Order of the Nightmother

The church influences more than worship—it shapes the laws, customs, and moral compass of the United Realms. From naming ceremonies and funerals to marriage rites and inheritance laws, the Order's teachings are deeply interwoven with daily life.

To betray one’s family or sever ancestral ties is seen not just as a personal failure, but as spiritual blasphemy.

After the rebellion that marked the founding of the United Realms, King Velmir I—first of his line and the Chosen of Yami—established the Church of the Nightmother. Guided by divine vision, he appointed the first Umbra Matron, Teal, who began the sacred lineage of spiritual leaders. Together, they laid the foundation of the Church, built upon the grace and blessings uniquely bestowed by Yami. Unlike the followers of other deities, the people of the United Realms would become devout worshipers of Yami alone, their kingdom and faith forever intertwined.

Family Above All: The Order teaches that family is sacred, and that protecting one's kin is the highest expression of faith. The blessings of Yami flow most strongly to those who uphold and defend their family lineage.

Shadow as Shelter: To the faithful, darkness is not a place of evil, but a sanctuary. It is a veil that shields the innocent, preserves secrets, and offers comfort in times of hardship—not a mask for sin.

Legacy and Bloodline: The divine right to rule is granted through Yami’s chosen bloodline, and the continuation of that lineage is considered holy. The Order upholds the belief that true strength comes not from individual power, but from generational unity.

Umbra Matron

The Umbra Matron is the sacred head of the Church of Yami. She leads the faithful and serves as the divine guide to the Crowned Arbiter and the royal family. Believed to be personally chosen and blessed by the Holy Nightmother, she receives divine visions and inspiration. Her role is both spiritual and political—offering wisdom, prophecy, and sacred counsel to nobles and commoners alike. To the follower Umbra Matron and the royal are on equal footing in power of the church

Shadowguide

Shadowguides are high priests and priestesses who act as the arms and voice of the Umbra Matron. They:

• Interpret her divine messages
• Spread the teachings of Yami across the land
• Guide lower clergy in ritual practice and spiritual care
• Serve as advisors to the Seven Pillar Families and noble lineages
• Hold and preserve the deepest secrets of the court and bloodlines

They are the sacred bridge between divine truth, ancestral legacy, and political wisdom.

Veil Priest / Veil Priestess

These are the primary clergy that most citizens interact with. A Veil Priest or Priestess conducts day-to-day temple activities:

• Leading worship and festivals
• Performing blessings and rites
• Offering spiritual guidance and family counseling
• Presiding over rituals of birth, coming-of-age, and death

They embody Yami’s ideals of protection, family, and quiet strength, serving communities both large and small.

Nightward Acolyte

The Nightward Acolyte is a young or newly ordained member of the Church, currently studying the sacred teachings and assisting senior clergy. They are often assigned to temples under the guidance of a Veil Priest/Priestess or Shadowguide.

Specialized Roles

Oathshade

The Oathshade is entrusted with the sacred responsibility of:

• Administering vows, oaths, and sacred contracts
• Hearing confessions in secrecy and guiding penitents toward redemption through the Nightmother’s will
• Presiding over weddings, funerals, and the Veil of Baptism, which welcomes souls permanently into Yami’s embrace

They also decide when secrets are to be kept, cleansed, or revealed, often bearing burdens no others can.

Veilkeeper

Veilkeepers are the chroniclers of the divine bloodlines—historians, scribes, and archivists of the Church. They:  

• Preserve family trees, noble records, and sacred texts
• Enforce the legitimacy of names and lineages
• Guard ancestral laws and legacies

They are especially revered in royal courts, where their word may determine inheritance, honor, or banishment.

Thornwarden

A Thornwarden is a sacred guardian of the Church's militant branch. They:

• Serve as mentors, confessors, and commanders to the Whisperguard
• Administer divine blessings and battlefield forgiveness
• Hold final judgment on whether sacred missions violate the Nightmother’s code

They walk the line between priest and paladin, bearing the weight of holy wrath and divine mercy.

Whisperguard

The Whisperguard are Yami’s shield and sword—paladins and war-clerics sanctified to protect the faith, its followers, and the royal family. They:

• Defend sacred sites and escort clergy
• Serve alongside the Kingdom’s army and act as an elite force within the Royal Guard
• Investigate threats to legacy, heresy, or divine order

While loyal to the Church, they work in tandem with military command, forming a formidable alliance of faith and steel.