The League religious beliefs

Virtue made the Empire strong, we made it great

Bishop Gilde van Holberg, Address to the Assembly of Prosperity

To the eyes of an outsider, religion in the League seems a little transactional. Many religious buildings and celebrations seem to exist to take money or goods from the citizens in the most splendidly showy way possible. This certainly isn’t to say that priests here are not fervent or devout in their beliefs. They simply recognise that they provide a service and should be recompensed appropriately. Competition amongst priests for provision of lucrative religious services, such as the marriage of a merchant prince or the funeral of a wealthy merchant, is fierce. The priesthood make an effort to provide a spectacle for such events, ensuring that they earn their wage.

The League quality of competition is as strong in matters of faith and spirituality as it is in every other aspect of life. A Bishop of the League may be as pious as any priest of Highguard, but they can also be as ruthless and mercantile as any Merchant Prince. Where the Carta keep score with coin and favour, the Bishops use the size and notable membership of their congregations. They compete ferociously to perform the most high-profile weddings, dedications and funerals. The combination is such that, from a certain perspective, the Bishops and their churches are virtually indistinguishable from Merchant Princes and their Carta, albeit in their own virtuous and holy right. The Bishops of the League together form the League Assembly within the Imperial Synod, and when united on a common purpose their political acumen makes them a potent force.

League churches preach The Way of Virtue, possess great wealth and exhibit the same emphasis on loyalty as any other Carta. The most powerful include artisans, tradesman and in some cases mercenaries or dedicated soldiers as well as priests and layfolk. There are few League churches that do not also have a profitable sideline to ensure their prosperity. For instance, a church might specialize in the safe movement of valuables and hard currrencies between cities, while another might operate and maintain several of the more important bridges in Tassato.

Perhaps one of the most famous example of a League church might be the Church of The Little Mother. Originally based in Sarvos, churches dedicated to the Little Mother, an Exemplar of Prosperity and the matron of children and orphans, are found in all League cities and in some parts of other Nations as well. The Little Mother takes in orphaned or abandoned children, ensuring that they receive a chance in life. Children are taught basic numeracy and literacy before being apprenticed to a master in the city. The Church sustains itself with donations, often made by former beneficiares, and is well respected by the Imperial authorities and Catazarri people. It can also wield a surprising amount of political power, as many influential people owe their start in life to the priests of the Little Mother.

A key figure in the religious life of many citizens is Aldones di Sarvos, who many look to as the founder of the League, and is recognised by the Imperial Synod as a Paragon of Ambition. Aldones started life with nothing and through his labours, fierce competition, skill and swordsmanship, created the first Carta and declared himself a Merchant Prince. Aldones did many great deeds throughout his life, but all inspired by the love he bore his Carta. Aldones' legacy was affirmed when, through his vision and influence, he united the cities of the Bay of Catazarr, threw off the yoke of Patrician domination, and helped forge a Nation. He disappeared - or ascended - shortly after his keynote speech to the newly-united League, and the final words of his address are inscribed on his memorial in Sarvos to inspire his successors to pursue their goals: "In Highguard, they build castles and call them towns. We will build cities, and call them a nation."