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The Tehlin Church

faction · importance 60 · 4 theories

“The dominant monotheistic church of the Four Corners, worshippers of Tehlu”

also known as Tehlins, The Church of Tehlu

Appearance§

Tehlin priests are marked by their dress and bearing. In Tarbean, Kvothe meets a priest whose face is 'covered in shadow,' evoking Encanis, and another whose eyes are 'like half hidden smoldering coals.' Priests carry the Book of the Path, a heavy tome, and their imagery includes the iron wheel symbol of Tehlu and stern, ascetic clerical robes consistent with the Church's austere, judgmental presence in the cities.

Description§

The Tehlin Church is the dominant organized religion of the Four Corners, worshipping the god Tehlu through its holy book, the Book of the Path, and conducting its services in the liturgical language Tema. Historically it was deeply entwined with the Aturan Empire, which it effectively controlled, and the Holy Order of the Amyr operated within it during that era. Its priests appear throughout Kvothe's time in Tarbean, including ominous figures with shadowed faces and smoldering eyes. Trapis, who cares for street children, is an exile from the Church associated with the Mender heresies, while Skarpi, arrested by a Tehlin priest, is said to have 'friends in the church.' The Tehlin account of the world's destruction credits Tehlu with saving the last surviving city and differs from the versions told by Skarpi and the Adem. The contemporary Church is shown to be corrupt, extorting a tavern keeper and tolerating clerical misconduct.

Relationships§

  • Held Order The Amyr — the Amyr operated as a holy order within the Church during the Empire
  • Worships Tehlu — centered on the god Tehlu, who bound the demon Encanis
  • Differs From The Adem — its destruction story differs from Shehyn's and the Adem's versions
  • Operates In Tarbean — its priests appear throughout Kvothe's time in Tarbean
  • Arrested Skarpi — a Tehlin priest arrested Skarpi in Tarbean over his stories
  • Demon Bound Encanis — venerates Tehlu for binding the great demon Encanis
  • Exiled Trapis — Trapis is an exile and heretic from the Church, tied to the Mender heresies
  • Holy Book The Book of the Path — its holy book is the Book of the Path
  • Liturgy Tema — conducts services in the liturgical language Tema

Established facts§

  • The Tehlin Church is the dominant organized religion of the Four Corners, centered on the god Tehlu and its holy book, the Book of the Path.
  • It conducts its services in Tema, the liturgical language; the noble Laurian was taught Tema.
  • It was historically intertwined with the Aturan Empire, which it effectively controlled, and the Amyr operated as a holy order within the Church during the Empire.
  • Kvothe encounters Tehlin priests in Tarbean, including one whose face is covered in shadow and one with eyes 'like half hidden smoldering coals.'
  • Trapis is connected to the Church but is an exile and heretic from it, associated with the Mender heresies.
  • Skarpi, arrested by a Tehlin priest in Tarbean, is said to have 'friends in the church.'
  • The Tehlin version of the destruction story has Tehlu saving the last surviving city, and differs from Skarpi's and Shehyn's versions of the same events.
  • Puppet's marionette show depicts a Tehlin priest committing violence against a child using the Book of the Path.
  • The contemporary Tehlin Church is corrupt, extorting a tavern keeper in the bar where Skarpi tells his stories.
  • The Tehlin Church arrests Skarpi in Tarbean over the stories he tells.
  • The Church holds religious and judicial authority across the Commonwealth and controls much of the written record.
  • The Tehlin Church underwent a doctrinal schism over the role of Menda, known as the Mender heresies.
  • The Church venerates Tehlu as a guardian who walked the world and bound the great demon Encanis.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

People on r/KingkillerChronicle who built the theories above.