The Vatican

The Vatican Church, also known as the Papacy, are one of the strongest human factions within the novel Dark Blaze. They are ruled solely by the Pope, whom currently is Benedict XV.

The Vatican are the main defenders of humanity in Catholic countries, and have various orders which aid in their overseas defences. Cardinals are the leaders of these orders and form the Council of Cardinals. All assignments must be signed off by the Council of Cardinals with the blessing of the Pope. The only subordinates that can work independently, unless ordered by the Pope, are the absolvers.

Background:
Since the creation of the Catholic faith, the Vatican has been there to aid those of their faith and protect them from the monstrosities that are prevalent in the darkness of the world.

After the creation of the Pope, the organisation went from strength-to-strength until their civil war amongst the Popes and the Holy Roman Emperors. Eventually, the Pope reigns victorious and focused once more on defending Christendom from the creatures of the night.

The Papacy deployed inquisitors and orders to aid Christendom, however, abused their powers. The Spanish Inquisition was one such example of the Vatican abusing their powers over Catholic lands.

With their resolve, the Vatican became enemies with any faction that was not Catholic or human. Their mortal rivals, the Kataphraktoi, were smothered by their power in the Balkans before the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

The Vatican did however, join forces with the Kataphraktoi to defeat the menace, Vlad Drăculești. Once this campaign was a success, the Vatican made a truce with the Kataphraktoi for the time being.

After the defeat of Vlad, the Vatican formed the Burning Legion, which were the top inquisitors of the Papacy. One-hundred strong, they roamed Europe and cleansed the lands of impurity, which led to many witch and werewolf trials. Eventually, the Pope realised that the Burning Legion was not enough to stifle the creatures of the night, and so began to create super soldiers, in the form of absolvers, who could defeat supernatural threats with ease. However, they used dark and forbidden magic to achieve this.

This abuse of power was the final straw and brought about the Protestant Reformation. The reformation was a bloody affair and created a clear split within Christendom. With this being the second split within Christianity, the Vatican began to focus inwards and purge those of impurity within their own ranks, including many high ranking cardinals.

Over the centuries leading up to the Great War, the Vatican and the P.C.O. indulged in a cold war of sorts. Within the Great War, however, they formed an uneasy alliance to help bring an end to the Central Powers, who were manipulated by strigoic elements.

Society:
The society of the Vatican is based on that of the actual Vatican Church.

Structure:
The structure of the Vatican is also based on that of the actual Vatican Church.

Territory:
Below is a list of countries which the Vatican hold territory:
 * Vatican City.
 * Scotland.
 * Ireland.
 * France.
 * Belgium.
 * Germany.
 * United States Of America.
 * Spain.
 * Portugal.
 * Egypt.
 * Abyssinia.
 * Golden Coast.
 * Belgian Congo.
 * Brazil.
 * Syria.
 * Iraq.
 * Jordan.
 * Macau.
 * China.
 * Italy.
 * Mexico.
 * Paraguay.
 * Uruguay.
 * Argentina.
 * Chile.
 * Peru.
 * Algeria.
 * Libya.
 * Tunisia.
 * French Equatorial Africa.
 * Spanish North Africa.
 * French Morocco.
 * Venezuela.
 * Colombia.
 * French Guiana.
 * Ecuador.
 * Panama.
 * El Salvador.
 * Nicaragua.
 * Guatemala.
 * Haiti.
 * Puerto Rico.
 * Cuba.
 * Switzerland.
 * Luxembourg.
 * Austria.
 * Hungary.
 * Albania.
 * Yugoslavia.
 * Japan.
 * Indochina.
 * Angola.
 * Italian Somaliland.
 * Liberia.
 * French West Africa.
 * Mozambique.

Affiliates:

 * Guillermo Errico - An Italian Army officer during the Great War, used as an escort by Eoin O'Leary.

Equipment:
Below is a list of weaponry that has been seen used by the Protestant Church Order:
 * Various silver bladed weaponry.
 * Basket-hilted broadsword.
 * Beretta M1915 - pistol.
 * Carcano M1891 - bolt-action rifle.

Sub-Factions:

 * The Absolver Order - no known leader.
 * The Burning Legion - no known leader.
 * The Council of Cardinals - their leader is Pope Benedict XV.
 * The Spanish Inquisition - no known leader.
 * The Order of Holy Sepulchre - no known leader.
 * The Order of Malta - no known leader.
 * The Order of Teutonic Knights - no known leader.
 * The Order of Santiago - no known leader.
 * The Order of Alcantara - no known leader.
 * The Order of Montesa - no known leader.
 * The Order of Saint Stephen, Pope & Martyr - no known leader.

Appearances:
The Vatican appear only through the various Catholic holy men encountered within Nicholas Aero's 1915-1916 and 1918-1920 storylines, as well as with Eoin O'Leary within those chapters and Hadrian Voivode's 1918-1920.

Trivia:

 * The Vatican is based on the actual Vatican Church.
 * In this world, Bram Stoker was a propagandist for the Vatican.
 * The Burning Legion are named so due to their preferred method of cleansing sin by fire.
 * The Vatican Church are the oldest Christian faction within the world of Dark Blaze.