Church of the Seasons

Founded soon after the ascension of the Congregation in the former Council Lands. Has become more militant and dogmatic since the breakup of the Council Lands. The majority religion in the Holy Kaelthian Republic. Minority throughout the other Successor States, mostly in the Reformed form. Orthodox congregations are concentrated near the HKR border in those other states.

Orthodox Organization

• Grand Hierarch: nominal leader of church and Head of State. Religious leader, little political power.
• High Priests (one for each of the Four Seasons). Each head of their own Order.
  • Sun Shields (Tor-Elan)
  • Gravewards (Melara)
  • Blossom Maidens (Sakara)
  • Moon-scythes (Loran Hae)
• Ecclesiarches (ranking priests) in four Orders. Each order has different criteria for promotion and rank structure. Overlapping jurisdictions over towns and areas.
• "Seated" priests local to towns. Larger towns may have more. Not specific to any particular god, although generally lean toward one of the Four. Generally cap at 3rd level spells at most. Have acolytes directly under them
• "Wandering" priests who preside over smaller villages in an area. Low power (1st level, maybe 2nd level spells), functionally divine soul sorcerer / celestial warlock
• Acolytes resident in villages. Often non-magical or only minimal (Magic Initiate: Cleric or Ritual Caster: Cleric). Report to wandering priests.

Doctrines and Worship

• The purpose of life is to build up each other and build up civilization against the wild and destructive forces.
• A place for everyone and everyone in their place--envy not others.
• Value/joy of work, especially growing/making things.
• Bring joy into each other's life by sharing with them. Jealousy and self-seeking are sins.
• Give praise to the Gods for your good fortune.
• Worship: Communal praise + prayer on 4th-day, followed by public confession of sin. Minor sins paid for by sacrifices of property.

Devotional Liturgy

The Church, while it accepts all the Congregation as gods, focuses on the four seasons. Smaller shrines may have a niche dedicated to all the other gods in one, while chapels and temples generally have separate shrines throughout the churchyard for each of the others.

As for the main four, the acolytes worship in song on 4th-day, following the pattern below:

• Morning song to Sakara: Dawn of Love Triumphant, celebrating love's victory over hate as shown by the victory of dawn over night.
• Dawn service, service of new beginnings. Babies are blessed as are newly-trained artisans. Betrothals are announced (often with bride already showing signs of pregnancy).
• Noon song to Tor-Elan: As the Sun in Glory. A martial hymn, calling the people to vigilance against sin and predicting blessings and triumphs.
• Noon service, service of just living. Offerings of deeds accomplished and trials of strength.
• Dusk song to Loran Hae: Carefully the Sheaves. A song of warning and of careful work, of preparation against oncoming Night.
• Dusk service, service of deeds accounted. Contracts are signed and witnessed, including marriages. Sins are confessed before the congregation and penalties assessed. This is the time when the larger homilies are given by the ranking priest, this is the best-attended service in most Orthodox communities.
• Midnight prayer to Melara. No song, no talking, only the tolling of the bell 16 times, once per minute. 16 minutes of reflection and memory of the past and pleas for mercy.
• Midnight service, service of memory. Only on Holy Days. The community (in parts or together depending on size) marches around to the graveyards and recites the names of those that died that year. Those who lost family shed a token blood sacrifice (a single drop of blood from a fingertip) on the grave.

Reformed Branches

The reformed branches follow much the same patterns, minus the public confession of (most) sins. They do not accept the authority of the Ecclesiarchs and High Priests, although HKR-trained priests are generally welcome if they restrain their fanatic impulses.