Canton

The common religion of Shield was an invention of the Orarchs imposed onto widely differing, numerous and heterogenous rituals, magic, gods, festivals, etc. in order to give them a common shape that justified the Orarchs’ rule. It’s been genuinely adopted by people in some places but superficially or not at all in others.

Theologians write devout and scholarly treatises on the nature of the Orarchs, ritual, and the divine. They are the ones in charge of defining new doctrine and overall direction for the imperial church. Members are often younger children of noble families. Some theologians specialize in non-religious topics like medicine or magical theory, and while there are secular Universities, none are as long-established or as well-funded. They are especially prominent in Arles and wear black robes and small black pointed hats.

The Orarchs denounced the Imperial religion and withdrew from their role as spiritual and political leaders several hundred years ago. This was disruptive for everyone, but maybe most of all to the theologians, who had dedicated their lives and their work to support for the Orarchs. The dominant ideology among theologians has been to continue the direction of religious thought prior to the denouncement, but this is controversial.

Priests of the imperial religion can be any gender, are usually drawn from the ranks of the commoners, and wear homespun white or off-white clothes, robes, or cloaks. They make up the branch of the church called the Canton, and run infirmaries, lead many different kinds of services, maintain shrines, brew wine, beer and medicine, and so on.