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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 3940226" data-attributes="member: 20323">Thanks for your input!Ancestor worship was common, and rebels had witches who summoned up ghosts to fight alongside their guerillas. The witch-finders had trouble tracking down these guerillas and couldn’t defeat the ghosts (who would return with the ancestors of the witch-finders in tow to haunt them!). Thus, it was convenient to ally with a temple that could undermine the ancestor worship of the commoners...The Imperial Church negates belief in the Underworld, only allowing worship of the living aspects of the gods, and forbids worship of the entirely Chthonic deities. Doctrine is that there is no eternal reward, rather reincarnation until guardian angel/ancestor status is achieved. Thus ghost-summoning witches could be accused of (a) denying their ancestors the chance to ascend, or (b) summoning devils disguised as ancestral spirits. While the Imperial Church was responsible for helping the emperors to steal land and subjugate the people, it has been the only institution of the government to help villages in the wake of the empire’s collapse, providing guards for religious pilgrims, sending healers to remote villages, and offering prayers and ploughs to help farmers secure a good harvest.Interesting comment. The Compact was created in the wake of disaster, driven by fears powerful wizards had of uncontrolled magic. It was originally enforced by a council of wizards, but when the Imperial Church rose to power, many high-ranking clerics attained seats on the council. Now that the church has less ability to enforce the Compact, it is up to the wizardly council to enforce it. In practice, the Compact is reserved for powerful magic-users (the ones who can cast world-shaking spells/rituals).The non-humans will return with the phoenix’s rebirth – which will probably happen once the PCs reach epic level (21st). Only PC race available is human – each with a common lineage (heroic/supernatural lineages accessible via feat, some of which can make the hero a herald for the return of an elder race).At first the latter, and then outright revolution to overthrow last of imperial control.Imperial Church worships celestial objects as deities – the Divine Court (Sun King, Full Moon Queen, Crescent Moon Queen, New Moon Queen, Mother of the Sky – black section of night sky, the Prophetess – a comet, various star demi-gods (constellations), etc. Other Chthonic gods were relegated to the country and driven underground.- icons had faces smashed or covered with veils.I haven't done much work here yet...I like the idea of "monster cults" - that unique monsters are extremely charismatic and exert supernatural influence over people, attracting courts, armies, religions, even city-states. For example, a medusa bard might represent a culture's vanity turning to stone its ability to empathize with victims...disguised as an oracle she develops a cult around her.</blockquote>

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