Flamebearer

Caretaker of the Flame

Written by Endrise

You get to go up the ranks of Flamebearer and then your duties become fourteen hours of paperwork. At least I finally get the respect from fellow clerics.

— Flamebearer

Flamebearers is a title given to those responsible for maintaining a local shrine's flame, as chosen by the heads of the Wandering Flame's Church. They ensure the fire remains lit throughout the year, alongside being the direct ties to those higher up in the faith.

How to become a Flamebearer

Qualifications

To even apply for the rank of Flamebearer, one has to be a devote cleric of Fasma for at least a decade, though most get picked between the ranges of fifteen to thirty years of service. How old a member is does not matter, as long they remain capable enough to fulfill their duties.

Background checks get done to check upon any criminal record or bad behaviour before or during their service in the clergy. Some petty crimes may be ignored if enough time passed, but clean slates have a higher chance at receiving the rank regardless.

Appointment

A list is made of all potential candidates at the First Flame's Church, examined by the Council and Fire Maiden herself. Discussion can take multiple days before any decision gets made, all done in secret to protect the identity until their appointment.

Once chosen, the follower is then requested to attend to the head church, often escorted by knights in service of the Wandering Flame to Luxaltar itself. There, they learn the essentials to being a Flamebearer under guidance of current ones and fellow high priests.

Such a training can take a few months, though most go back to learn under the current Flamebearer to complete it. If no Flamebearer is active in the region at a given time, a neighbouring shrine may aid with the training instead.

Ceremony & assignment

After the completion of their training, a ceremony is held where each new Flamebearer gets assigned their new position and duties. The ritual is down behind closed doors, where each one gets a sigil of Fasma painted on their writing hand and swear an oath to guard her flame.

A new Flamebearer does not have to be assigned to the region they came from. They may look over neighbouring shrines and in more extreme cases go overseas to attend a local Flame there. It is also possible for one Flamebearer to attend to multiple shrines and vice versa.

Type

Religious, Clerical

Alternative Naming

Shrinekeeper

Reports directly to

Fire Maiden

Substitutes

Clergy under the Flamebearer may take over duties should the person fall ill or become incapable of doing them for extended periods of time. While tasks like caring for the flame are beyond their capabilities, doing reports and handling the archives are not.

Some smaller communities prefer this method to help with elderly leaders, if not encouraged now under the leadership of Ori Santoro. A decision that does drive a divide between those of the older ways and a newer generation of Fasma's worshippers.

Life of a Flamebearer

Equipment

Duties

A Flamebearer is the highest authority amongst the clergy, being the direct connection between a local community and the head church. They are the ones responsible for maintaining records, attending the flame and safekeep the records of fellow clerics.

Attending the Flame

The main duty and their namesake comes from maintaining the local shrine's flame. Not only do they keep it lit throughout the year, but also ensure that any protective barriers remain active during it as well. This involves taking ash from the flame's brazier, and sprinkling it around the entrances of the shrine to keep out evils such as ghosts or other Outsiders.

It is their responsibility that the home of Fasma is a place for people to feel safe, away from the dangers that lie out there.

Reporting to the Council

All information that comes from the High Council of the First Flame goes through a Flamebearer, both from higher up and their local communities. They are the ones responsible for sending out briefings, reports, documents and other material to be moved from local archives to Luxaltar. If the people higher up want to know about something in the region, they report to them.

Organising Events

We don't do weddings, that's the temple across the street.

— Flamebearer

The third task they are responsible for is organising any holidays and events associated with the church. This involves learning the ceremonies done throughout the year, such as the Week of Warmth.

Maintaining Archives

A Flamebearer has access to a temple's complete archive where other clerics might only access the public stuff. Information either too sensitive or dangerous for everyone to be allowed in, with many carrying the keys required to get into these sections. Their duty is to ensure these do not fall in the wrong hands, while remaining organised where possible.

Divine Blessings

A Flamebearer carries the same blessings of other followers, alongside one additional benefit gifted by the Fire Maiden: a ward against all corruption. Their mind is a vault protected against all attempts to invade it, ensuring that nobody can obtain those secrets unless they want to.

Retirement & Removal

A Flamebearer holds their position for life, even if only in title during their later years. Those becoming too ill or old to complete their tasks get the aid of fellow Flamebearers, supervising their duties as they focus on easier duties.

Should the Flamebearer abuse their position in any way, the High Council can forcefully remove them, if not downright banish them from participating in any religious activity amongst the church. Doing so will have another Flamebearer be brought in to replace their position until a new one is found. In rare cases the removal may even be magically enforced, barring them from entering any temple.