Soldiers of Terak
Soldiers are the clergy of the Teraketh temples, found in large military units serving as chaplains or leaders, in towns or cities that often face attack, or wandering in troubled areas defending the weak. Soldiers of Terak often attach themselves to adventuring groups to serve as spiritual advisers and healers, or to join quests.
While soldiers have four alignment groups, only two are large, and a third, lawful evil faction is considered heretical. The two main groups oppose one another on matters great and small, but their conflicting opinions have never led to blows. Councils have been known to split up due to the alignment division, but that is the most divisive the issue has ever become.
On one side of the divide, lawful good soldiers believe it is the duty of the church to protect the weak, improve themselves physically and spiritually, and help others do so. These soldiers are closely aligned to the crusaders, but rarely control councils. Most members of this alignment are found adventuring, often aiding people in catastrophically dangerous areas. For instance, dwarves planning to recolonize an ancient mine overrun with strange, tentacle-laden, mind-sucking beasts might have a few lawful good soldiers along to help. Their typical life expectancy is quite low.
Typified by lawful neutral soldiers, the other side believes it is the duty of the church to unify all common folk in the worship of Terak. They proselytize, defend villages, serve with armies, and obey the orders of their commanders. They believe in unity and conformity, and the strength that can be achieved through the two. Lawful neutral commanders are the majority in most councils.
Far more rare than lawful good or lawful neutral followers, neutral good soldiers hold the roots of the Teraketh faith. They do not embrace a “societal” outlook on the religion, but hold to a personal faith in Terak. They believe every person is responsible for bettering himself, which is only possible if one is not oppressed by evil or in constant mortal danger. Therefore, neutral good soldiers are almost entirely adventurers, freeing the week from oppression so they might find their own way. These soldiers face grave dangers in their constant quest to improve their bodies and spirits, and frequently die in the process. This helps make them the rarest of the faithful.
Lawful evil worshipers of the lawful neutral aspect of Terak are considered heretics by most. If there are any in the temple structure, they are well hidden and do not reveal themselves. They maintain a “might is right” ethic, believing they are Terak’s chosen people. To them, “protection of the weak” means conquering the vulnerable and telling them what to do for “their own good.”
All soldiers of Terak are addressed by rank, followed by “a soldier of the temples of Terak,” when necessary. So, a helm named Matthius would be addressed as “Helm Matthius,” and introduced as “Helm Matthius, a soldier of the temples of Terak.”
Priesthood
Helm
Junior soldiers are called helms. They adventure, serve in the military, or act as aides de camp to senior members of the clergy. Mortality rates among the helms are astonishing, as their only qualifications are a love for Terak and a willingness to fight. Helms serve in the front lines of combat to demonstrate their faith and strength.Lieutenant
With experience, helms might be promoted to “lieutenant,” and expected to be a little wiser in battle. They serve as healers and chaplains to the troops instead of wading in the thick of the fight. The only requirement for lieutenant is experience, and a willingness to serve.Banner
Lieutenant who distinguish themselves in many campaigns or adventures are promoted to “banner.” Banners serve with battle troops and, in some cases, act as unit commanders. Banners are fierce warriors, as their spells enable them to call upon Terak’s might to turn the tide of battle.Commander
After a banner gains a wealth of knowledge about warfare, tactics, and command, the region’s council of commanders summons him and promotes him to “commander.” Anyone in need of a chief officer or strategic advice would be hard-pressed to find a better aide than a commander of the Teraketh. If a commander lives in a region that already has seven on its council, he is expected to found or join a new council elsewhere, or leave on campaign until there is an opening in his council. Openings on a council remain vacant until the surviving commanders find an appropriate replacement. Each of the seven commanders on the council is given charge of his own temple, meaning a region cannot have more than seven Teraketh temples, and any commander wanting to control his own temple must either find an open temple in another region, or found a new region. Any Teraketh church built in a region that already has seven other temples is considered a “shrine,” no matter how big it is, and is beholden to the orders of the nearest temple. The commander of that temple assigns a soldier to run the shrine until it either replaces an existing regional temple (as may happen if the soldier in charge becomes a commander, while her predecessor’s temple, lacking one, is demoted to a shrine) or is accounted as part of a new region with room for a full temple. Because shrines and council seats remain open until a commander rises to take them, it is quite possible for a banner to be promoted to commander, given authority over the temple that was his shrine, and admitted to a council, all in the same day.Lord or Lady Commander
Commanders who win countless battles, fight more wars than they can recall, and slay more foes than they can list, eventually become the most powerful figures in the Teraketh faith. Called lord or lady commanders, they are revered, far and wide. The king of a great nation might govern many Teraketh “regions” within his borders, each with seven commanders, but might not benefit from a lord commander at all—such is their rarity. If a lord commander is available, a wise ruler would surely seek his counsel in times of war. Becoming a lord or lady commander has no effect on council membership or temple command.
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Parent Organization
Deities
Related Myths
