Arokasha_church

The Church of Arokasha

An introduction:

The Church of Arokasha covers most of the known world, with the exception of Drakeston where worship of Fan'taween or her Aspects is punishable by summary execution. Some worship happens in secret of course, but her influence there is minor at best.

Arokasha has significant influence within Tory and the City of Falls. Tory actually has a strong presence of all three aspects. Stephen is the High Priest at the Tory Temple and he actively gives praise to all three Aspects, but is one of the few of the clerical order that openly denies dedication to a single Aspect. His heart is only for Fan'taween, though he gives respect and tribute to the three Aspects in such flourish and quantity, that all three churches revere him and court his favor.

Stephen is the only cleric, to date, to be named to the equivalency of 9th rank in the clerical order of each Church. The ninth rank, customarily regarded as that of the High Priest, is a revered station. Most matters of faith within Tory are left to him to handle and the 3 Holy Prophets are known to request his council.

A cleric of some oddity named Frena is known to have a fair amount of influence over the artistic and often decadent people of the City of Falls and can draw a crowd out to listen to her speak at most any city. Yarrow tends to be less enthusiastic about her visits, but the turn out is never a disappointment. Her visits to various places is often seen by locals as an excuse for a community fair or carnival, which ends with her sermon just after sundown.

Frena is a High Priestess and rumors abound that she may attain the rank of Prophet before she reaches the age of 40. She is remarkably adept at interacting with peoples of all faiths and despite her public and vocal denouncements of Jar'Dior and Mal'oi, few shun her. Even the King himself has invited her to visit court as an honored guest on more than one occasion.

//Update: Frena did, in fact, become a prophet before her 40th year, but sadly has been drawn into a magical stasis artifact along with the demon, Vixos, that the box was meant for.

///Further Update: Frena was released and Vixos was defeated with the aid of many champions across Kil'Dar, most noticeable among them was Vine the Merciful who landed the final blow and was transformed during the conflict into Vine the Reaper.

An accomplished Priest by the name of Hemateel once served Arokasha as well as any could wish to. He had reached the 7th clerical rank of Speaker and was set to replace the ageing High Priest in the City of Falls when a tragedy struck the young elf. Living in a village on the descending snowy, west facing ridges on the mountains of the Greater Divide, his family met its end. A far-reaching Drakeston patrol swept in and killed most of the men and boys of the Wood Elf village. The remaining boys and all the women were force-marched to Drakeston in shackles.

The art of dance was a great skill of Hemateel and he was known to woo many to him with his talent. On hearing news of his family's fate he fell into a stupor for several days and woke vengeful. He traveled to the Black Tower and prostrated himself in the temple. He begged for his family to be returned. He was answered.

The Holy Prophets entered and spoke to Hemateel. Others in the temple listened in awe and told the story:

The Holy Prophet of E'amoril summoned up Hemateel's dead father and both his brothers, then said, " They are angry and cry out for justice also. I will give you dominion over them that they may aid you in recovering your women folk. If you succeed, I will grant them their lives as if they had never fallen."

The Holy Prophet of Arokasha continued, " You will yield the pleasures of your past life until you rescue your women. Your joy will come from your duty until your task is done.

The Holy Prophet of Dimikar stood for a long moment then with two quick strikes, hamstringed the prostrate Wood Elf. Hemateel gave a cry of surprise, but bit down and uttered not another sound. As his tears wet the ground beneath his face, the armor-clad one spoke " I take from you the dance and the arts you once loved. In turn, I will bequeath to you the art of battle, so you may stand before your foe as a warrior. " With that all three joined hands over him and said his name.

The blessed elf lay in his place and heard with the others present as Arokasha's representative spoke the words to strip him of his clerical ranks and then as she turned and offered his service to Dimikar. The massive warrior nodded and stood before the young elf. " Do you accept Dimikar as your Lord and guide to the ways of Fan'taween? " As Hemateel responded, the other clerics present ushered everyone out.

The Ritual of Acceptance is a very personal matter...

While many of Arokasha's clergy are female, men are well represented in the ranks of the ordained. Nearly all are skilled in dance, song, and speak easily with many kinds of people. They associate comfortably with people of all kinds as long as they are made welcome.

The priests of Arokasha are the most politically involved of all the churches and it is not uncommon for clergy from cities in conflict to side with the city their temple resides in. Often having been apart of a city-state from their birth, Arokasha's clerics are often embraced by the common people of their cities for their common sense and generosity.

Oddly, though the priests are not often seen performing hard work, they are often viewed as champions for simple hard working people.

Clerical Ranks:

Neonate

1st Initiate
2nd Servant
3rd Aspirant
4th Dancer
5th Master
6th Rejoicer
7th Speaker
8th Priest
9th High Priest
10th Prophet

Holy Prophet

A cleric who has not been initiated, but does faithfully serve, will remain a Neonate. Once ordained, the cleric is afforded the clerical rank of Initiate.

A cleric can become a Neonate in the service of Fan'taween and her Aspects simply by serving well and by not impeding the ordained clergy. While these un-ordained clergy may be called priests out of respect for their divine blessing, that does not mean they are honored as if they possess the rank of Priest.

Players who wish to RP as an ordained cleric may take the liberty of selecting the appropriate rank from the appropriate Aspect up to the 3rd rank. For a character to rise to 4th through the 7th rank they must undergo ceremonies as detailed below. No character will be elevated over the 7th rank unless they started the character as a Neonate and have excelled in RP and OOC leadership to justify such a prestigious role.

Please note, clerical ranks ARE NOT governed strictly by character level or character experience. Clerical ranks are very much IC and will include specific duties, primarily by fostering RP and acting as leaders and/or advisors to others.

For ease of RP for rituals and to show dedication to their faith, however, some level requirements due apply for assignment of church rank.
Neonate: Able to cast level 1 divine spells.
Initiate: Able to cast level 2 divine spells.
Servant: Able to cast level 3 divine spells.
Aspirant: Able to cast level 5 divine spells.
Dancer: Able to cast level 7 divine spells, a senior PC ranked Rejoicer (or DM controlled NPC) and forum posts.
Master: RP required, with forum posts and two senior PC's ranked as Speaker or higher.
Rejoicer: RP required involving a DM, forum posts and three senior PC's ranked as Priest or higher.
Speaker: Well established RP with DM involvement.

How to greet the clergy:

Clerics in general are treated with respect simply for their position as Holy Men or Women. Even when one wishes to be disrespectful, it is considered rude and common to do so without style. In fact, some of the 'best disrespectful' persons follow or exaggerate the niceties of greetings and add subtle comments designed to keep the cleric off balance or uncomfortable.

Ordained Clergy may bow and or embrace those who are your equal or are one rank above you. Nobles of high station are often accepted to get by with this if they either kiss the ring, kiss the hand, or if they make a point of being happy and polite in the greeting and to the cleric in general.

It is considered bad form and ill luck to court the disfavor of a holy person and the greetings offered are meant to show proper respect.

One is expected to bend knee and kiss the backside of the hand of those who are 2 or 3 ranks above you. This is also customary by those of the faith, who is not within the clerical ranks, but is leaders otherwise.

One is expected to take fully to one knee and kiss the backside of the hand of those who are 4 or 5 ranks senior. This is also customary for nobles of low station and minor government officials.

One is expected to greet clerics who are 6 or more ranks senior, by taking to both knees and kissing the backside of their hand. This is also customary of laypersons or commoners whom have not been greeted by the cleric first, at which time they will often clasp the clerics hands and kiss it. Once for polite greeting, twice to offer thanks for a blessing, three kisses if they need blessings.

One is expected to prostrate themselves before the Holy Prophets regardless of clerical rank.

It is acceptable for those not of the faith to offer a half-bow, looking down or away. If those who are not of the faith close their eyes, it is considered an act of trust and/or respect. Should the person not of the faith keep eye contact, which is a sign of respect, which lacks trust.

Kings or other high royalty often give a polite nod of the head. It is not uncommon for them to accept kissing the clerics hand, though they often raise the clerics hand to their lips rather than bend to the clerics hand. Usually the kissing of the hand only occurs if it is offered and a person of such high royal status would kiss the hand, not the ring, unless the person of royalty was of the same faith as the cleric.

It is considered an honor for one of higher station to remain in place and receive a lesser's kiss on their hand.
It is considered a mark of favor to the kisser if the cleric receiving the greeting chooses to present their ring to the kisser, rather than the backside of their hand, as per the custom.
It is considered a warning to be presented an open palm to kiss and for one to refuse to kiss the open palm is seen as a sign of weakness.

Such are the formalities of greeting within a church as large as Arokasha's.

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