The Church of Qyrvagg/History

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The history of the Church of Qyrvagg is fairly long and chaotic. It is chronicled here, in the Tome of Wars:

  • Long ago, in the Battle of Nem-e-Kabu, a man named Sartan was elevated to the status of a deity. Because of his actions on and off the battlefield, he became the God of War. What is not recorded by the preists of Ibladesh is that his younger brother, who fought by his side, and his two captains (who were twins) were also raised up, but to the status of Demi-God, not full God.
  • The Church of Qyrvagg has its roots in the Church of Ibladesh. Long ago, Ibladeshian missionaries travelled the great sea voyage to the Far East, becoming the first Sartanians. They venerated Sartan above the other deities of the Pantheon of Ibladesh. But they, in the same folly as the Church of Ibladesh, failed to recognize the Lesser Gods, the Demi-Gods.
  • After some time, these Ibladeshian missionaries founded a Theocratic realm in the farthest eastern reaches of the Far East. This realm was known as Sartania. It venerated Sartan, the God of War,
  • Unfortunately, this Theocracy became a mere organization, not a Church. Within the first few moonturns, Sartan wept fro his home on the surface of the Earth. For they held not his values. they did not believe in War.
  • All this time, Qyrvagg had been gaining followers. He found loyal believers in the Vikings of northern Atamara, and one family in particular: the Vellos Family.
  • Soon after one of these Vikings, Hireshmont Vellos, took up service in Sartania, Qyrvagg struck. In the great Spiritual Battle of Hakan-del-Zir, Sartan was overthrown, and removed of deityship. Qyrvagg became the God of War and Battle. The Twin Gods became one, the Demi-God of the Armies. And Sartan was demoted to the Demi-God of Virtuous courage.
    • But why did Sartan lose? His followers were weak believers. In the great battle, Qyrvagg summoned up the souls of his followers, and Sartan his. They did battle. Qyrvagg would have lost to the more powerful Sartan, but his followers were fanatically devoted, devoted more than any others. And Sartan's forces were butchered. But Qyrvagg showed mercy, and di not exile Sartan to Deep Heaven, but simply demoted him.
  • Hireshmont saw this in a vision that has become known as the Vision of Ascension. He found follwoers in Sartania, and formed the denomination known as the True Sartanians. But they could not achieve their goal. Thus he and one true follower fled. Bothw ere accused of Heresy, Hireshmont was to be executed. For the full details, read the Sartanian histories and Hireshmont's description by his grandfather(family page). In an epic defense of the faith, Hireshmont systematically demolished Sartanian theology in what has become known as the Trial of Hireshmont. Hireshmont became the First Prophet of QYrvagg.
  • Soon after, another member of the Vellos family was to become the prophet. His name was Hridriol, but he was stricken by disease, and perished. In his place, Amekal Vellos was made the new profit. He made his way Valentia, in Beluaterra, where he would meet up with Baiko, the other follower from Sartania.
  • Meanwhile, Hireshmont took up service in Oligarch, spreading word of Qyrvagg, fighting great wars.
  • In Valentia, Amekal recieved word of secret converts, soon to be made known.
  • Not long after, he learnt of Baiko's family members in Sirion and the Ash Sea islands, who worked for the cause of Qyrvagg.
  • Through the loyal efforts of a family which wishes to remain secret, Amekal learned that there could be even more Sartanian defectors than ever believed, and that the Church of Qyrvagg was growing faster than in Hireshmont's wildest dreams!
  • Over the next few weeks, Qyrvagg's Voice was first printed and distributed, becoming the official newspaper of the Church of Qyrvagg. Also, Amekal announced the founding of the Church of Qyrvagg Courier Initiative. It would be an inter-continental message and information exchange for members of the Church. At the time, it was very small. But he hopes for it to grow, centered largely around the newspaper, Qyrvagg's Voice.
  • Soon after, rumours began to spread about another move of the Church's home, due to recent opportunities.
  • Then, Amekal had a mysterious vision. In it, he saw a man wearing the crest of Riombara.
  • While in Valentia, Amekal and Baiko were falsely charged, based on forged documents, of rebellion. They earned enemies there, they were betrayed. I was betrayed, by a friend, Billy. He is now a foe of the Church. Mere hours later, Amekal secured free passage to Riombara, where his visions told him a home would be found for the Church of Qyrvagg. Soon after, Baiko and he set out, going to Fwuvoghor, in Riombara.
  • The arrived there, and were welcomed with open arms by the Riombarans, Marc in particular. Marc's brother, Paul, was a close friend of Hireshmont's, in Oligarch. Baiko and Amekal immediately began preparations for the Temple, and began arranging for the official begginning of the Church of Qyrvagg, when all would hear of it.
  • MEre weeks later, after a failed attempt to get elected as Count of Cjeley, permission was granted by Marc, the great Duke of Irombro, to construct the Temple in Irombro. Money collection sped up, and we made preparations for the Grand Temple of Qyrvagg.
  • Then, on February 13, it happenned. Immediately following a duel between Baiko and Amekal, for fun and experience, word came that the Grand Temple was complete, and the keys to it were awaiting in the hands of Marc, Duke of Irombro!
  • Seemingly out of no where, on February 25, 2006, Hireshmont renounced his Prophetic and Priestly duties. He did not renounce Qyrvagg, but he did turn away from that being his first loyalty.
  • Several days later, Amekal had another vision, of gifts given by Qyrvagg to deliver his church from future threat. He recieved the first gift immediately: the Staff of the Phoenix.
  • A few weeks later, on the eve of a battle against the undead during a military excercise, Baiko, Master of the Holy Hosts, recieved the gift of the Flamebanner, to hold aloft over the Holy Hosts and lead them into the fray.
  • Not long after, Bethany, Countess of Bolkenia, agreed to build a Holy Shrine to Qyrvagg. The Procedures were begun to physically MOVE the Temple from Irombro to Bolkania, then remove it from Irombro. This is in accordance with a Vision given to Amekal.
  • On March 18, 2006, The Church of Qyrvagg became the second official, organized religion! Bethany was its founder, though I, Amekal, am still the Prophet, she the Grand Priest. I am the spiritual head, she the administrative one. And, naturally, Baiko is the military head. Immediately, we began physicall, stone by stone, moving the Grand Temple to Bolkenia.
  • On April 3, 2006, Amekal Vellos vanished, following a series of mysterious happenings atop the Temple in Irombro. More info in the Visions section of the Tome of Wars.
  • On April 19, 2006, Amekal returned, but was no longer Amekal Vellos. He is now Amekal the Claimed Prophet, Amekanun.
  • Soon after, on April 26, 2006, a great number of things occurred. A member of a different religion as given a sort of honorary lordship right in the heartland of Qyrvaggism, and seemed to be intent on founding her religion officially. A loud, though respectful all around, debate began on the legality on this, and on theological differences in the religions. On the same day, in Ashborn, a relative of Edward(then Pontifex of Sartania) founded a branch of the Sartanian Sect known as Ragnarok. Interestingly enough, a relative of sparticus the Just also dwells in Ashforth, porbably in support of Christofer, Edward's relative.
  • After weeks of expansion, growth, controversy, and day-to-day managing of the Church, from May 18-May 21, the Prophet Amekal went on the first of his Missionary Journeys. This one began in Avengmil, then went to Ardmore, then Grehk, Glongin, and Mio Dupaki. While in Mio Dupaki, Amekal was commanded to leave Luz de Bia, and did so. Over 500 peasents converted to Qyrvaggism, and three region lords were spoken to about converting to Qyrvaggism.
  • In June of 1006 the Church had its first non-Riombaran members. Haroldin and Darkness from Enweil, and Zellion from Luz de Bia. Haroldin even built a temple in Enweil.
  • Also in those times, Holy War was called on Luz de Bia, and word came down that Hireshmont would be returning, to function as a missionary for the Church.
  • Hireshmont did come back, but was eventually excommunicated due to misrepresenting the Church on numerous occasions.
  • Soon after, the city of Irombro seceded from Riombara, to form Irombrozia, and in a minor skirmish the said enemy of the Church, Sir Harim, was slain. While his death was brave and heroic, it was taken as an omen of favor towards Irombrozia by Qyrvagg.
  • After several weeks, Amekal decided the time had come for a change. For too long the Church had shown too much apathy. Passion was necessary for true belief. Thus, all religions save two (Sanguinarianism and the Path of the Great Dragon, of which both are believed to be variants) were declared evil, in an attempt to show Qyrvaggism as truly different from the rest of the world.
  • Around the same time, Grand Priestess Bethany, the legal founder of Qyrvaggism, was deported, and Krillin, a long-time supporter and Priest of Qyrvaggism, was promoted to the rank of Grand Priest.
  • It was during the days of Irombrozia's struggles that many things happenned in the Church. The first temple in Fronen was constructed, Renal stepped down from the post of Missionary Primus, and new candidates were sought, and the Church continued to grow steadily.
  • As time progressed, more temples were built, and new members joined. The Church continued to expand, and gained followers and temples in Fronen, quickly developing a strong and devoted following in Fronen. In Fronen, the Qyrvaggian believers began to have interactions with the Path of the Great Dragon, which led to the writing of the Epistles to the Path of the Great Dragon, and reconciliation of the two religions.
  • Unfortunately, the Church of Qyrvagg went through dark times. It was riven with turmoil and difficulty because of the unfortunate laws of Riombara which, due to the Church regarding other religions in Riombara as evil, banned all preaching of Qyrvaggism. An attempt was made by the Church to reconcile, by changing their stance on Yggdrasili, which was the primary other religion in Riombara (Qyrvaggism had more noble followers, and roughly 3x as many peasant followers, but this did not matter to the Riombaran government).
  • Unfortunately, even the Church's aquiessence to the demands of Riombara did not reconcile the two. Riombara banned Qyrvaggism once again (after a brief respite) due to their stance on religions which had no peasant believers or temples in Riombara, but did have one or two nobles. Thus, the preaching of Qyrvaggism was again banned in the realm which has over half of its believers in it.
  • Discussion began in the Church, and it was a dark time, in which all were forced to see how far their devotion to Qyrvagg went, and trust to Him for guidance and protection.
  • Eventually, the Church did moderate its stance to view other religions as merely misguided, and was permitted to preach widely in Riombara again. However, this happened around the same time that Irombrozia seceded, and Qyrvaggism lost much of its popularity in Riombara.
  • Strong congregations formed in Heen, Fronen, and even Enweil shortly after. They lasted through many years, and the Church of Qyrvagg grew to about fifty nobles, with a dozen temples in seven different realms. It was well represented on both sides of the Great War that consumed the continent.
  • However, political pressure, strained funds due to the war, a shortage of priests, and the death of several prominent members led to a decline in the Church eventually. The congregations in Enweil and Fronen almost entirely vanished, while the congregation in Heen and Riombara shrank vastly. Irombrozia's congregation grew, but it was never very large.
  • When the daimons came, the Church launched a Crusade against them. However, even this did not serve to revitalize the faithful.
  • During this time, Amekal was called into heaven by Qyrvagg, and Sendan became the new Prophet of Qyrvaggism. He began to oversee a new expansion of the faith.
  • Around the time of Irombrozia's fall, several new priests arrived, and Qyrvaggism began to reform, reorganize and set about trying to expand again.
  • The congregation in Heen shrank to a small flicker of its former self with the vanishing of Duke Medium Steele, and it was closed down to one large temple in Heen City. Even so, new efforts at widespread evangelizing were begun.
  • This history is recorded by any and all who wish to contribute with truth.

The Church of Qyrvagg