Pyrsic Brotherhood
The Pyrsic Brotherhood are an order devoted to the study and preservation of the relics and remnants of the Grand Divines. While this is their primary role - they have also been called on frequently over the last millenia to take care of many sites of religious importance - particularly when the appearance of neutrality between nations needs take the forefront. While their current membership is unknown it is believed they possess as between three to six thousand trained clergy and religious staff. This does not include the various merchants and mercenaries frequently under their employ.
The next 200 years were spent expanding the small house in the mountains into a sprawling fortified monastary. Some copied all of the records in their possession by hand - and studied their contents. Others wrote and later recited stories of the relics they had obtained - ensuring that knowledge of the Divines would not fade. Still more dedicated themselves to defending the enclave - the scholarly pursuits being ill suited for their talents. They married amongst each other and the enclave gradually grew. It was still another 60 years before anyone from outside the monastary attempted to make contact. The fledgling kingdom of Gaelerad which had sprung up in the same mountains and their surrounding area - initially tried to use force to subjegate the enclave - but found it's defenders far more than a match for the gaggle of farmers that constituted it's young army. They opened dialogue and it was barely any time at all before the enclave had the entire kingdom worshiping the deities of an empire none of the people of Gaelerad had ever known. This relationship strengthened over the years and it was no surprise to most when the Brotherhood was granted rule over the areas surrounding Ran'sin Daul.
Their lands relatively secured - the order dispatched groups of disciples - always in groups of fifteen - out into the lands of the former Empire. They made contact with many of the new Kingdoms and established cordial if not friendly relationships with most of them. Eventually the state of Dalsim asked them to likewise take care of sites of worship in their lands - including the hospice at Suran's Forge. This granting of stewardship repeated itself several times over the following two centuries in kingdoms, states, and republics across the former empire. For the last two hundred years - there are few places one can go across the continent of Velruun and be far from a Brotherhood care station.
Each kingdom where they maintain a presence duplicates this structure. Every kingdom or state is divided into fifteen districts and a group of fifteen are sent to manage the affairs. Each of those fifteen are sent with 14 disciples who together with their leader make up the ruling coucil of the individual districts.
A central shared tenet of the Brotherhood however could best be somed up with this: The Pyrsic Brotherhood will discover, protect, and preserve the relics and teachings of the Grand Divines - no matter the cost in time, coin, or even blood.
History
During the sharp decline of the Nerlythian Empire, a small group of scholars met in a small house on the edge of the empire, in the mountains of modern day Gaelerad called by their friend Kasin. Each had brought with them a relic of one of the Grand Divines. Having all come to an agreement on the enevitable fall of the Empire - they agreed that they must secret away those sacred relics - before the unrest that was already rising consumed them all in flames. They agreed to spend the next year gathering a small group of followers each - and to safeguard as many of the relics as they could before returning to meet again in one years time. Before passing they made offerings to Pyrsic - a patron of spies and liars - and asked that he bless their journey with the darkness of his deceit. The fifteen went their seperate ways and each returned a year later with a carriage full of relics - and fourteen fellow believers. In honor of the God that they believed had protected over their year long venture, the fifteen - and their now two hundred and ten disciples - proclaimed the group as the Pyrsic Brotherhood.The next 200 years were spent expanding the small house in the mountains into a sprawling fortified monastary. Some copied all of the records in their possession by hand - and studied their contents. Others wrote and later recited stories of the relics they had obtained - ensuring that knowledge of the Divines would not fade. Still more dedicated themselves to defending the enclave - the scholarly pursuits being ill suited for their talents. They married amongst each other and the enclave gradually grew. It was still another 60 years before anyone from outside the monastary attempted to make contact. The fledgling kingdom of Gaelerad which had sprung up in the same mountains and their surrounding area - initially tried to use force to subjegate the enclave - but found it's defenders far more than a match for the gaggle of farmers that constituted it's young army. They opened dialogue and it was barely any time at all before the enclave had the entire kingdom worshiping the deities of an empire none of the people of Gaelerad had ever known. This relationship strengthened over the years and it was no surprise to most when the Brotherhood was granted rule over the areas surrounding Ran'sin Daul.
Their lands relatively secured - the order dispatched groups of disciples - always in groups of fifteen - out into the lands of the former Empire. They made contact with many of the new Kingdoms and established cordial if not friendly relationships with most of them. Eventually the state of Dalsim asked them to likewise take care of sites of worship in their lands - including the hospice at Suran's Forge. This granting of stewardship repeated itself several times over the following two centuries in kingdoms, states, and republics across the former empire. For the last two hundred years - there are few places one can go across the continent of Velruun and be far from a Brotherhood care station.
Leadership
The organization is lead by the fifteen senior most members of the order. From among their number they pick one member to represent the order as a whole in all external dealings and they are capable of wielding sole authority on these external matters. All internal matters are handled by the council of elders as a whole.Each kingdom where they maintain a presence duplicates this structure. Every kingdom or state is divided into fifteen districts and a group of fifteen are sent to manage the affairs. Each of those fifteen are sent with 14 disciples who together with their leader make up the ruling coucil of the individual districts.
For each ruling like in the heavens fifteen there must be, for the secrets of the universe require more eyes to see. So it was among our Gods, as it must be among we.
Practices
As preservers of the wisdom and teachings of the Grand Divines - their practices are as varied as the Divines themselves. What is common however is the fervor with which they persue their various callings. Whether scholars, healers, or purveyors of death - members of the Brotherhood are relentless in the perfection of their craft. Another practice seen is their matching of their leadership structure to the number of the Grand Divines.A central shared tenet of the Brotherhood however could best be somed up with this: The Pyrsic Brotherhood will discover, protect, and preserve the relics and teachings of the Grand Divines - no matter the cost in time, coin, or even blood.
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
Controlled Territories
