Minor Orders

Minor Orders
Lay Priests are those who are not fully anointed as priests, but still serve important religious functions. They may serve the church in a variety of ways; sacred craftsmen trusted to produce the raw materials of divine icons, teachers who spread the ideals of the church (be it mundane skills, such as the healers and bakers of the Caregiver, or actual knowledge of the religion), and even minor religious functionaries who stand in for a cleric when none is conveniently available, providing for burials and births "in the faith", and the occasional "impromptu wedding", as needs might arise.

It is possible for an appropriately skilled individual to have rank in several minor orders, should they meet the requirements. It is rarer, however, as those with that level of devotion frequently seek the clergy, though some exceptions exist (for example, in the Laugher’s congregations, many will be Cantors as well as another minor order, while the Cathedral of Light acolytes are also frequently Doorkeepers).


New Clerical Spell (4th Level):
Ceremony: Induction to Minor Orders
Components: V, S, DI
Casting Time: 30 minutes
Range: Touch
Volume of Effect: Individual Touched
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: not applicable

This spell allows a priest to consecrate someone to the lesser divine orders. While this is often a prelude to entering the priesthood, more often it is a way of elevating certain anointed servants of a deity to a more rigorous place within the faith. An individual so inducted must meet certain requirements. They must possess at least Novice level mastery in the Religion skill for the church into which they're being inducted, and possess an alignment that is within at least one step of the deity to which they are pledging; an undertaker pledging to the Harvester of Souls need not be NE, but could be LE, NE, CE, or N. They must likewise possess the proper proficiency for the minor order into which they are inducted, and must limit their worship to only their own faith and confederate faiths; a lay priest of the Traveler can only pray, sacrifice, or pay tribute at The Temple of the Stars, the Watchers, The Cathedral of Light, and The Face of the Free, for example.

Induction into the minor orders carries some benefits, as well. In addition to an official place within the church, Religion skill purchases for their religion is reduced to 1 BP. If the character has one or more mastery dice in Divine Lore, then their Divine Lore mastery will increase by 1 point each subsequent level. Those inducted into the minor orders may advance within the hierarchy of the church, but are less likely to do so than full clerics (with some rare exceptions, usually determined by the faith itself, and tied to the individual being an exemplar of the faith).

If an inducted character goes so far as to disavow his beliefs in this faith or is anointed by a priest of a different faith, he is excommunicated by the previous faith and loses any and all benefits. Likewise, worshiping a deity other than those from affiliate faiths will cause at least a temporary revocation of benefits (divine, practical, and political) until they receive an Indulgence from a cleric of their faith.


New Proficiencies

Minor Order: Acolyte 3/5 BP
Prerequisite: Anointed to the Deity, Alignment within 1 step of the deity, Novice Mastery of appropriate Religion skill, subject of the 4th level clerical spell “Ceremony: Induct Minor Orders, Novice Mastery of Divine Lore.
The job of an acolyte is to serve the clergy. Many will become priests in due time, but in isolated communities, Acolytes may perform as priests for rituals and provide instruction and guidance when the priest is absent. An acolyte whose alignment exactly matches the deity pays only 3 BP; one whose alignment is one step removed must spend 5 BP.

Minor Order: Cantors 1/3 BP
Prerequisite: Anointed to the Deity, Alignment within 1 step of the deity, Novice Mastery of appropriate Religion skill, subject of the 4th level clerical spell “Ceremony: Induct Minor Orders, Novice Mastery of Musician or Artistry
Cantors sing or play the sacred songs of their deities. This proficiency represents having a broad repertoire of sacred songs in any Musician or Artistry skill they possess; those with Artistry may also compose works in honor of their deity, and gain some measure of fame or honor thereby. A cantor whose alignment exactly matches the deity pays only 1 BP; one whose alignment is one step removed must spend 3 BP.

Minor Order: Doorkeepers 1/3 BP
Prerequisite: Anointed to the Deity, Alignment within 1 step of the deity, Novice Mastery of appropriate Religion skill, subject of the 4th level clerical spell “Ceremony: Induct Minor Orders, Proficiency in the favored weapon of the faith.
Doorkeepers serve to protect the faithful from the enemies of the faith. How this is done varies according to the faith itself; Doorkeepers of the Cathedral of Light take part in the Night Watch, and will join with clerics and others to hunt dangerous undead. Doorkeepers of the Traveler, however, will travel with caravans and pilgrims, providing an example and a ready weapon. Note that while a doorkeeper must be proficient in the favored weapon of the faith, they are not obligated to specialize in it, much less specialize in it above other weapons. A Doorkeeper whose alignment exactly matches the deity pays only 1 BP; one whose alignment is one step removed must spend 3 BP.

Minor Order: Exemplars 1/3 BP
Prerequisite: Anointed to the Deity, Alignment within 1 step of the deity, Novice Mastery of appropriate Religion skill, subject of the 4th level clerical spell “Ceremony: Induct Minor Orders, Novice Mastery of a Craft (be it the Craft skill, or something related, such as Blacksmithing)
Exemplars are the sacred creators of objects for the faith. While anyone can create objects, Exemplars are lay priests who make special incenses and implements for the most powerful of ceremonies and sacred of spaces. Exemplars tend to receive much patronage from the faithful, and blessed items (those with no magical properties, but which have been created according to sacred formulae) command a premium from parishioners engaged in sacred tasks. An exemplar whose alignment exactly matches the deity pays only 1 BP; one whose alignment is one step removed must spend 3 BP.

Minor Order: Readers 2/4 BP
Prerequisite: Anointed to the Deity, Alignment within 1 step of the deity, Novice Mastery of appropriate Religion skill, subject of the 4th level clerical spell “Ceremony: Induct Minor Orders, Average Mastery of Literacy, Novice Mastery of Oratory.
Readers are teachers of the faith, familiar with the holy books (if such exist) and telling the ways of their God. Upon induction, a reader will be given some form of the holy book (frequently a collection of popular quotations and epigrams, rather than a full text), and they are expected to teach others from its words. Readers are popular adjuncts to Acolytes or Priests who are not themselves skilled readers, and may serve as secretaries.

Talent
Great Faith (10 BP)
Prerequisite: Inducted into a Minor Order, Average or better mastery of the appropriate Religion skill.
Some members of the minor orders possess great faith and knowledge, and are granted extremely minor spells to aid them in their holy works. Depending on their order, they may cast a single spell, once per week, while in pursuit of their divine duties. If inducted into several orders, then they are still capable of only one spell per week, but may choose from among those available to each order they are inducted into.

Acolytes: Ceremony: Anoint
Cantors: Rejuvenate
Doorkeepers: Bless Weapon or Sanctify Weapon
Exemplars: Ceremony: Consecrate Divine Icon
Readers: Bless