Allitur (AH-lih-toor)
The Judge, The Arbiter of the Gods, The Negotiator
Ethics and Propriety
Lesser God of Celestia, LG (LN) [Minor Deity]
Origin: FlanAliases: None
Spheres of Concern: Ethics, Propriety
Domain Name: Empyrea
Superior: None
Allies: Rao, St. Cuthbert, Heironeous
Enemies: Hextor
Symbol: a pair of clasped hands
Worshipper's Alignment: Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral
Allitur is an old Flan god, representing the need to maintain traditions, laws, and ethical behaviors between tribes and generations of people. Often considered the younger brother of Rao, he maintains close ties with all of his pantheon and often acts as a liaison to other pantheons because of his gift of divine diplomacy; it is this interaction that has gained him some awareness beyond the Flan people in this century. He rides an untiring horse named Keph; his symbol is a pair of clasped hands.
Allitur insists on the performance of traditional rituals, and most of the Flan customs about home and family can be traced to his teachings. He also introduced the concept of laws and punishment to the Flan, and his name is invoked at trials, diplomatic meetings, and other official situations where fairness is expected from a bargaining partner.
Allitur’s clerics arbitrate disputes, carry messages between tribes and nations, act as legal advisers or judges when needed, scribe laws and other documents for the common folk, travel to teach the proper traditions to children and heathens. They also have a martial aspect because of their role as enactors of punishment for criminals, violators of taboos, and oathbreakers. Allitur’s worshipers are expected to comply with clerics when they serve this function. These roles carry them far into hostile lands where their belief comes into conflict with heretics and the uncivilized.
The Church
Clergy: Clerics, Specialty Priests, Monks
Clergy's Alignment: Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral
Turn Undead: No
Command Undead: No
Allitur's worshipers are expected to comply with the dictates of his clerics.
Members of the clergy of the Church of Allitur are forbidden to participate in combat, except in cases of self-defense, defense of a charge, defense of others, or defense of the church. Because of this, the clergy of Allitur is not allowed any weapon proficiency slots, because of their belief in diplomacy and arbitration.
Dogma
Allitur teaches respect and understanding for laws, rituals, and other cultural traditions.
Priests of Allitur also do not believe in using magic to force the target to act in a manner they normally would not, such as charms. They also do not use invasive spells, such as any spell that read minds or spy on others in any way.
Traditions
Tradition is everything. Without traditions, family and cultural identity is lost.
The people should understand and respect their cultural traditions, else breakdown of society should result.
Tradition and routine help cleanse the soul and rejuvenate the spirit.
Tradition helps ground people and bring them closer to the Divine.
Holiday celebrations deepen trust bonds as they create a sense of continuity, familial ties, community ties, and a sense of belonging.
Traditions help pass along family values, cultural and religious heritage, and create a sense of shared history for families and communities.
Ethics & Propriety
Propriety is defined as the conformity to established standards of behavior or morality, and the quality of being proper for the purpose of circumstances, suitability, rightness, or justice. A definition of what is good and bad, right and wrong.
The core principles of the concept of propriety include the following: integrity, openness, objectivity, honesty, and selflessness, but can also be related to other concepts: accountability, legality, probity, value for money, fraud & corruption, and governance.
The purpose of governmental service is to serve the populace. To this end, civil servants should not accept bribes from any party for any purpose. To do so is untoward and corrupt.
No civil servant shall use his position or influence to secure employment of a relative to either another position within the government, or as repayment for "favors" provided for others.
Laws should be fair to everyone, and not favor one person, group of people, or class over another.
Just because society finds a particular behavior acceptable does nt make that behavior morally or ethically correct.
The public interest should be the most important thing to a civil servant as it relates to his work.
Civil servants should not abuse their office or official power.
It is not ethical for businesses to charge unusually high prices for items that are for sale, espcially during times of crisis.
People should not advantage of their neighbors, or anyone in their charge.
Treaties and agreements should be favorable to both sides, not heavily weighted in favor of one party.
Treat others as you would expect to be treated by them.
Always be honest and forthright, not deceptive and untruthful.
Care for those who are less well-off than you.
Take responsibility for your words and actions.
This list could go on but it is outside the scope of this article to define every ethical situation that exists.
Day-to-Day Activities
Acting as arbitrators in disputes between people and between nations.
Acting as advisors to kings & queens.
Act as legal advisers to judges.
Carry messages between tribes or nations.
Scribe laws & other documents for the common people.
Teach proper traditions to unbelievers & heathens.
Enactors of punishment for criminals, violators of taboos, and oathbreakers.
Hold classes & seminars about ethics.
Often hold debates over ethics and the nature of ethics & propriety.
Holy Days/Important Ceremonies
Every time a new treaty is ratified between parties, a war ended, or a dispute ended by arbitration, there is a celebration within the church and a great feast held in honor of the priests who brought the negotiation to a successful conclusion.
The clergy of Allitur do not merely hold feasts for themselves. During the four festival weeks, Needfest, Growfest, Richfest, and Brewfest, the clergy also holds weeklong feast for the poor and downtrodden. Those who are more well off and trying to take advantage of the free food are shooed away by the clergy members. They know who the less well off of their area are. They also use this time to provide clothing for these less fortunate people, along with shoes, the clothing depending on the time of year; cool clothing for warmer months, and warm clothing for the colder months.
The last Godsday of Sunsebb, the 25th, the priests will also deliver toys to the children of the community, and food to those in need. This is Allitur's decree to take care of the less fortunate.
Besides every Godsday being holy to the priests of Allitur, the last day of the year, the 28th of Sunsebb is a time for the clergy to reflect on their deeds, accomplishments, and weaknesses and reflect on what they could do better. They spend much of this day studying their holy works for guidance and advice, meditating or praying. At the end of this day near the stroke of midnight, the clergy make their way to a nearby icy lake or river and plunge into the cold water to clear their heads and repent of any any unethical thoiught or deed they may have performed during the previous year. This cleanses their souls and sets them on the proper path for a better year.
Major Centers of Worship/Church HQ
Allitur is worshipped in Geoff, Perrenland, Sterich, Tenh, and the Yeomanry. Allitur is also recognized among the priestly and moral among nations of the west.
The Tower of Custom, Istivin, Kingdom of Sterich
Affiliated Orders
The Church of Allitur is not a militaristic order and has no officially recognized affiliated knightly orders, however, many orders of the west acknowledge Allitur as an important deity and try to codify the ethical behavior of their orders. They will also often volunteer to act as guards should a priest of Allitur have a mission that reuires an armed retinue.
Some members of the Knights of the Watch find Allitur's teachings mesh well with their order.
Other knightly orders, such as the Golden Knights of Ferrond, the Knights of the Hart Furyondy, Veluna, and Highfolk, the Knights of the Holy Shielding in the Shield Lands, and the Knights of Luna in Veluna all recognize the importance of Allitur and his priesthood.
Holy Scriptures & Works
The primary scriptural work used by all the priests of Allitur is called Ethica et Proprietas, which defines ethics and morality for all priests and society at large.
Priestly Vestments
Most of the time, the clergy can be found in loose red robes with a white interior and trimmed in white. The robes become looser at the wrists and the lining is turned back three to six inches. A black cincture knotted in the front, together with a black corned cap called a pileus quadratus is worn over a skullcap and coif.
Adventuring Garb
There is no adventuring robes for these priests. For the most part, they do not adventure, except in cases where they are on a mission from the church to obtain some object or relic of great importance to the church. When they do have to leave on a mission for a church, they tend to wear regular clothes for ease of movement.
Specialty Priests (Arbiters)
Requirements
Wisdom must be 15 or greater.
Prime Requisite
Wisdom. Priests who have a Wisdom of 16 or greater receive a 10% bonus to earned Experience.
Alignment
Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral
Weapons Allowed
Any non-edged weapon, However, the priest cannot be proficient with this weapon.
Armor
Any
Major Spheres
All, Creation, Divination, Healing, Law, Protection, Wards
Minor Spheres
Magical Items
Clerics of Allitur may use any magical item that is not combat related.
Required Proficiencies
Reading/Writing, Languages, Ancient, Sage Knowledge (Law)Bonus Proficiencies
Diplomacy, Sage Knowledge (Philosophy)Granted Powers/Abilities
1st Level: Cast Call upon Faith twice per day.
3rd level: Cast Zone of Truth once per day.
5th Level: Cast Moment Reading twice per day.
7th Level: Cast Divination twice per day.
9th Level: Cast True Seeing once per day.
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