Church of St. Cuthbert
The followers of St. Cuthbert are known for their zeal and discipline, their adherence to the law and stringent denouncement of anything chaotic or evil. In their communities, Cuthbertines give charity to the poor, discipline to the criminal, and guidance for the common folk. St. Cuthbert is a lawful deity of wisdom, dedication, and zeal, and his church follows stringent rules, as well.
Clergy
Followers of St. Cuthbert are sometimes called Cuthbertines.Sects
The Chapeaux
The Chapeaux seek to convert people into their faith. They are equally divided between lawful good and lawful neutral characters. Paladins of Saint Cuthbert, known as Votaries or Communicants, have an honorary position in the Order of the Chapeaux. Their role is not just to convert others, but to actually fight enemies of the faith.The Stars
The Stars seek to enforce doctrinal purity among those already dedicated to the saint. Most are lawful neutral, and they do not shy from using mind-reading magic in order to ensure that even the private thoughts of their flock are pure.The Billets
The Billets are the most numerous of Saint Cuthbert's clergy. Most are lawful good, and they seek to minister to and protect the faithful. These are well-beloved by the common folk. The Chapeaux often come into conflict with the Billets, because the former order wants to seek new converts while the latter wants to care for the worshipers they already have.Vestments
St. Cuthbert's priests wear sky-blue robes emblazoned with the holy symbol of their sect. Worshippers who are not part of the formal clergy either wear the sect symbol of their congregation or St. Cuthbert's own symbol of a Bolisni cross with rubies at its centre and the ends of its arm, centred on three circles. Chapeaux Symbol: A crumpled hat. Stars Symbol: A starburst. Billets Symbol: A wooden club.Duties
Within their communities, the churches of St. Cuthbert usually supplement lawkeeping and charity efforts, regardless of sect. Their admonitions of unlawful or evil behaviour even in the slightest degree keep their congregations on the straight and narrow. Likewise, since ignoring those in need is considered an evil act, the clergy of St. Cuthbert works to uplift the poor and downtrodden in their communities. Their churches are safe havens for victims of wrongdoing, provided they don't bring any of their own with them.Beliefs
St. Cuthbert's followers believe that strict adherence to the law is all that can save a creature from corruption. Discipline, then, is the most important skill, to stave off temptation of every sort - to laziness, to greed, to wrath and all the vices. A strict dogma, no quarter is given to those who violate it - punishment for any transgression is swift and designed to make the transgressor think twice before straying again.Tenets of Faith
Clerics of St. Cuthbert are sworn to abide by the following tenets, in addition to a special vow specific to their sect:- Obey the Law. Harmony breeds peace, and is best achieved by following the laws of the land.
- Do Good. Work for the betterment of others, and conduct yourself with respect for all life and for the dignity of sentient creatures.
- Oppose Evil. Those who harm and oppress must be stopped. Those who refuse to learn better must be eliminated.
Chapeaux
- Share the Faith. Cuthbertine guidance helps creatures attain a lawful, peaceful existence, so share the faith with all who are willing to hear it.
Stars
- Purge Corruption. It is the duty of the Cuthbertine to keep one's congregation and church community on the straight and narrow. Do not allow any corruption to persist within your church.
Billets
- Shelter the Faithful. Look after your congregation and community. Shelter them from evil and do your utmost to help those who seek it.
Temples
As a popular religion, St. Cuthbert's churches can be found throughout the Domain of Greyhawk. The Cathedral of St. Cuthbert in the Free City is the most prominent among them, but wayside shrines and cruder churches and chapels in smaller towns and outposts are common as well.Holy Days
Saint Cuthbert's Day
Celebrated on the 4th day of Growfest, Saint Cuthbert's Day is the largest festival celebrated by Saint Cuthbert's church. It involves locals and pilgrims gathering at a city's gate at dawn and parading and singing along a major road until they reach the local shrine or temple. Children swipe at everyone within reach with switches in a custom known as "the cleansing." At their destination, a cleric brings out a replica of the Mace of Cuthbert and there is a great feast from noon until dusk, and then a bonfire from sundown until midnight that the faithful believe can remove curses and misfortune.Breadgiving Day
This is a new event that began only after the Greyhawk Wars, originally as a charitable event for refugees. Subsequently it has become a day dedicated to feeding the hungry in general. Cuthbertines take the opportunity to preach and gain converts, and provide security for the event. The faiths of Pelor and Rao also participate.Scriptures
The Church of St. Cuthbert recognizes the following texts as being variably useful to the church's way of life.Saint Cuthbert and Common Sense
This short book, normally no more than thirty pages long, uses simple language to explain the tenets of Saint Cuthbert's faith. Some personal interpretation is permitted, but the essentials (obey the law, be good, and use common sense) remain the same. Those who fail at living up to the Saint's virtues are advised to turn to their communities for advice and support, and to prey to Saint Cuthbert to clear up their confusion. Copies of Saint Cuthbert and Common Sense are normally written by hand in easy-to-read letters, sometimes with simple drawings. Gilded illuminations and elaborate calligraphy are not in harmony with the Cuthbertine aesthetic.Tales of the Vulgar Fool
This book is considered foul heresy in the eyes of Cuthbertines, particularly the Order of the Stars, who try to suppress it whenever it is encountered. It takes the traditional Cuthbertine parables of the Wise Fool and twists them so that instead of overcoming his problems with common sense, he indulges in thievery and lechery. Non-Cuthbertines see these stories as humorous parodies of uptight Cuthbertine homilies, but the church does not approve. A small minority of the faithful take the Tales of the Vulgar Fool to heart and incorporate their "advice" into their lives, and this is the sort of thing the Order of the Stars tries to stamp out.The Saint Among Us
This is a story of Saint Cuthbert's origins as a mortal shepherd who lived a simple, blameless, charitable life long ago, who was rewarded by the gods by being brought to Oerth where he walked the world as a holy man teaching evil the error of its ways. Eventually he became a god; the tale attempts to guide others by example.Parables of the Wise Fool
The dogmatically correct stories that the Tales of the Vulgar Fool work of heresy is a parody of, these stories involve agriculture, animal husbandry, crafts, fending off beasts, fighting, and other common activities. The protagonist, the Wise Fool, is normally portrayed much as Saint Cuthbert is, as a young or middle-aged man with a crumpled hat, who shows up well-meaning but self-important antagonists with simple common sense. Many of the most common sayings used in the Cuthbertine faith are attributed to the Wise Fool. These books are often illustrated, and simple paintings of the Wise Fool are common on rural chapels and the like.The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This story, possibly brought by Saint Cuthbert himself from another world, tells of a shepherd boy who tells lies about a wolf attack and is consequently not believed when a wolf actually attacks. A variation of this story is "The Boy Who Cried Orc."
Demonym
Cuthbertines
Subsidiary Organizations
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Controlled Territories