Chapter 215: The Interesting Archbishop |
The Ecclesiarchy also possessed its own unique tithe system.
Aside from modifying its doctrines to suit local conditions on some lost worlds and voidships, lowering the threshold of Faith to garner the support of the voidborn and abhumans, the Imperial Cult strictly enforced its rules elsewhere.
On the vast majority of other worlds, the church pursued genetic purity with near-fanatical zeal. Even the most basic requirement to become a cleric was dignified facial features and an excellent physique.
Any flaw, whether it be distorted facial features, unusually colored hair, or a hunched posture, was deemed a symbol of impure Souls and ruthlessly weeded out.
Because of this, even though the Imperial Cult was explicitly forbidden from forming male armed forces, men hailing from church-controlled worlds were constantly sought after by various factions.
They were fanatical, resolute, and possessed a natural resistance to heresy. But what made them truly rare was...
Most of them were literate.
Whether assigned to grassroots positions as scribes and preachers, or integrated into the Astra Militarum to become the backbone of its forces, these individuals were top-tier candidates.
As for the women, it went without saying.
Excluding those who had taken Oaths of celibacy, the vast majority of Sisters chose to find a partner after retirement or during their clerical duties.
Therefore, while the Imperial Cult amassed the wealth of the Imperium, spread its doctrines, and brought numerous worlds under its control, it also fulfilled the vital responsibility of supplying wealth and a high-quality population to the Imperium.
From this perspective, the High Lords were not entirely unyielding. Facing the rising power of the Imperial Cult, they astutely assessed the situation and adjusted their taxation models, and this was merely a compromise made when dealing with other Mortal factions.
The Imperial Cult, in turn, fully lived up to its reputation: in adversity, a paragon of the Galaxy; in prosperity, a harbinger of ruin.
When everyone else failed, the church often endured to the bitter end, standing firm until the crisis was resolved. However, if there was no crisis, the church itself became the problem.
Due to certain undeniable objective realities, coupled with a massive and devout congregation from the lower and middle classes, its influence expanded effortlessly, directly threatening the position of the Administratum.
However, whenever this expansion reached a certain threshold, the Imperial Cult invariably shifted its focus to the ephemeral game of thrones.
Anyone with a modicum of sense understood what happened next. Political struggles were never anything but bloody.
——
The skies of Astorgius were dyed a solemn, golden-red hue. The Chartered Fleets controlled by the Imperial Cult orbited the Planet like devout pilgrims. Warm light symbolizing Faith shone from the viewports of every warship, escorting The Dawnlight, an Emperor-class Battleship, as it entered the Starport.
The Imperial Cult presented its highest standard of etiquette to receive the Primarch who had descended upon this world.
The entire Starport was illuminated by billions of candles. The dancing flames cast rippling, golden halos against the polished metal walls, making the entire structure appear as though it were submerged in molten gold.
The Archbishop held a scepter inlaid with holy relics, standing tall and proud on a welcoming path strewn with Madonna lily petals, awaiting the arrival of the Primarch.
"These reception standards..."
Navradaran looked down at the city bathed in an ocean of gold, muttering a quiet complaint to Romulus.
"Even the visual records from when The Emperor walked among men weren't this exaggerated."
"The Emperor generated his own special effects,"
Karna suddenly interjected, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"He could alter a Planet's climate at will, make it rain on Mars, present a flawless image tailored to the eyes of different believers, and teleport everywhere radiating a golden aura. Being worshipped as a god now is, in some ways, the price he pays for his own vanity."
Look at him now; he rarely even manifested a miracle.
"..."
Navradaran awkwardly swallowed his previous complaint.
Karna, on the other hand, turned around cheerfully and walked with a brisk step to blend in with the ranks of the Blood Angels, striking a pose. His golden-red power armor gave off a warm luster under the candlelight, seamlessly merging into the formation of those Sons of the Angels.
Truth be told, complaining about The Emperor with a friend was a completely different experience from complaining about The Emperor with a Custodian Guard.
Romulus merely shook his head.
After a round of inspections, he had a fairly good grasp of the Imperium's extravagance. Honestly, this kind of spectacle looked overly grandiose, but achieving it was hardly a difficult feat for an interstellar civilization.
Yes, this was the only time one could genuinely tell that the Imperium was an interstellar civilization at all.
When the Primarchs' honor guard appeared on the Starport platform, the entire structure instantly erupted into deafening cheers. Billions of pilgrims waved prayer banners, chanting hymns of praise at the top of their lungs, welcoming the Primarchs to their loyal Astorgius.
Romulus surveyed his surroundings. Only after confirming the absence of those unsettling servo-cherubs or any other cybernetically modified Creations did he step forward, walking side-by-side with Karna toward the Archbishop.
The magnificent stature of a Primarch was incredibly striking. Every step they took caused the surrounding clerics to subconsciously hold their breath.
"Greetings to you, honorable Romulus, and holy Karna."
The Archbishop bowed first, his movements so standard they seemed printed straight out of an etiquette manual.
Romulus sharply noted that this Bishop's eyes lacked the fanatical zeal typical of other Imperial Cult personnel. Instead, his gaze held a subtle hint of scrutiny.
'Is he sizing me up?'
This discovery surprised Romulus slightly. He narrowed his eyes a fraction and asked directly,
"Are you Archbishop Jorge?"
"I am, Lord Romulus."
The Archbishop calmly met the Primarch's gaze, his voice steady without a single tremor.
He then turned to Karna, speaking with a composed yet respectful tone,
"Lord Karna, the Cathedral of Dawn has prepared the banquet and ceremony. Please follow me."
Surprisingly, this Archbishop had not prepared any lengthy or convoluted rituals. He simply led the Primarch's retinue on a brief parade around the port.
Afterward, Karna headed to the newly constructed Cathedral of Dawn to participate in the activities and banquet organized by the Imperial Cult—which, in reality, was just a simple handover of power. What surprised Romulus was that Archbishop Jorge chose not to accompany Karna.
Instead, they boarded a shuttle and began a global inspection tour under the escort of a Stormbird gunship.
Through their brief conversation, Romulus learned that this Archbishop, who had governed Astorgius for a mere three years, was a rare, moderate reformist.
He noticed that when Jorge spoke, he would subconsciously rub the intricate patterns on his scepter. This subtle action betrayed his internal pressure.
The power structure on the Planet's surface was still in a relatively chaotic state. As a parachuted-in Archbishop, Jorge's arrival directly threatened the vested interests of multiple local sects.
During the most recent synod of the Cardinal World, he had only managed to secure the support of two splinter groups—the "Argent Shroud" and "San Francisco"—both of which advocated for "justification by works."
This relatively progressive ideology was a breath of fresh air for Romulus, who was used to dealing with dogmatic rot.
"As long as one can walk their own path, even those who do not believe in The Emperor can receive his Divine Protection."
Jorge replied in response to Romulus's curiosity.
"There are still countless people within the Imperium who do not place their Faith in The Emperor. The Adeptus Astra Telepathica, the Navigator Houses, and even among the Emperor's Angels, there is no shortage of those who deny The Emperor's divinity. However, their sacrifices are not diminished in the slightest just because they lack Faith in him."
"Thank you for clearing that up,"
Romulus raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a rare trace of genuine interest.
"Please, continue."