Editing Religion in Karameikos (section)

===The Church of Karameikos=== 

The Church of Karameikos is a modern cult with roots in Thyatian theology and philosophy. 
Its is the religion followed by the vast majority of Thyatian-blooded Karameikans, as well as by many Karameikans of mixed blood, and some Traladarans. 

It is mainly a Lawful religion, even though its pantheon includes Immortals of all alignments. 
It basically teaches that the fate of each soul in the afterlife is based on its balance of sins. 
The Church provides rituals through which worshippers may free their souls from sins. 
As such, the beliefs of the Church of Karameikos tend to take the form of very detailed precepts of life, with the associated penances for each violation. 

In this sense, the Church is much more dogmatic than its Thyatian ancestor -- which simply mediates between Immortals and mortals, generally letting every Immortals' priesthood set its own standard and preach its own doctrine, within a general framework. 
This policy was chosen by the founders to ensure a greater cohesion of the new Church, and avoid the periodic crises that affected the Church of Thyatis. 

The Church of Karameikos is also bent on proselytising. 
Missionary efforts have been mostly directed towards the Traladaran natives, though recently clerics are being sent to the Five Shires as well -- though, once more, with no success to report. 

'''Pantheon''' 

The major Immortal patrons recognised by the Church of Karameikos are Asterius, Pax Bellanica (Tarastia), Vanya, Valerias, Ilsundal, and Kagyar. 

Ilsundal and Kagyar were chosen by the founders to appeal to the demi-human inhabitants of the Grand Duchy, though with very limited success, as the demi-humans have a very different view of religion, more related to personal or family worship than to public, ritualistic worship. 

Vanya, Valerias and Tarastia were chosen as the major Thyatian Immortals -- the presence of these Immortals guarantees that the Thyatians who come to Karameikos see the Church as simply a national variant of the Church of Thyatis. 
The philosophy of the church actually does not agree much with the teachings of Valerias, but the Girder-On of Weapons is so popular that the new Church could not expect much following, had it not included her. 

Asterius is the personal patron of Patriarch Olliver Jowett, the leader and founder of the Church. 
This Immortal is worshipped in his aspect as the patron of trade and merchants. 

'''History''' 

The Church of Karameikos is a recent creation. 
Up to thirty years ago, its founders were priests of the Church of Thyatis. 
They were called by Duke Stefan Karameikos to cater to the spiritual needs of the Thyatian settlers who were colonising Traladara. 

Under the leadership of Patriarch Olliver Jowett, these priests decided to leave the Church of Thyatis and found a new church. 
There were several reason for leaving the Church -- political ones, as Duke Stefan wanted the Church to work towards the full independence of Karameikos from Thyatis, but also philosophical and practical ones. 
The Church of Thyatis was indeed prone to infighting, due to the many different Immortals and philosophies accepted, and to corruption, since position were awarded by the Emperor, the Senate, or by election rather than by the will of the Immortals. 
The constant quarrels between radical followers of Ixion and Vanya might be tolerable in cosmopolitan Thyatis, but would be a fatal weakness in a frontier land like Karameikos. 

Thus, Patriarch Jowett and his followers selected a smaller set of Immortals that would be looked up as models for the new church, and used their own philosophies as the one and only doctrine of the church. 
Since many of Duke Stefan's followers were Kerendans or Hattians, Vanya included in the pantheon, but Ixion was left out. 

The new church was very successful in converting the Thyatian colonist, most of whom had been fairly poor, if not ruined, in Thyatis, and wanted to build a new life in Karameikos, much less in converting the Traladarans.