The Church of the Luminaries - 2nd CAS Canon [Archive]

The Luminaries have graced the skies of Terra since the beginning of time, shining down to grace the beings dwelling upon the great cradle of mankind. Their role has played an instrumental part in the development of Eldenian culture, religion, society... Even technological advancement. Let us follow their influence through the years, starting at the beginning of Eldenian foundation.

In the early Colonial era, just as the Tarazedians were beginning to colonize the Americas, it just so happened that the first ships were religious refugees of the Luminary Sect, or the Church of the Luminaries. Believing in the guidance and constant watch of the stars above, these first settlers firmly implanted the teachings of the Sect into the original colony of Modesia. All are equal underneath the Luminaries. Just as all stars look the same from Terra, all humans look the same from the stars. Do not commit acts which would draw disfavour - the stars are ever vigilant, and will remember your acts when you ask for permission into the realms of the Heavens.

The Luminary Sect continued to dominate the Colony of Eldenia until separation with its Tarazedian roots, whereupon it cut itself off from its home church in Tarazed and reformed into the Church of the Luminaries, with the main observation buildings located in the Rocky Mountains and the official head of the Church in Modesia. This was threatened by the Amerikaner/Eldenian war, but the sanctuaries of the Church remained in Eldenian hands for the duration of the conflict, and were not desecrated in any way. Separation of church and state never happened within Eldenia, with a merger happening instead with the transformation of the Rocky Mountain Luminary Observations into the Department of Astronomy headquarters, combining the age-old traditions of stellar monitoring with modern technology and innovation.

Now, in the modern era, the Church of the Luminaries has shifted its position. Whereas it used to be predominantly a religious organization, it now also serves as an ideological focal point for the Eldenian people, having even contributed to the rise of the Modernization Party. With its stresses on uniformity, and Enlightenment thinkers spinning the ever-watchfulness into a belief that we too should be looking to the stars, core tenants of the political and economic landscape were founded. The green power movements happened in part due to the clouding of the stars at night, and the space race with Tarazed was fueled both by furour and the wish to reach for the stars.