Story:Conquest/Emile Mikelis

Confessor Emile Mikelis
"Do not fear, my son. The Church desires only the truth."

Confessor Emile Mikelis is the pre-eminent Inquisitor of the Church, famed for his ability to glean truths from complex mysteries and the basest crimes. He has been assigned directly by the High Confessor to investigate the cause of the war, and to Victor's horror, has arrived suddenly in his father's court. With implacable determination, he draws closer and closer to the truth of Victor's crime. Confessor Mikelis's approach is methodical, calculated and relentless - an elegant trap woven strand by strand, which offers no give nor escape. Rather than relying on torture or impassioned confessions, he ties his suspects in logical and emotional loops, with a deft eye for weakness, tells and evidence. In the pursuit of truth, he seems to require no rest.

Yet the Confessor is famed also for his unusual attitude amongst his Order. He takes seriously his position as a priest and Father, seeing it as his duty to fulfil also the responsibilities associated with it: spiritual advice, education, the hearing of confessions and forgiveness of sins. As such, his demeanour often strikes those expecting an Inquisitor of the fire and brimstone time. Instead, Father Emile has a gentle, weary air of detached compassion. To feel Father Emile's disappointment is to know the failure of one's soul.

Confessor Mikelis has always walked the fine line between devout faith and fanaticism. Sinners and heretics find in him an infinite gentleness and mercy, yet also a foe who believes utterly, and thus cannot be bribed, diverted or discouraged from his goal. He is a good man, a just man, a holy man - yet there may be no way of concealing Victor's crime without his death.

Appearance and abilities
Age: 52 Appearance: Mikelis is a tall, middle-aged man with a fatherly appearance. His usual expression could be described as either tranquil or impassive. He maintains a tonsure and short beard, both entirely grey. His usual vestments are the white habit and black cloak of his Order. Abilities: Mikelis is learned in the minor magics involved in the rites he performs as a priest of the Church. He generally disdains the holy magic employed by other Inquisitors which causes pain to those who sin or lie, preferring to use words and evidence to find the truth. Though his ability to read and manipulate the emotions and minds of others is seemingly supernatural in its extent, it is unknown if he is actually using magic to assist in his Inquisitorial work. He also has some training in healing magic, primarily that relieving pain and giving sleep.

The Church of [Crono pls think of name]
The Church is a powerful force within Trallia, independent of the six kingdoms. Though it has no military force of its own, the Church enjoys substantial influence over the aristocracy oweing to its place in the lives of the common people, influence on culture, and historical position. The actual sway of the Church varies, from the theocracy of Kjdoriah to a pretense of acknowledgement in Groland. Nonetheless, any ruler who wishes to maintain stability would be wise to court the esteem of the Church.

Yet despite its power, the current extent of the Church pales in comparison to its history. The Church was once its own nation - a holy empire that stretched across half of Trallia and into the Eastern Lands, and has now been reduced to a city-state that retains nominal independence from the rest of Kjdoria. The Church itself is divided on its future. One side argues that the Church should once again take a greater interest in worldly affairs, acting as more forceful advisors to the rulers of the land. Without spiritual guidance, they argue, the realm will descend further into conflict and war. The other side sees the current situation as a punishment for the Church having overstepped its bounds, thus resulting in ruin following the power vacuum created by the decline of the original holy empire. They believe that the Church should confine itself to spiritual matters only, and give advice and succour directly to the people.

The current leader of the Church is High Confessor Urban III.

Beliefs
The Church's beliefs focus on the dual nature of the One God and the Twelve Aspects. God is whole, perfect and the ultimate embodiment of goodness. It created the world and gave Its children, humanity, their minds and free-will. Yet looking upon the world, God wept, for the children endured the pains they inflicted upon each other, and It wept also because it could not comprehend an imperfect nature that caused hurt to others.

Yet God so loved Its children that It divided itself into Twelve Aspects and came to Earth. These Aspects took upon themselves both the perfection of God and the sins of humanity. Thus, each of the Aspects holds in itself both the purity of a virtue and its opposite. By doing so, God was able to understand and forgive its children. The children, likewise, finds themselves connected to God as each holds within them all Twelve Aspects, purity and impurity.

The Twelve Aspects are each linked to a Zodiac sign. The stars are venerated by the Church as the eyes of God, and a complex holy calendar is governed by their rise and fall.

The Order of Inquisitors
The Order of Inquisitors originated as a force to promulgate correct Church doctrine and combat heresy, but its effectiveness in the pursuit of corruption has led it to be expanded to other serious crimes in the last hundred years. When relations between the kingdoms are fragile and crimes cross political and geographical spheres, the Inquisitors are respected as a neutral party with unwavering devotion to the truth. A member of this Order is titled a Confessor.

Despite rumours, the Church vigourously denies that the Inquisitors use torture against heretics. Though they occasionally employ spells which cause pain, these consist solely of holy light drawn from the Gods, and thus, they argue, this pain may only be inflicted on those that deserve it. Members are encouraged to view this magic as the purging of sin through holy fire.