Since I didn't get a reply then, this is mainly a repost from Exquaestio's last Festival year. While Exquaestio has had its ups and down, I have to see that it's not even close to reaching the limits of its penetration. (Expansion:) Exquaestio has a membership of 34 thousand, in, excluding Sedonia and Torphan, a population of 18 million. It's greatest penetration is in Junder, where membership is Miserable (-4) at 1 in 150. Though still poor, missionary work is a priority, and it is nowhere close to reaching its limit of potential followers. Competition varies a great deal. They have no real competition for those looking for something different, but are not really capable of going head to head against the established religions. However, they also have good relations with many religions. (Conversion:) Exquaestio has a number of things going for it. First, there's its record of steady growth over the past two decades (1445: +6 success). It has made some mis-steps in terms of the services it offers (1448: -4 to organize independent Junder being the most obvious), but most of its accomplishments have been successful (1448: Aid to Cormenaera, 1451: Mage Licenses). In some areas it's teachings have generated annoyance in the powers that be, but it has yet to go beyond the law in its services. It has been particularly successful in doing things to make its magic known (1446: Chairs in Exquaestio Magic, 1447: spectacular magical summoning). Most recently it's proved its willingness to risk its priests in the battles against the Ice Demons and risks the lives of its members for others. (Suppression:) Exquaestio is formally suppressed only in the religiously intolerant minor Free City of Damaris, and the established religions have generally been ineffective in working against Exquaestio's spread. The above comments leave out Sedonia and Torphan. In both cases I feel the positive and negative factors of those areas balance out. Their high populations (a positive) are balanced by the negatives of an extremely different culture (Torphan), or an effective and generally hostile religion (Sedonia). Membership in those areas are new and minimal and growth can be expected to be limited (in terms of the parent societies) for the current phase of growth. In the case of Torphan I also expect to split off a "Western Exquaestio Church" once membership in Torphan grows past the 1,000 mark. Juuso placed the growth modifier at +2 in 1453. Considering the above factors I feel that is too little, and think a +3 modifier is appropriate for 1457. -- Jefferson http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
