Doctrine of the Pure Flame

The Doctrine of the Pure Flame is the beating heart of Myrcathis — a faith older than any living memory, said to have been delivered to mankind in an age when darkness threatened to consume the world. It teaches that purity must be protected, corruption must be burned away, and that the eternal Flame is both humanity’s shield and judge.
Every citizen of Myrcathis is raised by these beliefs from the day they are born.

The Doctrine of the Pure Flame is the foundation upon which Myrcathis stands. It is not merely a religion — it is the lens through which every citizen sees the world, the law that governs every action, and the fire that shapes every life behind the walls. Passed down through centuries of devotion and fear, the Doctrine teaches that humanity survives only because it remains pure, obedient, and ever watchful.
At its heart lies one truth: the Flame is the only light that keeps the darkness at bay.
According to the Doctrine, the Flame sees all, judges all, and reveals all. Nothing exists outside its light except corruption and the monstrous horrors said to lurk beyond the walls of Myrcathis. To question the Flame is to question reality itself.
Purity is the highest virtue. Citizens are taught from birth that corruption begins with temptation — and the gravest temptation of all is power beyond mortal understanding. Magic is considered the root of impurity, a force that twists the soul and opens the way for demons. Those who use it are not simply criminals; they are believed to be infected. Their punishment is not viewed as cruelty, but as necessary cleansing to protect the kingdom.
Fire is the Doctrine’s greatest symbol and its harshest instrument. Flames are said to expose the truth of a person’s soul, and rituals of purification reflect that belief. Public burnings, branding, trial by fire, and confessions beneath heat and iron are considered sacred acts. If the flame consumes a sinner, it is proof of guilt. If it does not, the Flame has accepted the soul.

Daily life is shaped by constant ritual. Every home keeps a candle burning at dusk. Citizens wear visible symbols of the Flame on their clothing. A week cannot pass without attending sermons where priests remind the faithful that suffering brings clarity, that pain purifies, and that mercy without fire is weakness. Even the great walls of Myrcathis are regarded as holy — a divine boundary between purity within and corruption beyond.
The King stands as the living vessel of the Flame, chosen to guide the last pure humans. Loyalty to the Crown is inseparable from loyalty to the faith. Below him stands the Inquisition, the sacred arm of the Doctrine. Inquisitors walk the streets carrying the authority of divine judgment. Their presence is both feared and revered, for they enforce purity without hesitation: investigating rumors, conducting trials, and carrying out purification rites. To see their red robes is to witness the Flame given human form.
Doubt, too, is treated as corruption. A hesitant word, a questioning glance, or a whispered rumor can mark someone as impure. Families are taught to report one another if necessary. Neighbors watch neighbors. Every citizen is responsible for maintaining the purity of the whole, for even a single ember of heresy can ignite disaster.
Though the Great Purges against non-humans ended generations ago, the Doctrine still teaches that humans are the last pure race. Non-humans may live within Myrcathis, but never as equals. They walk under suspicion, barred from status and power, reminders of the old corruption the Flame once sought to burn away. And above all else, those who wield magic remain enemies of the kingdom — hunted without mercy, for their impurity threatens every soul behind the walls.
To the people of Myrcathis, these beliefs are not oppressive. They are comforting. They give meaning to suffering, order to chaos, and purpose to fear. The walls protect their bodies; the Flame protects their souls. This is the Doctrine of the Pure Flame — the eternal fire that keeps Myrcathis alive, vigilant, and unbroken.

1. The Flame is our protector
   Its light drives back the darkness outside the walls. Its judgment keeps the kingdom pure.
2. Purity must be preserved
   The soul must remain untainted by unnatural forces or forbidden powers.
3. Magic is corruption
   Those who touch it, speak it, or conceal it endanger every living soul within the kingdom.
4. Heresy must burn
   Acts of impurity — from sorcery to aiding the corrupted — are met with public purification to protect the realm.
5. Faith is duty
   Every citizen is responsible for reporting signs of corruption, doubt, or forbidden behavior.