The Canons

The Canons are the collected writings of the Church of Westrun

Canon 1: God

There is but one true God, eternal, unchanging, and sovereign over all creation. He has no equal, nor rival. All the old claimants to divinity are false and fallen, either spirits of rebellion or the works of human error. 

These are the words which were spoken to Gamasiel and thus we remember them in our rite. “Before the hills were raised or the deep was divided, I alone was. Before the world was thawed or the rivers roared, I alone was. Before the stars were flung into the sky, before the lights of Day and Night, I alone was. Before any others were, I alone was. And I remain. I am the Source and the Final Silence.”

Canon 2: God is Spirit

The true God is not made of flesh or form. He is not beast nor star nor hero, but pure and holy will, pure and holy passion, pure and holy reason, pure and holy force. All things are subject to Him, even time and death, and they are sustained only by His decree.

As was written by Gamasiel, “Stone crumbles, flesh decays, fire fades—but Spirit endures.”

Canon 3: No Other Worship

You shall not worship any creature, nor give to others what is due to God. You shall not esteem another above God. The temples of the old gods shall be hollowed and their images broken. Neither the blood of man nor of beasts is to be given to stone.

This was the warning given by God through Gamasiel to the Temple of the Pretenders, “Cast down your idols and cleanse your hands; for they are red with error.”

Canon 4: The Church is the Arm of God

The Church alone speaks with authority concerning God’s will. Its prefects interpret, its clerics instruct, and its paladins enforce. No prince nor lord may set aside the word of the Church, nor speak as if he were God. 

 From the poetry of Cronos, “As the sun to the watchtower, so is the Church to the land.”

Canon 5: Men Are the Chosen Race

Among the peoples of the earth, God chose mankind to fulfill his plan. Let man rule, but let him not forget his charge: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk in humility.

“To man was given the fire of passion; to man was given the soundness of reason; to man was given the strength of force, to man was given the resolution of will, but above all these things he was given time, for mortality is a curse to the Besnir, but a gift to man.”

Canon 6: The Old Powers are Fallen

The Pretenders who once walked among men are no gods, but deceivers and rebels. Signs and wonders were performed by them for a time, but they fell into pride and corruption. The wrath of God cast them down, and their names shall not be honored.

“He who calls lightning to hand but observes not that which is good and true and beautiful is a traitor and a beast.”

Canon 7: Purity Is the Path

The body is the home of the soul, and must be kept pure. Lechery, gluttony, sorcery, drunkenness, and the arts of the wild lead to darkness. The faithful must abstain from corruption of their flesh, corruption of their words, and corruption of their thoughts. 

“Good wine is not poured into dirty vessels. And from the dirty vessel comes all manner of foulness.”

Canon 8: The Sacred Day

On the first day, commonly called the Day of the Sun, no work shall be done. The people shall gather to hear the words of the Clerics and to receive from them the rites. From the rising to the setting of the sun, the day belongs to God and the works which he calls others to do. 

 “As the land lies fallow to bear fruit, so must the soul find rest to bear wisdom.”

Canon 9: The Dead

The souls of the faithful pass beyond reach and are given to the Ferryman. The body returns to dust. All necromancy is abomination. Enslave not the dead, nor disturb their sleep -- such acts will bring death and horror. God has ordained that some will be raised from death, but this must not be done lightly and then only to do great works. 

“The dead are in God’s keeping. Seek not what is forbidden.”

Canon 10: The Judged

The divine law is not mocked. All will be judged and receive their due recompense, either in this life or the next. The contrite will be spared, if they prove true. The unrepentant shall be cast out to find correction. If they find it not, their destiny will be in pits of despair, beneath a mountain of woe.  

“Stand guard against the wolves, and tend to those who persevere, but forbid not those who are wounded, for some shall recover and be stronger than those who seemed not to falter."

Canon 11: The Stricture of Garb

The servant of God shall wear the garb of humility, and not drape himself with jewelry nor ornmentation. His life shall be one of witness and obedience, for his strength lies in faith, not arms or coin.

"The shepherd foregoes finery and perfumes, for by them the wolf may know where the flock is weak." 

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 12: The Stricture of the Blade

Paladins may wield blades, but the Cleric may not except in anointing one to become Paladin. Let the Cleric instead take up the staff, the crook, the rod or any such weapon as has no edge. By this he will show that his faith is sharper than steel. We must remember that those who rose against us used blades and not piety. Therefore, eschew edged weapons unless you be mistaken for one of them.

"The evil drew my blood, but my blade was this tongue which cut them clean."

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 13: The Stricture of Wealth

No soul shall be bought or sold into belief. The Cleric may not charge gold for rites nor barter healing for coin. What is holy must not be sold, for God is not a merchant.

The Cleric must not engage in a trade or conduct secular business. He cannot charge or pay any interest. He may not accrue personal wealth, except what is minimally required for survival.

"Silver buys grain, but not grace."

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 14: The Stricture of Celibacy

The Cleric shall not bind himself in marriage, nor know the pleasure of the flesh. His heart belongs to the flock and to God. He shall neither sire nor mother children, but all who believe shall be as his children.

"The hand that clasps the crook must not clasp a lover's hand."

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 15: The Stricture of Hierarchy

So now the Church of Westrun and all Erenth shall be constituted as follows. For we desire that our flocks shall be together as one and not confused with the now discredited way of our shameful past.

In order that our way is not lost again to the mists of time, here are the rulings of all the priests in unanimity with one another and with Gamasiel our chief priest. This mandate shall be binding on all our successors forevermore.

1. Let our flocks be gathered into one sphere -- the faithful people themselves.
2. Let them be protected by the Holy Knighthood.
3. Let them be served by the Holy Brothers and the Sacred Sisters.
4. Let them be guided by the Shepherds.
5. Let the Shepherds be ruled by the noble Prefects.
6. Let the Prefects be obedient to the High Priest himself.
7. May the Patriarch be guided by the Worthy men and women who have gone before.

"As the stars obey their courses, so must each light obey the greater."

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 16: The Stricture of Rites

The Cleric must serve the faithful and provide for them the rites they are due.

Initiation - the Rite of Initiation formally accepts new members into the Church.

Maturation - the Rite of Maturation is conferred upon those members of the Church, after Initiation, who have learned the tenets of the faith and put them into visible practice.

Restoration - the Rite of Restoration is offered to those who are tempted and fail. Justice is tempered by mercy for those who seek it.

Consecration - the Rite of Consecration sets aside people, places and objects for special use by God through the Church.

Recitation - the Rite of Recitation is the daily observance of repeating the first ten Canons before morning prayers. 

Ordination - the Rite of Ordination is reserved to those who have already received the Rite of Maturation and will serve the Church as Clerics. 

Unction  - the Rite of Unction is performed for those who are sick, dying or recently dead and includes all burial prayers.

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 17: The Stricture of Duty

The Cleric must always strive to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, rescue the orphan, convert the unbeliever, and properly bury the dead.

"By these signs shall he be known."

These are the Strictures of Gamasiel. These are written after the Ten Signs were given and the path was made plain. For many holy men of the old way fought with him and his fellow shepherds, but failed. So then their priesthood was thrown down and their Temples were swept clean.

To all who would follow these strictures, is offered the new priesthood of He who was forgotten, but is remembered again.

Canon 18: Oaths of Sworn Men of the Sword

Here are the rites and oaths to be used by the Clerics, Regular and Extraordinary, of the Church of Westrun in the matter of  Consecrating all of its Sworn Men.

KNIGHTS SECULAR

Inasmuch as it is possible for any monarch, lord or knight to raise a man to knighthood, the number of these sworn men has greatly proliferated in all the known world. While many of these are men of virtue, the Church can neither vouchsafe their honor, nor attest to their fidelity, nevertheless all may properly be known by the honorific, Sir.

As you may have cause to bear witness to such an elevation, it is proper to use the ceremony following.

First, having heard the supplicant commended by his monarch or lord, have him confess his crimes and pay all his lawful debts; then have him kneel in the manner pictured with his hands upon the lord's sword and recite the twelvefold oath using these words:

Here do I, by all that is good and right, swear to develop my life for the greater good. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth. I will never boast, but cherish humility instead. I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. I will honor women. I will uphold justice. I will be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. I will abhor scandals and gossip. I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help. I will forgive when possible, that my own mistakes will be forgiven. I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward.

Note that all men elevated by other knights are considered "hedge knights" and remain so, until such time as a lord shall ratify their elevation.

KNIGHTS RELIGIOUS

The matter of Paladins is different than that of a mere knight. Only a Prefect may recognize a Paladin from among the elevated knighthood. Such a one will present himself to the Prefect after the ceremony described above and only after a discerning fast has been undertaken and not broken.

The supplicant will kneel again as shown, but with his hands upon the Prefect's Mace. The Prefect will then cut his hand with a knife of ceremony, and with his bloody palm upon the supplicants brow say these words:

Do you, Sir Knight, of free will and without reservation have further oaths to swear?

The supplicant will answer by these words:

Lord Prefect, I swear by all that is lawful and holy to obey in all things great and small. I will uphold the faith. I will follow the Holy Canons. I will serve you as you serve God until you release me, or death take me, or the world end.

At that moment the knight should be bid to rise and heal the knife wound of the Prefect as testament of his faculty. If the healing faculty is not present, the supplicant shall be bid to go forth and do well without the mantle of the Church to vouchsafe him. But if the faculty is present, the Prefect will then name him Paladin and place the mantle of the Church upon him, and symbol of the church around his neck.

PEERS

No Paladin shall be aspire to a peerage without first being released by his Prefect. But no such release shall be unreasonably withheld when it is petitioned by an Exemplar of the order aspired to. 

The release shall be given as follows:

Here do I,  __________ Prefect of the Holy Church and by the authority granted to me, release you from your former service; and commend you to the service of another.

Upon obtaining the release, the aspirant will swear an oath to the chaplain of that order and undertake the tasks given him to prove his worth

He shall be given the challenge, as follows:

Do you, Sir Knight, of free will and open heart have further oaths to swear?

Aspirants to a peerage will make the following response:

Here do I, by all that is good and holy, swear that I shall freely and openly undertake the tasks put to me; in obedience to the Order of _____; ever keeping with whatsoever is right under the law; or else forfeit my aspiration. So say I, Sir __________.

Once an aspirant has completed his tasks and is to be accepted into the order aspired to, he shall be challenged again and make the following response:

Here do I, by all that is good and holy, swear that I shall freely and openly keep fealty and service to the Order; to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be; to come and to go; in need or in plenty; in peace or war; in living or dying; in obedience of whatsoever is right under the law, from this hour henceforth, until my Lord Captain release me, or death take me, or the world end. So say I, Sir _____, Peer of the Order of ____.

A Peer who is additionally honored by exemplary conduct or service may be invited to the final echelon of his order. If so, he shall answer the challenge by swearing the following oath:

Here do I, by my sacred and proven honor, swear that I shall freely and openly maintain devotion and fidelity to the sacred goals of my Order as they reflect whatsoever is right under the law. So say I, Sir _____, Exemplar of the Order of _____.

When an Exemplar has become the captain and Lord Commander of his order, shall answer the challenge by swearing the following oath:

Here do I, before the witness of the Order of _____, freely and openly promise to fulfill the office of Captain as my most sacred charge, to hear and preside, to charge and defend, to serve and guide; leading by whatsoever is right under the law, from this hour henceforth, until my Order release me. So say I, Sir _____, Lord Commander of the Order of _____.

Canon 19: Peerages

Set this 23rd day of the third Mon of Spring, 5138 as the elves reckon time.

A Proclamation of His Holiness Halded, Patriarch of the Church of Westrun

In as much as it had come to me that several of the Holy Knights have begun to bind themselves into subsidiary organizations and institutions, I convened a whole council of the Prefects Incardinated whereby these and other matters were discussed. At the conclusion of which it was our unanimous decision that herewith:

Under this Law, there may be never more than 12 Paladin members of any Peerage. A 13th member may be permitted if he is to serve as chaplain and is ordained in the Clerical Order. A Sacred Sister may be substituted for the chaplain if she be a sworn virgin, unmarried, and duly consecrated. Beyond that, each Paladin may have one squire or page who will serve at his behalf. The full number then, in maximum, of any Peerage is hereby set at 25.