Unitary Astroism/Clergy and Structure
Contents
Hierarchy
Elders
Most Holy Offices
- Holy Prophet - Lucius Arundel
- First Prophet - Mathurin Hossenfeffer (retired to a life of isolation and meditation.)
- Castellan
The Astral Council
The three most pious and zealous priests of the faith, chosen by their peers, the Castellan, and the Holy Prophet. Combined with the Most Holy Offices, they form the Astral Council.
- Light of the Bloodsun
- Light of the Bloodmoon
- Light of the Bloodstars
Junior Offices
- Three Luminaries - Chosen by the Light of the Bloodstars, one for each Star.
- Three Consuls - Elected by the faithful in communion, serving staggered one year terms (four seasons.) In accordance with the Sanguine Games, two are elected on the first day of Spring, the other on the first day of Autumn.
Faithful Members
| Name | Purpose | Monthly Fee |
| Cantor | Priests who have taken their Holy Vows. | none |
| Hero of the Faith | Faithful members who have shown exceptional dedication, and undergone severe hardship on behalf of the faith. They are immune to inquisitorial investigations. | none |
| Exarch | Faithful nobles in command of chartered orders. | none |
| Warden | Members of chartered orders. | none |
| Invocator | Faithful members who actively convince others to the fold, and Priests who have yet to take their Holy Vows. | none |
| Knight Errant | Faithful members who are either on an approved pilgrimage or have completed one. | none |
| Knight Stalwart | Nobles who voluntarily provide a large sum of gold to temple treasuries. | 100 gold |
| Knight | A faithful member in communion. | 10 gold |
| Knight Penitent | For faithful members temporarily demoted to penance as a disciplinary action. | 20 gold |
| Hedge Knight | Faithful members in communion who willingly exclude themselves from the affairs of the clergy. | none |
| Companion | Faithful commoners in communion who have yet to be knighted. | none |
| Knight Reticent | Faithful members suspended communion as a disciplinary action. | 20 gold |
| Layperson | Registered members of the Church of Unitary Astroism. | none |
Chartered Orders
The Astral Order
Exarch: To be Chosen.
Number of Members Permitted: One for every twelve faithful members.
The inquisitorial arm of the Astral Council, the Astral Order is the first of its kind to be chartered. After Regent Enoch Dishman from the Church of Sanguis Astroism rose Lady Jonsu Himoura, a convicted heretic, to supremacy, the need for an inquisitorial force was made very clear. The Holy Prophet thus established the order as a means to ward corruption from within, so that a similar fate could be avoided.
In order to guarantee the sanctity of the order, the Holy Prophet alone appoints its Exarchs. They are obliged to act unequivocally when the Astral Council issues them warrants to fulfill, regardless of circumstance. Faithful members can also issue personal requests to the Astral Order - also known as requests of suspicion - provided that they have sufficient cause. In these cases, Exarchs retain full discretion, and may accept or decline requests as they so please.
When tasked with a warrant or request, members of the Astral Order are granted the right to interrogate anyone belonging to the Church, whether in person or by courier. Heroes of the Faith and the Holy Prophet are the only exemptions. Recipients of an interrogation must provide all the necessary information requested of them, so long as the information requested relates to the Church and its functions. Failure to do so is worthy of trial before the Astral See, as is the abuse of power by a member of the Astral Order. Any findings made by the Astral Order must be brought forward to the Astral Council for review. Should evidence incriminate a member of the Astral Council, then it should be brought solely to the Holy Prophet. If any number of findings are deemed legitimate, Exarchs are expected to summon the Astral See to session, and begin a trial immediately.
Accompanied by excommunications are warrants for execution. The Astral Order is tasked with fulling them, for the safety and preservation of the Church. Restrictions apply when fulfilling the warrant may possibly damage the Church's integrity and reputation. In other words, warrants for execution should only be carried out in Church territory.
