Iglesia Society
The first images that come to mind regarding the Iglesiars are their priests and their healers. However, behind and beyond these individuals are a constellation of laborers, researchers, overseers, and leaders that ensure the operation of the Church. Similarly, this organization is not simply supported by tithes and donations (service, good, or monetary) -- the Iglesiar have farms, hospitals, universities, crafters, and traders that allow for a steady income and for their infrastructure’s growth.
The Iglesiar Orders
The Iglesia Orders are five divisions within the Church with their own specialties. Each is founded by Santo Rivero’s five greatest students and tied to one of the five Solarite Icons. This ensures that the Church is not united by one singular perspective but several. There are sometimes rivalries between them, but each Order works with the others to fulfill the Church’s overall goal of assisting in the redemption and prosperity of humanity.
With the exception of the Solar Cathedral, Iglesiar holdings are dominated by one Order over the influence of the rest. This can be changed by Synodic decree or other changes in personnel.
Social Strata
The organization of the Iglesia Solar is also divided into two halves: the priests (clergy) and lay persons (laity). The former is considered to have greater authority over the other.
Furthermore, the Church also contains several tiers of authority. At the very top is the Solar Synod with the Synodic Mirrors and Synodic Arbiter that comprise its ranks. On the foundational tier of the Church are the Novitiate Laity and the Candle-Acolytes.
Starting Title and Ranks:
Iglesia Solar: Below are the ranks and titles of the clergy within the Iglesia Solar.
Candle-Acolyte (La Vela) : Every novice among the Iglesia starts as a candle, bringing light to the world.
Torch-Priest (La Tea): From the dim light of a candle, an Iglesian priest can become a blazing torch. These individuals are more experienced and senior than their Candle-Acolyte kindred.
Flame-Priest (La Hoguera): Bringing the light and warmth of knowledge are the Hoguera, the apostles of the Iglesia.
Beacon-Priest (El Faro): Beacon Priests shine their radiance across an entire area, leading the local clergy and laity. This rank and above are for NPCs and retired PCs only.
Synodic Mirror (El Espejo Solar): Sometimes called Espejo del Sinodo, these Priests lead their Iglesiar Orders and direct the Iglesia Solar as a whole.
Synodic Arbiter (Arbitro del Sinodo): This is one of the Synodic Mirrors, in a slightly higher role than their peers to ensure a quicker discussion or decision making. During times of indecision or deadlock, the Arbiter makes the deciding call.
Laicado Solar: The Laity or secular branch of the Iglesia Solar are an important part of the organization. These are not required to fulfill the inner vows and oaths of the clergy and they assist the Iglesia in their duties and their routines. Some are soldiers or bodyguards that are aligned with the Iglesia.
Novitiate (Novato): These are the apprentices and novices among the Laity and they are students of their particular areas of expertise, but not necessarily without skill.
Practical (Percial): These are individuals of skill and talent who are considered professions and experts of their fields and/or crafts.
Master (Maestro): These are individuals of mastery in their fields and/or craft.
Upbringing
In the beginning, the Church was comprised primarily of recruits and converts from the Illustrados. With the passing of time, laity and clergy brought new life into the fold.
Currently, the Church gets new members from within and outside the Illustrados. Those born to the Iglesia are given a chance to join when they reach adulthood. Before they make this decision, however, they are first educated and raised. Their instruction is in letters, history, artistry, physicality, and meditation. They are given some chores and responsibility, but they are also given leisure and freedom.
When these children become adults, they are given a year (aka the Worldly Year) to experience life beyond the Church walls. Only half of these folk return to the Church’s ascetic and disciplined life — the others seek out employment with the government or the private sector… perhaps even go on adventures with the Charioteers. Their choices are respected unless they choose unlawful pursuits, and their families continue to lend them some support in their lives.
Those who return or join the clergy or the laity undergo training and additional instruction according to their station and duties. Individuals are only allowed to join the clergy if they are able to spiritually grasp the concepts of the Church, swear the necessary vows, and pass the necessary tests of their faith -- this is not connected to one’s magical ability, the clergy and laity both have arcane and mundane folk in its ranks.
When they have finished their training as Novitiates, they are able to choose the Iglesiar Order that they want to join. Many claim that they are guided by fate and faith -- the Order chooses them instead.
Stigmata in the Iglesia Solar: All are welcome to serve in the light of the Iglesia Solar, regardless of their appearance or origin. As the organization’s foundations are deeply rooted in magic, many within the clergy are blessed with Stigmata. The Illustrados islands feature slightly more Seraphs than any other Bloodline Stigmata, so this tendency is shown among the ranks of the Church.
While many would be unnerved by the Risen, the legendary deeds of Santo Rivero have removed the stigma of the condition. Continental folk are occasionally aghast at the high number of Necrotic followers of the faith, wielding light that does no small amount of discomfort upon themselves.
While Eidolons are almost non-existent among the faith, a growing number of Metabionic individuals are joining the Church.Many of these folk have been disillusioned and worn down by their new state and seek the enlightenment and peace brought by prayer and meditation.
Laws and Punishments
When clergy or laity err, they are given lessons by their superiors or their councilors. However, when errors are of criminal magnitude, then castigation and sanctions must occur.
As one expects, the Church of the Redeemed Sun holds its people to high standards. This means not only cleaving to the five Solarite Virtues, but also avoiding the five Solarite Sins: Apathy, Desire, Hatred, Pride, and Treachery. For the philosophical Iglesiar and their fellow Solarites, these abstract failings are the cause of human suffering and divine abandonment -- the crimes and atrocities committed by humanity are the symptoms of a spiritual lack.
Regardless of their beliefs in the philosophical, the Iglesiar know all too well that the physical is all too important. Just as they bring food and shelter to the needy, they must bring discipline and justice to the guilty.
All Orders are empowered in enacting justice and protecting their people, but the Radiant Eagles are specialized in subduing and containing threats, in addition to defending their fellows from harm. To that end, these Iglesiars are trained in martial skill, conditioned for physical strength, and instructed in discerning details. The other clergy call upon them for more complex, volatile, or difficult situations -- including those circumstances that involved non-Solarites. The Radiant Eagles then pacify and bring safety to the situation via several means -- including necessary violence.
Those who commit grave offenses to the life, property, or spirit of their fellow person are remanded to the law of the locals. If these wrongs are committed within the domains of the Church, committed by a Church member, or if there is no law around -- the Iglesiars take the law into their own hands. They tend toward mercy rather than misery. However, their expertise with technology and magic means that wrongdoers may find themselves staring down the barrel of a Siege Caster or a Flame spell, especially when the Radiant Eagles get involved.
Typically punished are the following:
Sins against Life : willful murder, assault, [outside of self-defense/sanctioned war), torture
Sins against Property: theft, arson, denying the Church their due (Iglesiar only)
Sins against Spirit: willful murder, torture, magical misuse, blasphemy/defilement
Punishments: The Iglesiar prefer moving harm away rather than inflicting it, though violence is sometimes necessary to save lives.
Counseling: For lesser Sins and crimes, the Iglesiar prefer to speak to the offender and guide them away from their wrongs. After this counsel, the individual is watched and put on probation for three months to a year -- the expectation is that they learn their lesson. Failure to repent may incur a greater punishment
Service: For those whose actions have caused some harm, the Iglesiar may have them repair the damage or do good to offset the evil they have done. This is meant to be difficult but meditative and reflective of their actions. This may mean doing hard labor for a community or for a wronged family. Service may last months to a year or more. A refusal to do this or a failure to maintain this drops the offender to the next level of sanction.
Flagellation: The Iglesiar do not favor this, for it is unsightly. However, acts of mortification occasionally prove to bring a closed mind to an open state. The offender is given a rod and is tasked with striking themselves with a disciplinary flail or rod. This is done in a designated public place while the priesthood observes and guides the punishment. These strikes may be paired with an announcement of guilt/the crime and/or a prayer. They continue occurring until the individual falls senseless (0 HP) or until stopped by the observing clergy.
Banishment (Iglesiar only): When all methods have failed or are refused, an individual is banished from Iglesiar lands. This is a temporary punishment and they are allowed to return after a period of time (1-10 years) if they have proven to have redeemed themselves. However, this can be a death sentence if an individual is sent into the wilds. This is only done by Iglesiar to their former peers. Offenders that return before they are allowed to may be slain or driven away again.
Exile: When an act is so heinous that there is no forgiveness, then an individual is exiled from the Iglesiar and their territories, never to return. In some extreme cases, an offender may be allowed to return after a legendary and/or great deed that reflects their growth and redemption. Offenders that return outside of such a case may be slain or driven away again.
Execution: When all other methods have failed or when an individual is worthy of this punishment, the Iglesiar will execute an offender. This is a rare occurrence. It typically involves immolation, drowning, and burial, in that order. Within Iglesian holdings, they may perform rituals that untether a soul from this world and free it to the afterlife, preventing most forms of Revival.
Territory
Catedral de la Sol Orden (Solarite Cathedral): This is the major stronghold of the Iglesia Solar, built upon a holy site in the Yucatan. Those who wish to join the order must spend at least several months, if not years, training and learning there. Believed to a powerful nexus of magical energies, it is heavily guarded by magic and soldiers.
Ciudad Juanita: The Illustrados capital of Cuidad Juanita (and thus the seat of the Senate) is located on the island of Puerto-del-Encanto (aka Boriken). The Iglesia have several prominent holdings here, including a museum for the arts and a hospital specializing in healing magics. Naturally, the Iglesia’s presence here also has the function of providing spiritual comfort to politicians who need succor.
El Vedado: Coabana island houses the city-state of Vedado (sometimes called El Vedado). This is one of the bigger and more influential powers in the Illustrados Union, to the point that it almost became the Archfaction’s capital. This Vedado features the least amount of the Iglesia’s holdings, with the majority of these being in the countryside and satellite towns.
Puerto Vazquez: This city-state dominates the eastern portion of Ayiti island and is a founding member of the Illustrados. It is a powerhouse of agriculture and mining. It is also near the birthplace of the Iglesia Solar, having cradled its first moments mere decades after the Long Fall. Despite moving their headquarters to the mainland, the Iglesia Solar still have great influence in this area - many of the first hospitals, schools, and other civic holdings have been open here since the Church’s beginnings.
Port-au-Jacques: A western city-state on the island of Ayiti and a founding member of the Illustrados, it is known for its technological and military developments as well as heavy Tecnocracia influence. The Iglesia have little influence here, mostly remnants of their growth from Puerto Vazquez in the east. The exceptions to this are several Iglesia laboratories that take advantage of the technological infrastructure of the city-state.
Sharpton: The city-state of Sharpton in Xaymaca island is one of the great educational centers in the Union, second only to Ciudad Juanita. The academics of the Iglesia Solar maintain a presence here, working alongside more secular scholars.