Ascendancy
Structure
The Ascendancy has nineteen separate divisions that each contain the same collection of ranks. Each division represents the earthly actions of an Ascendant God, and are spread across the entire known world.
Initiates
Oathforger
The lowest level of the hierarchy, oathforgers are devotees applying to join the Ascendancy. They begin their days by learning humility and performing chores throughout the day, with breaks throughout their duties for instruction in all matters of the organization. This period is considered an evaluation for the initiate and can last between two and five years normally.Avowed
An oathforger who has completed their evaluation period may make their first oaths that dedicate them to the Ascendancy. They then are granted the freedom to focus their studies either toward religious studies (Meiniker) or the Ascendancy's military order (Godsblood). However, they must undertake the process of training the oathforgers to further reinforce their own knowledge. This level of initiation can last between one and two years.Rank & File
Once an avowed has completed their final instructions, they are permitted to swear their allegiance to either teaching the Ascendancy's truth or defending the Ascendancy from foes. An avowed's focus determines which rank they then achieve.Meiniker
A meiniker is a the public face to the Ascendancy. They speak to the faithful and explain the deeper meanings of the Ascendancy, often focusing their ministrations to villages and towns. Often they provide additional services as teachers in schoolhouses to benefit the community. They often establish themselves within sanctuaries or oratories.Godsblood
The Godsblood are the holy knights sworn to defend the Ascendancy from all threats. These warriors are trained to fight as one unit, but they have also been augmented to be deadly fighters on their own because they have been injected with aurichalis to improve their resistance to magic.Religious Order
Once a meiniker has exhibited either a greater capacity for good works or improved understanding of the Ascendancy, they may be selected to join either the clerical order or scholastic order.Clerical Order
A meiniker that seeks to follow a path focused on proselytizing and managing the publics' interactions with the faith may be elevated along this path if their superiors determine they are a good fit for this role.Reverent
A reverent is in charge of several meiniker within their region, helping to guide them or manage higher-level questions posed by the faith. They often travel to visit their charges and undertake missions at the behest of the aereverent. Each reverent is given jurisdiction over a portion of the land surrounding a city. Their seat of power is normally a temple in a city.Aereverent
An aereverent manages the reverents within a nation. They often reside in capitals and liaison with heads of state to represent the Ascendancy in matters that arise.Scholastic Order
A meiniker that has presented a desire to pursue study and interpret details about the faith, or to facilitate justice in the name of the Ascendancy, may find themselves called to serve within the scholastic orders of the Ascendancy.Clariker
A clariker serves as a clerk and assistant for their superiors, learning both elements of law and the deeper knowledge of the faith. Given time to demonstrate excellence, they can be raised to either a studiker or an eindiker themselves.Studiker
A member of the Ascendancy that has deeper knowledge of the inner workings of the faith and its writings generally becomes a studiker. Their focus is on interpreting details in old writings and other such material to find meaning in the current world.Eindiker
For any matter that represents an act against the Ascendancy, the eindiker are the judges of them. Often this can include punishments that extend to death by execution, with the preferred method of death being burning (hence the translation from Aeldrus: "person who burns").Military Order
Brighidon
A Godsblood soldier can be raised in rank to a brighidon, granting them command of a contingent of their brothers. They are expected to travel the land in aid of those who need it, as well as guard the Ascendancy's more important sites from danger.Stashidon
The commander of the Barracks is the voxhidon, and they manage decisions for any actions undertaken by the Godsblood within their territory. Each voxhidon is elected by the Godsblood who serve them. Few can challenge their authority, save for the laerhidon (and even then only in extreme cases).Voxhidon
The manager of a Godsblood Barracks is the quartermaster, or stashidon. In addition to outfitting a Barracks, the stashidon undertakes the task of training all recruits and administering the aurichalis injections.Leadership
Arisener
From the ranks of the aereverent rises one arisener, the highest rank a member of the Ascendancy can achieve. Each continent is divided into thirds, and the aereverent in each of these sections vote to send one of them to advise the paragon as this elevate rank.Oeriker
Any time there is a question on the meaning of a text or the implementation of a law, the decision must be elevated to an oeriker to judge. The oeriker is the eldest member of the scholastic order and applies their extensive knowledge to all matters. Each nation has one oeriker that answers any and all questions regarding these matters, and they each provide council to the paragon when inquiries arise.Laerhidon
From amongst the collective Godsblood Barracks, one of the Stashidon is elected to represent the military order before the paragon. Unlike the other branches of the Ascendancy, the laerhidon is the sole voice of the military order.Paragon
A paragon is considered the highest level of authority for a single Ascendant God on Taermidra. They are the voice of their deity and interpret the will of the divine in all matters. A paragon can only be raised by a combined majority vote from the ariseners, oerikers, and the support of the laerhidon. Once raised, the post is for life and no one has the authority to challenge the paragon on any matter once it has been decreed.Mythology & Lore
The Ascendancy maintains solid roots with the Primacy religion, claiming that the Prime Deities passed their power on to mortals who exemplified the best of various features. The Primacy's leaders helped form a council that evaluated the population over a period of 100 years, then selected individuals that exemplified attributes of the Prime Deities to ascend to godhood. The announcement of the Covenant of Ascension at the end of the Era of Birth sparked the Golden Age of Ascension.
It is believed that the dark lord Grishtar rose to power in a bid to challenge the Ascendant Gods and claim their divinity for himself. In the last days of the Golden Age of Ascension, the Ascendant Gods combined their powers to cast down the covetous tyrant. This act took all of their power, and they now rest to restore their strength. Unfortunately, this prevented them from stopping Grishtar's final cruelty: the ice age that became known as the Era of Ruin.
Ascension Through Merit
Founding Date
700
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Ascendants
Related Ranks & Titles
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