Ansalon MUD - Holyorder Clanbook.

The Clans of Ansalon - Holyorder.

Bookmark Ansalon MUD's Holyorder Clanbook!

Holy Orders of the Stars

The Holy Orders of the Stars are the faiths that worship the 21 true gods of Krynn -- by whatever names they know them. Just as the pantheon consists of three celestial families, so too, the gods' worshipers fall into three holy orders. Priests of a Good god belong to the Order of Light, those of an Evil god belong to the Order of Dark, and those of a Neutral god belong to the Order of Balance. Relations Between the Factions: Although the Orders of High Sorcery work together for the cause of magic, the three Holy Orders have far more hostile relations. To priests, ethos means everything, so to work with the other orders is to deny one's only purpose in life. If any alliance occurs between the orders, it exists because each thinks it can advance its own cause. Be it known though that if the <L> of an Order makes a decree, blatant and intentional breaking of that decree may result in being ousted from your Order and branded a Heathen. Classes Allowed: Cleric, Paladin, Templar and Monk. Heathens Are priests who refuse to acknowledge and worship an established god/goddess of Krynn. The only exception to this is when a Holy Order priest defies the wishes of their faith or ignore set decrees made by their aligned order's leader. If they are a cleric/paladin/templar/monk and are not a member of the holy order, and have not received special dispensation from the leadership of the Holy Order, they are fair game for PK. Leaders will post notes to the clan when special permission has been granted to a non-Holy Order member. Holy Order priests may be branded Heathens by a 2/3 vote of the <L>s. Heathens are discharged and hunted like dogs throughout the land. Becoming, a Priest of the Holy Order Those who wish to serve one of the true gods must first win acceptance from their god. This means the petitioner must show RP relating to their god. The supplicant must seek out a priest in good standing of the Order and tell his reasons for wishing to become a priest. Once the priest is satisfied that the character understands and believes all the precepts of the Order and will live according to them, he pronounces him an Acolyte. The gods of Krynn bless their priests with certain powers, but demand in return strict obedience. Even with the most chaotic gods, disobedience results in loss of granted powers or spells. Severe enough transgressions garner the god's wrath. Clan-Jumping is highly frowned upon since most of the time it is done for the wrong reasons. Switching Orders from one Alignment to another is a very serious offense to the God you dumped. If this is done, you lose any recruitment or leaderships flags and may or may not be hunted by members of your former order. NOTE: If you are using Holy Order as a secondary clan, you cannot rise above clan level 3. To rise higher, you must make Holy Order a priority.

Order of Good:

Priests of the Good Order defend and preserve life, protect and promote the welfare of all, and uphold a code of conduct that embodies the principles o f Good. Good priests work to convince everyone to renounce selfish strivings and devote themselves to performing just and merciful acts for others and for the gods. Though some think this strict code of conduct fetters Good priests, the priests themselves feel liberated by it. The Good Order is led by the Chosen Prophet, and one High Priest are the lead priests of the six other Good gods. Only one Chosen Prophet exists on Krynn, and only one High Priest. Gods of Good: Paladine Other Names: Draco Paladin (Ergoth), Skyblade (Goodlund), Dragonlord (Mithas), E'li (Silvanesti), Thak the Hammer (Thorbardin), Bah'Mut (Istar), the Great Dragon (Solamnia), Fizban (Goodlund). Description: Paladine is Father of Good and Master of Law. He speaks for the gods of Good, leading them not by restriction but by example and encouragement. Paladine upholds the laws of Good, assisting the righteous and abjuring the Evil. During the Age of Dreams, Paladine led the gods in creation. Before aught else was made, Paladine and Takhisis infused the raw fury of chaos with form and purpose. Thus they created the first material things -- dragons. Takhisis, jealous that the first creations were not entirely hers, corrupted the chromatic dragons to make them Evil. Paladine replaced his fallen children with the Good, metallic Dragons, but Takhisis's corrupting act began the rift between Good and Evil. Takhisis then sought to dominate the newly-created starspirits. Thus, the rift widened into a canyon. Paladine, in righteous anger, launched the All-Saints War against the Evil gods. The war ended with both sides wounded, but the battlefield, Krynn, was nearly destroyed. Paladine, saddened by the devastation, swore never again to make war on the world. And so, Paladine learned the need for subtlety in his conflict with the Evil gods. By working through worshippers rather than in person, Paladine could bring about slow change without jeopardizing the fragile stuff of creation. Paladine counseled the other gods of Good to do likewise, and they have. In one of history's darkest hours, though, when Takhisis loomed over the world like an inescapable plague, Paladine realized he needed a more powerful weapon in the fight for Good. Joining with his sons Kiri-Jolith -- god of war, glory, honor, and duty -- and Habbakuk -- god of harmony and nature -- Paladine created the Knights of Solamnia. They chose the human hero of liberty, Vinas Solamnus to establish the knighthood, basing it on the ideals of truth, justice, and honor. The Solamnic Knights proved weapon enough to thwart Evil's plots for over a millennium. Then, in the throes of the third Dragon War, Paladine honed the edge of this weapon by revealing the secret of the Dragonlance. Many legends suggest that Huma, hero of the Dragonlance who exacted an oath from the Queen of Darkness herself, was Paladine's avatar. This is false. Huma was indeed a mortal, acting with divine guidance perhaps, but still mortal. Because this mere man's history-shattering sacrifice is difficult to accept, many prefer to consider him divine rather than aspire to his golden example. Today, Paladine is honored by all orders of the Solamnic Knights. He is patron of the Order of the Rose. Paladine's constellation guards Gilean's constellation (the Book of Knowledge). According to tradition, Paladine's constellation occupies this position because truth and knowledge are essential weapons in combatting Evil. During the War of the Lance, the constellations of Paladine and Takhisis both vanished from the heavens, a warning to the people of Krynn. Once the Dark Queen was defeated and banished, the constellations returned to their proper positions in the heavens. At the Cataclysm, Paladine and his order, disillusioned with the arrogant people and bound by the Kingpriest's spells, ceased their intervention in the world. For 60 days, they permitted Evil to roll unchecked across the land. In this time, Paladine's tears glowed brilliant in the night sky. Since that time, Paladine has turned his hand back to the weary and ceaseless work of guiding fickle mortals. Paladine rules from the Dome of Creation, which surrounds the heavens. These ethereal lands are infinite and beautiful. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Paladine uphold the law of Good in thought, word, and deed. They do not brow-beat evildoers, however, trusting self-destructive Evil to teach its own lessons. Mishakal Other Names: Ka-Mel-Sha, Healer in the Home (Kharolis/ Tarsis), Mesalax (Thorbardin), Meshal (Icewall), Mishas (Ergoth), Quenesti Pah (Silvanesti), Quen Illumini (Qualinesti), Skymistress (Goodlund), the Blue Lady (Balifor, Hylo), Empress (Mithas), Bearer of Light, Light Bringer (Solamnia). Description: Among most Good people of Krynn, Mishakal is worshipped as the "Healer." In pre-Cataclysm days, she was the most revered of the ministering gods, with many temples that taught the art of healing. Nearly every community in Ansalon had a priest of Mishakal to tend to the populace's health and, in recent days, the new clergy of Mishakal is working to renew this custom. Before the Cataclysm, Mishakal was known primarily as the "Healer," but in the War of the Lance she earned other appellations: "Light Bringer," "Bearer of Light," and "Quen IIlumini." These names reflect the fact that it was Mishakal who revealed the true gods to a world in darkness. The legendary Disks of Mishakal, a set of platinum disks engraved with knowledge of the Good gods, brought this revelation in tangible form to the people of Krynn. Since then, her priesthood has understandably boomed. Mishakal is Paladine's wife and advisor. The couple have twin sons, Habbakuk and Kiri-Jolith, as well as a third and younger son named Solinari. Duties of the Priesthood A priest of Mishakal seeks out those who are ill and heals them. Though some priests charge a nominal fee for healing spells, Mishakal demands that priests not overcharge or withhold healing from those who cannot afford it. Majere Other Names: Manthus (Ergoth), Mantis of the Rose (Qualinesti), Matheri (Silvanesti), Nadir the Dreamsender (Mithas). Description: Majere is the god of organization, industry, and control, as well as meditation, faith, and dreams. Majere creates and inspires the martial arts and all disciplines that lead to an honest confrontation of oneself. Majere's worshippers seek simple lives, devoid of luxurious trappings but filled with meditation, self-discipline, and deep thought. Majere worked hand-in-hand with Paladine in creating and populating Krynn. According to some scholars, Majere's crowning creations are the insects of Krynn, who emulate the quiet god's unassuming grace, introspective complexity, and ceaseless industry. As Astinus once said, "Each of Majere's insects is an elegant complexity of legs and armor that no gnomish machine could ever match." Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Majere must not retain more than 10% of any wealth earned or found. They follow a simple lifestyle, seeking visions and contemplating every act and word before proceeding. Priests of Majere promote faith, mercy, and loyalty through example. The only indulgence allowed to priests of Majere is pursuit of an artistic endeavor. Kiri-Jolith Other Names: Corij (Ergoth), Kijo the Blade (Thorbardin), Jolith (Kharolis/Tarsis), Qu'an the Warrior (Uigan), Emperor (Mithas). Description: Kiri-Jolith is the god of glory, honor, obedience, justice, and righteous warfare. Paladins and fighters who embrace Good revere Kiri-Jolith. His constellation threatens the Queen of Darkness's in the night sky. Kiri-Jolith is oldest son of Paladine and Mishakal, though he preceded his twin brother Habbakuk by mere moments. The twins and Paladine appeared before Vinas Solamnus and inspired him to form the Knights of Solamnia. He did so, creating an order to follow the teachings of each of the three gods. Kiri-Jolith is patron of the Order of the Sword. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Kiri-Jolith must use granted powers to lawfully and honorably combat Evil. Kiri-Jolith forbids use of powers to benefit only the priesthood. If a priest or paladin of Kiri-Jolith is in a retreating party, that character must be the last to retreat, covering the party's escape. Cowardice is blasphemy among Kiri-Jolith's worshippers. Offenders need an atonement and a quest to return to their god's graces. Habbakuk Other Names: The Blue Phoenix (Ergoth, Silvanesti, Qualinesti), Skylord (Balifor, Goodlund), Sea Lord (Mithas). Description: Habbakuk created and rules all creatures of land and sea. Rangers and sailors especially revere him. He made the creatures in his likeness, and he is as feral and merciless as they. Still, in the furious cycle of predator and prey, there resides a natural harmony that also embodies Habbakuk. He is thus as fierce as a lion when dealing with Evil and as innocent as a doe when dealing with Good. Needless to say, Habbakuk is as much feared as he is loved. Because he represents the eternal cycle of nature; Habbakuk has become a symbol of eternal life beyond the world. Son of Paladine and Mishakal, Habbakuk is Kiri-Jolith's younger twin. Together with his brother and father, Habbakuk established the Knights of Solamnia, creating the Order of the Crown to champion his ways. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Habbakuk fiercely protect nature from those who would destroy or squander it. In many ways, Habbakuk's priests resemble the Heathen druids who also pay homage to this god. Once during his lifetime, a priest of Habbakuk must leave friends and community to wander the land, taking nothing but a walking stick and the clothes he wears. This time purifies the priest and teaches the true ways of nature and of Habbakuk. The time ends when the priest has either done a great service for Habbakuk (usually protecting or restoring nature from a terrible threat), or Habbakuk sends a sign. Branchala Other Names: Songmaster (Goodlund), Astra (Qualinesti), Astarin (Silvanesti), Sran (Ergoth), Gardener (Mithas), Bardilun (Thorbardin). Description: The Bard King Branchala is god of music. A companion of Habbakuk since the beginning of time, Branchala imbued Krynn's first creatures with the lyric and untamed melody of his immortal soul. Branchala's music is the song of all living souls. His melodies evoke undeniable passion in every listener's ear. Branchala's music dwells to some extent in every creature of Krynn. Some even say that all hearts beat in time to the mysterious melodies. Elves and kender consider Branchala the highest god. Duties of the Priesthood Branchala's priests must compose a song, write a poem, or create a dance once every season. Once during a priest's life, he must create a masterpiece dedicated to Branchala. This masterpiece must take years to create and represent the full flower of the bard's ability. It may be a song, poem, dance, work of art, practical joke, or tall tale. Solinari Other Names: Solin (Ergoth), White-eye (Goodlund, Balifor), God's Eye (Thorbardin), Ivory Disk (Hylo), Seacon (Mithas). Description: Solinari, third son of Paladine and Mishakal, is god of Good magic. Solinari loves Krynn deeply and has granted his Good magic to guard the land. He established the Order of the White Robes to administer Good magic. Like the other gods of magic, Solinari chose to remain close to Krynn, residing on the Ethereal plane near his symbol, the silver moon. He no longer has a home plane. Duties of the Priesthood As with mages, a priest of Solinari must pass the Test of High Sorcery before being inducted into the priesthood. The White Robe Conclave Leader will then speak with the Head of the Holy Order of Light and sponsor the aspiring priest into the Priesthood. From their, they will study under the High Priest of Light.

Order of Evil:

Priests of the Evil Order seek to dominate others, both those within their order and those without. Evil priests have no interest in persons whom they cannot dominate or exploit. And anyone who poses a threat to an Evil priest should watch his back. Because they are unrestrained by ethics, priests of the Evil Order would as soon slit a man's throat as smell a rose if they had anything to gain from it. But these priests are evil, not stupid. They do not go around destroying everything they see. Such actions lead to vigilantism and lynchings. On the other hand, cunning schemes lead to power, riches, and the admiration of the gods of Evil. The Evil Order is led by the Nightlord, who is assisted by one Nightmaster. Takhisis Other Names: Dragon Queen (Ergoth, Silvanesti), Tii'Mhut (Istar), She of the Many Faces (Hylo), Mai-tat (Tarsis), Nilat the Corruptor (Icewall), Tamex the False Metal Thorbardin), Lady Chaos (Mithas), Darklady (Ogre), Mwarg (Hobgoblin). Description: Not even fools or children speak the name Takhisis lightly. Her name summons darkness, destruction, and death. Swathed in shadow and hatred, she desires only the domination and destruction of Krynn and its folk. In the Age of Dreams, Takhisis was Paladine's mate and consort. The two gods were equals in every way. But when they forged the first beings of creation, the dragons built of chaos, Takhisis grew jealous. She wished to be the only first creator; she wanted the first creatures to bear the stamp of her being. And she devised a way to make it so. The nascent Dark Queen corrupted the dragons, draining the nobility from their blood and installing savage fury instead. Paladine was deeply grieved, a sorrow that pleased his lover. By the warping of these first creations, Takhisis forever divided the families of gods. She left Paladine and consorted with Sargonnas, god of fury and vengeance. They had two offspring: Nuitari, god of black magic, and Zeboim, goddess of the sea and storms. The passion between Takhisis and Sargonnas has been intense and volatile, vacillating between insatiable lust and rancorous loathing. Takhisis bore one other child, Artha, demigoddess of wanton lust and greed. Originally believed to be a child from a passing liaison with Chemosh, Artha was in truth sired by Hiddukel masquerading as Chemosh. But such alliances did not distract Takhisis from her ultimate goal -- domination. She turned her attention next to the star-spirits, wanting to form them into pawns to wage the deadly wars she planned against the other gods. Discovering her scheme, the other gods refused. The All-Saints War resulted. The war ended in a stalemate and Takhisis, furious that she could not own the star-spirits, bestowed upon them weakness, disease, and death. She has not spent an idle moment since. All three Dragon Wars began as her ruses to seize power. Between these wars, she brought about countless plagues and senseless slaughters. Surely worse catastrophes would have befallen had not Huma used the Dragonlance to drive Takhisis from Krynn and banish her to the Nine Hells. Along with her, dragons both Evil and Good sank deep into the ground and slept. Soon they lived only in folk tales and legends. The Queen of Darkness made her home in Avernus, first layer of the Infernal Realms. Her domain was Abthalom, the Nether Reaches. During her rule, Abthalom was in a state of constant flux, mirroring the tempestuous moods of its mistress. While she awaited a chance to escape, she tortured the spirits of dead folk consigned to live in the Nine Hells because of their Evil. At last, the Kingpriest's pride provided Takhisis a means of escape. Using the Kingpriest's vanity like the strings of a puppet, she ruled Istar through him. For one glorious, heinous century, Takhisis spread her power from Istar to the four corners of Ansalon. At last, the other gods could stand by no longer. So came the Cataclysm. The Cataclysm nearly destroyed Ansalon and all of Krynn, a result Takhisis little minded. Worse yet, she actually benefitted from the Cataclysm. When the mountain fell, she drew the Temple of the Kingpriest down to the ether Reaches. Then, using the Temple's innate connection to Krynn, Takhisis forged a gateway back to Krynn. Returning, she nullified Huma's banishment. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Takhisis serve as their mistress's eyes and ears, alert to any opportunity to further the goddess's ambitions. Priests also carry out her plans to sabotage the power of every god other than Takhisis. The Dark Queen's chief directives to her priests are to use the desires of Good-aligned beings to enslave or destroy them and to destroy or steal the eggs of Good dragons. Every priest of Takhisis must take an oath of utter obedience. Those who break their oath receive a slow, painful death followed by an eternity of damnation. Sargonnas Other Names: Argon (Istar, Ergoth), The Firebringer (Hylo), Misal-Lasim (Tarsis), Gonnas the Willful (Icewall), Sargonax the Bender (Thorbardin), Kinthalas (Silvanesti), Kinis (Qualinesti), Destroyer (Mithas). Description: Little is known of Takhisis's consort. Perhaps the Queen of Darkness casts intentional shadows on him. Thereby Takhisis keeps him obscure, little worshipped, and non-threatening. Or perhaps Sargonnas himself has wrought the obscurity. He is the brooding, sometime explosive god of vengeance, rage, deserts, and volcanoes. Sargonnas embodies the destructive passion of fire. His greatest ally, Takhisis, is also his greatest enemy, and he routinely plots both for and against his Queen. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Sargonnas must actively seek revenge for the wrongs the world has committed against Sargonnas (including ignorance of his existence) as well as any wrong person ally suffered by the priest. priests also act to further the convoluted plots of their god. Morgion Other Names: H'rar (Ergoth, Istar), Gormion (Tarsis), Morgi (Icewall), Morgax the Rustlord (Thorbardin), Pestilence (Mithas), Anthrax Goatlord (Hobgoblin). Description: Morgion, god of disease and decay, refuses the company of the other gods and does not discuss plans with them. Alone Morgion broods in a bronze tower at the edge of the Abyss, keeping thoughts secret from all but loyal minions. Those unfortunate enough to encounter this reclusive god see a rotting humanoid corpse -- neither male nor female -- topped with a goat's head. Secrecy is Morgion's way, with distrust that rivals Sargonnas's. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Morgion meet in secret and dark places to worship and plan their Evil acts. They swear a mortal oath to keep doctrines and customs secret; little is known of them outside their order though it is known that they are among the most subtle and hidden cults of clerics around. Chemosh Other Names: Aeleth (Ergoth), Dron of the Deep (Tarsis), Chemos Joton (Icewall), Khemax (Thorbardin), Lifebane (Mithas), Orkrust (Hobgoblin). Description: In the Age of Dreams, Chemosh, lord of undead, was drawn by Takhisis to Krynn. She needed a lieutenant to marshal the legions of death. As lord of false redemption, Chemosh offers "eternal life": recipients spend immortality in an undead and eternally corrupted body. Chemosh rarely explains this when making a pact with Evil undead. Before they can reconsider, they find themselves to be minions of Chemosh. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Chemosh wear white skull masks and black robes. They recruit followers using Chemosh's false promises of immortality. Because Chemosh's minions grant his power, priests consider the destruction of undead strictly taboo. They take vengeance on any who commit it. Zeboim Other Names: Rann (Ergoth), Zyr (Tarsis), Zebir Jotun (Icewall), Bhezomiax (Thorbardin), Maelstrom (Mithas). Description: Zeboim the Sea Queen is the impetuous and volatile daughter of Takhisis and Sargonnas. Her unpredictable tempers make her a dangerous foe and a lethal friend. As creator of the sea, tempests, and weather, Zeboim receives petitions and sacrifices from seamen wishing good weather and safe journey. Though some manage to avoid her rage, others who displease her through some real or imagined slight never see harbor again. Dwarves know nothing of Zeboim. To pay back their ignorance, Zeboim delights in spilling dwarves from boats and watching their heavy-boned bodies sink to the bottom. Duties of the Priesthood Zeboim has few priests; most beings fear her capriciousness. Those who honor her at all do so by throwing offerings off the sides of their ships. Zeboim's few true priests are required to know how to swim. Hiddukel Other Names: Betrayer (Mithas), Usk-Do (Hobgoblins), Hitax the Flaw (Thorbardin), M'Fistos (Istar). Description: Hiddukel, god of ill-gotten wealth and deals, is patron god of Evil businessmen and dishonest merchants. A cunning deal-maker, Hiddukel trades in living souls. Some say Hiddukel can even barter with Takhisis and come out ahead. Hiddukel controls all ill-gotten wealth, using it to corrupt honest and greedy men alike. Greed and mischief drive all his transactions. One of his deals resulted in the creation of the Greystone, an artifact that wreaked havoc on Krynn. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Hiddukel must greedily pursue and attain wealth through dishonest and (when all else fails) honest endeavors. They also must wear the finest clothes available. Nuitari Other Names: Nightreaver (Mithas), Darkness (Elian), Black Hand (Balifor), Ungod (Thorbardin). Description: Nuitari, god of black magic, drew his Evil nature from his parents, Takhisis and Sargonnas. Like the other gods of magic, Nuitari left his home plane to orbit Krynn in the Ethereal plane. He resides just beyond the black moon that is his symbol. This moon, also called Nuitari, cannot be detected unless it eclipses other stars and moons. From this smallest of all moons, Nuitari watches Krynn and fosters his greatest love -- magic. While wandering Krynn in avatar form, Nuitari founded the wizardly Order of the Black Robes. This order espouses Nuitari's belief that magic should be secret and coveted. Role-Playing Notes: Nuitari is perhaps the most approachable of the Evil gods. His love for magic transcends his Evil nature. An intense and quiet god, Nuitari displays a scholar's love for the magical arts. He continually researches new spells to grant his priests and wizards, seeking the universe's arcane secrets. But black magic comes at a price; though it grants its users incredible power, it also slowly takes control of them. Nuitari observes in wry amusement as those who try to master his art are overcome by its dark power. Duties of the Priesthood As with mages, a priest of Nuitari must pass the Test of High Sorcery before being inducted into the priesthood. The Black Robe Conclave Leader will then speak with the Head of the Holy Order of Light and sponsor the aspiring priest into the Priesthood. From their, they will study under the High Priest of Nuitari.

Order of Neutrality:

Priests of the Neutral Order attempt to maintain a balance between Good and Evil. They consider priests of Good idealistic and practical, and those of the Evil destructive and treacherous. Neutral priests, however, will ally with either side when they must tilt the balance away from the other. Even so, they never fight for Good or Evil, per se. In fact, they pledge to combat both sides when the free will of Krynn's folk is at stake. As well as fighting for the people of Krynn, Neutral priests fight for nature. Evil priests delight in destroying the forests and Good priests delight in turning them into theocratic cities. Neutral priests oppose both of these plans. The following is a description of each God of Neutrality and info about being one of their followers. The Neutral Order is led by the Starmaster,. The Starmaster and the Archmasters are unique on Krynn, in the manner of the hierarchy of the Good Order. Gilean Other Names: Gilean the Book, Gray Voyager, the Sage, the Gate of Souls. Description: Gilean, patriarch of the Neutral gods, guards the book of all knowledge and true names -- the Tobril. Before creation, the High God wrote the Tobril to lay down the designs of the universe. After creation, none among the gods was trustworthy enough to guard the Tobril, for its secrets were more powerful than the gods themselves. So the High God searched Krynn for a trustworthy mortal, searched through the depths of time. And he found only one trustworthy soul -- Gilean, a scribe so scrupulous as to have never penned an error. The High God brought Gilean back to the dawn of creation and entrusted him with the Tobril, saying, Read those passages you may. Their knowledge will make you a god equal with all others. But guard this knowledge from all gods and mortals, for on the day another reads of it, you shall surely die." And so Gilean read the Tobril and has faithfully guarded it ever since. But even some passages are sealed to his eyes, and can be read only by the High God. The High God made Gilean not only to guard the Tobril, but also to lead the Neutral gods in retaining the balance between the families of Good and Evil. The High God wrote this destiny for Gilean in the stars, setting his constellation in the night sky between Paladine's and Takhisis's. He holds them apart lest they war and destroy all creation. Gilean resides in the Hidden Vale, a valley of perfection, peace, and serenity that exists everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes, devout followers of Gilean's way find the Hidden Vale. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Gilean serve a temple or university and insatiably seek knowledge. No priest of Gilean may ever burn a book. Such a transgression requires a quest and an atonement by the offending priest. One month each year, a priest of Gilean must serve the public as an historian, counselor, judge, or arbiter. In so doing, the priest performs in the world the same peacemaking efforts Gilean performs in the heavens. Sirrion Other Names: Firemaster, the Alchemist, the Wizard (Mithas). Description: Sirrion, god of creative flame and natural power, sculpts fire into beautiful forms. He controls every flame, from the blazing sun to the low-burning wick, channeling and filtering the feral power into useful forms. But Sirrion is by no means tame: he sometimes sparks forest fires to clear old and rotten trees and allow young forests to grow; he also burns children who play with a candle flame, teaching them to respect fire. And though he desires to make fire useful, he wishes even more to make it beautiful. Sirrion's companion is Shinare, goddess of wealth and commerce. They quarrel because Sirrion is temperamental and artistic while Shinare is practical and opportunistic. Sirrion does not have a readily recognizable constellation because his celestial symbol is his planet. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Sirrion have a great challenge. They must shape fire into beautiful and useful forms, never losing control so that its destructive power is released. Priests of Sirrion primarily serve nature with their fire handling. Sirrion occasionally grants small boons to priests who contain a destructive fire or use fire to promote the creative passions. He also looks favorably on those who disrupt Shinare's plans of industry and commerce. Reorx Other Names: Anvil (Elian), the Weaponmaster (Mithas), Reorx the Master (Gnomes), Reorx the Craftsman (Kender). Description: The dwarves of Ansalon consider Reorx -- god of manufacture, technology, and metallurgy -- to be the greatest of gods. Although humans see Reorx as the rotund helper of Kiri-Jolith, dwarves and gnomes depict him as a powerful dwarf with arms well-muscled from smithing. According to all creation myths, Reorx tamed chaos to forge the world. Most accounts also agree that the stars were sparks from his hammer when he struck chaos. Reorx's second greatest creation, the Greystone of Gargath, led to the creation of dwarves, gnomes, and kender. Many therefore consider the forge god to be father of these races. Reorx does not have a readily recognizable constellation because his celestial symbol is his planet. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Reorx delight in things that are hand-crafted. They travel the earth, making things, and assisting others in the construction of things both beautiful and practical. Because Reorx also enjoys his dwarven drinks, it is not uncommon to find several priests gathered in a local tavern, hoisting many a dwarven spirit to the name of their god. Chislev Other Names: Wild One (Mithas), the Wilds. Description: Chislev is nature incarnate. According to legend, the seasons change with the moods of her heart: her fear brings the fall, her despair the winter, her hope the springtime, and her joy the summer. As well as the worship of mortals, Chislev receives the praise of every beast of the field; every blade of grass turns toward her as toward the sun. She is served by the master spirits of each creature of Krynn, who animates wooden statues of their kind. Chislev and her mate Zivilyn are said to dwell in Zhan, the grand forest beyond the world. Elves believe that when worthy elves grow ancient, they journey to Zhan to live with Chislev and Zivilyn. The love between these gods fills all of Zhan with profound bliss. Chislev does not have a readily recognizable constellation because her celestial symbol is her planet. Duties of the Priesthood Chislev priesthood consists of non-heathen druids, who care for nature much as druids do. Zivilyn Other Names: World Tree, Tree of Life (Qualinesti, Silvanesti), Wise One (Mithas). Description: Zivilyn, god of all wisdom, is the celestial Tree of Life. His branches and roots extend into all times and places. Much as Gilean holds the knowledge of the universe, Zivilyn holds its wisdom. He acts not according to the dictates of his mind, but according to those of his heart. Because wisdom is incomplete without knowledge and knowledge is incomplete without wisdom, Zivilyn and Gilean work closely together. Zivilyn is companion of Chislev; most mortals view this relationship as the perfect marriage of harmony and understanding. Zivilyn does not have a readily recognizable constellation because his celestial symbol is his planet. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Zivilyn devote themselves to wisdom in thought and deed. To the priests, committing a foolish act is worse that committing an Evil act. Shinare Other Names: Winged One (Silvanesti, Qualinesti), Silver Master (Thorbardin), Walking Liberty (Ergoth), Balance or the Scales (Mithas). Description: Shinare -- goddess of wealth, industry, and commerce -- has many dwarven worshippers, for they appreciate her love of wealth and industry. She also finds many followers among merchants, mercenaries, and profit-minded adventurers of other races. And all folk consider her the champion of freedom and self-destiny. Shinare's companion is Sirrion, god of creative fire. Their relationship shows the stress of their opposite personalities: Sirrion is temperamental and artistic while Shinare is calm and pragmatic. Still, for some reason even they do not understand, they remain together. Shinare does not have a readily recognizable constellation because her celestial symbol is her planet. Duties of the Priesthood Priests of Shinare are industrious. They work hard to amass wealth and prestige, but they must not be greedy. Their work must serve the greater community and they must wisely spend their money for the benefit of all. Shinare's priests must dress in the best clothing they can afford and adorn their weapons with gems and precious metals. Shinare occasionally deposits gems or precious metals in the pockets of priests who oppose Sirrion's plans. Shinare seeks not to harm her mate, but to hamper his ambitious plans. But her truest enemy is Hiddukel, false merchant and perverter of contracts. Lunitari Other Names: Luin (Ergoth), Red-Eye (Goodlund), Night Candle (Thorbardin), Maid of Illusion (Mithas). Description: Lunitari, goddess of Neutral magic and illusions, was born of Gilean and an unknown mother. (Some suggest she sprang full-grown from her father's thoughts.) She founded the wizardly Order of the Red Robes to promote Neutral magic. Most of Krynn's mages embrace her order because it allows them to practice magic without the moral shackles. Lunitari and Solinari have long been friends and work well together. Like the other gods of magic, Lunitari chooses to remain close to Krynn to govern her order of mages. Lunitari's heavenly symbol, the small red moon, is called the "witching light." Duties of the Priesthood As with mages, a priest of Lunitari must pass the Test of High Sorcery before being inducted into the priesthood. The Red Robe Conclave Leader will then speak with the Head of the Holy Order of Light and sponsor the aspiring priest into the Priesthood. From there, they will study under the High Priest of Lunitari. The <L>'s of the Orders are in charge and are the true Holy Order. These 3 characters act similar to the Gods they serve in that they are the greatest of the priests on Ansalon and their word carries the most weight. These three are also in charge of making diamond purchases for the clan as a whole. Individual temples can still buy things for themselves, but for the clan as a whole, the <L>'s are responsible. Even though these three work together ooc'ly for the betterment of the clan, IC'ly they usually don't get along. This goes true for all of the clerics of Holy Order. Aside from occasional alliances by members of various faiths, the norm for the various faiths is to take care of themselves and serve their own deities. There are 21 separate temples being built for each of the 21 gods/goddess' of Krynn. They will all have access to the main HO clanhall. The goal here is to create a clan that focuses more on the individual faiths of its members while still being able to act as one force if need be.

PK guidelines

1. Don't PK people in your branch. This is a no-no. Dueling is one thing, but do NOT attack people in your branch EVER, unless you have agreed to dual. 2. PK between the branches: It's ok if you want to do it. HO Darks and lights can pk the hell out of each other with balance doing the same. 3. Thou shall not loot thy clannies. No looting of the clannies. I'll say it again: No looting of clannies. Don't do it. If you're caught doing it, you will be asked to return the items. For a second offence, we beat you with a chair. 4. RP If you do kill one of your clannies, a decent warnote is required. Nothing prize-winning, but more than "I killed him. 24 from uh...us" If you prefer to just write a longer warnote detailing the fight, that is also fine. 5. PK in clan hall: Another No-no. It doesn't matter if they're vio, killer, thief, whatever. If they're in the clan hall, they're safe. This does not include the individual temples, so watch your backs. Violations: 1st offence: Jailing. You can pay your way out, but not with clan funds. 2nd offence: Slay/Eat, must be IMP approved. 3rd offence: Slay/Eat, must be IMP approved. Discharge You have been warned If there are any questions, feel free to address them to an <L> or <R>.

Bookmark Ansalon MUD's Holyorder Clanbook!