[Reformed] Temple of Malin

[The Order of Malin 63]

 

The Reformed Temple of Malin
(Elven: Malin'naeri).

 

 

 

'MALIN LIVES!' ‘WE KNOW NO KING, BUT MALIN’

 

Reverence - Community-Humility-Temperance-Industry

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I - VISION

II - OATH

III - MEMBERSHIP

IV - VESTMENTS

V - HIERARCHY & STRUCTURE

VI -RITUALS & CUSTOMS

VII -AUTHORITY

I. oem | VISION

The Temple of Malin is dedicated to the promotion of elven ascension and the worship of Malin and his pantheon by following the five instructions. It believes that all descendant races should pay homage to the Elven Pantheon in Malin’or, and it cultivates its members and worthy Elves to ascend to join that pantheon.

The Temple of Malin and its clergy answer to no sovereign save the Saneyir, the spiritual head of the temple, who guides both its living members and those ascending Numen seeking to ascend to Malin’or. As each Elf is an immortal descendant of the King, the Temple shall defend Elven interests radically at all costs.  In times of Inter-Elven conflict they shall remain neutral - unless an aggressor is so egregious against the Elven kind that they must be stopped, mustering the entirety of the Order to aid in the conflict.

 

They shall seek to establish their Chapters across all of Elvendom, defending the Elven Leaders on behalf of Malin when those Anti-Mali forces seek to bring ruin upon them.

 

The Divine Liturgy of the Temple of Malin:

The Ascension

The Way of Malin and the Five Instructions

Part I

Part II

 

II. niut | OATH 

Elder/Saneyir: “____, who do you know as King? ”

 

Response: "I know no King but Malin"

 

Elder/Saneyir: "We know no King but the one called Malin!"

 III. hael | MEMBERSHIP

The Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Malin accept any Half-Elf or Elf, of any nation, willing to devote their life to the cause of the Temple, though it is believed only full blooded Elves may ascend to Malin’or. Elves younger than 30 cannot surpass the rank of Initiate. The basic requirements for enrollment as an initiate are;

• At least 18 years old
• Are an Elf or Half-Elf of any mix.
• Have taken no oaths that would prevent their ability to serve the order
• Capable of making an Oath of no less than 8 years.
• Have no pacts or commitments upon their soul that would prevent ascension.

 IV. vailu | VESTMENTS

INITIATES

 

DISCIPLES

 

ERAMITES

 

ELDERS

 

Standard equipment for the Order is their 72 hours of field rations, medical equipment and survival gear. A quill and book are expected and inspected to be carried. In addition, each disciple carries on them a copy of works of “The Way of Malin”. Initiates wear a padded gambeson, and from disciple onward begin to wear more chain-mail armor. The ‘bronzing’ accent of armor designates seniority, with Eramites and Elders seeing the accents become more prominent. However, Soldiers may earn the right to bronze their uniforms if they have conducted spectacular deeds of courage on Malin’s behalf.

 

V. kulin |  HIERARCHY & STRUCTURE

 

 

 

 THE CENTRAL TEMPLE OF MALIN

The order of Malin is structured as a paramilitary theocracy, but each member has a philosophical requirement to uphold and spread the teachings of Malin. The Central Temple of Malin is the primary location and repository for artifacts, knowledge, and worship dedicated to the cult of Malin. Though different temples may host cults to other deities in Malin’s pantheon, every Temple must have a central worship of Malin at its heart.  The central Temple  is also the seat of The Saneyir and the conclaves that meet to determine Malin's Will.

 

 CHAPTERS - THE PILGRIM TEMPLES

Chapters are the foundational unit to which all members of the Temple belong, and the location of cults to Numen and other members of Malin’s Pantheon.  The maintenance of shrines and relics dedicated to specific Numen are essential to the functioning of that Temple. The destruction of a Temple that was solely dedicated to a Numen may also result in the spiritual death of that Numen. Thus they are to be defended vigorously as important religious sites. The first four chapters are all assigned to defend and teach within the core territory. Each Chapter, other than the fourth, is led by an Elder, and two Eramites. These chapters are named after legendary Elves from the time of Malinor that defended the King and Elven sovereignty. These ancestors shall serve as emulated figures of the ideals on how to serve Malin. New chapters may be established focused around a specific Numen and their cult.

 

I - Chapter of Tharsion

II - Chapter of Arth’alemoth

III - Chapter of Valk’edyte

 INITIATES

Initiates are the fledgling adherents to the Way of Malin.They will spend their time under the tutelage of a Disciple, who will teach them both on combat and on His teachings. Initiates are not required to take an oath, and they generally hold no leadership within the Order. Their primary purpose is to discover the fragment of their soul they are associated with as well as become familiar with the Temple’s teachings. They will sometimes perform tasks related to the maintaining of shrines and placing offerings at them across the world. Initiates will spend many of their early years within the Temple of Malin preparing for their trials, being indoctrinated in the philosophy of Malin, and learning those skills that will save their lives and harden their mental resolve against false doctrines and those who seek to divide the Elven people. An initiate must complete the following trials to become a Disciple, relating to the five instructions.

 

o The Trial of Humility & Reverence

o The Trial of Industriousness

o The Trial of Community & Temperance

o Know-thy-Self

o The Ritual of Legacy (Half-Elves only)

 

All trials are supervised by Eramites and have no exact prescription for their execution only that the Eramite is satisfied of the initiates understanding of one of instructions required. ‘Know-thy-Self’ may only be performed by a Mended-Soul. 

 

DISCIPLES

Disciples make up the bulk of the Temples clergy. They are expected to take on 1-2 initiates, and now begin to spread His message, potentially serving as messengers of the Saneyir, and escorts of the Eramites and Elders. Disciples are expected to actively attempt to be on The Way, and help promote Malin and his Pantheon. They are expected to support Numen. The should be fledgling scholars of his philosophy, and capable fighters. Disciples may also specialize as the need requires, perhaps as quartermasters, relic keepers, or other specialty niches the Order or their local chapter requires. Disciples also enforce the law within the Temple of Malin, ensuring the domestic tranquility of the heart of his realm. Disciples are inducted fully into the order and take an oath brought fully into Malin’s teachings by the Saneyir. Disciples should, though not required,  have overcome at least one of their soul fragments to become an Eramite.

 

Disciples shall learn to invoke Malin for the use of Divine magics and Cantrips [House Magery].

 

ERAMITES

Eramites are mid-level members of the Order who manage the basic operations they are tasked to accomplish. Eramites take on larger missions, usually of 2-3 disciples and some initiates, into highly contested territory and in combat. Malin scholars in their own right, they must be as capable to meet an Uruk in the field of battle as well aso defend Malin’s philosophy before a Mali’Thill.  They frequently give lectures on the teachings of Malin. They must also be responsible for the discipline of the Order itself, supervising trials, ensuring disciples are trained, and leading small forces. Eramites are granted voting privileges in the administration of the Order. Eramites may be called as emissaries or diplomats to foreign nations. Eramites are tasked specifically in finding and forming groups to eliminate Shades.

Expected to complete the “Rite of Malin’s Might” as well as become Soul-Mended if they wish to become Elders.

Eramites shall be taught the ability to create holy tinctures and concoctions [Alchemy].

 

ELDERS

Elders are the Senior Brothers and Sisters of the Order, who have now taken lifetime Oaths to his philosophy and are Soul-Mended, often called ‘Prophets of Malin’. They conduct the majority of planning, both within the Temple of Malin and abroad. They are master scholars of The Way of Malin, fierce combatants, leaders, trainers and mentors. Elders lead a Chapter, crafting for their chapter an identity that they see fit - often preparing the Chapter to serve as the basis for their own cult if they conduct an apotheosis. Elders strictly manage the security of the Saneyir and it is them that make up the Orders council of advisors to the Malonn’Elberun. In addition, Elders are considered minor Elven lords and they may stylize themselves with the moniker of their Chapter’s ancestry.

 

Elders shall be taught the art of soul mending [Conduits of Enlightenment]

 

 

THE MALONN’ELBERUN

The Bronze Brother. They are the senior operations office and are responsible for the entirety of its operations and administration. They sit on the Ethereal Council of Temple of Malin and advise the Saneyir on matters that may require the Order to intervene, or to protect Malin’s interests. They constantly seek out recruits, and threats to Malin's realm, they also determine who shall be elevated to the rank of Elder. The bulk of the administrative and secular duties of the Temple are delegated to the Malonn'Elberun for the day to day operations of the order, and ensuring the running of the Temple, its appointments, and the quasi-state like existence such as paying taxes and dealing with construction.

 

 

NUMEN & THEIR CULTS

Numen are transcendent spirits who have undergone apotheosis. They act as benevolent protectors and guides to the Temple - and although they are no longer bound by the strict hierarchy and daily requirements of the Temple, they must work directly with the Saneyir to see their cult promoted and their path to ascension as a deity affirmed.

 

THE SANEYIR

The Saneyir is the senior teacher and clerical head of the Temple. The Saneyir is beholden to political neutrality and the defense of all Elven realms, often called on to speak for Elven realms that are the targets of violence of their own kind. The Saneyir is charged to protect artifacts of Malin and to determine which Numen shall receive approved cults. The Saneyir is chosen from among the Elders, ensuring his Will is a continued succession elected by the scholarly followers of his teachings. The Saneyir no longer goes by any Elven subrace, not considering themselves Ame, Aheral, or Ker. They are simply "Mali". The Saneyir owes no allegiance to any Elven Prince, and is bound by Malin to not conspire or actively work against any of them. However, he actively seeks to advise and counsel those Elven Princes in an effort to lead them closer to creating Malin'or as it truly as.

 

VI. banih | RITUALS 

The Order of Malin has a series of rituals that helps bring them closer to ascending to Malin’or. Most of these rituals occur at each stage of an adherents promotion within the Order, as a rite of initiation - but some can be performed independently of rank.

 

Know-thy-Self

This rite may only be performed by a mended-elf. It uses the art of soul-mending to discover which fragment of an Elf’s soul is active on the initiates life.

 

Ritual of Legacy 

Half-Elves who wish to rise within the Order of Malin must undergo the Ritual of Legacy. During this rite, the Half-Elf will be fully meshed in Elven culture. They will make pilgrimages to multiple Elven realms, take up the Elven language, observe the many creeds of Malin. The Half-Elf will then spend two full nights within the Reclamation Hall, with the blessed way of Malin texts. They must endure the entire time without sleep, food, or water. Deeply immersing themselves in the Halls tomes, and artifacts of Elven history. Finally, they will stand before the Elders who shall determine if the Half-Elf has come to fully embrace their Mali heritage with a final test of their choosing. Should the Half-Elf complete these tests, they shall be deemed fully embraced of Malin's legacy. Though only the Rite of Apotheosis can purge them physically of their mixed heritage.

 

The Rite of ah’kina (Honorable or Sacred Death)

If any Elf of the Order feels they have descended into madness, no longer able to control their shattered minds from creeping trauma of centuries, they may appeal to the Council of Elders for the Rite of ah’kina. All attempts shall be made to try and heal the elf of this calamity, believing the loss of any immortal is to be avoided. If approved, the Elf shall be assigned a great challenge of considerable mortal danger and high value to the order . If they succeed, the Elf may find solace knowing that they have not lost all the faculties and are still contributing to the community,  earning the right to bronze their armor even if not an Officer of the Order and earning the special address of ‘mar’paronn’ (Venerable Elder). If they fail, their death is considered to be with great honor and they shall be remembered in the chapter rolls.

 

Rite of Apotheosis 

This Ritual Death enables an Elf to transcend their physical bodies, purifying their souls as they become a Numen. It is also said to completely purge mixed-elf heritage once and for all.

 

The Rite of Malin’s Peace

This Ritual is required for a Disciple to become an Eramite. It requires a pilgrimage to every Elven nation and important Elven historical site in Almaris. The Disciple must complete no less than a single task in three separate realms that contributes to the benefit of those people. There is no proscription as to the type of task, the Elf must show they are not so beguiling to choose a task of little effort, and not so foolish as to involve themselves in a task they cannot handle. 

 

The Rite of Malin’s Might

An Eramite who wishes to become an Elder must complete the Rite of Malin’s might. The task is simple, yet difficult. They must defeat another Elder of the Order in single combat. If the Elf is victorious, they must prove their philosophical strength by then defending a single argument on the way of Malin to the Saneyir or the Bronze Brother. 

 

Soul-Mending

If designated as an Elder or Saneyir, an Eramite shall undergo soul-mending. Restoring their soul fully and enlightening them as a Prophet of Malin.

 

VII. laier| AUTHORITY

The Order acts with the authority of the Saneyir of Malin, and is granted full jurisdiction to protect his realm and his teachings in the Temple of Malin. They may detain, and submit to the political protectors of Malin’s will those who violate his will while on Temple grounds.

 

Outside of The Temple of Malin, they are afforded those rights guaranteed to them by what sovereign leaders of Almaris allow. However, they shall at a minimum defend members of the order,  their holdings, Numen, and professed adherents to his philosophy and any Elf in distress.

 

Chapters which are granted land or territory In another realm shall agree to defend that nation in times of war, but shall never raise arms against another chapter or other Elven nations unless authorized to do so by the Saneyir. They shall accept no positions of leadership or responsibility within that realm unless deemed by the Malonn'Eberun to be in the interests of advancing the way of Malin.
 

 

 

[Lhindir_ 3436]

Valandos smiles with pride at his disciples creation.