The Church of Caelum is the most prevalent nation and religion in the Relief. Ruled by the Exarch, Aura Sol Orbis, the territories of this constitutional theocracy reach as far as the Miasma. The nation’s capital, Caelum’s Landing, is amongst the largest and most populous cities in the Relief, with much of the region’s trade passing through its markets.

The Church has remained the most influential and widespread religion in Fio for 1,000 years. It seeks to establish order by expanding its influence and assisting in the development of newfound earthmotes. Though tolerant of other religions, the Church’s ubiquity often seems to overwhelm other nascent cultures and religions.

Organisation

  • Exarch is the title given to the head of the Church of Caelum. The Exarch establishes the laws of the nation as proposed by the Chairman of the Ministry. The current Exarch is Aura Sol Orbis. She resides in the Oratory on Caelum’s Landing.

  • Prefects are governors of territories belonging to or allied with the Church. This role traditionally goes to members of the Sol Orbis family or high ranking members of the Church.

  • Chaplains serve as the head of a parish within a Church territory. They usually oversee and reside within a chapel central to the parish. Their duties include delivering sermons and performing marriages.

  • Clerics are the divine warriors and scholars of the Church, often gifted with divine magic of the light and tempest domains.

  • Deans are the Church’s teachers and archivists. Their duties include transcribing holy texts, maintaining sacred artefacts and teaching hopeful acolytes.

  • Acolytes are educated at the Oratory to properly harness their divine abilities. While most acolytes worship Caelum, education is available for upstarts of other religions.

  • Heralds are the Church’s sacred groundskeepers. Their duties include tending to the Oratory’s graveyards and gardens among other sacred sites. They also perform funeral rites.

Notable Members

Aura Sol Orbis

  • Race: Aasimar, Female
  • Class: Paladin (Oath of Redemption)
  • Background: Exarch, Prefect of Caelum’s Landing
  • Born: 964 PO, Caelum’s Landing

Aura Sol Orbis was born on the 14th day of Viridis in the Oratory on Caelum’s Landing. As the first of Ardeat Sol Orbis’ four children, much of her upbringing was focused on preparing her for the day she would inevitably take over as Exarch. Though she shared a close relationship with her father, her politics would grow apart from his as she watched him champion the Church’s expansionist practices and perpetuate the Medusae Wars until 983 PO.

Aura has warm-tinted brown skin and solid white eyes much like her father, and sports a long afro gathered into a high ponytail. She and her siblings bare the silver Sol Orbis halo on their foreheads. Those who are granted audience with Aura see her as a kind and understanding soul, while those closest to her know her to be solemn and somewhat lonesome.

Following the natural death of her father, Aura was heralded as the new Exarch in a grand coronation on the 11th day of Flavum, 986 PO. Accepting her crown, Aura took her chosen oath of redemption as a paladin of the Church, swearing to right the wrongs of the Medusae Wars and help those affected reintegrate into society. She would go on to declare her brother, Spiro, Grand Paladin and Prefect of Ingenium, her sibling, Sana, Prefect of Madanau and her sister Clara, Prefect of Tenebrae’s Refuge.

Spiro Sol Orbis

Grand Paladin, Prefect of Ingenium.

Sana Sol Orbis

Prefect of Madanau.

Clara Sol Orbis

Former Prefect of Tenebrae’s Refuge, now a member of the Commission.

Patrocinor Mors

Grand Herald.

Tristis Veritas

Grand Inquisitor.

Other Members

  • Luna Vigil, Prefect of Micantrum.
  • Jeremias Blackflight, Prefect of the Manyshells.

Affiliations

The Ministry

The Ministry serves as government for Caelum’s Landing and the Church’s many territories. Elected representatives from each territory meet in the Ministerial Houses to establish the demands of the people and how they will be met by law.

Since the creation of the Fundus Constitution in 416 PO, the Chairman of the Ministry must present new laws to the Exarch for sanction. There is some speculation as to how much power the Church has over proceedings in the Ministerial Houses, but the current Chairman Emil Hartmann maintains that the Ministry works solely for the betterment of the people.

Chairman is the title given to the mediator in the proceedings of government, functionally making them the head of the Ministry. Elected by fellow ministers, the chairman presents new laws to the Exarch for sanction. Ministers are the elected representatives of a province or territory allied with the Church. They voice the demands of the people in the Ministerial Houses.

Notable Members

  • Emil Hartmann, Chairman
  • Artifex Calligo, Minister of Ingenium, creator of cable cars and flying machines.

Inland Guard

Led by Chief Constable Rosalind Armbruster, the Inland Guard is the public police service headquartered at Caelum’s Landing. Funded by the Ministry, the greater number of guards compared to Church Clerics allows for more efficient policing of Fundus and the Innermotes.

Notable Members

  • Rosalind Armbruster, Chief Constable
  • Michael Denover, Upstart human constable.

The Inquisition

Founded in 972 PO by Exarch Ardeat Sol Orbis and Grand Inquisitor Tristis Veritas, the Inquisition is tasked with the abolishment of cults and misinformation contrary to the Church’s doctrine. They are in direct conflict with the Crosscut Circle.

Crosscut Circle

Often misnomered a cult, the Crosscut Circle are a sinister but peaceful protest organisation that wish to expose the hypocrisy of Church of Caelum. They claim the Miasma was released 1,000 years ago as a result of Caelum Sol Orbis’ ritual to expel the darkness within him so that he might to ascend to divinity. They also claim Mundi Eversor was created by Tenebrae and his followers in order to stop Caelum.

Micantrum Mining Consortium

Notable Members

  • Havat Eilistre, Governor of Micantrum.

Ingenium Inventors Association

Notable Members

  • Zephan Calligo, air genasi grandson of Artifex, lantern heart designer
  • Eureka Midnight, human lantern heart designer and warforged builder