Church of Torm
Torm's popularity is increasing, particularly in the wake of the events of the Time of Troubles. He benefits from an enthusiastic following of worshipers who appreciate his unswerving devotion to serving mortals—unusual for a deity—and a number of fighting orders and paladins who have devoted themselves to the True God. Priests and lay worshipers of Torm together (that is, anyone of his faith) are known as the Tormish. The members of the priesthood are known as Tormtar. Most Tormtar are human males, but both sexes are welcome within the faith—and as the numbers of the elf and dwarf peoples dwindle and they increasingly see the vital need for law and order among human communities to ensure their own survival, people of the Fair Folk and the Stout Folk are embracing the True Faith and the Unbending Way of Torm in ever-greater numbers.
The followers of Torm organize themselves into a three-level hierarchy of worshipers. Length of and quality of service and rank are of particular importance to the followers of Torm and form the basis of the hierarchy. Specialty priests, called holy champions, make up 40% of the priesthood and often serve as the leaders of the faith. Clerics, crusaders, and paladins make up 30%, 20%, and 10% of the remaining clergy members, respectively.
The top level of the hierarchy in Torm's faith is comprised of the Tormtar, who are arranged in their own strict hierarchy. The hierarchy among Torm's disciples ascends from the Unproven (novices), to the Andurans (confirmed priests of lower ranks), Faithblades, Wardens, Vigilants, Watchful Venturers, Loyans, Enforcers, Guardians, Knights, Vanguardiers, and Champions. These ranks are separate from duty-titles such as (in ascending order): Patrol Captain, Revered Messenger, Doorwarden, Seneschal, Templemaster, High Priest, and Priest Inquisitor (the teachers and internal disciplinarians of the faith).
The second level of the hierarchy of the faith is comprised of the knightly orders dedicated to Torm. Members of these groups serve as the adventuring and warrior branches of Torm's clergy and go on many quests in the service of Torm. The members of this tier are known as the Swords of Torm, and most (if not all) of the Swords are crusaders and paladins in various knightly orders, such as the Order of the Golden Lion, that are allied with the clergy members but not under their direct command.
The third tier of the hierarchy of the faith comprises the lay followers of Torm. Torm's faithful include many warriors and government officials, among others. Following the Time of Troubles, many have made pilgrimages from all over the Realms to the Temple of Torm's Coming in northern Tantras. Torm's followers are expected to make yearly tithes to the local temple of Torm as they are able. In addition, they must follow the general religious tenets of Torm as espoused by his clergy.
Temples of Torm are typically citadels of righteousness and are constructed as impregnable fortresses, often high up on a mountain's flanks where they command an impressive view of the surrounding terrain. Such castles are often built of white granite and radiate a continuous, pure light. Statues of lions and armored knights line the halls, and the badges of knights who fell in the line of duty decorate the walls.
Assets
Major Centers of Worship: The Temple of Torm's Coming in Tantras, where Torm appeared during the Time of Troubles, is a scarred and severe battle-fortress frowning down over its white granite walls (and extensive granary cellars below the ground) on the city below. The temple stands hard against the inside of the north wall of the city atop the city's highest hill. Here High Priest Barriltar Bhandraddon leads a wealthy and ever-growing group of clergy members and congregation in the worship of Torm. Barriltar's temple sponsors knightly orders far and wide and spreads the values of obedience and loyalty to all who will listen—and in crowded urban areas, such folk who dream of freedom from lawlessness, thievery, and rowdiness are many.
Temples of Torm may also be found in Eagle Peak (the Citadel of the Rampant Eagle) and Procampur (the House of the Hand) and within temples of Tyr (such as the Halls of Justice in both Neverwinter and Sundabar), among other places. Shrines to Torm are located in Hillsfar, Ravens Bluff, Scornubel, and Urmlaspyr, among other cities.
Priesthood
Holy Champions
The Lord of Honor and Duty has taught you to maintain law and order and to always be loyal. Your vestments are clean polished armor or robes with a breast plate and bracers. Your helm or bracers bear the symbol of Torm.Resources
The Unproven are assigned to a higher-ranking member and often get nothing more than a cot and footlocker in their mentor's chambers. Higher-level Holy Champions may request room and board at any temple of Torm, with ranking Holy Champions often gaining a suite of rooms. Unproven are expected to learn from their mentor in exchange for personal service, polishing weapons and armor, tending to horses, etc. Mentors are expected to give their Unproven time to pursue their own interests, including adventuring. Holy Champions gain access to representatives of local law enforcement, and can request information about local cases and concerns and are often treated with the respect due an actual member of the watch or militia. Locals often tell members of the Holy Champions of events in the area. While many rumors turn out to be folklore or wild speculation, the locals are often the first to know when evil rears its ugly head.Piety (Renown)
Holy Champions are expected to rout out and face the forces of evil and chaos, bravely challenging monsters and villains, and defending the common folk from danger. They are also expected to champion the local rulers and authorities. They model themselves after knights and attempt at all times to model the virtues of honor, duty, bravery, and loyalty. They gain piety from challenging and defeating evil organizations, monsters and villains, upholding their virtues, and defending civilization. Holy Champions lose piety if they stray from their virtues, refuse to challenge evil of chaotic forces, fail to protect innocents, or fail to uphold just laws and authority.Granted Divine Powers
The Unproven (1 Renown)
Those who choose to join Torm's Church start as the Unproven. The Unproven are assigned to a higher-ranking member and often get nothing more than a cot and footlocker in their mentor's chambers. They are expected to learn from their mentor in exchange for personal service, polishing weapons and armor, tending to horses, etc. Mentors are expected to give their Unproven time to pursue their own interests, including adventuring. The Unproven gain access to the resources of the church.Faithblade (3 Renown)
Those Unproven who show promise by earning 3 renown then become Faithblades. Faithblades have access to healing and spellcasting at their churches and are considered allies by lawful governments. Faithblades have access to the following resources:- In lawful communities, access to government buildings.
- Faithblades can requisition a potion of healing, but must gain at least one renown before making the request again.
- Faithblades are proficient in Etiquette, Heraldry and in riding one selected mount.
Shield of Torm (10 Renown)
After working their way up the ranks by earning 10 renown, a Faithblade may be promoted to Shield of Torm. Shields may request a small single room in any Temple of Torm. They are considered valuable allies, agents and advisors by lawful governments, and may direct lower-ranking members of the Holy Champions to take combat roles. Shields of Torm have access to the following resources:- The Shield of Torm may request a team of guards or soldiers to accompany him on a quest for one week (ten-day). The team are not made up of adventurers, but will help maintain a camp, set up a watch, or other activities that don't require venturing into a dungeon or put them in the way of extraordinary harm.
- Shields are expected to put themselves in harm's way to protect the innocent and the just. When an adjacent creature is targeted by a melee or ranged attack, a Shield may choose to interpose themselves before the attack roll is made. If the attack hits the Shield's Armor Class, the Shield takes full damage and the adjacent creature takes none. This ability recharges after a short rest.
Sword of Torm (25 Renown)
A Shield of Torm who has earned the trust of his commanding officer by earning 25 Renown may be promoted to Sword of Torm. Swords may request a small private room in a Temple to Torm. Any member of lesser rank will follow their orders unless it conflicts with an order from their superiors or the tenets of Torm. They may request the service of valet, whose monthly salary is paid for by the Temple. The valet will watch over and care for your property when you are away and attend to your personal needs while you are at home. Swords of Torm have access to the following resources:- You may request a meeting with the leaders of local law enforcement or the military. These organizations seek to maintain good relationships with the Holy Champions (unless corrupt), so any requests made will be weighed in that light.
- The Sword may requisition a potion of greater healing or three potions of healing instead of one potion of healing, but must gain at least one renown before making the request again.
- The Sword gains a personal squire of half his level who will follow the Sword and obey any commands. The squire gains a level every time the Sword gains two levels.
- The Sword's melee weapons are now considered magic and holy when considering the damage resistances or immunities of targets.
Tormtor (50 Renown)
A Sword of Torm who has shown great promise and loyalty may be promoted to a Tormtor. Tormtors may request a suite of rooms in any Temple of Torm, and are ranking members of the faithful in any interaction with local clerics and paladins. Tormtors have access to the following resources:- You may demand that any noble house or organization send its leaders for an audience or questioning.
- Gain the temporary service of an Archon as if using the planar ally spell of the Tormtor's level. The character must negotiate and pay for the outsider’s service, as per the spell.
- Once per day, Tormtors may speak a Holy Word as the spell.
- The orders of a Tormtor are considered to come directly from Torm (or his heralds). Tormtors can use Executive Actions on behalf of the church of Torm.
Sects
Affiliated Orders: Following Torm's rebirth, the church founded a new order of paladins, known as the Order of the Golden Lion, to serve as holy warriors of Torm. Led by First Champion of Torm Sir Dylan Lionshand, these holy warriors are specially dedicated to actively serving the Penance of Duty, and they wander the Realms in Torm's service. (For example, the Champion Reborn, Sir Gwydion the Quick, serves Torm by escorting Rinda the scribe who bears the Cyrinishad.) Many members of the Order of the Golden Lion are found guarding the temples of a wide variety of peaceful faiths, while others embark on quests to recover lost relics of various goodly gods. Failure to actively serve the letter and the spirit of the Penance of Duty by any member of this order results in the loss of paladinhood, reclaimable only through the casting of an atonement spell and the completion of a difficult quest in the service of Torm set according to the goals of the Penance of Duty.
Knights of the Order of the Golden Lion cannot advance in level without serving in some fashion that helps alleviate one of the debts mentioned in the Penance of Duty. Torm rewards this faithful devotion from time to time by bequeathing a minor quest spell known as the lion's roar, equivalent in effect to a great shout (as the 8th-level wizard spell with all the attendant penalties). The ceremonial costume of the Order of the Golden Lion is the same in the field as in the temple—a full suit of well polished battle armor with an ornate helm. The armor polish used is a bright golden color.
Comments