The Holy Order of Vix is the spiritual and political body of Xian and Vixism. The order consists of the government (Head of Vix), clergy (Heart of Vix), military (Scepter of Vix), hermetic order (Flame of Vix), and commoners (Hand of Vix). All members of the order are devout followers of Vix, the goddess of fire.
Head of Vix
The Head of Vix is the political branch of the Holy Order. The Head runs the day to day operations of Xian including collecting taxes and tarrifs, allocating Xian's resources, and determining foreign policies.
The leader of the Head is the Emperor, currently Zal dol Sai, who has sat on the throne for 21 years. The lineage of the Emperor is said to trace all the way back to Fereydun, Vix's champion in the Age of Gods. The Emperor lives in the palace at Mihr, where he holds attendence with foreign leaders and diplomats and makes decrees.
The Emperor commands all of Xian, but local luminaries have a bigger influence on their populace. Luminaries can be men or women. Most transitions of power are based on lineage, but some choose successors outside their family. There is no simple path to becoming a luminary and joining the Head.
Heart of Vix
The Heart of Vix is the spiritual branch of the Holy Order and the foundation of Vixism. The Heart establishes and maintains fire temples, keeps holy scriptures and records, and spreads traditions, legends, and teachings.
The leader of the Heart is the Phoenix, currently Fua dol Gho, who was reborn 41 years ago. The Phoenix is the spiritual leader of Vixians everywhere, responsible for sanctifying new temples and appointing Phlogistons. The Phoenix lives in Adur Mihr, where he protects the Royal Flame. When a Phoenix dies, their body is cremated in a ritual presided over by all Phlogistons, who pray until the smoke engulfs one of them and the Phoenix is reborn in their body.
A Phlogiston is a leader of a fire temple or protector of the Royal Flame. Phlogistons are responsible for maintaining their temple and eternal flame, fostering Embers, and serving as spiritual advisors in their local governments. Phlogistons also send Embers on missions to spread the word of Vix and establish new temples. A Phlogiston is appointed by the Phoenix when a new temple is established or another Phlogiston dies.
An Ember is a Vixian priest. Embers serve in a fire temple under a Phlogiston, tending to the temple and its eternal flame. Anyone who completes the confirmation ritual can become an Ember, devoting their life to service to their goddess, their temple, and their community, in that order. The highest honor an Ember can recieve from their Phlogiston is to be selected to go on missions to spread the word of Vix. If their mission results in the founding of a new temple, it is very likely that they will be appointed Phlogiston of that temple.
Scepter of Vix
The Scepter of Vix is the military branch of the Holy Order. The Scepter performs both defensive and offensive military operations in the interest of protecting Xian.
The leader of the Scepter is the Commander, currently Soraya daughter of Fariba, who won the role 6 years ago. The Commander holds absolute authority over the Scepter, and answers only to the Emperor. The Commander officially is stationed in Mihr, but is frequently traveling and reachable only by messenger. She has multiple advisors, but her decisions are final. If a Commander goes against the advice of one of their advisors, and the operation fails, that advisor can challenge her to a combat for the position. In her 6 years, no advisor has had the opportunity to challenge her.
In addition to combat operations, soldiers of the Scepter frequently accompany Embers on missions for protection.
Flame of Vix
The Flame of Vix is the hermetic branch of the Holy Order. The Flame studies, develops, and teaches magic. While the Flame's focus is on fire magic, there is some minor crossover into the other elements.
The leader of the Flame is the Sage, currently Mahya daughter of Tarhim, who reached enlightenment 28 years ago. The Sage is the most knowledgable fire mage in Xian, and possibly the whole world. The Sage leads and reside in the Tower of Silence, the school for Xian mages, but her primary role is the development of new spells. To become the Sage, Mahya first mastered immunity to fire and burning, then developed a spell allowing her body to permanently stay burning. The Flame had been without a Sage for 5 years prior, so her achievement was highly celebrated.
Mages studying in the Temple of Silence are often brought there as children, though a few come as adults. The training process is long and difficult. The first year entrants are treated as servents, forbidden to speak or utter any sound, and expected only to watch and listen with no formal training. After a year, lessons in fire magic begin, though many of the entrants had practiced on their own and developed their own methods for drawing magic. This technique is supposed to produce a diversity of abilities, and has the added benefit of weeding out those without the discipline to handle fire.
Hand of Vix
The Hand of Vix is the largest branch of the Holy Order, consisting of craftsmen, merchants, farmers, hunters, fishers, healers, and other commoners.
The leader of the Hand is the Pointer, currently Mazim dol Sep, who was elected 2 years ago. Prior to his role as Pointer, Mazim lead the Banaji artisan guild through a beetle infestation that had badly damaged their forests to become the most prosperous artisan guild in Xian. The Pointer is called such because they provide direction to the guilds, monitoring the state of the islands and guiding production of crops and goods ahead of potential shortages and surpluses. Mazim is new to the role and still learning, but the guildmasters have demonstrated faith in him by not calling for a reelection yet.
Most commoners know they are part of the Hand and follow the guidance of guildmasters, trusting they will be led to prosperity.
Foreign Policy
The Holy Order has generations of experience influencing governments, and typically avoids direct conflict. Xian presents itself as a simple, peaceful collection of islands rather than a well organized global power. Beneath the surface, the branches of the Order work together to expand their influence to other nations.
The Order's dominant strategy for expanding influence is through the Heart. When a fire temple is established in a foreign country, the Ember who produced this opportunity is often promoted to Phlogiston in charge of the temple. The Phlogiston then has influence and established relationships with the local people and authorities, making them better able to influence both. Fire temples provide refuge and service to the poor, making them highly popular with the common folk. A small contingent of the Scepter, often disguised as commoners or Embers, discretely protect the locals from threats. The Hand manipulates markets from afar to create a shortage, only to be arrive with a shipment just as the locals get restless. The Flame send a few mages to enhance festivals with fire shows. As more locals develop a favorable opinion of the fire temple and convert, the Head guides diplomatic talks between the Phlogiston and local leaders to produce favorable conditions for further expansion.
However, sometimes local leaders get bold and attempt to defy or expel the order. The order tries to avoid destabilizing local governments whenever possible. It is better to be seen as an ally and advisor than a conqueror. If they can discretely create a change in leadership, that is the preferred solution. Sometimes that is deemed too risky, and the fire temple is closed and abandoned. Conditions are carefully curated before the order leaves to encourage civil unrest and difficulties for the leader, in hopes of returning in the future to a warm welcome.