Church of Elowyn

Roleplaying Notes

Followers of Elowyn tend to be gentle, kind, and loving. They are always willing to help others–with food, clothing, a helping hand, etc. They tend to avoid violence, preferring mediation, and some have chosen a path of pacifism (but not all). They abhor cruelty and oppression, and will often be found working alongside clergy of Eosphorus and Kallias to free those under their thumb (this could be leading out those escaping, fighting on the front lines, feeding/aiding refugees, etc).

Mythology & Lore

Legendary Items Associated with Elowyn

Elowyn’s Gown
The gown Elowyn wore when she was murdered by Akmon. It is a white gown stained with fresh red blood. It cannot be cleaned. If an attacker hits a person wearing this gown, their own armor/clothing is stained red and cannot be cleaned.
AC: +3
Resistance: Necrotic, Fire

If the wearer is knocked unconscious by an attack or spell, a blast of healing light surrounds them. The wearer immediately regains 1 hit point and is lifted to their feet. The wearer cannot use this ability again until the next dawn.

Tenets of Faith

The Duties of the Clerics of Elowyn

Aid those in need - the unhoused, the hungry, the poor
Seek peace - assist in mediation and negotiation
Defy Akmon and Tanith - if there are ways to subvert and free those under their thumb, the Acolytes delight in aiding them

There are few rules in the church, however the few they do follow are of the utmost importance:

• Kindness is everything
• All creatures are worthy of respect
• First, seek peace

Forbidden to Elowyn

Oppression and cruelty are anathema to followers of Elowyn

Sacred to Elowyn

Pursuing peace, showing kindness, helping those in need, defying Akmon and Tanith

Typical offerings

Actions are far more important than material goods to Elowyn. Offers of food given to the hungry, aid given to the oppressed, kindness shown to those outcast is what you will see, rather than physical goods left at statues.

Worship

Major Areas of Worship

Elowyn is not a primary deity of worship for any specific country and thus has no major temples. She is mostly worshiped in the communes of her acolytes and followers, or prayed to by those who seek her help wherever they might be.

Holidays

Ascension Day - the day Elowyn was granted divinity by Kelesta
This is a day of feasting, where all in the city/village are invited to come partake of a great meal cooked by the Acolytes. A special sweet, mulled red wine is served with the meal (the recipe is only known to them and is made within the commune).
Vernal Equinox - the first day of spring
This is a day of new hope, new growth, and renewal as the world begins to wake after the long winter. Followers share their hopes, dreams, and new resolutions for the coming season in a ceremony at dawn.

Common Sayings and Blessings

Many blessings or sayings are similar to those found in Buddhism.
“Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.”
“Give, even if you only have a little.”
“Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.”
“Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.”
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Priesthood

Head of the Church

All followers of Elowyn consider Elowyn herself to be the true leader of the church, as she was once mortal and later raised to divinity.
Aside from that, each commune is its own individual entity and no Acolyte is considered to be above another. This holds true in any large gatherings of multiple communes as well.
The Acolytes often live in little communes set at the outskirts of cities or towns.

Ranks within the Church

There are simply two ranks within the church. Novice and Acolyte. Those new to the church are considered Novices until they complete their training (which focuses on ensuring they have the right temperament for the church), at which point they become Acolytes. There is no ‘ladder-climbing’, nor precepts of seniority. All voices are considered equal.
There is no militant arm of the church in an official capacity, though sometimes Acolytes join in to aid priests of Eosphorus or Kallias on missions to assist those abandoned and needing help or to free those oppressed under the thumb of Akmon or Tanith.
While not true pacifists, followers of Elowyn generally try to avoid violence and seek peace in all things.
Clerics, Bards, Druids and Monks tend to be the most heavily represented among Elowyn’s followers

Clothing

Acolytes and novices tend toward simple clothing. They spend their days helping others and have no need of intricate garb. The only distinction is that Novices wear the holy symbol of a gravestone with a candle atop it while full Acolytes wear a gravestone with rays of light shining from it.
On the rare occasions that formal dress is required, Acolytes wear white robes edged in burgundy with dark red beads stitched along the hems and beads hanging from the sleeves, representing dripping blood. Novices wear plain white robes with a burgundy belt.

Membership Restrictions

None whatsoever, so long as they show kindness to others and willingness to aid those abandoned and alone.

Typical Types of Followers

Anyone who seeks a kinder world, who prefers to avoid violence, who believes all are worthy of redemption and love

Political Influence & Intrigue

Interaction with Society

Community gardens - The communes have gardens/farms where the Acolytes grow food and raise livestock and allow those in need to take from them
Soup kitchens - Acolytes use the food/livestock in their communes to make meals to feed the poor, often having at least one, if not more, soup kitchen in larger cities, and running it from the commune in smaller towns and villages
Shelters - They build/offer shelter, blankets, and clothing to the unhoused, abused women and children, and those in need. This includes animal shelters, and the communes often have quite a few domesticated animals roaming around.
Underground Railroad (lesser) - if there are people in need of aid to escape their oppressors, Acolytes are often there to help, working alongside priests of Eosphorus and Kallias
Mediation (lesser) - some Acolytes are specially trained in mediation, though this is typically a task for Loreali’s clergy. This is usually between individuals with small disputes in places where there is no temple or priests of Loreali nearby.

Ceremonies

In smaller towns they are often asked to aid with welcoming the spring as part of larger ceremonies and feasts on the Vernal Equinox

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Leader

Elowyn, Goddess of Rebirth

Divines

• Elowyn, Goddess of Rebirth

Controlled Territories

• Novandria Commune of Elowyn

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Religions of Terranon