Are there particular parts of the history I should know? I don't really have time to read the previous threads.
In particular, what is the religion, state churches, etc.
Cyclicism - Popular religion in Elbreth, a leftover of the kingdom period and as such, held on to by the national at large as part of their national identity.
Cyclicists (Or Cyclists to some) believe that their actions not only define who they are, but who they will be in their next life. All actions whether good or bad affect your standing in your next life when you are reborn. Good deeds, (such as helping your neighbour, obeying the laws and going/tithing regularly to the church) will see your spirit inhabit a better body and status.
Bad deeds will see your spirit's stock diminish. It is only the truly pure of spirit, heart and mind who ascend to heaven.
Godless heathens and heretics are considered the lowest rung and they are looked down upon if they refuse to convert.
Kings are seen as next to god in the eyes of Cyclists. Pure spirits returned from Heaven to help guide the people.
The Orthodoxy (or Suulian Orthodoxy, after their holy city of Suul) - another big religion of the region, more widespread outside of Elbreth's borders.
Orthodoxy shares many of the beliefs and tenets of Cyclicism, which is technically an Orthodox Heresy. The chief difference is that Orthodox scripture holds that after death souls are admitted into God's celestial realm and granted a station based on their virtues, piety and adherence to Orthodox tenets during life. Less pious or virtuous souls face an eternity as a serf in God's kingdom (which is nevertheless preached as being a welcome and bountiful existence - just less so than the more pious will receive) whilst saints are reborn as lords or kings in God's feudal realm. The truly damned, such as murderers and rapists, are forced to wander the earth as bodiless spirits, doomed to watch the living with no way of interfering and open to the predation of demons and other malevolent spirits.
Other, lesser religion is Taloisism - Taloism is a religion popular in the Samakhet Isles and parts of the Storm Coast. It originated from the Isles, spreading with traders up the coasts. In the Storm Coast, it has been slowly losing popularity for the last few centuries. The name comes from a corrupted version of the samak word 'he-who-shines' or 'bright one', vataloi.
Few, now nearly exinct religions are Old Mirish Paganism, Elememental Demonism, Farrakalism and Jorgumundism.
Now, the role of religion has fallen severely, with rise of mage numbers and the subsequent rise of technology and social movements that doubt existence of gods altogether. As said before, Gods are not a seen, visible force for the most part, with world in the vice-like grip of steam and arcane vying for power. However, if dice favour you, things can happen...