Saturday, March 18, 2017

Church of the Celestial Hebdomad

Although the books state that the Celestial Hebdomad are emphatically not gods, I think they make good ones - so in Drakkarin, they are indeed gods and have domains and can grant spells.  They are, in fact, the major "good" religion.  Domain info is drawn from both D&D and Pathfinder.  Info on the Celestial Hebdomad is mostly drawn from The Book of Exalted Deeds.

There are two major symbols of the church, both simple and charged with meaning. 
Followers use them pretty much interchangeably.

The number seven is sacred and important.  The seventh day of the week, the seventh day of the seventh month - these are sacred times.  Less sacred but still important are any iterations of the number seven - 14, 21, 28 etc.  Anything related to seven is important.

The church values strict honesty, respect for others, reliability, wisdom, mercy, accountability and integrity.  They oppose injustice, cruelty and tryanny.   Good followers keep their word, tell the truth, help those in need, oppose injustice, cruelty and tyranny.  The strong and powerful are expected to use their strength and power to protect the weak and defenseless. 

They teach that one must guard against self-righteousness and judgmental thinking.  Fanatical self-righteousness and intolerance are sins. 

Followers produce statues and art depicting the Paragons, and  they pray to and make offerings to them.  Religious practices are very like Buddhist practices - heavy on chanting and meditation.  Their temples are similar to Buddhist wats. 

The church basically venerates the whole hebdomad, but there are offshoot sects devoted to specific paragons.  Larger temples honor the whole hebdomad, but smaller ones may be devoted to one paragon.  All temples will have icons related to the whole hebdomad, however.

Clerical Info
 
Domains: Law, Good, Air, Archon
Spells: access to all the usual spells plus spell lists in Book of Exalted Deeds
Favored Weapon: broadswords, greatswords, quarterstaff, clubs.  
Prestige Classes: Celestial Mystics, Emissary of Barachiel, Prophet of Erathaol, Slayers of Domiel - all from Book of Exalted Deeds
 
Paladins

Paladins are ideal for the Church

Spells: access to all the usual spells plus spell lists in Book of Exalted Deeds
Favored Weapon: broadswords, greatswords, quarterstaff, clubs.  
Prestige Classes: Defender of Sealtie,Emissary of Barachiel, Fists of Raziel, Slayers of Domiel

Monks

There is a monk order centered around the paragon Pistis Sophia, known as the Indigo Order.  

Monks of Pistis Sophia have a tendency to eschew possessions as much as possible and feasible, keeping only the bare minimum that they need.  They also eschew clothing whenever feasible, such as meditating or ritual, and thus perform these acts while naked.  They often dye their skin blue.
 
Prestige Classes: Initiate of Pistis Sophia 

Notes on the Paragons: 

Zaphkiel
Perfection, protector of the newborns, light, spiritual mystery, wisdom, protection
Domains: Community

Barachiel
Guardian and defender

Domains: Community, Nobility, Wards

Favored Weapon: Broadsword
Clothing: Violet Robes
Symbols: Lion, Trumpet 
Artifact: Holy Water from Lunia

Domiel
Mercy,  protector of the dead, opposition to all tyranny

Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Domains: Community, Liberation, Protection, Healing, Wards, Defense, Fortification

Erathaol
Prophecy and divination, knowledge, the ocean
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Domains:  Community, Knowledge, Protection, Education, Memory, Prophecy

Pistis Sophia
Truth, spiritual purity and self-realization
Favored Weapon: Unarmed Strike 
Domains: Community, Self-Realization, Purity

Raziel
Crusading, judgment, protector of the defenseless, overthrow of tyranny, 
Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Domains:  Community, Liberation, Ferocity, Fire

Sealtiel
Guardian and leadership
Favored Weapon: Club
Domains: Community, Wards, Defense, Fortification









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