Carmine Conclave Society
The Carmine Conclave is a curious one within the Temple. While piety is still the norm, there is a significant secular presence within its upper echelons. Much like the feudal society of the ancient era, the Roseate Cabals and the Archonate Clergy share power over the commoners.
Carmine society is stratified according to one’s personal wealth and reputation. Wealth is not only one’s liquid assets but also the amount of land they own and the amount of personnel they employ. Reputation includes perceived piety to the God-Empress as well as how they are viewed by their peers, especially in how their promises are kept and their words are worth. Reputation and Wealth are interlinked in this regard -- the wealthy will not deal with one they cannot trust.
Thus, the top of society are the wealthiest, the most influential, and the most pious individuals. The Carmine-Archon leads the Conclave, overruled only by the Oracle-Avatar or by a super-majority vote of the Carmine Court. Beneath the Carmine-Archon are the Invokates and Dukes of the Court, each the administrators of their own region of Conclave territory. The Carmine Court is supported by their Hierophants and Dukes who administrate their portions of territory as well as their subordinates.
Though stratified, society in the Carmine Conclave can change very quickly. Lands can change ownership. Cardinals and Hierophants can fall out of favor, even Archons are not immune to this if the Carmine Court is inclined.
Social Strata
The greater portion of the Conclave is divided into three social classes: the Makers, the Cabalim, and the Clergy.
Makers/Greys: Tradesfolk and other members of society that are less highly regarded than the other two social classes. This also includes menial laborers and contract servitors, but not outlaws or other criminals. Some labor is looked down upon by the Carmine -- primarily the “dirty” professions that involve fecal matter such as sewer workers or low-ranking custodial work.
Apprentice: These individuals are trainees and novices on their path to becoming Artisans of their craft. They are the equivalent of Novitiates.
Artisan: Individuals whose products and services have been tried and tested.
Expert: A rank granted by the local Grandmaster of that craft that commends the quality of their goods or services. This requires several years of work.
Master: A rank granted by the local Grandmaster after several years of Expert workmanship, related to the quality of their goods or services.
Grandmaster: Usually part of the leadership of a Maker Guild or Company. These are still considered subservient to a Duke or a Hierophant.
Roseate Cabal: influential and wealthy landowning families and their retainers, possessing the wealth of society and at least half of the Conclave’s military strength. They call themselves Cabalim although they are colloquially called “Pinkies” by Makers, not just for the name of the Cabal but also for the idea that they lift their pinkies when they toast.
Novitiate: Untested Carminian who have yet to complete the Sacrament of Anthesis.
Valiant: Carminians who pass their Trial of Anthesis to join a Cabal are granted this title. There are three different ranks of Valiant -- Valiant of Roots, Valiant of Greens, and Valiant of Petals.
Cavalier: These are Carminians that have continuously proven their ability and their loyalty to the Cabal and the Temple. This has some measure of authority and seniority over the lower titles. This also has three different grades -- Silver, Gold, and Red-Gold.
Baron/Baroness (PC limit): These are Carmine Templars in a position of leadership based on their loyalties and abilities. This can be the leader of a smaller Cabal, if sponsored by one of the Carmine Court.
Duke/Duchess (retired PC limit): These are Carmine Templars in a greater position of leadership, directing and managing a small region for the Carmine Conclave. This can be the leader of a smaller Cabal, if sponsored by one of the Carmine Court.
Prince (Carmine Court): The Princes of the Roseate Cabals are not only leaders of their own powerful Cabals but also share governing duties of the entire Conclave with the Archonate Clergy.
Archonate Clergy: the spine of the Conclave, both a governmental and spiritual institution. They are supposed to be the most powerful force in the Carmine Conclave, but in truth, they must rely on their Cabalite brethren for support, tithing, and agreement. Called “Collars” for their clothing by less well-spoken Makers and Cabalim.
Novitiate: Untested Carminians who have yet to complete the Sacrament of Anthesis.
Disciple: Carminians who pass their Trial of Anthesis to join the Archonate Clergy are granted this title. There are three different grades of Disciple -- Smoke, Copper, and Iron.
Apostle: These are Disciples who have continuously proven their loyalty and ability to the Clergy and the Temple. This has seniority over the lower titles and over their Cabal equivalents. This has three grades -- Silver, Gold, and Red-Gold.
Cardinal: (PC limit) These are Carmine Templars in a position of leadership based on their loyalties and abilities. This can be the leader of a smaller Priory, if sponsored by one of the Carmine Court.
Hierophant (retired PC limit): A religious administrator-commander in charge of a small region, managing multiple Cardinals. This is the highest position a retired player character may gain.
Invokate: A religious administrator-general second only to the Archon. Invokates split their duties between assisting the Archon in administration, and exercising their own authority.
Archon: The highest rank in a Conclave -- only the Oracle-Avatar themselves may gainsay their commandments. Their replacements are chosen by the current Archon and their Invokates. Also chosen is a replacement Invokate, from within one of the two Priories. The Carmine-Archon makes decisions with input from the Carmine Court and can veto some Court rulings.
Cabals and Priories
The Carmine Court is rostered by the Valentinova, the Alvarado, the Montaigne, the Ithilios, and the Champlain. Beneath these are numerous Cabals and families that work for them.
Regarding the Clergy, there are two Archonate Priories: the Priory of Orchestration and the Priory of Excruciation.
Fallen from Grace
Becoming one of the Declasséd is considered to be the worst fate for the Cabalim. Also called the Plucked, these individuals have committed enough faux pas and vulgarities enough to become thoroughly unpopular among the Cabalim. While these individuals might not be outlaws or outcast from Carmine society, they occupy a strange position of allowed to function but not allowed to attend. Some of these folk attempt bold and dangerous acts such as adventuring to attempt a return to proper reputation. But most retreat from society entirely or join the Clergy.
Life in the Conclave
Life in the Carmine Conclave centers around three things: one’s family, one’s Cabal, and one’s faith.
A Carmine Templar’s family is one of their biggest sources of support and instruction, whether they live on familial property or are on deployment. This is defined not just in the context of nuclear family (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, and Children), but also in the context of one’s extended family to a slightly lesser extent (Cousins, Uncles, Aunts, etc). There is immense pressure to perform duties and tasks in the name of one’s matriarch (which is usually the oldest woman in the family).
Marrying into the family means taking up the new family’s name over one’s old family name, as well as the new Cabal over the old one (if necessary). Tradition among the Carmine Templars tends heavily toward monogamy and Matrilineal descent, though families with two mothers simply choose one parent whose family name they all adopt.
The Cabal is another core component of Carmine society, composed of influential and wealthy families that follow the leadership of one in their number. Tradition holds that the eldest matriarchal person keeps this leadership position and the title of Prince, although some Cabals may have different customs in this regard.
The faith of a Carmine Templar is also a large part of their daily lives. Their churches, hospitals, schools and universities are funded and supported primarily by the Conclave as are many government programs and policies, though they are staffed by Makers, Cabalim, and Clergy alike. The Carmine-Archon and their Invokates tend to the bodily and spiritual welfare of their Conclave.
Upbringing
After a person is born to the Carmine Conclave, their birth is celebrated through the Sacrament of Naming (see Carmine Conclave Religion and Rites) by their families. In less affluent families, such children grow up while working to support the family through chores and similar tasks. In wealthier families, this is a halcyon time without responsibilities and full of hobbies, such as swordplay, literature, and the like.
In their sixth or seventh year, children are allowed to go to Archonate schools or Cabal private schools for further instruction and learning. This is not mandatory, although many families use this as free daycare and a way to better their children via academic and spiritual instruction. Besides basic academic subjects and spiritual guidance, students are also engaged in physical activity such as sports and basic weapon skills.
More ambitious parents hope that this environment gets their child noticed by the Cabals or the Archonate so that they are recruited to a Cabal or the Clergy. Going to a Cabal school usually guarantees recruitment, barring ejection from the school. This may be because of unlawful behavior on the child’s part or loss of wealth on the parents’ part.
Sacrament of Anthesis
After their 18th winter, a child of the Conclave may be recruited by their family’s Cabal or by the local Hierophant to join the higher ranks of their organization. This requires that the individual finance, plan, and execute a ceremony that celebrates the Temple (and the Cabal, if they are recruited by one). This is usually the work of multiple such individuals and their efforts are judged as one, unless the adjudicators of this event (usually a Hierophant, Duke and/or their proxies) choose otherwise.
This Sacrament is also undergone by those from outside the Conclave who wish to leave their order or organization to join the Carmine Conclave. Naturally, they must be graced with a Hierophant or a Duke’s blessing.
More information for this Sacrament can be found in the Carmine Conclave Religion and Rites page.
Stigmata in the Carmine Conclave
Like the other Conclaves, all with Stigmata are allowed within the ranks of the Carmine Conclave. Curiously, most of the population is without Stigmata. Psions, particularly Soulknives, are the most common Bloodline Stigmata in the bigger settlements of this Conclave. Meanwhile, coastal areas boast greater numbers of Seraphs.
Due to the history of the Night Kings and Bastion du Rachat, there are significant numbers of Necrotic Stigmata among the Cabals. Of an interesting note is the recent popularity of Metabionics among some of the urbane Sanguinar -- the lights and the machinery are currently the high of fashion.
Those with Stigmata find themselves facing better prospects within the magocratic society of the Temple. However, the cutthroat politics of the Carmine Conclave is an equalizer for social status. With only wealth and cunning as gatekeepers, all are otherwise welcome to play and lose in the courts of the Conclave.
Order and Sin
Within a territory, the dominant Hierophant is law, only superseded by their Superiors or a Excruciator Cardinal. The Dukes of the area are given special consideration and may contest a ruling or apply their counsel to the Hierophant’s decision. Similar considerations are given to those high ranking members of the Skull Conclave.
The following are the six Arch-Sins that constitute a criminal act with the Carmine Conclave: Heresy, Blasphemy, Defilement, Malifica, Malfeasance, and Treachery. What each act denotes can be found in the Religion and Rites section.
Commiting a Sin: When a Sin is committed, a Sinner is expected to remand themselves to the nearest Templar authority for punishment. Alternatively, they may be pursued by local Templar authorities, depending on the severity of the Sin. These same authorities also determine whether a Sin has been committed or not, gathering evidence and witnesses accordingly through practical and magical means.
Interestingly, Duchal intervention is a fact of the matter in most cases. This means that those who are in good standing with the local Duke or Duchess can expect leniency or even innocence in most cases of being caught unless the Sin is particularly egregious.
The Priory of Excruciation: this order is dedicated to enforcing the Carmine-Archon and the Oracle-Avatar’s laws and punishing Sin wherever they find it. Called “Excruciators” or “Blood-thorns” for their penchant for torture and their reputation for cruelty, these individuals are feared and reviled across the Conclave by all individuals for their ability to defy and deny Hierophant or Duchal edict in the name of the Oracle-Avatar.
The authority of their territory determines their guilt or innocence of the Sin, guided by evidence, witnesses, and faith. This tends to be a closed affair, with only the judge, the accused and their party, and the accusers or prosecutors (and their party) in session.
Minor transgressions that have been self-reported may not even require a full tribunal, only monetary penance or corporal penance. Major transgressions may involve worse punishments such as execution, demotion, banishment, or forced conscription to the Kookesh Quarry. Particularly egregious Sins, such as Heresy, may result in a type of execution called a “Eldritch Crucifixion” wherein a powerful ritual is placed upon an individual that kills them and affixes their spiritual essence to an item -- when done in Ziggurat City, this is said to prevent any type of resurrection and to allow for further torment at the hands of the Skull Conclave.
Territories
Bastion du Rachat
The center of the Carmine Conclave, headquartering many of their Power Groups in opulent manors and sprawling cathedrals. Even those not based in this city maintain a significant presence here. It is a sprawling metropolis with satellite settlements for gardens and industry, all built upon the ruins of the old world. Nature has reclaimed much of the city that is uninhabited with creeping vines and hungry flora, but these are either eradicated or domesticated as humanity takes back what is theirs.
Carmine Spire
Located northeast of Bastion, this is a town returned to life. This is not only a major foothold for the Carmine Conclave but it is also an eastern port. Better yet, it is surrounded by farmland and is becoming a major bread basket for the Temple. Unlike most of the Conclave, Necrotic individuals face some prejudice here -- the memories of the Night Kings’ tyranny have yet to fade.
Port Sacrament
A gateway to the Sacrament Sea on the west coast, this sizable port town is shared with the Talon Conclave. It is also the most southern of the west coast cities belonging to the Temple. From here, the Talon Conclave can lend defensive assistance against any further Pelagic attacks while the Carminians assist in managing trade and industry of the surrounding region. This sphere of influence also includes nearby fishing villages and survivor towns.
Fallbridge
A Carmine port on the southeastern shore of the Superior Sea, Fallbridge is not only a point of travel but also a staging ground for Templar troops coming into Mid-Atla. It was once shared with the Flame Conclave but with their purge from the Templars, the Carminians alone maintain and benefit from its strategic position and its growing industrial holdings.