Emberhearth

Steadfast Defenders of Hearth and Home

Constellation: shield and hammer
Holy Symbol: a stone hammer striking a shield
Acceptable Alignments: Any
Favored Weapons: Hammers and Shields
Divine Enemies: Denizens of the Underlight, Fiends, Minotaurs
Divine Font: Harm or Heal
Domains: Delirium, Creation, Toil, Protection, Family (applies to all who share your Hearth), Star
Skill: Craft (pick one)
Associated Ability: Strength, Wisdom

Basic Tenets

Respect the Hearth,
Honor those who share your Hearth,
Protect your Hearth and those who share it,
Suffer none to harm your Hearth,
Do your fair share for your Hearth.

Code of Hearth's Honor

While each hearth has its own unique rules, the following are shared between all Hearths.

Only the Hearthmaster or his appointed officials can offer a shared Hearth to another.

No weapon may be drawn in aggression toward another member of the Hearth.

No insult may be spoken toward another member of the Hearth.

No theft may occur within the Hearth.

All precious metals and stones found within the Hearth belong to the Hearth until given to a member of the Hearth.

Non-Hearth-Members can only enter the Hearth by Sponsorship by a Hearth Member.

Sponsorship: by Sponsoring an outsider, the Sponsor agrees to take responsibility for any breaking of the Hearth Code that is perpetrated by the sponsored outsiders. Such responsibility is not taken lightly.

Should offense or aggression be given, the offended Hearth member may seek justice via honorable fisticuffs.

Should a third offense or aggression be given, the offended Hearth member may seek justice by way of the Hammerer.

If there are witnesses to a sufficiently grevious offense, the offended Hearth member may seek justice by means of hammer.

All Hearth members and outsiders must respond to the call to arms should the Hearth be threatened.

Clerical Tenets

Enforce the rules of the Hearth.
Hammer those who disrespect the Hearth.
Show no mercy to minotaurs.
Encourage those who struggle to carry the burdens of the Hearth.
Put down those whose inability to carry the burdens of the Hearth threatens the safety of the Hearth.
Let the mad rave. Do not interfere except in service of the above tenets.

Burial Rites

The burial rites vary depend on whether they are to be sent to Brumil or Makil.
For Brumil, the dead is given a solid metal shield that will help them survive the hammers of the souls dedicated to Makil as they try to claim the soul for their lord. Then, the bones are removed and the body turned to a stone statue. These statues are kept in the Catacombs of Record, which are within each Hearth.
For Makil, the dead is given a hammer with which to break through the lines of Brumil's dedicated souls as they try to claim the soul for their own. Then, the bones are removed and replaced with molten metal, then the rest of the body removed. The skeleton is then placed as a statue within the Catacombs of Record.
When these rites are not feasible, such as during war or while traveling, bodies are to be completely submerged in an earthy substance with their hammer or shield
As a note, some few may decid to be buried with both shield and hammer. Doing so is generally considered an act of hubris or incredible prowess, as the soul will need to fight off Makil's hammers while breaking through Brumil's lines. Should they fail, the power of the two armies will tear their soul apart.

Notable Ceremonies and Holidays

Emberhearth has relatively fewer holidays than most other religions on Aedeva. Scholars speculate that this is due to the intense focus that the religion has on hardship, toil, and crafting. Others suspect that it is because the long years underground make them forget the passage of time. Most Emberhearth ceremonies are celebrated with extra-heavy alchoholic consumption.

Marriage: marriage is seen by priests of the Emberhearth as a battle to be won. Though the exact practices vary, the act of marriage usually requires the male to craft something of great value for his lady. Once presented with the object, the lady crafts something of her own. A council is held to determine which of the two is of higher value. If the male's has higher value, then the marriage is complete and the two creations are merged into a Marriage Totem, completing the marriage. If the lady's is of higher value, then the male must try again. This process of trying and retrying can be attempted three times, at which time the lady will decide whether it is close enough. If both are of equal value, then they must craft a separate Marriage Totem to complete the marriage.

Paladin Oath

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Deities

• Brumil and Makil