Temple

Temples are a kind of holding that constitute part of a temple domain. They include assets like monasteries, shrines, libraries, reliquaries, and cathedrals which all recognize the leadership of the domain's ruler. Functioning assets are assumed to be staffed by reasonably loyal and helpful underlings.

Typical staff include lay brethren, various types of clergy such as priests, nuns, monks, and the like. Some temples may include military orders, others may have substantial business activities such as property and land rental, brewing, the sale of indulgences (Brechtür in particular), education and similar scholarly activities (Khinasi), or other services.

Typical PC classes represented amongst temple holdings are priests, fighters, nobles (in Anuire for example, it is usual for the first child to inherit, the second to enter the military, and the third child enters into the clergy). Temples with business activities will often include guilders and rogues. Bards may be closely tied to the church (i.e. skalds in the Rjurik lands) and considered an important means of spreading culture, or scorned utterly (Khinasi).

There are three kinds of personnel to be found at a temple holding, whatever its nature. The first are clergy. These will be cleric, druid, aristocrat, scholar, canonist, expert and other types of clergy. They will perform rituals, run the temple, and make executive decisions based on traditional practice or theological teaching.

Second is the acolyte. Acolytes will typically be as numerous as clergy. They are students, clergy in training, penitents, and supplicants serving the temple. Most will be commoners, though types typical of clergy can be found starting their careers. A tiny reflection of the broader population can also be found as penitents and supplicants among the acolytes.

Third, there is a group of people half a large as the clergy who can be found at the holding, but their description depends entirely on the nature of the holding. A military outpost would have fighters and warriors perhaps lead by a paladin. A library would have additional scholars and experts. This last group may be permanantly attached to the holding or may be faithful followers making use of the holding, depending on circumstances.

See Also: User:Trevyr/Temple Holdings - fan notes on the size and staff of temple holdings