The Church of Saintly Socialism

Introduction

The Church of Saintly Socialism, founded over 1800 years ago by the poor but visionary wizard Carl Engels, thrives in the bustling city of Hireach. The the church advocates for communal prosperity and social equality. It's vision is a society that values cooperation, communal well-being, and shared resources. This is currently still as radical as it was during the time Carl Engels founded the church. Nowadays, the Church of Saintly Socialism portrays itself as a trusted organisation within the city of Hireach, providing food and help for the poor, shelter for the homeless, and games for the festive days during the year.

The religion of the Church of the Saintly Socialism

The Church of Saintly Socialism follows the teachings of its founder, Carl Engels. It preaches equality among all, being good to your neighbours, and giving to the church to distribute among others. The diety the church followes is called "Engels", as the followers assume that their first leader made the first successful attempt to godhood. If this is true, no one knows.
Worship is done at home, at places with lots of people such as markets, and in churches built specially for worship. Many preachers can be found, standing on boxes throughout the city. Holding a small red book (The Manifesto) in one hand, and pointing to the sky with the other. The red togas of the churches members are often known as "redders".
The main holy site, called The Octagon is located at "The Street of Walls". A big building within Hireach, where the church's treasury, food stores, and main groupings of clerics are housed. While looking rather innocent from the outside, it is designed as a fortress, and able to withstand a significant siege. Within Hireach there are furthermore numerous smaller and bigger churces.

The diety of Engels

The Church of Saintly Socialism worships the diety Engels, which is named after the founder of the church itself. Engels' alignment is chaotic neutral, and is known for its devotion to influence and wealth. His worshippers believe that Engels is all about promoting social behaviour and giving back to people. Perhaps Engels does not always agree.
It is often the understanding that Engels cares about its followers, and cares about the most powerful followers the most. The First among equals is often seen as the one closest to Engels, seeming to channel its power directly onto this world.

Background and founding

The founding of the Church
The church was founded over 1800 years ago by the wizard Carl Engels. He started with a wealthy backer, aiming to increase its influence over the people by making the people more equal among each other. In the end, Carl betrayed his wealthy backer, whose name is forgotten in history, to share his wealth and make sure that he could no longer hold sway over the poor. By this action, Carl became the "first among equals", a title still in use today for the head of the church. He has led the church durign the first 50 years and amassed a grande following of the initial 1000 poor citizens. These citizens were called '" the marching thousand", named after the many marching rallies they held throughout the city. These rallies were initially not as peaceful as intended, as the city guard was initially not supportive in their cause. This has lead to having many hundreds killed over the formative years of the church.
Carl used these marching rallies for what was assumed by the followers of the church, his attempt to ascend to godhood. The last martyr marching rally, Carl attempted to use his worship to change himself, and was never seen again. It is unknown if his attemt was succesful, however, the followers of the church believe it to be so. His successor, the so-called "second among equals" then took over his place, leading the church into a more equal and peaceful institution. After many years, "the institution" as it is sometimes called by outsiders, has become a cornerstone of the city, providing food and games for the poor.
The Middle Years
Over the last 1800 years, the church experienced many golden eras, where their following grew to a significant percentage of Hireach. This increase in following brought tension within the spiritual leadership of the church. There was discussion what the role was of the holy spirit, if it was part of the god they were following, or just a projection of it within this realm. Ché Marxinist was a proponant of the holy spirit being part of the god. As, according to Ché, it illustrated the projection of divine magic to paladins of the church. Libre Leninist was a preacher of the holy spirit being part of each of the churches paladins. Arguing that it is therefore not part of God itself but his projection. This debate caused the first Socialism schism, where the Marxinist split themself off from the Lenininst faction. The schism ended after two years, as the complete Leninist faction was killed off. To make sure this schism never happens again, the leadership of the church was solidified in "the Presidium", where, where the first among equals became its leader.
Current presence
The church is currently active throughout the realm, providing charity to common people, organizing events, and spreading news, stories, and information. There are reverends of the church at every street corner, market, and there are many places of worship found throughout the land. It is rather common to see a shrine with a few copper pieces and food for the poor, free of charge.
There are also numerous "sleeping houses" run by ministers of the church. These are homeless shelters where ministers preach to the inhabitants, and are often recruitment grounds for the more radical followers of the church.

Traditions

Krest and motto
The crest is a symbol of a hamer and sicle on a red background. The motto of the church is "Unicuique secundum facultates suas, unicuique secundum necessitates suas". Often reduced to "To each their own, for all". Iconagraphy of the church can be seen throughout the city, as many buildings are covered with one or more images of the holy hammer and saintly sickle, portrayed on a red background. These banners with the churches krest can be found wherever followers are active, handing out food, providing food or preaching to the people.
Saturnalia
The Saturnalia is characterized by a period of giving, feasting, and general revelry. The festival is marked by a temporary suspension of social norms and hierarchies, allowing for a reversal of roles between slaves and masters. During this time, slaves are permitted to enjoy a degree of freedom and engage in activities that would typically be forbidden. It is rather common within households to let the slave be the master for one day. All in "good fun", as the roles are reversed the next day.
Key elements of Saturnalia included elaborate feasts, gift-giving, and the lighting of candles or small lamps to symbolize the return of light during the darkest days of winter. Decorations, such as greenery and wreaths, adorned homes and public spaces. Gambling and other forms of entertainment were common, and people engaged in various forms of revelry, including singing, dancing, and playing music.
Another notable feature of Saturnalia was the exchange of small, symbolic gifts known as "sigillaria," often in the form of figurines or small items made of clay. These gifts were exchanged as a token of social goodwill and friendship.

Workings and funding

The church relies heavily on donations from their patrons to fund their welfare programs for the poor, to pay their followers in service of the church. The church usually recieves large donations from wealthy backers trying to purchase their way to influence the people of the city. This method of influencing the "common people" is widely known under the most wealthy and powerful of the upper-class of Hireach. Even the common people know it to some extend, as the church is fully transparent in where the money came from. It is seen as a good and decent act to donate to the church, and the church makes it widely known who donates. However, if a wealthy patron wants to stay anonymous, this is also an option, as the leaders of the church are always willing to lie about the origin of the churches wealth.
Besides donations, the church has numerous shops and stores, clericks and paladins scouring the land for wealth and artifacts, research teams aiming to find relics and artefacts, and property within the city. The full scale of this is unknown to many and only the Presidium.
These fundings are used for the following "charities":

• Food distribution
• Housing for the poor
• Games
• Yearly celebration of Saturnalia
• Organizing expeditions to find relics
• Funding clandestine operations to further the gain of the church, which is widely known under the upper echelons of society

Influence and political idiology

Within society, the church claims to be socialist, and part of and for the common people. However, the upper ranks use the power of the church to their own benefits. The upper ranks often talk about shared prosperity but are actually focused on gaining and keeping power. Behind the scenes, they use socialist ideals to control the system, creating a stark contrast between their words and their true motives. The wealth and backing of the church within society give them significant influence over the common people of Hireach. Their political idiology is often classified as "Let us be, or be devoured", as it often does not end well for people taking a grudge against the church.

Rankings and promotion

The Church of Saintly Socialism is a strict hierarchical organisation, where information and wealth is passed upwards, and orders down. There are two types of ranks within the church, commissioned and non-commissioned. A commissioned member is one who holds a commission, which is a formal written authority granted by the church, empowering the member to command and lead other members. Commissioned members undergo specific training and education, through the churches academy, to prepare them for leadership roles within the church. The non-commissioned consist of the lower ranks of the church, which are often used as footfolk and helpers for the commissioned members.

Commissioned members

First among equals
The leader of the church. Only one can hold this rank. This rank is decided by the Triomferate. The current First among equals is H. Gorter.
The Triomferate
Three can hold the rank of Triomferate. Each lead their own a division of the church. The holy (political) division, the charity (treasury) division, and the order (military) division. A member of the triomferate is chosen from the ranks of their respective cabinet. Cabinet members will present five suitable candidates to the First among equals when the vacancy opens. The First among equals decide who will hold the seat of Triomferate.
Cabinet member
A cabinet member is also known as Cabinieri. The persion is often a leader of a big church, has significant military backing, or has a big charity portfolio. These Cabinieri support one Triomferate, and are often in line to become one later in their career. There are numerous who hold this rank, and only the most capable can succees within this level. Cabinet members are chosen by cabinet members from among the preachers. However, a Triomferate has to approve the promotion of a preacher.
Preacher
A preacher is the lowest commissioned member. These often lead smaller congregations and have smaller portfolios. As the Preacher is commissioned, the Preacher chooses a division to support. They are responsible to lead the many non-commissioned members. They are the lowest rank to take part in the political spectrum of where the church operates. A preacher can only come from the ranks of Reverends which have had their 'Preacher Training', and five years of experience in the field as a Reverend with Preacher Training. During this perions of five years, each reverend has one sponsor, being part of the ranks commissioned members. Becoming a Preacher is seen as one of the most difficult things among the church. It takes often a lot of courage, bribery, or having a significantly important sponsor. Becoming a preacher often takes both social (bribery & schmoozing) skills and technical (fighting, commerce, political) skills.

Non-commissioned members

Reverend
Reverends are often known as "walking scriptures", as they are preaching at most markets, street corners, and help the common members of the church in any holy matter. Reverends can be seen wearing a red toga with a small black armband, illustrating their rank. Reverends are often selected by a preacher who sees potential among the lower non-commissioned ranks of the church. This rank gives a lot of freedom in their doing, and gives the Reverend their moment to find a division of the church they prefer to operate in. A reverend can promote members to deacons, and deacons to ministers.
Minister
Ministers are the cornerstone of the church. These are usually seen preaching on street corners, collecting gold, and are often supporting Reverends on their missions commissioned from a preacher. They are the most important 'foot folk' of the church and they are too numerous to mention. It is seen as a respectable job within the city of being a Minister of the church. This is the first rank wearing the official red toga of the church.
Daecon
The rank of Deacon is the lowest rank which has a defined role. A Deacon often supports a minister or reverend in menial tasks. When a minister of reverend is preaching on the street, the deacon walks around with the collection bin. Deacons are often used as scribes, and are expected to be at the beginning of their learning yourney throughout the church. They are often recognized on their red armband with the churches crest on it.
Follower
A follower is a "common" member of the church, most members of the church are followers. These are the people who are part of a congregation, follow the diety of Engels, and give and take from the church.

Type

Religious, Holy Order