Line #13 Characters/TheLastSovereignChurchOfIvala


1	[[center: [-[[Characters/TheLastSovereign Index]] \| [[Characters/TheLastSovereignHaremMembers Harem Members]] \| [[Characters/TheLastSovereignAllies Allies]] \| [[Characters/TheLastSovereignOtherCharacters Other Characters]] \| [[Characters/TheLastSovereignGoddesses Goddesses]] \| [[Characters/TheLastSovereignIncubusKings Incubus Kings]] \| '''The Church of Ivala''']]-]
2
3	The leading religion on the continent of Arclent, it is headed by the Seven High Priestesses who act as the leaders of the religion. While the Church as a whole seems unified, like other large religions in our world, it is divided between differing schools of thought:
4
5	Consecrationists: Believe that mortals are inherently sinful, but can be purified. According to Simon, they "tend to be reasonable enough." Vhala identifies as a Consecrationist, and Bertricia preaches mainstream Consecrationist doctrine in her Diocese. This denomination seems to favor the Chosen. Uplifted Arclent Orcs also tend to fall under this doctrine as it embodies their evolution from mindless creatures that only know how to RapePillageAndBurn to beings with actual sentience and intelligence.
6
7	Desecrationists: Believe that mortals are born pure but can irrevocably lose their purity to sin. According to Simon, they tend to be zealots. They are responsible for the creation of Unpeople during the war against the Incubus King and their role in turning the tide against him have earned them considerable influence. An example is the zealous Andra, the former High Priestess of Yhilin as well as Annah, High Priestess of Stineford.
8
9	Subsecrationists: Believe that humans are permanent mixtures of sin and purity and thus allowance must be made for both natures. They have a mixed legacy, as they have lead one of the best efforts against the Incubus King (in Simon's opinion), but they are also responsible for the creation of the Inquisition. Examples include Carina and Sarai.
10
11	Should they be allowed to by the player's actions, succubi who have converted to Ivalaism form a yet unnamed denomination that centers using the teachings of the church under a succubi mentality with its main goal being improving the coexistence between succubi and other races.
12
13	----
14	[[foldercontrol]]
15
16	[[folder:In General]]
17	* ImprobableAge: With the exception of Hester and Nabith, it's sure suspicious how many of the high priestesses are extremely attractive women in their thirties. Well, except for Sarai whose in the same age bracket as Hester and Nabith, but being a halfling means she'll keep her childlike appearance to her deathbed.
18	* {{Matriarchy}}: A Patriarchy Flip version, with Brothers of the church not having as much chance to advance the church's hierarchy until sometime after the Council of Gawnfall. This is actually justified in the fact that succubi under an invading Incubus King could seduce the brothers into giving vital intelligence.
19	* WeAreStrugglingTogether: The very fact that the Council of Gawnfall is taking place in the first place is a sign of how bad the factionalism of the church has become. A poorly-handled synod can result in [[BreakingTheFellowship the Church splitting up]] or worse, the dissolution of the church, which can result in a NonStandardGameOver.
20	[[/folder]]
21
22	!! The High Priestesses
23
24	[[folder:Sarai]]
25	--> See [[Characters/TheLastSovereignAllies The Last Sovereign - Allies]].
26	[[/folder]]
27	[[folder:Hester]]
28	[[quoteright:270:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hester.PNG]]
29	The High Priestess of Ardford. Older than all her counterparts, Hester is a wise but weary woman, as well as a strong believer in Ivala, but lacks the fanatical dogmatism of some of her other counterparts. She's first met in Yhilin, where she gently but firmly shuts down Andra's attempt to getting her to join her and Annah's crusade against prostitution, and takes an important role during the Third Arclent War, acting as commander in chief of the church's effort to support Ardoheim in the war.
30	----
31	* CoolOldLady: She's calm and collected but endowed with steely resolve, proving very effective in leading the Church's forces during the Third Arclent War, and is implied to know a lot more about the nature of the world than she lets on.
32	* GodBeforeDogma: Seems to share Sarai's attitude about doing good coming before performative displays of piety or strict adherence to dogma. Her introduction scene has her very politely criticize Andra's anti-prostitution campaign by asking her what good can it possibly do to demonize some poor women.
33	* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: She's not quite rude and is capable of being diplomatic, but she has little patience for deception and politicking and openly states that she prefers to be direct about things.
34
35	[[/folder]]
36	[[folder:Andra]]
37	[[quoteright:273:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andra.PNG]]
38	The fanatical High Priestess of Yhilin. She's a hard Desecrationist who is very quick to declare anything and everything corrupt and sinful. Despite being High Priestess of Yhilin, she doesn't reside in the cathedral of its capital, Ari-Yhilina, as she considers the city too secular for her tastes, instead operating out of a monastery near the fortified city of Ari-Akhor.
39
40	[[spoiler:She's deposed after Simon hits her with a spell that makes her unable to pass purity checks, making her "tainted" and therefore no longer qualified to be a High Priestess]].
41	----
42	* OlderThanTheyLook: Even accounting for the generally-flattering nature of the game's art style, Andra looks less like a thirty year-old high priestess of a continent-spanning religion, and more like a teenage girl in a pope hat.
43	* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: Fairly unsurprisingly, Andra is sexually repressed on massive scale. [[spoiler:After losing her position, she ends up sexually harassing orcs, [[MadonnaWhoreComplex convinced that she's a fallen woman who isn't good for anything else anymore]]. After the Third Arclent War, she was sent to an Ivalan church in Helvanna, and while progress has been made, her reappearance during the Council of Gawnfall shows she still suffers from her neurosis.]]
44	[[/folder]]
45	[[folder:Annah]]
46	[[quoteright:272:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/annah.PNG]]
47	The High Priestess of Stineford. While the group is faced with the results of her policies very early in the game, they don't meet her until chapter 4 at the Council of Gawnfall. A fervent Desecrationist, Annah is seemingly so concerned with trying to eradicate prostitution that she completely misses the numerous problems being faced by the Stineford region, many of which brought by its corrupt nobility.
48	----
49	* NobleBigot: Shows signs of being more reasonable than her usual thundering condemnation of everything she considers sinful (that is to say, everything) would make one assume during the council, and later, when Simon and the harem return to Stineford (if Simon impressed her enough at the synod).
50	* NotSoAboveItAll: Surprises everyone by making a crude dig at Yelarel, suggesting she name her new denomination "Cumsecrationists". [[SirSwearsALot Sarai]] [[HypocriticalHumor is just ''shocked'' that sister Annah would use such coarse language]].
51	* SkewedPriorities: When Simon and the team first visit Stineford, the city is plagued by slavers using it as a hub, widespread poverty and the Gilded Lily inn forcing women into sexual slavery through debt. Yet Annah is still focusing on [[MoralGuardians punishing prostitutes and drunkards]]. When [[spoiler:the Incubus Emperor finally attacks]], Stineford is unprepared because Annah completely ignored everything to focus only on (ineffectively) stamping out prostitution.
52	* WhatTheHellHero: If Carina is allowed to bring up the slavers and extorted prostitution by the Gilded Lily happening under her nose during the synod, the other high priestess will bring her to task.
53	[[/folder]]
54	[[folder:Kerannii]]
55	One of the two High Priestesses of Aram, and the bitter rival of her counterpart, Esmera. The two are mentioned very early, but aren't met until chapter 4. Unlike Esmera, Kerannii is extremely spiritual and idealistic, concerned with the will of Ivala above everything else, and a genuine believer in her goddess.
56	[[/folder]]
57	[[folder:Esmera]]
58	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/esmera.PNG]]
59	One of the two High Priestesses of Aram, and the bitter rival of her counterpart, Kerannii. The two are mentioned very early, but aren't met until chapter 4. Esmera is openly much more interested in politics than spirituality, but she's also much more open to compromise than her rival.
60	----
61	* AllWomenAreLustful: If Simon makes a deal with her and respects it, she can have a conversation with him where she mentions that she envies his position and would've rather had her own harem of men rather than the lifelong celibacy required of a High Priestess.
62	* HiddenDepths: Initially coming off as a conniving politician, if Simon makes a deal with her she quickly reveals there's more to her than just that. She honestly admits to caring for Aramite unpeople, and being ashamed at the abandonment they've experienced from the Church. [[spoiler:It all comes to a head when she reveals to Simon that she has actually lost her faith years ago, and stayed in the church only because it was the only thing she knew how to do.]]
63	* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Kerannii's red, being much more cynical and concerned with political power compared to the idealistic and spiritual Kerannii, but also more reasonable and open to negotiation than her.
64	[[/folder]]
65	[[folder:Bertricia]]
66	[[quoteright:272:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bertricia.PNG]]
67	The High Priestess of the elven kingdoms. She describes herself as a mainstream Consecrationist, and is considered one of the most spiritual among the High Priestesses, as well as being an accomplished author of many treatises in the field of theology. Being the high priestess of a territory where the Church of Ivala is a minority religion seen with suspicion as a form of human encroachment, she mentions having a hard job and being constantly subjected to pressure from secular authorities, as well as the Mother's Guard, the elven "inquisition".
68	----
69	* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Aside from the various succubi lusting after her, one of her nuns seems... [[ClingyJealousGirl suspiciously possessive of her]]. To put in perspective, even Yarra and Nalili were struck speechless upon meeting her, and considering the beautiful women they have met and are harem sisters with and it puts Bertricia in the running for WorldsMostBeautifulWoman.
70	* NiceGirl: She's the nicest and most friendly of all the High Priestesses. While she's not a committed ally on the level of Sarai, she seems to be genuinely friendly, open and respectful even to orcs and succubi and is willing to listen to Simon's arguments and suggestions with an open and honest mind.
71	* OddFriendship: Develops one with an Ivalan succubus nun who is an admirer of her writing, and bonds with Orcent at the Council of Gawnfall over their mutual passion for philosophy and theology.
72	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: She's one of the High Priestesses who is most genuinely open to the idea of succubi being able to join the Church, once she gets the reassurance of personally meeting one of them.
73	* StarstruckSpeechless: Happens when a succubus nun who was an admirer of Bertricia's writing gets to meet her thanks to Simon's intercession... and finds out that her idol is also a smoking hot elven beauty.
74	[[/folder]]
75	[[folder:Nabith]]
76	[[quoteright:269:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nabith.PNG]]
77	The [[spoiler:new]] High Priestess of [[spoiler:Yhilin]], after [[spoiler:Andra loses her position due to Simon's scheme]]. Much more reasonable than her predecessor, Nabith is concerned first and foremost with maintaining the church's identity and role, and is described as a "centrist" by a Sister of Ivala the group can speak to at Gawnfall.
78	----
79	* AlienArtsAreAppreciated: Can become a fan of succubus musicians, if she gets the occasion to hear them play because the player funded their tour.
80	* CutenessProximity: She's absolutely won over by Qum's innocence when the party first meets her.
81	* ImpartialPurposeDrivenFaction: Well a single person anyway, but Nabith's is a noted centrist, for as much as the word is worth due to the dynamic shifts caused by Simon's actions, whose agenda is to keep the church together, whatever might be necessary for that. In order to support Simon's aims, she needs to be convinced that they won't risk causing division between factions, regardless of whether she personally likes them or not.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	!!Notable Members
85
86	[[folder:Kaskia]]
87	One of the two candidates to become the new 'Deputy High Priestess' during the Council of Gawnfall. Kaskia's proposal for the Synod is more to your liking, but her personality, schemes, and goals are not necessarily so advantageous.
88	----
89	* EnemyMine: Kaskia's proposal will dissolve the purity tests required of all priestesses, which is tempting for the party (and player) since it would allow Sarai to join the harem. However, Kaskia herself is a scheming political figure, and lending her your support via Simon or Sarai may result in her becoming a nasty thorn in later political maneuvering.
90	* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Well, politician, but the results are similar. Should Kaskia be elected, she will undermine your efforts to support Eusrin later on, leading to a loss of standing among both Arclent as a whole and the Church in particular.
91	* SinisterMinister: Downplayed, but present. Kaskia's plans, proposals, and words are all cherry-picked to win her favor and acclaim at the Council, while she herself seems none too devout in private. If she's chosen as Deputy High Priestess, with or without your support, she actually causes a decrease in your Religion and Economic scores as she begins to undermine your support.
92	[[/folder]]
93	[[folder:Herin]]
94	One of the two candidates to become the new 'Deputy High Priestess' during the Council of Gawnfall. Herin is noticeably more open, naïve, and idealistic than her opponent, which makes her appear to be weaker choice. Her proposal to the Synod is good, but will keep Sarai bound to the current purity rules.
95	----
96	* GoodShepherd: Herin cares for everyone within the Church, and her plans for relaxing purity rules would involve giving broader powers to the Lay Ministers and Priestesses within the Church. If chosen, she goes personally to welcome the new Succubus Priestesses into the Church, placing her in contrast with the political and ambitious Kaskia.
97	* NaiveNewcomer: Despite the unsavory reputation of the Doom King and Carina's known association with the same, Herin treats whatever advice she's given with respect and gratitude. Herin's inexperience and lack of political consideration can undermine her presentations to the Synod, unless you take time to talk to her and give her some practical advice.
98	[[/folder]]
99	[[folder:Yelarel]]
100	[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yelarel.png]]
101	The unofficial "high priestess" of the Chalice States. Yelarel is the representative of Ivalan churches from the Chalice States at the Council of Gawnfall, though she doesn't have any official rank in the church at the start of the council. Her goal is to have Succubus churches recognized as an official denomination in Ivalan theology.
102	----
103	* DyeingForYourArt: Invoked, Yelarel, as a prospective Ivalan nun, dyes her hair plain-Jane brown in order to ease humans. Of course, she also finds it to be a rather exotic hair compared to the whites and greens of common succubi.
104	* KnightInShiningArmor: Not herself personally, but the order of Holy Succubi she lobbies to create. Although rather than shining armors, they're more like [[KnightInShiningArmor Knights In]] {{Badass Cape}}s.
105	* StartMyOwn: Should the Council of Gawnfall dismiss the succubi from the church, she will start her own religious order based around Simon.
106
107	[[/folder]]
108	[[folder:The Chosen]]
109	[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chosen_2.png]]
110	Young men blessed by Ivala with enhanced strength and combat prowess for the purposes of defeating the Incubus King. Unfortunately, with this power comes reduced mental capability, a raging libido, and a near-total loss of self-preservation instinct. As such, the Chosen have a remarkably high turnover rate.
111	----
112	* CerebusSyndrome: After [[spoiler:the end of the Third Arclentian War]], the Chosen seem to dial back the horniness and ego, becoming much more fanatical and intent on destroying anything they think is "corrupt."
113	* TheChosenMany: A young man being Chosen as a champion of Ivala is not some Earth-shattering, once-in-a-generation event -- it happens fairly frequently, and in fact it's even possible for multiple Chosen to be running around at once. Given the Chosen's rapid attrition rate, this is perhaps a good thing; on the other hand, given how generally useless and obnoxious they are, perhaps not. [[spoiler:It's implied during the Ardan Succession Crisis as well as during a dive to the tower just before the Erosian Invasion that the Chosen are being artificially created.]]
114	* DecoyProtagonist: The Chosen in general are a brutal deconstructive parody of the typical H-game protagonist. Fittingly, one of them (Kai) is the viewpoint character for the game's prologue, until he dies horribly and the viewpoint shifts over to Simon.
115	* ExperienceBooster: The Blessing of Ivala significantly increases the experience a Chosen gains from any combat encounter, while also increasing the XP gained by any other party members by a lesser amount. This latter characteristic is actually more important, as every playable Chosen is a GuestStarPartyMember.
116	* ExtremeOmnisexual: If it has anything even ''remotely'' resembling a pussy, the Chosen will attempt to fuck it. If it ''doesn't'' [[note]](or if it does, but someone like Simon somehow manages to convince the Chosen that it's a bad idea to stick his dick in it anyway)[[/note]], and it's otherwise even somewhat conventionally attractive, the Chosen will improvise. Known targets of the Chosen's insatiable sex drive include elves, humans, succubi, lamias, and ''a carnivorous plant'', and Simon implies the carnivorous plant incident wasn't the first time he'd seen a Chosen do that.
117	* InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals: Every Chosen looks exactly the same and behaves nearly identically. At least some of this seems to be part of the package of becoming a Chosen.
118	* {{Jerkass}}: The vast majority of Chosen are rude, immature, impatient, and otherwise generally unpleasant to be around, ''in addition to'' being insatiably horny serial rapists. While some of this may be due to the effects of Ivala's blessing, it's implied that most of them were miserable little shits long before they got any special powers.
119	* KnightTemplar: As the story progresses, the Chosen eventually shift from H-game protagonist parodies into this, becoming driven to kill in the name of Ivala anyone they consider "corrupted."
120	* LustMakesYouDumb: The Chosen are prone to putting sexual conquests over their job of saving the world. Simon implies that he has seen more than one instance of a Chosen attempting to have sex with a carnivorous plant, and this is far from the only time the Chosen get themselves in hot water due to their libido.
121	* {{Manchild}}: Kalant, a former Chosen who gave up the power of Ivala's blessing, stated that being a Chosen was like giving incredible power to an impudent child who never got told no.
122	* OnlyTheChosenMayWield: Literally -- Shining Swords can only be used by Chosen characters, meaning they cease having any practical use at all for your party beyond the first part of Chapter 1.
123	* ThePoorlyChosenOne: They all, to a man, suck and tend to have an incredibly high mortality rate. Even in universe, it's considered somewhat odd that Ivala, who is regarded as a goddess of purity, keeps granting her power to such ''im''pure little brats.
124	* PowerDyesYourHair: Done subtly, in that becoming a Chosen apparently turns one's hair "generic H-game protagonist" brown. The one time we see an ex-Chosen, his hair has turned from brown to black.
125	* PowerfulButIncompetent: The Chosen wield great power courtesy of the blessings of Ivala, but they're also a lethal combination of stupid, impulsive, and horny. Despite the latter drawbacks, the former advantage had led Simon to spend many years attempting to lead them to try to defeat the Incubus King on a plan that can roughly be described as "shepherd overpowered horny idiot, level grind the little shit, then point him at the Incubus King".
126	* StrippedToTheBone: Before Simon and the Harem can engage in any magical probing of the Chosen who witnessed Ginasta's escape, his flesh seemingly instantly evaporated leaving only a skeleton. Afterwards, Simon finds himself wondering if it was really the Incubus King's forces that killed many of the Chosen under him or if it was a similar phenomenon to what happened to the imprisoned Chosen.
127	* TooDumbToLive: One of the side-effects of receiving Ivala's blessing. According to Simon, the record for fastest Chosen death is currently held by one Chosen who charged directly off the edge of a cliff in his first battle.
128	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / TheLastSovereignChurchOfIvala