Church Structure

As every man, woman, and child feels in their heart, Amon the Bringer of Light is the greatest of gods, whose kingdom is without end. And the greatest temple of Amon is to be found in the Eternal City, where the Arch-Cleric of Amon, Shepherd of the Faithful, represents the god on Aerth. Lesser temples of Amon can be found in great cities or regional centers, and the high priests of those temples are the high spiritual authorities of their lands.
The other gods are subordinate to Amon, with the exception of Morr, who answers only to himself, the semi-independent Sisterhood of Nienna the Healer, and the gods and spirits of the Druidic Order. The various other religious orders of Saint Cadoc the Good, Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel, Guthlac the Hermit, Twrog the Wanderer, and Illtyd the Wise, each have their own focus, but serve the Light of Amon.
All of these orders make up the Church. Common folk who seek aid or comfort from the various orders are usually considered Sons or Daughters of the Church.

Granted Divine Powers

Clerics are granted spells of beneficial effect, with most reversible or baneful spells forbidden. The following clarifications apply:

• Bless: The reverse of this spell, which is called the Curse of Amon, must be used with extreme caution, if at all. It is most frequently used against enemies of the Light, such as humanoids, trolls, and giants. It may on occasion be used against human opponents of evil ilk--pagan warriors or brigands, for example. But the spell calls on the dark power of the Negative Material Plane for its effect, and is therefore dangerous to use.
• Protection from Evil: The reverse of this spell, Protection from Good, is incompatible with the goals and aims of all who walk in the Light. To even cast the spell would require the cleric to call upon darker powers, so even if a cleric of good alignment could find a justification for using it, it would be very dangerous.
• Remove Fear: The reverse of this spell, Cause Fear, is the antithesis of what the Light of Amon is meant to stand for. Evil creatures may naturally fear the Light, but that is because they really fear themselves--the fear comes from within and can be corrected if they open themselves to the Light. To cause fear is to invite darkness where there had been none before. Clerics are therefore cautioned not to use the reverse of this spell, which is (unlike the magic-user spell Fear) a summoning spell.
• Snake Charm: This spell is not available to clerics who follow the Light. It is of ancient origin, and may be cast by those who call upon the Old Gods.
• Speak With Animals: This spell is only available to members of the druidic order.
• Animate Dead: This spell, which draws on the darker energies of the necromantic arts (as opposed to healing spells, which control the darker aspects of necromancy) is not practiced by clerics of the Light. Moreover, it is strictly forbidden by the Order of Morr, god of the Dead. There is, however, a reverse application of the spell which is allowed. Destroy Dead allows the cleric to utterly destroy skeletons and zombies (one per level of experience), no saving throw allowed. The reverse of the spell is considered a holy act, as it undoes the necromancer's unnatural control over the dead body s/he has imbued with ugly purpose. There are rumors, however, that some clerics may choose to animate dead for a single task, only to destroy them when the task is completed, releasing the bodies from their enslavement. Such clerics justify their actions by the logic that destroying the dead they have imbued with unnatural life makes an unholy act a holy one. Whether this is a true is unknown, but it is surely a dangerous example. Clerics who value the state of their soul will be wise to consider such practices most carefully.
• Sticks to Snakes: This is another spell available to those who make the proper sacrifices to the Old Gods. Its reverse form is known, and as with the spell Destroy Dead, some clerics have been able to turn sticks to snakes; but this is a very dangerous thing to do, as it opens the caster to the possible influence of one or more of the elder gods.
• Stone Tell: This spell is only available to members of the druidic order.

Sects

The Light of Amon takes all into its embrace and permeates every aspect of life--the farmer, the tradesman, the craftsman, the merchant, the pilgrim, all are gathered under the Light of Amon. But the different orders, dedicated to lesser gods and servants of the Light, focus their ministry on different aspects of life. Each is ultimately dedicated to the Light, but they minister to the common folk in different ways. The most common of these orders include the following:

• Order of Saint Cadoc of the Cowl: This priesthood centers on the common folk of the Cymbrian lands. Farmers, traders, shepherds, craftsmen, and other humble folk are protected by this order. The goal of the order is to celebrate good behavior and encourage community.
• Order of Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel: Most common in the north of Albion, the followers of Saint Cuthbert are similar to those who follow Saint Cadoc, common folk who believe in the everyday wisdom of the simple life. Even more than the Order of Saint Cadoc, the followers of Saint Cuthbert prize rural living and values over those of the city, perhaps reflecting the feelings of the Saxons who are the most numerous among the faithful.
• Order of Saint Guthlac the Hermit: This newly-formed anchorite order is dedicated to the visionary, protective, and healing capacity of a hermit living a life of solitary holiness. The clerics of this order do not go among the common people but minister to those common people who approach them.
• Order of Illtyd the Wise: Patrons of learning and guardians of knowledge, the priests of this order are more focused on the dissemination and control of knowledge than the protection of the common folk. Nevertheless, they hold it axiomatic that without knowledge in its proper place the entire social structure would devolve into chaos. They are especially concerned with controlling books that are deemed dangerous for eyes not governed by wisdom.
• Fellowship of Twrog the Wanderer: This mendicant order is dedicated to the protection of pilgrims, wanderers, wayfarers, and tinkers, all who travel the roads and byways in search of peace and enlightenment. The outlook of this order is less strictly lawful than those who follow Saint Cadoc or Saint Cuthbert, but they hold the laws of hospitality as the highest in the land.
• Fellowship of Manawyddan the Mariner: As Twrog is the protector of those who travel by land, Manawyddan looks after those who travel by sea. While the clerics of this order are dedicated to the Light, they can also be as chaotic as the sea. Those who love the sailor's life, or who make a living upon the sea, give to the order, which continues to minister to poor sailors or merchants who are down on their luck.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Deities

• Amon, Lord of Light
• Cadoc of the Cowl
• Illtyd the Wise
• Nienna, Lady of Mercy
• Twrog of the Byways