Level 1: Novitiate (Daughter)
Novitiate is the first rank within the Thunder Priestess faction. The newly initiated Novitiate wears white robes to denote her status. She is expected to attend training in the form of classes and tutoring in order to learn about the sisterhood’s goals and branches, as well as the skills needed to advance. She is also expected to complete daily chores within the Lightning Cathedral so as to help with its upkeep and test her devotion.
Each Novitiate is assigned a Priestess as her mentor, who guides her through her daily activities and is available to answer any questions that may arise. The Novitiate’s mentor often helps her select a branch that best aligns with her skills and attends her graduation ceremony. Many Priestesses continue to interact with their mentors even after they’ve been promoted from the Novitiate rank.
Once a Novitiate completes their training, serves at least one season within the sisterhood, and meets the minimum skill/knowledge requirements to advance, she may select one of the four branches to join and is promoted the role of Priestess. This choice is usually made by each Novitiate depending on their individual skillsets and interests. On occasion, however, Novitiates may find themselves directed to join a specific branch based on the faction’s needs.
A ceremony is held to commemorate each Novitiate’s graduation. Here, the Novitiate trades in her white robes for robes in a dark purple shade and completes a short ritual. The ceremony is open to anyone in the faction, but, at very least, her mentor and a Head Priestess representing her chosen branch will be in attendance. The graduation ritual varies depending on the branch:
- Clerics light a candle to signify that they will lead Ilaren’s followers through the darkness.
- Healers re-pot a small plant to symbolize renewal and continued growth.
- Emissaries write the Oath on a piece of parchment before burning the paper to ash. The action symbolizes their loyalty to Ilaren, as well as the ever-changing nature and relevance of knowledge.
- Warriors cut a thin line into the palm of their non-dominant hand with a dagger to symbolize their willingness to bleed for Ilaren’s cause.
After the ritual, the Head Priestess pronounces the Novitiate an official Priestess and may introduce her to the Lightning Knight Liaison who she will be partnered with. The pair each throw back a shot of whiskey and, with that, the graduation ceremony is complete.
Skill Requirements: N/A
Mark Requirements: N/A
Level 2: Priestess (Sister)
A Priestess acts as a representative for her branch, and she wears a silver chain-linked bracelet as a reminder of the connection between herself and her sisters. Her trials consist of improving her skills, mentoring Novitiates, and accepting low- to medium-profile assignments. She will often be assigned a Lightning Knight as a guard, and so some of her time is also spent building trust with their partner.
Priestesses are given assignments from the High Priestesses and Head Priestesses, and are expected to accept their orders without argument. Depending on the branch and the assignment, they may find themselves asked to travel to other cities. Though they are given as much advance warning as possible, they must always be prepared to leave Rharne should the need arise.
Branch: Cleric
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Competent)
- Meditation (Competent)
- Persuasion (Competent)
- Teaching or Storytelling (Novice)
- Leadership (Novice)
Mark Requirements: N/A
Branch: Healer
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Competent)
- Medicine (Competent)
- Poisons (Competent)
- Surgery (Novice)
- Resistance (Novice)
Mark Requirements: N/A
Branch: Emissary
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Competent)
- Politics (Competent)
- Rhetoric (Competent)
- Intelligence (Novice)
- Leadership (Novice)
Mark Requirements: N/A
Branch: Warrior
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Competent)
- Weapon (Competent)
- Intelligence or Investigation (Competent)
- Tactics (Novice)
- Disguise or Deception (Novice)
Mark Requirements: N/A
Level 3: High Priestess (Sister)
In order to advance from Priestess to High Priestess, a sister must have Ilaren’s trust and are sometimes asked to complete a test of loyalty. All High Priestesses are given Palenon’s blessing, and must show a high level of competence in the skills required by their branch. Much like a Priestess, a High Priestess acts as a representative for her branch and spends her time improving her skills, giving assignments to Priestesses, and accepting medium- to high-profile assignments. High Priestesses wear two silver chain-linked bracelets to represent the increase in responsibility that they have accepted.
Branch: Cleric
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Expert)
- Meditation (Expert)
- Persuasion (Expert)
- Teaching or Storytelling (Competent)
- Leadership (Competent)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Favored or higher)
Branch: Healer
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Expert)
- Medicine (Expert)
- Poisons (Expert)
- Surgery (Competent)
- Resistance (Competent)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Favored or higher)
Branch: Emissary
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Expert)
- Politics (Expert)
- Rhetoric (Expert)
- Intelligence (Competent)
- Leadership (Competent)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Favored or higher)
Branch: Warrior
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Expert)
- Weapon (Expert)
- Intelligence or Investigation (Expert)
- Tactics (Competent)
- Disguise or Deception (Competent)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Favored or higher)
Level 4: Head Priestess (Sister)
The Head Priestesses lead each of the four branches. There is one Head Priestess per branch, and each wears a gold chain-linked bracelet to symbolize her leadership over her branch. The Head Priestess’ role is to organize missions for her specific branch, to resolve conflicts between sisters, to oversee the recruitment and training of Novitiates and Priestesses, and to communicate key information. Each Head Priestess is also expected to liaison with the other three Head Priestesses, the Matriarch, and Ilaren in order to understand the current and future state of the sisterhood and Rharne.
To become a Head Priestess, a Sister must meet the skill and mark requirements
and be voted into the role. When a Head Priestess position opens up, any High Priestess within the branch may be nominated or self-nominated to run for the position. Branches typically groom 2-3 High Priestesses to take over the role of Head Priestess should the opportunity present itself, but even those who have not been groomed for the role may be nominated as long as they meet the selection criteria.
Each nominee must have at least two Sisters who second the nomination, as well as the approval of the Matriarch. All of the Priestesses and High Priestesses in the branch will then participate in a ballot vote. The Sister with the most votes will become Head Priestess of the branch unless, in extremely rare circumstances, the Matriarch overrules the selection.
Branch: Cleric
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Master)
- Meditation (Master)
- Persuasion (Master)
- Teaching or Storytelling (Expert)
- Leadership (Expert)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Adored or higher)
Branch: Healer
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Master)
- Medicine (Master)
- Poisons (Master)
- Surgery (Expert)
- Resistance (Expert)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Adored or higher)
Branch: Emissary
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Master)
- Politics (Master)
- Rhetoric (Master)
- Intelligence (Expert)
- Leadership (Expert)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Adored or higher)
Branch: Warrior
Skill Requirements:
- Unarmed Combat (Master)
- Weapon (Master)
- Intelligence or Investigation (Master)
- Tactics (Expert)
- Disguise or Deception (Expert)
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Adored or higher)
Level 5: Matriarch (Mother)
There is only ever one Matriarch at a time. She governs all four branches, and represents the Thunder Priestess faction as one of the four mortal members on Rharne’s Council. Her role is to lead the Thunder Priestesses, to set the tone and vision for the faction, and to work directly with Ilaren to help achieve the Immortals’ goals. She has the final say in all matters related to the faction, and her authority is exceeded only by Ilaren herself.
The Matriarch wears a gold necklace with a lightning bolt charm, along with four gold chain-linked bracelets to symbolize her leadership over all of the faction’s branches. She is selected by Ilaren from the small group of Head Priestesses who lead each of the four branches and remains in her role until she either retires due to age, passes away, or, in extraordinary circumstances, is removed from her post by Ilaren.
Skill Requirements:
Mark Requirements: Mark of Palenon (Exalted)
