The Red Priests

[Narthok 10416]

 

The Red Priests

“He died in his bed, I cannot think of a death I fear more” - Arthas av Edvard

 

A Flame in the Dark

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Spoiler

 

The All Father is the sole flame flickering in a realm of stagnation. His adherents live in fear of stagnation and decay, thusly they endeavour to live lives of dynamic change and action.The Red Priests of the All Father serve as both heralds of the All Father’s teachings and defenders of his children. Their primary objective is to spread the Holy Flame of the All Father, igniting the hearts of men and elves with a holy fervor. In adherence to the teachings of the Red Scrolls the Red Priests tend to the children of the All Father, administering rituals and rites of passage while simultaneously working to convert new blood to the truth of the All Father.

 

As the representatives of the All Father in the mortal realm Red Priests strive to embody his virtues. Their lives are lived in pursuit of purity and change. As with most of the All Father’s children the Red Priesthood live in fear of a peaceful life. As this is viewed as a life taken by the shadow. The eternal force working to stagnate all things.

 

 

 

Initiation

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Spoiler

 

The Red Priests initiation does not demand grandiose feats as the Ash Knights does. Simply a sincere display of faith to the All Father is deemed sufficient to joined the ranks of the Priesthood. Following a successful display of faith the applicant is brought to Temple to be sanctified in blood and flame. Following this the applicant is deemed an initiate and inducted into the ranks of the Red Priesthood as a herald of the All Father.

 

 

 

Ranks

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Spoiler

 

Applicant

Aspiring child of the All Father seeking to serve the All Father in a more focused manner.

 

Initiate

Fledgling rank of the priesthood filled with junior members of the clergy seeking to expand their understand of the scripture and duties bestowed upon the priesthood and children of the All Father. Typically assigned to a Dedicant in order to be properly educated on the teachings and duties each member of the Priesthood must be familiar with. Duties limited to assisting with rituals and assisting senior members in various purifying expeditions.

 

Dedicant

Priest that has displayed sufficient dedication to the service of the All Father as to warrant promotion to full priesthood. Dedicants may perform the majority of Priesthood rituals and will perform the majority of domestic priest duties involving children of the All Father.

 

Herald / Purifier / Faceless

Senior Priests of the faith that have reached a level of competency and fluency in the teachings of the faith as to warrant specialization. Dedicants that choose to specialize as a Herald will become voices of the All Father spreading the Red Faith and working to convert the blind to the light of the Father. Dedicants choosing to specialize as Purifiers will take on the majority of martial tasks and duties bestowed upon the Priesthood. Primarily engaging in purifying the unworthy and leading the defence of the faith. Dedicants choosing to specialize in administering to the paragons and the ancestors will be referred to as the Faceless, as they are charged with wearing masks as to not detract from the glory of the ancestors and Paragons while the Faceless are in their presence. The Faceless deal with the majority of funeral rites, crypt pilgrimages and general maintenance and expansion of the Ancestral Crypts.

 

Keeper of the Flame

Highest rank of the Red faith, the Keeper of the Flame is fully inducted into all secrets and rituals of the order by their predecessor. They are responsible for caring for the All Father’s flame in the mortal realm as well as overseeing the operation of the entire Priesthood. The Keeper of the Flame is the only member of the priesthood entitled to perform coronations, declare crusade or consecrate a new temple.

 

 

Duties and Rites

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Spoiler

 

Cleansing

The most basic ritual of the priesthood, the cleansing ritual is used to induct a soul into the light of the All Father’s faith. It is performed in the Temple of the Heart. The inductee is to be baptised in the blood of a bull before being cleansed with holy flame. The inductee may choose which paragon is to be invoked during their ritual. The paragon invoked during the ritual is to become the patron paragon of the inductee, watching over the new member of the faith for the duration of their life in the mortal realm. This ritual may only be performed by a priest of a Dedicant rank or higher.

 

Purifying

The offending Unworthy, as deemed by the relevant Purifier authority or scripture definition is to be tied to the nearest Ash Tree and burned alive. In the absence of an Ash tree they are to be tied to a stake then burned alive. If the Unworthy is unable to be apprehended then the immolation of its corpse is sufficient, however Thoromir must be invoked as to protect those involved from the malevolent actions of the Unworthy’s spirit. This rite may be performed by any member of the Red Faith, even those not of the priesthood. However it is preferable that a Purifier be involved in Purifying expeditions as to minimize risk.

 

Marriage

Two children of the All Father are brought together before an ash tree. Their right hands are bound with a length of red rope. The rope is doused in the blood of a bull before being burnt away with fire. This signifies the recognition of their bond before the All Father. This rite must be performed by a priest of a dedicant rank or higher

 

Offering

The offering, preferable of the two legged variety is brought before an Ash tree and anointed with Bull’s blood. Following this the name of a paragon is invoked, asking them to bring the presence of the offering to the attention of the All Father. Following this the Offering is hung from the Ash Tree.

 

 

 

[Narthok 10416]

EDIT: Added The Faceless

[bickando 3967]

Locked on request of OP.

[Chorale__ 2147]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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