Religious crime
Abuse of Powers
The crime of abuse of powers is defined as: The misuse, or abuse, of the powers of a priest. This includes the powers of the Synod, as well as liao ceremonies.
The Synod has proscribed the following as abuse of powers:
| Subject | Proscription raised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Performing the ceremony of excommunication without a writ(1) | Tribune of the Synod | 387YE Winter |
- This does not include using the ceremony to remove an existing excommunication.
Blasphemy
The crime of blasphemy is defined as: The denigration of the paragons and the paths of virtue. This includes promoting false virtues and the teachings of false exemplars or false paragons.
The false virtues are understood to be Anarchy (also known as Freedom), Peace (also known as Understanding), Hatred (also known as Purity) and Vengeance (also known as Justice).
The Synod has proscribed the following as acts of blasphemy:
| Subject | Proscription raised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicating someone to a false virtue, or creating an aura of a false virtue | Tribune of the Synod | 387YE Winter |
| Bearing a dedication or anointing of a false virtue | Geoffrey Orchard | 387YE Winter |
| Preaching or promoting of the false virtue of Vengeance | Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth | 387YE Winter |
| Preaching or promoting of the false virtue of Understanding | Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum | 387YE Winter |
| Preaching or promoting of the false virtue of Hatred | Silas of the Cenotaph | 387YE Winter |
| Preaching or promoting of the false virtue of Freedom | Theodora | 387YE Winter |
Desecration
The crime of desecration is defined as: The removal of spontaneously created virtuous auras such as legacies of ascendance to paragonhood. This includes such auras arising on areas and objects, and those people who do not wished them removed.
The Synod has proscribed the following as acts of desecration:
| Subject | Proscription raised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Desecration or destruction of any relics or memorials associated with a paragon or exemplar(1) | Tribune of the Synod | 387YE Winter |
- This only applies where the relic or memorial bears a spontaneous aura.
Heresy
The crime of heresy is defined as: The wilful rejection, or perversion of, the orthodox Doctrines of the Faith as laid down by the Imperial Synod, or actively teaching and promoting false doctrines.
The Synod does permit the discussion, and debate, of the doctrines, and potential variations thereof, as part of theological investigation and learning. The criminal act is the teaching of “truth” that has not been recognized as such by the Synod. Virtuous priests are admonished to seek to change doctrine in the Synod, rather than undermine it.
The Synod has proscribed the following as heresy:
| Subject | Proscription raised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Excessionism, the belief that too much of a virtue can be as bad as too little | Tribune of the Synod | 387YE Winter |
| Yaelianism, the belief that there is a "Land without Tears" and that Yael was the First Empress reborn | Corey Wayfarer | 387YE Winter |
Idolatry
The crime of idolatry is defined as: Subsuming human will and destiny to any inhuman entity or force. This includes the worship, veneration or exaltation of any such being or power.
The Synod has proscribed the following as acts of idolatry:
| Subject | Proscription raised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Entering into the service of an eternal or tulpa | Eevi of the Gadrai | 387YE Winter |
| Venerating an icon of an eternal | Felix Saltspire | 387YE Winter |
“This is a travesty, and a waste of time,” spat Garath, “Do you really have nothing better to do with your time, fendweller?”
Casia merely considered him in silence.
“You had no right to haul me in like some criminal!” Gareth railed, “I was in the middle of an important trade deal. You’ve cost me a lot of money and I’ll have every ring of it out of your sodden hide.”
The merrow Illuminate simply lifted her cup and drank from it. Taking her time to finish it if full, she turned again to Garath. Rising from her seat she circled his seat before she finally spoke.
“I’m curious,” she said, without irony, “I have spoken at length to some of your business partners. You are a successful trader, there is no doubt. Yet the part that I do not understand is what you do with the liao you purchase from the Bloodhammer legion. No one I have spoken to reports you ever selling any of it.”
Garath snarled, “Is that it? My cousin Gwyn is a Guide. I provide it to him as part of the work of the Faith. Go and ask him.”
Casia nodded, and paused to produce a notebook in which the name was carefully inscribed. As she was putting her pen away, the tent flapped jostled and another Sentinel entered carrying a bag.
Garath blanched, “That’s mine! You’ve no right…”
“I think you will find that priests of the Synod have the right to go a great many places,” Casia interrupted calmly, as she took the bag from the armed man. Reaching in she produced a handful of small documents.
“Oh my,” she said, her tone unchanged despite the expression of surprise, “I do believe I have seen some of these in the tavern. Leaflets extolling the glory of Elora, Goddess of Hope.”
The black eyes fixed themselves on Garath again, “I do believe that’s heresy, blasphemy and idolatry in one single stroke. Thank you for your time Broker Garath, your inquisition is concluded. I would suggest you do not make any plans to leave Anvil as I am quite sure the magistrates will be wanting a word.”
As Garath rose, Casia gestured and the two Sentinels moved to either side of him. Garath glared at his shadows, but said nothing as he left the tent with the two following him.Further Reading
Core Reading
Click Expand to see a summary of judgements and other pages related to the Synod.