The Ambarine Orthopraxy

Religion in Elliaster is quite rigid, demanding, and unforgiving. Atop the common rabble and profane nobility, the Five Ambarix Primates stand above all. Their word is law and can easily override the King’s though they seldom do this. A commoner would fear the magical retribution offered by a Primate far more than the King’s executioners. and to disobey is to be a fool. Their military arm is the Sovarix Knights, ready to carry out their orders with prejudice. Below the Primates are the Ecclesiarchs who oversee most big cities. Next in line are Seers, dealing with many of the administrative tasks of the Orthopraxy. Finally, Bishops are the most populous of the clergy, dealing with day-to-day tasks and general population.

Structure

Primates

The five rulers of the Orthopraxy. They oversee religious law, order, and the highest magic. Their higher purpose is only known to the Primates themselves, as they are very private individuals. Seldom show themselves but it is not altogether strange for them to visit important cities. As of recent, the five have not shown themselves nor spoken to anyone. Their word is law, and only a fool would disregard it - even the king. At the death of a Primate, a new one is chosen by the remaining ones. While their magical prowess isn’t entirely known due to their lack of demonstration, it’s generally understood they are among - if not the - most powerful magic users in Elliaster.
The first Primates were said to have been appointed by the Prophet Ambar himself. Currently, new Primates are chosen after the death of a current one. In theory, the candidates are among the most magically and religiously fervent Seers/Ecclesiarchs of the realm, but in practice it has devolved into a bribery game. Once a Primate is chosen, they must renounce all familial ties and their previous lives. Their jobs include anywhere from interpreting older scriptures, developing new manuals for magic, to running and appointing the lower ranks of the Orthopraxy. However, these are all the ‘Publicly Known’ jobs. What they do behind the Mast Tower of Ambarix is truly unknown, and they say a Bishop who enters does not fully return.

Ecclesiarchs

Next in the theoretical rung are the Ecclesiarchs. These are priests who attend to a larger diocese, usually including multiple cities, Seers, and Bishops under them. These are elected directly by the Primates upon death of the former Ecclesiarch, and are chosen from the collection of Seers they had previously under their guidance. The Ecclesiarchs are largely to be considered by the public as the eye’s of the Primates. Despite this, it is not always the case that a Ecclesiarch reigns over a Seer. Certainly the Ecclesiarch of Elliaster is powerful, but there are cities like Molise and Medoisse that do not fully fall under the eparchy of an Ecclesiarch, and as such their local Seer reigns supreme and answer directly to the Primates themselves. Unlike them, the Ecclesiarchs and Seers make take wives and have children, giving rise to a large nepotism problem within the clergy. Now the clergy is almost as much tied to lineage as nobility is. Their jobs are religious administration of their cities, as well as providing guidance to the King himself and other high nobility. They largely confer with the Grandmasters of the Sovarix Order and organize the largest ceremonies and festivities across the Kingdom
Oversee large diocese like the city of Elliaster, Ossentum, and other duchies. Their authority (where the involvement of Primates are absent) is usually unquestioned and priests that have reached this rung are both masterful politicians and magic users in their own right. In charge of enforcing Primate law and organizing Knights for their bidding.

Seers

A step below Ecclesiarchs, Seers are often found within the largest of cities were there are multitudes of Bishops to herd. They are appointed by Ecclesiarchs in a per-need basis, or elected by Bishops in cities where there are historically no Ecclesiarchs. Technically they do not have much more power than Bishops themselves (though Seers are more often than not the ones to become Ecclesiarchs) and it would be bold of a Bishop to disregard their presence. However, as of late, they have become the authority when approving Apprentice’s for Bishops. They also hold no communication with the common people, and are strictly more background managers of diocese.
A more administrative role, Seers usually spend most of their time practicing and teaching magic to bishops under them. They make sure tithes and gifts to the orthopraxy are well-managed and used for the glory of Ambar. Seers also appoint and approve bishops, as well as approve apprenticeships.

Bishops

Finally, the Bishops form the majority of the clergy. Generally Bishops oversee a smaller diocese that tend to be small villages, towns, or minor cities, though as previously mentioned they at times can reside over powerful cities. Bishops tend to the everyman’s needs, providing guidance and protection. As such, they work closely with the Sovarix Knights assigned to their areas to root out heresy and keep an eye on their subjects. Their duties, apart from those, are the nightly communal prayers, studies, and organizing communal events.
Oversee day-to-day activities within the church. In cities, they take a more scholarly role, while in towns and smaller places they act as the religious head for commoners. They organize monks and other serfs to work and train. Bishops also dedicate much of their time to magical practice and scripture.

Squires and Bishop’s Apprentice

A step above simple monks and serfs, the Squires and Bishop’s Apprentice work and study under their respective orders. Usually a Squire both chooses and is chosen by a Knight at the age of 13 (though there have been instances where this happens a bit before or after) to be taken under his guidance and learn the basics of fighting and scripture, while the same is true of a Bishop’s Apprentice and a Bishop. Their duties involve everything that their master requires them to do, with almost no leeway - Once you are chosen, you are expected to devote your life to your job, even if your final oath will not take place for a few years. Squires may talk and still hold on to their usual day-to-day life with family and others, but the Knights encourage them to distance themselves. In addition, these members are tattooed with the insignia of the Ambarine Orthopraxy on their wrist, with the Squires also having a Shield beneath that, and Apprentices a holy Book, however the tattoo will not be completed until they complete their oaths down the years.

Monks

Serfs by another name, Monks encompass every individual that either willingly seeks to devote themselves to the clergy, or are forced by another reason. The lay intentions of joining would be to either learn magic under a Bishop, or join the Knights. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that the large majority of Monks never make it out of this system and are mostly serfs to the clergy. Only those who demonstrate exceptional skill, or have deep pockets, are chosen to move further in their devotion. Only a few Knights find it in their hearts to freely accept a Monk into their service, though it is not as rare as Monks moving into priesthood.

Public Agenda

The Orthopraxy (or at least everyone but the Primates, since they have stayed silent) wish to heavily control the use of magic and most of all, Ylistrium. The church is divided between those who view the ore as a heretical stone meant to topple the general stability and oust the church, and those who view it as a gift of Ambar to the people of Elliaster.

Divine Origins

The story of Ambar is known to every man, woman and child. The godly man appeared from the sea, and with his appearance he uplifted the people in the basin of Elliaster, taking them from an unorganized mess to a coherent kingdom. The chief of the city of Elliaster, Ellshah at the time was the first known public figure to fully accept his teachings, and enforce his ruling to his people. With this, he was given the godly ordainment to spread the Orthopraxy across the valleys and unify its people under one ruler, guided by the kind and loving gaze of Ambar and the Great Father. Ambar is said to have dubbed him Ellsharix.

Cosmological Views

Before time and light, there was only the Grand Father and the Endless - the mirrors of Light and Dark, Everything and Nothing, Life and Death, Sound and Silence. In the space of the Grand Father were his Children, whom sang with him beautiful songs of creation and light. The song of the Grandfather traveled for millennia in every direction, even reaching the Endless. As the two met, there were sparks in between which became stars in the sky, filling the space with their reverberation. Slowly, the sparks created more, bringing the seas into existence. Even here, the chaos of the two opposites fought and created storms that seemed to have no end. More and more clashes occurred as the songs of the Grand Father and his Children met with the silence of the Endless, creating lightning which flashed with bangs. From this violence rose the mountains which pushed the clouds farther into the sky. The mountains provided shelter from the storms, and from these spaces trees, plants and grasses grew. Eventually storms subsided and became rarer, allowing life to spring up from beneath the trees. Even these creatures seemed to mirror the duality of the universe: male and female, the two creating new life with a spark when they meet. Among them, shaking with cold, was Man and Woman.
Many Children of the Grand Father descended playfully from his embrace, attracted by their boundless curiosity. This space between everything and nothing was filled with new things, strange things. Animals appeared with every song they sung, hopping and walking around the valleys. Many of the Children took these forms to see what it was like, hoping to be inspired and create new songs. Others chose to become large, great trees which swung rhythmically in the wind and croaked in response - a tune unlike they had ever heard before. Man, however, did nothing but shiver and huddled together. They did this for years, and the Children grew sad. They begged the Grand Father to help them, to teach them how to sing. Spurred by the kindness of his Children, the Grand Father adopted Man, as they themselves were the product of their songs. Delighted, the Children showed Man the wonders of their songs, creating fire, changing water, molding earth, and blowing breeze. Still, they seemed ignorant on how to sing these songs.
The Grand Father chose one Man who accompanied his Children in a beautiful chorus to show the songs that created all. This man was dubbed Ambar, birthed from the spark of a lightning unto earth which stroke the largest pine in the young world, setting it ablaze. From then on, Ambar could sing the songs of the Children and even create his own. The Grand Father gave him the task of teaching his kin to sing and create like he, and to lead his kin in this new world. Thus the earth continued to shift and change; the seas gave way to more land, the storms subsided, and the volcanoes that sprung from the earth cooled. Man, now comfortable in their skin, could run, jump, and play in the earth, and they rejoiced with their new ability to speak and sing that Ambar had taught them. Once he had finished teaching the First, Ambar traveled the new world and found his way through the Vespus from beyond the great blues and to Elliaster.

Tenets of Faith

There is one God, and he is the Grand Father, creator of all. Ambar is his prophet, teacher of Man. The Primates are supreme, and are Ambar's law after him. The Orthopraxy is the house of the Grand Father, where those devout may practice and lead in his songs. The Clergy are the representatives of the Orthopraxy.
Magic is the gift of the Grand Father onto Man, and to practice Magic is to acknowledge Him. To not pay respect to Him and the Orthopraxy, and to not have a license, is to blaspheme and damn your soul. To earn a license through the proper channels is to pay respect to the Orthopraxy, Ambar, and The Grand Father. The Grand Father chose Man to lead, and Woman to follow. The punishment of practicing Magic without license is death.
To praise Him is to also acknowledge and uphold the order of society. The King of Elliaster will work with the Orthopraxy - not against it - to lead the people. The people will pay dues to the Orthopraxy and the King and its system. The punishment for disrespecting these processes is death.
Heresy is an insult to Him and Man. For the crime of not only the affront against the Grand Father but leading others astray from His embrace, the punishment is death. Heresy will be considered as anything that risks the laws established here or the religious and social order.
To devote one's life to the Sovarix is to surrender all worldly possessions and ties, and accept the Orthopraxy and its institution as your cause. The Sovarix will answer first and foremost to the hierarchy of the Orthopraxy, or, in their absence, to the best of their judgement but keeping the interest of the clergy in mind.

Praise to the Grandfather

Founding Date

0 AA

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Capital

Ambarix

Alternative Names

The Orthopraxy

Leader

Primates

Head of State

Primates

Subsidiary Organizations

• Sovarine Knights

Permeated Organizations

• Kingdom of Elliaster (Organization)

Deities

• Ambar

Divines

• Ambar

Location

Ambarix

Controlled Territories

• Ambarix