A Rediscovered Church Tome, by Bishop Reynard Destain (deceased)

[Roland Dagorian]

The Beginnings of the Avatarian Faith

A shining beacon of Faith and Virtue, the Covian Church standeth, the centre of the Avatarian Faith in Cove, indeed all of the north-east of Britannia.  Like a protective shepherd watching over their flock, the Church standeth vigil over the people and reassureth travellers that Cove hath indeed embraced the evident Truth of Our Lord Avatar, and His eight Holy Virtues.  Just as each Virtue is formed from a combination of the three Principles, Truth, Love and Courage, so is the Church thus formed from the three Orders.  The Witch Hunters roam the land, seeking Truth.  Eternal damnation awaits those who hath turned their backs on Avatar, and so it with Love that the priests of the Church preach endlessly of the Virtues and of the Faith, converting all those of goodly demeanour.  And lastly, the Templi of the Church show their devotion to Avatar by embracing Courage in the defence of the Faithful.

But how did the Virtues come to be?  How did Avatar reveal Himself to His people?

For many years, the Old World of Sosaria was largely ruled by the wytch-lord Mondain, a foul creature of evil.  But not all Sosarians bowed down to this heathen.  Some had faith that a Higher Being existed, who would free the world of this wytch and usher in a new Kingdom of Light.  One such man was Lord British.  He led the resistance against Mondain and in time his faith was rewarded.

In the last days of the Old World, the Higher Being chose to reveal Himself.  A mysterious stranger appeared in the land, spreading hope and many was the miracle He performed.  In time this Stranger confronted Mondain, and cast him down into the Abyss, destroying the Gem of Immortality.  The resulting cataclysm was immense, casting off the shackles of Godlessness that gripped the world.  In His Righteous Wrath at the sins of the people, the Old World of Sosaria was shattered, remade as the Lord intended.  The pagan elves were a particular focus of Our Lord's punishment, the pagan city of Heartwood was cast out and the elves remaining in what is now Britannia were unable to return to that vile place of paganism. 

The world was remade, Lord British restoring Order to the land, now known as Britannia.  Lord British's faith in the Higher Being was rewarded and it was thus revealed to him by the Time Lord that the Higher Being had manifested Himself as a physical being to confront Mondain directly.  The Stranger was in fact the Higher Being's physical manifestation!  The Time Lord further revealed the Virtues the Higher Being wished the people to follow.  The Higher Being was in fact the embodiment of these Virtues, and in time became known as the Avatar of the Virtues, as He is known now.  Lord British immediately set about establishing the Virtues, and created eight shrines, one for each Virtue.  The Virtues are Honour, Compassion, Valour, Sacrifice, Spirituality, Humility, Honesty and Justice.  Alas, not all accepted Avatar into their hearts.  One such man, Blackthorn, opposed Lord British in his crusade to spread Avatar's Word, and promoted Chaos, creating his own shrine in mockery of the Virtuous ones. 

The Faith began to spread as more and more chose to follow the Virtues and accept Avatar as their Saviour.  It is believed that Avatar shall cometh again, to shatter the land once more and bring about His Kingdom of Heaven, a Paradise that shall surely last for all eternity.  Only the Faithfull shall dwell in this Eternal Kingdom, the Faithless and the heathens shall be cast unto the Abyss for an eternity of Damnation and Torment.  The Guardian doth dwell in the Abyss and it is his servants who practice wytchery and seek to corrupt the Faithful.  Over three centuries have passed since Mondain's destruction, but evil doth still persist and must be destroyed wherever 'tis found.

[Roland Dagorian]

But how did the Church come to be?  What of it's beginnings in Avatar's beloved Cove?

In the early days following the Remaking of the world, a small settlement arose, known as Cove.  In those days Cove was a settlement of infidels, following diverse made-up gods and praying to idols of wood, iron and stone.  But one man had seen Avatar's Truth, and was determined to convert the Covians to the ways of the Lord and His Virtues.  This pious man was Sanct Keldar of Rothermere, the founder of the Covian Church, blessed be his name.  The Covian Lord at that time wisely chose not to oppose the True Faith and granted Sanct Keldar a plot of land.  Sanct Keldar then built the original Church of Cove himself, by hand.  The present-day Church lies in the same plot of land and is constructed out of much of the original's stone. 

Sanct Keldar had two sons.  The younger began the priesthood.  The elder and heir, called Ezekiel, became a knight and founded the Templi Order.  Sanct Keldar, led a glorious crusade against Blackthorn's Chaos shrine. Alas, the servants of evil attacked the Sanct and slew him.  But doubtless he now sitteth in Paradise at Avatar's right hand and doth await the Second Shattering of the world.  His armour was recovered by Sir Ezekiel.  In time Ezekiel had an heir and was martyred by servants of the Guardian.  Foul rumour doth suggest that Sir Ezekiel's brother was responsible for this deed, but 'tis clearly the lies of heathens and should be treated thusly with contempt. 

The armour of Sanct Keldar was passed down by his descendants through Sir Ezekiel, a practice that hath continued .  The current heir, Sir Hugo of Rothermere, Templar Preceptor, doth currently possess the armour of Sanct Keldar, engraved with many past deeds.  In recent years the Covian Church hath faced many trials.  Sir Hugo declared a Crusade against the drow infesting the once-holy city of Trinsic.  Many answered his call but alas the Crusade faltered at the gates where they faced the drow and their Kaldorian allies.  The Church was struck a further blow during the orc invasion of Cove that took place at this time, during which many of the Church servants were slain as they slept.  At that time, all that remained of the Church Order was Sir Hugo, his squire Jema and Sanct Conrad Von Richter, blessed be his name, brother of Baron Octiovus Von Richter and later martyred during his time as Bishop.

The Church slowly grew during the reign of Baron Octiovus Von Richter but suffered a further blow when the Church suffered a mysterious attack.  Sir Hugo disappeared for some time and was feared slain.  The Church suffered damage.  The Baron and many Covians left Cove for Yew to escapeth a plague and the newly returned Commander, Gregor Eason, saw his chance to deal the Church a death blow.  During Mass, he seized his chance and confronted the priests, aided by the elf Delcarukder.  One priest was slain, the other arrested.  Three Faithful Guardsmen, Erik Arkay, Grief Dryfh Gry and Roland Dagorian in turn arrested the Commander and released the priest.  Alas, the heretics in the ranks supported the Commander and the last of the Church servants were exiled from Cove.  The Church was further desecrated by an explosive alchemical substance and was torn down. 

For a long time Cove was a land of Godlessness but in time the Baron returned as did a recovered Sir Hugo.  The Church was rebuilt and the people repented their apostasy, returning once more to the Avatarian Faith.  A new Golden era of Piety and Faithfulness shall surely Dawn in Cove.  Praise be unto Avatar!

In Nomini Deus,

Reynard Destain
Bishop of Cove

- Postword - Bishop Reynard was martyred in year *smudged* but his legacy liveth on.