Church of Tyr
While some paladins preferring a straight black-and-white choice revere Tyr, he is most popular with the bureaucrats, judges, and merchants who make the entire system move efficiently. Worshipers of Tyr see the world in clear-cut moral terms; they like to see Faerun firmly cleansed and ordered by laws that are evenly and diligently applied. They are not very tolerant of other world views and do not find parody, mockery, or even questions about their faith amusing. Tyr survives very well in the civilized world, and most of his temples are in larger cities. He is also worshiped on the Rock of Bral, rumored to be one of the Tears of Selune.
The Church of Tyr is a highly organized, formal priesthood that maintains internal rules and a system of fortified temples. At Tyrran temples, the faithful can find lodging, fresh mounts, healing, spell aid, weapons, gear, and holy advice. If a worshiper or priest knows that she or he has stinted in service to the Just One, confession and penance are also available.
Level titles used by the clergy in recent years, in order of ascending rank, are: Acolyte of Laws, Solemn Brother/Sister, Lawkeeper, Sword of Tyr, Hammer of Tyr, Vigilant Watcher, Just Captain, Avenger, Master Avenger, Abbot, High Lord Abbot, High Avenger, Knight Commander, Hammer Lord, Defender of Justice, and Justicar. Maverick titles are few indeed, as this is a closely regulated priesthood.
Assets
Major Centers of Worship
The Fortress Faithful in Tethyr, south of Zazesspur, is probably the most important temple of Tyr at the moment, as clergy of the Just God are converging on it to help restore law and order to war-torn Tethyr. They work in large, well-armed patrols sent out of the castle-abbey. More holy, older, and supreme in the well-ordered hierarchy of the church of Tyr, however, is the House of Tyr's Hand in Milvarune, in Thesk. The House is the home of the Just Knights, heavy cavalry whose gleaming armor and lowered lances are the last sights many an invading warrior of Thay has seen. Some sages have called this superb army "the Simbul's least likely yet staunchest allies" because of their efficiency in hurling back Thayan armies over the years. Also of note is the one known Tyrran temple in Realmspace not on the surface of Abeir-Toril. The Tyrran church on Bral (one of the Tears of Selune) is known as the Pantheist Temple of Tyr. Its clergy and ceremonies conform to the standards of the Torilian faith, but its priests worship Tyr as a warrior god as well one of justice. They consider Tyr the patron of all good warriors. Pantheistic priests of Tyr recognize any lawful good deity of justice or war as an avatar of their deity and often gain access to spells in many crystal spheres that do not know Tyr by that name. As a deity of justice, Tyr is not very popular in Bral, which is known as a pirate haven. The priests of the temple feel obligated to take on crime and injustice wherever they find it, and this has led to several small, crusading wars. Priests of Tyr and lawful good warriors from any crystal sphere find a warm welcome at the Pantheist Temple of Tyr, although they may have a hard time adjusting to the idea promoted here that Tyr goes by different names in different places.Priesthood
Specialty Priests (Holy Justices)
You are a devoted deputy to the god of justice. The Maimed God has charged you with revealing the truth, punishing the guilty, righting wrong, and to always be truthful and just in your actions. Your vestments are blue and purple robes with a white sash and you wear a gauntlet on the left hand and a black glove on the right.
Resources
You may request sanctuary at any temple or shrine of Tyr. At lower ranks, this may be a cot of a place on the temple floor, while higher-ranking Holy Justices often get rooms or even suites. Holy Justices can request access to representatives of local law enforcement. Justices 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 Holy Justices 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)
A Holy Justice earns piety (or renown) by enforcing and supporting the just laws of a community. Tasks may include bringing a lawbreaker to justice or aiding the authorities. When a law is found to be unjust, a Holy Justice should work to overturn that law. If the local authorities are corrupt, it is the Holy Justice's responsibility to root out the corruption if possible.
The Holy Justice could see a loss in Piety be allowing lawbreakers to go free or refusing to challenge unjust laws or corrupt officials.
In a place of overwhelming corruption (such as Westgate or Zhentil Keep), a Holy Justice should work to make things better or more just for their wards, but is not required to challenge the entire community to maintain their piety.
Granted Divine Powers
Acolyte of Law (1 Renown)
Those who choose to join Tyr's Church start as Acolytes of Law. Acolytes 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 Acolytes time to pursue their own interests, including adventuring.Solemn Brother/Sister (3 Renown)
Those Acolytes who show promise by earning 3 renown then become Solemn Brothers/Sisters. Brothers and Sisters have access to healing and spellcasting at their churches and are considered allies by lawful governments. Solemn Brothers/Sisters have access to the following resources:- In lawful communities, access to government buildings.
- Brothers and Sisters can requisition a potion of healing, but must gain at least one renown before making the request again.
- Solemn Brothers and Sisters are trained in law and the legal codes of their region, and gain Expertise in skill checks that deal with legal matters.
Lawkeeper (10 Renown)
After working their way up the ranks by earning 10 renown, a Solemn Brother /Sister may be promoted to Lawkeeper. Lawkeepers may request a small single room in any Temple of Tyr. They are considered valuable allies, agents and advisors by lawful governments, and may direct lower-ranking members of the Holy Justices to take combat roles. Lawkeeepers have access to the following resources:- The Lawkeeper 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.
- Lawkeepers gain a sixth sense when dealing with lawbreakers or injustices. This may be a feeling that "something just isn't right" when speaking with a corrupt sheriff, or noticing that a thief's backpack jingles a bit too much.
Vigilant Watcher (25 Renown)
A Lawkeeper who has earned the trust of his commanding officer by earning 25 Renown may be promoted to Vigilant Watcher. Vigilants may request a small private room in a Temple to Tyr. Any member of lesser rank will follow their orders unless it conflicts with an order from their superiors or the tenets of Tyr. They may request the service of personal 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. Vigilant Watchers 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 Justices (unless corrupt), so any requests made will be weighed in that light.
- The Vigilant 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 Vigilant gains a personal squire of half his level who will follow the Vigilant and obey any commands. The squire gains a level every time the Gauntlet gains two levels.
- Once per day, the Vigilant Watcher may mark a lawbreaker or corrupt official with the Mark of Tyr.
Justicar (50 Renown)
A Vigilant who has shown great promise and loyalty may be promoted to Justicar. Justicars may request a suite of rooms in any Temple of Tyr, and are ranking members of the faithful in any interaction with local clerics and paladins. In times of crisis, Justicars have even been known to occupy vacant thrones until a rightful replacement is located. Justicars 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 Justicar's level. The character must negotiate and pay for the outsider’s service, as per the spell.
- Once per week, Justicars may cast a geas spell for the purpose of righting a wrong or changing a corrupt official's behavior. If the spell is used unjustly, it fails.
- The orders of a Justicar are considered to come directly from Tyr (or his heralds). Justicars can use Executive Actions on behalf of the church of Tyr.
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