The Church of Hathor
The Church of Hathor is renowned as the most public-facing and culturally integrated of the major Pharaonic religious organizations. Dedicated to Hathor—the benevolent goddess of Love, Music, Dance, Fate, and Motherhood—the Church is devoted to enhancing the quality of mortal life, fostering communal well-being, and instructing followers on how to savor their divine gifts. The Church's influence extends deeply into the arts, family life, and healing, making its presence welcome in nearly every town and city. The highest spiritual authority is reserved for women, ensuring the High Priestess and her governing body maintain a strong matriarchal focus.
Tenets of Faith
The theology of Hathor is an affirming one, demanding that followers engage with and protect the joys and beauty of the mortal world.
- Savor Life's Blessings: The essential command is to engage fully with the life granted by the gods, savoring art, music, love, and dance. The deliberate enjoyment and creation of beauty are considered high forms of spiritual worship.
- The Protection of Joy: Followers are obligated to protect these blessings and the communal well-being from any source of malice or despair. Their duty is to uplift and comfort the afflicted.
- Fate and Inspiration: The acts of creation—whether composing music, painting, or bearing a child—are seen as direct collaborations with Hathor, who is believed to inspire mortals and weave their individual Fate.
- Motherhood as Sanctuary: Motherhood is regarded as the most sacred expression of the life cycle. The home and the family are the primary sanctuary, deserving of the greatest reverence and protection.
- Compassion is Divine: Compassion, generosity, and kindness are not optional virtues but the necessary components that sustain the community.
Priesthood
The Church's structure is designed for maximum public outreach, artistic direction, and management of sacred services, with the highest ranks being exclusively female.
| Rank Level | Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Spiritual Leader | High Priestess (The Eternal Muse) | The supreme spiritual and administrative head. (Must be female). |
| Governing Quorum | The Quorum of Nine Guiding Fates | The highest administrative council; sets doctrine and oversees the entire religious organization. (All members must be female). |
| Quorum Rank | Guiding Fate | The highest earned priestly rank. One member is assigned as the liaison to the Sisterhood of the Mother. |
| Presiding Keys (Local Office) | Conductor of the Joyful Current | The specific calling given to a cleric to preside over and direct a local Temple district. |
| Grandmaster Rank | Eternal Composer of Fate | A rare, ultra-elite rank signifying profound understanding of Fate and mastery over the creative arts. This priestess/priest serves as a Master-at-Large, providing counsel on destiny and inspiring communal art and music. |
| High Administrative | Mistress/Master of Harmony | Senior administrators responsible for regional oversight, and the direction of the Church's various artistic and musical guilds. |
| Mid-Level Rank | Daughter/Son of the Lyric | The primary clerical rank; responsible for daily rituals, organizing communal music and dance, and theological instruction. They often serve as artists and teachers. |
| Low-Level Rank | Disciple of Joy | Entry-level rank; focused on initial theological study, compassionate service, and assisting higher clergy in public outreach. |
Ordination and Promotion in the Church of Hathor
All ordination ceremonies are conducted by the laying on of hands, which physically transfers the priesthood authority.
I. Priesthood Succession (Matriarchal Core)
The flow of authority is highly centralized, reflecting the importance of the Matriarchal core.
| Office/Rank | Appointment Authority | Ordaining Authority |
|---|---|---|
| High Priestess (The Eternal Muse) | Elected by a majority vote of the Quorum of Nine Guiding Fates. | The Quorum of Nine Guiding Fates collectively performs the ordination ceremony. |
| Guiding Fate (Quorum Rank) | Appointed and called by the High Priestess. | Ordained by the High Priestess. |
| Eternal Composer of Fate (Grandmaster Rank) | The Quorum of Nine Guiding Fates | Guiding Fate (Quorum Rank) |
| Mistress/Master of Harmony (High Admin Rank) | Promoted by recommendation of the local Conductor of the Joyful Current and approval by the Quorum of Nine Guiding Fates. | Ordained by the High Priestess (or a Guiding Fate designated by the High Priestess). |
II. Delegation of Presiding and Ordaining Authority
| Office/Rank | Appointment/Promotion Authority | Ordaining Authority (Who Performs Ceremony) |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor of the Joyful Current (Presiding Keys) | Called by the High Priestess to preside over a local temple district. | Ordained by the High Priestess or a Guiding Fate designated by the High Priestess. |
| Daughter/Son of the Lyric (Mid-Level Rank) | Promotion granted after approval from the local Conductor of the Joyful Current. | Ordained by a Mistress/Master of Harmony. |
| Disciple of Joy (Low-Level Rank) | Promotion granted after approval from the local Conductor of the Joyful Current. | Ordained by a Daughter/Son of the Lyric. |
The Paladins of the Joyous Heart (Hathor's General Military)
This order is the secular military arm of the Church, dedicated to the compassionate protection of the common populace, the sanctity of public gatherings, and the defense of the arts.
I. Paladin Structure
The ranks reflect their dedication to the arts, communal well-being, and defensive duty.
| Military Rank | Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Commander | The Master of the Chorus (Chief Paladin) | Leads the entire order; answers to the High Priestess. This office is always held by a female paladin. |
| Presiding Paladin | Captain of the Lyre | The calling given to an officer to preside over the defense of a local Temple district and its surrounding public spaces. |
| Officer Corps | Dancer of the Shield | Officer rank; commands detachments; focuses on de-escalation and securing artistic events and communal gatherings. |
| Core Warrior | Heart Shield | The fully consecrated warrior rank; specializes in non-lethal defense, protection of children, and promoting peace at festivals. |
| Novice | Acolyte of the Song | Paladin in training; focuses on martial discipline, compassion training, and musical/artistic discipline. |
II. Promotion and Ordination Process
The ordination process for the Paladins of the Joyous Heart maintains the authority flow from the Matriarchal Priesthood (Church of Hathor) to the military ranks.
| Rank/Title | Promotion Requirement | Spiritual Ordaining Authority |
|---|---|---|
| The Master of the Chorus | Appointed by the High Priestess based on merit and loyalty. | Ordained by the High Priestess of Hathor. |
| Captain of the Lyre | Calling: Appointed by the Master of the Chorus. | Ordained by the Master of the Chorus. |
| Dancer of the Shield | Requires documented merit and a recommendation from the Conductor of the Joyful Current. | Ordained by a Mistress/Master of Harmony. |
| Heart Shield | Requires successful completion of all training and approval from a Dancer of the Shield. | Ordained by a Conductor of the Joyful Current (The local presiding priest). |
| Acolyte of the Song | Entry granted after testing and vow of allegiance. | Vow administered by a Daughter/Son of the Lyric. |
Granted Divine Powers
I. Affiliation Score Criteria (AS)
The modifiers reward acts of creativity, communal joy, and defense of mothers and children.
| Action/Event | Modifier (AS Change) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| One-Time Modifiers (AS Added Once) | ||
| Take the Vow of Grace (Initiation) | +5 | One-Time |
| Character Level | +1/2 Character Level (rounded down) | One-Time |
| Perform checks in a primary artistic skill (Perform, Craft) 5 or more ranks | +3 | One-Time |
| Knowledge (Local) 5 or more ranks (reflects community integration) | +3 | One-Time |
| Possess proficiency with any Musical Instrument | +2 | One-Time |
| Possess 1st level spells of the Good or Luck domain | +2 | One-Time |
| Successfully perform a High-Level Ritual for the Quorum | +10 | One-Time |
| Successfully host a major public festival of music and joy | +12 | One-Time |
| Stacking Modifiers (AS Added Multiple Times) | ||
| Successfully organize a large, communal artistic or musical event | +4 | Stacking |
| Successfully protect a mother or child during a crisis | +3 | Stacking |
| Successfully interpret a significant dream or vision (Fate) | +3 | Stacking |
| Successfully comfort a community suffering from despair | +2 | Stacking |
| Penalty Modifiers (AS Deducted) | ||
| Willfully fail to aid a mother or child in immediate danger | -10 | Stacking |
| Engage in behavior that spreads public despair or hopelessness | -6 | Stacking |
| Create malicious or destructive art/music (antithetical to joy) | -8 | Stacking |
| Fail to honor a promise made to a friend or partner | -4 | Stacking |
II. Cleric/Priesthood Ranks, Benefits, and Duties (4 Ranks)
This track is focused on artistic direction, compassionate service, and administration.
| AS Range | Title/Rank Achieved | Priesthood Office | Primary Duty & Benefit (Game Mechanics) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 5 | Lay Follower | None | No special duties or benefits. |
| 6 - 15 | Disciple of Joy | Low-Level Rank | Duty: Theological study; compassionate service. Benefit: +1 bonus to Perform checks. |
| 16 - 30 | Daughter/Son of the Lyric | Mid-Level Rank | Duty: Organize communal music and dance; local instruction. Benefit: Gain +1 bonus to Diplomacy when dealing with artistic guilds. Once per day, may reroll a failed Perform check. |
| 31 - 75 | Mistress/Master of Harmony | High Admin Rank | Duty: Regional oversight; direct the Church's artistic and musical guilds. Benefit: Gain Leadership feat (if eligible). +2 bonus to Concentration checks when casting spells with the Good domain. |
| 76+ | Eternal Composer of Fate | Grandmaster Rank | Duty: Provide Quorum counsel; interpret destiny; direct creation of major artworks. Benefit: Gain a +1 bonus to the save DC of all spells of the Good or Luck domains. Once per day, may cast Lesser Restoration as a spell-like ability (CL equal to character level). |
III. Paladin Ranks, Benefits, and Duties (3 Ranks - Paladins of the Joyous Heart)
This track is focused on the martial defense of the innocent and securing public gatherings.
| AS Range | Title/Rank Achieved | Military Rank | Primary Duty & Benefit (Game Mechanics) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 5 | Lay Follower | None | No special duties or benefits. |
| 6 - 30 | Acolyte of the Song | Novice Rank | Duty: Training in martial and artistic discipline. Benefit: Gain +1 bonus to Initiative when defending a non-combatant. |
| 31 - 60 | Heart Shield | Core Warrior | Duty: Non-lethal defense; securing public festivals; protection of children. Benefit: Gain Weapon Focus (Non-lethal). Gain a +1 bonus to all Saving Throws against spells/abilities with the Fear descriptor. |
| 61+ | Dancer of the Shield | Highest PC Rank | Duty: Command detachments; de-escalation; secure artistic events. Benefit: May use the Aid Another action to grant a bonus to a nearby ally's Perform check (as a move action). May Smite Evil one additional time per day. |
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Deities
Location
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