The Clergy of the Seldarine

The governmental power within the Empire of the Rune Keepers is overseen by the Clergy of the Seldarine. The Seldarine is the major most religion of the Empire and features in every city and town to some degree, some more than others.
There is intended to be a Temple District in each major city. Within these Districts are temples dedicated to each of the twelve members of The Seldarine with clergy members corresponding to each deity running and maintaining them.
Within each temple there is a hierarchy of the clergy including the following:

• Initiates
• Aspirants/Apprentices
• Novices
• Priests/Priestesses
• High Priests/High Priestesses

The High Priests and Priestesses of the temples are referred to as the High Clergy and are the driving force behind much of the Empire's political power. The High Clergy hold the power in the Empire, making and enforcing laws; policing the worship of the Gods; elisting protection for the settlements and more.
Each major settlement has a High Clergy made up of twelve individuals, one High Priest or Priestess per temple. But it is not uncommon to find a High Clergy member in some of the smaller settlements as well, even in a location where they may have only one temple, there will always be a High Clergy member dedicated to the protection and guidance of the populace.
However, the High Clergy do have superiors they too must answer to. While they deal with the running of the Empire and overseeing the growth and preservation of the Seldarine worship, they gain guidance; clarity and instruction from the rarely seen and even more rarely heard of High Priests and High Priestesses of Var'Bellenaris. This city is an off Plane Temple City, completely dedicated to the divines of the Seldarine, and they are the highest order and position any clergy member could hope to attain.
The Temple City of Var'Bellenaris rarely visits the Material Plane, making a once in a 200 year trip to gain an update on how things are running before disappearing again. However since the Kasarian Conclave incident, it seems the Temple City will be remaining on Plane for the foreseeable and ensure the Empire rebuilds properly.

Structure

Priests/Priestesses:

The everyday clergy who interact predominantly with the population and oversee celebrations and prayers, aiding with guidance and kindness to those in need and providing a comforting force within the settlements of the Empire.

High Priests/Priestesses:

The senior clergy, there is only ever one High Priest or Priestess per Temple and they act as the head or leader of that settlement's temple. The other Clergy members answer to them and accept orders and jobs from them.

High Clergy of Var'Bellenaris:

The highest honour among the Clergy is to be called to Var'Bellenaris to work directly under the Champions, Chosen and Avatars of the Seldarine. They are the most revered of the Clergy members and are whom all others answer to. The High Clergy who oversee the temples in the Empire answer to the High Clergy of the Temple City, recieving orders from them on necessary additions or changes to their way of running things, and gaining guidance from those in direct communion with their Gods.

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Ruling Organization

High Clergy of Var'Bellenaris

Subsidiary Organizations

• High Clergy of Var'Bellenaris

Location

Var'Bellenaris

Controlled Territories

• Var'Bellenaris