High Priest

Must be someone who not only worships the god in question, but studies them and their realms intensely. At time of appointment, focuses all of their religious energy on that one god. (Below this rank, this is not required and is even seen as deeply unusual.)

Decades of training in lesser ranks of priesthood and/or the express naming by a god. The selection by the deity in question and the acceptance of the human is the true act of making a High Priest, but most train for the position.   Bearing the weight of even a fraction of a god's full attention is potentially deadly, so the attitude leading up to the ritual is tense and solemn. Most who survive the focus of a deity become [Gods-Touched], marking them in some way with signs of that god's influence. Not all who are Gods-Touched are High Priests, but All High Priests are Gods-Touched.

Though chosen as a safe conduit for the deity to express themselves in a slightly more direct way, High Priests rarely receive these messages as they are still very taxing on their bodies and minds. In day to day life, they settle disputes of lower-ranking priests, oversee major rituals and are generally more of a program coordinator than anything. Despite their holy nature, they are not seen as an absolute authority, but more of a referee.

High Priests live at least part-time on the grounds of their gods' main temple. These homes range from modest to expansive, communal to singular, depending on the deity. They are not compensated directly, though many of the offerings given at the temples go to caring for the priests who serve there, including the High Priest. Many High Priests hold other positions of high office, which is where most of their political influence comes from.

Being Gods-Touched, there is always some sign of their deity on them that they cannot hide, and whatever it may be, it is considered part of their body. There is usually some raiment that are passed down from former High Priests, but this varies between the gods and the cultures in question.

It is very rare for a High Priest to be removed from their position. Usually they live out an unnaturally long lifespan and pass shortly before or after a new High Priest is named. There have been a few cases in which a High Priest has served for a few years, then decided they could not take the strain and retired, and a very few others in which the deity was directly offended and ousted the High Priest themselves.   There has only been one recorded event where other humans removed a High Priest from office. The priests of the Temple of Ensis are offered far more counsel now, in hopes they develop the self-control and empathy needed for the station long before they are chosen.