Bovic Church Militant
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| Active: | c. 1530 AN – present |
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| Type: | Religious military orders |
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| Supreme Commander: | Pentheros Sergius Hergones |
The Bovic Church Militant is the collective term for the military orders operating under the authority of the Dozan Bovic Church. These orders serve as the armed forces of the Church, tasked with defending sacred sites, protecting pilgrims, conducting religious crusades, and supporting Natopian Defense Force operations when called upon by Church leadership.
The Church Militant traces its origins to the Holy Order of the Armored Goats, originally the personal army of the Sovereign Natopian Emperor. During the War of Matbaic Liberation, the Order invaded Lovely's dependency of Psycotia and established a crusader state based on their roles as knight-defenders of the Emperor, who at the time was also Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church. When the Bovic religion was formalized and integrated into the restored Natopian state in 1536 AN, various military brotherhoods that had formed around the defense of Bovic communities were organized into formal orders under Church authority.
Command of the Bovic Church Militant rests ultimately with the Pentheros, who may delegate operational authority to Metrobosarchs within their respective eparchies. In practice, each component order maintains its own command structure and traditions while answering to the Church hierarchy. Operationally, the Church Militant in Keltia relies upon the Department of Political Warfare formed within the Natopian Ministry of Security's force assigned to Keltia Command.
Component orders
- The Sacrifices of Butauros (SOB), originally founded as the Order of Secret Stripper Seekers (OSSSS) during the War of Lost Brothers, is a sect of Bovic martyrdom seekers devoted to expunging Dionysian heresies from Keltia. The order is headquartered at its Cathedral-Monastery and fortified base in Baldersborg, Elwynn, and operates missions throughout Micras. Clergy who volunteer as "Sacrifices" possess fanatical devotion to the Pentheros and operate in self-contained cells behind hostile lines. Beneath the Sacrificial Clergy are the "Strivers for Redemption," reclaimed Normarker heretics who must redeem their souls through martyrdom operations against enemy targets.
- The Holy Order of the Armored Goats (OAG) is the oldest of the Church Militant orders, originating as the personal army of Emperor Nathan Waffel-Paine. The Order maintains its fortified base at The Joellenon in the Pentheral Eparchy of Doza and serves as the primary defensive force of Athlon, consisting of a naval phalanx and specialized ground troops. The OAG guards the holy sites of Athlon and the seat of the Pentheros.
- The Ayreon Tomb Guard is a military order historically charged with protecting the Tomb of Elijah Ayreon. Following Operation Dariolin in 1737 AN, the Guard was evacuated to Hurmu along with the tomb. The order has been recalled to active service as part of the Elijahn Restoration.
- The Bovic Order of Saint Biffor (BOSB) is headquartered at the Monastery of Saint Biffor in Tapfer. The order emphasizes the protection of confidential Church matters and serves as guardians of sensitive ecclesiastical archives and communications.
Deployments
Elements of the Bovic Church Militant, primarily Sacrifices of Butauros and OAG forces along with recalled Ayreon Tomb Guard personnel, were deployed as advance security forces for Operation Sacred Ground as part of the Elijahn Restoration beginning in IV.1752 AN.
