High Priest Edwards

Written by George Sanders

A high priest is the ranking official of a single church location. They could be the only ordained person in a smaller church. In larger churches they may have several priests and acolytes under their guidance. Many churches of the age are not above enforcing their will with military might so orders of knights or an affiliated monastery may also be under a high priest's perview.
A bishop or cardinal oversees several high priests and several denominations have a holy lord. Even if a demoination doesn't have a holy lord they are usually affiliated with one. All of the churches branched from a common church that worshipped a pantheon of dragons. Over time the dragons were replaced with more direct aspect of the world- like the sun, nature, ocean, etc.
Based off that common origin all denominations follow the same hierarchies and have similar liturgy. That also makes it easier to recruit followers from other churches. The church, it's figureheads, and rules each outline are the focus of faith and traditions.
High Priest Edwards began as a Friar in a farming region near the city of Heliopedia. The farms were mostly vineyards. He found a need to assist congregants moving to the city. The poverty and dispair in the city pulled more and more of his attention. He focused on orphans and those in dire need. He never progressed past the rank if Friar and was admonished for straying from his assigned responsibilities.
His efforts were noticed by the other members of the Etonia Council and they requested his service in leading a fledgling church in the north. He held two nearly heretical beliefs that appeal to the Council. First, that at least some of the dragons of the old religions sacrificed themselves for the benefit of people- and that sacrifice should be paid forward with stewardship. Second, that the focus of faith should be belief in itself, not the traditions and leaders of the church.