==== Ecclesian Priesthood ==== Since the principal government is the Church, the most common way for people to rise in power is to join the Church. ==== Monks and Nuns ==== The easiest way to do this is to become a nun or a monk (this is not related to the Monk class!!), though this path is limited as you can only go so far. Nuns and monks are associated with Orders, and as such usually live and work in nunneries and monasteries. Commoners who join these orders often get a chance to learn how to read and write and nuns and monks with talent may be set to tend to the church administration. As such, they get involved in local church politics and may gain power as a result. To become a nun or monk, you must be unmarried, and of the Ecclesian faith. There is no other requirement. Some orders are martial oriented and train in combat. To join these, you must take a level of the Monk or Paladin class. Since there are countless orders, players and Dms can fill in their own details – as such, the above requirement is really a flavour one and not much more, and it can be deviated from at the leisure of the DM team. Nun or Monk are [[Common Jobs]] and as such is paid 1 gp per week. Nuns and monks can rise in rank to become the head of their order locally. The title varies from Mother Superior to Abbot or whatever the order uses and is equivalent in Eccles to being a noble, though obviously this is not hereditary. These are treated as regular [[Positions]], and you can rise further by gaining an advancement as normal. ==== Priests ==== If you are male, you can also become a priest. Priests can rise the ranks and eventually even become Pontifex (in theory). To become a priest, you must be an unmarried male of the Ecclesian faith, and you must be blessed by the Lord with magic. In other words, you must have Divine spellcasting granted by Ecclesia. That relation only goes one way, however: all Ecclesian priests have Divine spellcasting, but not all Ecclesian divine casters need to be priests. Players can start as priests if they want, or become them simply by asking a DM to make it so, provided they meet the criteria. Priests work for a specific church (the physical building they work from) and usually there is more than one for each church. They take confessions, perform marriages and final rites and advise on many important matters. Though the position of priest does not come with direct power, they hold a lot of unofficial influence. Being a Priest is a Position type job and uses the rules for [[Positions]]. Priests who distinguish themselves may be promoted to Deacon. Deacon is an advancement over Priest. Deacons who continue to serve the faith well and who distinguish themselves beyond the level expected of a Deacon can be promoted to Bishop. A Bishop runs his own church – the physical building – and they can lead a cult devoted to a Saint or be high ranking bishops within an existing cult (under an Arch-Bishop), though starting a new cult requires permission from the Pontifex. Becoming a Bishop also requires you to have held your advancement to Deacon for at least 6 months. Bishops are subordinate to the local Cardinal and are appointed by him, but hold significant influence. A Bishop may be called upon to make legal judgements as a judge in cases of dispute amongst his area of influence. Bishop is the highest rank in the Church available for players. A Bishop has his own room in the chat, a church of devoted to whatever patron saint they follow, and they must buy this church with their own money. It should cost no less than 10.000 gp and additionally requires a Holy Relic be stored at the church (for which one must complete a quest). Additionally, a donation of 1000 gp to the church is required. The title of Bishop can only be handed out to a character who is at least 12th level, and it is required that the DM team vote on the appointment. Because a Bishop must first be a Deacon who must first be a Priest, only male characters qualify. Being a Bishop is a position with an advancement. The Bishop's church is considered to be a Player Business based on Knowledge: Religion, as per the business rules, and it generates income for the player who runs it. ==== Addendum ==== Bishops who lead a Cult which grows large over the country may become Arch-Bishop of that cult, the ultimate leader of said cult. Bishops not in a cult can be promoted to Cardinal by the Pontifex, but only upon the death of a Cardinal elsewhere in the nation, as the number of positions of Cardinal is limited. Cardinals in turn elect the Pontifex upon the death of the previous one. Theoretically they can elect any male Ecclesian, but in reality, it is always a Cardinal from amongst their number. Players cannot rise above Bishop and as such can never become Arch-Bishop, Cardinal or Pontifex.