Cult of Mael

The Cult of Mael dominated Falar, with Cabil as its political and religious capital,Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 2, UK HC p.21 before the region's conquest by the Malazan Empire. Every island begrudgingly paid annual tribute in treasure (it was said the Faith most welcomed pearls) and in the enrolment of youths each generation.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 17, UK HC p.257 Every ship owed excises and was held to an honorary allegiance to the Faith so that they could be requisitioned and repurposed at a moment's notice. The expenditure of coin, food, and blood was preached by the cult as a necessary sacrifice so that the cult could protect them from outsiders. But all understood the payment was to protect the Falari from the cult itself. Even the poorest and most wretched islands in the archipelago maintained a temple to Mael guided by a priest of the cult.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 13, UK HC p.198
==Guiding Council of the Faith==
*Rentil Orodrin, Celebrant of the Faith
*Nuraj Senull, Guardian of the Faith
*Ortheal Leneth, Proctor of the Faith, Head of the Faith Militant
*Glinith Apanar, Abbess of Cabil, Guardian of the Inner SanctuaryForge of the High Mage, Chapter 14, UK HC p.209
*Mallick Rel, Overseer / Purser of Coin
The leadership of the cult came from the Guiding Council of the Faith headed for two decades by Celebrant Rentil Orodrin. The four other members of the council, which decided all matters of faith and state, each had their own portfolios of responsibility.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 6, UK HC p.88-89 Proctor Ortheal Leneth was responsible for guiding the souls and the structure of the Faith itself and heading the Faith Militant, the order's fanatical armoured soldier-priests.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 14, UK HC p.209 Glinith Apanar was Abbess of the Sanctuary of Cabil, overseeing the cult's central temple and serving as warden of the mysteries of the Inner Sanctum of Mael. Nuraj Senull was the Guardian of the Faith responsible for the arm militant and coordinating the armies of the faith in case of attack. Mallick Rel was responsible for the cult's finances. Positions on the council were also seemingly held for generations by members of Cabil's great landed families.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 3, UK HC p.46
==Faith Militant==
The Faith maintained an order of fanatical armoured soldier-priests, priest-mages, and special operatives under Ortheal Leneth's control.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 14, UK HC p.209Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 15, UK HC p.233
Known members included:
*Crena, lieutenant, bodyguard of Ortheal Leneth
*Deese, priestess and Serc mage
*Lee, priest and Mockra mage
==Known Priests and Priestesses==
*Gaddeth, priest at Jick
*Hedran, priest
*Hestasia, priestess, Keeper of the Pool of Mael
*Brother Lethor, priest, assistant to Mallick Rel
*Lias, priestess, attendant to the Pool of Mael
*Brother Rendren, priest on War Isle
*Tianta, priestess in Cabil
==Apparel and Symbols==
The priesthood wore deep-blue, almost black, robes.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 2, UK HC p.20 Flags of the Faith were a deep blue.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 29, UK HC p.449
==Calls and the Favoured of Mael==
Falar's original population, the so-called favoured of Mael, were easily identifiable by their thick, dark hair in comparison to the more common red and gold hair of the region's late-coming majority. These "favoured", who were mostly young children, were subject to "the Call", where the Cult rounded them up without recourse to be brought to Cabil. Slavers organised the process and could not be interfered with no matter the sympathies of the average Falari. Gianna knew the practise as "the Cull" from her motherForge of the High Mage, Chapter 11, UK HC p.169-171 and those gathered were seemingly used as blood sacrifice.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 6, UK HC p.90Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 15, UK HC p.231-234Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 18, UK HC p.277-280
==The Jhistal==
==In Forge of the High Mage==
(Information needed)
==Notes and references==
Category:Falar
Category:Organisations
Category:Religions