Fatalism
Fatalism isn’t as much a religion as a philosophy, and those who casually study the strands of Fate are generally taproom philosophers or minstrels. Those who commit more seriously tend to become monks, who are the closest thing to a priest of Fate that exists. It is said monks can actually see a person's chayd (their fate, a sort of silver thread), including their own.
Monks live more ascetically than other priests, their monasteries being far from the mainstream of society, though they do not alienate themselves from it; quite the contrary, actually. Thinking creatures fascinate them, for they study the threads of Fate, and may attach themselves for a time to one who promises to affect Fate as a whole, a rising hero for example. Though they are often altruistic, as befits their calling, they equally seem distracted from the immediate needs of people by their interest in the person's fate.
Structure
There are three known monasteries of Fatalism, each housing a different order. The structure and hierarchy of the orders are the same: each is led by a prior (the Intent), who is elected every three years from among the Masters of Intention, by the full members of the order. There are six Masters at any given time, and when one is promoted, they are replaced from the ranks of membership in a nonlethal trial by combat. A retiring prior generally rejoins the membership as a normal member, but many have been known to retire and wander.
There are two paths for fatalist priests: vocational or scholastic monk. Neither is seen as better, and both are considered necessary. An aspiring monk will join as a novice, and serve each master for one year, learning the ways of Fate. If all are in agreement at the end of their terms, they are ordained into the monastery. Once a member, scholastic monks tend to isolate and study, but may travel to other places to learn (universities and such vocational monks tend to travel and teach or find an interesting subject who fate they wish to study and follow them around if allowed (which generally is - who's gonna pass on a free potential bodyguard?).
Culture
One can often find a monk arguing with a carnal, over the importance of time vs fate, quite often with an amused bard on the sidelines, buying them more drinks and egging them on.
The philosophies below are incredibly broad oversimplifications, but you don't want to get into the details with these guys, the nuances just aren't that exciting.
- Order of the Darkened Mirror: Beleive that the past is the primary area for focus in terms of being able to live more algined with your proper fate and to find happiness. The order is housed in Girvan, close to the Pellinore mountains.
- Order of the Window: Believe strongly in being present in the moment at hand. Probably the least isolationist and most involved in worldly affairs. Not above a street scuffle. The order is housed in the lowest areas of the Markesh Caverns/undercity of Camellotte.
- Order of the Horizon: The last and most optimistic of the lot are those who are focussed on the future aspect of fate. This order was begun by a perrin monk and is still based in the hills outside of Marketdale.
Cosmological Views
Monks study the strands of Fate, which are plainly visible to them upon reaching a certain level of knowledge (indeed this is one of the tests to become a monk after six years of study). Between the three philosophies, there are doctrinal differences between which of the strands is most importnat (past, present, future) and how much fate can be changed and how, etc., but overall they're just really interested in how Fate moves through the cosmos and interacts with the other Forces, and which one exerts the most influence, etc. etc. Super interesting if you're a monk, maybe not so much for other folks.
Granted Divine Powers
Of all the priests, monks are the only ones who do not cast spells. Their singular focus on Fate itself, vs the relationship the other priests have with the gods, makes Fatalism the closest thing to a monthesitic religion there is in Selestya. That said, they do acknowledge the gods and even respect and offer the occasional prayer to a select few, but are primarily interested in how others interact with the gods.
So instead of spells, the monks' intent focus on fate allows them to manipulate their own silver threads (the chayd) and draw power from them. They are pracitioners of the art of delaman, the unarmed fighting style of Selestya, and are able to use their chayd to augment both attack and defence in this form of combat.
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
Demonym
Monk
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