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Welcome to the official knowledge hub for the Sundering the Gods™ Saga, where ancient prophecies and cataclysmic events shape the Sister Continents. Explore the books, meet the heroes and villains, and uncover the world’s mysteries. Check back for new content regularly, as this project is in the early stages!
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The topic of ranks in the priesthood at Istinjoln Monastery and the Church in general was only lightly touched upon in the sagas for a couple of reasons, but the primary reason is simply that much of it is informal and based upon seniority. Without a POV character seated deep in the politics of the Church, it would’ve been more confusing than useful for the average reader. That said, there are some formal ranks outside what is discussed in the books that might be of interest to some readers.
- King Priest/Queen Priestess
During the Age of God Wars—some say also during the early periods of the Age of Warlords—the Silone were ruled by a King Priest or Queen Priestess. Lethality and charisma are the hallmarks of these rulers, as they ascend via election rather than the bloodlines of more traditional kingdoms.
- Lord Priesthood
After the Great Forgetting and as of Remembered Time, the highest rank in the Church is the Lord Priest. Each of the seven Silone clans has a Lord Priest, elected by the priesthood, and they rule with a heavy and rarely questioned hand. Some have been known to call councils for votes or to gather opinions, but for the most part, they act as a theocratic dictatorship.
- High Priesthood
Reaching the High Priesthood is, for most adherents, the peak of their ascension in the Church. In Istinjoln alone, there might be fifty High Priests, and technically, they are all of equal rank in the Church. This is where informal seniority and internal power plays set individuals apart, but the more subtle "count of scars" also comes into play. For instance, Ulrikt, with his three scars, ascended into the High Priesthood at a young age and stood above all but the eldest High Priests immediately. His elders might question his opinions, but without the backing of an eldest High Priest or Lord Priestess Sadevu herself, they would tread lightly to avoid disrespecting him. This jostling power structure does, however, have two major branches: Masters and Hallowed Priests.
- Masters
These are priests like Master Dareun, who instructed Eliles in Eve of Snows. They focus all their time on bringing up the younger generation, training postulants in the ways of scripture, the gods, the Elements, and prayer. Choosing the path of a Master is both an honor and, in effect, ends any dreams of the High Priesthood. Inside the Masters, there is, once again, an informal pecking order based on skill, politics, and seniority. After thirty years as a Master, one is deemed "elder," and they are accorded a certain extra level of respect that can equal or surpass that of High Priests, even if, officially, the High Priest is of higher rank.
- Hallowed Priesthood
These members of the priesthood serve outside of Istinjoln and the other six seats of Church power, with three tiers of power simply entitled First, Second, and Third Priest. Every citadel, major shrine, local church, temple, or monastery is headed by this trio of adherents. One of the most prominent ways to achieve First Priest at a prestigious location is to be the political opposition to a new Lord Priest. An assignment to the Temple of Erginle in Choerkin Fost can soothe the ego of a rival, while an assignment to a minor shrine can be akin to being banished or, worse, a prelude to being murdered. First Priests are often High Priests, but they lose a certain prestige by leaving the Church’s more central places of power while gaining direct power at their new location.
- Bearers
Message Bearers hold a peculiar distinction within the ranks of the Church that rivals that of Third Priests in prestige. Bearers also retain the ability to continue their climb into the ranks, and High Priests who were once Bearers are accorded an additional level of respect. Being a Bearer also improves the odds of achieving the High Priesthood, so long as they survive, of course.
- Priests
Adherents, both young and old, fall into this level of the Church. For some, it is a stepping stone to great things; for most, it is the height of their achievements within the Church. Seniority plays some role here, but after a point, being an "elder" priest, for some, becomes as much an insult as a source of pride. Young priests have hope of advancing, while the old know their journey is finished. The ranks here are, therefore, full of backstabbing and nastiness on both ends of the spectrum: those waging internal wars to advance and those bitter that they will climb no higher. Outside of those known as elder priests, the only other informal name given is that of ascendant, which a priest is often labeled in the first year or two after achieving the priesthood.
- Monks
These folks are postulants who failed their trials