The Patriarch called on families to induct their firstborn into the clergy to ensure salvation for their relatives. Swelling the ranks of the church, he formed the Templars as a poorly kept secret. When the Sche'entz attacked to reclaim stolen land in the east, the Templars acted swiftly to suppress the violence. Buoyed by popular support, the Templars moved to replace key Centurions among the Legio, and soon ran the Legions. With his newfound power, the Patriarch declared the Elohim had spoken and that the church and state should unify against the threat of encroaching chaos. He took over, promptly wiping out the enfeebled senate, and declared himself the new Hegemon in place of the half-dead Emperor.
Over the years, the rulers and clergy blurred following the High Priest's ascension to Patriarch under the guidance of the Elohim.
- Elohim - the God-kings of humanity
- Hierophants - the priests and prophets of humanity
- Diocletians - the holy princes of humanity
- Legio - God's soldiers, the divine armies
- Proles - God's servants, the workers
- Ciphers - God's pitiful, slaves, criminals
Though the augmen do not appear in this list (they are not generally understood or recognised outside of the Hierophancy), they should be considered a sub-strata of humanity which appears throughout the various castes. In other words, anyone can and does become an augmen, although the Hierophants try to maintain absolute control over those who awaken in the Lower City.
The proteans are made or constructed beings, sometimes hybridised with other species.
The prodigals are mutants and other creatures supposedly evolved from higher man.