Imperial Acolyte

In the Imperial Cults, an acolyte is a junior member of the clergy. Usually answerable to a priest, these figures perform a variety of duties and functions in a church, temple, or shrine from things as minor as lighting the altar candles to more important things like channelling the prayers of the devoted. As representatives of a deity, they often wield minor spellcasting powers that their celestial patron grants them.
== Description ==
Imperial acolytes come in many colours and creeds. Much of their ranks are comprised of Imperials, Demi-Humans, and Halflings but members can be of any race and so there are minority populations of many of Magnula's other races. Similarly, men and women are not separated in any of the Imperial religious organisation and so serve side-by-side in these roles.
Acolytes can appear in many shapes, sizes, colours, and so on. This is partially dependent on genetic factors, like race, but is also heavily influenced by which cult that acolyte is a part of. For example, acolytes of the Cult of Lakea often wear blue robes to symbolise their affiliation with the Goddess of Water. Similarly, followers of the Cult of Agrogax wear robes of red or crimson to reflect the God of Fire. Holy symbols are another distinction, similar to their robes. Acolytes will often wear a necklace or pendent that correlates with the cult they are a part of. Members of the Cult of Kylune, for example, often possess the symbol of an upside-down axe.
== Society ==
Acolytes are the rank-and-file of the Empire of Man's many religious organisations. Whereas priests are senior members of the clergy, acolytes are junior members. They are less trained and less knowledgeable than their older counterparts and so are not yet trusted with important responsibilities and leadership tasks.
Instead, acolytes perform a variety of smaller tasks for their religious orders. This includes: maintenance of churches and other holy places, assisting in the requests of the congregation, lighting candles on altars, helping with rituals, and even acts of medicine and healing in some cases.
Most Imperial settlements will have a religious facility of some kind and at least most of them will have an acolyte or two present to assist the local priest. In larger building, like cathedrals, you can probably find many acolytes. As one might expect, acolytes are often treated with great respect by the communities they serve.
== Combat ==
With one or two exceptions, most variants of Imperial acolytes are neither trained nor really suitable for direct combat. Instead, they are better suited in a support role, by providing healing or other services. They will try to avoid a fight if they can and often prefer diplomacy and compassion over force and violence.
That is not to say they are completely defenceless though. Most acolytes are granted spell-casting abilities by their holy patrons and, in some cases, this includes offensive spells or at least spells that could be used in a fight. Though not usually the toughest fighters, some acolytes can still maim or injure the unwary or foolhardy.