Church of Alar
The Church of Alar is the primary religious organization dedicated to the worship and service of the god of the stars and sky, the creator Alar. Clergy within the church is primarily composed of clerics and druids, while worship of Alar tends to attract the wanderers and philosophers of the world.
Structure
Initiation - The church dedicated to Alar attracts those who forgo all of the benefits of living within cities and towns, and instead embrace the isolation and dedication to the heavens above. Due to the age of the church, its organization is steeped in tradition and custom.
Titles- The following titles are used by the church:
- Observer - Blessed of Alar, it is a title given to those who claim to have observed Alar himself. They are blessed with the ability to travel to the outer planes and beyond, and guide others to his presence.
- Conceiver - Leaders of the individual temples scattered in mountain ranges over Aecenys. The title bestowed upon one who recognizes Alar as the true god, but have yet to witness him.
- Wanderer - Title bestowed upon the acolytes of the church. They have dedicated themselves to Alar, but have much to learn before they can bear witness to his greatness.
- Order of the Luminescent - Clerics and druids dedicated to the studying of stars and reading their signs. Unlike divination spellcasters, they rely heavily on the divine to ascertain meaning in the cosmos, and typically interpret Alar's will through exploration of the unknown.
- Knights of the Calamity - Paladins who serve Alar and protect his temples and observatories. They serve as guardians to the clergy and the worshipers, and abstain from interfering in the earthly affairs around them. The knights will only emerge if there is a threat so great that the entirety of Unum is in peril.
Divine Origins
Belief in Alar stems from the point of creation. Alar is and always will be, as he is the creator of all things including other divines. Inhabitants of Aecenys began worship of Alar as soon as the clouds parted at night, seeing the infinite realm of the stars and sky above them. Teachings about Alar became refined when there became a deeper understanding of the cosmos as well as the sky above. Rituals dedicated to the parting of the clouds became a prelude to any time dedicated to the heavens. Worship of Alar thrived in the great mountain ranges of the continent, particularly in the Grey Mountains, the Ashrane Peaks, and the Crescent Mountains.
Worship
Alar appeals to those who tend to be good or neutral in their worship, and who live on the fringe of society, be it isolated mountain ranges or shorelines away from the polluted skies of the cities. Many are scholars, navigators, astronomers, and astrologers. Worship to Alar occurs under the open sky, particularly at night when the stars are visible. The few temples that exist tend to be built on high peaks, as proximity to the heavens help worshipers feel closer to their god. Others who flock to the Church of Alar are wanderers, explorers, and those searching for an answer to unknown questions.
Priesthood
Clergy of Alar are typically clerics within the light and tempest domains, as well as druids who draw power from the circle of stars. Study of the stars and the beyond is critical to those who wish to take on a leadership role within the church, and clergy tend to rise in their rank as they spend more time observing the unknown. They are isolationists from society as whole, and subsist within their own enclave in a desire to observe and portend. As the church is ancient and steeped in tradition, vestments tend to be simple and practical. Priests typically dress in monotone robes signifying their rank within the church, and feature the holy symbol of the infinite loop. The loop symbol is always embroidered with a magical thread that displays different colors depending on how far away it is observed.
- Observer - Dark Navy
- Conceiver - Blue Gray
- Wanderer - Ash Gray
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