The Loniban Convention was a multinational religious accord ratified in Template:Year, following the final Crusade. It is widely credited with ending the age of formal theological warfare and reshaping interfaith dynamics across the known world. The Convention is named after King Lonib of Galicia, who spearheaded the treaty after witnessing the catastrophic fallout of the Velanic Conflicts.
Background
In the centuries leading up to the Convention, the continent was ravaged by a series of increasingly brutal religious crusades, involving factions of the Tethuric Church, emergent faiths such as Q'evrism, and militant sects like the now-extinct Velan Faith. These wars, often sparked by ideological disagreements, escalated into regional—and at times global—conflicts involving dozens of sovereign states.
The final of these, the so-called Sundering Crusade (circa Template:Year–Template:Year), resulted in massive civilian casualties and the complete obliteration of multiple cities, faiths, and dynasties. Q'evrist communities, while not militant, were often caught in the crossfire, targeted by Tethuric purists or accused of harboring Velanic sympathizers.
Terms of the Convention
The Loniban Convention declared the following:
- Religious warfare is henceforth forbidden between recognized states.
- All formally registered faiths are to be permitted peaceful practice, provided they do not incite rebellion or ritual violence.
- Nobility and ruling houses shall not fund or endorse military campaigns for theological reasons.
- Any future crusade or violent enforcement of doctrine is to be treated as a political act of war—not a divine mission.
Enforcement
Violating the Convention is considered an act of sedition against the international order. In practice, the punishment varies by region, but may include:
- Loss of noble title or recognition
- Revocation of trade pacts
- Excommunication (for Tethuric leaders)
- Sanctioned military reprisal, if ratified by multiple signatories
Legacy
The Loniban Convention has held for over a millennium, though it has been tested many times. It created an uneasy peace that allowed pluralistic religious coexistence to develop in many parts of the world. Some kingdoms lean more heavily toward Tethuricism, while others, such as Aeryl, are majority Q'evrist, but most tolerate both.
Modern scholars argue that the Convention marks the transition from theocratic hegemony to secular governance, at least in the upper tiers of noble society.