[Cherury]

Codex Cosmos

[Reconstruction of the Celestial Faith in the Council of Esshar, 1665]

Preface:

The Celestial Faith in the Kingdom of Esshar has endured for over one thousand years, its Clergy acting as both charity-givers to All Peoples of the Lands as well as the Last Defense in the face of terror. Emulating the Stars of the Heavenly Hosts Above, they are given the sacred privilege of Judgment in the rare occurrences of trials come to pass. Deeming what is Sinful and what is Correct, they are a people trusted deeply to act as an example for the rest of the Kingdom.

 Their Hierarchy consisting of both scholars and exorcists wielding the power and the mind of the Stars, they come from all walks of life and are universally respected for their great sacrifices to the Kingdom. While not strictly warriors, they are sometimes given the authority to become attachés to the Order of the First Light and the City Watch, providing Judgment and Oversight.
 
Rules and Traditions:

• Deacons give up Inheritance, Titles, Prestige.
  
• Children born of Clergy are given the honors of the Church, brought up as Deacons in Faith.
  
• Bastards knowingly born in the Kingdom are given to the Service of the Celestial Church.
  
• All Clergy must spend Two Months (One IRL Day a Game Year) in active service to the Kingdom a year, giving alms, preaching Celestialism, assisting the City Watch and/or Knights in their affairs.
  
• The Faith stands as Adjudicators in mortal affairs, emulating the Stars in their judgment upon us all.
  

 
Rituals:

• Heaven’s Communion: Ritualized at night, Incense is burnt, one candle is lit to light others of the mass as a symbol of the ever-burning light in the soul and the passing of Faith.
  
• The Choosing: Deacons of the Faith are sent out to the Star Towers to find and to stay the night out as they meditate to the glory of the Heavens above. If they reach in Communion with a Star, then they succeed.
  
• The Transcendent Trial: After the years of learning have been passed, a Deacon may prove to a Rector they can serve as a Preacher and Adjudicator of Law in oversight of the Kingdom.
  
• The Star’s Baptism: Children born in the Faith of the Church are baptized on a Harvest Moon’s Night by a Rector, given the Chosen Star their parents pick out for them.
  
• The Star Sigil: Rectors are subjected to an everlasting mana-burnt tattoo of the Sign of Leonaus atop their Right Hands.
  
• Star’s Judgment: Excommunication from the Church and Kingdom, an everlasting mana-burnt tattoo of the Null-Star is scarred atop the Left Hand. Those who are unlucky enough to receive this brand are exiled from the civilized lands of Esshar to live out their days on the fringes, never to accepted back into Society.
  
• The Eclipse Examination: Once every Five Years, the Sun is blotted out by the Moon, the Stars Above radiating light around the veiled Sun. Open to all peoples of the Kingdom, it is a time of remembrance that all life is transitory and watched by the Judgment of the Watchers in the Heavens.
  
• The Final Radiance: Using a glowing golden substance, any Clergy may make the Sign of Leonaus on a departed body’s forehead and pray for the safety of their soul rising to the Heavenly Hosts Above for easy judgment.
  

Hierarchy:

• Starseer – Metropolitan of the Faith (NPC-Leader that can be petitioned for grand oversight of Stelli)
  
• Stellus – Bishop of the Faith (Manager of Priests, Event Organizer for Kingdom)
  
• Curate – Stellus’ Assistants of the Faith (Two Trusted Souls of the Stellus, operating and tasked with their Orders.)
  
• Rector – Priest of the Faith (Preacher and Adjudicator of Law in trials)
  
• Deacon – Initiate of the Faith (3 Year Process, learning the Faith and Kingdom Law)