Bishop

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If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

Bishop Armand of the League Assembly

Introduction

Bishops represent the clergy and religious leaders of League society. They have embraced the truth and power of The Way of Virtue and The Imperial Synod. Each has a Church and is responsible for the spiritual guidance of a congregation of lay Citizens, as well as playing an active part in the Synod.

Religious Heritage

[In progress]

Creating Bishop Characters

Bishops are powerful and influential figures who are responsible for the spiritual leadership of congregations of League Citizens. To play a Bishop, you will need to select a religious downtime resource which will represent a Church, Tomb, Pilgrimage Site or other holy location wherein the Bishop can administer guidance and direction to the laity. These congregations can be in any part of the League, even if the Bishop elects to travel extensively leaving day-to-day matters to junior clerics.

There is no actual requirement for a Bishop to know any of the Liao Ceremonies, as such rituals are not actually required to give sound counsel. Some Bishops elect to sell the Liao allocated to their holy site so that they may use the funds to further the worth of the Faith in more practical ways. Others find that the Liao Ceremonies are an important part of exerting social pressure.

Bishops may operate alone, or as part of a larger group. Within a group of Bishops, one or more is usually nominated as their leader or spokesperson with the title of Archbishop. Such groups may also include junior Priests, who know Liao Ceremonies but have no congregation, as well as other League folk who have dedicated their lives to The Way.

Bishops do not join groups such as a Carta or a Free Company, per se, but it is not unheard of for Bishop's to elect to show favour or patronage to such groups, and be publically associated with them. Such an arrangement can enhance the status and reputation of both the group and the Bishop, provided that the conduct of one reflects well on the other.

Playing Bishops

For a Bishop of the League, perception and reputation are important concerns. The clergy of the League are no less competitive than any Bravo or Merchant Prince, but success is measured by profile and influence. A celebrated Bishop is far more likely to be asked to conduct a state funeral or be consulted by Senators and Emperesses. Yet, for all that they are a prominent part of a Faith that extols individual Virtue, Bishops of the League are perhaps more likely than most to take a pragmatic approach to the Virtues, accepting that - sometimes - the ends justifies the means.

It is possible to play a less-competitive Bishop with no interest in politics, machinations and status. Such Bishops are important to the more politically-minded and may be courted for the support and resources they can provide. After all, a Bishop who commands the respect of other Bishops must indeed be a force to be reckoned with.

For inspiration of figures who have walked the tightrope of religious credibility with political acumen and ruthlessness, some good examples are Jeremy Irons' portrayal of Rodrigo Borigia, various interpretations of Cardinal Richleu from The Three Musketeers, and Abbot Hugo from the Robin of Sherwood TV series.