Scions of Hespurr
Structure
While small, the church maintained a disciplined order among its members. Individual members of the church were known as Scions, a name originating from the fact that the pre-calamity church members all descended from one of the goddess's mortal incarnations. Thus in theory, any member of her clergy could become a vessel for the divine being's next reincarnation. Titles included (in descending order): High Lord/Lady Scion, Duke/Duchess Scion, Marquis/Marquise Scion, Count/Countess Scion, Viscount/Viscountess Scion, Baron/Baroness Scion, and Lord/Lady Scion.
Culture
Members of the church believed their collective actions helped provide the most stable and just forms of government across Ekrune. Hespurr's followers were taught that nobles had the right to rule over others, so long as they did so ably and responsibly. They were obliged to provide the best possible leadership to their subjects, regardless of their personal interests. Church leadership believed that nobles' public personas were far more important than any errors or mistakes they made in private. They subscribed to the belief that nobles inherited the better personal qualities along with the material wealth of their ancestors in order to provide best possible rulership. They maintained these strict rulers of financial inheritance in order to prevent squabbling between rival family members.
Public Agenda
Hespurran clergy sought to further increase the wealth of nobles that patronized the church. Many of them served as royal advisers, viziers, sages, and religious advisors, while some others acted as matchmakers for unwed nobles. On some occasions, Scions served as personal bodyguards and would even take a ruler's place when their court came under threat or a possible assassination seemed iminent. They instructed nobility on how to best conduct themselves and make wise decisions, for the betterment of their subjects and the world overall. They offered loyal support to nobles during times of crisis or self-doubt and obstructed acts that could lead to ruin or revolt. When needed, they routed out corrupt members of royal court and ensured their patron received true and right advisement.
Worship
Clerics of Hespurr pray for their spells at noon, when the Chalice of Hespurr (i.e. the sun) is directly overhead. Religious services tend to be simple convocations of nobles discussing the social order and current difficulties in governing the masses. Hespurr's name is invoked at the beginning and end of such services with a short prayer.
With the divine right to rule comes great responsibility, and great rulers support by great nobility can lift a realm so that its citizens high and low enjoy better lives.
