Iomedae

LG goddess of Honor, Justice, Rulership and Valor

The Inheritor (a.k.a. The Light of the Sword, The Lightbringer)

Justice and Honor are a heavy burden for the righteous. We carry this weight so that the weak may grow strong and the meek grow brave.

-The Acts of Iomedae

Iomedae, the youngest among the prominent deities of the Tengaria, had already proven herself worthy of divinity before her ascension. Born in Taldor during the Age of Darkness, she followed the path of the sword and fought evil, eventually becoming a paladin of the Shining Crusade. She became a legend among the Shining Crusade, leading the Knights of Ozem in a series of victories over the the forces of Trigon. Iomedae became the seventh, and most recent, known mortal to pass attain divnity, when she ascended to divinity in Year 208 of the sixth age when she slew Trigon at the battle of Darmish, effectivly ending the Age of Darkness. As Aroden had been slain during the the Age of Darkness, Iomedae inherited most of his worshippers (and took his place among The Seven) and became a major deity of honor and justice.

Iomedae’s followers heed her call to take up arms against evil and fight wickedness for the majority of their lives. This may take the form of physical combat against the likes of fiends, undead, and other sinister creatures, but devotion to the Inheritor also manifests as individuals fighting against adversity, oppression, or injustice through their own personal methods. Wherever courage, righteousness, and valor are needed, Iomedae’s followers thrive. Iomedae is popular among lawful good adventurers, and those who worship her sometimes show their faith by wearing a thin white chasuble over their normal adventuring gear.

The Inheritor does not see herself as deity of war, but she places great value on prowess at arms and is patron to many military orders, and her saints are known for their combat skill. As the only woman who has ascended to divinity, she offers a haven for women fleeing from cruel partners, slave masters, and other oppressors. Many of these women grow to become skilled knights in their own right or earn positions of great influence within her church.

Iomedae’s favored weapon is the longsword, and while it is not required of them, many of her priests and champions refuse to use any other weapon. In fact, swords are so important to her faith that they are engraved on the wedding rings of the faithful, and the dead are buried with small sword tokens or even just a scrap of paper marked with a sword. They eschew the practice of burying an actual sword with the dead, however; swords are instead passed down to a family member or a student who has need of them, or are donated to a temple for use by priests and holy knights. The only exception is when a sword has become damaged beyond repair or where magic or some other influence keeps the sword tied to its wielder. Even in these cases, such swords have a habit of turning up in moments of great need, as if Iomedae herself charged it with continuing its duties. Armor is of similar importance to Iomedaeans, and they are rarely buried in their armor. Many bequeath suits of armor to loved ones so they can continue to serve Iomedae’s cause.

Priests of Iomedae often travel, usually with a circle: a group of 10 to 50 individuals under the charge of a sword knight. Many priests serve on the front lines of battle, directly combating evils themselves or aiding others who share their cause. Priests in cities keep their ears tuned for crime and work to stamp it out. Those who can’t endure the rigors of battle or choose a more peaceful path often work in courtrooms, serve as advisors to nobles and local leaders, or train the next generation of crusaders. Iomedae’s churches are rarely staffed directly by champions, clerics, or priests, as most prefer to remain active in their work. Instead, layfolk and acolytes serve at most churches within cities, though some crusaders become the wards of shrines and temples in more remote regions.

Relations with Other Religions

Iomedae is on good terms with Abadar, Cayden Cailean, Erastil, Sarenrae, Shelyn, and Torag, holding common interests with each of them. Of these, she particularly appreciates Abadar for civilization's formalized systems of justice, Sarenrae for her righteous fervor, and Torag for his military expertise. She does not deal with fiends of any status, has little to do with evil deities. To all other deities she is indifferent, hoping to inspire them to great deeds but not setting her plans aside to do so.


Iomedae's faithful are eager to aid members of other good faiths in any organized attempts to stamp out evil or mediate conflicts, and while most attempt not to be overbearing about it, they are certainly willing to try to sway prospective converts to the path of the Inheritor. Privately, many find followers of Sarenrae and Torag most rewarding to work with; Sarenrae's faith includes a healthy contingent of holy crusaders, and the practical military expertise of Torag's followers comes in handy in a fight. Her church treats the remaining worshipers of Aroden with kindness, but it's leavened with a strong dose of pity such as one might feel for an elderly parent whose mind has gone.

Holy Books & Codes

Much of her faith surrounds a document called the Acts of Iomedae, which details 11 miracles she performed as a mortal paladin. All of these miracles happened before she became a goddess, and provide evidence and examples of the greatness within each person should they adopt the Inheritor's belief in honor, valor, and justice. Individual churches usually keep a ledger of names of local heroes and saints, important battles that took place nearby, and inspirational tales that reinforce the ideals of the faith. Given the relative newness of Iomedae's faith, there are no myths associated with her, at least none commonly accepted as fact by the entire church; the truth of the Acts takes the place of myths of the faith.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Edicts: be temperate, fight for justice and honor, hold valor in your heart
Anathema:  Abandon a companion in need, dishonor yourself, refuse a challenge from an equal.
Follower Alignments: LG, NG

Holidays

Iomedae (and, therefore, her holy days) have been around for only a little more than a millennium, and her church's detailed records contain accounts of the first celebrations of many of her holidays. In addition to these faith-wide events, and those inherited from the church of Aroden,the church has records of countless battles and slayings of named monsters, any of which might be mentioned in weekly sermons but aren't quite important enough to merit their own holiday.

The Inheritor's Ascendance: Originally called Slayers's Day, this festival on 1st of Shelith (August) honors the day Iomedae slew Trigon at the battle of Cassomir and ended the Age of Darkness, boosting her beyond the power of a mere mortal. It was renamed after her full ascendance to the Seven in year 5 of the Seventh Age.
Armasse: Observed on 16th Shelith (August), this is traditionally a day to train commoners in the use of simple weapons, choose squires for knights, and ordain new priests, though in recent decades it has begun to include jousts, duels, and proud celebrations. When Aroden was alive it was also a day to discuss past human wars and study the lessons of history with regard to how they shape the modern day.
Day of the Inheritor: This somber day of remembrance on 19th of Arbadius(September)  marks the day when Iomedae formally invited all members of Aroden's fallen church to join her faith. This also marks the day in which Iomedae took Aroden's place among the dieties of The Seven. Celebration of this holiday is increasingly rare throughout the Tengaria, and likely to fade away entirely in another human generation.
Remembrance Moon: This national holiday celebrated on the 1st of Desnus (July) in Kingdom of Taldor  and The Free Cities commemorates those who died in the Shining Crusade against Trigon, and the church of Iomedae honors it as well due to the goddess's role in those events.

Aphorisms

Iomedaeans use a number of battle cries to inspire valor on the battlefield, but they also share a number of phrases to spread the Inheritor’s wisdom.
A used blade never dulls: The phrase serves as a reminder to keep one’s body ready and one’s mind sharp, as challenges can rise at any moment.
For victory, for the heart: This prayer refers to striking to the heart to ensure death. It is often used as a battle cry, but less warlike followers might use it at any time they are doing something which requires accuracy, such as cutting down a tree.
[Their] cloak turned red: When Iomedae goes into battle, her cloak changes from white to red. This phrase evokes that imagery and is used in reference to a knight or priest who embarks on the warpath, whether by literally entering battle or more figuratively against threats to the church, or even simply against an acolyte who has played a prank.

Religions

• Gods of Tengaria
• The Seven

Date of Birth

16th of Shelith, Year 174 of the Sixth Age

Year of Birth

34 BCA 6232 Years old

Birthplace

Adeldheid of @dulan