Anchor of the Lord

Key Ideas

The current Anchor is the emissary of the Lord. The language of the top leadership is Old Tongue (Old Andorith).The Lord is unimpressed by pomp and finery, so dress and surroundings should be simple and practical. "The Lord is with us in the physical realm."

Aesthetic

Androgyny. Plain, functional clothing. Work gloves. Old Tongue sprinkled throughout vocabulary.

Time of Founding

Pre-Aloysius IV

Founder

The First Anchoress

Patron Deities

The Lord first, various deities a distant second

Drug Policy

Allowed only at specific festivals and rituals

Dietary Restrictions

Usually vegetarian

Worshipper Benefits

The laity has free access to the monastaries for retreats, mental and physical convalescence, volunteer opportunities, and access to food & shelter during times of poverty. "Secular canonesses" may live at monestaries long-term without taking permanent vows.

Personal Growth

Deep listening without judgment. Simplicity, quiet, prayer.

Hierarchy

Collection of closely-related monastic orders. Most clergy live in monasteries in the Spiretop Villages or The Green Maw. Others are medicants, who live, minister, and offer charity at small urban temples. The current Anchor is the Church head; previous Anchors are held in Soul Vessels for determined lengths of time to offer counsel.

Worshipper Stipulations

Believe the Anchor is the emissary of the Lord. Cannot solely own more than 100 items. They may share an additional 100 items with others, however.

Clerical Stipulations

Plain androgynous appearance, poverty, life of service. The Anchor and Soul-Vesseled previous Anchors own Church property; other monks avoid owning property at all. Clergy may have romantic/sexual relationships with each other or with secular canonesses. However, these relationships must be kept private and public displays of affection are forbidden. Children and marriage are forbidden. The monastic order is the clergy's primary family at all times. Clergy may not offer direct advice or give demands regarding the laity's personal lives. They may only listen deeply and offer service.

Schism

A small offshoot schismatized from the Anchor of the Lord Faith believes Jotenheim and their Lord are one and the same. These faithful will regularly rush into Jotenheim's quarantine zone to build alters before being shooed out by the city.

Relationship with the Dimmer Gang

The Church is currently investigating The Black Chamber of the Commerce Guild, the leadership of Day Market, for blasphemy. The Black Chamber assembly is known to include lich members (whose names are not disclosed to the public), and church leaders fear that the guild's highly secretive method of lich transformation is based on Church soul gem technology.

See also:

• Anchor of the Lord Spiritual Retreat Center