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The religious fabric of the Keller Lands is as riven as its politics. It is currently split between three main sects, each with its own take on the Keller pantheon and their relationship to the world.
The Linealist Church is the official faith of the Keller Empire. Church doctrine states that Emperor Varatos Alikai, unifier of the Keller Lands, was an incarnation of (or perhaps a son of) the Sun God Aurintuli. The Church believes that it was Aurintuli’s will that the Keller lands be unified under his name, ruled by his anointed, assisted by his church. All reigning emperors since that time (1st Century KY) have been part of the Alikai Dynasty, taking part in the state rituals that validate their continued presence on the throne. The Linealist Church sets the worship of Aurintuli above all other deities, who occupy positions subordinate to him in a divine court. The Imperial Court is a conscious imitation of this. The Emperor is the head of the Linealist Church, focus of its attention but not an object of worship. The Emperor is assisted in his religious duties by the “High Patriarch of the Empire”, the highest religious official in the Keller Lands. It is the High Patriarch’s job to assist and advise the Emperor in religious and spiritual matters - indeed, it is a position of considerable influence and power. At times there has been tension between Throne and Church, but ultimately the Throne remains supreme. The current High Patriarch is Tarabrinus, a cunning and cynical man, skilled in magic and rhetoric.
Below the “High Patriarch” is a vast hierarchy of sub-units, usually mirroring the temporal structure of the Empire. Within the Keller Empire, there is a “Patriarch” of each Imperial Domain, and a “Archpriest” within each Imperial Province. Provinces are further divided into Temple Districts, usually one for each region of major city, led by a “High Priest”. Each individual temple, regardless of size or influence, is then led by a “Senior Priest” with various levels of priests below him. The Linealist Church forbids women to be ordained as priests, though they may serve as nuns and abbesses in certain limited orders.
The cults and religions of the other deities are independent of the Linealist hierarchy, though they remain subordinate to it. In most cases, these other cults are limited to a single “Prime Temple”, whose high priest or priestess is accorded the rank of “Patriarch” or “Matriarch”, and and then a series of “High Priests” and “Priests” in charge of various sizes of temple. It is forbidden by law to openly disrespect these lesser orders, but they have much less influence over affairs in the Empire. In a few cases, such as the cult of Komusta, there are only a few temples in the empire, but these temples are large and relatively influential. In general, the more important the deity, the larger their order is.
Keller states or feudal domains which still follow the Linealist Church fit within the hierarchy in a slightly modified capacity - major states such as Templehoff and Jastros each have an “Archpriest” as though an Imperial Province. Smaller feudal domains within larger states, such as Linealist duchies in Halleck or certain Hyspedean states, usually have a “High Priest”, as though a Temple District. These church officials continually work to bring their host regions into the Keller Imperial orbit - it is commonly believed that should a domain rejoin the Empire, the various head priests will move up in rank. If Tempelhoff were to rejoin the Keller Empire, for example, it would do so as a new Domain, and the Archpriest would likely be promoted to Patriarch of Tempelhoff. This is a source of tension between the Linealist Church and temporal rulers in many non-Linealist lands.
The Keller Civil War at the end of the 4th century KY was partially fueled by a split in the Church, now called the “Linealist - Selectionist” Schism. The Selectionists believed that while the Empire was divinely inspired at the beginning, Emperor Varatos was not in fact a descendant or incarnation of Aurintuli. They believe instead that he was a mortal of exceeding qualities, chosen by the Sun God to rule in his name. The Selectionists believe that this Divine Mandate was lost by Varatos’s descendants, most of whom were not nearly as capable as he. Sennach II and Sennach III are often specified as the ones who lost the Divine Mandate. Selectionist dogma holds that no current ruler holds the Divine Mandate, though many eagerly await the appearance of someone who can claim it. The Selectionist Churches are much like the Linealist Church in liturgy, hierarchy, and organization, but their highest cleric is generally a national Patriarch. These Patriarchs do not recognize the authority of the High Patriarch in Alikai City, or the reigning Keller Emperor. Nor do they generally cooperate with each other, except where national or ecclesiastical interests align.
Certain states, Gemric most notable among them, do not even recognize the primacy of the Aurintuli cult. In these states, individual cults may or may not have a hierarchy, but they are all considered to be roughly equal to one another. In these states, the cults have limited temporal influence, and the rulers tend to be relatively secular in outlook. Worship is still given to the Keller deities, but it is much more a personal or family matter than a state matter. This theistic outlook is referred to as the “Reformed Keller Church” by its adherents, or as the “Reform Heresy” by its opponents. This is at the root of the Alastin/Gemric disputes in the Crater Sea region - though the Alastin are a Selectionist nation, they are still quite devout in their worship, and loathe the looser interpretation of things in Gemric. In this they sometimes find themselves in alliance with the Keller Empire. Politics and religion make for strange bedfellows.
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