Archpastor

The archpastosr are the leaders of the temples of the Sisters of the Weaver. They are the highest authorities in the priesthood of Áfawarsal the Weaver, and among the most important people in Aramacänten.

Responsibilities

• Working as an intermediary between the other pastors and the Goddess
• Highest leadership of the áçäwal
• Managing the performance of the religious ceremonies
• Managing the taxes and gifts from the surrounding countryside
• Managing the production activities of the temple
• Approving the new members to the monastic order

The Áçäwal temples are semi-independent political entities, and often exercise rulership over the nearby countryside and towns. The rulership of the surroundings is often shared with a local king, who is usually a man and a military leader. The different temples form a complex web of diplomacy, where some of the temples hold more power, based on their control of resources and contacts with the military.

Qualifications

The archpastor is chosen among the Pastors of the Flock. She is often an older pastor, but usually not the oldest, because she needs to be both wise and strong, and preferably capable of leading the Flock for a long time. While the pastors can in rare cases be men, the Archpastor is always a woman.

The Archpastor should be talented in the crafts of the monastery, wise in knowing the oral history and the gods, and blessed by the Goddess. The worldly relationships should in theory not affect the choise, but in practise pastors with good relations to the current rulers are often chosen. There have been many times, where the ruling Archpastor has been the sister or other close relative of the ruling King of the empire. This helps to stabilise the dualistic ruling system of Aramacänten, where the rule is divided between the divine leadership of the Archpastor, and the mortal king.

Attire

Horned crown

The Pastors of the Weaver wear a goat-horn headdress to symbolize their position as the leader of the herd that is the Sisters and the whole spiritual family. The headdress of the Archpastor is made from especially large goat horns. The horns used for the headdress must be sourced from a wild goat, that was never leashed. A new headdress must be created for each new archpastor. Otherwise there is no other requirement for the shape of the horns, and the preferences have varied through times.

The shape and other decorations of the crown are chosen depending on the horns used as its base. The base of the headdress is often made from gold, and precious gems can be fitted to the base or the horns. These are often gifted to the archpastor by local kings and nobles that wish to buy her favour.

Dress

The headpastor wears and multi-layered cloack of the finest wool. It is made of the clerical fabric weaved by the virgin Sisters, and no man or uniniated is allowed to touch it during the production. The dress is dyed with expensive coulour, and imported purple and blue are often prefered as the accent colours of the red of the typical sacred clothing.

Inauguration ritual

First part of the inauguration of the chosen new archpastor, is the hunt for the horns for her crown. Mountain-travellers all around Aramacänten try to identify a goat suitable for the use. The goat's horns must be majestic in size, and an unusual colouring of the fur can be a sign that the goat has been chosen by Áfawarsal. Other qualifications can be announced by the future archpastor.

Once a suitable target has been identified, a hunting party is sent after it, while trackers keep the target goat in sight. The party consists of the future archpastor, talented hunters and trackers, and some of her closest Sisters. The main group is usually joined by spectators of important members of the society that want to be part of the ceremony. The kill should be made by the future-archpastor herself, but she is aided by the other members of the hunting party, who lead the goat to her and make sure it can't escape. Technically a failed hunt means that the pastor is not blessed, and thus can't be crowned, but the helpers make sure that this never happens in practise.

Once the kill is made, the horns are harvested, and the pelt is preserved for the archpastor's dress. The meat is prepared for a sacrificial meal on the spot, for the glory of Áfawarsal and the god of hunting (who is that?).

Historical development

The old stories tell, that in the past the choosing of the next archpastor was left directly in hands of the divines. Any prospecting woman could join the hunt, and whoever caught the goat with the most impressive horns was deemed the winner. However, it is told that so many animals were slaughtered, that there was too much sacrificial meat for the gods to feed on, and the wild goats soon became so rare, that they were seen only on the most distant peaks that few dared to travel to. Then Áfawarsal stood down from the peaks and ordered, that is was proper, that only one candidate was chosen, and then she was to ask for the favour of the gods.

Áçawal hierarchy

1. Archpastor
2. Pastors
3. Sisters
4. Initiates and male sisters
5. Employed laymen
6. Servants and slaves

Type

Religious, Clerical

Related Locations

• Serme Mountains
• Yamenawa

Related Organizations

• Sisters of the Weaver

Ara and the goats

Goats are a culturally important animal to the Ara people, whose most important livelyhood in the Yamenawa highlands is goat herding. They are also the sacred animal of Áfawarsal, that produce the wool that she weaves into the threads of fate that guide every mortal. Goats, of all animals, are also thought to be closest to the gods, because they travel fearlessly to the high mountain peaks where the gods reside, to meet them.

Ara Religious Terminology

Goat symbolism is prevalent all over the religious language of the Ara.

Buckling: male brother (considered pejorative, usually sister is used instead)
Doeling: sister, a priestess (a young female goat)
Flock: the congregation, people serving in the monastery
Kid: a young initiate (a young goat)
Pastor: priestess