Church of Hieroneous
"The order gave me more than just skill with a blade. They taught me to look my fear in the eye - to be the master of it, rather than the victim."
- Egan, squire of the Shield Knights
Cosmological Views
Heironeous sees the world as a deadly place, filled with perpetual challenges and trials for those who battle for justice and defend the weak and innocent. His followers should always act with honor and chivalry, and to uphold justice.
Danger is to be faced head-on, with calm and resolve. Those who defeat evil are rewarded with Glory, while those who uphold the tenets of the Arch-paladin are rewarded with Virtue
Tenets of Faith
The Heironean Code consists of three sets of duties:
- Duty to the Host. This duty stresses solidarity with fellow hieroneans, as well as the church's shared values of courage, justice, mercy, valor, and faithfulness.
- Duty to the Arch-paladin. This duty stresses obedience to Heironeous himself, devotion to the church, generosity, championing good against evil, putting the needs of the church and the faith above those of mortals.
- Duty to the People. This duty stresses courage, justice, mercy, valor, equity, and chivalric treatment of one's fellow beings.
Worship
Priests of Heironeous often travel the world on orders from their superiors to seek out and destroy evil. Older priests often work as strategists, military instructors, or judges. Several of the faith's most powerful clerics, seeking to gain the benefits of meersalm, have had themselves embalmed alive with the substance, though some have not survived the ritual.
Followers of Heironeous devote themselves to valor, honor, chivalry, and bravery. They uphold justice, stand up for the oppressed, and fight tyranny in all its forms.
Heironean services and holy texts are all in the Old Oeridian language. Services to Heironeous include triumphant battle hymns, offerings to copper statues of the god, and the sharing of hearty, strengthening foods such as meat, full-bodied red wine (in moderation), and spiced, stewed, kara-fruit.
Temples
Temples, chapels, and shrines to Heironeous can be found throughout the Flanaess. His church is the favored state religion of Nyrond and the Shield Lands, and his faith is also strong in Bissel, the northern half of Furyondy, Gran March, the Free City of Irongate, Keoland, Sterich, and the County of Urnst. Notable houses of worship include the Sanctum of Heironeous in Greyhawk City, as well as a chapel at Diamond Lake. The Kingdom of Thalland was once a major center of Heironeous' faith. There are several temples to Heironeous in Chendl, but the most prominent one is called the Spire of Glory, whose high priest is Glorylord Gaeraeth Heldenster. The Shield Reclaimed is a great cathedral in Critwall. It has only just begun to be rebuilt after being destroyed by the forces of Iuz during the Greyhawk Wars. Its high priest is Abbot Roderick Docamald. Heironeous' temples are decorated with blue and silver trappings, and often scenes of Heironeous triumphant in stained glass.Holy Days
The church of Heironeous celebrates only a few major holy days, which usually mark the anniversaries of great battles, significant triumphs over evil, and visitations by the Archpaladin.Newmass
Celebrated on the first day of Fireseek, is when Heironeans celebrate the new year. They spend it reflecting on the past year and giving one another gifts.The Day of Just Rebellion
. This holy day, held on the 18th of Coldeven, commemorates the battles fought to free Almor from the oppressive rule of the Great Kingdom.Justday
Held on the 20th of Coldeven, is a time when each worshipper of Heironeous is expected to right some injustice. This can range from apologizing for minor misdeeds to attempting to liberate the Wild Coast from the Empire of Turrosh Mak.The Feast of Edoira
An interfaith celebration exclusive to the Domain of Greyhawk, Heironeans occasionally join Pelorians and Raoans in observing this holy day, which occurs on the 4th of Growfest.Fortnight's Feast
This two-week event lasts from the 25th of Wealsun to the 4th of Reaping, and celebrates the victories of the Heironean armies of the Kingdom of Aerdy over Nyrondal cavalry during the Battle of a Fortnight's Length.St. Ferrante's Day
This holy day is observed on the last day of Patchwall (the 28th). The likeness of Ferrante is paraded about, candy is thrown at children, and much food is consumed.Valormight
Held on the 25th of Ready'reat, this holy day predates the founding of the Great Kingdom. Valormight commemorates a ten-month war in which Heironean forces are said to have been outnumbered six to one by Hextorians, yet still managed to confine the Hextorians to the lands east of the Flanmi River. Communion is observed on the 10th of Sunsebb. It is a day of quiet introspection.Priesthood
Followers of Hieroneous as a whole are called Heironean. Priests are addressed as Mother, Father, Brother, or Sister depending on their seniority.
Novices are known as the Blessed. These are new initiates into the clergy, who train under a priest. An ordained priest obtains the epithet "the Glorious." Priests are collectively referred to as the Valorous Host. Senior priests are called Paragons, while those who command armies are known as Paragon-Generals. These titles are separate from military ranks.
Priests who serve within a military order or army might use different titles, such as Hero of the Third Rank, Hero of the Second Rank, Hero of the First Rank, Champion of Glory, Knight Gallant, Knight Courageous, Knight Valiant, and Knight Champion.
Before advancing in rank, priests of Heironeous must clearly demonstrate their bravery, honor, and sense of justice. The exact nature of these tests varies, but they are revealed through prayer and divinely-inspired visions. They can range from tests of fortitude that can be completed within the temple to crusades against the forces of evil.
Vestments
Priestly vestments include chain mail and blue robes with silver trim.Sects
The church of Heironeous is supported by numerous religious-military orders, some of which can trace their origins back to the church armies of the Great Kingdom (though none swear allegiance to the Malachite Throne or its successors today).
The Knights of Holy Shielding
The most famous group of Heironean knights. This is a knightly order sworn to defend The Shield LandsThe Holy Order of the Supernal Topaz Defenders
Called the Topaz Order for short, is an organization of Heironean clerics, paladins, fighters, fighter/clerics, and monks dedicated to purging the world of evil, aberrant races such illithids, beholders, grell, aboleths, and neogi. Their emblem is a brilliant yellow topaz on a field of cobalt blue.The Order of the Glory Everlasting
Although this is uncommon, there are also orders of Heironean fighting-monks. The Order of the Glory Everlasting is led by a former nobleman named Luther. It is dedicated to the preservation of Oeridian culture and the destruction of an order of Hextorian monks called the Brotherhood of the Gray Hand.