Hierarchy of the Church
Homebrew Content for Clerics, Paladins, and Religious Characters
For a campaign I was running in which a player was being a Paladin of the Forgotten Realms’s deity, Illmater, I created the hierarchy of the church. This allowed him to explore his role as paladin more fully, and really branch out his roleplaying to not just be a stereotypical “holy warrior”. I highly recommend using either this structure, or another one of your own design, for any characters who are clerics or paladins.
Church of The Crying God, god of suffering and martyrs
Position Title (“Title within the church”)
Acolyte (“Weeper”) — This is the first initiation into the church. It is typically 9 months of service, though it can be waived in the case of special deeds or previous devotion within the clergy of an allied church.
Adept (“Bled”) — This is the first stage of the clergy. Bled can aid clerics and priests in rituals, but can also provide spiritual instruction and guidance to lay people. They are expected to have some training in the ways of easing suffering through medicine or supportive/community care. This stage requires 5 years of service, but can be shortened for those who have spent time in service to a church of an equally good deity.
Priest (“Pained”) — These are the people who dedicate themselves to one temple or community and are viewed as a leader to laypeople. They conduct regular masses and oversee larger ceremonies. They are paid by the church, and can delegate tasks to Weepers and Bled. They pray and get spells similar to a cleric.
Cleric (“Reliever”) — Priests have the option of being trained in the ways of travelling ministry, which earns them this designation. They are welcomed at any temple they visit and are recognized as having similar authority to any Pained who are serving there. Clerics are expected to donate money to the church regularly, gathered through their travels. They also must complete reports of acts they have done to ease suffering in the world. These are collected and used throughout Faerun as part of the ministry that brings hope to others. One must achieve certain favour with the god before they can advance, and this manifests in the strength of the spells that are available to them.
Paladin (“Bringer”) — Paladins have more authority over clerics even, and they are charged with stopping suffering through even more aggressive means. Paladins are called to fight for the church as needed, forming a private army of the Crying God. They are charged with healing, but also with the careful task of determining when suffering may be administered. All Paladins must participate in a yearly training event that challenges their understanding of morality from the perspectives of the church. They are paid by the church for tasks that call upon their judgement to inflict suffering. They are also expected to fill out reports of their deeds, similar to clerics.
**The specializations below are designations that are above Cleric/Paladin but below Cleric Noble/High Paladin. These designations allow for more authority when delegating specific kinds of tasks or requesting resources.**
Cleric Specializations:
Healer (Finds people in need of healing or suffering eased, and eases it)
Community Outreach (Brings people into the church, and encourages social services and programs developed)
Preacher (Communicates church doctrine and guidance to lay people)
Advisor (Communicates church doctrine and guidance to people of influence)
Combat Medic (Works with an allied army to fight with the troops, or coordinate healing)
Paladin Specializations:
War Advisor (Works with an army to advise on tactics, and will fight with the troops)
Ethics Adjudicator (Ensures that wars are fought ethically, and punishment given to civilized lands who are cruel)
Justice Deliverer (Executioner) (Kills those who are found guilty and sentenced to death)
Innocent Protector (fights for the poor)
Advocate for Redemption (Lives their life as an example, trying to put an end to needless violence, seeking non-violent means of ending conflicts, and advocating for those who have violence used against them)
Hunter (Seeks out uncivilized groups who cause suffering to eliminate, such as evil barbarians)
Cleric Noble (“Carrier”) — A leader among clerics, these are the members of the church who offer guidance within the church, participate more wholly in acts that end suffering and require greater power to do so. They are more influential, and are often sent to advise nobles, politicians, and other churches. They are also expected to do the duties of a cleric, but have the authority to use resources of the church without cost.
High Paladin (“Deliverer”) — Similar to the difference between Cleric and Cleric Noble, but instead of advising politicians, they advise monarchs and generals in war.
High Priest (“Sufferer”) — The highest rank within the church, often held by those who have served for 20 years or more. They come from the ranks of Staunchers, Deliverers, and in rare cases, Pained. They have total authority over large amounts of church resources, can delegate any tasks on behalf of the church, and can influence church practice. They are expected to work in such a way that fights suffering on a grander, more worldly scale by seeking to change societies and theologies of others.
Saints (“Martyrs”) — Though not always dead at the time of their sainthood, these select few rank above all other members in the church, having a direct connection to the Crying God himself.
