The Secular Order

The Secular Order is the mortal religion and inquisitorial institution of the universe of Mystifea. Serving as both spiritual authority and enforcement arm of divine law, it operates under the command of the Angels, who themselves serve the Celestials, extensions of the will of the mysterious Creator of Mystifea. The Order is tasked with the most critical responsibility in all mortal society: the total eradication of Void worship, particularly the cults of the powerful forbidden entity known as the Amorphous King.

Hierarchy of Authority

The divine chain of command flows from the unknowable Creator down to mortal hands:

The Creator — The silent originator of Mystifea.
The Celestials — Embodiments of Universal Law and cosmic structure.
The Angels — Spiritual governors and judges who walk among mortals.
The Secular Order — Mortal executors of doctrine, faith, judgment, and purification.

Doctrine and Purpose

The Secular Order enforces the Celestial Ban on Void Worship, a law set in place after the First Fracture, when mortals first attempted communion with the Void which warped parts of reality and drove thousands mad. To even utter the name of a Void entity—particularly the Amorphous King—is to risk corruption. The Order ensures such knowledge is never spread and such faith never tolerated.

Structure and Roles

The Order is divided into three primary branches: Religious Authorities, Judicial Enforcers, and Combatant Exterminators.

Religious Authorities

Priests

The public face of the Order. Priests lead sermons, teach the faithful, and monitor communities for signs of heresy. They often record confessions, report suspicious behavior, and guide the flock in rituals of purification.

Bishops

Regional overseers who command temples and clerics across multiple provinces. Bishops may issue inquisition warrants and declare doctrinal heresies in their jurisdiction.

Cardinals

The highest mortal authorities within the Order. They commune directly with Angels, interpret Celestial law, and may authorize mass purifications, grand trials, or sanction crusades. They form the ruling body known as the Ecclesiastical Synod.

Judicial Enforcers

Enlightened Punishers

Judges trained in both theology and law. They preside over heresy trials and possess the authority to condemn souls to judgment through the ritual phrase, “Let the Light now speak against you.”

Taint Sentinels

Voidwatchers

Specialized mystics trained to detect spiritual contamination. Voidwatchers can sense the presence of Void corruption in souls, dreams, or memory, and are authorized to isolate, purge, or eliminate infected individuals without trial.

Combatant Exterminators

Hunters

Secretive operatives who use stealth, subterfuge, and assassination to dismantle Void cults. They are feared even within the Order, often silencing entire sects without warning.

Paladins

Open crusaders against the Void. Paladins lead purifying campaigns, conduct holy raids, and invoke radiant judgment with Sunsilver weapons and glyph-armored relics. Though revered, their zeal often results in high civilian casualties.

Controversy and Internal Tensions

While united in purpose, the Order is rife with conflict:

Voidwatchers criticize Paladins for creating heretics through reckless purges.
Hunters have been known to turn on clergy who hide truth or soften doctrine.
Cardinals often conceal internal atrocities to preserve the Order’s divine image.

The Amorphous King and the Great Threat

Of all forbidden entities, the Amorphous King poses the greatest threat. His cults are decentralized, ideologically viral, and dangerously potent. He feeds on **worship and recognition**, growing stronger with each utterance of his name. The Order considers any dream, speech, or artistic work referencing him to be inherently corrupting.

Sacred Tools and Rituals

Chain of Lucidity — Detects falsehood and Void presence.
Voice of Finality — Judgment phrase that binds a soul for divine reckoning.
Trial by Lucidity — A public test wherein the accused’s thoughts are exposed.
The Burning of the Dream — Ritual destruction of corrupted memory or art.