Mother's Helping Hand/School/Religions/The One
The One
The One is the primary religion of Lamptons and Larange. The One is an androgynous benevolent being who takes on many forms and is referred to as both sexes and none in it's religious texts. It is used when no gender specific pronoun is required for it's reference; He is used in reference to most Masculine references, anger, aggressiveness, combat, forging etc; she is used in reference to most Feminine references, healing, nurturing, educating, creating etc.
The Church of The One does not discriminate within it's clergy or followers, all races and sexes are permitted to belong and hold positions within it's ranks.
It is a common held misconception that clergy of The One take vows if chastity and poverty. A misconception that the clergy doesn't discourage. The clergy in fact do not take any vows except to follow the tenants of the one, to teach it's followers and to protect the innocent. The Church holds purity in all its forms as holy, so most of the clergy choose to refrain from all temptations of the flesh and relinquish all vows and ties of family or fealty to all but the church.
Patriarch/Matriarch: The Patriarch/Matriarch is the final rule and authority over the entire church.
The current Matriarch in charge of the church of the one is, Glen Highstaff. She is the first Non-Human to hold the rank and has held it for over 100 years. She was formally of The Order of the Rose.
The Patriarch/Matriarch is an elected lifetime position, chosen by the heads of the Orders from any Patron/Matron, Saint, Emissary, Judge or Grand Healer. The Patriarch/Matriarch disavows all vows and ties to they're previous Order and officially belong to all and none.
Religious Orders
The One is broken down into five primary Religious Orders: The Order of the Sun, The Order of the Moon, The Order of Truth, The Order of the Shield and The Order of the Rose.
Most members of the orders join at around the age of ten, when the first tiers are allowed to begin field training with a trainer, however it is not unheard-of for children as young as five to join the Orders, especially orphans and half breeds. First tier recruit's finish official training at fifteen, begin doing field work alone or in small groups, and begin the self training phase.
Tier advancement is based solely on merit.
