Barshnum Guild of Virtues, Zoroastrian Initiation Group Options

[Zolhex]

Name: ~ Barshnum Guild of Virtues

Purpose: ~ A true Zoroastrian is expected to lead a life of active virtues and must always be on his feet to rise against any injustice or oppression done to the righteous or the downtrodden. He should under no circumstances, be a party to injustice tyranny or wickedness.

Members: ~ 2

Strictures:
Attendance: ~ Mandatory meetings every 3 months during the seasonal festivals (Gaahambars)

Dues/Resources: ~ Low/1,000 a month ~ Middle/2,500 a month ~ High/5,000 a month ~ Luxury/50,000 a month.

Exclusive Membership: ~ You can only be in this group.

Exclusive Ritual: ~ Any and all ritual spellcasting is done with members of this group only.

Fraternity: ~ You are required to help other members in need if they ask for your help. The only limit to this stricture is if you are incapable of completing the task they need help with.

Limited Membership: ~ Zoroastrians only.

Oath: ~ This stricture requires that all members be loyal to the group breaking any of the other 8 strictures is also considered breaking this one.

Obedience: ~ You are required to follow orders of those members who have a higher rank than yours.

Secrecy: ~ Generally to be a Barshnum Guild of Virtues member one must:
1} Be a Zoroastrian who is chosen to join and comes of his or her own free will.
2} Be at least the minimum age (18).
3} Be of sound mind, body, and soul, you should also have a positive street cred.
4} Have 2 references from current members or an invitation from a founder.

Avatar: ~ Thoughts on having one? This is one of the Mentor Spirits. Guardian spirits (Fravashis)

Patron: ~ None at this time.

Description & Customs: ~ The fundamental teaching of the Zoroastrian religion is Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta or good thoughts, good words and good deeds. A true Zoroastrian should regard this world as a battlefield and himself as a soldier under the chieftainship of Ahura Mazda to do battle against the forces of Darkness and Wrong.

Sins are classified as:
1 ~ Sins of commission ~ if a person performs an evil action knowingly it is a sin of commission
2 ~ Sins of omission ~ if a person knowingly avoids an opportunity to perform a good deed it is a sin of omission.

One can repent of one's sins in three ways:
1 ~ Repentance through thoughts (Paititem mano)
2 ~ Repentance through words (Paititem vacho)
3 ~ Repentance through deeds (Paititem shyaothnem)

Among the Zoroastrians the priests are known as Athravans. The word Athravan means one who tends the fire. In the eastern Iranian provinces in ancient times they acted as fire priests.
The three grades of Athravans today are Ervad, Mobed, and Dastur.

Ranks:
Vandidad: ~ Any member who has yet to achieve an Initiate grade:

Paav Mahal: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 1 or 2:

Visperad: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 3 or 4:

Naavar: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 5 or 6:

Ervad: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 7 or 8:

Maraatab: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 9 or 10:

Mobed: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 11 or 12:

Yazashne: ~ Any member who has achieved Initiate grades 13 or greater:

Dastur: ~ This rank is limited to the Founding members:
Mr. Gustasp, Mr. Dutch

Due to the Secrecy Stricture getting in requires an invitation. Members are allowed to bring outsiders to the attention of the founding members so they may decide weather or not someone should be invited to the organization.

[Whitelaughter]

Name: ~ Barshnum Guild of Virtues

Avatar: ~ Thoughts on having one? This is one of the Mentor Spirits. Guardian spirits (Fravashis)

Patron: ~ None at this time.

Due to the Secrecy Stricture getting in requires an invitation. Members are allowed to bring outsiders to the attention of the founding members so they may decide whether or not someone should be invited to the organization.

Of the seven Domains ruled by the Amesha Spenta, 4 overlap with the spirits our PCs can summon[Man, fire, earth &water], one (metal) can be subsumed by earth (and we just insist that some of our earth elementals are actual metal - who's going to argue with the crazy magi?) leaving plant and animals as the odds one out.
If the Avatar appeared as plant and/or animal, this would complete the set (even if we wouldn't get the powers thereof, this would look good).

As a 'patron', perhaps a small zoroastrian fire temple? Since members are required to be Zoroastrians, this provides a recruiting ground without breaking secrecy; and a low level background count to turn into an Aspected domain. Dues would go towards protecting/maintaining the fire temple. The temple wouldn't have the resources to really help the group, but would be a centre to meet study and worship.

(My PC, Bruin, follows the Zoroastrian tradition so I'm very interested in this group).