Mattias Lieber was a pivotal figure in Théah's religious history, credited as the founder of the Objectionist movement. In 1517, at the age of twenty-eight, Lieber, a monk in Eisen, took a bold step that would reverberate across Théah for centuries. He nailed a document to the door of his Bishop—an act that was common among monks who wished to discuss theological topics. However, Lieber's paper was unlike any other. It openly challenged the authority of the Vaticine Church, demanding an explanation for what he called “the Church’s inexcusable crimes and decadence.”
His defiance led to immediate repercussions. Lieber was excommunicated by the Hierophant, who also ordered his death. Fleeing Castille with the help of King Franz II, Lieber returned to Eisen, where he found refuge and the means to spread his ideas.
In Eisen, Lieber used the printing press, a relatively new invention, to distribute his teachings. He also translated the Book of the Prophets into Low Eisen, making it accessible to the common people. Through his efforts, the religious reform movement known as Objectionism took root. It first spread across Eisen before reaching every corner of Théah. Within a few short years, Lieber had become a household name.
Objectionism shared some core beliefs with the Vaticine Church but differed in crucial aspects. Lieber preached that the Church should not act as an intermediary between Theus and humanity. He argued that only Theus could absolve sins and create miracles, making the Church unnecessary for spiritual guidance. According to Lieber, individuals should appeal directly to Theus by reading the Book of the Prophets and living a life of charity, hard work, and service to others. “Theus,” he wrote, “has granted every creature a measure of His grace, which we must use to further His good works.”
The Vaticine Church met Lieber’s ideas with fierce resistance. For a hundred years, tension between the Vaticines and Objectionists grew, eventually igniting the War of the Cross—a thirty-year conflict that left Théah divided between the two faiths.
Even a century after his death, Lieber's influence persisted. In places like the Highland Marches, Objectionist beliefs took hold, often displacing the traditional Vaticine faith. The Inquisition, in its efforts to suppress heretical ideas, included the complete writings of Mattias Lieber on its list of banned items. Despite this, many Objectionists continue to regard Lieber as a holy figure, second only to the Prophets themselves.