The priests of Kairos, known as the Kerusso, are fully ingrained into Kairosian society. Some prefer solitude to carry out scrying or meditation, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Ordinarily, they lead everyday lives alongside the citizenry, and their task is to spread the teachings of the Gods and offer spiritual guidance and understanding to any who seek it. Theological discussions are shared amongst the priesthood, with a desire to better understand the relationship between mortals and the Gods being a common theme.
In Kairos, all twelve Gods of the Pantheon are worshipped equally. In the past, the nation had its favourites, placing a trinity of the Gods above all others. The Muse, the Smith, and the Scholar sat at the forefront of the Kairosian people’s hearts for hundreds of years, their teachings shaping the Kairosians into what the world knew before the Great Invasion began.
After losing so much to the encroaching Corrupted, the remaining people of Kairos, led by a well-renowned and respected Theologian called Acasius of Mystikos, took to the streets of Naxara and convinced The Boule to elevate all the Gods to the same level, as it was believed that only by balanced worship, and by empowering all the Gods with our deeds and actions would we be able to fight back the Corrupted. The Council of the Pantheon was officially endorsed and formed that day, headed by Acasius, to guide the Boule in even worship.
Worship and Faith
Priests of the Twelve act as a unifying voice for the entire Pantheon and attempt to embody all twelve Gods’ collective will and teachings. They are figures of respect and responsibility, representing the balance and harmony between the Gods’ diverse domains. Such a priest often acts as a mediator, advisor, and spiritual guide, emphasising the interconnectedness of life and the importance of honouring all aspects of existence.
Their role requires a profound understanding of each God’s teachings and how they interact. For example, they might guide a community in balancing teachings of The Smith’s industriousness with The Hearth’s need for rest or ensure that The Guardian’s protective nature tempers the Warrior’s aggression. A Priest of the Twelve symbolises Kairosi values, reminding the people that nothing can truly thrive without others, not even the Gods.
Each nation may worship the same Gods, but they do not necessarily worship them in the same way. Kairos has a somewhat unique outlook on some of the Gods, partly because of its age and because it views the Gods as a whole instead of individually. Below are the common ways each God is worshipped within Kairos and some of the roles and responsibilities of priests of their domains, though none of these are enforced doctrines or universal beliefs.
The Jester
The Jester’s presence is felt wherever joy, art, and creativity thrive. Festivals, plays, and street performances are central to Kairosi culture, ensuring stories and songs are passed through generations. The Jester’s influence ensures that people find hope and moments of light even in hardship.
The Jester’s priests are entertainers, storytellers, and provocateurs. They might lead a troupe of performers, teach storytelling, or use satire to critique leaders who stray from justice. Priests often dress flamboyantly to draw attention, blending humour with wisdom to inspire joy and resilience in others.
The Hearth
The Hearth embodies the warmth of home and nurtures both body and soul. Kairosi homes are sanctuaries, with shared meals, family gatherings, and restful evenings treated as sacred rituals. Healing is not only physical but emotional and communal, with acts of kindness and care considered offerings to the Hearth. A fire burning in the hearth of a home is seen as a symbol of divine blessing, and many families keep small altars with tokens of the God.
Priests of the Hearth act as healers and caregivers, ensuring the weak and weary find solace. They oversee medical healing and rituals restoring emotional balance, such as blessing new homes or comforting the grieving. Priests of the Hearth often carry small, portable shrines or symbols of the home fire, reminding all they meet of the divine comfort they offer.
The Muse
The Muse inspires Kairosi to dream and create, urging them to approach problems with ingenuity and passion. Scholars, artists, and inventors often turn to the Muse when they face creative blocks or seek new ideas. The God’s influence ensures that Kairosi culture remains vibrant and adaptive, emphasising innovation and expression. Every sculpture, melody, and invention is a tribute to the Muse’s guidance.
These priests are mentors and collaborators, helping others unlock their creative potential. They might guide artists in creating masterpieces, support inventors in refining their designs, or act as muses themselves, inspiring others through their actions. They often carry tools like brushes, instruments, or blueprints, symbolising their commitment to pursuing inspiration.
The Smith
The Smith’s domain ensures that Kairosi society is built on productivity and resilience. Every tool forged, structure raised, or broken item repaired is a testament to the God’s influence. The Smith’s teachings emphasise hard work and adaptability, reminding followers that even destruction can lead to creation. Communities often come together for communal crafting, repairing, and building in the God’s name. The perfect example of this is the current rebuilding efforts on Terraphos, with hundreds of crafters coming together to work on a single project.
Priest of the Smith work closely with artisans and labourers, blessing forges, workshops, and building sites. They encourage innovation while honouring tradition, ensuring that both new creations and repurposing old ones are acts of devotion. Priests of the Smith are often skilled craftspeople themselves, using their talents as an example or to teach others.
The Warrior
The Warrior teaches the people of Kairos to face challenges head-on, encouraging boldness and determination. Martial practices are deeply respected, and combat training is seen as both a practical and spiritual skill. Festivals honouring the Warrior often include tournaments, emphasising the importance of preparation, practice, and self-improvement.
Traditionally, priests from this faith are leaders on and off the battlefield, offering blessings to warriors and guiding them in combat strategy. They train alongside soldiers, embodying the strength and resilience they preach and their presence on a battlefield has been known to more extraordinary more remarkable feats from their allies.
The Guardian
The Guardian emphasises love and protection, teaching Kairosi to safeguard what they hold dear. Acts of defence are important in the eyes of Guardian worshippers, from an act as bold as standing along in the door of a building, fighting against the creatures trying to get in to caring for a child that isn’t your after the death if it’s parents. The God’s influence is deeply felt in times of crisis, as Kairosi rally together to protect their people and land.
These priests are defenders of their communities’ physical and emotional well-being. They lead efforts to build defenses, mediate conflicts, and strengthen bonds of love and trust. Often carrying shields or other symbols of protection, they inspire others to stand firm in the face of adversity.
The Scholar
The Scholar fosters a culture of learning and curiosity. All libraries, schools and apprenticeships within Kairos are entirely free, as The Scholar teaches us that society stagnates when people stop pushing the boundaries of what we know.
Priests of the Scholar are keepers of knowledge and teachers. They guide their communities in solving problems, mastering skills, and understanding the world. To encourage learning and exploration, they often organize competitions or riddles and tutor anyone who asks for help in their individual fields of expertise.
The Traveler
The Traveler encourages exploration and the pursuit of new experiences. Kairosi see every journey as a chance for discovery and self-growth and they often travel abroad to learn skills from other nations, even if the world is considerably more dangerous now than in the past.
The Travelers’ priests are quasi-nomadic, wandering from place to place to guide and bless other travellers, often they find themselves away from their temples for days at a time. They might assist in maintaining roads, offer protection during journeys, or share stories of distant lands to inspire wanderlust.
The Justicar
The Justicar’s teachings ensure that Kairosi society remains fair and honourable. Justice and law are treated as divine concepts, and oaths taken in the Justicar’s name are unbreakable. Court proceedings and debates are often opened with prayers to the God. Before having to agree to the laws of the Court of Daggers to stay in Haven, the people of Kairos had their own set of laws with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation based on the Justicar’s teachings of fairness and honour. Imprisonment was not a punishment handed out in the nation, as it believed that taking somebody’s freedom away to that extent only encouraged obedience out of fear, not out of a sign that things were improving.
These priests act as experts on law and mediators, ensuring fair justice is served. Fair is an important word there, Kairos priests of the Justicar do not believe in excessive punishment or vengeful sentencing, seeing for reformative action and the chance for growth and redemption over harsh or violent punishments. They are often called upon to resolve disputes or protect the vulnerable, embodying the God’s commitment to fairness.
The Celebrant
The Celebrant embodies joy, community, and abundance. Sharing food, communal gatherings, and celebrating life are central to Kairosi culture, fostering unity and gratitude. Most of this comes, in some way, from the Celebrant. Often considered one of the less directly involved Gods, Kairosi people still try to keep room for it in their hearts, as forgetting joy and celebration doesn’t lead anywhere worth going.
Priests of the Celebrant organise celebrations and rituals, ensuring community spirit is always present. They bless crops and encourage acts of generosity, reminding Kairosi to cherish their connections. There are no traditional marriage ceremonies in Kairos, instead, declarations of love and oaths are sworn to a Priest of the Celebrant by the involved parties, who are then declared to be joined. Name swapping is not common at all due to ancestral relevance to many names or vocational pride. However, a Priest can agree to a name change if asked and justified.
The Shadow
The Shadow represents the mysteries of the universe and its hidden knowledge. It is a conduit to the other Gods, for all things must dwell within shadow at times, through which the oracles, diviners and augers of Kairos reach out to the God they are trying to interpret. This can explain why predictions are often confusing or vague; the information is filtered through the consciousness of The Shadow and then on to the scrying mortal.
Priests of the shadow are often Oracles, attempting to pry into the unknown. They believe that the closer they are to the God, the less they will be interfering with the message they receive. Often, this interpretation is taken literally, and Priests will lead group augury atop towers, mountains or hills, anywhere that brings them physically closer to the night sky.
The Reaper
The Reaper ensures that death is met with dignity and peace. Kairos understands that the end of life is a natural transition, and The Reaper is the God of final mercy. The Reaper does not kill; he simply comes to collect when it is time and ensures a smooth transition from life to death. He teaches the people of Kairos not to fear death, for they know that afterwards, their souls will be taken to where they belong by The Reaper.
Priests of the Reaper are guardians of life’s end, performing last rites and guiding families through grieving. They are often called upon to mediate disputes or offer wisdom when difficult choices must be made, embodying this God’s mercy. They may also assist in ensuring that the spirits of the dead are remembered and honoured, recording their stories and organising memorials that always celebrate the person’s life, even if those close to the departed struggle to accept the loss. They also have the task of informing the Masons that another body is ready for collection, then sitting vigil with that corpse until it is collected if the family is unavailable to ensure no tampering with the corpse happens.