Church of the Seven Good Gods

From Mondays

Old empire, crashed a thousand years ago. Barbarism descended. Two centuries ago, a young scholar, exploring old ruins, discovered an ancient text. Translating it, he discovered the story of the Seven Good Gods, and the blessings and rituals that accompanied their worship. The book also warned of the Seven Evil Gods, and their minions the seven times seven times seven times seven times seven times seven times seven demons. The scholar re-founded the worship of the Seven Good Gods. Soon after, his home city was attacked by a neighbouring city. The scholar discovered a prayer in his book which would guarantee victory in battle. In desperation, the ritual was enacted, and the war was won.

The Church of the Seven Good Gods was re-established, under the leadership of the scholar. Since then the Church has pursued three goals - the suppression of the old religion (claiming the old gods to be members of the 7^7 demons), re-discovery of further sacred texts and icons, and temporal power.

Detractors of the Church claim that temporal power is the Church's main aim, that the magic provided is weak or non-existent, and that the Church suppresses recovered texts that conflict with their current dogma.

	Seven Good Gods	Seven Evil Gods
1	Trade	Theft
2	Love/Mother	?
3	War	Murder
4	Rulership/Father	?
5	Art & Learning	?
6	?	?
7	?	?

Magic

Pray to [good god]

Pray to [saint]

Charms are blessed to a specific saint. They provide a +1 (simple copper or ceramic charm) to +5 (contains fragment of bone, cloth, or hair from the saint) to the relevant Pray.

Hierarchy

The Church is overseen by a single Primate. He is assisted by seven Eminent Cardinals, one representing each of the Seven Good Gods. In theory, each Eminent Cardinal has a College of 49 (seven times seven) Cardinals under him, each a priest of the Seven Good God to whom the Eminent Cardinal is dedicated. In practice, most of the Colleges have far fewer than the theoretical number of Cardinals. Occassionally, however, the Father and Mother Colleges acquire more than the 49 allowed.

One of the duties of the Grand College of Cardinals (as a meeting of the seven Colleges is known) is to elect a new Primate, in the event of the death or retirement of the incumbent. Since the total number of Cardinals (including the Eminent) is theoretically 350, Church laws allow the Prince of Cassadifede to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. Since the Prince is normally also a Cardinal, this practice effectively allows him an additional vote. However, the records show that every vote has been unanimous, and in accordance with the will of the Seven Good Gods. The Inquisition actively discourages speculation as to why the Church would therefore need elaborate voting rules, or to meet in seclusion for up to several weeks, in order to elect a new Primate.

Church Structures

Basilicas - The major church dedicated to the Seven Good Gods in each city. (Or, in the case of Cassadifede, the major church in each quarter of the city.)

Churches - Where the majority of town & city dwellers worship.

Chapels - Small churches, normally raised on country estates or near villages.