| administration | economy | military | politics |
| quaestae | anradan | espiri | rohain |
While Exquaestio teaches egalitarian beliefs, they also distinguish different divisions and ranks within the church. Regular believers are known as Quaestae. Anradan are an administrative priesthood without special powers, but they lead the church. Espiri are priests with magical abilities. Rohain are religious warriors with magical powers.
Over 97% of the members of Exquaestio are Quaestae or ordinary believers. Quaestae tend to be poor but intelligent, and are typically eager for change. Formally, adult believers are addressed as "Quaesta" if female (i.e. Quaesta Vanessa) or "Quaesto" if male. Children are formally addressed as "aesta" (if female) and "aesto" (if male).
Most Quaestae are farmers, foresters, and laborers, but there is a leavening of other occupations, including a large number of entertainers and other travelers. It is the freewill offerings of these believers (no tithes) which enable Exquaestio to offer its religious services and teaching. Though part of Exquaestio's poverty is due to the poverty of its membership, a great deal of it is also due to expense of its services. Collected funds are almost immediately spent on paper, ink, wax tablets, and the like; teachers and priests are supported by offerings of food; and so forth. Whatever is gained by the church is almost immediately used. No priest lives soft, most of them have full time jobs in addition to their priestly duties.
At the current time, not much money is made from magic. A few Espiri can make a living from their magic, but most (and all Rohain) must work jobs unrelated to their magical abilities. Quaestae are entitled to magical services for only a nominal fee, but those outside the church are often charged as much as possible.
Overall leadership within Exquaestio is provided by the Anradan, a priesthood undistracted by magic and best able to relate to the Quaestae. Anradan provide administrative and spiritual services and guidance to the other members of Exquaestio. Essentially, they are responsible for everything Exquaestio is involved in that isn't magical or military.
Anradan are divided into three divisions and five ranks. The Vicarage division is predominantly administrative in nature. The Schola's purpose is primarily educational. Travelers are troubleshooters and missionaries. The lowest ranks of anradan are the Vicars, Teachers, and Travelers, named by their division. These individuals are associated with local ecclesia or small (~150) groups of quaestae. Priests and Overpriests are associated with minor ecclesia joining together around 500 quaestae. Bishops are associated with major ecclesia and administer large regions. The single Archbishop heads the anradan and is associated with the Grand Ecclesia in Cormenaera.
| Rank | Region | City |
|---|---|---|
| Archbishop | Primacy | Cormenaera |
| Bishop | Cormenaera | Cormenaera |
| Bishop | Tanimbar | Orasar |
| Bishop | South Orasaren | Crisaeda |
| Bishop | Junder | Lowfells |
| Bishop | Tana | ? |
| Bishop | Mir | Mirabalpur |
| Bishop | The North | Anecir |
| Overpriest | The East | ? |
| Overpriest | Itinerant | None |
| Overpriest | The Southwest | Aseria |
| Overpriest | East Cormenaera | ? |
Exquaestio is led by Conclave, a council of the 12 highest ranking anradan. The Conclave provides overall direction, doing their business mostly through correspondence. Day to day decisions lie in the hands of the Primate, the highest ranking anradan (who does hold a seat on the Conclave). The Primate serves for life, but may be removed from office by the Conclave. When the Primacy falls vacant, a Grand Conclave chooses a replacement. For a Grand Conclave, votes must be cast either in person or through a designated living proxy. Proxies do not have to be anradan and are often given to espiri. A single proxy may vote for more than one member, but this seldom occurs. There are no restrictions on who may be elected to the Primacy.
The primate is supported by an Advisory Council. Its members tend to be young, and are appointed by leaders of various areas and allies. (Currently: The Cult of Demerhaze, The Espiri, Espiri Seekers, The Militia, The Rohain, The Schola, The Travelers, and The Vicarage.) Advisory Council members work more for the purposes of their particular division than for the office of the Primate and keep the lines of communication between their superiors and the Primate's office.
In addition to the formal ranks, anradan use a number of special titles. Associate Bishops are Overpriests with seats on the Conclave, and the Primate is the highest ranking member of the ecclesia. (The current Primate is Exquaestio's only Archbishop.) Should the number of members on the Conclave fall below 12, Electors of appropriate degree, appointed from the highest ranking anradan, fill out the needed membership.
Typically by secret ballot.
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Exquaestio religious laws, the "Precepts and Strictures," are defined by the Conclave. They are organized with the reason for a particular law (the Precept) followed by the law itself (the Stricture). Precepts and Strictures may also have bylaws attached to further define them. Exquaestio's Precepts and Strictures were created with the aide of one of Feroze' divine servants and are the first example of a constitution on Qaiyore.
Besides the Precepts and Strictures, "Proclamations" may be made by any religious authority. The higher the authority, the greater the weight of the proclamation. In theory, proclamations may not overrule bylaws.
Senior anradan decide who will fill the offices that report to them. At the lowest levels of the hierarchy quaestae may suggest which anradan they wish to have, but the final decision is in the hands of the senior anradan. Quaestae may also remove the anradan assigned to them, but this is not an easy process.
Exquaestio's magical power lies with the espiri; with rank being determined mainly by magical ability. This refers only to divine magic, or boon. Essense users like hedge mages and sorcerers may belong to Exquaestio, and even serve as anradan, but are not considered espiri.
Espiri are not well organized. They tend towards independence and diverse and diffuse associations. The title of Eldest, given to nominal leader of the espiri, is a term of respect, but assures little more than that other espiri will listen.
Espiri are supposed to obey the anradan, but they do have some administrative powers. An espiri may remove an anradan of equal rank from his office, and remove the priesthood of an anradan of lesser rank.
The Rohain are Exquaestio's religious warriors. Though some magical abilities have been granted to them they are primarily responsible for military protection and training, particularly against supernatural threats. The five rohain ranks, from lowest to highest, are: Guardian, Signifer, Paladin, Champion, and Paragon.
Rohain are organized on a military basis, with their leader being titled Preceptor. The Preceptor is under the direct authority of the Primate and answers only to him. The Preceptor (backed by the anradan) claims full military authority over all Rohain, wherever or however made. Since any Exquaestio community of 100 or more can create a Guardian, this has served to keep Rohain numbers under control. Ranks beyond Guardian can only be granted by bodies of Rohain. Today, most would-be rohain are expected to serve a probationary period at the Mother Preceptory before being granted rohain status and powers.
Though lower in number than anradan or espiri, rohain are organized for easy expansion. In the event that significant numbers of rohain are needed (if Exquaestio comes under attack by a large supernatural force for example) more rohain can be brought in as Guardians.
Rohain are responsible for leading and training Exquaestio's militia. Rohain answer to their own chain of command, but are expected to cooperate with the local anradan.
For unknown reasons, being granted rohain powers irreversibly removes the ability to use essence magic.
Not being a government, Exquaestio does not have a formal military service.
Exquaestio teaches weapon use as one of its "education basics." Training has standardized on the long spear or pike, a polearm (halberd or glaive), and the atlatl (throwing javelins or heavy darts). Other weapons are taught in areas with an appropriate heritage (slings among shepherds), and many specifics depend on local resources.
Exquaestio trained militia will typically wear a heavy leather jerkin and a heavy leather or metal helmet for protection, occasionally with the addition of boiled leather vambraces and gorget.
Rohain are much better (and, unfortunately, more diversely) armed and armored than the militia. The typical rohain carries a shield and wears a chain shirt and sleeves, a metal helm, and boiled leather vambraces and greaves. He will have a horse and perhaps a mule or donkey, but these are typically not battle hardened, much less war trained. He will bear a sword (of any type), a halberd or glaive, and a preferred ranged weapon. Few rohain are trained to fight from horseback.
With the First Conclave in 1447 certain differences of opinion became evident. In the period since, these have begun to develop into two main political factions, the "Liberals" and the "Progressives," and several splinter groups. The political situation is continuing to develop and it is difficult to say how much support each faction has.
The Liberals favor a policy of slow gains. They favor gaining converts from the most numerous (and poorest) classes. They wish to avoid annoying the aristocracy and avoid hostilities with other organized religions. They prefer for Exquaestio's resources to be spent on their own followers. They feel that Exquaestio's magic should be developed quietly and used in a fashion that does not upset those outside the church.
The Progressives wish Exquaestio to take a more activist role. They favor the conversion of the aristocracy and confrontation with other organized religions. They want an independent nation where Exquaestio is the main religion. They feel Exquaestio's resources should be spent on bringing more converts into the fold. The Progressives favor research into flashy magic that will get the church noticed.
In addition the above issues, there are few issues where the major factions agree, but where there are strong minority opinions. One such opinion favors a much stronger position for women in the church. Another feels that Exquaestio should favor republicanism in place of its current aristocratic leanings. Finally, there are those who advocate that Exquaestio is too involved in worldly matters and should concentrate on matters of pure research and exploration.