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Decree of the One God

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Lo! The Stone cracks / And so hardens the Heart... / Men are made not by conquest / But the ruin of their reason.
— Skald ElbAr the Red of Old VitRia, from The Elegy of Our Broken Lord

The Decree of the One God marks the dissolution of the Lords' Alliance and the rise of the Empire of Arcadia. Issued by Lord Gazreth Estrise from Castle Moongarm, it declared his intention to rule as Emperor over all the lands of Midworld, guided by the divine authority of the One God. The Decree marks the beginning of a violent campaign to unify the world under his singular rule, shattering centuries-old alliances and plunging the realms into chaos.

The immediate aftermath of the Decree saw the seizure of Grael Fastness, a key stronghold in the province of Albarith, and the imprisoning of all his detractors, including those among his own family. Skalds recount that at the very moment of Lord Gazreth's betrayal, the Foundation Stone—an artifact symbolizing the unity of the Lords' Alliance—cracked in Castle Moongarm.

Historians debate what led Gazreth to issue the Decree. The violence that ensued in the Council of Albarith came as a shock to the Alliance. What brought the noble Lord Gazreth to declare himself Emperor of all Arcadia? Some attribute it to his advisors' interests in dark magic. Others suggest the influence of greedy factions looking to increase their influence, poisoning the Lord's ear. Gazreth's vision of unification quickly became fueled by growing delusions and paranoia that he was surrounded by traitors on all sides.

The Decree also marked a significant theological shift within Arcadian culture: Gazreth proclaimed the One God, Avestar, as the sole deity of the Empire, suppressing the worship of other gods and forcing mass conversions. The newly appointed Prophets of the Congress of Judges became the enforcers of this theocracy, their prophetic visions used to justify the Emperor's increasingly erratic decrees. This religious centralization alienated many Lords within the Alliance, who had once prided themselves on the diversity of their faiths and traditions.

As the Emperor's power grows, so too does his tyranny. The Decree sparked a wave of rebellions, notably from his own son the Prince Exton Estrise, but the might of Arcadia’s armies, combined with the zeal of the Congress of Judges, crushes dissent wherever it rises.

Adventure Hook

You can depict the Decree as superficially evil—simple tyrannical dogma carried out by madmen—but the reality is that the Decree is likely executed by thousands of people who have different reasons for enforcing it, from fear of repercussions to apathy to the actual belief that they are bringing order and salvation to a world in ruin. By creating nuanced antagonists who can clearly articulate their reasons for believing in the One God, you can force the party to question the righteousness of their own cause.

The distant province of Idania, subject to Imperial occupation since the Empire’s rise, has begun to act out against the Decree of the One God. Its people secretly worship the First-Order gods, and a rebellion is brewing. The party must decide whether to fan the flames of dissent or broker peace to prevent a bloodbath. However, agents of the Congress of Judges have infiltrated the province, using their prophetic powers to root out heresy.

How far will the party go to protect the freedom of worship in this province?
Can they outmaneuver the Prophets of the Congress, or will they be exposed as heretics themselves?
What compromises are the party willing to make to secure an alliance against the Empire?

Tags: Laws

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Decree of the One God

The Foundation Stone

Schism of the One God

The Church of the One God

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