Laity of the Order of the Abbot

Overview

The Laity of the Order of the Abbot are a splinter sect amongst the Order of the Abbot. They are primarily composed of common-folk and low level priests and laity among the devoted. They believe the leadership of The The Order have become corrupt, ignoring the needs of the people, and only mouth The Abbot's name (blessings be upon him) while using their station to gather riches to themselves.

When negotiations between the two groups came to naught (the Laity claiming The Order were not negotiating in good faith and continued to imprison their members, while The Order leadership dismissed them as rabble-rousers who were simply trying to use the faithful to further their own ends), fighting broke out between the two groups. After several months of on and off skirmishes, a large army composed mostly of peasants laid siege to the capital of the Order of the Abbot, the center of the faith and home of The Abbot, and also the northernmost city of Mardur. Surprisingly the mostly unorganized rabble (after key members were struck down by assassins within the army, planted their presumably by The Order) managed to overwhelm the defenders and drove them from the city. They held the city for almost two years before a large army from Mardur was able to lay siege and cut the peasantry off from reinforcements and supplies. Eventually the Mardurians attacked in earnest, and a small vanguard of faithful sacrificed their lives so the majority of the rebels could escape the city.

Significant characters

Some of the named players in the conflict were all members of the Order of the Abbot Members on the side of The Order, and Padre and the formerly unknown individual calling herself The Abbottesses amongst The Laity.

O.O.C.

In broad strokes:

If the Order of the Abbot are Tendai Buddhists

Then the Laity of the Order of the Abbot are Ikkō-ikki Buddhists

And the war between them is akin to the Protest Reformation

OOC story notes

I (Rasheab) have no idea what year most of these events happened: the skirmishes, the invasion of the capital, how long the city was held, and when Mardur eventually took the city back. (It could probably be found out on old land maps.)

How to Take Part

Most of this war has presumably been left on the old continent. However (if its relevant to your story) Laity or Order members could be amongst those who sailed east. A lot may depend upon whether The Order of the Abbot reforms on the new land map, or plays a significant role in another country.

If you'd like to incorporate this into your character backstory, or to take part:

Join the Order of the Abbot. Either as part of a reformed country on a new continet, or as religious characters who are members of the faith and believe in the party line/status quo, and trust in the traditional leaders of the church. (Talk to Dameaion if you'd like to know more)

Or profess membership as Laity of Order of the Abbot. Laity are primarily peasants, but included amongst them are some low level clergy, and any character or class can profess support for The Laity, or hold to their beliefs. (Talk Rasheab if you'd like more details)