Once Prios was but one god of a pantheon worshipped in the now dead kingdom Alberetor. The Lifegiver protected the lives and souls of the people of that fallen realm alongside his siblings the Earthmother, the Executioner, the Pathfinder, the Wildling, the Arch-Builder, the Seafarer, the Guardian and the Hostess. Then during the war against the Dark Lords came the Exaltation, after a powerful vision came to Queen Korinthia Prios was declared the sole protector and saviour of the people of Alberetor. The worship of any and all other gods was forbidden as it weakened Prios, then called the Lightbringer and later the Lawgiver. Only constant and absolute devotion could fuel the patron gods divine power and lead finally to triumph over the armies of the Dark Lords.
The Church of Prios' seat of power in Ambria is the city Templewall at the centre of Prios Domain. There the Curia convenes before the Evening Throne of the First Father Jeseebegai. The First Father was born Demeon of the noble house Soleij and served most of his life as a brother of the Twilight Friars. It is widely known that he personally saved the queen from captivity in the stronghold of the Dark Lords and suffered grievous injuries in the process.
The Curia serves as a council of the three distinct branches of the church: The Priesthood, the Sun Knights and the Twilight Friars.
The Priesthood consisting of clerics with numerous responsibilities and levels of political influence, from lowly village priests to the heads of the great temples and cathedrals. The senior members of the clergy hold the ranks of father or mother while lesser clergy are brothers or sisters, below these are the initiates. The Priesthood's most influential representative in the Curia is Mother Anabela Argona, a skilled administrator and politician. Naturally there are rumours that her true loyalty is not to the church but to her noble house and her scheming family. Perhaps second to Mother Anabela in power and influence is Father Argaton Soleij, a cousin of the First Father. He also fought in the war against the Dark Lords and is among the voices appealing for moderation and unity among the Curia. Since the war he has been a friend to Father Nilos but due their different duties there has been a growing distance between them.
The Twilight Friars, known by many as the Black Cloaks and also as the Whips of Prios, are relentlessly hunting the enemies of the Sun Church: heretics and sorcerers. Their official spokesperson in the Curia is Brother Eumenos, best known for his cold and calculating devotion to his order's duties.
The ranks of the order include such diverse members as Sister Megana, a battle-hardened, resourceful veteran hunter of sorcerers and cultists, Brother Dolani, a proud and ambitious Black Cloak, and old Brother Arno who spends his twilight years healing the wounds and mending the minds of those inflicted with corruption. The explorer Bartho once was one of the Whips of Prios but deserted many years ago and went into hiding.
The Sun Knights or Templars, officially the Knights of the Dying Sun, are the order militant of the Sun Church. A knightly order consisting solely of members of the noble houses led by their Lord Commander Iakobo Vearra. The Swords of Prios are known for their great devotion to the sun god and by an absolute lack of mercy towards all enemies of the faith.
Among the leaders of the Templars are the Lord Commander's children Alesabeta Vearra and Ervano Vearra. Their ranks include such knights as the sullen and taciturn brothers Leohan, Hen-Loan and Venhal Mekele and quick-tempered Heratio Oralak who duelled Elmea Melion in front of Thistle Hold's sun temple.
Lately there has been a rising dissent in the ranks of the Priesthood as some voices for a return to worship of the Lightbringer of old grow louder. Chief among the ones calling for a renunciation of the Lawgiver is Father Sarvola Bargomol who tends to the poor and the sick. His gospel of a peaceful and loving Prios has him branded a heretic by the First Father but his following grows and he seems to have powerful protectors. Among his followers are the enthusiastic and simplehearted Brother Galeno and hardened Sister Bila. But his chief proponent is Deseba the Old, the living lightbringer, the only sainted servant of Prios to survive the war. Her numerous miracles and blessings have made her an almost legendary figure in the church. Not even the First Father or his most fanatical adherents would dare to speak against her. She has withdrawn from power and politics to spent her remaining years in silent contemplation but lately joined Sarvola and his disciples.
In Thistle Hold the sun temple is headed by Father Elfeno, a grim and determined veteran of the war against the Dark Lords. He has little love for sinners and doubters and even less for heretics and heathens.
The sun temple of Kastor is governed by Father Belago, who took the place of stern Father Karstak after the latter was murdered by cultists. His meekness and calmness is well liked in the city and he prefers working on his herbarium to severe sermons. Rumours persist that he once was a servant of another god he recanted after the Exaltation.
Kastor was also home to Sister Darda Kanar, the younger sister of Father Nilos' deceased wife Lida. Alongside her mentor Sister Garala she gathered information in service of Master Vernam until the learned Garala was falsely accused of sorcery and executed. Darda has connections to the secret Church of Many that worships all the Young Gods of Alberetor. She has since departed Kastor to study under the scholarly Father Ombardo in Ravenia.
The sun temple in Karvosti is headed by Father Piromei, an elderly priest driven by uncompromising devotion and hatred for all he perceives to be servants of the dark. His loyalty is to Lord Commander Vearra and the Templars and their brand of purity and faith.
Recently there has been discord between the Templars and the priesthood, and as some claim the First Father and the Lord Commander. The Swords of Prios turned their back on the Curia in order to serve the sun god as they themselves decide.
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