Omnican Church

Mythological Origin
The ancient god of the sun, Aurelian, one among a pantheon of many took pity on mankind as the Gods had not granted speed, or strength or flight nor any of the other gifts possessed by the other beasts, and He spent much time incarnated among them trying to help them. Jealous and annoyed, the other gods in their ire slew the Sun God and staked Him to the sky, however as his divine blood washed over the lands it granted a spark of divinity to the beasts which he had loved, raising people above the animals. It is prophesised that when all souls believe in the Sun God and take Him into their hearts as their one true god, His divinity will be reborn and He will conquer the heavens and bring humanity there to dwell with Him in eternal bliss.

After the murder of their God, the ancient Aurelianite tribes united together into the Omnican nation lead by their religious leader the Heliarch and gradually expanded and conquered, forming a vast and powerful Empire. Stuggling to mange such a large and diverse realm the local princes gained more and more prominence until eventually the Heliarch's secular authority hardly extended beyond the boundaries of the capital region, though with their vast wealth and contentment neither princes nor heliarchy felt the need to upset the balance, thus grew fat and complacent. They then proved excellent pickings for the vast hordes of barbarians that poured out the east and began consuming the Empire. When the invaders reached the capital they had already been awed by the decaying remains of Empire around them and the still inhabited citadel would prove their greatest challenge, it was however, one they would not have to face. The Heliarch summoned the leader of the barbarians, the leader converted to rightful worship and agreed to convert his people and in return was invested de jure secular authority and appointed Emperor. Thus began the New Empire.

The Sotiran Schism
For centuries the Omnican Church has preached the word, but critics say it has grown worldly and corrupt, more interested in wealth and power some even so far as to say that is inflitrated by Pantheonists, and after an influential Nicolovian monk nailed his critical thesis to the door of Tor Ardwen Cathedral in the native language of the area dissent has exploded in the form of Sotiran Reformists and spread across the continent, plunging many nations into sectarian conflict and chaos.