Morwyns, Holy Orders

Because the Morwynites emulate Morwyn in all things, the heads of the healing halls are those most like Morwyn, starting with gender. The Morwynite faith is the only one of the great churches divided along gender lines. Women shape the direction of the faith from its central church, the White Hall of Morwyn’s Hand. There the Supreme Matriarch, the ultimate authority on all matters Morwynite, watches over the faith and sets religious law.
There are three holy orders of the healing halls, as with most churches, and two are limited to certain genders. The matriarchs (clergy), heads of the healing halls, are all women and have four levels of status: the sisters of beneficence, the holy mothers, the high matriarchs, and the Supreme Matriarch. The faithful sons (holy warriors) are all men, live to serve the matriarchs, and have three levels of status: the brothers, the masters, and the fathers. The white hands, now the most numerous of the three holy orders, are educated in eight circles of healing and are divided by the level of education they have completed.
Morwynites of any gender may join the white hands. The average healing hall has three to four sisters of beneficence in residence and one holy mother. There will be as many faithful sons as there are matriarchs, and sometimes one or two extra. Most healing halls have two or three white hands who have achieved a high circle of learning; they reside there to teach others the secrets of the order.
The White Hall of Morwyn’s Hand holds the Supreme Matriarch, six high matriarchs, twelve holy mothers, and twenty-four sisters of beneficence in residence at any one time. At least forty-eight faithful sons, including ten fathers, serve as the Supreme Matriarch’s personal guard. The nearby Tower of the White Hands houses the heads of that holy order, and has at least sixty white hands in residence at any time, including the white hands of the eighth circle, who head their order.

Matriarchs of Morwyn

The matriarchs are an order of profound goodness, compassion, and love. Made up only of women, they are a part of an ancient tradition, as the healing halls of Morwyn have maintained their structure for more generations than even the longest-lived elves can count. The matriarchs hold only those possessions they need to perform their duties, giving everything else to the healing halls, or to the needy they meet on their travels, and they swear oaths of charity, gentleness, mercy, and wisdom. They follow the doctrines exactly—but unlike common members of the faith, they do not waver in their adherence to these strictures. If they do, they must atone. A faithful son always accompanies a traveling matriarch unless something peculiar is going on. Most matriarchs are lawful good. They follow the four principles of the faith to the letter and are some of the kindest, gentlest people in the world. They do not think twice about their own well-being, often wading into disease-ridden or otherwise dangerous areas to help the needy. They have no greed in them, and are heroic women.
These Morwynites want nothing more than to be united with Morwyn in spirit, by walking in her footsteps. Neutral good matriarchs are less common, and less interested in obeying the set structure of their church. They find the clear-cut definition of goodness a little silly, though they do not say so out loud very often. To think the soul of Morwyn’s goodness can be captured in a fourword maxim seems rather outlandish to them, so they look for the good in all people, no matter how small the spark, and try to bring it out through any means at their disposal. Rather than tell a petty-hearted merchant (who nonetheless loves his daughter as a devoted father) that he must learn to be compassionate, merciful, gentle, and wise, the matriarch would focus on the man’s love for his daughter, and urge him to extend his goodwill to others. Rarely, and as a disappointment for other matriarchs, lawful neutral matriarchs hold office. These women believe the four-word maxim of the faith is almost like a set of powerful incantations. They say the words to those they meet as though their very repetition will compel people to obey them. While they obey the rules of these principles, they do not do so because they have a deep sense of their rightness, but because, in their minds, Morwyn wants them to obey them. Others in the healing halls find these matriarchs lacking, for they seem unable to grasp the true spirit of Morwyn’s teachings.
Sister of Beneficence New matriarchs are called sisters of beneficence. It falls to them to perform those duties assigned to them by their superiors, who are any matriarchs with greater experience and standing, but most take orders directly from the holy mother of their healing hall. Superiors regularly order sisters of beneficence to travel and spread the good works of Morwyn around the world. Sisters of beneficence are healers and avoid conflict. They depend on their faithful son companions to shield them from violence. Sisters of beneficence are often referred to as the “beneficent sisters” and are addressed as “sister.” They are introduced with their order title first, so Nimmeril would be introduced as “Sister of Beneficence Nimmeril, a matriarch of the healing halls of Morwyn.”
Holy Mother A sister of beneficence can go on a three-month spiritual retreat into a remote area in an act that follows in the footsteps of Tyngelle, who spent three months in the desert and saw there a vision of the White Lady touching a rock, and witnessed a fountain of light springing forth from it. Standing in the fountain of light, Morwyn asked Tyngelle four questions, which all those who follow in her footsteps are still asked. Afterwards, Tyngelle searched for and found the rock, and upon it built the White Hall of Morwyn’s Hand. The great seat of the Supreme Matriarch rests atop the rock to this day. Thus, each sister of beneficence follows in Tyngelle’s footsteps, hoping to be visited by the White
Lady in a vision that will lead her for the rest of her life. When these matriarchs return from the retreat, they tell a holy mother all they experienced. The returning matriarch is then clothed in white, brought before all the faithful of her healing hall, and named a holy mother. She is addressed as “mother” and introduced with her order title first.
High Matriarch An experienced holy mother eventually goes on a pilgrimage to the White Hall of Morwyn’s Hand, where the Supreme Matriarch sits. Upon reaching it, she speaks to the Supreme Matriarch herself, telling of her long-ago vision and all she has learned in her life. The Supreme Matriarch then asks her the four questions that Morwyn asked Tyngelle so many years before: What is the nature of compassion? What is the greatest gentleness you have witnessed? Where can the hopeless find mercy? Who is wiser than the wise? Assuming the holy mother answers these questions to the Supreme Matriarch’s satisfaction (and often the answers, and their discussions, take a full day), she is elevated to the rank of high matriarch the next morning.. She is clothed in rich robes of white, gold, and red, anointed with holy ointments, and brought before the faithful after a morning of prayer.
Once so named, she is given a great task to undertake by the Supreme Matriarch. This task often takes up the rest of her life. High matriarchs are addressed as “reverend mother” and are introduced by full title.
Supreme Matriarch When a Supreme Matriarch dies, the matriarchs residing at the White Hall of Morwyn’s Hand follow the exact rules of succession as handed down by Tyngelle. They paint the names of all the world’s high matriarchs on stones and place them in a great barrel, though there are few enough high matriarchs now that the barrel is rarely filled even halfway. They then go and find a young and innocent shepherdess who is usually around thirteen years old. They bring the child to the barrel, tell her there is one stone in it more valuable than all the others, and ask her to find it by whatever method she might choose. The woman named on the selected stone becomes the new Supreme Matriarch. A contingent of faithful sons is sent out to find her, for she might be doing great works on the other side of the world, and the high matriarchs of the White Hall act as a council in her absence.
The Supreme Matriarch is addressed as “Your Holiness,” “Your Eminence,” “Your Grace,” or “Most Hallowed Mother.” She is introduced without her name and, indeed, her name is never spoken on formal occasions; she is called “The Supreme Matriarch of the Healing Halls of Morwyn.”

Joining the Order
Any woman who shows an aptitude for learning the rites, strength of character, and a sense of goodness, can become a matriarch relatively quickly. Matriarchs are all clerics (of Life) devoted to Morwyn. Morwyn is never shown wielding a weapon, and there are no legends in which she lifts a weapon in anger. Her clergy have adopted the quarterstaff as a preferred weapon, since a few legends refer to the White Lady carrying a walking staff.

Faithful Sons

The faithful sons of Morwyn are the gentlest of all holy warriors. They strive to resolve disputes rather than raise blades in anger. They are peacemakers and diplomats, careful men who are always on the lookout for danger, and seek to defuse volatile situations. This is because their primary role is to protect the matriarchs, who are constantly going into the gravest dangers—battlefields, plague-ridden settlements, evil lands—in their efforts to do Morwyn’s works.
The faithful sons see themselves as men striving to make the world safer for goodness, starting with the deeply good women they are sworn to protect. They are unafraid to fight if they must, but they always try to avoid conflict with a person of the five mortal races, if possible. Most faithful sons come off as profoundly wise, happy, resolute, and cautious. Less civilized folks think them cowardly for their unceasing efforts to avoid violence.
Faithful sons are assigned to the protection of matriarchs for most of their lives; it is considered a disaster if one of them allows his charge to be killed. Essentially, it is assumed faithful sons will die to protect their matriarchs, and it is hard to imagine how one could still live if his charge was killed. A faithful son returning to a healing hall after the death of his charge must go through years of atonement and contemplation before being assigned the protection of another matriarch. If the matriarch died because he was negligent, or did not wish to risk his own life to protect her, the order casts him out. Atonement for such men is quite difficult, but Morwyn is the goddess of mercy, so it is possible.
Other than their unwavering devotion to their matriarchs, the faithful sons are dedicated to the protection of the innocent and the preservation of the ideals of Morwyn. They do not attack people without provocation. They do not steal, take vengeance, or act out of pettiness. They show mercy and compassion in all things. They are charitable and kind, thoughtful and peaceful. Because they are so tied to the matriarchs, faithful sons usually associate with whoever their charge finds appropriate, though they object strenuously to traveling with obviously evil companions. The Morwynites believe all mortals are redeemable, though, so a faithful son might find himself with unsavory companions in hopes of turning them to the good path. He never participates in or abides the commission of evil, however, so if his companions start behaving in an evil manner, he will oppose them.
Brother A new faithful son is called a brother, and is addressed and introduced by that title. He is usually assigned to a sister of beneficence for her protection for when she travels outside the healing halls. These relationships are complex, with the two adventuring together for years. Love sometimes blossoms between a faithful son and a matriarch, and marriages born of such relationships are considered quite fortuitous. While it is rare for a brother to be given a task that does not involve accompanying a matriarch, it does happen from time to time.
Master After adventuring far and wide, and keeping his assigned matriarch (or matriarchs) alive and healthy, an experience brother is sent on his own, to do some great deed for goodness and the Morwynite faith. His superiors within the order of the faithful sons give him this task. When he returns from the quest, he is named a master, and begins to oversee the training and command of the brothers of the order. He is addressed and introduced as “master.”
Father A master eventually makes a pilgrimage to see the Supreme Matriarch of the healing halls. When he reaches her, she asks him the same four questions that all high matriarchs are asked at their elevation. After the questions are answered, the master is dressed in white robes and anointed with holy ointments. He is presented with the shield of the fathers, which bears a snow-white field with the argent tear of Morwyn at its center. The carriers of these shields are called the fathers of the faithful sons, and are addressed and introduced as “father.” They are the greatest and wisest men of the Morwynite faith. Many fathers serve the Supreme Matriarch directly, but even more reside in healing halls on the borders of dangerous areas, where they might ride forth, do the greatest good, and accompany matriarchs doing likewise. Fathers are considered to have no superiors in their order, and can only be given orders by the Supreme Matriarch herself.
Joining the Faithful Sons Men who become faithful sons receive the call when they are young. They go to a healing hall, where they receive training that usually takes three to four years. Sometimes, though, an established adventurer will suddenly receive the call to become a faithful son; such men are considered blessed additions to the order and are welcomed with open arms. Faithful sons are all lawful good paladins. When it comes time to swear their sacred oath, most swear the Oath of Mercy , though some might swear the Oath of Devotion.

White Hand of Morwyn

Long ago, one of the Supreme Matriarchs determined the Morwynites could do great good if they educated others in the arts of healing, charging them with the spreading of those arts. Called the White Hands, these healers were formed into a third holy order of the healing halls, and given a formal education in the ways of healing—and of Morwyn. Across the lands, the White Hands of Morwyn are revered for their amazing powers of healing. Skilled in healing disease, madness, and other afflictions of the body and soul, the white hands are not ceremonial clergy but dedicated healers who serve in all walks of life. Some are attached to large military groups; others have shops in great cities where they offer their healing for a mere pittance.
They are trained and educated by the Morwynites for the express purpose of spreading healing and comfort throughout the land. Most of them are not religious zealots, but highly skilled individuals with a desire to help. Over the years, the Morwynites stressed Morwyn’s teachings less and less in the education of the White Hands. To spread healing, the healing halls now embrace the White Hands as an almost secular order, existing more for healing than spreading faith. Because of this, the order has boomed in size and its numbers now outstrip the rest of the church’s. Their education is superb and nearly free, and members of the order are considered part of the healing halls.
White Hands are usually people with other responsibilities. They might be soldiers, nobles, officials, or even barmaids. All of them are driven to learn the ways of healing for any number of reasons, and because the education is readily available and inexpensive, it is widespread—at least in the lower circles. Upper-circle White Hands are rarer and are usually serene, dedicated practitioners, kind and gentle. Either way, it is not particularly common for them to travel in groups, or even to perform specific duties for their order. They go about their lives, helping people whenever they can. Joining the White Hands A character must be proficient in medicine to join the White Hands and take the Healer feat at the first opportunity. As the skills of the White Hands are so useful among those who often find themselves in battle, many fighters (especially those who choose the Hospitaler martial archetype described in Chapter X), rangers, and monks become White Hands so they can better tend the wounds of their fallen brethren. Anyone desiring to become a White Hand must swear the following oath.

"I am the White Hand against the Red Wound, I am the hope for the hopeless, the help for the helpless. I swear to provide healing to any child of the tree in need, If it is within my power to do so and if that person is not an enemy of goodness."

Within the confines of the oath, White Hands can ask to be remunerated for their aid, but cannot demand it. Few patients take unfair advantage of this, but some do cheat the healers. The “enemy of goodness” portion of the oath allows White Hands not to heal evil cultists, but soldiers in wars with other mortal soldiers must tend to their enemies’ wounds if it is within their power to do so. Triage and the care of prisoners beyond just healing them are matters left to White Hand’s discretion, but must follow the Morwynite ethos.
If a White Hand violates her oath, her palms turn blood red until she atones for her violation. The greatest among the White Hands are former matriarchs who dedicate themselves to teaching of others, though one need not have been a matriarch to become a member of this order, and it is open to men and women. The heads of the order reside in the Tower of the White Hands. These women (for the heads of the order are all former matriarchs) are powerful healers, able to repair the damage done to armies. Their students are perhaps
less formidable, but are great healers too, sought for the excellent addition they make to expeditionary forces and other groups.
The education of the White Hands is an eight-step process. As one progresses, one moves on to greater circles of healing until certified in the eighth and final circle. A White Hand tells people her circle whenever she introduces herself—“I am Idri, a White Hand of the fourth circle,” for instance—but gains no other honorifics. In formal introductions, their circle of learning is added to whatever other titles they might hold in the format, “a White Hand of the (individual’s) circle.” It is important to let people know how competent a healer the White Hand is, so they do not expect results she is not capable of delivering.
A White Hand moves up a circle by being educated and trained by a White Hand at least one circle above her. To become a white hand of the eighth circle, she must travel to the Tower of the White Hands and meet with the heads of the order. They will administer a test that takes several days, making sure she knows every nuance of the healing art. Once she passes, the White Hand is admitted to the eighth and final circle.

Type

Religious, Holy Order