Church of Humanity/Reliquary

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"We serve the Divine with our faith and devotion,

and with faith there must also sometimes come sacrifice."

-Arch Cleric Jor Tanos

Beneath each temple of the Divine lays an undercroft. It is here that the honored dead rest in sealed stone tombs, each crafted to their likeness in life. On altars and in shrines placed among the dead sit reliquaries containing relics of saints, confessors, and martyrs. These relics consist of simple things, such as a cup used at a meal, a personally beloved token, or even a mere scrap of cloth from the revered's shirt. The more gristly artifacts include the weapons used to slay martyrs or splinters of the equipment used to torture them in life. Other reliquaries hold bones, dried organs, limbs, heads, or even the entire body of the revered dead.

Of Confessors and Martyrs

When one of the Faithful pass into the Light, their lives are soon after reviewed by the priest they were closest to. If their priest is not available for whatever reason, a wayshrine Deacon is often assigned in their stead to chronicle the deceased's life and actions, so that a tome may be buried with, or in some cases, in place of the body. Should the honored dead's actions be particularly noteworthy in the eyes of the chronicler, the tome is sent to the closest Revered Cleric for further review.

The deceased's deeds are then judged based on their actions in life. Should their lives prove their piety and that they devoted themselves to Holy Church, they will be known as a Confessor. This is due to the deceased's life having been lived so as to confessed to all who met them their Faith.

Even if they lived their lives in Darkness, in death they could still be redeemed and even revered. Should the deceased have perished in the course of an Exalted March, died against the forces of Darkness, or in the dungeons of twisted, evil men, then they shall have earned the epithet of Martyr. This is provided that at the moment of death they fully embraced the Divine's Holy Light.

Constantine of Bruck the Martyr, Executed by the undead forces of the Darkness in Ossmat 13 Oct, 1010. Recanted his adopted heathen faith at his death and once more embraced the Divine and Her Light.
Caspius of Poryatu the Martyr, Murdered by agents of the corrupt Church of Sartan in Ozrat 17 Aug 1012. Recanted the corruption of Sartan, was slain when it was discovered he had accepted the Divine's Light.
Elisedd the Martyr, Slain in battle against the forces of Ibladesh 7 Oct 1011 in Abadan. Remains blessed and posthumously granted last rites 23 Sep, 1012.
Iscee of Hidale the Martyr, A pagan slain in battle against a combined force of undead and monsters in Ircymbar 6 Nov 1012. Granted Last Rites by a deacon of the local parish and embraced as one with the Divine.
Maverick of House Mcloud the Martyr, Slain in battle against the forces of Ibladesh 13 Mar 1011 in Abadan. Remains blessed and posthumously granted last rites 23 Sep, 1012.
Pete of Bescanon the Martyr, Perished in battle against the inhuman elves and their allies in Bescanon. Brother to Arch Cleric Shallow.
Pius Draco of Poitiers the Martyr, Perished in battle with the undead forces of Darkness in Ossmat 12 Oct, 1010. Recanted his adopted heathen faith at his death and once more embraced the Divine and Her Light.
Yogie of House Guldan the Martyr, Slain in battle against the forces of Ibladesh 27 Sep 1011 in Woolton. Remains blessed and posthumously granted last rites 23 Sep, 1012.

The Blessed and the Venerable

While Confessors and Martyrs are among the most honored dead, there are times when certain miracles are attributed to them. These include more simple things, such as premonitions and visions, to the more complex such as miraculous healing or an apparition of the dead appearing by Faithful troops during battle. Miracles that can be attributed to Martyrs and Confessors must be investigated by the Clerics of Holy Church.

Should they be verified as truth rather than rumor by the Cleric, a Confessor is raised to the status of the Blessed while a Martyr is raised to the ranks of the Venerable. This is the first true step towards Sainthood. Should the Arch Cleric be petitioned by reverencers to look into the matter and consult the Divine, a Blessed or a Venerable could be acknowledged as having the status of Saint - a Chosen of the Divine.

Blessed Shallow of Bescanon, First Arch Cleric of the modern era. Honored for his piety and sacrifice. Recognized as one of the Blessed 24 Oct 1012.
Blessed Maelg of Esgalons, First Paladin Primus of the modern era and Grand Master of the Templar Order. Honored for his bravery and faithfulness. Recognized as one of the Blessed 8 Nov 1012.

On Saints - The Divine's Chosen

While Confessors and Martyrs are among the Church's most honored dead, respected for their sacrifices, and the Blessed and the Venerable are revered for their holiness, when a person makes a considerable impact to the Church, to Humanity, and numerous miracles are attributed to them, the Ecclisarchy may recommend that the Arch Cleric raise the deceased to recognized Sainthood. This includes proscribing them a patronage based on their life's actions and their holy power. By doing this, the Arch Cleric acknowledges them as worthy of prayer due to their status as agents of the Divine in life and in death.

When Sainthood is declared the Proclaimed is, if needed, disinterred from their resting place and moved to a crypt in one of Holy Church's Cathedrals. While the Saint is relocated, personal effects and writings are gathered by agents of Holy Church for use as Relics to be distributed to the Faithful in places they have touched.

Saint Balkeese Vindicata, Patroness of Defending Armies, Stonemasons, Militia, and Templar Sergeants. Perished at the hands of Ibladeshi zealots in Woolton 23 May 1011 as a Martyr. Recanted her faith in Sanctus Acies at her death. Sanctified by Arch Cleric Tanos 28 February, 1012.
Saint Evangeline Magnificara, of Zawr. Patroness of Friendship, Alliance, Diplomacy, and the Spirit of Determination. Disappeared from the mortal realm 8 August 2011. The Divine spoke to her and led her to the founding of the modern Church of Humanity. Honored for her good works across the continent as well as rule of both Perdan and Westmoor. Sanctified by Arch Cleric Tanos 4 Jun, 1012.
Saint Saerden, First Martyr of Perdan. Patron of Battle, Paladins, and Victory. Hero of Brive, known locally as The Chulainn. Perished in the ancient Battle of Perdan as a Paladin of Humanity. Re-sanctified by Arch Cleric Tanos 16 Jun 1012
Saint Tempus of Itourant, Patron of Scholars, Nomads, and Blacksmiths. Served as one of the earliest missionaries of the Old Church. Re-sanctified by Arch Cleric Tanos 24 Oct 1012.