The Pavis cult actually has fewer initiates in New Pavis than Storm Bull or Humakt, but far more lay members than both together. Almost every permanent resident of New Pavis is a lay member of the cult – for example, most prominent Orlanthi (Argrath, Brygga Scissortongue, and much of the Pavis council) are mere lay members of Pavis, not initiates.
Anyone in the city can join the cult of Pavis as a lay member, even if they also worship other gods. This is part of the function of a city cult. Worship at a city festival is all that’s needed. Lay members are supposed to support the city against invasion. This is usually done by joining the city militia or by paying for someone else to take one’s place. They are also expected to help in the temple’s upkeep. This is usually taken out of the citizenry’s taxes, and they do not need to perform any active work to do this. Lay members are required to expend a magic point per season in worship at a city festival. There are no other demands.
The temple serves as a social meeting place for people throughout the city, and the cult acts as a club for consummation of business deals and the organisation of mutual welfare organisations. Only lay members of the Pavis cult are allowed to become citizens, which entitles one to free food.
Being an initiate is far more exclusive, more elite. An applicant for initiation must be passed by a board composed of all the priests of Pavis. Initiates of Pavis always can find the directions of the compass whether in New Pavis or the Rubble. All initiates of Pavis who are also citizens of the city are entitled to a stone house, eventually.
Since both trolls and animal nomads have worked to destroy the city, and have dealt crushing blows to it in the past, the temple priests have little love for either. There have been, however, both troll and nomad worshipers of Pavis, and since the treaty with Waha, relations with the nomad god and Eiritha have been good. The same will never be true for the ignorant and brutal Storm Bull berserks nor for the Jaldon sect fanatics who broke the old city. That both are now dominant groups in New Pavis trouble the Pavis priests
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So there are perhaps 300 initiates of Pavis in New Pavis, but probably over 2000 lay members. Maybe more.
Most citizens of Pavis don’t really care about the secrets of Lord Pavis and so on. They are lay members – they show up for Founders Day Parade and BBQ, pay their taxes, serve in the militia, and carry out the stuff citizen have to do.
Being an initiate involves knowing the ancient history and rites of Lord Pavis, and dedicating yourself to them.
Sor-eel the Short relied on the Pavis priests in order to rule the city. They gave them privileges, patronage, and tried the marry Lord Pavis to Tala Erria, a Red Goddess initiate and priestess. High Priest Benderri was supportive of this, and Cyrilius Harmonius was an open Lunar supporter.
Post liberation, the Pavis priesthood are of lesser significance. The majority of the population in New Pavis are Sartarite stock, and Argrath has the enthusiastic support of the Orlanth cult (as well as that of Humakt and Storm Bull), and the other Lightbringer cults accept his position as Rex – effectively as Dorasar’s successor. The Yelmalio cult is neutral, but not hostile. And of course there are hundreds, sometimes thousands of Animal Nomads camped outside of the city gates.
As a result, the priesthood has a respected ceremonial role, but their weakened influence is obvious to all.