Baudh
The Sun Father.
Domains: Sun, Strength, Lightening, Gold, Justice
Alignment: Law
Symbols: A six pointed sun. A balanced set of golden scales.
Baudh is the dominant deity of every city and of the nobles who rule them. His priests brought down the laws and set the passage of time over two thousand years ago, and each ruler of the southern kingdoms is invested by Baudh and divine right. His followers believe in strength, and the providence of strength as the right to rule. His laws are firm and justice must be blind to ensure fairness to all. His strength is the power of will and hope, the need to face evil in the face of insurmountable odds. Baudh is wrathful against the forces of evil, corruption, and darkness, and is especially opposed to the undead.
He draws large crowds of people to grand cathedrals which inspire devotion and fealty in the cities and towns. They are tall, with large windows; many are stained-glass cathedrals. They are arranged so that the sun shines into most of the rooms during the day, and many feature large courtyards. They tend to be airy and blindingly white. Temple trappings are typically yellow or gold. They are always kept clean. His rules are clear and unmistakable, and his followers take comfort in this clarity. The strong rule, and paternally care for the weak. As the god Baudh governs, so do ranks of nobility and ranks of clergy. He blesses and empowers the strong and is favored among warriors. His clergy often serving as circuit judges as the bring justice from town to town, hearing matters put before them.
Relationships: Followers of Gwanwen are acknowledged for their devotion to natural law, but with knowledge that such rules are savage and imperfect, fluxuating needlessly by season. This acceptance of variability is seen as a flaw and fundamentally unjust. The ways of Eruanna are anathema to the Baudh; but legends tell of Eruanna’s overcoming of Baudh and he is bound to honor that strength, even if begrudgingly.
Foundational Tenets:
- Decretum of Dominion: The strong bear responsibility for protection over all weaker than they, ensuring the care and well-being of the community.
- Decretum of the Just: Those who break the laws must pay the price. Penance forges strength and ensures justice, and justice applies to all from peasant to king.
- Decretum of the Light: To remain in light, a follower must ever move against darkness. Dispelling evil, injustice, undeath, and bringing the law to the uncultured all are compelling needs for a follower of Baudh.
Works and Tribute: To receive blessings, Baudh requires that the faithful provide tribute in gold. As gold never tarnishes it is incorruptible and is sacred to the God. It also is held by those with strength and in the hands of those who rule, this creates a symbiotic relationship between the two. Clerics of Baudh always require payment, but have discretion to ensure the amount always remains just.
The Order of Knights:
Any Lawful character can petition the Cathedral of Baudh for the Trials of Knighthood. If successful, vows are made to both the divine and divinely-appointed (i.e. the ArchDuke) authorities and the individual is allowed to be Knighted. This includes a vigil in the chapel and a ceremony performed on one of the High Holidays. Becoming a Knight and pledging to the civilized order is often seen as a stepping stone to further titles or nobility.
Knights are expected to uphold the values of civilization, remain faithful to the nobility as long as divinely-sanctioned, and fight to eliminate the uncivilized (evil, chaotic) forces that threaten them.
Benefits:
3rd Level - All clerics of Baudh and all sworn Knights of other classes receive a blessing of spiritual strength as long as they remain faithful to Baudh. This grants a +1 to hit and damage in addition to other bonuses.
5th Level - All humans following the leadership of a Knight or Cleric in battle are immune to non-magical fear and morale checks.
Spells:
Baudh grants access to all Cleric spells in the main rulebook, plus those below.
Gwanwen
Keeper of Life and Death
Domains: Birth, Death, Afterlife, Nature, Seasons, Agriculture, Livestock
Alignment: Neutral
Symbols: A crescent moon. A sickle.
Gwanwen is the ruler of the dead and the underworld, but is not an evil being. He governs the full cycle of life, from birth to natural death. Gwanwen is the primary god of farms, fields, and the rural realms of Men. Open temples supported by columns dot the rural landscape where offerings to Gwanwen ensure the health of fields and flocks, the passage of generations, and the peaceful rest for all the beloved and departed ancestors of each familial line. A black sheep is seen as a particularly direct sign of his intervention, and is another symbol associated with him. The birth of a black sheep is seen as a harbringer of good fortune. Most powerful priests of Gwanwen wear tunics made of black wool.
There is no single authoritative text as to the precepts of his worship, and most of his teaching have been passed down orally. As a consequence, significant regional differences exist amongst his worshipers. Followers of Gwanwen are steadfast foes to the undead, as they are a direct affront to natural law. Evil creatures which are seen as birthed from magic are likewise opposed. Followers of Gwanwen believe in living in and accepting the hardships of the cycles of nature, the passing of seasons, the hardships of winter. Sorcery and urbanization both are tools to subdue natural law and superimpose the will of Man, which is seen as a negative process. When sickness or the weakness of old age have overtaken someone, it is common for them to seek solace in the temples of Gwanwen as a form of hospice care.
Foundational Tenets:
- Everything lives and everything must die in time. Seek a worthy life, not the avoidance of death.
- Times of plenty and times of want are seasons which continually pass, to flourish and to winnow. Embrace each in its time for the good it brings.
- To give life for another is an honor and deeply respected when bestowed.
Sacrifice: To receive blessings, Gwanwen requires life for life and that his kingdom not be reduced. The sacrifice of livestock is a mainstay for rural followers of Gwanwen, and this tenet carries forward to his wandering clerics as well. Blood is the essence of life, and either blood or a whole creature’s life must be given. For example, to heal the injured requires a simple shedding of blood of another (willingly, in most cases). To save someone from death, however, costs a life.
(It is generally understood that casting a healing spell requires -1hp (spilt blood) from the caster or another character. Taking it from the unwilling is an Evil act. When this is done, however, the spell heals +2hp more. So, cure light wounds heals [1d6+3].)
Modification to the prohibition on weapons: Clerics of Gwanwen may wield a sickle (one-handed, 1d4, 1lb, as a dagger) among their weapons. This is both an agricultural tool and also used for their ritual blood-letting.
The Reapers of the Harvest, or Reapers:
Any character who is not a magic-user can petition the Temple of Gwanwen to dedicate themselves to the god of life, death and harvest. The trial that follows is performed in secret, but rumored to include the death and judgment of the applicant, from which not all return. There is no public ceremony, but all sworn reapers are tattooed with a blue crescent moon upon their chest, sealing their hearts for the God of the underworld.
Reapers are expected to uphold the natural passage of the cycles of life -- protecting the faithful and rising to eliminate any threat to their regular passage that becomes known. This includes fighting to eliminate anything that is unnatural (undead, magical creations, immortal beings).
3rd Level: All clerics of Gwanwen and all sworn Reapers of other classes receive a blessing against unnatural death as long as they remain faithful to Gwanwen. This grants a +5 bonus to savings throws versus Death, helping them remain in service until their natural lifespan has been concluded.
5th Level: All clerics of Gwanwen and all sworn Reapers of other classes can Cure Poison once per day (resetting at dawn).
5th Level: Reapers gain the ability to also safely use poisons. They may adulterate a victim's food or drink, causing a save vs. poison with failure leading to death (according to normal poison rules).
The Order of Black and White, or the Monks:
A monastic order of the Southlands, the Order operates in seclusion to study and master deep knowledge of the nature of life and death. Philosophically inclined, their deep study also allows them to have deeper control of the life energy within their bodies as long as they obey the ascetic restrictions of their monastic faith.
Monks tithe 50% of their income to their Order. Monks of the order only gain the benefits below if they are unencumbered (carrying less than 40 lbs).
1st Level: Unarmed damage (normally 1d2) has a +1 to die-size for every two levels (1d3 at level 1, 1d4 at level 3, 1d5 at level 5, 1d6 at level 7, etc.)
2nd Level: Monks may Cure or Cause Light Wounds as a special ability once per day per two levels (once at 2nd, twice at 4th, etc.)
2nd Level: If not wearing metal armors, the Monk gains a -1 AC bonus per two levels (once at 2nd, twice at 4th, etc.)
3rd Level: Monks can dodge non-magical missiles with a successful Save vs Breath Weapon (made separately against each successful attack).
5th Level: Monks can dodge magical missiles with a successful Save vs Breath Weapon (made separately against each successful attack).
Spells:
Gwanwen grants access to all Cleric spells in the main rulebook, plus those below.
God of Truth and Mercy
Domains: Truth, Mercy, Light, Sorrow, Grief, Forgiveness, Relief
Alignment: Chaos
Symbols: Three bloody nails, a shining dove
Eruanna came after the establishment of Baudh and Gwanwen, with so many tales as to how that the truth cannot be certain. What is known is that she walked on the earth among men, overcoming the prohibition that keeps the Gods in heaven and bringing relief directly to the suffering on this plane. Breaking the laws of the heavens and nature angered both Baudh and Gwanwen, who conspired together. They confronted and captured her – Baudh put her to trial and pronounced a sentence of death for subverting justice and she was taken away by Gwanwen to the underworld never to return to heaven or earth again. She waited until their acts were complete and all their worst was done, then stood and walked free. The stories around this differ, but the end remains the same – she overcame both Baudh and Gwanwen in this act and remains free to subvert their law ever since. Her believers maintain that she appears on this plane still, always in disguise that her divinity remain unknown.
Eruanna maintains no temples and no permanent structures for worship, instead investing solely in infirmaries, alms houses, and places of service to the poor and dispossessed. Their doctrine espouses hope to those disenfranchised by the other gods and a hope of redemption through humility. Hope is offered to any who are willing to bear their souls, give all they have, and start over anew – an easy prospect for a peasant and a frightening one for a king. The least marshal of the priesthoods, the clerics of Eruanna still steadfastly stand against the undead and particularly against the infernal. Those creatures who are innately evil, and thus spiritually corrupt, are unable to achieve spiritual redemption and thus beyond its reach.
Foundational Tenets:
- The grace of Eruanna overcomes - nothing is beyond redemption within the souls of men.
- Only by revelation of truth at all times can evil and darkness be expunged.
- Humility of self is the core of service.
Contrition: To receive blessings, Eruanna requires the sincere and public confession of wrongs committed. No other gift is required for the blessings of Eruanna but the honest opening of the soul to truth and service. This is shown by hiding nothing within, confessing wrongs honestly and forthrightly to become right with the Goddess of Truth, promising to strive for better. Once the cleric and all others present have received these confessions, the blessings may be granted. This is a continual process of self-discovery, digging deeper into one’s life each time they come before a cleric for renewal. Consequently, Eruanna's blessings and magic fail if used on a person of evil alignment; their contrition must result result in a shift to neutral or good alignment before it is received as sincere in Eruanna's ears.
The Poor Fellows of the Temple, or Templars:
Any character of Good alignment can undergo an act of Contrition in petition to the God Eruanna. They undergo a trial of poverty and make vows of asceticism - never owning any property or deed which is greater than they can personally carry with them again in addition to their vows to protect and uphold the values of Eruanna.
Templars are expected to crusade tirelessly against the forces of evil, particularly the infernal and otherworldly, without regard to personal status, wealth, or gain.
Benefits:
3rd level - All clerics of Eruanna and all sworn Templars of other classes receive a blessing against the infernal as long as they remain faithful to Eruanna. They are blessed with a permanent effect of Protection from Evil upon themselves (-1 AC, +1 to all saves, cannot be touched by extraplanar beings).
5th level - Prayer of Sanctuary: once per day, all clerics of Eruanna and all sworn Templars of other classes can issue a prayer to protect a location. Foes coming upon the location must pass a Save vs Charm or pass it by.
Spells:
Eruanna grants access to all Cleric spells in the main rulebook, plus those below.