Prelacy

The **prelacy** is the collective term for the clergy of the Ethuveraz. Sometimes the term specifically refers to the religious hierarchy. The most powerful member of the prelacy is the Archprelate of Cetho, who resides in the Untheileneise Court.

## Details

#### Titles and Sub-organizations

Prelates are often referred to as othalo (women) and othala (men), whereas specific ranks are used for other members, or those who have not obtained status as a prelate (e.g., Canon X, Archprelate, no title at all for novices). Clerics can be referred to as othalo/othala. Othala is capitalized when used as part of a name or at the beginning of a sentence, but lowercase when used in the middle of a sentence (e.g., Othala Celehar; “Will we see you again, othala?”). Higher ranking members, such as the Ulisothala, are referred to as "Dach'othala/Dach'othalo". They can also be referred to "othas'ala", such as when Anora Chanavar referred to the Amal'othala as an othas'ala. A group of at least two prelates, or perhaps at least two prelates of different gender in the same group, can be referred to as "othalei".

A sexton is not referred to as othalo/othala, and it's unclear if they are considered part of the prelacy, though they do manage graveyards and tend to work under a supervising prelate.

“In the emperor’s court, the honorific “othala” was considered hopelessly provincial and out of date.” But in the provinces "it was common politeness." (Amalo is a province). In the Untheileneise Court, prelates can be referred to by last name or with Mer/Merrem, depending on their gender and if they do not have a superior title, like the Archprelate.

There is a sub-organization in the prelacy called the Prelates' Council, which is in charge of choosing the Witness for the Prelacy to serve on the Corazhas. In times when there is no Witness for the Prelacy for some reason, the Archprelate seemingly fills the role.

Working as a canon of the Untheileneise'meire, the ulimeire in the Untheileneise Court, is a customary step for those destined for the higher offices of the prelacy.

There are different sanctuaries to different gods all over the Ethuveraz, usually run by members of the prelacy. Visits to such sanctuaries by pilgrims can involve obtaining tokens, which differentiate in design.

A municipal cemetery is different than a collective cemetery (at least in Amalo), and both have/can have prelates seemingly attached to them. Collective cemeteries can be "where a number of families, bourgeois and town gentry, pooled their money in order to avoid the municipal cemeteries."

At least in Amalo, green lanterns on/near buildings symbolize a cleric is in residence, seemingly for healing services.

#### Membership qualifications and roles

Membership is open to elves and goblins, and any gender. Novices are typically young, and if a person is too old, they might skip a novice rank entirely and be made a prelate, particularly if they're a Witness for the Dead.

Although the current Archprelate is open-minded, there is systemic homophobia in the prelacy, and known queer members (or at least gay men) are likely to lose their positions and be otherwise outcast.

Members of the prelacy can also be members of the Athmaz'are, and their formal robes indicate their status. Canons of Ulis who are also mazei wear a single black stripe on their robe to betoken their position as canons of Ulis.

Many members of the prelacy serve as healers for the general public. Some prelates can serve as coroners, or prepare bodies for burial. Prelates must be sanctified to interact with corpses without profaning them. Sanctification can outlast renouncing one's prelacy. Prelates can also be Witnesses *vel ama*. Witnesses *vel ama* for the Dead do not necessarily require a prelate's training in ritual and other duties, but it is *helpful* for their work.

Prelates swear a vow of poverty. At least some members practice celibacy, but not all. At least some prelates marry. It is not uncommon for married female prelates to be married to the local sexton. Male prelates can have children. Votaries cannot seemingly serve in Parliament, or at least cannot seemingly be forced to do so.

A prelate's plait is a kind of hairstyle that members wear. Wearing a strand of crystal beads in the plait is unorthodox, but not forbidden. Prelates also typically wear black frock coats. Canon frock coats are different than those for prelates.

#### Trial by Ordeal

The trial is a sort of punishment when the public/higher-ups in the prelacy have doubts in individual prelates. The trial can take different forms, including consuming poison, or making a pilgrimage. Individual ordeals by area can be called "The ordeal of [area]". Survival is key to success, though there can be other requirements.

## Roles in the Prelacy

* Amal'othala (the head prelate of Amalo)
* Archprelate (the highest ranking prelate in the Ethuveraz, and head of the prelacy)
* Canon
* Cemetery caretaker (patrols cemeteries and keeps them well-kept, often to keep watch for ghouls)
* Chaplain
* Cleric
* Clerical witness
* Hierophant (a high-ranking prelate)
* Junior cleric (higher ranking than novice, typically near 16 years old)
* Junior canon (a lower rank of canon than a canon)
* Junior prelate (a lower rank of prelate than a prelate)
* Municipal prelate (a local head prelate)
* Novice (one of the lowest ranks in the prelacy)
* Othas'ala (a high-ranking prelate, perhaps the highest in an area)
* Prelate (potentially any member who is not a novice, canon, sexton, or cemetery caretaker)
* Senior canon (higher rank of canon than canon)
* Sexton (handles digging and digging up graves)
* Ulisothala (the head prelate of Ulis in an area)
* Votary (potentially a devotee of a particular religious faith, so potentially most members of the prelacy; potentially refers only to individuals who join cloisters)
* Witness for the Dead
* Witness for the Prelacy

## Members

* Aisharan Darnevin (Cleric of Csaivo)
* Aiva Vernezar (Ulisothala of Amalo)
* Amal'othala
* Anora Chanavar
* Othalo Bershanaran
* Othala Bonshenar (Prelate of Ulis)
* Csenaia Ulzhavar (Dach'othala Cleric of Csaivo)
* Coralezh (Cleric of Csaivo)
* Dach'othala Csenaia Ulzhavar (Cleric of Csaivo)
* Daibrohar
* Othala Dathenchar
* Othas'ala Delemar
* Denevis (Novice and Cleric of Csaivo)
* Othas'ala Deprena
* Ediro Zanarin
* Erlenar
* Canon Hestamar
* Othala Kelberened
* Kiru Athmaza (Cleric of Csaivo)
* Canon Lumanar
* Othala Monmara
* Canon Orseva
* Othala Pelovar
* Othala Perchenzar (Prelate of Ulis) (deceased)
* Othalo Prenevin (Prelate of Ulis)
* Radora Husavar
* Othalo Rasaltezhen
* Revano Galinin
* Tarazho Zemerin (Csaiveise novice)
* Teru Tethimar (Archprelate)
* Temet Golharad (Cleric of Csaivo)
* Thara Celehar (Witness for the Dead) (Cleric of Ulis)
* Othala Thelevar (Prelate of Csaivo)
* Canon Thorchelezhen
* Othala Umenar
* Velhiro Tomasaran (Witness for the Dead)
* Canon Varlenin
* Othala Veltanezh
* Vidrezhen
* Vinvedris (Archeprelate) (deceased)

## Trivia

* Known married prelates include Othalo Bershanaran (to Mer Bershanar) and Othala Kelberened (to Merrem Kelberened), and the Kelbereneds have at least three children. Radora Husavar is a married cleric in Amalo.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Addison, Katherine. *The Grief of Stones*, First ed., Tor, 2022.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Addison, Katherine. *The Witness for the Dead*, First ed., Tor, 2021.
3. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “26. The Clocksmiths and the Corazhas.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Addison, Katherine. “34. Building Bridges.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
5. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “19. Thara Celehar's Grief.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Addison, Katherine. “24. The Revethvoran of Dazhis Athmaza.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
7. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “12. The Princess and the Witness.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
8. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “9. The Report of the Witnesses for the Wisdom of Choharo.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Addison, Katherine. *Lora Selezh*. 2021.
10. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “23. The Opposition of the Court.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
11. ↑ “Votary.” *Merriam-Webster*, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/votary. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.
12. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “16. News from Barizhan.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.