The Order of the Great Mother of Mercy
The Order of the Great Mother of Mercy is the only holy order within Maya's cult that accept both men and women as clergy. Clerics in this order often serve as chaplains that accompany the militant clerics of Ator's Ordo Iustitae into battle. While their primary function is pastoral care, it is important to note that clerics of the Great Mother are not necessarily pacifists, as they understand that sometimes the most merciful act one can perform is a coup de grâce.
Tenets of Faith
In her aspect as the Great Mother of Mercy, Maya is seen as the source for all benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in the world. Serving as a counterpart to her husband's (Ator) concern with justice and vengeance, Maya exhorts her devoted to show compassion and forbearance upon those who have offended or under one's power. To promote Maya and her faith, those of the Ordo Magna Mater Misericordiae devote themselves to the following:
- Feeding, clothing, and sheltering those in need
- Comforting the afflicted and imprisoned
- Ensuring all receive the dignity a proper funeral
- Advocate the granting of forgiveness to all who sincerely repent.
Ethics
Observations
- Feeding, clothing, and sheltering those in need (+1)
- Comforting the afflicted and imprisoned (+1)
- Freeing the unjustly imprisoned and the enslaved (+2)
- Ensuring all receive the dignity a proper funeral (+1)
- Advocate the granting of forgiveness to all who sincerely repent (+1)
- Only dealing subduing damage to humanoid creatures (+2)
- Only dealing subduing damage to all living creatures (+4)
Prohibitions
- Violating one's vow of chasity before marriage at Level 9
- Violating one's vow of poverty
- Slaying a defenseless foe
- Slaughtering livestock or consuming slaughtered meat
- Using an edged or pointed weapon
- Buying or selling slaves
- Willfully performing acts of sadism
- Refusing to alleviate someone's suffering when having the ability to do so
Priesthood
Requirements of the Priesthood:
- Devotions (30 minutes daily)
- Guidance (often advises courts on sentencing, must serve as advocate for accused, everyday guidance on ethical problems)
- Marriage (performs marriages)
- Missions (conversion, accompanying soldiers of the faith, recovery of artifacts)
- Vigilance (corruption, libel)
- Church Trial (Ecclesiastical court)
- Tithes
- May not wear metal armor
- Must marry fellow Priest/Priestess of Maya by Level 9
- Must use blunt weapons
- Must wear ecclesiastical robes in public
- Must remain chaste and tonsured until marriage
- May not slaughter livestock or eat slaughtered meat (pescatarianism)
Granted Divine Powers
Gifts
Omnis Commiserandum Est
