The Temple of the Undying Sun
A religious organization that suppresses the use of magic and imprisons anyone using things of supernatural origin.
Structure
At the head of the Temple is the Rinpoche, who leads from their seat in the Grand Cathedral. Below them are the Left, Right, and Under Hands of the Divine. These are their personal agents and act as their voice if they is not otherwise present.
The position of Right Hand is normally reserved for Clerics of the Knight-Divine, but exceptions can be made. The duties of the Right Hand are serving at the Temple's army and enforcers. In times of strife, it was the Right Hand that brought about peace through force of arms. In times of invasion by foreign powers, it was the Right Hand that defended their borders. The Left Hand's duties are to serve as the Rinpoche's political aides. They drafted laws, issued edicts, and exerted political influence upon others. While the Right and Left Hand's actions are more public, the Under Hand's actions are generally clandestine. The under Hand's actions typically involve investigations, political manipulations, and assassinations. The Under Hand protects the Rinpoche by keeping an eye and ear out for dangerous situations, identifying threats, and dealing with them.
Below them are the Grand Clerics who are the Temple's highest authority in a country or a region. After a Rinpoche dies, Grand Clerics are required to travel to Grand Cathedral for the Grand Consensus, a meeting where Chantry leadership unanimously elect the new leader of the Chantry.
Beneath the Grand Clerics are the Elders, who are responsible for administering to the spiritual well-being of their flock. If an Elder is in charge of a local Temple, they are called a Mullah.
Beneath Elders are the brothers and sisters, consisting of four main groups: affirmed, initiates, templars, and clerics. This is the highest rank an non-human can hold within the Temple. The initiates take vows and receive an academic education. Those who seek to become templars receive a martial education in addition. Initiates are simply people who vow to dedicate their lives to the Temple and in doing so, begin training — whether in academic knowledge or the martial skills of a warrior.
Clerics are the scholars of the Temple, and they are often found in Temple archives. These sages preside over libraries of books and divine knowledge. The most senior of these clerics, placed in charge of such archives, receive the title of Kifa and is usually an Elder.
Templars are the military branch of the Temple. They hunt magic users, oversee the prisons, and destroy magical artifacts.
Brothers and sisters are the rank and file of the Temple and oversee the daily tasks of the Temple. Some of their duties include ensuring meals are delivered, repairs are made, and ensuring that the faithful are tended to.
Some followers become lay-brethren, those who live and work in a local Temple to live a life of religious contemplation, yet are not a part of the priesthood or even an initiate. The Chantry supposedly provides succor and safe harbor to any who seek it. Lay-brethren are those who become affirmed, but do not take vows. Often lay-brethren are people who have led a difficult or irreligious life and have chosen to go into seclusion, or even orphans and similar unfortunates who were raised in the Temple life. The affirmed take care of the Chantry and are in turn afforded a life of quiet contemplation, no questions asked.
Public Agenda
Bring Light to the masses and destroy anything of magical origin.
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