Source of Magic: The Order

Of the governments and organizations in the Bay, only one holds near-universal reverence and respect. The Order is the church of the people of the Bay, tending to their spiritual needs and attempting to bring the different races together.

Divine Magic

Magic related to the gods, primarily Voland (and Orich), is mostly the domain of the Order. Students are usually taught how to use the holy light to heal, but it is also possible to use divine power to strike your enemies.

Classes from 4th Edition D&D that would fall under the purview of the Order include: the cleric, paladin, invoker, runepriest, and to a lesser degree the monk and avenger. Being a monk might mean you have gone to the Silver Keep or an abbey, but have only just begun your training, or perhaps that you have chosen to focus your contemplation inward upon yourself rather than outward on the gods and the world at large. An avenger would most likely be an attendant of an abbey and has been schooled in the specific dogma of that institution rather than the Order.

Structure of the Order

Internally, the Order is divided into six sects, each serving a different portion of the population of the Bay. Each sect is indentified with a colour that also corresponds to the people or nation it primarily serves: red for the uruks, blue for the elben, green for the alfar, yellow for the humans, purple for the hodekin, and white for the yadekin. Leading the sects are the High Keepers, two for each, generally a man and a woman (though obviously this isn’t the case for the Purple and White Sects). A High Keeper is usually elected to the position by the other Keepers of their sect, and in turn the High Keepers elect the Deacon, who leads the Order as a whole.

The Silver Keep, in the human town of Dunstable, is the headquarters of the Order. It is the permanent home of the Deacon, and is also the primary residence of many High Keepers. Part of the Silver Keep is the priory where new Keepers are educated. Master Keepers from each sect teach their new inductees the ways of the Order.

In addition to the Silver Keep, there are a number of smaller abbeys scattered around the Bay that may teach slightly differing versions of the faith. While most of these are at least acknowledged by the Order as valid, the Blackwood Abbey on Perry Island is an exception. The Order has officially rescinded the membership of any Keeper, Brother, or Sister associated with Blackwood Abbey, but that does not prevent them from continuing to use their titles and preaching their own hateful form of the faith.

Joining the Order

The choice to enter the Order is not one to be taken lightly as it usually defines your life from that point onward. Generally, a prospective student would first attend personal lessons with his or her local Keeper learning the Libram, their holy text, in great detail. Going to the priory at the Silver Keep can only be done on the recommendation of a Keeper, so the Keeper teaching you the Libram decides when and if you are ready to take that next step.

If you are accepted into the priory, you journey to Dunstable and begin your real training. As a student, you are granted the title of Ember; you are recognized as a member of the Order, but you are not granted all the rights and responsibilities of a full Keeper. Ember training lasts for a minimum of three years, but can last longer if your teachers, the Master Keepers, do not deem you yet ready. Lessons taught include healing, defence, deeper understanding of the scripture, as well as lessons in how to counsel others in times of crisis.

When it is time for your full ordination, there is a ceremony performed on the first day of the new year, the day after Nighsend. Each Ember vows to remain devoted to the Order and to Voland (or Orich), to defend and protect the innocent from harm, and to use the holy power and their knowledge for the benefit of the people. Part of the vow of devotion to the Order and Voland (or Orich) is agreement not to marry or become romantically involved with others. In addition, a small sacrifice of blood is required of each Ember. The blood is mixed together with that of a rabbit and then used to mark a circle (the symbol of the Order) on the Embers’ foreheads. Finally, at the end of the ceremony, as each Ember is granted the title of Keeper, they are given a pendant of a silver circle, called an annulus, which serves as a reminder of their vows.

If you join an abbey instead of attending the priory at the Silver Keep, your experience may differ from the norm. Most who join abbeys do eventually attend the priory as well, but not all. Those who never attend the priory, but are still acknowledged by the Order, are granted the title of Brother or Sister. The vow of a Brother or Sister varies from abbey to abbey, and some may even allow marriage or romantic relationships. Non-Keepers, however, are never granted many of the rights of the Order, such as performing marriages, and also never receive an annulus, but may wear a silver ring on their right ring finger.

Friday: The Hallows Festival

Introduction: Religion

There is only one major religion in Frozen Over. While others may exist in other parts of the world, within the confines of the bay the Order of Voland stands alone.

Voland & Bishal

The Order teaches that there are two gods: the creator, Voland, and his nemesis, Bishal. Voland is associated with fire, light, and order, while Bishal is associated with ice, darkness, and chaos. Before the Freeze, many had ceased to believe in the gods and even within the Order itself there was uncertainty as to whether they still existed or had ever existed. However, for the truly devout that uncertainty doesn’t shake their belief in what the gods represent.

In the ancient texts, it is said that after Voland created the world with his fire, he created the thinking beings of the world. But in order to give them true life, a true soul, he had to give each person a small part of the holy flame, his soul. As a result of this action, the Order teaches that all peoples are one, that each individual is part of Voland. Charity is revered above all else, and the protection of innocents is highly honoured.

Bishal, on the other hand, is the demon who struck Voland down in his weakened state, having given so much of himself to his children. Trickery and deceit are considered vile actions, and theft is nearly as heinous a crime as murder. However, Voland is merciful, and even allowed Bishal to live, choosing rather to banish him to the frozen realm of Nifel. Likewise, thieves and murderers are banished rather than killed or imprisoned, though they face death if they return.

The relationship between Voland and Bishal represents the struggle of order to overcome chaos and light to overcome darkness. This struggle is central to the story of the Freeze, as well as the survival of the Bay, and the heroic sacrifice of Barton Butter. As a result of their ideals the people of the Bay defend order and honour at all costs, and uphold their laws with unwavering fervour.

The Order

In the Bay, the Order is led by the Deacon, who resides in Dunstable in the Silver Keep. The Deacon is a powerful figure in the politics of the Bay, reflecting the renewed devotion of the people since the Freeze began.

Individual priests of the Order are known as Keepers of the Flame, often simply shortened to Keeper. They receive their tutelage and ordination at the Silver Keep, which also serves as a seminary and reliquary. Most Keepers receive a post in a local kirkhall, similar to a church, and tend to the needs of the people, but some choose to serve in other ways, as medics for example. As being a Keeper entails tending to the needs of others and remaining utterly devoted to the Order, they are not allowed to marry or have relationships as doing so would distract from their mission.

While the Order is involved in the politics of Butter Bay, they strive to remain neutral in war. The current Deacon, Torren Hoster, believes that supporting either side would allow chaos and darkness a place in the Order. Picking sides would also serve to alienate the races of the opposing side and thus bias the Order and harm its position as the thread that links all people to Voland.

Holy Days

There are three religiously significant festivals celebrated by the people of the Bay. The first, Sorrows, takes the form of a funeral service to commemorate the death of Voland at the hands of Bishal. The seconds takes place in the darkest time of winter, when the sun does not rise at all, they celebrate Chand, in remembrance of the first Keepers who watched over Voland’s body and maintained its dormant flame. And finally, Nighsend is celebrated when the sun makes its triumphant return, just as Voland did in returning to life to banish Bishal from the worlds.

Symbols

The most common symbol for Voland is, unsurprisingly, a flame. However, the symbol for the Order is instead a simple circle. To the Keepers, the circle represents the bond that all thinking beings have with Voland and one another. It also symbolizes order standing firm against the chaos. Some Keepers will also tell that it represents the separation of the righteous residing in Muspel from the sinful and evil who are cast out of Voland’s love and forced to reside in Nifel with Bishal, though the Order does not officially condone this interpretation.

Other Beliefs

The Kindred teach people about the primal spirits and how nature should be revered. Likewise, the Academy teaches of arcane magic and how it can be turned to the service of people. Neither of these, however, should really be considered religious beliefs as they are not worshipped as gods. They are instead seen as forces that can be used in the service of either good or evil, and those who adhere to their teachings are also followers of Voland.

Wednesday: Geography