Church of the Dawn

The Church of the Dawn is the largest Holy Order in Astoria. Pelor holds sway over the domains of light, life, and the harvest, and as such, his light shines in every country and continent. His followers are many and varied, and are dedicated to healing the sick, blessing crops, helping the needy, and rooting out and destroying evil and the undead.
Led by the Sun Priests, the clergy of the Church of the Dawn are caring and nurturing, with backbones of steel. This order of holy priests and clerics lead services and act as healers and educators in their communities. Many naive youths flock to the service of the Sun Priests, only to find the rigorous training too much to handle and return to their farms. Sun Priests are easily recognizable in their white and gold vestments, and can always be found where those who dwell in Pelor's grace are plentiful.
The true strength of the Church of the Dawn, however, comes not from its leadership, but from the might of its arm. The Radiant Crusaders are war clerics and paladins devoted to the service of Pelor, and see themselves as the burning light of the sun which scours away darkness and evil, bringing comfort and strength to the innocent. Crusaders believe that laws are helpful, but that they are, at best, a secondary goal and must be tempered with mercy. Crusaders are tasked with roaming to the far reaches of civilization and rooting out evil at the fringes of Pelor's light. They follow no guidance but the light of Pelor, acting autonomously on their journeys, but swear their oath of service to the Archradiant of the Dawn.
Strength of will or arm is not the only path of worship in the Church of the Dawn. The Druids of the Cultivators serve Pelor and the Church in ways similar to the Sun Priests, but with a greater emphasis on the care of plants and animals. They usually associate themselves with settlements (in fact, each Temple of Pelor can have up to ten attached to it), aiding the community with their hands, spells, and animal companions wherever they can. They are considered to have priest status within the Church of the Dawn, though they follow their own hierarchy.
Church of the Dawn temples to Pelor are usually grand, cathedral-style buildings with high buttresses and large stained-glass windows to let in as much light as possible. The largest temples are constructed in a circular sunburst shape, but temples can be as simple as a four walled building with a roof and windows.

Structure

The Church of the Dawn follows a very loose hierarchy, with each temple led by four of its most senior Sun Priests: the Dawnrector and three High Sun Priests (one each for light, life, and harvest). Each temple acts autonomously, and thus its members have full control over who leads them. Most Dawnrectors are selected from one of the three High Sun Priests (though exceptions do present themselves), and the High Sun Priests are selected from the Sun Priests who have the most experience with that temple. Each Dawnrector ultimately answers to the Archradiant of the Dawn, though usually operates freely with regard to the direction of their temple.
Paladins and Clerics of the Radiant Crusaders act with complete autonomy in regards to where they travel, which quests or pilgrimages to pursue, and what organizations they ally with along the way. However, they will usually defer to the wisdom and guidance of any Sun Priests they encounter in their journey, as well as the guidance of the Archradiant of the Dawn, to whom they swear their oaths.
Druids of the Cultivators answer only to the never-ending cycle of the seasons, and the sowing and harvesting that come with it. Each temple has a druid circle attached to it (though this circle may only consist of two members in smaller communities), and each circle has a Harvestbearer, who guides the circle. The Harvestbearer guides the druids of each circle, but does not command. These druids will consult and cooperate with the Sun Priests of the temple they are attached to, but ultimately answer only to the cycle of seasons (though they will defer to the judgement of the Archradiant of the Dawn, should they have need of their counsel).

Equity for the meek, with perseverance and strength.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Leader

Morelth Yasira

Leader Title

Archradiant of the Dawn

Divines

• Pelor

Ranks
Dawnrector
High Sun Priest
Sun Priest
Crusader
Harvestbearer
Cultivator