Wanderers

Followers of Celestian, The Wanderer.

Structure

The Church of Celestian was divided into seven orders. Priests of each order wore different colored robes, and each wore the holy symbol with a gem of different color in the center of the others. They wore black cloaks over their robes covered in gems to mimic the starry sky.

Assets

They rarely build temples or other fixed places of worship, but they are known to build rest areas along the roads of Agnesia and the Astral Plane for travelers. Celestian shrines are located in the country, away from city lights, and are often built upon mountain peaks or hilltops with a clear view of the sky. The concept of pilgrimages to established temples is commonplace within this religion. There are Celestian hospices throughout the depths of space, tended to by priests who have decided to stay in one place for a time. They give shelter, food, air, and advice, appreciating donations, though there is no set schedule of fees. They may give directions and help travelers find work.

Mythology & Lore

According to legend, Celestian once sent an enormous meteor towards Agnesia. This meteor remains undiscovered but is known as Celestian's Gift. It is not clear what it is: some call it a philosophical truth while others call it the purest adamantine in all of the multiverse. Supposedly, the pulsing core of the meteorite has never cooled in the countless centuries since. This core is said to hold a priceless gift from the Far Wanderer, though the precise nature of this gift has not been agreed on. Some say it is the purest adamantium in the multiverse, while others say the gift is a deep philosophical truth. Some theorize the only way to reach Celestian’s Gift is a narrow natural bridge deep within the Underdark. Monsters from across space and time are said to guard it.

Worship

Celestian appealed to good or neutral worshipers who never liked to settle down—not even in a single plane of existence or crystal sphere. Both astronomy and astrology are important to the faith and worshippers are encouraged to both look into the movements of the stars and the power locked within them. Their services are always held under the open sky at night, preferably when the stars were visible. All those who take an interest in the stars eventually meet with the faith of Celestian. Being revered by astronomers, astrologers, navigators, sailors, philosophers, dreamers, and others who are interested in the sky and the cosmos. Demihumans and some other humanoids with their own racial deities sometimes worship Celestian alongside their own gods. Members of nocturnal races who have been banished from their kin, perhaps for crimes such as mercy or love for humans, often take to the worship of the Far Wanderer because though the sunlight hurts their eyes, the gentle light of the stars offer acceptance. In other words, non-humans tend to acknowledge Celestian as well, and a surprising number of banished monsters to whom the light is nothing but blinding become worshippers of the Far Wanderer as well.

Priesthood

Priests: His priests cared for little beyond learning and traveling and spent great amounts of time away from their homes; in fact, they were required to. Most of them were skilled in astronomy and navigation. Clerics: Because of his domain clerics of Celestian tend to be nocturnal and detached from the happenings during the day and hiring one might prove difficult. The Far Wanderer's presence in the Astral Plane meant that his clerics had a major advantage over those of most other deities, in that their divine magic did not lose power wherever they might go in the Outer Planes. Clerics of Celestian are encouraged to travel around much as their god does. They come in seven different orders each with their own color robes and gems set into their holy symbols. These priests search the world, the sky, and the Planes for meteorites, artifacts, and knowledge that falls under Celestian's sphere. Because of their studies, they are adept at divinations and rather introverted people. Celestian’s priesthood is divided into seven ranks of ascending power and knowledge, each differing from the last in its number and the placement of the gems in its holy symbol. They search the world, the sky, and other planes for magical meteorites, artifacts, and lore relating to Celestian’s spheres of influence. They are adept at divinations. They are very studious and meditative, secretive, and detached from day-to-day existence. They will not use their expertise with stars and space to pilot warships or slave ships, and they will not aid unjust conquerors. Their favored weapon is the shortspear.

The First Order wears light blue robes. Their symbol is the ruby.
The Second Order wears robes of light gray. Their symbol is the jacinth.
The Third Order wears robes of violet. Their symbol is the topaz.
The Fourth Order wears blue-gray robes. Their gem is the emerald.
The Fifth Order wears dark blue robes. Their gem is the sapphire.
The Sixth Order wears robes of the deepest purple hue. They use the amethyst as their symbol.
The Seventh Order is the most potent. They wear robes of black, and their gem is the diamond.