Religion plays an important role in the society and classes of the Medieval era.
Like science, technology, and the cultivation of the mind in the future, the traditions, belief, and power of religion are intertwined in past society. These beliefs are focused upon five Gods, each of whom has a class of followers who benefit from their devotion.
As beings of the Outer Planes existing eternally, the Gods tend to look to other places for entertainment, namely the Prime Material Plane. The gods of the past are:
Alron, the ancient knight of Justice and Valor, god of the Paladins.
Alron, the ancient knight of Justice and Valor, is god of the Paladins. Once a heroic mortal knight, the legendary feats of Alron have elevated him to that of a demigod. Portraits depict this holy warrior as a tall, stern-looking defender armored in jade-green platemail, mounted upon a gallant silver steed. Sworn to protect the innocent and bring justice to wrongdoing, Alron is locked in eternal combat with his evil brother,Veloth.
The knights of Alron’s holy order uphold the highest ideals of chivalry and justice by seeking a greater purpose for their actions, believing honor is accrued through self-sacrifice, compassion, mercy, and faith. They display the jade and silver emblem of Alron: jade for his courage, and silver for the divine. These religious warriors call upon his noble spirit to heal the injured, protect them from evil, and grant courage in battle.
Guiharia, the goddess of Art and Wisdom, is patron of the good Cleric. Pictured as a golden-haired human female or shapeless ethereal silver light, Guiharia is the sacred protector of goodness, truth, and purity. Counterpoint to Zhel, the teachings of Guiharia emphasize the elevation of mind and spirit, a prohibition against the implements of war, and the external expression of beauty. Disciples celebrate her with the colors of silver and blue: silver for the divine, and blue for the mortal world. Defenders of the faith pray to her for magical protection, and the sacred art of healing.
Holy City of Modrian
As the central city on the continent of Rodinia, the holy city of Modrian is the crossroads of the past. With the Temple of Guiharia as the main starting point for new players, an old abbey converted into Town Hall, and the lofty Silver Tower looking down from a distance, architecture devoted to the goddess Guiharia is prominent, highlighting the importance of religion in past society.
Selene, the goddess of the Moon and the Wild, is the patron of Rangers. A creator of life and caretaker of the wilderness, Selene is the embodiment of the mystical energies pervading the natural world. She is known by many names and forms, as rich and varied as the creatures of the forest.
Anthropomorphically, forest dwellers describe her as a dark-skinned huntress draped in animal skins wielding an olive bow, as a nimble, green-skinned dryad with delicate features and hair of wildflowers, or as a thin wood-nymph whose hair and complextion change with the seasons. Symbolically, she is represented as the harvest moon, a will-o’-the-wisp, a golden leaf in the wind, the yellow eyes of a wolf, and as the ‘evening lunaria’, a small wildflower that grows in clusters on tree-hugging vines, blossoming white, star-shaped pedals that glitter in the moonlight.
The elusive rangers who pay homage to this earthly goddess live from and give to the hinterland. Cladding themselves in earth tones, they devote their lives to pursuing a balance with the environment. These wardens of the wild protect and preserve the natural world, harnessing Selene’s elemental powers to aid in their worldly exploration, and maintain the cycle of life.
Veloth, the ancient knight of War and Destruction, is god of the Anti-Paladins. Once a powerful mortal knight, the ferocious crusades of Veloth have elevated his cruelty to mythic proportions. Oral history describes this dark paladin as a towering, ruthless figure, arrayed in a suit of black battle armor accented with spikes upon his broad shoulders and blood-red helm. Mounted atop a massive war horse in battle, legend tells of Veloth wielding a blazing axe while commanding his wicked legions. The progenitor of the anti-paladin order, Veloth is locked in eternal warfare with his righteous brother, Alron.
The knights of Veloth’s unholy order inhabit the demigod’s unrelenting fervor, seeking valor in warfare, strength in aggression, and power through personal gain. They armor themselves in red and black: red for spilt-blood, and black for the underworld. Bearing the symbol of Veloth, these religous warriors call upon his spirit to aid in their conquest of the weak, leaving death and destruction in their wake.
Zhel, the god of Pain, is the dark patron of the evil Priest. Depicted as a crescent moon or a blood-red skeleton within an ebony cowl, Zhel revels in the pain and suffering of others. His malevolent doctrine focuses upon the power of violence, and the physical nature of mortality–and how to exploit its weaknesses. Revolting against Guiharian dogma, the followers of Zhel robe themselves in ebony and crimson, delighting in chaos, deconstruction, physical sensation, and mastering the means of pain.
Holy Symbols
A Holy Symbol is a magic item through which Knights and Clerics channel magical power from their deity. Holy Symbols are sensitive to the alignment of their user. For example, the symbol of an evil god could not be used by a Cleric of Guiharia. Also, Holy Symbols only support a certain range of power. This mean that a Holy Symbol usable by a level one character may not necessarily be usable by a level forty character. Basic Holy Symbols are available for sale at the applicable guilds.
