Iomedae

"“Heroism is more than a single act; it is hundreds of small decisions, made every day, in pursuit of a greater cause."
Iomedae (pronounced ahy-OH-meh-day) is the goddess of righteous valor, justice, and honor. Having served as the herald of Aroden, she inherited many of the god's followers upon his death. She espouses the ideas of honor and righteousness in the defense of good, and the battle against evil, and is often associated with righteous monarchies.
Iomedae manifests as a valiant sword-mistress in full plate mail, wielding a longsword and a heraldic shield. Her shield casts a holy light, blinding evil beings, and her aura causes malevolent forces to tremble and falter.

Structure

Her priests are composed of clerics and paladins, who perform an hour of prayer a day, in addition to a weekly public worship service. Their formal raiment includes a white cassock with gold or blue trim and mitre, while on non-festival days they dress in similarly colored, if less ostentatious, clothing. Red is reserved solely for Iomedae, and so blue is used often as substitute. 
The church is organized on a national scale, with the highest ranking members of the church being the archbishop of the religious capital, referred to as "most holy". Individual large cities may have archbishops as well serving in council. The full hierarchy of the church is shown below and is divided into seven tiers.
The First Tier - The Novices
Before a priest can be a priest, he must first become a novice. To join the ranks of the novices an applicant must find a full priest (third tier and above) and receive their sponsorship. Applying for sponsorship can be an intricate process in the most influential temples or it can simply mean showing up and helping the priest clean up (as is often the case in the more rural temples). Priests vary on what they require to sponsor a novice. The larger temples usually require some sort of education and understanding of basic Inheritor theology. In the rural areas it is usually enough to simply show an eagerness to serve the priest and a genuine devotion to Iomedae. Novices can be of any age but typically they join somewhere between twelve and fifteen years of age and remain novices till they are eighteen or nineteen. Novices have no formal title, though they are often called “little brothers” or “little sisters” as more a title of affection.
The Second Tier - The Initiates
After a Novice has satisfied a priest (rank three) and met with his approval, they may petition a High Priest (rank four) to be initiated into the Order. Most High Priests perform this initiation only once or twice a year on certain high holy days. And it is almost unheard of for an initiate to be accepted without a sponsoring priest. Special exceptions may be made if, for example, their sponsor died. The Initiate now takes the Church Oath. The Oath is long and formal but the sum of the oath is shown here:
" I live to serve the divine Iomedae and her Church. They are my first loyalty and I will never betray them. I will serve them forever and may The goddess smite me if I forsake this oath."
The oath is often traditionally recited in Celestial and some older more traditional high priests still require this. Note that reciting this oath does not require speaking Celestial. You can simply memorize the words and in fact many initiates do not fully understand exactly what they swore. As soon as the oath is taken the novice is transformed into an initiate and from then is entitled to be called a “Brother” or “Sister” of the church.
Initiates are assigned all the menial tasks that the church requires. They often learn a useful trade. It is not uncommon for many initiates to also be skilled carpenters, painters, masons, scribes, brewers or herbalists. All that they do is to for the good of the church. Though there is no formal difference between peasants and noble initiates codified in the law of the Church, in reality there very much is. The noble initiates are often on the fast track to become high priests and bishops. The peasant initiates may serve for years before they are even given the chance to become priests.
The Third Tier – The Priests and Priestesses
After an initiate has served at least two years (and sometimes considerably more), he comes before a bishop (rank five) and presents himself for testing. The bishop asks as many questions of the Initiate as the bishop deems necessary and the initiate must answer them fully and faithfully. Exactly what the bishops ask is at the bishop’s discretion. Some ask questions of theology. Others inquire about the initiate’s past and loyalties. Other might ask if the initiate wants some tea.
Whatever the questioning entails, if the bishop is satisfied with the initiate’s honesty, integrity and commitment to the Church, then the priest is ordained. The ritual of ordainment requires no further oaths and is in fact a magical ritual. The priest is blessed and touched directly by the hand of The Inheritor. Exactly what this means is a very personal sensation and few priests will ever speak of it. What is certain is that experience changes many men and woman. Many novices enter into the priesthood of Iomedae merely eager for a place to stay and a way to live. By the time they are priests, they are almost certainly faithful adherents of the worship of the divine Inheritor.
Once ordained a priest or priestess is then and forever a full member of the Church of Iomedae. They now have the title “father" or "mother". Priests are the work horses of the Order. The tend the temples, manage the day to day affairs, recruit and manage the novices, assign the initiates to tasks and generally make the Church function. In the smallest temples (particularly rural temples) a single priest may be the sole and highest ranking member of the clergy present. Priests can preside over marriages, births and funerals. They can give blessings in the name of Iomedae and even have some special legal privilege in Talingrad. For example, a sheriff may hold a normal citizen on suspicion of a crime. A priest or priestess of Iomedae can only be held if the Sheriff brings formal charges.
The Fourth Tier – The High Priests
Each Archbishop from time to time selects priests (usually the most senior and veteran of the priests) who must lead the ceremonies and generally manage all the doings in the temples. Most priests will never rise higher than this rank and this is the highest rank most peasants have a reasonable chance of achieving.
High Priests have all the same responsibilities and privileges as normal priests and are still addressed as “father” or "mother". The only really visible difference is that while priests usually wear a blue robe, high priests wear a blue robe with a white sash. The difference is subtle enough that many followers of Iomedae may not even be sure who the temple’s high priest actually is.
In many smaller temples, the high priest is the most veteran member of the clergy present. In some of the more rural communities there is a tradition of high priests being armed. They often carry ceremonial longswords and have titles like “Guardian of the Church” or “Sergeant of the Church”. Whether these armed priests no how to use their blade is another matter entirely.
The Fifth Tier – The Bishops
The gulf between the High Priests and the Bishops is wide. Almost all bishops are of noble blood and they are addressed as “Blessed Father” or "Blessed Mother". Bishops are in a position of power in Talingrad and often sit upon the councils of the local rulership. Many of them have personal guards and private retinues. They often live in a palace. They are wealthy, influential members of the community at the very least.
Bishops are the assistants of the Archbishops and their direct underlings. They control the larger and more prominent temples and see to the management of the lesser temples (which are assigned to high priests).
The Cardinals assign each Bishop to manage a region or town and is is there responsibility to see its spiritual needs are well met. This level of the priesthood is almost completely unconcerned with conducting the rituals and ceremony of the church. Instead, these are managers, keeping the affairs of the church in good working order. They have another important function. It the responsibility of the Bishop to collect the Tithe. Every lord of Talingrad, by order of the monarch, is required to pay ten percent of their income to the Church of the Inheritor. This tithe is often a lot of money and it is the bishop’s responsibility to collect and manage these funds.
The Sixth Tier – The Archbishops
The Archbishop of Matharyn may elevate a bishop to serve as an archbishop. There are only seven Archbishops in Talingrad (sixth not including the Archbishop of Matharyn).

• The Archbishop of Ghastenhall
• The Archbishop of Daveryn
• The Archbishop of the Wilds
• The Archbishop of Havelyn
• The Archbishop of Vaasten
• The Archbishop of Estyllis

Between these regions and the Archbishop of Matharyn, the southern half of Talingrad is effectively divided up.
These powerful religious leaders of the Church of the Inheritor oversee all church business in the area and their orders can only be countermanded by the Archbishop of Matharyn himself. In Talingrad almost all archbishops are of noble blood and usually come from prominent families of great renown.
To be an archbishop of the Inheritor in Talingrad is to be one of the most influential men or woman in the kingdom. Only the greatest lords and military commanders can rival them. Archbishops are always addressed as "Most Revered"
The Seventh Tier – The Archbishop of Matharyn, Most Holy
The Archbishop of Matharyn is elected by a council of the other six archbishops. The archbishops can technically elevate anyone to this post who is a devout believer in Iomedae, but they always choose one of their own number. The appointment is for life, and there has never been a case of the Archbishop of Matharyn being removed from power prematurely. If such a thing needed to be done, there is no real mechanism for it to occur.
The Archbishop of Matharyn lives a life as a king, and in many ways a king is exactly what he is. Only one man in Talingrad wields more power, and that is the monarch themselves. Fortunately the House of Darin and the Church of the Inheritor are close allies. If they were to squabble it is uncertain which would command the greater respect of the people, the aristocracy, and much of the military within the realm.
The Archbishop of Matharyn dresses in a robe of pure white silk that can upon command glow with the light of the sun. He is always addressed as "Most Holy". The Archbishop of Matharyn possesses a sizable personal guard and has the complete loyalty of the Knights of the Alerion should he require other military forces. Needless to say, he also has the full wealth of the church at his disposal. While men traditionally have served in the seventh tier, a female Archbishop of Matharyn is not against the rules of the church hierarchy. While several female Archbishops have been nominated in the modern Talingradi era, none have yet come to power.

Public Agenda

The Church of the Inheritor states that it is a non-political organization that does not care to mettle in the affairs of kings or countries. It is instead devoted to the ideals of the Inheritor

Assets

The Church of the Inheritor's strength comes from it's heirarchy. All nobles are required to tithe funds to the church, which helps to fund its operations. They are blessed with a clear and well established doctrine, active divine supporters, the backing of the monarchy, and the love of the people. To defend the faith, the church keeps several different knightly orders including:
The Knights of The Alerion: Technically a holy order in service to the throne of Talingrad, the knights take their earliest roots back to the church, and will answer their call at a moments notice. The swear oaths directly to Iomedae, and it is said their order was founded by the son of the Black Prince himself, when mortal Iomedae walked the earth completing the eleven acts.
The Order of Saint Cynthia-Celeste: The all female order is named after the first evangel to come to Talingrad spreading the teachings of Aroden, Saint Cynthia Celeste. In addition to performing great acts of healing and public goods to support the poor, the order also trains holy warriors in the defense of the faith, specializing in unarmed tactics taught to them by the celestial themselves.
The Blessed Order of Saint Macarius: Named for one of the first clergymen of Iomedae, a dwarven cleric named Macarius the Mendicant, their monastic tradition is responsible for keeping track of the written scripture and doctrine of Iomedae. They are the keepers of sacred rights, higher mysteries, and are some of the most learned and peaceful people in all of Talingrad. They are also amongst it's greatest spellcasters, and a large number of the holy casters of Iomadaes army come from their monastery in Sanctuary.
The Order of Unending Glory: The most secretive hand of the Inheritor is it's inquisitive order. It is believed members of this order undergo secretive rituals that make them capable of dealing with monsters and enemies of all that is holy. By far the least understood of the church's orders, it has kept Talingrad safe from abominations for close to eight hundred years without thanks, commendation, or rest.

Mythology & Lore

The mythology surrounding the inheritor is best outlined through her eleven acts taken during mortal life on the path to godhood. They are outlined here.
The First Act: Iomedae in her youth travels with her father to the court of Aesino, and there meets with Aroden personally, converting to his faith.
The Second Act: Iomedae convinces a wounded knight at the second battle of Scarsdale to hold his ground. The young Iomedae runs for reinforcements, who arrive at the knights position before the break of dawn and defeat the halfling force.
The Third Act: Iomedae defeats the twin abominations Ygg and Yggotha, disrupts an unholy ritual within the Caer Bryr, and banishes them back into the void before they can envelop Talingrad in shadow.
The Fourth Act: Iomedae slays Nakorshor'mond, cutting the wings of the great dragon from his person and sending him plummeting to the ground. The dragon is then slain before he is allowed to rise.
The Fifth Act: Iomadae smites Erum-Hel, Lich Pharaoh of Osirion at the battle of Three Sorrows. The morghs descend into hiding within Orv upon witnessing his destruction.
The Sixth Act: Iomadae reforges the "sword that was broken", and infuses it with a prayer to Aroden. The blade is delivered onto the Order of the Seal, and used to slay one of Rovagog's spawn.
The Seventh Act: Iomadae calls upon the undying light in Alba, which is commemorated at the seventh church there. As a terrible storm shrouded the city in darkness, a pack of sea-ghouls attacked the city. The then-mortal Iomedae called for a great light to ignite the city. The city glows with blue fire, and the stars shone rays of light that targeted the ghouls and allowed Iomedae and the cities defense to destroy them.
The Eighth Act: Iomedae convinces a graveknight known as the Black Prince to throw himself upon his sword as punishment for his evil. Through this act however, the prince is redeemed, the righteous suicide allows the knights soul to pass to judgment, where upon he joins the halls of Aroden. His son joins Iomedae as her first squire and convert.
The Ninth Act: Iomedae gives up nine drops of her own blood to redeem nine knights from the vampire-mage Basilov in Nabidra. The blood turns to sunlight in the vampires mouth, destroying him and allowing the knights to escape.
The Tenth Act: In the absence of a rightful monarch, the heirless patriarch of house Narikopolous in Osirion offers the throne to Iomedae for one year and one day until a proper king may be chosen. Iomadae rules justly for this time period, and learns the affairs of statecraft. She crafts a document known as the "noble acts", describing the ways in which a monarch should behave.
The Eleventh Act: Iomedae upon returning to the isles of Talingrad, learns that a sickness has befallen a large family in fallingsbridge. Learning that the sickness can only be lifted by a selfless act, Iomedae sacrifices herself to save the eleven villagers. She is quoted as saying:
"The duty of the monarchy is to it's people. If i cannot help them, then I have no right to lead them."

Divine Origins

Historians have agreed that Iomedae was a real person and did live in Talingrad during the fourth Era. While her exact date of birth is unknown, she is believed to have been born to a noble family in the then kingdom of Iraen. Popular myth states that her father sent her ahead of him by two years to Aesino, and that her time in the court of Aroden taught her much about statecraft and nobility.
She begins to appear in the historical record at the age of 16, when she enlists with the militia of the kingdom to combat the "First Union against the Talin". She is said to have participated in the war for 10 years as a private, and later sergeant for the military. Eventually, she was dispatched the Caer Bryr as part of a task force to deal with Gnome insurgents there. These battles went well and are immortalized in the Second Third, and Fourth Acts of her church.
With the end of the "First Great War", Iomedae did not celebrate the victory long. Called upon by Aroden's then herald, she traveled south to join him, arriving in the nation of Osirion and combating an undead scourge that had arisen there. She is thought at this point to be about 34.
Iomadae is believed to have spent the next three years travelling much of the Osirion Sea acting in service to Aroden. By the age of 37, with the completion of her Seventh Act, Aroden is believed to have named her his herald.
It is at this point records of Iomedae cross the Great Tijaran Sea and she begins the active recruitment of followers in Nabidra, Alba, and Bengion. By the end of ninth act, Aroden is said to have revealed his full intention, to assist Iomedae with elevation to godhood. Iomedae is said to have agreed without hesitation.
Having proven herself in war, as an agent of goodness, a glorious hero, and a blessed by the sun, she seeks out to prove herself as a true leader and monarch. Thus did she complete her tenth act in the spawn ravaged nation of Osirion, ruling as a faithful monarch there to oversee the rebuilding.
Upon completion of this act, letters show Iomedae was offered the crown of Iraen by noble officials there. Intent on claiming the throne, she returned to Talingrad to stake her claim. However, after landing, she came across a village suffering a terrible curse and completed her Eleventh Act. This act of sacrifice granted Iomedae her final domain of law, and she ascended to godhood.
The significance of her sacrifice would not be known in Talingrad however for several centuries. The faith of Aroden was strong in Talingrad, and Iomedae did not seek to upset the natural balance, serving instead faithfully as a divine ally to the god for several centuries.

Cosmological Views

Unlike Aroden's realm on Axis, Iomedae's Realm is located on Proelera, Heaven's second tier. Even though she is a young deity, she has been judged of great importance to Heaven, a fact reflected in the expansiveness of her realm. It is a peaceful land of small keeps that somewhat resembles the previous realm of Aroden, and is a significant source of support for Heaven's archon armies.
Iomedae's divine servitor race are the angels known as iophanites. These flying, metal wheels resemble harbingers or lantern archons and aid the goddess and her forces in battle as messengers.
Her unique servants include a number of former mortals who have been given divine power following death.
Hand of the Inheritor: Iomedae's current herald. He appears as a golden-skinned angel who embraces honorable combat and the encouragement of just rulers, and the promotion of valorous deeds.
Jingh: This servant of Iomedae manifests as a wheel of bright white metal illuminated by holy fire.
Peace Through Vigilance: This servant is a young but cheerful and spirited celestial gold dragon.
Saint Lymirin: This former priestess of Iomedae sometimes appears as an eagle-headed winged humanoid.
Ara Mathra, He-Who-Stands-In-Light: The highest ranking celestial on the mortal plane currently, Ara has maintained control of Iomedae's faithful since the silence.

Tenets of Faith

The paladins of Iomedae are just and strong, crusaders who live for the joy of righteous battle. Their mission is to right wrongs and eliminate evil at its root. They serve as examples to others, and their code demands they protect the weak and innocent by eliminating sources of oppression, rather than merely the symptoms. They may back down or withdraw from a fight if they are over-matched, but if their lives will buy time for others to escape, they must give them. Their tenets include the following affirmations:
"I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart to guide it, it is worthless-my strength is not in my sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, I have lost a tool. If I betray my heart, I have died."
"I will have faith in the Inheritor. I will channel her strength through my body. I will shine in her legion, and i will not tarnish her glory through base actions."
"I am the first into battle, and the last to leave it."
"I will not be taken prisoner by my free will."
"I will not surrender those under my command."
"I will never abandon a companion, though I will honor sacrifice freely given."
"I will guard the honor of my fellows, both thought and deed, and I will have faith in them."
"When in doubt, I may force my enemies to surrender, but I am responsible for their lives."
"I will never refuse a challenge from an equal."
"I will give honor to worthy enemies, and contempt to the rest."
"I will suffer death before dishonor."
"I will be temperate in my actions and moderate in my behavior."
"I will strive to emulate Iomedae's perfection."
While these oaths are common among the Knights of the Alerion, they are also popular with the common folk, and help to shape the background of Talingradi noble society.

Worship

Certain dedicated worshipers of Iomedae perform daily obediences in order to receive a divine blessing known as a boons from their god. Iomedae's obedience takes the form of a ritual in which the worshiper holds his primary weapon in front of him with the goddess' holy symbol attached. He then prays for guidance and protection from the Inheritor, while promising to follow her teachings. When performed correctly, the ceremony is said to instill preternatural skills in diplomacy and knowledge of all things pertaining to the noble classes.
There is no standard canon of Iomedae worship and so the exact nature of that worship varies from temple to temple. However certain things are shared more or less everywhere that Iomedae is revered. The reasons for this are that Iomedae was in life primarily a war god. While her holy orders present military strictness, the people they are sworn to protect are traditionally given far more freedom in worship, as the Inheritor set very little dogma on the matter.
Iomedae is worshiped at the start of every week on Sunday as a day of rest. At first light on Sunday all the ordained devotees of Iomedae are ready and robed and bow as the sun arises over the horizon. The intone the Blessing of the Light giving thanks that the light of The Inheritor for staying with them another week.
This is followed by a purification ritual of washing in fresh water (preferably conjured by divine magic) that makes the priests ready to conduct the weekly service later in the day. The Sunday service is primarily social. Followers gather and discuss the business of the week before beginning the more formal portions of the ceremony.
The Priest calls the followers to order with a prayer. After that, this is where the ceremonies really vary. In some places, the lay people then light a candle or a representative lights a candle. Sometimes there’s singing. The specifics really matter very little. All that matters is that the gatherings are done with an open heart and with genuine devotion.
However the service is not over until a priest prays to Iomedae, lights a candle and then as the candle burns delivers a short lesson on how to live in accordance with the will of Iomedae. The tradition is that the sermon cannot continue longer than it takes the small traditional wax candles to burn (which is about thirty minutes). It is thought that for a righteous priest the wax will not burn, and that the suffering endured helps them emulate the suffering of the less fortunate. Every follower of Iomedae has heard the joke about the priest and his wicked congregation that begins with him hauling in a candle the size of a tree trunk.
With the lesson done, the congregation is dismissed and the priest makes himself available for personal discussions or private moments of advice. Often this is a priest’s major role in the community. In small farming communities the priest may be the most educated and respected person in town. The priest may serve as the marriage counselor, legal adviser, and town psychiatrist. They can answer questions about law, read documents (illiteracy is the rule among a large percentage of Talingrad's peasants) and generally advise the townsfolk in any matter that may be troubling them. Iomedae has no formal ritual of confession and yet that is what many priests end up doing after the worship services.
Besides the weekly ceremonies there are other days of great importance to Iomedae. Many saints also have important festivals but these are usually more local.
The Inheritors Ascendance is celebrated on the 6th of Arodus every year to mark the day when the goddess became the herald of Aroden. The holiday originally called "Herald's Day" but was renamed after the death of Aroden. It's main draw is the "Feast of Abundance", where everyone enjoys the gifts of the year in one great meal. Anything can be served in these feasts but a "Feast of Abundance" is deemed poor indeed if you can’t afford a traditional angel cake. An angel cake is a hearty confection sweetened with honey filled with fruits and nuts and then soaked in brandy. After the brandy has had enough time for the alcohol to evaporate, whats left behind is a sweet, dense dark cake enjoyed by everyone. There are some monastic orders who specialize in preparing these angel cakes and sell them during the festivities, using the money to help the poor of Talingrad.
Ascendance Day is held on the 6th of Lamashan. The day marks the anniversary that Iomedae ascended to godhood upon returning to Talingrad. The day is a joyous celebration for the faithful, with singing, pledges of friendships, and forgiving of old grudges. The celebration takes place in several stages. Early in the day, troupes of performers—as often passionate amateurs as professionals—stage morality plays featuring the Eleven Acts of Iomedae, the heroic near-miracles and sacrifices she made leading up to her ascension. Scripts vary by region, city, and even neighborhood, but despite differences in setting, performance medium, and word choice, the themes and morals are all the same.
As the day continues, the priests organize jousts and mock battles, allowing anyone to participate so long as she can demonstrate enough skill to not be a risk to herself or others. The winners of these contests then face tests of mental acuity such as solving riddles, deciphering philosophical quandaries, and answering questions of honor and justice. Those who prove themselves in both contests are awarded a white cloak—representing the Inheritor at peace—styled after Iomedae's own garment to wear for the rest of the celebration. Feasting and singing follow the competitions, mirroring the jubilation that followed Iomedae's ascension. This is occasion for making pledges of friendship and forgiving enemies, and priests circulate about the crowd offering the Inheritor's blessing to those who do and providing a moment's counsel or mediation for those who need an extra nudge.
The celebration typically ends before midnight, and the following day the priests and previous day's champions gather up the blunted swords from the mock battles, sharpen them, and distribute them among the church's armory and those of like-minded organizations so that all may remain vigilant against evil and prepared to strike it down.
The Day of the Inheritor is celebrated on the 19th of Rova. It celebrates the welcome of Aroden's faithful into the flock of Iomedae after the death of Aroden. It is a day of solemnity and brotherhood, of thanks to the allies and goddess Iomedae, a day for forgiving grudges and a day for the prayer for the fallen. The churches hold a special service and a moment of silence marks the day on fields of battle. In Talingrad, the day is also used to remember those who died in past bloody conflicts and to pray for the souls of all sons and daughters of the nation currently serving in the military.
Aramasse is held on 16th of Kuthona, typically at night to mark with the winter solstice. Upon this day candles are lit and prayers are made that in the darkest depths of winter, still eventually the sun will return. It is a much more solemn occasion but still no less observed. And after the service, there is another feast. The Winter’s Feast is a raucous fair where gifts are exchanged, food is eaten and often a great deal of wine and ale is consumed.
Special “warming” wines are prepared by steeping herbs and fruit in wine and sweetening it with honey. The Church of the Inheritor usually takes a dim view of drunkeness but upon this one day a year it is almost encouraged. After all one of the most important parts of the Winter’s Feasts is all the toasting and well wishing for the sun to return and for there to be a prosperous new year.
First Crusader's Day on the 1st of Arodus is the last major holiday, and perhaps the most controversial. It is a day to celebrate the ascension of new initiates into the church of the Inheritor, and the dubbing of new knights into it's holy orders of paladins. Many churches require the youth to attend these events in order to see the gleam of full military regalia, hoping to inspire new soldiers. It is a day often of rousing speeches, tales of honor and glorious causes. It is not uncommon to end in a military parade, and is considered the start of a full week devoted to the Inheritor. Oftentimes national officials will sponsor special events on this day to encourage participation of families and donations of crowns or duty to the cause of the knightly orders.

Priesthood

Her priests are composed of clerics and paladins, who perform an hour of prayer a day, in addition to a weekly public worship service. Their formal raiment includes a white cassock with blue or gold trim and mitre, while on non-festival days they dress in similarly colored, if less ostentatious, clothing.
The temples of Iomedae function as both a church and living space for her holy knights. Former temples of Aroden are frequently converted into honoring the Inheritor. Temples are often painted white and feature arched entrances, pillared courtyards, fountains, and statues.
Iomedaen priests are allowed to marry and in fact about half do so. These priest-wives or husbands hold an honored place in the Church and often become temple care-takers. Manyof the more monastic orders of the church either require celibacy or strongly encourage it. This has less to do with the teachings of Iomedae and much more to do with the practical matters of living in a monastery.

Granted Divine Powers

Iomedae grants powers to followers of Law, Goodness, The Sun, Glory and War. The majority of her divine powers are granted through paladins, though greater clerical orders do exist, such as those who have been granted the secret of the sacred fire.

Devotee Benefits:
Divine Font: Heal Divine Skill: Intimidation Favored Weapon: Longsword Domains: Confidence, Truth, Might, Zeal Cleric Spells: True Strike, Enlarge, Fire Shield

Verus Manentia Invictus

Founding Date

3420

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Alternative Names

The Inheritor

Demonym

The Church of the Inheritor

Leader

Most Revered Archbishop Vitalian of Estyllis

Location

Matharyn