Introduction

For nearly a millennium, the Church of Seiros has stood as the spiritual heart of Fódlan, shaping its politics, culture, morality, and historical memory. From the revelation of the Goddess in ancient times to the founding of the Central Church, the institution has guided the continent through turmoil, unification, and reform.

This volume recounts the Church’s origins, the legends of the Goddess, the rise of Saint Seiros, the roles of the Four Saints, the structure of the Central and Eastern Churches, and the state of the faith in IY 1180.

I. The Era of the Progenitors of Fódlan

(Dates Unknown—Long Before Recorded History)

The earliest histories, preserved only in fragmentary scripture and oral tradition, speak of a time when the Goddess descended from the heavens to guide humanity. She is described as the mother of all life, the source of order, and the giver of souls.

Her teachings granted:

• Language

• Wisdom

• Knowledge of craftsmanship

• Guidance toward harmony

The faithful believe that, under her care, humanity flourished.

It is from this ancient era that the concept of the Crests originates—mystical bloodlines believed to be gifts bestowed upon chosen individuals to safeguard the world.

II. The War of Heroes and the Rise of Seiros

(Approx. IY 0–91)

Though the exact year cannot be verified, records speak of a catastrophe in which the children of men and the Goddess’s own kin were annihilated by a cruel oppressor.

From this devastation arose Seiros, a woman blessed with miraculous power. She is said to have rallied humanity and led them into a series of battles known collectively as the War of Heroes.

Key events include:

• Seiros’s duel against the Fell King Nemesis

• The reclamation of sacred relics forged from divine remains

• The restoration of peace and the reorganization of human society

After Nemesis’s defeat in the Battle of Tailtean (IY 91), Seiros took upon herself the burden of guiding the wounded world.

III. The Founding of the Adrestian Empire

(IY 91–98)

Following her victory, Seiros assisted in the establishment of a unified nation to bring order to Fódlan. Under her guidance, Wilhelm Paul Hresvelg became the first Emperor.

This act solidified the long-standing alliance between the Church and the Empire.

During this era, Seiros began the construction of the Monastery of Garreg Mach, envisioned as both a fortress of faith and a repository of knowledge.

IV. Establishment of the Central Church

(IY 98–200)

With stability restored, Seiros ordained a new spiritual institution dedicated to preserving the Goddess’s teachings.

Central Church Structure

• Archbishop (Seiros herself)—head of doctrine and highest authority

• Central Synod—scholars, priests, and bishops entrusted with interpretation of scripture

• Knights of Seiros—the Church’s military order

• Monastic Schools—education centers that spread literacy and faith across Fódlan

During these centuries, the Church became the primary source of historical recordkeeping, moral teaching, and cultural unity across all territories.

V. The Four Saints and Their Legacies

(Approx. IY 100–300)

Around Seiros stood four legendary heroes, each a paragon of virtue whose deeds shaped early Church tradition.

1. Saint Cichol

A wise, stern guardian who preserved the natural order.
His descendants founded a long lineage of scholars, protectors, and caretakers of Church lands.
He is associated with patience, knowledge, and the sanctity of life.

2. Saint Cethleann

A healer of unmatched compassion, revered for saving countless lives during the War of Heroes.
Her relics and teachings focus on mercy, restoration, and the nurturing of families and communities.

3. Saint Indech

A reclusive warrior-sage who honed body and mind in equal measure.
He is venerated as the patron of discipline, humility, and honest struggle.

4. Saint Macuil

A brilliant but fiery figure, celebrated for his mastery of magic and unyielding dedication to justice.
He symbolizes righteous action and the pursuit of truth.

VI. Schisms and the Eastern Church

(IY ~200–700)

As the faith spread across Fódlan, regional differences emerged.
In the far northeast, a more ascetic interpretation of the Goddess’s will developed, eventually forming the Eastern Church.

Though loyal to Seiros’s doctrine, the Eastern Church:

• Favors simplicity and austerity

• Centers worship on individual connection to the Goddess rather than institutional hierarchy

• Maintains its own traditions, festivals, and priestly orders

Relations between the Central and Eastern Church have fluctuated—cooperative in some eras, strained in others—but both remain devoted to the same Goddess.

VII. The Church During the Rise of Faerghus and the Secession of Leicester

(IY 800s–900s)

When the northern lords declared independence and formed the Kingdom of Faerghus, the Church played a diplomatic role, securing peace and ensuring continued worship across the new nation.

A century later, eastern imperial nobles seceded to create the Leicester Alliance.
The Church maintained its presence there as well, though its authority became more symbolic due to the Alliance's secular governance.

By the end of this period, the Church had become the only institution with influence across all three powers of Fódlan.

VIII. The Modern Era and the Officer’s Academy

(IY 1100–1180)

The past century brought new challenges:

• Growing political rivalries between the three nations

• Piracy and raids from outside Fódlan

• Conflicts with heretics and dissident sects

• Increased Crest research and controversy over bloodlines

To foster peace, the Church expanded the Officer’s Academy at Garreg Mach.
Students from all three nations—often heirs to major houses—were educated together under the Church’s supervision.

The Academy became the heart of interregional diplomacy and the Church’s greatest tool for maintaining stability.

IX. Doctrine of the Goddess

(Teachings Preserved to IY 1180)

The Church’s faith centers on the Goddess, revered as:

• Creator of life

• Guardian of souls

• Arbiter of order

• Mother of all

Her commandments emphasize:

• Harmony among people

• Protection of the weak

• Preservation of life

• Moderation and discipline

• Respect for natural law

The Church teaches that Crests are divine blessings bestowed upon chosen bloodlines to protect Fódlan—but also warns against the temptation to misuse them.

X. The Knights and Military Orders

Knights of Seiros

The primary military force of the Church. Their duties include:

• Protecting Garreg Mach

• Escorting clergy

• Investigating heresy

• Serving as peacekeepers across Fódlan

Knights of Cichol

Naval, scholarly, and defensive specialists, often stationed near Church-controlled coastal regions.

Knights of Macuil

A smaller, more secretive order, dealing with matters of magical security and forbidden knowledge.

XI. Organization of the Church

The Church’s structure is hierarchical:

1. Archbishop – supreme spiritual authority

2. Cardinals / High Priests – advisors and overseers of major regions

3. Bishops – administrators of provinces or academies

4. Priests & Clerics – local religious teachers

5. Monastic Scholars – writers, historians, and philosophers

The Church governs doctrine, oversees important rituals, and ensures continuity of scripture.

XII. Current Events in IY 1180 (Up to the Great Tree Moon)

Several developments shape the Church’s present concerns:

1. The Academy’s most promising year in decades

Heirs from Adrestia, Faerghus, and Leicester have enrolled simultaneously, offering rare opportunity for unity—or conflict.

2. Unrest and heretical movements

Isolated cults, Crest-obsessed factions, and those who reject Church authority have grown more active.

3. A new Professor with extraordinary capabilities

A recent appointment to the Academy’s faculty—bearing mysterious gifts and an uncanny aptitude for leadership—has drawn the Archbishop’s attention.

4. Political instability across Fódlan

Rising tension between the Empire, Kingdom, and Alliance necessitates delicate intervention from the Church to prevent open conflict.

5. Archival projects and hidden inquiries

The Office of Doctrine has begun reviewing ancient records and relics—secret work known only to the highest clergy.

Conclusion

As of the Great Tree Moon, Imperial Year 1180, the Church of Seiros remains the most powerful unifying institution in Fódlan. Its influence extends from the spiritual to the political, from education to diplomacy, from military to metaphysical concerns.

Yet beneath the surface of unity lie contradictions—ancient secrets, political disputes, and the growing sense that the age of unquestioned authority may soon give way to upheaval.

In these uncertain times, the Church stands vigilant, as it has for nearly a thousand years, safeguarding the teachings of the Goddess and guiding the people of Fódlan toward a future only the divine can foresee.