Pelor

"Hear us Lord of Light,
The Silver Bow that streaks across the sky,
Hear us greet you with each new day, Dawnfather,
Oh Shining One, illuminate our path that we may avoid the wicked,
Maker of saints, revoke your Light's blessing from the unworthy"

History

Worship of Pelor started with the Flan people, one of the first surface tribes to settle the new lands in what is now Theocracy of Sirastir and Principality of Argyle. To them he a resembled an older, regal human man with golden hair and beard. As worship spread to other tribes north and west of them, he was often known as Al'Asran and depicted as an aging but robust father figure riding a golden eagle across the sky.

Dogma

Pelorians believe that the life-giving sun is the best cure for all ills. Justice and Freedom are brought about through charity, modesty, and loyalty, just as the sun returns each day to give more and more without requesting anything in return. Pelor's strength is spiritual, the power of will and inevitability.

Rituals

Pelor's services involve communal prayer, the singing of hymns, and the distribution of alms. Prayers to Pelor are often affirmations in the first person, for example, "I am merciful, just as the Sun of Mercy shines on me." Weddings and rites of passage often take place at the beginning of a new season. Farmers often request a ritual known as the Blessing of the Sun-Kissed Field.

Worshipping Pelor

Pelor is a popular diety in many parts of Emergo, often seen as a benevolent god of life. The worship of Pelor was so entwined with the emergence of the surface tribes in the early-to-mid 2nd Age that eastern areas became known as the Brightlands, as opposed to the "night" lands ruled by the Desmican empire.
Although Pelor's church has a few heresies and schisms, the head priests of his powerful temples are in contact with one another and form the religion's overall leadership, with the High Priest of Pelor in Sheabluff, Sirastir seen as their leader.

Ideals of the Faith

Following Pelor means devoting yourself to a life of consistency and nurturing. As the sun always rises, so too must one's faith.

• Kinship - It is essential to preserve the bonds of family - my own family first, and others after
• Protection - I face the horrors of the darkness so the common people don't have to.

Clerics

Pelor's clergy are known to heal the sick, bless crops, help the needy, and destroy evil and the undead. Modern interpretation of The Light of Pelor positions the priests as caring and nurturing, and the priesthood attracts many naive youths to their service with a vision of creating a utopia. Pelor's elite priests are called Radiant Servants, and are typically seen in vestments of gold or pale yellow, with a mace at their side.

Druids

Pelor is served by a small number of druids, who behave in ways similar to his clerics, but with a greater emphasis on the care of plants and animals. They usually associate themselves with settlements rather than living as hermits, aiding the community with their hands, spells, and animal companions wherever they can. Outside of Sirastir they are considered to have priest status within the Pelorian church, though they have a separate hierarchy. In these sects, Pelor replaces a similar diety from the Old Faith, and is considered the god of summer.

Paladins

Pelorian paladins are rare, often seen in numbers only when a specific crusade is called against the undead or invaders from the underdark. Pelor's paladins often swear the Oath of the Torch, seeing themselves as the burning light of the sun which scours away darkness and evil and brings strength and comfort to the innocent. Due to the historical connection with Vecna, Sheldomar Valley has been home to a small number of paladins of Pelor for centuries.

Earning & Losing Pelor's Favor

• Defending a settlement from attacking monsters (+)
• Building or restoring a temple (+)
• Breaking an explicit promise or oath (--)
• Putting others at risk through your own cowardice (-)

Temples / Seats of Worship

Pelor's temples are tall, with large windows; many are stained-glass cathedrals. They are arranged so that the sun shines into most of the rooms during the day, and many feature large courtyards. They tend to be airy and blindingly white. Temple trappings are typically yellow or gold. They are always kept clean. Many Pelorian temples have hospital wings, some with alcoves dedicated to Pelor's friendship with Ilmater.

Key Temples

• Sheabluff, Sirastir
• Dawn Garden, Marothell
• _____, Dolorne
• _____, Ogria

Holy Books & Codes

The Light of Pelor is the most common Pelorian holy book. The tome begins with Pelor's creation of the sun and telling of how Pelor instructed the first mortals. The book contends that most evils are manifested by mortals who have turned away from Pelor's light and created shadows clouding their vision.
Older versions of the book portrayed Pelor as the sun itself, rather than its creator, and that he was active in the lives of all mortals whether they acknowledged him or not. Since the centuries before the Caelian civil war, a canonical revision position's Pelor more on par with Palatine as a distant guiding light who works through his chosen clerics to help those who need it most.
Copies of The Light of Pelor are often enchanted to glow with a soft solar radiance when closed, and many versions are gilded.
Recent tales not included in The Light but often treated as canonical texts detail the works of specific high priests and knights, but often from Sirastir, in their battles against evil. A common theme from these works indicates that those with divine power are entrusted to know when Pelor's light should be revoked from someone based on their actions or in-actions.

Relics

Famed relics of Pelor include the maces called Dawnstars and the holy symbols known as the Shards of the Sun. Both have been described in The Complete Divine Acts of the Dawnkeepers.

• The four Dawnstars were given by Pelor to the solars who rescued a paladin from the third layer of Hell.
• The Shards of the Sun are described as "Pelor's gift, which I carry into darkness - a sun that never sets"
• Ajira's Rod is a mace said to contain some of the mighty paladin's bones. Legend says the mace sheds light, removes diseases and regenerates its wielder.

Myths & Legends

Punishment of the Undead - This myth tells of the origin of vampires, said to have been cursed by Pelor after turning from his light to the pursuit of evil magic. The myth suggests that Pelor would forgive them, if only they would ask.
Gift of Eternal Light - This is an epic saga of an ancient kingdom threatened upon by mortal, demonic, and undead evil. Though sorely tested by their foes, the people of the kingdom had their morale restored each morning at the sight of the rising sun. In a climactic battle, the sun's rays helped defeat the demons and undead, and the Pelorians were victorious. This myth claims the sun's rays are the spirits of the righteous, a claim that no other Pelorian text makes.
The Divine Spark - Pelor has a strong connection to the Warforged, as discovered by the artificer ATOR and the Unearthed Jorros in 300 YR. 

Divine Domains

• Light
• Nature

Holy Books & Codes

• The Light of Pelor
• The Complete Divine Acts of the Dawnkeepers

Divine Symbols & Sigils

the golden sun face

Holidays

Breadgiving Day - Taking place days after the Winter Solstice, Breadgiving Day is marked by followers of Pelor distributing food to the poor.
High Summer - The longest day of the year also marks holiest of days for Pelorians. Most worshippers arise before dawn to watch the sun's ascent, and put on festivals that last until the evening. It is said that even the wicked will welcome grace on High Summer's Day

Relationships

Ilmater

Lesser (Vital)

Towards Pelor

5

5

Honest

---

Pelor

Superior (Important)

Towards Ilmater

3

5

Honest

---

Relationship Reasoning

Pelor and Ilmater have a shared view towards helping to ease suffering and nurture people.

Divine Classification

Deity

Religions

• The Church of Pelor
• Theocracy of Sirastir

Church/Cult

The Church of Pelor

Spouses

Siblings