Priesthood

Although it is not necessary, much of the Pantheon enjoys the act of being worshiped. The Fae were originally created as a race of sentient beings capable of worshiping the gods and delighting in the world the Pantheon had made. Even though the Fae rebelled and were interred in Allutheria, the Pantheon was so enamored with the idea of being worshiped that they created a second race of sentient beings to do just that, humanity. 
Humanity was given no access to magic to keep them beholden to the gods, but it was decided that those humans which devoted their lives to serving the Pantheon and encouraging humanity to worship the gods should be rewarded for their service. It was also noted that by giving the priests of the gods special abilities, the gods were affirming their own powers and giving the people even more reason to worship and admire them. 
And so, the gods dubbed three kinds of priests. High Priests (and Priestesses) were the closest to the gods themselves and were therefore entrusted with the most power. Anointed Priests (and Priestesses) had studied hard and sacrificed much to prove their devotion to their chosen deities and power, though less than that of a High Priest. While the Acolytes, were Priests (and Priestesses) that were not beholden to any one god but instead spent their lives preaching the virtues of the entire Pantheon in areas that were not blessed enough to have a temple devoted to every god of the Pantheon.
When the Blight struck Caelum, some gods of the Pantheon were lost. They died, and their divinities were seemingly lost. At this time, any Priests devoted to their service lost any and all abilities granted to them by their gods, whether or not they will ever regain these abilities remains to be seen. For a full list of those gods lost in the assault on Caleum, look here. (LINK TO COME EVENTUALLY)
Still other gods have been killed after the fall of Caelum or to the Blight itself, these gods had their divinity stolen and granted to another. Unless otherwise stated in canon plotlines, it is entirely up to the thief of said divinity or the player of the individual who is granted this new godhood, whether or not any priests or priestesses maintain their abilities with the shift in godhood or if they are left as powerless as those whose gods died on Caelum.
Even the Priests and Priestesses who serve gods that have not perished in the Blight now find that their powers are spotty best. As the gods' power declines, so too does the power of the priesthood.
== High Priests ==
There are only ever two individuals recognized by a god as their supreme religious leaders among the world of Man. A High Priest and Priestess are named from the Anointed Priests (and Priestesses) of a god and are tasked with overseeing the worship of said god throughout Ga'leah. Often times, they have a home within one of the large temples devoted to their chosen deity, but they are also tasked with making regular travels around Ga'leah to visit with their deity's followers, bestow 'blessings' (or acts of magic in their gods' name), and see to the administration of the temples. High Priests have typically met their chosen deity though whether or not they have a personal relationship with said god or an ability to call upon them at any time is highly dependent upon the god in question.
Immortality is not a gift bestowed on any Priests or Priestesses by their deities and so, eventually, High Priests must be replaced when one dies. A new High Priest is always chosen from among the Anointed and can only be selected by the deity themselves.
Below, you will find a short description of the abilities granted to a High Priest (or Priestess) by each active member of the Pantheon as well as a description of their proximity to their god.
=== The Source ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Source. (Eppy, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Forebearer ===
==== Abilities ====
* Limited Clairvoyance - The Priest can gain limited, direct visual information about a person, place or thing other than through the use of physical sight. Their close proximity to the god of time allows them to gain impressions of memories or the future intent of someone nearby that allows them to make clairvoyant observations or predictions. Predictions are not guaranteed to be true, and if there are too many people or things in close proximity, it is possible that the Priest may not be able to pinpoint where these impressions have come from.
* Memory Absorption - A High Priest or Priestess of the Forebearer can absorb a memory from a petitioner if they wish to rid themselves of it. They cannot take more than a single memory from any one individual at any given time, nor can they take a memory against a person's will. Most often, this is used to absorb painful memories such as recollections of trauma or abuse. These memories, once absorbed, are given to Aethanryke to be kept in his vault of such memories.
* Teleportation - Employing a power much like that which powers the Shifting Silvers, the Priest and Priestess of the Forebearer possess the ability to move themselves magically from one location to another. 
* Divinitation - Through the use of a secondary object (such as tarot cards or tea leaves) a Priest of the Forebearer can read the patterns in something affected by their magic to give others an impression about a future, present, or past situation. They cannot see the future nor can they always be certain that they are reading the signs correctly.
* Time Freeze - Priests of the Forebearer can freeze an item in time for the space of a single minute. They cannot freeze living things or things affected by the Blight, nor can they freeze an item twice. For instance, a Priest could freeze an arrow for a minute, but could not freeze a sword in midswing because the sword is being propelled by a living thing. Nor could the Priest freeze the arrow a second time if it is retrieved and shot again.
==== Connection ====
* Aethanryke has a personal relationship with every Priest in his service, but none more so than his High Priest and Priestess. Although they do not have keys to Temporalis, they are invited to visit with him there and to spend time there studying the volumes collected and written by the Grimm Brothers and discussing his strategies concerning the destinies and gentle guidance they need to provide certain individuals throughout Ga'leah. They often act as his messengers, carrying such directives and knowledge to the Anointed Priests when he is otherwise disposed.
=== The Lightgiver ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the the Lightgiver. (Bea, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Moon Maiden ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Moon Maiden. (Zev and Bea, maybe?)
=== The Soul Reaper ===
=== Abilities ===
* calming voice -
* Holder of the Mirror of Shadows : The mirror is an ordinary mirror which the Soul Reaper enchanted, it allows a person to see the image of a soul that has passed on. It is just an image, grieving perents often use it to see that their children are safe and happy. Anyone can request to see in the mirror.
=== Connection ===
 Information 
=== The Death Dealer [wip] ===
=== The Huntsman ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Huntsman. (Bea, again, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Living Flame ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Living Flame. (Zevy, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Stormbringer ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Stormbringer. (Rai, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Green Man ===
==== Abilities ====
* Nature Sense - Priests of the Green Man are first gifted with the ability to commune with plants and feel what they feel. This leads to a heightened sense of environmental awareness and a higher detection of when things are out of balance with nature. 
* Aromatherapy - Priests of the Green Man are second gifted with the ability to manipulate pheromones. This ability is typically used to foster calm and peaceful moods, such as in meditation and other relaxing scenarios. However, this ability can also be used for darker means, extending into emotion manipulation or, in extreme circumstances, hallucinations, in order to ward away a harmful entity. 
* Plant Bending - Priests of the Green Man are third gifted with the ability to create and manipulate the creations of the God they worship. They are only able to grow whatever has been previously created by the Green Man, except for certain entities such as the Vines. 
* Green Speaking - The High Priest and Priestess of the Green Man have their Nature Sense further enhanced so they are capable of not just feeling what plants feel but also seeing and hearing what they experience. Green Speaking can be used to witness events in the nearby vicinity without being directly present.
* Healing Blood - The High Priest and Priestess of the Green Man are able to use their blood as a healing agent, similar to how tree sap is used in many healing salves.
==== Connection ====
* Given the Nature Sense all his Priests are gifted with upon becoming Nymphs, Sage maintains a close relationship with them all. Words need not be exchanged since the connection allows feelings to flow freely. Sage is always present whenever a new Priest is Anointed, even if he is not always there physically. He makes an effort to connect with them on a personal basis rather than write them off to the collective, but he is closest with his High Priest and High Priestess. The Green Man is very protective over all of his Priests, and a single cry of distress from one of them will cause him to appear with a vengeance. 
=== The Coming Tide ===
Abilities 
* Water Form - High Priests of the Coming Tide can shift their bodies to an all liquid state and appear as water either in a human-like shape or in a puddle like form. They cannot, however, hold the form indefinitely and must exert a physical effort to maintain it. 
* Animal Manipulation - Priests of the Coming Tide can speak to and command creatures of the ocean to do their bidding. This does not work on creatures infected with the Blight and commands must be made in ocean's best interest to avoid the animals turning on the priestess in question. If for instance a priestess tried to send a shark after a group of merchildren, the shark would likely eat the priestess instead because it's connection to the Coming Tide, it's creator, would make it aware that the goddess would never make such a demand.
* Amphibious Travel - Priests of the Coming TIde can choose whether to have legs or a tail and can survive on land or at sea whether they were born one of the Merkind or not. 
* Water Manipulation: Like mermen, Priests can manipulate ocean water to create waves and whirlpools, although to a much greater extent than a merman.
* Siren Song: Whether a mermaid originally or not, all Priests can emit a siren song at will. 
==== Connection ====
* Although the Coming Tide is a recluse who rarely ventured far from her home, she has had close personal contact with those who serve as her High Priest and Priestess. They likely lived in her palace for a time and studied under her themselves so as to better learn the majesty of the Ocean and better see to it's best interests. Even as Lyrielle was dying, she did her best to safeguard the abilities of her High Priest and Priestess to ensure that they would not fall to the Blight or to whatever dark entity stole her powers.
=== The Matchmaker [wip] ===
The Matchmaker requires that the two people who fill the position of High Priest and High Priestess be connected very closely by a thread of love. This can be any sort of love, and the two individuals can be of any gender, but they must have a close and loving/doting relationship. If either dies or if the relationship somehow falls apart, both must be replaced. As a result, these two people are chosen with extreme care.
==== Abilities ====
* Thread sight
* Empathy
* The Doll Blessing
==== Connection ====
The High Priest(esse)s must impress the Matchmaker in some way or form through their show of love and affection to one another. It is the strength of the relationship, and the way the participants view this relationship, that tends to attract her attention. For that, these are humans that the Matchmaker has often spent a long time observing. How else is she to tell that they are worthy of serving her to such a capacity?
=== The Destroyer ===
Abilities 
* Misfortune: Priests and Priestesses of the Destroyer thrive in situations where others would perish, and are most comfortable in a chaotic situation such as a battle, a riot, or a political gathering. When they are on their game, chance has a tendency to favor them, and the plans of their enemies are likely to go awry. This ability is difficult to quantify, but often gives them just enough to come out ahead. 
* Entropy: Through a conscious application of power, Lasciel's chosen are able to draw on his power to cause physical objects to decay. This is generally limited to small effects, but door locks rusted through, enemy weapons blunted or broken in a fight... these sorts of things happen all the time. High Priests and Priestesses can extend this effect as wide as a small house, making them deeply dangerous. 
* A Nose for Trouble: Lasciel's followers have an uncanny ability to spot the critical turning point of a situation, allowing them to see exactly where their intervention would have the most impact. Similarly, they tend to know when a situation is too stable, too entrenched, and needs to be shaken up. 
* Borrowed Power: Like Lasciel himself, his highest Chosen are capable of reaching beyond his own domain, and using powers attributed to Priests and Priestesses of other deities. High Priests and Priestesses of Lasciel can use slightly weaker versions of the powers associated with any Anointed-level clergy. They can only do this on a limited basis - a time or two a day at most - but it gives them what Alala's clergy might refer to as a high degree of tactical flexibility. 
* Teleportation: Because one never knows where a bit of chaos might be required, Lasciel's Highest Chosen have the ability to teleport between areas and towns - this is a rough-accuracy power though - they cannot teleport into a building or dungeon, for instance. Lasciel would call that cheating. 
==== Connection ====
* In general, the High Priesthood of Lasciel is a vacant position. Very rarely, however, a person or creature will come around who has caused such upheaval over the course of their life that Lasciel cannot help feeling a true kinship with them. He will personally travel with them, using them to aid his own machinations, and turning them loose to seek their own chaos and make him proud. It's not unusual for these priests to have at one point or another been a consort for the Destroyer, either. As such, the High Priests and Priestesses tend to be more like Lasciel's closest mortal confidants or lovers than servants, unlike some of the other deities. When one perishes, Lasciel will not replace them immediately, only filling the vacancy when an exceptional enough individual surfaces again. 
=== The Starmaker ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Starmaker. (Zod, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Gossiper ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Gossiper. (Woo Zod.)
=== The Eternal Song ===
An Explanation about what it means to be a High Priest of the Eternal Song. (Tele, this is all you, boo.)
== Anointed Priests ==
An Anointed Priest is one who has given their life over completely to the service of their chosen deity. Every deity is different. Some may require a vow of chastity, a vow not to marry, a vow not to eat meat or not to kill, but whatever the vows necessary, an Anointed Priest has sworn it. In return for this devotion and careful study of their chosen deity and his or her philosophies and histories, their diety has given them a few very special abilities. These abilities are to be used to reaffirm the faith of the populous and strengthen the numbers of those who worship their god.
Anointed Priests (and Priestesses) are not as strong as High Priests and have only enough power to prove the existence and importance of their god. They do not travel as the High Priests do, but are instead assigned to a specific temple in Ga'leah to preach the word of their god. Some Anointed Priests serve their entire lives in one temple, while others are sometimes called to a new temple when there is great need. With all of the upset caused by the Blight, many Anointed Priests have been driven from their temples and have been forced to seek shelter in temples within areas that have not been overrun with the Blight and the Starving.
Below, you will find a short description of the abilities granted to an Anointed Priest (or Priestess) by each active member of the Pantheon as well as a description of the vows required by their god.
=== The Source ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Source. (Eppy, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Forebearer ===
==== Abilities ====
* Divinitation - Through the use of a secondary object (such as tarot cards or tea leaves) an anointed priest of the Forebearer can read the patterns in something affected by their magic to give others an impression about a future, present, or past situation. They cannot see the future nor can they always be certain that they are reading the signs correctly.
* Teleportation - Employing a power much like that which powers the Shifting Silvers, the Priest and Priestess of the Forebearer possess the ability to move themselves magically from one location to another. 
* Time Freeze - Priests of the Forebearer can freeze an item in time for the space of a single minute. They cannot freeze living things or things affected by the Blight, nor can they freeze an item twice. For instance, a Priest could freeze an arrow for a minute, but could not freeze a sword in midswing because the sword is being propelled by a living thing. Nor could the Priest freeze the arrow a second time if it is retrieve and shot again.
==== Vow ====
* Priests of the Forebearer must swear absolute allegiance to the god of time. They must promise not to affect the future of those he has deemed off limits and they must aid him in his efforts to guide important people down the 'right' path that will be beneficial to all. Their abilities can also never be used for personal gain He does not require a vow of chastity or a promise not to marry, but he does caution against forming such attachments with those who do not understand the burden of Time or that sometimes secrets must be kept, even by their priestly wives or husbands.
=== The Lightgiver ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the the Lightgiver. (Bea, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Moon Maiden ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Moon Maiden. (Zev and Bea, maybe?)
=== The Soul Reaper ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Soul Reaper. (Fox, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Death Dealer [wip] ===
=== The Huntsman ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Huntsman. (Bea, again, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Living Flame ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Living Flame. (Zevy, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Stormbringer ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Stormbringer. (Rai, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Green Man ===
==== Abilities ====
* Nature Sense - Priests of the Green Man are first gifted with the ability to commune with plants and feel what they feel. This leads to a heightened sense of environmental awareness and a higher detection of when things are out of balance with nature.
* Aromatherapy - Priests of the Green Man are second gifted with the ability to manipulate pheromones. This ability is typically used to foster calm and peaceful moods, such as in meditation and other relaxing scenarios. However, this ability can also be used for darker means, extending into emotion manipulation or, in extreme circumstances, hallucinations, in order to ward away a harmful entity.
* Plant Bending - Priests of the Green Man are third gifted with the ability to create and manipulate the creations of the God they worship. They are only able to grow whatever has been previously created by the Green Man, except for certain entities such as the Vines.
==== Vow ====
* Anointed Priests and Priestesses of the Green Man must swear loyalty to the God of Green and Growing Things and vow to honor the balance of life. Although he does not condone cruelty or violence in his subjects, he's very supportive of the idea that they are able to defend themselves if attacked or provoked. Anointed Priests and Priestesses are sworn to only eat the flesh of vegetation, never of meat. Upon becoming Anointed, one also becomes a Nymph. The Green Man's followers are free to love, romance, or marry any they wish, so long as they remember their vow to him.
=== The Coming Tide ===
==== Abilities ====
* Amphibious Travel - Priests of the Coming Tide can choose whether to have legs or a tail and can survive on land or at sea whether they were born one of the Merkind or not. 
* Water Manipulation: Like mermen, Priests can manipulate ocean water to create waves and whirlpools, although to a much greater extent than a merman.
* Siren Song: Whether a mermaid originally or not, all Priests can emit a siren song at will. 
==== Vow ====
* Anointed Priests and Priestesses of the Coming Tide must sever all other ties to the outside world and surrender any bonds they might have with anyone outside of the goddess of the oceans. If the Coming Tide believes that a memory they possess may be detrimental to the service they provide her, they must surrender said memory to her (via Aethanryke). Anointed Priests of the Coming Tide cannot marry and must swear a vow of chastity to prove their devotion to the oceans and the Coming Tide, if this vow is broken, it severs their tie to the goddess permanently and renders them little more than what they were when they began serving her. High Priests and Priestesses are permitted to marry and have children if they so desire, Anointed Priests and Priestesses are not.
=== The Matchmaker [wip] ===
==== Abilities ====
* Thread sight.
* Aura reading.
==== Vow(s) ====
* Supporters of the Matchmaker must vow allegiance to love and all forms of it.
=== The Destroyer ===
Abilities 
* Misfortune: Priests and Priestesses of the Destroyer thrive in situations where others would perish, and are most comfortable in a chaotic situation such as a battle, a riot, or a political gathering. When they are on their game, chance has a tendency to favor them, and the plans of their enemies are likely to go awry. This ability is difficult to quantify, but often gives them just enough to come out ahead. 
* Entropy: Through a conscious application of power, Lasciel's chosen are able to draw on his power to cause physical objects to decay. This is generally limited to small effects, but door locks rusted through, enemy weapons blunted or broken in a fight... these sorts of things happen all the time. 
* A Nose for Trouble: Lasciel's followers have an uncanny ability to spot the critical turning point of a situation, allowing them to see exactly where their intervention would have the most impact. Similarly, they tend to know when a situation is too stable, too entrenched, and needs to be shaken up. 
==== Vow ====
Anointed priests or priestesses of The Destroyer are extremely rare. By his very nature, Lasciel attracts far fewer followers than the rest of his family. Even the Gossiper's blessings may prove useful for many, but the notion of worshipping the concept of entropy and chaos is a step too far for most. Still, Lasciel does occasionally take enough interest in an individual to anoint them. None of them ever set out to be - a Priest of the Destroyer, of Chaos, can never become such out of intent, for that would defeat the whole entire point, in Lasciel's eyes. 
Priests may not even begin as Acolytes - they are people who, by intent or by accident, have wrought great change in the world, upsetting the plans of mortals or gods in some way that Lasciel finds amusing, or useful for his own gains. Sometimes these people were his tools from the start, but his favorites are those who were not, and who simply did what they did 'for the love of the game', as he would. 
This sometimes means these Priests are assassins, or saboteurs, or simply gifted orators and troublemakers. Warriors are common, as are thieves, assassins, courtesans, and a number of other 'low class' professions frequently associated with the discontent. Many find their calling in war - a great source of chaos, after all. Unlike many of his family, Lasciel does not prohibit love or marriage among his meager priesthood - in fact, his clergy are often married and travel in pairs, where they exist at all. Love, too, is chaotic - and he finds this beautiful. Lasciel will generally appear to these people if they pique his interest enough, and give them power in exchange for the following:
* Priests of the Destroyer are travelers, and must not remain stationary for long. They travel to a place, and move on when their work, whatever that may be, is complete. There are exceptions, however, particularly where a certain place remains a tipping point for an extended period. 
* The 'work' is greatly varied, but involves finding what is holding a place back, what keeps it stagnant, what must change in order to permit change. That obstacle must then be removed, by whatever means necessary. Battle is sometimes the way - 
* They must take opportunities as they come. Whatever they perceive their work to be, becoming rigid in the mission is as much a sin as anything - they must allow themselves the flexibility to act as he would.
=== The Starmaker ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Starmaker. (Zod, this is all you, boo.)
=== The Gossiper ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Gossiper. (Woo Zod.)
=== The Eternal Song ===
An Explanation about what it means to be an Anointed Priest of the Eternal Song. (Tele, this is all you, boo.)
== Acolytes ==
Acolytes are Priests (and Priestesses) not sworn to any one god. They are afforded much more freedom than Anointed Priests and are not bound by vows to any one member of the Pantheon. They are allowed to marry if they choose and they can have children despite any restrictions on both marriage and children placed on Anointed Priests by members of the Pantheon.
Acolytes serve as Priests for the entire Pantheon. They are most often stationed in remote or scarcely populated areas that cannot afford to have a temple devoted to every god. Instead, effort and funds were spent to create one large temple in which there are effigies for all of the gods of the Pantheon. An Acolyte preaches for every god equally and has very limited powers granted to exalt not just one member of the Pantheon but many.
As with Anointed Priests, Acolytes rarely leave the temple to which they are assigned and rarely (if ever) are moved to a new location. It is possible for an Acolyte to become an Anointed Priest if the proper vows are taken, but many Acolytes have chosen this particular field because they do not wish to be fettered by worship of one god, or because they loved more than one member of the Pantheon and could not choose what single god to serve.