(An extract from the `A History of Adell’s Faithful’ by Father Paredil, First published 3187 TS)
Now in that time of tumult (2924 TS) there was born in the city of Ornava one Jarol Matrinne, the son of a sergeant who never returned from the Drulon swamps. An only child, the boy was forced to earn what he could from an early age so as to support his widowed mother. In this way he was exposed to the talk of the inns where he washed dishes or ran errands. He learned from the veterans of the ill-fated Drulon expedition the horror and futility of that war.
Jarol was a religious child, strong in the Light. At his uni-tier school he excelled in disputation, while in Adell’s temple did he sing the God’s praises with a beauty that astounded all those who heard him. Yet it was his skill in disputation that led to his expulsion from his Du Tier school and his being refused entry to Tri-Tier.
The cause of his troubles was his continued questioning of the Drulon invasion and the theological effects of its outcome. At that time Ornava was a spiritual home to some of the most ardent Adellian zealots - "The Order of Light" - who in their pride and folly took as their creed "Let us go forth into the world and proceed against the enemies of our God and so slay any who do not profess obedience to His will. We shall cleanse the face of the earth so that all the world will be under the Light and there shall be one shepherd and one fold."
For these zealots to be disputed by a youth such as Jarol was anathema to them. At first by harsh punishments and social scorn they sought to turn him from his path. But the saint persisted in questioning the Order’s creed, holding it as blasphemy for mortal men to slay others in their God’s name. "If Adell is all powerful and all wise," The youth would ask, "Would he not have ordained all men to His worship? The fact that he has not, that other beliefs exist, shows them to be part of our God’s Holy plan. Those who would forcibly convert others are walking in the shadow."
In the end the zealots, frustrated by their inability to bring Jarol to obedience, ejected him from school and congregation and forbad him the city. Thus the youth roamed the lands of Sala, working at remote farms or in wayside inns for his bread. For six years he wandered, meditating on his beliefs, praying for Light and guidance. At times he preached to small congregations when asked. Even at the end of this time when he was only nineteen years of age his goodness and holiness was apparent to all who encountered him.
So came the saint to Riskalyer in 2943TS. There he encountered Lord Glimsora who was of a like mind. Together they settled at the blessed Glimsora’s mansion and began preaching in the town and nearby villages. In 2947TS they were examined in the Light by the bishop who found no fault with their doctrines. From that time on the Jarolites, as they became known, converted Glimsora’s mansion to the monastery it is today. The order has several chapter houses. Jarol died in 2966TS and is buried in the abbey at Riskalyer. His shrine is one of the Nine Stages of the Journey on the Path to Light.
The scholastics
At the start of the 29th century it became clear to the Patriarch that the growing credence given to false prophets threatened not only Salan civilisation but Adell’s Holy Church itself. Thus he sought to create islands of learning that would remain above the hysterical tides of falsehood. He therefore turned to two Doctors of Divinity at the University of Salandorf - Saint Aurelia di Dojelito and Saint Eurolis. He urged them to leave the University - which itself was becoming overrun by the doctrines of the false prophets - and found an order devoted to the teaching of the young and the maintenance of Salan lore and knowledge.
This the pair did, Saint Aurelia returning to her native Dojelito where she married Holy Eurolis. Together they founded the Order of Scholastics. In doing so they laid down, in their treatise "On the Preparation of the Child for the Path of Light" the basic tenets of an education that have held good over three hundred years. In particular, even at an early age, the child was to be introduced to philosophy and logic as these would prepare it to discern the wheat of Adell’s Word from the chaff of the doctrines of the false prophets.
The Order of Scholastics quickly spread out all over Sala, founding the schools that are now the Uni-Tiers and Du-Tiers of today. Although throughout the Age of the Prophets some areas were overrun and Light extinguished, yet by Adell’s will and the work of the Scholastics it returned in every case. The idols of the impious were cast down and the task of preparing the children resumed.
The Pamerians
St Pamer was born to a rich family in Ikime. In his youth he was wild and intemperate. Given his position scant discipline was applied to the boy. His education was neglected while he spent his time in hunting, drinking and other shameless behaviour. One day in early 2973, when he was twenty three, he was hunting in the woods on his estate with his companions. Suddenly one of his companions, in the act of firing at a deer, was blinded by a surge of light. His arrow missed its target and penetrated the Saint’s body.
For many months Pamer was close to death. Priests were summoned. Five times was the prayer of departure said over his still form. Yet on each occasion his heart resumed its beat. When finally he regained his senses he was a changed man. The first thing he asked for was a Book of Light. As he slowly recovered he studied the Divine Miracles. He dismissed his old companions and employed tutors to make up his lack of schooling. In penance for his previous ill-living he adopted austere practices, such as fasting, the wearing of coarse cloth and celibacy. Much of his goods he bestowed on the poor.
When his health was, by Adell’s Grace, fully restored, he travelled around the town and countryside preaching to any who would listen. He reviled the rich and idle and urged them to good works. He left his fine house; giving it to the Church for the benefit of orphans. From henceforth he vowed that the earth would be his bed and the trees his shelter. In time he was joined by others, swayed by his teachings, who copied his austere ways.
But he came to see that too harsh a regimen diverted the faithful from Adell’s Path. Thus he authorised the use of houses and in other ways relaxed his discipline, at the same time increasing the number and lengths of divine services. Even today the Pamerians are known for the austerity and sanctity of their lives and are much respected for their good works.
The Order of Light
Founded in the early years of Sala, this now discredited Order preached holy war to eradicate non-believers from the face of the world. They took as their creed the saying of an obscure village prophet who’s name has long been deservedly forgotten: "Let us go forth into the world and proceed against the enemies of our God and so slay any who do not profess obedience to His will. We shall cleanse the face of the earth so that all the world will be under the Light and there shall be one shepherd and one fold."
The Order reached the height of its power in 2970 when it took the shameful step of overthrowing the lawfully elected Council and installing Brendyn Hobellarn as their puppet king. Fortunately success went to these zealots’ heads and they plunged into internecine strife, forfeiting all respect from the people. Thus was Nicolas III the Wise able to rid our nation of them.
The Order is believed to have one or two crazed adherents left, but it is under interdict from the Patriarch. No one may join this Order, or espouse its evil cause, on pain of anathema.
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