Fiction:Church of Spode

"Our faith wanted us to be one, but we have failed to live up to those expectations."

- Clericarch Telfar shortly before his untimely demise

The Church of Spode is the name most commonly used to refer to the massive, multicultural theocratic empire founded by the s circa 100,000 years ago. Based on the principles of the Path of Masaari, the most important of which postulated that divinity is to be found in reduction of entropy and chaos in the universe, the Church was at its prime one of the largest civilisations in the Gigaquadrant, with adherents in all major galaxies known at the time. However, the metropole of the Church was located not in one of these galaxies but rather in the voids between them, where the Radeon species and the Path of Masaari originated - a fact that the Clericarchs had long used to control intergalactic trade and grow rich from tariffs and duties.

Having reached its apex of power circa 40,000 years ago, the power of the Church waned slowly over the millenia, and by the time new superpowers like the took hold in the Gigaquadrant, it was little more than a motley collection of unruly satrapies that only paid lip service to Vendespode. Neverthless, the Church still played a major role in politics as a member of the and other international organisations, and was one of the most prominent combatants in the  under the last of its Clericarchs, Telfar Au'jahali - which ultimatly proved to be the Church's downfall.

Origins
<!-- The Church of Spode's origins lie in the original interstellar expeditions of the species that followed their unification under Seranai Neradis. Although the initial interstellar missions yielded little fruit, as the intergalactic void around Vendespode was completely devoid of any other sentient life, and later on even resulted in provoking a exploration fleet, later expeditions in Plazith Rim were much more succesful. The existence of non-hostile, non-artificial alien life was proven, and the Radeons joined the galactic community of Plazith Rim.

This discovery caused many arguments and disputes among the Masaari clergy. The higher circles of Vendespode's society were split in half, with one faction arguing to support the

her particular branch of Masaari, the newly founded Radeon Theocracy turned their eyes towards the stars. However, although Radeon scientists developed the interstellar drive without much difficulty using the remains of technology on their planet, their first expeditions into space yielded little fruit: few other species inhabited the intergalactic void, and none of them were sentient. <!-- It was only later on when the Ch

Siya-Kazzab After a few centuries of peaceful colonising, Church of Spode has finally encountered an alien intellgence. The encounter wasn't pleasant, however. A small Grox fleet has been investigating the voids, trying to find any resources or other objects of interest here. Radeons were considered an obstacle to this goal and as such, they were immediately attacked by the Grox. Radeons have not been advancing their military technology since the formation of the Church and were not prepared for the war. Fortunately, Seranai, who was now an experienced ruler, has managed to rally her people, and Radeons have managed to find a way to defeat the Grox. Using whatever technologies and weapons remained since the last war, they have attacked the Grox and Conqrix fleets. While the Grox had superior technologies, Radeons were more numerous and had more resources. Radeons scavenged and reverse-engineered Grox technology, developing stronger and more powerful weaponry. Soon, the Grox fleet was beaten and pushed out of the void. Their command deemed the campaign of colonising the voids too difficult and non-efficient, and so Radeons were left alone. However, the technologies scavenged and reverse-engineered from the Grox spaceships helped Radeons to advance, and using more powerful Grox interstellar drives, they have started to colonise the galactic space.

Soon, the Radeons have set colonies in Milky Way, Tigris and many other galaxies. They have started a campaign of proselytising, spreading their faith across the universe. Many species like Corgel (who would later become the members of DCP), Kulkan, or Telzoc (seemingly) were converted into Spodism, some of them becoming part of the Church of Spode while others simply falling under their influence. Soon, the new religion has spread all over the gigaquadrant.

Imperion WarПравить After the long time of relative peace, Radeons have encountered a new threat. It was called the Imperion Pan Empire, hailing from the uncharted regions of the Quadrant 21. While Imperions were not malevolent, they did not a] gree with the actions of Radeons in the Quadrant 21, seeing them as a threat. Furthermore, Radeons have tried to take control of various important energy sources for Pan Empire. After short failed communications, the Imperion War was started.

While controlling little territory, Imperions turned out to be fierce enemies, using their extremely advanced technology to destroy the fleets of the Church. When Radeon colonists were exterminated by Imperion plasma bombings, a schism has started in the Church's Conclave. Half of the Exarchs wished to leave the Quadrants completely, while the other half wished to avenge and launch a counterattack. Finally, the latter won in the debates and Radeons have launched a massive offensive against the Imperion Pan Empire, who has launched a series of attacks in the Deus Rift as well. The war became apocalyptic soon, and the conclave has decided to choose a new War Predictor to command the Church armies. A young and ambitious Radeon commander called Jaharan was chosen, and he was content with the role given to him. Complete control over the Church's military was given to him, as well as a large role in controlling economy and diplomacy. Jaharan has turned the Church into a powerful, relentless war machine, assuming direct control over industry and economy and devoting it to the war and the advancement of the Radeon civilisation. He has started the mass conscription of the Church's subjects and has spent large amounts of state's money to equip his soldiers with the best weapons and equipment possible. With the new military system and new economy, the Church has managed to conquer the Imperion Pan Empire, enslaving its subjects.

Age of BloodПравить After the enemy was defeated, Jaharan remained as the Church's War Predictor. However, he was craving for even more power. Orchestrating the assassination of the current Clericarch, Vaerehio Narallari, and bribing the Exarchs, he managed to put Aheren Aeia, a pawn easily controlled by Jaharan, on the throne of the Clericarch. Blinded with power, Jaharan has started his mad crusade against any civilisation the Church has encountered, taking over and enslaving everything on his way for being "unbelievers". Those who opposed his rule were quickly executed or put into the labour camps. This would later be known as the Age of Blood, a fitting name for the tyranny of Jaharan.

Not all of the rebels against Jaharan's rule were executed, however. Some of them survived, hiding from the eyes of War Predictor's police forces. Forming a resistance, they only wished one thing: to end Jaharan's reign of blood. Many of these resistance's members were Imperions who wished their species to be free; others were Radeon victims of Jaharan's purges. Neverthless, various in origin, they were united in cause. Conspiring for years, they have finally managed to achieve their dream during the event now known as The Toppling.

The Toppling has started with Imperion rebellion in the Quadrants. This time, rebellion was massive and interstellar, and local forces were not enough to suppress them. Jaharan has sent most of Radeon military and police forces to destroy the rebellion, but it was too late. At the same time, Radeon rebels in Deus Rift have started to do their part of the rebellion. All in once, all secret Radeon resistance members have struck, killing most of Jaharan's followers and guardians. Leader of the rebellion, Telfar, has personally come into Jaharan's palace together with his closest lieutainants. Put into the edge and driven to the madness, Jaharan screamed: "You will not get me, never!" and jumped out of the palace's window, falling on the ground, lifeless. It was the final victory. Aheren Aeia has agreed to leave the throne of Clericarch to Telfar, who was now the leader of the Church of Spode.

Tigris War Править Since then, Radeons enjoyed their golden age, advancing in technology and culture. They have started to form alliances with many other civilisation like SSA, DCP, Cianju and Rambo Nation, thriving and advancing. However, the peace was broken with the arrival of the eldritch foe - the Xhodocto - demons who knew no fear or doubt and who have started a bloody war to conquer the entire Gigaquadrant.

Radeons were one of the many empires who have resisted the Xhodocto's attack. War Predictor Tadjamad, Telfar's second-in-command and a military general, has been cooperating with DCP, Cianju, currently extinct Pondsisosa and Rambo Nation to attack Turros. Under Tadjamad's command, Radeons were able to launch a series of deadly and desperate attacks right in the heart of the Xhodocto territory - the Nexus, helping the newly-formed Onuris to estabilish their forces and lead their armies into the final battle on the planet Orichalcum 2112, where the final battle - the Anjourkhal - began. Radeons and allies fought with bravery, but despite all the efforts, the Xhodocto could not be defeated, and they escaped into the Universe 66501.

For Radeons, the Eon of Dusk began... --> -->

Species
The Church of Spode, at its prime, incorporated countless species from all over the Gigaqudrant. Many of them were from pre-modern societies uplifted by Church colonisers, such as the near-human Nebi-Mu of, while others came from conquered or peacefully converted starfaring empires - such as the Pan-Empire, annexed during the early Primarchate period. Many of these species would eventually become part of, while others would become part of other states.

The wide extent of the Church meant that its subjects were, culturally and genetically, incredibly diverse, and though the Radeons were technically the majority, they did not constitute even a half of its population. This diversity caused many to criticise the Church as a patchwork empire, where different species were brought together by force, having nothing in common but their religion. This was, to a point, true, as the eventual fracturing of the Church proved, but despite what others claimed the Church's species did consider themselves to be kin, united by the fraternity of faith.

Culture
Ancient, diverse and archaic: these three words were used the most by contemporaries to refer to the Church of Spode. As a theocratic monarchy, it was one of the most conservative civilisations in the Gigaqudrant at its time: traditions and ceremonies lasting thousands of years were carefully preserved and social change, foreign influence was ruthlessly resisted, and the individual disregarded in favour of greater collectives. Clerics and laymen debated ceaselessly over the matters of faith and raised an uproar over every new imported book or holodrama and whether it was "moral" or not. Many visitors, especially from liberal societies, were said to be appaled at the copious amounts of taboos, unspoken interdictions and faux pas that pervaded the Church's culture. However, the veneer of piety of morality was only skin deep, and the veil of faith hid a seedy underworld as depraved as in other nations.

The Church's society was similar of course to of today, but was different in a number of key aspects. Unlike the modern Spodist state, almost completely Radeon and very monocultural, the Church was a motley collection of different cults, species and planets, all with their own cultures and their own traditions. Thus, what was acceptable on one world was very much unthinkable on others. The constant surveillance characteristic of the Divinarium was also likewise absent in the Old Church, with the exception of the notoriously totalitarian, and overall freedom of expression was much more respected by Vendespode than by Crepusculum

Military
The Church, even at its prime, lacked a single unified military. Its armies and fleets were supplied by various militia, regional armies and fleets, and various religious military orders, all of which answered to the Clericarch. The greatest and the most powerful force at their disposal had always been the Dei'Ar Order: a warrior cult of mystics hailing from the windswept world of Excidium, who sought to perfect their faith through martial discipline and nigh-perfect control over their emotions. The Order was extremely important in the Church's history and sometimes even assumed power over it, but was not "in charge"; the Order's Primarch could not issue commands directly to its other armies.

The Church's armies were always relatively small compared to its great size, and were further downsized after Jaharan's fall. As such, its forces were always spread thin, and its commanders developed their strategies around that. Quick, decisive strikes with overwhelming force were preferred, and direct combat and pitched battles avoided. Great emphasis was put on military intelligence, one of the most ancient and widespread in the universe at the time. These strategies were inherited in turn, albeit modified, by.

Allies
"In Spode, we are one!"

Neutral
"Heed the word."

Enemies
"A holy war is upon us!"