Reformed Church of the Divine Masochist
The Reformed Church of the Divine Masochist
Section titled “The Reformed Church of the Divine Masochist”This article is incomplete! Poke the author to expand it!
Formed in the years succeeding the Destruction of Bastion Cathedral, and the Fall of Bastion itself, the Reformists, as they call themselves, broke off from the orthodoxy in its entirety. The violent and apparently supernatural destruction of the Cathedral had led them to believe that God himself had deemed orthodox belief to be anathema to the True Way that the Divine Masochist led.
Within 30 years since, they have, through unknown means, taken and unified the Burtian lands surrounding Bastion, and have consolidated power under the rule of a puppet warlord.
History
Section titled “History”Beliefs
Section titled “Beliefs”Hierarchy
Section titled “Hierarchy”The Reformed Church preserves the outward language of Orthodox office while inverting its meaning. In public, local cells often present themselves as ordinary priests, catechists, mourners, relic-keepers, or charitable ministrants. Within the sect, those same offices mark access to parasites, cursed relics, and the emotional disciplines used to prepare vessels.
Bishop
Section titled “Bishop”A Reformist bishop commands a regional operation. Bishops are not required for every local cell, and smaller conspiracies may answer to a distant bishop through priests or bearers rather than maintaining a visible bishop of their own.
Local Hierarchy
Section titled “Local Hierarchy”Priest
Section titled “Priest”The priest is the ranking cleric of a local cell. A priest directs doctrine, chooses who may be pierced for cambion transformation, assigns relic-bearers, and decides when an infiltrated household or parish is ready to move openly. Priests of major cells are typically CR 12.
Bearer of the Cup (Cupbearers)
Section titled “Bearer of the Cup (Cupbearers)”Cupbearers administer the sect’s consecrated draughts, including preparations used for parasite growth, false sacraments, and confessional binding.
Bearer of the Whip (Whiplaird)
Section titled “Bearer of the Whip (Whiplaird)”Whiplairds oversee punishment, mortification, and the staged public suffering that Reformists use to counterfeit Orthodox penitence.
Bearer of the Sword (Swordmaster)
Section titled “Bearer of the Sword (Swordmaster)”Swordmasters command militant retainers, Dark Archons, and compromised noble guards when a cell expects violence.
Bearer of the Candle (Candlebearer)
Section titled “Bearer of the Candle (Candlebearer)”Candlebearers keep the rites of unveiling: secret vigils, false funerals, proofs of heresy, and the moments when a recruit is shown what the sect believes lies behind Bastion.
Somehow they are all Cambions. It so happens that they are forced to take an item that turns them into one—a special cursed piercing, attached to their eyebrow or nose.
The bearers of relics are typically CR 11.
Bearer of Fears
Section titled “Bearer of Fears”The Bearer of Fears cultivates obedience through dread, prophecy, and staged visions of punishment.
Bearer of Pain
Section titled “Bearer of Pain”The Bearer of Pain oversees ritual injury, endurance trials, and the doctrine that suffering proves election.
Bearer of Sadness
Section titled “Bearer of Sadness”The Bearer of Sadness turns mourning, guilt, and bereavement into instruments of conversion.
Bearer of Joy
Section titled “Bearer of Joy”The Bearer of Joy handles ecstasy, reward, celebration, and the sudden relief that makes captivity feel like grace.
The bearers of emotions are typically CR 10.