The War of the Cross was a brutal religious conflict that ravaged the continent of Théah for thirty years, from 1618 to 1648 AV[1][2]. This conflict arose between the traditional Vaticine Church and a reform movement known as Objectionism, leading to widespread devastation, particularly in Castille and Eisen. Although the war officially ended twenty years ago, its effects continue to shape the politics, economy, and culture of Théah.
Origin and Causes[]
The seeds of the War of the Cross were planted a century earlier, following the teachings of an Objectionist reformer, Mattias Lieber. Tensions between the Vaticine Church, which sought to maintain its religious authority, and Objectionism, which challenged that authority, grew steadily over time. By 1618 AV, the struggle had escalated into a full-blown war. The conflict was marked by internal strife and national friction, with Eisen becoming the primary battleground between Vaticine Loyalists and Objectionist Reformers.
Initially, the Vaticine Church maintained a position of neutrality and diplomacy. However, the rise of Objectionism forced the Church to abandon this stance. The cardinals and Hierophant began actively seeking support from various monarchs and nobles, offering blessing or issuing warnings in exchange for military and political backing against the perceived Objectionist threat. This shift marked a significant change in the Church's role in Théah's political landscape.
The War Unfolds[]
The War of the Cross did not begin as a confrontation between nations, but as an internal struggle within Eisen. Eisen Vaticines fought against their Objectionist countrymen, creating deep divisions that tore the nation apart[3]. As the war spread, other nations became involved, each driven by religious, political, or territorial motives.
Castille, which once led Théah in science, culture, and military might, marched into the war with one of the most formidable armies. However, over time, its confidence and resources were worn down by a protracted campaign far from home. The tercios, elite Castillian soldiers, initially struck fear into their enemies, but supply lines stretched thin, and internal sabotage by the Inquisition undermined the nation's war efforts. Castille's involvement in the war left it broke, humiliated, and at the mercy of Cardinal Verdugo and his tyrannical Inquisition[4].
Montaigne, meanwhile, used the war as an opportunity to expand its territory, nearly doubling in size by the conflict's end. The Highland Marches, with their Objectionist leanings, expelled Vaticine representatives, contributing to the broader religious and cultural division across Théah. The Sarmation Commonwealth initially refused to participate but eventually engaged when the war crossed its borders, fighting back the invaders and leaving behind long-lasting tensions.
Eisen: The Greatest Casualty[]
Eisen emerged from the War of the Cross as the most devastated nation. Once a powerful and prosperous country, the war left Eisen in ruins: its fields turned to mud, its economy in shambles, and a drastically reduced population[5][6], with the land overrun with monsters and horrors unleashed during the conflict[7]. The collapse of the monarchy further fractured the nation into seven independent territories, each ruled by an Eisenfürst[8]. This lack of centralized authority made the country's recovery all the more challenging.
The scars of the war are most evident in the Waisen, the orphans of Eisen. Their homes destroyed and families lost, they now wander the land in search of food and shelter, often falling victim to disease or violence. Many Eisen show signs of psychological trauma, prone to outbursts of anger as they struggle with the horrors they endured. Mercenary bands, some predating the war, continue to operate, many having fought on both sides of the conflict at different times[9].
Castille's Downfall[]
The War of the Cross left Castille in a state of profound ruin. Once renowned for its advances in science and military might, the nation was brought low by thirty years of bloodshed and subsequent invasion by Montaigne[10]. Its nobility, stripped of land and power, fell under the control of the Vaticine Church, which seized vast tracts of territory. Despite a large number of disenfranchised nobility, the country remains impoverished and politically unstable. Many of the elite soldiers, or tercios, returned home to find their promises of payment unmet and their lands occupied, leading to further disillusionment and unrest.
The Church and the Fallout[]
The War of the Cross forced the Vaticine Church into a direct power struggle, compelling it to take on a more active political role. Throughout the conflict, the Church attempted to assert its supremacy, drawing kings and nobles into the war. This direct involvement resulted in a loss of the Church's perceived neutrality, weakening its influence and leaving it deeply challenged in the war's aftermath.
By the war's end, the continent remained divided between Vaticine and Objectionist faiths. Though the conflict effectively concluded in a stalemate, the balance of power had shifted. The war left Vaticine City more politically isolated, its authority diminished in the face of widespread disillusionment and religious pluralism across Théah.
Consequence and Aftermath[]
The War of the Cross concluded in 1648 AV, but its ramifications are still felt across Théah. Eisen, the war's primary battleground, lies in near ruin, populated by orphans, mercenaries, and the horrors that roam its land. The nation's seven Eisenfürsten struggle to rebuild amid the chaos. Castille, devastated by the conflict and subsequent invasion by Montaigne, is now in the grip of the Inquisition and struggling to reclaim its former glory.
Other nations, like Montaigne and the Highland Marches firmly embraced Objectionism, rejecting Vaticine influence[11][12]. The Sarmation Commonwealth and the Glamour Isles[13], though less directly affected, experienced internal strife and shifts in power dynamics that continue to echo in Théah's political landscape.
The end of the war did not mark the end of the conflict. Instead, it left Théah forever altered, with tensions simmering just below the surface. Though the War of the Cross is often thought of as Théah's last religious war, the region remains a tinderbox, where new conflicts could ignite at any moment[14].
Cultural and Social Impact[]
The war's impact extended beyond the battlefield, affecting Théah's culture, society, and economy. The devastation in Eisen gave rise to a war-weary population, some of whom turned to Hexenwork to combat the horrors left in the war's wake. Mercenary bands proliferated, and the demand for Dracheneisen - an invaluable metal once reserved for Eisen nobility - grew, though much of that was lost or stolen during the war[15].
Organizations such as Močiutės Skara (Grandmother Shawl) emerged in response to the suffering, advocating for peace and providing aid to the wounded and destitute[16][17][18][19]. Similarly, figures like the mysterious Tre Soldati (the Three Soldiers) became legends, protecting villages caught in the crossfire[20].
The War of the Cross reshaped Théah's perception of warfare and faith. The brutality of the conflict deepened the divide between Vaticine and Objectionist followers, ensuring the religious strife would continue to shape politics and society for generations. Despite - or perhaps because of - their trauma, the people of Théah emerged as survivors, determined to rebuild in the shadow of one of history's darkest chapters.
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium, 2016, p16
- ↑ Cities of Faith: Vaticine City, Chaosium 2018, p.6
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium, 2016, p.34
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 1, Chaosium 2017, p67
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium, 2016, p.33
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p17
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p54-57
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p18
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium 2016, p.36
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium, 2016, p. 28
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 1, Chaosium 2017, p61
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 1, Chaosium 2017, p24
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 1, Chaosium 2017, p17
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p114
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium 2016, p.262
- ↑ 7th Sea, Chaosium 2016, p111, 164, 267
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p77
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p126
- ↑ Nations of Théah Volume 2, Chaosium 2017, p172
- ↑ Cities of Faith: Vaticine City, Chaosium 2018, p.66