Church of Milani
Most of Milani’s worshipers are humans, but she has many half-elven and half-orc followers as well. Her priests are clerics or rangers; the rare inquisitor of Milani has no official role. A typical worshiper of Milani is a human commoner or expert who prefers a life of peace and freedom, but is willing to take up arms against evil when necessary. Her followers are optimistic, loving, friendly, and accepting, but not afraid to throw a punch (or take one) in response to an offense or injustice.
Milani’s followers take their defensive responsibilities seriously; they know the history books are full of razed towns that allowed themselves to be overrun by invaders or crushed under the boots of a tyrant’s enforcers. When training others to fight, they set aside any inclinations to joke or coddle, for soft words make weak soldiers.
During an uprising, the church welcomes those with skill at arms. Should personalities conflict during these times, the priests normally allow visitors to make their own plans for dealing with the problem. Priests also coordinate the rest of the community, preferably in a way that endangers as few innocent lives as possible.
The church is organized much like a cult, with small, independent cells able to function without communication from other communities, but willing to use whatever channels they have to coordinate efforts. The church puts little stock in grand ceremonies, medals, or titles, preferring to let talented leaders rise to the top on their own merits and expecting that other members of the faith will assist when needed.
Though Milani was born a half-elf, her church avoids elven culture (though not its role in her heritage). Instead, she and her faithful focus on the bright hearts and stubborn wills of the human race. Her church welcomes half-elves and half-orcs; many others of mingled blood who reject their non-human heritage see her as their patron—a symbol of the greatness that a mixed-race person can achieve despite prejudice. Additionally, some halflings venerate her for defending freedom and a few dwarves and gnomes sing her praises.
Services mix historical speeches, songs, and inspirational anecdotes about devotion and overcoming hardship. Temple music is folksy, and utilizes drums, simple stringed instruments, and singing. Many of her hymns double as revolutionary songs and are used as coded messages to listeners, warning of hostile patrols or members of the community who need help, or ridiculing current tyrants.
Milani greatly encourages her followers to find love and marry. As a mortal who outlived most of her human friends, she understands a widow’s grief and teaches that finding love again after a spouse dies is normal and healthy. She does expect married couples to be true to each other, and has little sympathy for spouses who stray—if a partner has a wandering eye, better to end the marriage and find someone who wants only you than to wait for the inevitable pain of betrayal. She believes that children should be spared the horrors of war so they can grow up with loving hearts; using children or young people as soldiers is abhorrent to her.
Milani shows she is pleased through images of roses, the scent of roses, or the appearance of white animals (particularly doves, mice, and owls). When she’s angered (usually by betrayal), flowers wither and sprout thorns, tiny wounds bleed excessively, and spilled liquids (especially drops of blood) form the shape of a rose.
In smaller communities, a town hall may double as a temple, with a small shrine or altar kept out of the way or behind a curtain when not needed. Shrines to Milani are common in old Arodenite temples; even temples that have since been converted to the worship of Iomedae often have a small alcove with rose iconography or a niche along the outer wall where a rose bush grows wild. In lands where her faith is suppressed, a site of worship may be little more than a head-sized rock with a rose carved near the bottom (or even hidden on the underside), or a small rosebush surrounded by a circle of smooth stones.
In times of revolution or war, both kinds of priests are strategists, scouts, spies, and militia commanders. They lend their expertise and powers to soldiers and commoners, using spells such as imbue with spell ability and a ranger’s bond with companions to make their allies more effective. They prefer hit-and-run tactics and superior battlefield mobility. A Milanite priest feels comfortable leading others, not because he believes he is superior, but because he knows together they can tear down something they could not defeat alone. Her priests understand that there is a time for talk and a time for action, and that sometimes great sacrifices must be made to defeat evil without compromise. It is the priest’s duty to draw the line in the sand, stoke the fires of courage, and be the sword that strikes the first blow so others see that the enemy can be hurt.
Many other adventurers embrace Milani out of a more measured dedication to hope and liberation, such as a commitment to overthrowing specific oppressors or slavers. Half-orc and half-elf adventurers sometimes worship her as a paragon of what they hope to become after proving themselves as members of human society; these adventurers tend to go out of their way to embrace impetuousness and sacrifice for their goals.
Milani’s followers take their defensive responsibilities seriously; they know the history books are full of razed towns that allowed themselves to be overrun by invaders or crushed under the boots of a tyrant’s enforcers. When training others to fight, they set aside any inclinations to joke or coddle, for soft words make weak soldiers.
During an uprising, the church welcomes those with skill at arms. Should personalities conflict during these times, the priests normally allow visitors to make their own plans for dealing with the problem. Priests also coordinate the rest of the community, preferably in a way that endangers as few innocent lives as possible.
The church is organized much like a cult, with small, independent cells able to function without communication from other communities, but willing to use whatever channels they have to coordinate efforts. The church puts little stock in grand ceremonies, medals, or titles, preferring to let talented leaders rise to the top on their own merits and expecting that other members of the faith will assist when needed.
Though Milani was born a half-elf, her church avoids elven culture (though not its role in her heritage). Instead, she and her faithful focus on the bright hearts and stubborn wills of the human race. Her church welcomes half-elves and half-orcs; many others of mingled blood who reject their non-human heritage see her as their patron—a symbol of the greatness that a mixed-race person can achieve despite prejudice. Additionally, some halflings venerate her for defending freedom and a few dwarves and gnomes sing her praises.
Services mix historical speeches, songs, and inspirational anecdotes about devotion and overcoming hardship. Temple music is folksy, and utilizes drums, simple stringed instruments, and singing. Many of her hymns double as revolutionary songs and are used as coded messages to listeners, warning of hostile patrols or members of the community who need help, or ridiculing current tyrants.
Milani greatly encourages her followers to find love and marry. As a mortal who outlived most of her human friends, she understands a widow’s grief and teaches that finding love again after a spouse dies is normal and healthy. She does expect married couples to be true to each other, and has little sympathy for spouses who stray—if a partner has a wandering eye, better to end the marriage and find someone who wants only you than to wait for the inevitable pain of betrayal. She believes that children should be spared the horrors of war so they can grow up with loving hearts; using children or young people as soldiers is abhorrent to her.
Milani shows she is pleased through images of roses, the scent of roses, or the appearance of white animals (particularly doves, mice, and owls). When she’s angered (usually by betrayal), flowers wither and sprout thorns, tiny wounds bleed excessively, and spilled liquids (especially drops of blood) form the shape of a rose.
Temples & Shrines
Milanite temples are built on an incline, like a theater, so the speaker is at the bottom and the seats rise upward from that point. To leave the temple, followers must ascend from a low point, just as a person under the thumb of a tyrant must rise up. The lowest point is built at ground level, and beneath the inclined floor is a small and secret crawl space; in peacetime this is used to store supplies, and in periods of war it is used to hide weapons and freedom fighters. Most temples have a rose garden or at least a well-tended rose bush.In smaller communities, a town hall may double as a temple, with a small shrine or altar kept out of the way or behind a curtain when not needed. Shrines to Milani are common in old Arodenite temples; even temples that have since been converted to the worship of Iomedae often have a small alcove with rose iconography or a niche along the outer wall where a rose bush grows wild. In lands where her faith is suppressed, a site of worship may be little more than a head-sized rock with a rose carved near the bottom (or even hidden on the underside), or a small rosebush surrounded by a circle of smooth stones.
Clothing
Formal dress for Milanite clergy is a long white tabard with dark brown trim and a red rose in the center, which is worn only for ceremonies. The priest traditionally adds a decoration to the trim—typically a button or embroidered emblem—for each person in the community who died defending another. In most communities, this garment is passed down to successive leaders; a few have scores of decorations going back to the origin of the church, and the faithful treasure these items. Adventuring priests of Milani mark their tabards or cloaks more informally to commemorate fallen allies, cohorts, or even animal companions. A priest or devout adventurer who wants to display her faith in more everyday settings might wear a badge or belt buckle with a rose emblem.A Priest’s Role
Milani’s priests are mainly clerics or rangers. In peacetime, her clerics usually divide their time between tending to the spiritual needs of the community and working at a standard profession, such as carpentry or leatherworking. Her rangers are border guards for communities, scaring off dangerous animals, hunting monsters, and capturing fleeing criminals. They greatly value individual freedom, but recognize that the community is stronger than the sum of its individuals, and even unpleasant civic measures such as (fair) taxes contribute to the betterment of society and the welfare of the common folk. Priests of Milani plan for the long term, setting aside tools, weapons, and emergency money just in case they need to build, smite, or buy something in haste. Most priests are trained in Heal to care for their community and in Knowledge (history) in order to better remember the lessons of the past.In times of revolution or war, both kinds of priests are strategists, scouts, spies, and militia commanders. They lend their expertise and powers to soldiers and commoners, using spells such as imbue with spell ability and a ranger’s bond with companions to make their allies more effective. They prefer hit-and-run tactics and superior battlefield mobility. A Milanite priest feels comfortable leading others, not because he believes he is superior, but because he knows together they can tear down something they could not defeat alone. Her priests understand that there is a time for talk and a time for action, and that sometimes great sacrifices must be made to defeat evil without compromise. It is the priest’s duty to draw the line in the sand, stoke the fires of courage, and be the sword that strikes the first blow so others see that the enemy can be hurt.
Adventurers
Devout adventurers of Milani are alert for causes worth their time, attention, and sacrifice. Inveterate martyrs, they can sometimes be reckless with their own lives and are utterly devoted to helping any innocent in need. If no one nearby needs saving, then they usually figure that it is time to seek out new tyrants and gather tools and information useful in overthrowing them.Many other adventurers embrace Milani out of a more measured dedication to hope and liberation, such as a commitment to overthrowing specific oppressors or slavers. Half-orc and half-elf adventurers sometimes worship her as a paragon of what they hope to become after proving themselves as members of human society; these adventurers tend to go out of their way to embrace impetuousness and sacrifice for their goals.
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