Faith by Region

Lithmore

Lithmore is an exceedingly religious and fervent duchy, focusing on the avoidance of sin and the repression of sinful desires as the ultimate path to religious purity. As such, Lithmorran clergy tend to be seen as severe by other duchies (except for Farin), and provide harsher penance for sins of impurity. Charity is largely seen in education and ministry to the poor, as the most important thing a Lithmorran thinks someone can receive is a thorough grounding in the faith. As such, the Order also spends its money on ensuring you can't cross two streets without seeing some sort of chapel, cathedral or church.

Vandago

Vandagans give freely and in great amounts to the Order, and the money is well-spent; perhaps no duchy's arm of the Order spends more on charity, which in Vandago is a very practical affair used to keep the destitute alive against the murderously harsh climate. The Order also builds grand cathedrals throughout Vandago, the sight of which is supposed to remind the people of religion at all turns; Vandagan faith is strongly focused on strict, unified public adherence to dogma.

Farin

Farin is similar to Lithmore in that an extremely devout faith is the cornerstone of society. Mass in Farin is a highly social event, with interactive sermons discussing community concerns; it often has something of a festive air. That said, faith in Farin is perhaps the most rigorous in all the duchies: it combines a Lithmorran avoidance of sin with a Vandagan demand for stringent charity. Indeed, Farin goes further, seeing military service and training often as a religious obligation - the links between the Knights and Order are by far the strongest in the Kingdom's most martial duchy.

Charali Plains

Of any land in the Kingdom, the Plains have the weakest and most tenuous connection to the faith. The extent to which individuals have been exposed to Davism in Charali is a direct function of the extent to which they have been exposed to civilization; tribes who live closer to the

Vavardi and engage in trade are much more likely to have attracted missionaries, while some of the more far-flung tribes may have never encountered missionaries in their history. These missionaries can teach only what they know, and are often eccentric, passionate souls passing on their own personal views of Davism. As such, disparate communities breed disparate practices; different holidays, pantheons of saints, and lists of sins can be seen across different tribes. Charali are often viewed as default heathens by the other regions of the Five Duchies.

Vavard

The Order in Vavard is extremely wealthy, even more so than in Vandago - and every aspect of their services show it off. Elaborate rituals, long sermons as eloquent as poems, and fine vestments make Mass a feast for the senses as well as the mind. Huge sums are often donated at Mass, both as a way to flaunt one's wealth and to fulfill one's religious duty. Vavardi faith can be seen as a focus on what one does instead of what one doesn't do: humans are inherently sinful and should open their minds to expiation and good works, rather than trying to live sinless lives. Hence, while outsiders might mistake Vavardi lifestyles as religiously slothful, it is more the focus that differs: Vavardi don't expect to never sin, but think about making up for it.

The Hills

The Hillfolk have a curious relationship to Davism - they are not very well-educated by and large in its precepts, but their faith is fierce and true. Concerns of certain sins (particularly sexual ones) are nearly obviated by the need to survive and reproduce in a harsh, poor land, but the Hillman rejection of magery and heresy is forceful. Charity exists, but not in as common a format as in the duchies; as there are few 'rich' Hillfolk, it is more seen as the common duty of the clan to safeguard all members. Given the difficulty that missionaries have in adjusting to Hillfolk customs, clan elders are often recruited into the Davite priesthood, creating an almost theocratic society; this results in a very eclectic pattern of beliefs, with clan customs merging with religion.

Tubor

Of all the civilized duchies, Tubor has perhaps the weakest presence of faith; while it is there, it is not the same guiding star of life as it is in Lithmore or Farin. Religion is seen as an intimately personal affair, with less reason to be concerned about the faith of others, and sin as a very contextual matter. That said, as a communal culture, Tubori believe that sins that actually harm others are far worse than sins that simply create impurity, as they threaten the bonds of society. As such, magery and heresy are certainly not tolerated, and heretics who refuse to reform may well simply disappear before the Order ever gets a hold of them.