The Temple of Eight

Both the religion and the group that practices it, the Temple of the Eight is the most widespread religious institution on Telar and the official faith of the Empire. Temple Clerics often provide educational, healing, and charity services to the communities around them, with every major city being home to a Temple. The Temple also provides exorcisms and wages war against the undead and forbidden worshippers of the Dark Aspects, while a secretive branch removes and persecutes any heretics that might threaten the purity of the Temple.

## Services

Temples and their members are found in every major city, serving as healers and teachers for the area. Any who come to a Temple will be cared for, though more unusual or powerful healing, such as breaking curses or reviving the dead, will often cost people large amounts of money as the materials used are quite expensive, more mundane healing will be done for free however, and potions, tonics, and tinctures can be purchased for a fair price. Clerics often lead religious study and prayer, guiding the people to best serve their chosen God, and how to ensure the best afterlife possible while serving their communities on Telar. Basic skills are often taught as well, scribing, smithing, cooking, building, all can be learned at the Temple, as all people have the divine right to learn. Occasionally the Temple is called upon for more offensive roles, exorcisms, the undead, and other unholy scourges may require the attention of the Temple and their Paladins.

Clerics and paladins will often travel out to more rural areas, villages and farmsteads too remote and small to necessitate a fully staffed Temple. These traveling priests will often make large loops around remote areas, seeing to the needs of the people there as best they can, often staying for only a few days. Larger villages that are far away from cities will often have a modest Temple built that is only occupied by members part of the year, often staying for a few months before moving on to the next settlement, while smaller villages often make do with a small shrine in place of a full building.

## Structure

The Temple is divided into three Orders, two of which are publicly known. Should a member wish to join and be devoted and capable enough, they may join the two publicly known Orders, The Order of Piety and the Order of Battle. Those who excel in either may be asked to join the secretive Third Order, the Order of Orthodoxy.

The Order of Piety provides the healing and educational services of the Temple, and are the largest Order. Members spend their days worshipping their chosen God, healing the public, and educating those who seek it. Members may be stationary, often remaining in one Temple for most of their lives, serving the people around them, or they may be traveling, walking the roads of Telar in an appointed route to see to the needs of more rural areas. The Order of Piety fills support and advisory roles, rather than fighting directly.

The Order of Battle is primarily made up of Paladins and more martially focused Clerics, and are the ones called upon whenever there is an undead sighting, the presence of demonic influence, or there is ghostly possession. The Order of Battle is not usually called upon by the public, instead picking up on rumors or strange sightings and investigating on their own, usually alone unless it's suspected to be a large threat. The Order of Battle are usually traveling rather than remaining in one spot, as unholy threats aren't usually located in one area, but are spread across the land.

The Order of Orthodoxy is hidden from the public, often masquerading as one of the two other Orders assuming they appear affiliated with the Temple at all. The Order of Orthodoxy ensures that Temple doctrine is being followed, and that heresy isn't being allowed to spread. Heresy may take the form of worshipping one of the Old Faiths that sprung up before the Temple took control of the continent, worshipping the Dark Aspects, or deviating from established Temple beliefs. The Order of Orthodoxy will often try to steer potential Heretics towards safer, more established beliefs, and failing that the heretic will often find themselves being "reeducated" in a dark basement, or simply dead in alley. The Order of Orthodoxy is also responsible for organizing raids on Dark Aspect Cultists, or engaging in holy wars to snuff out the last remaining pockets of believers in the Old Faiths.

## Beliefs

Temple of Eight beliefs may be found [here].