Stoneguard society
Stoneguards (telpijasi, pl. telpijasir) are the martial arm of the Corps charged specifically with aiding in the defense of temples, priests, and humans of all Kinds. They are individuals of any gender whose role is as protectors, wardens, honour guards, and a symbol of the might of the Corps. They additionally sometimes serve to enforce justice against heretics or blasphemers, to aid in conversion efforts, or to aid acts of aggression led by the Hand or the Voice.
The early years of the Corps, just before and during the first decades of the Omban Empire, were a period of massive Imperial expansion, but also, inevitably, great violence and chaos as the Omban state doubled in size in the span of a generation. The earliest version of stoneguards, not yet known under that name, emerged specifically to defend Voices who were in military roles in those wars. As temples grew in size and importance and communication with Ancestors became normal, it quickly became clear that disputes over ancestors and temples would be common.
By the time of the Jemosine and Atamurine purges, a new challenge had become apparent, in that the old faith, those who are now known as the Hulti, abhorred saints, revenants, and bubun, and the defense of the former two Kinds fell to the stoneguards, as well as proactive aggression against the Old Folk. During the Great Purge of 534-541, stoneguards were engaged in overt and covert action against Hulti warriors, assassins, and shamans. Stoneguards are not inquisitors, but in their vigorous defense of revenants and saints they often play the role of rooting out dangers, which compels them to take on the role of aggressor. Since that time, however, the role of stoneguards in the Omban successor states has been much more muted, and their numbers are fewer than in the past.
Because of their special domain over ancestors, revenants, and saints, stoneguards are closer to the Voice than to the Hand. However, stoneguards can be of any gender, unlike Voices, and major Hand temples do often have stoneguards protecting them as well. Stoneguards can also marry and have children, unlike Hands and Voices. There is a general tendency for male stoneguards to work for Voice temples and female stoneguards at Hand temples.
Stoneguards are trained, singly or in groups, at temples. Some stoneguards come from the ranks of Voices or Hands who show more inclination towards martial work during their initial training, while others are drawn from military backgrounds and come to the vocation needing only religious training. In the aftermath of war, relatively unskilled warriors who have survived combat - or who have become revenants - are not infrequently drawn to the protection of ancestors. The training can thus be highly variable. One unique feature of stoneguard training is that in addition to learning from living stoneguards, every novice is assigned a stoneguard ancestor called a Pillar (altamu) who, even though not (normally) of their lineage, is accessible to them as if they were actually of the same lineage, and whose advice is sought on important matters.
Probably around half of all stoneguards work directly at temples of the Voice as guardians, protectors, bodyguards, and soldiers, in times of war. Another quarter or so work at temples of the Hand in similar roles. Some revenants of wealth or importance hire stoneguards directly, and most saints have some as protectors. There are relatively independent stoneguards who are wardens and caretakers of temples that have been lost or forgotten. Others aid in moving ancestors from place to place, when that is necessary. There is no formal organization or structure to stoneguards, beyond the temples for which they work. Stoneguards who work at a temple serve the high priest or priestess of the place. There is an occasional moot that takes place in each region or province, every so often, when matters of importance need discussing involving many stoneguards.
