The Order of Chirae
Structure
This organization is heavily decentralized. Nearly every country, city, and town have their own member of the order if not an entire abbey as they make it a point to tend to the dead and generally benefit wherever they roam. The leadership of this order is an abbess or Abbott. After this all of the clergy are ranked on seniority as the extra time allows more practice and learning of techniques passed down by the prior members.
Public Agenda
The Order aims to tend to all the deceased of the realm. This includes proper burial rites, preventing defilement after burial, hallowing grounds, and hospice care.
Assets
The order performs their work free of charge though it is custom for any who receive their services to grant them a small gift and for governments to offer sizable estates and doles. Through this practice the order has come to own several buildings and enough wealth to support any who come to them for training.
History
The order claims their roots in the end of the second age. During this time when some of the younger races were first entering the realm they, upon meeting, discussed matters of faith. In this discussion they came to find a great truth at the end of life and in keeping the dead where they lie. This is alleged to be a syncretic coven by many of the devout of other faiths, though in the Davidian tradition Chirae has been accepted into the greater pantheon despite her foreign origins.
Mythology & Lore
Chirae is said to have began life as a mortal in the first age. As she wandered along living her life her family grew old, and eventually longed for a release from all the ailments and troubles they had collected during their time. Many years passed as Chirae watched, powerless to prevent the suffering of those closest to her until she asked the void itself for aid. The whispers of the void granted her the means to end the suffering of her kin, though at the cost of never seeing them again. Chirae was more than willing to accept this sacrifice of her pleasure at seeing them for their happiness. As she walked along the void followed her closely, wrapping around her and resembling a cloak. She approached all her elders, asking each one if they'd like to partake of her offer. All of them accepted, and all of them felt the gentle glide of light from a silver sickle cross their faces before they drifted away. Chirae initially knew not where they ended up, but as her last ancestor refused her offer he admonished her. He thought that which she did was the cruelest sin and swore an oath to undo this foul crime. She was changed by this act and tutored by the void for aeons, learning how to guide her family to the realms after life. All of this went like clockwork until the work of her ancestor began to tug at the strings of her plans. Though the tale of the Deathlord best left unwhispered.
Divine Origins
The faith claims to come from meetings in the second age, though this contradicts histories of the Davidians arriving during the 3rd age. Much of their start remains obscured as the Order itself keeps few records of their own deeds, aside from dates of internment for their members.
Cosmological Views
The members of this order see death as the ultimate end of the material body only, and an ascendancy of the soul. This is something to be celebrated and cherished when on schedule and deviations are to be corrected. Undead are thought to rebind the soul to their suffering mortal form and is thus the greatest evil the order knows. The mortal plane is thought to be a training ground for the residents of the outer planes.
Tenets of Faith
- Tend to the dead
- Ease the suffering of those on the brink
- Hallow ground and celebrate memory
- Prevent desecration and eternal suffering
Worship
Worship isn't carried out regularly. Instead it is performed when one gives last rites to another, causing a closer connection to Chirae. Asking for guidance, protection, or information is common during these services.
