Sun Sages

The Sun Sages are the greatest authority on Zolmov. They are also almost exclusively in The Sumarrian Empire, they do send some members to places that request one. They are supposedly above nationality and politics but they also believe that sumarrians are Zolmov's chosen people.

Structure

The council of 7 leads the Sun Sages. They are elected by ranked choice voting among the sages and appointed for life. When one dies the elections are held and the top two candidates are announced. Each must then stand naked before a great wyrm and submit to it's fire, this represents giving your life to Zolmov. If the first candidate successfully endures the flames they are given the position. If the first candidate is impure they will perish in the fire and the second candidate then undergoes the trial by fire. Those on the council are awarded the title of Archsage. Sages are the next rank down, they oversee temples, record histories, and care for dragons. Sunbrothers and Sunsisters are the everyday temple workers and preachers. These ranks are also given to sages in training.

Public Agenda

The duty of the Sun Sages is to interpret the will of Zolmov and help his followers. They give council to the emperor and his governors. Most governors will have a requested or appointed Sun Sage who is in charge of the temple in their governance. The sages also record the empire's histories and keep them in their massive library or in the catacombs below their temples.
The most well known duty of the sages however is caring for the dragons. There are catacombs of man made tunnels and old lava tubes where they take care of dragon eggs. The dragons are then trained in the interior regions of the islands before being dispersed in the wild and the military. They work very closely with the dragonrider branch of the military. Raising the dragons in their most vulnerable stages before bonding them to their riders.
The Council of 7 is also responsible for choosing the next emperor from among the children of the last emperor. They believe that Sumarr was the demigod child of Zolmov and so they search for the heir with the greatest inner fire, the line of Zolmov. This decision is made after the emperor is officially dead. If a scion of the emperor is not chosen but believe themselves to be the true heir they are free to fight in a dragon duel with the chosen heir. The two then fight in an arena at the top of the largest volcano, using only fire spells. One of them, almost always the one chosen by the sages, emerges victorious and assumes the throne.

Divine Origins

The Sun Sages were founded by Sumarr's most devoted followers after his death. They took his journals and chronicled them, also taking the eggs of his dragon and raising them. All of them were priests of Zolmov in their own rite. When a dispute arose among Sumarr's sons who should succeed him these priests determined that Sumarr's second born was the truest successor. Thus starting the tradition of the Sun Sages choosing the successor from among the emperor's children, they detect which among them have the inner fire most like Sumarr and thus who is closer to Zolmov.

Granted Divine Powers

Almost all of the fire sages are versed in magic. Most are light domain clerics though some are sunsoul monks, celestial warlocks, or draconic sorcerers. Most have some amount of fire resistance or immunity.

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Alternative Names

Zolmov's Sages

Permeated Organizations