St. Cuthbert on the Vein
Each of the establishments along the Veins central square trade in the exploitation of human vice or false hope, and the Church of St. Cuthbert is no exception. Within this austere stucco structure, the poorest of Diamond Lake's poor huddle in a torch-lit sanctuary listening to the fiery sermons of Jierian Wierus, a bombastic orator whose populist rants appeal to the best virtues and values of the common man while at the same time preying upon their fears and superstitions. Wierus endlessly preaches a creed of common sense, honesty, and self-sacrifice, encouraging his faithful to give penance to St. Cuthbert by whipping themselves in repetitive acts of self-mortification.
Wierus spends most of his time in seclusion, writing sermons and communicating with his god during intense self-flagellation sessions. Rarely, he pays a personal visit to Jalek's Flophouse to evangelize directly with his flock, usually attracting a dozen or more new converts to his cause each time. Because he is so frequently absent, PCs visiting the church for healing must deal with a secondary acolyte such as the scrupulous Hamenezeer, a cleric who manages the day-to-day affairs of the Church facility and who can nearly always be found within. Hameneezer and an assortment of acolytes also offer healing potions and spellcasting services to the general public at standard rates. Members of the flock receive these boons for half price, so Cuthbert's faithful constantly drone on about the value of regularly attending church services.
Wierus performs three sermons a week; each fills to capacity at least an hour before the high priest arrives and is a rambunctious affair. Not all devotees whip themselves into religious fervor, but enough do that those who abstain mark themselves as outsiders Wierus views new arrivals as thrilling challenges, and tailors his sermons to first-time visitors, urging them to join his growing congregation and reclaim Diamond Lake under the banner of community and strong values. "Dark times is coming," he says, eyes afire, "writhing times. You best be ready when the clouds snuff out the sky.
Type
Temple / Church
Parent Location
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