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==Religious Texts== Derethi scriptures are contained in the "Do-Dereth," though they also study the text of their parent religion, the Do-Kando of [[Shu-Keseg]].{{book ref\|Elantris\|3}} ==Organization & Hierarchy== The religion of Shu-Dereth is very regimented, and its structure has been compared to that of a feudal government system.{{book ref\|Elantris\|8}} Followers are expected to obey the commands of their superiors, and priests are expected to give orders rather than shepherd others on the path to faith.{{book ref\|Elantris\|3}} ~~=== The Great Chain ===~~ The Great Chain is the chain that links all living members of Shu-Dereth to Wyrn and then to Jaddeth. Masters were always called hroden, but there were two different ways a servant could serve a master. One way was to swear to be someone's odiv, which was irrevocably binding. Krondet is a less binding oath, in which one listened to the counsel of his hroden, but was not morally obligated to obey. In the priesthood, all in the Great Chain are odivs and bound to do what someone higher in the chain commanded.{{book ref\|Elantris\|12}} A formal example of this type of relationship is that of the ‘’’odivs, krondets, and hrodens’’’. Members of the Derethi priesthood can elect to become a hroden, or master, taking on one or more odivs and/or krondets. Krondet is the less restrictive form of servitude, where the krondet listens to the counsel of his hroden but is not bound to do as told. Odivs, however, must follow the orders of their hroden, essentially serving as a slave. Many choose the role of odiv in order to gain power through their connection to their hroden.{{book ref\|Elantris\|3}}{{book ref\|Elantris\|21}} * At the bottom of the chain are the common people; they serve the arteths and the dorven.▼ * Dorven are the lowest level of the priesthood; they serve the arteths and the gradors. === Chain to Jaddeth=== * Arteths are the lowest level that may lead a chapel by themselves; they serve the gradors. The Derethi believe that only one man – the Wyrn, or ruler, of Fjorden – can serve Jaddeth directly. All others serve only those in the position directly above them in the chain that links all people to Lord Jaddeth. This prevents those in the lower ranks from having to worry about commands of Jaddeth that are beyond their capacity to understand.{{book ref\|Elantris\|12}} * Gradors are the level of the priesthood directly above the arteths; they generally lead the chapels in the larger cities. * Ragnets are the level directly below the gyorns; they generally oversee a region of Derethi followers. * The '''Wyrn ''' of Fjorden is the only member of the church who serves Jaddeth directly.{{book ref\|Elantris\|12}} * Gyorns serve Wyrn directly; they are at the highest level of the priesthood other than perhaps some gragdets. There are only twenty of them, and they are among the most important people in the [[Fjordell Empire]]. They often serve as ambassadors for Wyrn to foreign nations, such as [[Arelon]] and the [[Rose Empire]].{{tes ref\|98}} They customarily wear red ornamental armor.{{book ref\|elantris\|5}} * A '''gradget''', the leader of a monastery, is generally considered to be outside of the chain because gradgets generally don’t involve themselves in matters outside of their monastery. However, gradgets of the most powerful monasteries (Rathbore, Dakhor, and Fjeldor) rank above gyorn.{{book ref\|Elantris\|58}}{{glossary ref\|Elantris\|G}} * Gragdets are the leaders of monasteries; they are outside of the direct chain, although some have the authority of the gyorns (such as the gragdet of the [[Dakhor]] monastery). * '''Gyorn''' is the highest level of the Derethi priesthood except in cases where the gradget of a powerful monastery elects to become active in the affairs of the church at large. The twenty gyorns{{book ref\|Elantris\|5}} of the Fjordell Empire are amongst the most noble in standing; kings bow to gyorns in nations where Shu-Dereth is practiced.{{book ref\|Elantris\|14}}{{book ref\|Elantris\|48}} They are known to serve as ambassadors to foreign nations, such as [[Arelon]] and the [[Rose Empire]].{{tes ref\|98}} They customarily wear red ornamental armor with billowing crimson cloaks.{{book ref\|elantris\|5}} * Wyrn is the head of the church, and is able to serve Jaddeth directly; the Wyrn has direct control over all members of Shu-Dereth. * '''Ragnat''' is the rank directly below gyron; they usually oversee a region of Derethi worshippers.{{glossary ref\|Elantris\|R}} A priest must be of at least this level to command Rathbore-trained priests without the Wyrn’s permission.{{book ref\|Elantris\|36}} * '''Grador''' is the rank below ragnat; they generally lead chapels in large cities.{{glossary ref\|Elantris\|G}} * An '''arteth''' is a full Derethi priest. This is the lowest rank of priest that can lead a chapel on his own.{{glossary ref\|Elantris\|A}} Many arteths can be assigned to one chapel with a “head arteth” leading them.{{book ref\|Elantris\|3}} * '''Dorven''' is the lowest level of Derethi priest; though arteths may have some authority over the dorven, they officially serve the gradors.{{book ref\|Elantris\|3}}{{book ref\|Elantris\|12}} ▲* At'''Common people''' reside at the bottom of the chain ~~are the common people; they~~and serve the arteths and the dorven.{{book ref\|Elantris\|12}} === Monasteries === Fjorden’s society stratified and organized Shu-Dereth’s teachings to a martial level. As a result, Shu-Dereth is a highly militaristic religion, and is based on a regimented ranking, known as the "Great Chain." === Cultural Impacts=== In an attempt to bring about the Day of Empire, Wyrn planned to send [[Hrathen]] to warn [[Arelon]] and [[Teod]] of his impending attack, followed by a genocidal slaughter of all people of [[Aonic]] descent.{{book ref\|Elantris\|58}} This culminated in Wyrn sending [[Dakhor]] monks to Arelon and Teod for the [[Invasion of Arelon]] and the [[Battle of Teoras]]. Both these attacks failed and Arelon and Teod remained independent,{{book ref\|Elantris\|63}} so the Day of Empire has not occurred yet. == Trivia == {{theory}} * In the planned sequel to Elantris, Wyrn decides to reinterpret scripture to suggest that only the nations to the east of the [[Atad Mountains]] needed to be Derethi for Jaddeth to return, so it is possible that the Day of Empire will occur during the [[Elantris sequel]].{{bws ref\|elantris-reading-group-questions\|Elantris Reading Group Questions\|date=Sep 27, 2006}} * The god [[Jaddeth]] could be based on the [[Shard]] [[Dominion]], as Derethi-majority Fjorden seeks to expand the Fjordell Empire across Sel, similar to the Shardic Intent of Dominion. == Notes ==

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