Church of Rahn
Most of this is just random pasted in notes so far...
This still uses the old DnD name for the church rather than Rahn. I know some of this may actually be entirely outdated.
The Church of Rahn is the religion worshipping Rahn the god that created the humans and is the dominant religion in the Realms. Kingdoms that are subject to it are called part of the Rahndom. The religion itself is either refered to the god himself, belief in him, the Church or as "Rahndom" (in place of say "Christianity" or "Hindusim"). The Church is very powerful in terms of money, military power as well as support from the people. It is seen as synonymous of being a good person with being a follower of Rahn (or a "Rahnd").
Hierarchy of the Church
- Patriarch of Rahn
- Cardinals
- Archbishops
- High Bishops
- Bishops
- Priorae
- Priest (Father)
- Brother (official term)
- Acolyte
Monastic Orders
The Church has everal monastic orders that consist of individuals who has eschewed their material possessions in order to strive for spiritual cleanliness. There are both male and female orders as well as one mixed gender order. Generally, monastic life is full of prayer and hard work, but monks and nuns usually have the freedom to oursue personal interests in terms of doing work for the King of Kings.
Hierarchy of monasteries:
- Abbot (Father)
- Monk (Elder)
- Monk (Brother)
- Acolyte
The hierarchy varies slightly from order to order, but generally, this is the monastic hierarchy.
Monastic Orders:
- Sabenius Order - Focus on work to purify the soul
- Himnasi Order - Only mixed gender monastic order, currently criticised by the Church.
Monasteries:
- Sandon Hill Monastery - Located in southern Artipellin; Sabenius Order
Hierarchy of Convents
- ..
The Hand of Rahn
The Hand is the Church of Rahn's military arm. It is lead by General Brand Hinburg, a nobleman of medium power turned Paladin.
Other Church Titles
- Paladins (Holy warriors)
- Friars (traveling monks)
Fluff
The church is strictly hierarchical. Monasteries are more democratic with several Elders and based on age/experience more than ranks and politics. Corruption is about the same as our Catholic Church.
Real clerics feel the deity. Compared to the real world, it's like a strong religious experience, but as everything, it becomes routines. They have a connection. Adepts are 100% arcane OR divine. It's just they do healing a bit innately in arcane and since it's so studied by Divine it's not a prioritised study.
Within the Church, proper connected individuals feel strangled by the politics and end up as "Clerics" - walking priests. Most who channel power from the deity also channel the emotion of disproval from their God when they observe the corruption, which is another reason they leave for the road or sets up local churches.
Paladins are mainly tied to peacekeeping forces and join sides in conflicts based on which side is the most pious house. pious here means paying the most money.
Some part of the justice is that the battle decides who is right. Even if the Paladin side loses, it does not mean the winner has the church against them. Pelor "changed his mind".