Gasmask Gospel 2: The Empires of Christendom

 The world is war.

See Post 1 here.

Before the Arymite Revelation, it would not be a stretch to say Christianity had won. The most powerful nations in the world all bowed before the Cross. But it was a divided Christianity. In some ways, the appearance of a true threat was a blessing, for it united the various factions of Christendom in a way that nothing else could short of a miracle. The spiritual power of the universal church has arisen once more, though the divisions still haunt her, she is strong to face the challenge.

Ave Maria!

He is risen!

Christ is Lord!

By Mike Franchina

The Empires of Christendom

The different sects of Christianity had long been at odds with each other. At the outset of the Arymite Revelation, not only had the supernatural exploded once more onto the world stage in the form of the Apostles of Arym, undeniable miracles began to appear in all parts of the Christian world. To discuss the new threat and come to some understanding of this explosion of miraculous power, the great figures of every sect gathered, historically Christian nations sent their own ambassadors. The entire world gathered together at the Vatican. There an alliance was hammered into being. A theological war waged for days, but, in the end, necessity reigned, and none of them could deny the necessity of standing united against Arym and the re-emergence of the Pagan world. Each one began to explore what powers had been offered to them by the Holy Spirit and the nations present nodded in assent to the new alliance of united Christendom.

Orthodoxy (Eastern Europe, Greece, parts of the Middle East, Ethiopia)

The proud tradition of the East has endured since the beginning, from Christ to the apostles to the fathers to this very day. They have preserved the mystic ways of the ascetics. From Mount Athos come monks who have worked all their lives to achieve theosis, and they come with powers of healing, turning the unholy, and spiritual projection and communication over vast distances. Though there are far too few to be a regular sight among your common soldiers, the powerful prayers of these faithful champions can sway the course of engagements for the battle belongs to the Lord!

From the unforgiving lands of Eastern Europe and parts of Russia, come the battle-hardened soldiers of the Orthodox nations. Each troop is headed up by a Reliquary Chaplain, weighed down with countless saintly relics, bones, blessed flasks of oil, and ancient icons. These relics can act like hand grenades of holy power, create areas of protection, and turn unholy creatures. In the shadow of the monstrosities of the Arymites, these soldiers take any advantage they can gain, and lesser relics are often divvied out to ordinary troopers or scavenged by them for their protective power and the comfort of the close presence of the holy.

Catholicism (Parts of Western and Central Europe, Parts of Central and South America)

The Vatican was said to have access to Arym before the Arymite Revelation, and while none of their efforts had the same impact as the Revelation, they came back with useful but potentially corrupting insights. Most importantly, they seem to have prepared for the emergence of the Apostles more than any other group, as though they knew this was going to happen. They have studied with science and faith, the astonishing truths from the island. There are rumors of prophet creatures created from Arymite sainthood science in the hidden depths of the Vatican who can predict enemy movements with terrifying accuracy.

Having an abundance of relics of their own, your average soldier of Western Europe or South America will often have a minor relic in their possession as well as copious amounts of holy water from their Confessor Chaplains, who are most effective in all the Empires of easing the psychological strain from the horrors both natural and supernatural of this eternal war. 

Old knightly orders have emerged once more, equipped with their ancient weapons and armor, for the certainty and the long tradition of such armaments is better by far than modern armor against the mind-warping powers of the enemy, and the sword that strikes by faith far better than a tank shell. Few sights encourage the fainting soldiers in the trenches more than a shining knight atop a white steed, flying towards the terrifying monsters of the enemy sword raised high, on fire with faith and chivalry, shining like the sun as they recklessly cut a swath through the enemy. 

Yet, there are rumors that the greatest of these knights have partaken of the corrupt fruits of the Arymites and that what lies beneath their armor is no longer fully human.

Protestantism (Parts of the USA, Britain, Germany, parts of Western Europe, parts of Africa)

Though often looked down on by their counterparts in Christianity, the sharp intellect of the Protestant mind and the fire of their adolescent faith are potent weapons in this time of strife. The great industrial powers of the world, fueled by the Protestant analytical mind, have produced mechanical marvels to face the oncoming storm.

Out of Germany have come the great, steel land walkers, mounted with powerful cannons, inscribed with Bible passages, capable of facing the monsters that haunt the no man's land. From Britain come the massive flying dreadnoughts, bringing with them the Iron Angels, the blessed fighter planes, and bomber planes to dominate the skies and drop down cleansing fire onto the enemy.

From the US have come fire and brimstone preachers, rallying forth the troops, speakers blasting from their backs, calling down fire from heaven. Apologists prepare careful theological countermeasures to enemy invocations, dissecting their theology, and weakening their power.

From the US and parts of Africa come Pentecostal miracle workers possessed by the Spirit. They can heal their allies and invoke the Holy Spirit mightily. They drive their fellow Pentecostal soldiers to manic frenzies of faith, like zealous barbarian rages. Stand in the way of their worship at your own peril. 

Deserters

Yet, despite the powers given the Christians, the war wages on. Doubt festers, far deadlier than bullets in the rat swarmed tenches. For all the nobility of their convictions, old abuses emerge and fear reigns. Many think that the war is a punishment sent by God for the sins of the world. Witch-burnings have become far too common. Monks whip their backs and mutilate their flesh. Moral laxity is punishable by death in small villages. Inquisitions and persecutions of other faith groups mount. Freedom seems one of the first things to die in the face of such vicious necessity. 

Among all of this, it is no wonder some have walked away, still holding their faith in Christ but doubtful that the power structures of the world can ever truly reflect their meek and mild Savior, can ever truly grasp the earth-shattering reality of that Man of Sorrows, broken and bleeding on an implement of torment, begging forgiveness for a world who killed Him. 

They see Him in the faces of the soldier hunkered down in the trenches, covered in blood and scars, dying for countries that spend their blood like pennies. They see a Savior with His head wrapped in barbed wire, nailed to a barricade, pierced in His side by a bayonet: the Christ of the Trenches.

Behind all the propaganda, far too many know that the miracles become rarer, that faith seems to be like fuel running dry, that the Empires obsessed with power grow increasingly disconnected from their source in Christ. Unless something changes, this might mean the doom of the Empires. Yet, there is still hope, for death is a part of the story and resurrection is on the way. 

Conclusion

This was probably my most unapologetically Christian post ever, but I tried to show this faction in flattering and unflattering lights. It seemed an appropriate time to post this with Easter on the way. The United Pagan Front and the Deserters after them would be next up for these posts, but I am wondering how to approach more real life religions in a sensitive way. Let me know if I should really fictionalize the Paganism of this setting to be as metal as possible or try to stick to trying to be a little more based in reality like I kind of did with the United Christian Empires, though calling it "reality" might be generous.