Grand Seer

Grand Seers are the head of an orcish clan's priesthood, so called because all orcish priests must also be able to receive and interpret visions. Although it is not a requirement, they typically have other magical abilities. They are also in charge of remembering the oral histories. While orcish societies are mostly non-hierarchical and run as communes, Grand Seers are well-respected members of the community and play a large variety of roles within it to the point of being crucial to its proper running.

Requirements

There are no formal qualifications for Grand Seers given the nature of orcish society, but they must:

• Be able to receive and interpret visions
• Know and be able to recount the oral histories of the gods, orcish history, and clan-specific tales

While other characteristics are not required for the role, Grand Seers typically do have them because it instils more respect from both the laity and the other seers. These are:

• Other magical talents, with healing and elemental magic being particularly favoured
• Knowledge of alchemy and healing herbs
• Proficiency in other forms of divination such as lithomancy and scrying
• Being over the age of 50, as this is equated with having enough experience to know the lore required for the role off by heart

Appointment

Grand Seers are elected whenever the previous one dies or retires. There are two rounds of election: That of the lay people, and that of the seers themselves. A complex algorithm balances these two electorates to ensure that both the community and the priesthood can both have a role in choosing their Grand Seer.

Duties

• Receiving and interpreting visions for the benefit of the clan
• Give out prophecies and divine advice based on communion with the gods on "open days" that occur each month of Wya's (the largest moon) cycle 
• Memorising and recounting oral history and mythology, teaching a story each Friday to the clan's children
• Leading sacrifices and group prayers to the gods
• Training other seers
• Diplomacy and mediation between other clans, or disputes within their own
• Arranging and leading festivals on religious occasions
• Advising on political decisions from the perspective of religious propriety

Accoutrements & Equipment

The only profession within orcish society to have specifications on uniform is the seers, with the Grand Seer having a uniform specific to themselves. While it varies between clans and peoples (such as orcs and goblins having different rules), there are some parts of the uniform that is common to all. All Grand Seers wear armour as protection (as is common with the orcish because of their history of violent persecution), which is crafted from black leather. They wear a red sash around the waist tied into a bow (placement varies between peoples) and a cloak made out of a trimmed animal skin, so that the hood is made out of the taxidermied head. Customs for this vary from clan to clan and people to people, but wolves or bears are the most popular due in part to how many there are in Olrion. This is common to all seers.
However, Grand Seers also wear a necklace of bone shards and stones considered precious by their particular clan. To humanoid eyes, these may seem like bits of trash, but because of the oppression of the orcish, they work with what they can find and have developed tastes according to this. 
Almost all orcish people of importance carry weapons. This is again because of the orcish's history of persecution: they take the view that "it's better to be safe than sorry". Grand Seers are no different. They specifically carry an ironwood staff that can be used in both melee and as a focus for magic. This has the added benefit of being a mobility aid, which is often required because Grand Seers can grow to be very old indeed.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

Grand Seers usually hold the post until their death, although some do retire due to old age and its associated illness. They can, however, be removed if they bring the role or clan into disrepute. Such offences that may result in them being recalled are:

• Failures in diplomacy
• Deviating from the teachings
• Grave errors in prophecy
• Crimes against the person

Cultural Significance

Grand Seers are well regarded by all orcish peoples and even those from other clans are treated with utmost respect. This is because the orcish are a very pious people (particularly Goblin" target="_blank">goblins, who claim to be the most pious of all peoples in Olrion), and Grand Seers are considered the best at communing with the gods and receiving their messages. They are also in charge of carrying the oral histories of the people and passing these on to the next generation. This is also given due reverence as the orcish have the determination to remember history as it actually was (although, it should be noted, this does not mean it will be completely free from bias): humanoids have, over time, often attempted to sanitise their violence against the orcish or proffer excuses for it in the history books, which is considered a grave offence to the orcish. As such, 'proper' remembering of their violent persecution in order to learn lessons and honour the dead is of utmost importance.

by JD Photography

Type

Religious, Special

Form of Address

Grand Seer; Your Graciousness

Equates to

Orcish society runs differently from their humanoid and dragon counterparts. However, other ranks in these societies that Grand Seer may mirror are:

• Leader of the Temples in Dwarfesbörg's Council of Five
• Archbishop in human society
• Most Illuminated in elven society
• Prophet in dragon society

Source of Authority

Elections balancing both the laity and the priesthood