Church of Tempus

The Church of Tempus was the collective group of individuals that called upon Tempus the god of war as their patron deity. It was one of the most prolific religions in the Realms, and one that attracted people from all walks of life across Toril. Its members engaged many wars without specific affiliation to one government or another.

Base of Operations

Regions

Worship of Tempus was prominent among the peoples of Amn, Chessenta, Cormyr, the Dalelands, Damara, Dambrath, the Dragon Coast, Icewind Dale, the Moonshae Isles Narfell the Nelanther Isles, the North, the Ride, the Shaar, the Sword Coast, Threskel, Unther, the Vast, the Vilhon Reach, Waterdeep, and the Western Heartlands.

Places of Worship

Temples dedicated to the Lord of Battle tended to resemble military fortresses rather than actual places of worship. Shrines were often adorned with shattered weapons, damaged armor, or even the heads of recently-slain monsters.

An altar to Tempus was also set up within each temple of the Red Knight.

Notable Shrines & Temples

Notable temples of Tempus included:

• Abbey of the Sword, the temple in Battledale that marked the location where Tempus arrived in the Realms during the Time of Troubles.
• Beacon of Battle, a small temple in the Qhibal Sabban of Calimport that recruited new members from among the city's gladiators.
• High House of Swords and Banners, also known as the "Bloodhall" in Ormpetarr in the Vilhon Reach.
• Hold of Battle Lions, the ruins of a small but significant shrine found in Dragonspear Castle.
• House of Heroes, the local temple in Waterdeep that drew members from combatants of the Field of Triumph.
• House of War, the imposing fortress-temple found in the city of Ravens Bluff.
• Towers of the Vengeful Hand, the lucrative and influential holy house found in Eshpurta in Amn.

Other temples could be found in Archenbridge, Bezantur, Calimport (in addition to the Beacon of Battle), Glister, Hillsfar, Luskan, Monksblade, Mulmaster, Proskur, Tantras, and Yûlash, and Zhentil Keep.

Shrines could be found in Arabel, Berdusk, Calaunt, Daggerford, Dolselar, Elturel, the Golden Fortress academy in Eshpurta, Essembra, Good Mead, Halfhap, Highcastle, Hill's Edge, Iriaebor, Saerloon, Melvaunt, Newfort, Scardale Town, Shadowdale town, Suzail, Swordpoint in Arkhen Vale, Tasseldale, Thentia, Thunderstone, Urmlaspyr, Voonlar, and Wyvernhunt.

Relationships

Distinct conflict arose between Tempus' Waterdhavian clergy and the city's worshipers of Shar.

Following the decline of the Untheric pantheon, the Tempuran church maintained a rivalrous relationship with the church of Anhur. Each organization competed with one another for faithful that sought to venerate a patron of martial combat.

The church's dogma was diametrically opposed to that of the Eldath's faithful.

Structure

While there was no chief authority within Tempus' church, it maintained a disciplined and militaristic hierarchy.

Titles

Befitting an organization that extolled the virtues of warfare, the church bestowed upon its members military-style ranks and titles. Clergy members often referred to one another as 'Hammers', a name derived from the saying: "the small, hammering hands of the Foehammer".

As of the mid–14th century DR, these included, in descending order: Lord/Lady of the Field, Swordmaster/mistress, Battlelord/lady, Shield of the God, Lance of the Lord, Terrible Sword, Swung Sword, and Warpriest. Higher rank could be achieved by distinct service to the church, when necessary in times of need, or temporarily when it was deemed necessary.

Additional titles associated with a specific role in the church were put in these ranks when appropriate. The title of Warlyon, or Trusted Sword, was bestowed upon the heads of Tempus' temples and Arahar, or Battle Chaplain, was give to clergy members that oversaw his shrines.

Circa the late 15th century, the title of Direhar was used for guardian-priests, Rauthar for swordmasters, Hardhar for warrior-priests, and Stalwart for other priests.

Members

Tempus was worshiped by several tribal communities across the Realms, including the Reghedmen of Icewind Dale (as Tempos), the Northlanders of the Moonshae Isles, the Nars people of Narfell, and the Uthgardt of the Savage Frontier. It was among these communities that tribal shamans, rather than priests, served as spiritual leaders of Tempus' faith.

The faith attracted many mercenaries from across the Realms.

History

In the Year of the Saddle, 1345 DR, Waterdhavian clergy of Tempus engaged in a brief religious conflict with the churches of Shar, Lathander, and Selûne.

Clerics of Tempus fought alongside local Dalesfolk when Battledale came under threat of occupation by the drow of Clan Auzkovyn in the Year of the Unstrung Harp, 1371 DR.

Tenets of Faith

" Only time and Tempus know who shall prevail. "

Common Tempuran saying.

Beliefs

Followers of Tempus believed their god did not achieve victory in war, rather provided aid for those that were deserving of it. Warfare was a natural force of the world, the great equalizer of the mortals of the Realms. For during battle, any mortal could be just as easily slain as they could achieve greatness and glory.

They believed Tempus honoured those that engaged in honourable warfare and did not succumb to cowardly or shameful tactics such as terrorizing innocents, performing torture, utilizing poisons, or committing outright slaughter.
While in battle, Tempuran faithful often called out the names of their fellow clergymen that had previously been slain, or otherwise were forced to retire from a life of active combat.

Attitudes

While they were stalwart in their beliefs, and would readily defend their faith in battle, Tempus' clergy did not engage in war without reason, or when they felt there was no chance of victory. A swift, decisive battle was much more preferable over a long, drawn-out engagement. They felt the consequences of engaging in war should be carefully considered before initiating the first battle. At the same time, those that attempted to avoid conflict, either by fleeing or attempts at parlay, were cowards among the most harmful to all of civilization.

Worshipers of Tempus always honoured the dead that fell in battles past. Their names were to be recorded after every battle, for future inclusion in the March of the Dead. Gratuitous destruction was never acceptable under any circumstances.

Military Orders

• Order of the Broken Blade, a order composed of former Tempuran warriors and other clergy that were unable to effectively fight in battle.
• Order of the Steel Fang, an elite fighting group often dispatched by the church to the deadliest assignments across the Realms.

Alignment
Any
Race(s)
Dragonborn, hagspawn, half-orcs, human (predominantly), shadar-kai

Type

Religious, Sect

Demonym

Tempuran

Permeated Organizations

• Ten Towns

Deities

• Tempus