Orders of the Sarajin Priesthood
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Orders of the Sarajin Priesthood |
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Priests of Sarajin do not refer their
standing within the Circles of Hierarchy as do other priesthoods, instead they
use specific titles as follows:
These priests gain the weapon proficiency of tight axe group for one proficiency slot (instead of two). This proficiency includes the following weapons; hand axe, throwing axe, battle axe, two-handed battle axe (see Dwarf handbook for stats), and the bardiche (dwarven priests of Sarajin can't use the bardiche due to its size). The nonweapon proficiencies of religion, blindfighting, reading/writing, etiquette are free as an Axeholder.
Upon attaining Chief Axemaster (4th Circle) and tenth-level, a priest of Sarajin may establish a devoted clanhouse and consequently summon adherants as a fighter of ninth level (in addition to any henchmen available due to a high Charisma score).
For most, religion is a matter of everyday life and almost taken for granted. There is very little in the way of formal ritual. Sarajinians respect their myths and their clergy, but are not overly reverent. History and religious myth are intertwined in eddas, the tales of heroes, gods and the divine. Generations of skalds have embroidered the eddas until little remains of the relatively mundane originals. Although skalds are not generally priests, nonetheless they fill important roles in reinforcing the worship of Sarajin. Skalds memorize, recite and embellish the eddas and are consequently highly respected as the guardians of an essentially oral tradition.
The two most important festivals in the Sarajinian year both occur in the month of Kelen. The first is the Ilbengaad Festival held from the tenth to the twelfth. Each year hundreds of pilgrims seek the highest hill known to celebrate. Events consist of one day and night of feasting and drinking, one day of semi-ritual combat, and one day of prayer and recovery. The second is called Bjarri's Feast, a celebration that occurs between the nineteenth and the twenty fifth of the month. This consists of seven feasts during which eddas and tales are recited and sung in praise of Sarajin. These feasts are generally hosted by the priesthood with donations from their local congregations. They are as lavish as possible and also manage to include semi-ritual combat. In all ritual combats there is a significant fatality rate among celebrants, and those who die are deemed to go straight to Talagaad (Sarajin's ice castle in the afterlife). Otherwise, homage is paid in song and devotion on the nearest hill or mound after any large battle or campaign especially if valiant warriors are joining Sarajin. Priests of Sarajin are forbidden from casting spells dealing with flame higher than 3rd level instead they get cold/wind/ice versions. The truly devout refuse to use Flame weapons and are part of a Small sect known as the Legion of Ice. The "Tattoos" of the Ice legion are Bluish white on a Yellow background where as the normal Sarajin Priests "Tattoos" are Metallic Looking Axes with wooden handles on a yellow background. There is no animosity between the two orders and they alternate holding the position of Grand Axeman for Harn. Sarajin Sarajin is a god of battlelust, requiring fearlessness and bravado of his adherants. He loves the "sport" of war, and takes great pleasure in watching, and even participating in, large battles. The only virtue universally admired by adherants of Sarajin is courage. Sarajin is usually portrayed as a giant, yellow-haired, bearded warrior clad in furs and leather, who rides across the snowy wastes in his sled, Shalka. He bears Fakang, his great double-bladed axe, which is able to split a mountain or cause storms or earthquakes. Sarajin purportedly dwells in Talagaad, his ice castle in Yashain. The souls of his adherants who die in battle are taken there where they spend each day locked in combat. At dusk the fallen are revived and victors and vanquished orgy all night within the feasting halls of Talagaad. At dawn the battle is resumed. To a devout Sarajinian, this is paradise. Near Talagaad stands Meflygur, the tree of the blood of the slain, which grow a hundred crimson apples each night. It is said that mortals who eat the fruit are healed of wounds and gifted with immortality and youth. Knight Protectors of Valor, Holy Orders of Knights on Harn There are two orders of Knights on harm allied in the defense of the Weak and Oppressed peoples of Harn, The Soldiers of The Axe: patron is Sarajin and the Soldiers of the Sword: patron is Larani. The orders work together to ensure that the rulers of the Free people of Harn do not oppress the people under their care, and to check the encroachment of the Zun from the East, and in times of Great Need to field an Army to over come the Need be it Digging a Town a New Well or Fighting against a Zun Army. The members of the Orders are not necessarily Paladins or even Fighter Priests, Just fighters or Knights that believe that people should be free from Tyranny and Oppression. To Join the Orders a Petitioner must announce their intent to a Member of at least 5th Level or at least three levels their Superior. They then become regardless of level a Squire rank. After proving their worth and Trustworthiness they are actual members of the Order of the Shield and remain in that Order for at least one increase in Rank then petition to join one of the other Greater Orders. At that time they appear before a conclave of Master Rank Knights from Axe and Lance Orders as well as the Leader of the Shield Order or if Unavailable a Member of equal Standing in the Shields, if there is no question of Honor or Courage they are accepted into the Order, if there is a question then that matter is investigated and witnesses for and against the Petitioner are heard and the evidence weighed and voted upon. The decision to allow advancement must be unanimous among the Master Knights. If the vote isn't Unanimous there is no action taken and the petitioner resumes his rank in the Shields and may repetition again in 1 year or sooner if the situation merits. Shield Warriors/: Shield Warriors honor is based on Loyalty and Obedience to Lawful Superiors. It is dishonorable to Disobey a Lawful Order from a Superior. Certain Situations require the Disobeying of a superior, but these are situation dependent not blanket cases. A Lawful Superior is any Legal Rightful Ruler of a City/Country wiether it is a Hereditary title as a King or Huptman, or an Elected or Duly Appointed Official like a Mayor or Burgermeister. A Zun or Evil leader is not a Lawful/Just Leader and will not be followed in any case. Axe Warriors/: Axe Warriors' honor is based on Courage in Battle and in the Face of Adversity. As followers of Sarajin they fall under the strictures of the Specialty Priest Hood of Sarajin and when they reach 3rd Rank as a Axe Warrior they start gaining the abilities as a Specialty Priest except for Turning Undead, instead they gain a permanent protection from Fire Lance Warriors/: Lance Warriors' Honor is based on Justice and Mercy to friend and Foe alike. As Followers of Larani they fall under the Strictures of the Speciality Priesthood of Larani and when they attain 3rd Rank as a Lance Warrior they start gaining the abilities as a Speciality preiest except for the Abilities to Turn Undead, instead they gain the ability to prevent any lies from being said in thier presence, it is unable to utter a Lie in the presence of a Lance Warrior of #rd Rank or Higher with out first successfully Rolling a Save vs. Spells Upon becoming a Member of the Orders the Person gains Experience as a Paladin/Ranger and the next level they gain grants them an additional d10 for hitpoints (2d10), due to the rigorous training and conditionng program as a Squire and Transferring from the Shields to either of the Axe or Lance Orders they gain another extra d10 (example: Groff a 4th Level Fighter petitions to join the Orders he becomes a Squire, gains 9000 experience point (enough to go from 4th to 5th level as a Paladin) rolls 2d10 for Hp, gains a Level as a Shield rolls only 1d10, descides to petition to Join the Axes, gains enough experience to gain a level as a Paladin/Ranger becomes a Full Axe and rolls 2d10 again for Hp. Once a Shield descides to enter onne of the Greater Orders they can't descide later to Join the Other, they are Stuck as a Member of that Order unless they violate the laws of the Order and are then drummed out and stripped of all Rank and Titles never to be given back, they may however rejoin the Shields but unable to Advance out of the Order. As the Current Sheild Lord was once a Former Lance Warrior, that in the heat of Battle accidentally Slew an Innocent bystander (priest of Peoni) that was running in to assist the fallen on both sides.Original author was
Marc A Renouf,
but has been edited by Avathar Valcana
for campaign reasons.