahorses. However, the evil demons of the sea grew jealous of Valkaro and the pleasures he would enjoy in Paradise, and so they conspired against him and caused a giant whirlpool which sank his ship.
Though his ship had foundered, Valkaro was not killed. He was washed up upon the shores of the island of Ambovombe. There he was helped by a man named Waituru, who became his first disciple and a saint even though he was only a humble fisherman.
News of Valkaro's arrival spread quickly across the island and people flocked to see this strange man, with his pure white skin, from the sea and hear his message. Through a series of heavenly miracles and the power of his words he soon convinced the superstitious people of the island of the folly of their worship of their local god. With a few words and the click of his fingers he was able to provide everything that their god had provided before. Soon afterwards the people invited him to become their ruler and to begin the Wizard Church of Valkaro.
Once the Church was well established and the new priests trained to rule, Valkaro began the work of carrying the message to the other islands. On the island of Ambatolampy he converted the people with a limbo dance on red hot coals without being burned. Rathmorasomangon was converted with only a comb, and Ambatarolamba was completely converted in just one day. Valkaro also made many miracles. On the island of Sironomandidi he built a great palace in just one night and on Juborantanga he turned the evil rulers into Giant Turtles.
Thus was the message of Valkaro spread throughout the islands. We must continue the work, for there are many islands that still have not heard his words.
Finally, after many years of benevolent rule, Valkaro announced that his work was done, and that he must continue his journey to Heavenly Paradise. He then turned to his chief Apprentice and said "You are Umforafong, and upon this Umforafong I build my church." Then he boarded the ship that he had called to the island with his magic and departed.
Since that time we have kept his laws, served his priests, and spread his words.
Theology
There is only one god and he is the Invisible God. His prophets are Malkion and Valkaro.
Malkion and Valkaro taught that each person is born into his caste and will live in their caste, unless by their purity he or she shows that they are worthy of being admitted to another caste.
The sorcerer priest caste is manifestly the most potent social caste and that they are therefore the most natural rulers of society.
Saints are not divine in themselves, but are in fact role-models to follow. They must not be worshipped lest demons be let into the world. The only true worship is through the invisible god and his prophets.
We follow the Law of Malkion including the prescription on the tapping of any creature apart from those of the sea, the Extogallia - and their land bound agents. We hold that anything of the sea is evil and demonic. The Extogallia are our enemies and they are always plotting against Valkaro's loyal followers.
We believe that a devout worshipper will return to the faith as a new born babe. However, each sin, however small, has a cost to it; the worse the sin that you commit the higher the cost you must pay. This cost is paid for in the time you must spend in limbo being purified of your sins. Those who have sinned will remain in limbo until their sins are commuted.
Killing a follower of the Wizard Church of Valkaro is a heinous crime and the perpetrator shall never be reborn, but shall be held in limbo until the seas take all.
Women are equal to men in all matters except the governance of the Church. No woman may ever hold a religious position except as a wife to a priest. The value of women lies as a nurturer of children and as a restraining influence on her husband. Marriage is a divine partnership. Only those of the priest caste may take more than one wife and they may take no more than five.
The sea is a place of danger and death. Below the sea lie the Extogallia who are intractably opposed to the ways of Malkion and Valkaro. Travel across the sea may only be accomplished in the company of a priest and after the proper rituals and prayers.
Hierarchy
The ruler of the Wizard Church of Valkaro is the High Sorcerer-Priest, he is the Creator's divine representative upon Earth. He is chosen in accordance with the procedures laid down by Holy Valkaro.
The High Priests of the islands each submit to the rule of the High Sorcerer-Priest on Ambovombe, Valkaro's Isle. Each island that worships Valkaro has one High Priest and at this time they are nine in number.
Important Saints
Saint Galvost was a friend to Valkaro who ruled a great Empire in the West. He sacrificed himself so that Valkaro could live and show the world the truth of his faith. His self-sacrifice for a friend is an example to us all.
Saint Waituru was the first disciple of Valkaro. He was killed and eaten when trying to convert the island of Motumobabi. However, though he had been eaten by the whole tribe, his disciples found his perfectly preserved body on the beach the next morning. His devotion to spreading the faith is an example to us all.
Saint Teelambu was the third wife of Valkaro. She saved Valkaro from an evil assassination attempt by an islander who was possessed by the demons of the sea. She threw herself in front of the assassin's poisoned blade and was killed. Her devotion is an example to all dutiful wives.
Attitudes to Other Sects
Brithini
This evil empire instigated a bloody war against our faith. But Holy Valkaro led our people to victory and we feasted upon their hearts. As our Vadeli cousins also tell us, you can never trust the perfidious Brithini.
Rokari
Sailors say that this sect foolishly does not allow any movement between castes. As a result they are inbred and lack all flexibility of mind.
Stygians
Merchants have told us that these people worship similar gods to the nearby islands that refuse the truth of Valkaro, yet they say they are Malkioni. These lies must be exposed.
Galvosti
The Vadeli have confirmed that our brethren still exist on the great western continent and they follow the way of Saint Galvost. These people must also know the truth of Valkaro and be blessed for it.
