The religion of Falor began some 1000 years ago with a man known as Aldonai. Aldonai was a man who in his late 40s began to receive strange visions from a new deity who sought to bring gifts of the spirit to mankind. At the time, a dominant veneration of a deity named Homa was in the land, and it's clergy were powerful but neglected the simple needs of men. As years passed, Aldonai had more frequent and clearer communication with Falor and soon began an individual ministry to spread words of love, peace, comfort, mercy and forgiveness to the people of the lands he traveled. For a great time, Aldonai's message fell on deaf ears. All Aldonai had to offer were pretty words and the clergy of Homa were known far and wide to wield powerful magic. Aldonai was discouraged but carried on his ministry for many years. During this time he was relatively unsuccessful and developed no following. The clergy of Homa criticized and laughed at the new faith, but mostly ignored it. Twenty years went by, and Aldonai continued to spread the message given to him and do what good deeds and services he could. Trouble began when the devout of Homa, who had long laughed at Aldonai, began to feel their own age and loss of peers from the years, but Aldoani continued on with his work as though he had never aged a day beyond 45. It seemed as though the many long years of lovingly preaching and caring for those he could gave him youth and energy. This deeply concerned the clergy of Homa as notice was beginning to be taken by more than themselves alone. By this time, Aldoani did little good taking followers away from Homa, though many of Homa's followers now spoke about a new church of Homa which adopted many of the teaching of Aldoani. Truly the clergy of Homa thought this was getting out of hand. Eventually one of the Vosh of the clergy of Homa, Ereien Helenderik, ordered Aldonai arrested and executed. Many of Vosh Helenderik's fellow Vosh were outraged and ordered his release. A break of sorts occurred in among Homa's clergy on many points of order but as the feverish debates raged, Aldoani died of poison in his prison cell. The land filled with great thunderstorms for weeks as the skies seemed to weep the death of Aldoani.

For the next 50 years, splinter groups broke away from Homa and began to worship Falor in addition to or instead of Homa. In many instances, these splinter groups wielded enough economic, political or military power to do so without real threat of retaliation from the more orthodox followers of Homa. Eventually a man named Hordries rose up as a great leader among those devoted to Falor. Hordries had a vision of a unified church and sought to bring that to pass. Hordries soon was made a target by the Homa orthedoxicy. It wasn't long until he too found himself in prison. During Hordries time in prison, he also began to have communication with Falor and became studied directly under the instruction of the deity. Hordries came to understand that Falor did not .. at the time.. want an organized religion; rather, he wanted the spiritual gifts of Falor given to the people. It's not known how, but it was during Hordries conversations with Falor that Hordries convinced Falor that his people needed magical gifts similar to those Homa offered his priests. Falor cautions Hordries that these magics if given will dilute the more valuable gifts of spirit that Falor offers, but Hordries insisted they were necessary and so they were granted. Hordries awoke one day in an open field, free of his prison cell. Soon Hordraie came to realize that he could accomplish great miracles with but a prayer. He immediately set about tending to the sick, poor and injured in a great frenzy. The books of faith claim that Hordraie would sometimes cure thousands in a day and make the fields of entire countrysides flourish with crops. Tens of thousands of people flocked to Falor's faith a day and Herdrae began to realize something that made him very sad. In a month, the Faith of Falor had changed in a profound way. There were throngs of "the faithful" who's thoughts were on their own benefit and not on how they could serve and help others. Hordraie slipped into a great depression, though the worst was still to come.

As worship of Falor began to spread rapidly, The clergy of Homa saw their position as a troubled but strong religion shifting quickly to a second rate power. Something had to be done and quickly, or the religion of Falor would eventually over take the Homa faith. It didn't take genius to see the war of public opinion was one loosing battle after another, but the church of Homa had powerful magics of destruction and an organized faith of the devout willing to take up arms; where as the followers of Falor had magics of healing and comfort, but lacked any desire or ability to put up an actual fight. The die was cast, the choice was obvious. The clergy of Homa began a campaign to wipe out the faith of Falor by destroying their clergy and imposing punishments on people who would practice. The first year was horrific, Followers of Falor tried to reason with and evade their persecutors, but in the end the bloodshed was tragic. Many abandoned the faith of Falor. Others practiced in secret; others still formed militaristic groups that defied Homa to stop them. As time went on, and more of Falor's devotees were slain, the militant groups gained strength. A strength not built on the love and respect for Falor's teachings, but for hatred of Homa for the bloodshed. The Faith of Falor now had a new order of business. Not to comfort or aid, but to bring death and destruction. As this continued, Hordarie struggled as hard as he could to bring peaceful resolution and understanding. The Faith of Homa was bitterly divided. When Hordarie would make progress and bring peace and understanding with some of Homa's leaders, others would sabotage that progress and fuel a conflict they expected to win. As the struggle moved on, The more cruel of Homa's clergy began eliminating their own more reasonable and sympathetic brethren. Soon the leading force in the Homa faith was very radical and bent on utterly eliminating the name of Falor by slaughtering any person to ever reverently utter his name. This even more gruesome approach resulted in unmentionable awful fates befalling increasing numbers of people indiscriminately. Even children no more than infants were slain, and Hordarie was horrified. He spent great amounts of time contemplating what to do and even considered personally doing whatever he could to end veneration of Falor in the hopes that the things would go back to how they were and the blood shed would stop. He considered organizing like he had dreamed of years ago and leading a campaign to quickly end the fighting and restore peace by force. He prayed long and hard and Falor told him that this was man's decision to make. Hordarie did not like this. Hordarie wanted a clear cut divine answer that absolved him of responsibility. This is one of the great mysteries of the Falor faith. When Hordarie wanted magic, Falor warned against it, but gave it at man's request anyways. When the Faith of Falor teetered on the brink of dominance or being abandoned, Falor let man do as man thought best. With that in mind, Hordarie took up the sword, and the fate of mankind would never be the same. This moment is referred to as the "founding sin of the church" by modern Clergy of Falor. In the yeas to come, Hordarie did organize a church of Falor and they did rise up and fight back Homa into a peace agreement. After the war ended, Hordarie left the church to live the rest of his life in quite prayer and isolation in penance for his sins as monks do today. The church itself should have toppled with his leaving, but stayed firm despite so many of it's most enlightened clergyman leaving as did Hordarie simply because the people had come to need it's organization and authority. Today elements in the church views itself with this paradox of knowing it was not in the true will of Falor, but remains a necessity for the people.

About 50 years after Hordarie left the church a bizarre incident changed the peace. Eassea Louthen, secretly a devote follower of Homa, and sister to a respected Cardinal of Falor, Cardinal Boshrek Louthen, sacrificed herself to Homa in the traditional method of self immolation on the faiths high holy day. Refusing to believe that his sister's death could possibly have been voluntary, Cardinal Boshrek Louthen lead a movement to have the faith of Homa wiped from the face of the world for, what he believed has, their abduction and sacrifice of Falor's faithful. The movement of the time was right, and memory of past injustices swelled. Since those days, the faithful of Homa and the Siat of the Morning Lord have worshipped only in secret. Even today, veneration of Homa is outlawed throughout all of Lomar, punishable by being stoned to death. Though this is the "normal" punishment, simple followers are generally beaten then set free and watched closely to keep them on the straight and narrow. Actual clergy of the Siat are not so lucky. This punishment seems harsh for a church based on mercy and forgiveness, but it must be understood that many of Homa's secret followers wish and attempt to do what they can to overthrow the church of Falor including murdering clergyman, burning churches and other evils. Others in that faith have no such desires and when uncovered, they are shown far more mercy than is commonly known (generally forcing them to move someplace else making them "disappear" from public view).

About 200 years ago came the profit Alrod. Alrod claimed that the church of Falor prospered despite Falor's warnings as a result of the desire of the faithful. Because the faithful seemed so needy and wantful for an organized religion, Falor again acquiesced and sent Alrod to aid and further the desires of his children. Alrod was a very powerful leader who was appointed Cardinal Superior of the church ( Cardinal Superior Orthenton Mallery stepped aside for Alrod and was the first and only Cardinal Superior to ever leave that position alive and retire). During Alrod's time alive, The church was completely reorganized and grew tremendously in power. The most notable change Alrod initiated was forming the Paladins of the church. Alrod warned that man's instance on turning away the gifts of the spirit in favor of the security of the church had allowed dark things into the world. Indeed evil unlike any had seen before had begun to sweep its way into every day life. As time went on, the church and civilization as a whole seemed to become under siege by all manner of unholy attack. Clergy reported odd dreams and voices that urged them to succumb to all manner of selfish indulgences and neglect their duties. Rates of crime within society soared as a fundamental breakdown in morals seemed to wash over kingdom after kingdom. Soon it wasn't just decadence and immorality that lurked in the world. Other things were there, pushing it, prodding it, promoting it. Dark things had always existed in the world, but their numbers and power were growing now very fast. Throughout his time Alrod was a paradox. He always encouraged forsaking the church as a powerful organization and again embracing basics like the gifts of the spirit. In action he built the church three times as strong as it had ever been. All the while preaching that this was the desire of man and that Falor would do as man wished in their heart. During this time, Alrod reinforced the understanding that embracing divine magics was done at the cost of turning away more important gifts. Despite this he taught new and more powerful magics. One night, Alrod died of fever that had been building for days. He told the clergy around him that this was expected and the way things were intended to be. He had done here what the children of Falor desired of their God. He warned them all however that true evil was now free in the world and it would forever be the charge of the church he built to confront it and protect the flock of Falor from it.

Cardinal Superior- The Cardinal Superior is the absolute head of the church. He makes his home in Ruma, a large city in the kingdom of Morcron.

Patriarchs- A patriarch is the religious head of a kingdom’s church. Each kingdom has a patriarch that reports to the Cardinal Superior and oversees all the affairs of the church in his kingdom. A Pariarch is also considered a cardinal and sits on the counsel of Cardinals. The head of the Lomarian Church of Avar is Partiarch Allorius Delfino. He resides at St Bonafece in Kalamen.

Cardinals- Cardinals make up the highest tier of clergy. Most stay in Ruma and discuss church policy. Many head special projects at the request of the Cardinal Superior.

Bishops- Kingdoms and other regions where the church holds sway are divided into ecclesiastical administrative territories called dioceses. A bishop heads one of these dioceses and is accountable to his patriarch. Bishops are promoted to that position in time of vacancy by the patriarch from the pastors in that diocese. In the case of Lomar, the kingdom is divided into three dioceses which match the kingdom’s three principalities. Thus there is a diocese of Illium, a diocese of Renford and a diocese of Nibis. Bishop Robert Gorski administrates the diocese of Illium, Bishop Clairance Vulo administrates the diocese of Renford and Bishop Jacob Christos heads the diocese of Nibis.

Pastors- Each individual church serves an area and community referred to as its parish. Each individual church / parish is headed by a pastor who serves under the direction of his Bishop. Pastors are all considered to be full members of the clergy and are clerics. Pastors primarily concern themselves with the celebration of mass and administering of the sacraments. . Like all clergy, Pastors are expected to take and honor vows of Obedience, Temperance, Poverty and Celibacy.

Curates- Curates are full clergymen and clerics who work for a single church as a priests, but are not head of that church and parish as the Pastor is. Curates can do all of the same things a pastor can…with his permission of course and will fill in for him in cases of absence or in busy times. Curates generally are more responsible for the training of acolytes and lay clergy like Deacons as well as organizing things like festivals, choirs, and teaching religious classes. . Like all clergy, Curates are expected to take and honor vows of Obedience, Temperance, Poverty and Celibacy.

Priors- Priors are full clergy and clerics who are not bound to a parish, but instead adventure and fight evil in the name of the church. Traditionally a prior is bound to the service of a Bishop, but occasionally a Patriarch will take some under his service as well. Priors traditionally have a fair degree of autonomy to pursue what they think best, but they are accountable to their superior and are expected to seek audience with him frequently and follow his advice. Like all clergy, Priors are expected to take and honor vows of Obedience, Temperance, Poverty and Celibacy.

Paladins- Paladins operate much as do priors. They have holy ordinations and serve the church under the direction of a bishop (occasionally a Patriarch). Many paladins operate independently or in small groups with a common purpose. Occasionally the Cardinal Superior himself will grant a paladin a charter to found an order of holy knights with a specific purpose and name the head paladin Grand Master. Hence forth, the Grand Master reports directly to the Cardinal Superior. Holy knights of these orders must be paladins or be ordained as monks. Like all clergy, Paladins are expected to take and honor vows of Obedience, Temperance, Poverty and Celibacy. Deacon- A deacon is a lay minister who serves the church part time. Generally they are old and retired from their professions. They concern themselves primarily with tending to the sick and doing charity work. They serve directly under the Prior of a parish. A church may have any number of deacons, but three is considered an average number; larger cities have more. Deacons are not considered full clergy, do not take most vows and do not cast spells. Deacons are expected to take and honor vows of Obedience and Temperance.

Monks- Monks are generally members of various monastic religious orders where they and their fellows live simple lives of devotion, prayer and introspection. Many also engage in considerable acts of penance for the sake of their own souls and mankind as a whole. Monks occasionally do charity work, but their primary job is simply to pray… a lot. Throughout history, Cardinal Superior has chartered many monastic orders, each having their own traditions. Each also adopts different sets of vows. Cannon law says that monastic orders must have at least two vows, but many have several. There are monastic orders for women, which are called convents where nuns live similar lives devoted to God and monks do.

Acolytes- Acolytes are clergy in training. They are generally in their teens and early 20s. As they advance in their training, they choose to become Curates, Priors, or Paladins. Occasionally acolytes will become monks or decide to only work part time with the church and become a Deacon. Early in their training, acolytes are required to take the vow of Obedience

Ecclesiastical Vows

Vow of Obedience- The vow of Obedience simply ensures that a clergyman will uphold the teachings of the faith and honor the dictates of his superior.

Vow of Poverty- The vow of Poverty, in essence, assures that a clergyman shall keep no more worldly property than necessary to uphold his duty. Typically it is the clergyman’s superior who dictates what is and is not necessary or appropriate for one’s obligations. Property above and beyond what is necessary is to be tithed to the church. Most importantly, those with vows of poverty are meant to forsake the worldly pursuit of wealth and material possessions, instead focusing on spiritual growth.

Vow of Temperance- The vow of Temperance regulates a clergy man to abstain from most pleasurable indulgences. The vow of Temperance is generally considered to prohibit sex, drunkenness, use of drugs, gluttony, gambling, or any other ruckus, deboucherous or indulgent behavior.

Vow of Celibacy- The vow of Celibacy prohibits a clergyman from having romantic relationships or fathering children. This vow is considered important because clergy are required to sacrifice their own basic wants and place God and their congregation as their highest priorities. A family man needs to place his spouse and children as his highest priority, and these two paths are not compatible.

Vow of Silence- The vow of Silence is a somewhat unusual vow taken only by a rare few religious orders. Generally it is taken as a form of penance somebody seeking divine forgiveness for their own actions or the actions of others. There are many variations of this vow that allow those who have taken them to speak, and communicate in various circumstances.

Vow of Solitude- Another rare vow that often is the result of a religious person seeking some sort of forgiveness or grace through penance. Those who have taken vows of solitude are not allowed human contact or interaction.