The Church of the One

The Church of the One is a faith dedicated to Io, the One God. It was brought to Tellandor in the 1st century GC by Abel Cauth, the Prophet. Its central tenet is that there is only one god, the Lord of All Creation, who reigns over all races and beings forevermore.

From its humble beginnings, the church has risen to become the predominant faith in the lands of Man, at least those of the former Kingdom of the Sword. It has gained very little traction among other races, and has not entirely displaced worship of The Great Church among humans, particularly in the lands of Tirnor and the Ascadian Isles.

The One, as the god is known, has various other names, including Io (simply the Auld Ascadian for "the god"), or, in modern Uldennic, "God". The deity has no form or image, and therefore no gender, nor race, nor outward appearance of any kind--according to the Holy Texts (Metaphrasis and Septuagint). However, many small folk commonly refer to God as a male, and imagine Him having a prototypical appearance, such as an old, vigorous, bearded man, robed or in a toga. There are no depictions of God to be found in any cathedrals or monasteries--the fashioning of such a graven image is considered a sin, and any such images must be destroyed at once.

There is a strong association between The One and light, particularly sunlight. Since the late 4th century, cathedrals dedicated to the One have been oriented around a magical construct known as an Oculus: a device which, through means not shared outside the Brotherhood of St. Kord, captures sunlight beamed in through windows and skylights and accumulates it into a glowing mass which remains bright throughout the night. The Oculus is said to create a magical field of divine presence, warding away evil, monsters, and dark magic. It is strengthened by devotion, and as such, the faithful are called to prayer morning, noon, and evening each day to empower it with their faith.

The Oculus, as a device, is not mentioned in any way in the Holy Texts, though numerous mentions are made to God's nature as the "Font of Light" and the "Foe of Darkness", so some precedent exists. Independent practitioners and artificers have measured the effects of Oculi, and admit no doubt that the devices have strong, measureable effect on certain energies, and creatures of energy. It is thought by many that the invention of the Oculus was a key factor in turning the majority of the Eastern Kingdoms to the worship of the One.

See also:

• The Brotherhood of St. Kord: an order of silent monks who maintain the ancient, ascetic ways dictated in the Metaphrasis. They are consummate healers and workers of magic in the form of holy light.
• The Order of St. Arja: an order of holy knights known also as "Paladins" (from the Auld Ascadian Ordo Palatini) who take sacred vows to defend the faith, its virtues, and its adherents.
• The Sisterhood of St. Devorah: a monastic order exclusive to women who wield the True Flame, a fire-like magic said to be the "Flames of Creation". They are charged with destroying evil magic and purifying the faith of heretics (the latter a more modern affectation).
• The Ordo Valentia: an order of priestly monks who comprise the majority of the clergy. They tend the basilicas and abbeys, shepherding the small folk and tending to the high-born, the latter accomplished with ease from their splendid cathedrals.