Pelor
Title(s)
The Sun Father, The Shining One, The Radiant Light, The Healer
Alignment
Neutral Good
Symbol
A golden sun with a radiant face, representing Pelor's life-giving warmth and light. His followers often wear this symbol on pendants, armor, or robes, and it is frequently displayed in stained glass or carved into the stone of his temples.
Domains
Light, Life, Healing, Strength
Followers and Clergy
Pelor is a beloved deity among the common folk, and his followers include healers, farmers, knights, and anyone who seeks to bring light and life to the world. His clergy are known for their compassion and dedication to charity, healing the sick, blessing crops, and destroying evil. Clerics of Pelor are often called Radiant Servants, and they wear yellow or gold vestments to symbolize the sun's rays. They train rigorously, with the most elite becoming Crusaders or Paladins who actively seek to fight evil. Pelor’s priesthood is well-organized, with a hierarchy that maintains communication across nations to coordinate aid and spread his teachings. In addition to clerics, Pelor is also served by a number of druids, who emphasize the care of plants and animals, often working within communities rather than living in seclusion. His paladins are known as Crusaders, who see themselves as living extensions of Pelor's light, fighting darkness and bringing strength to the weak.
Worship Practices
Worship of Pelor is characterized by communal prayer, hymn singing, and the distribution of alms. Services are often held at dawn or noon to honor the sun's light. Prayers are recited as affirmations, such as, "I am just, as the Sun of Justice shines upon me." Important rites, including weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies, are typically celebrated at the beginning of a new season. The Blessing of the Sun-Kissed Field is a ritual often requested by farmers to ensure a bountiful harvest. The faithful mark the Summer Solstice with special festivals, giving thanks for the sun's life-giving warmth. Healing and restorative rites are also common, especially for those afflicted by darkness or despair.
Character and Doctrine
Pelor embodies the principles of life, healing, and the power of the sun. His doctrine teaches that justice and freedom are achieved through charity, modesty, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. Followers of Pelor strive to fill the world with so much good that evil has no place to thrive, though they are prepared to fight when necessary. Pelor is particularly wrathful against the undead, as they represent a corruption of the natural cycle of life. However, he cautions his followers to avoid being consumed by their battle against darkness, for focusing too much on evil can cause one to lose sight of the importance of compassion and goodness. Pelorian teachings emphasize that the sun is the source of all life, its energy sustaining the world and driving away darkness.
Manifestations and Interventions
Pelor often appears as an older man with wild golden hair and beard, dressed in robes of shining white that radiate a warm glow. He carries a staff or a golden mace that shines with divine light. His presence can be felt in moments of warmth, such as the sun breaking through the clouds on a stormy day, or the feeling of relief that comes after a long night. Pelor’s interventions often involve granting strength to his followers or healing those who suffer. He may appear in visions, offering guidance or encouragement, or manifest as a beam of sunlight that illuminates a path or banishes shadows. His light is said to reveal the truth and expose evil wherever it hides.
Divine Relationships and Stories
Pelor maintains close alliances with other good-aligned deities, particularly those who value justice and protection. He is very closely allied with Rao, the god of peace, and often mediates disputes between the followers of St. Cuthbert and Pholtus. Pelor is friendly toward Heironeous, Trithereon, and other deities who champion the fight against evil. He is on good terms with nonhuman deities of good such as Corellon Larethian, Moradin, and Garl Glittergold, especially those with agricultural or solar aspects. Pelor is the sworn enemy of all evil gods, particularly Nerull, the god of death, and Tharizdun, the imprisoned Dark God, against whom Pelor played a role in sealing away. Legends say that Pelor's light can weaken Tharizdun's influence and that he was instrumental in the Dark God's imprisonment.
Sacred Items and Symbols
Sacred items associated with Pelor include the holy maces known as Dawnstars, each gifted to solars who rescued a paladin from the depths of Hell. The Shards of the Sun, described in Pelorian holy texts as "Pelor’s gift that brings light into darkness," are revered as symbols of his power. Other relics include Ajira's Rod, a mace containing the bones of a saintly paladin, and Ronnam's Icon, a crude bronze holy symbol that possesses special qualities against the undead. His followers value items associated with light, healing, or agriculture, such as blessed crops or enchanted torches that never extinguish.
Temples and Shrines
Temples dedicated to Pelor are tall structures with large windows designed to let sunlight flood the interior. Many are stained-glass cathedrals adorned with images of the sun, angels, and scenes from The Light of Pelor, the primary holy text. These temples often feature courtyards where the faithful can gather to worship under the open sky. In addition to places of worship, many Pelorian temples have hospital wings where the sick and injured are cared for. Shrines to Pelor may be found along roadsides, marked by simple carvings of the sun, or in fields blessed for harvest. The temples are always kept immaculate, representing the purity of Pelor's light.
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