Clergy of Cyridia

The Clergy of Cyridia are the religious order responsible for the state religion of Athvrea. The Clergy are based out of the Blistering Basilica in Drelvyndor. The Triumvirate and a considerable portion of the Greater Assembly are members of the Clergy of Cyridia. The clergy maintain and adjucate official religious teachings, determining what is heresy as a result. The Clergy dominate all aspects of life on the Athvrean archipelago and exert considerable influence on the islands to the west.

In terms of governance, the Clergy are flexible with the exception of sacred matters. Heresy is grounds for burning at the stake, although this method of execution is used for all capital crimes. Blissroot is tightly controlled, with the church requiring permitting to grow it and monopolizing all demand. Worship of any other being than Cyridia is banned and the Clergy go so far as to monitor and redact texts from other countries. This can range from reconstruing the material to restrictions on who may own a copy to outright banning of the text.

The church has a sect solely for inquisition and destruction of heretics, the Golden Hand. This is overseen by an archpontifex who resides in Drelvyndor, not governing any territory but responsible for the Golden Hand's operations throughout Athvrea. Priests and Flamekeepers of the Golden Hand are often naval and army veterans who have chosen to serve their goddess. The Golden Hand also employs a stable of bounty hunters and foreign mercenaries for threats it prefers be handled discreetly. The Clergy deny the existence of the Golden Hand but its activities are an open secret. The Golden Hand also engages in espionage, sabotage, intelligence gathering, and assassination, activities that were once the domain of the bards. This makes them critical to the foreign relationships council of the Greater Assembly.

The clergy dress in intricate uniforms of white and gold, decorated with tassels and medals displaying rank, achievements, and trainings. Travelers from other countries have described them as somewhere between a naval uniform and clerical robes.

The ranks of the clergy from highest to lowest are Triumvir, Archpontifex, Pontifex, Priest, and Flamekeeper. Triumvirs are members of the Triumvirate. Each island of the Athvrean Archipelago is overseen by an Archpontifex. Urban centers will have a Pontifex that preside over them and the surrounding area. Priests oversee a single temple and congregation.

Flamekeepers are dedicated layfolk who assist the Clergy in their duties, especially day to day operations of temples. Flamekeepers are nominally members of the clergy but do not receive voting rights for the Greater Assembly or Triumvirate. For this reason, gender is not a restriction for Flamekeepers.

Clergy temples are built with diorite. Carvings depicting Cyridian myths, stained glass in purple, blue, and yellow, and gold filligree are common decorative motifs. Temples are usually separated into four spaces, although temple complexes may be significantly larger in size. The front of the temple features an antechamber with the eternal flame and is usually a colonnade. This eternal flame stands at the center of the colonnade and is used by those visiting the temple to purify themselves upon entering and exiting the building. The flame's color is changed with metal salts for a range of rituals, holidays, and special occasions.

The next room, referred to as the hall, is a space with a number of pew or chairs surrounding a raised dias in the shape of the sun. This is the space where liturgies, sacred dramas, and sacred musical performances occur. This room usually feature the most intricate gold work and as well as a number of smaller eternal flames. The majority of congregants will not see more of the temple than this.

To the righthand side off the hall is the living quarters of the priest. The living quarters consists of a bedroom, a kitchen/larder, and a study. These accommodations are traditionally kept austere, lacking the decoration of the rest of the building. Temple goods are also stored here for sale. Specialized oil lamps for ships, pendants, amulets, dilute blissroot tinctures, and statues are commonly sold products.

At the back of the building is the sanctuary. The sanctuary is constructed such that the stained glass faces south, maximizing sunlight. The altar to Cyrida is here as well. The most sacred rituals are conducted here by priests and flamekeepers. Votive offers from the congregation are stored here as well. When these offerings become too numerous, they are blessed, burned, and then buried.

The four major festivals of the Clergy correspond to the spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice. The spring equinox festival, Resurrection, is associated with Cyridia's resurrection following her dismemberment. The summer solstice festival, Hearthtide, is associated with warmth and happiness and is considered the most important festival of the year by artists and performers. The fall equinox holiday, Weepingsday, is the story of Cyridia's dismemberment and is much more somber than the other festivals while maintaining aspects of a harvest festival. The winter solstice festival, Glowsnight, is associated with Cyridia's battle with the Shivering King and often features fireworks and bonfires.

Lesser feast days exist for pious individuals honored in the church's canon.

Healing remains another sacred duty of the clergy, although modern alchemy and medical science are starting to infringe on this role. For this reason, the Clergy are now arguing for tighter regulations on alchemical practice as healing magic is one of many forms of magic the church regulates and permits. Any Athvrean who has survived childhood has been healed by a priest using blissroot and healing magic combined with a ritual purification by flame.

Falconry is considered a sacred art within the Clergy and the Clergy have crafted a school of avian magic. Hawks are used not only for sporting competitions, but sending messages, spying overhead, and delivering small objects. Church hawks are rarely if ever used for hunting. Killing a hawk is a crime.