Church of Heironeous
Heironeous promotes justice, valor, chivalry, and honor. He is worshiped by paladins, good fighters, and good monks. His archenemy is Hextor, his half-brother. His title is the Invincible.
The Creed of the Shield
"The world is a dangerous place that poses a never-ending series of challenges to those who fight for justice and protection of the weak and innocent. One must act honorably at all times, and uphold the virtues of justice and chivalry in word and deed. Danger must be faced with certainty and calm, and glory is the reward for defeating evil, while virtue is the reward for upholding the tenets of Heironeous."Mythology & Lore
Sibling rivalry
Heironeous and his half-brother Hextor were both born to Stern Alia, called the Shield Mother, goddess of Oeridian Culture, Motherhood, and Law. Alia had many lovers, and was often out visiting them even after the births of her sons. When Heironeous was born, his skin was anointed with a special salve called meersalm that made him virtually invulnerable. Hextor was not given this salve, and as a result he was always weaker in battle than his brother.
Even so, at first the brothers were not enemies, though their differing temperaments gradually became clear. When Savnok, a servant of the brothers, stole the armor of Stern Alia and used its power to set up a dictatorship in the mortal world, Hextor's instinct was to hide Savnok's body (after he had killed him with one of his mother's arrows), put the weapons and armor back, and pretend nothing had happened. Heironeous' instincts were to tell the truth to his mother and face the consequences, but his desire to protect his weaker brother caused him to uncomfortably acquiesce to the scheme.
As they grew older, their opposite natures made them rivals. Frustrated at his relative weakness, Hextor made a bargain with the Lords of Evil, gaining two new pairs of arms grafted on to his torso. From then on, he and Heironeous were equals in combat.
Initially, their rivalry was viewed as healthy for the Oeridian culture. The followers of the respective gods would struggle to outdo one another, to prove that their respective philosophies were superior. This would drive the culture as a whole to greater and greater heights. Since the Turmoil Between Crowns (437–446 CY), a civil war in the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, the faith of Heironeous has been marginalized there, powerful champions of Heironeous have defected to Nyrond and other neighboring states, and the two brothers have become patrons of different nations locked in hatred for one another.
The Chalice of Heironeous
What is probably the nadir of their rivalry is told in a secret myth known only to the highest echelons of the Order of the Chalice, a branch of the knights of Heironeous. Most believe the Chalice to be a powerful relic of Heironeous's faith somehow lost to Dispater. The masters of the order, the Lightning Councilors, know that the Chalice of Heironeous is actually the daughter of Heironeous, a young goddess-angel kidnapped by Hextor and given over to Dispater in order to shirk responsibility for his deed. The Order of the Chalice was founded a thousand years ago in order to find a way to rescue the Chalice and reunite her with her father.
Tenets of Faith
Heironeous expects his followers to uphold the highest ideals of chivalry and justice and to treat adversity as a challenge to be met and overcome, just as evil should be overcome. The world is a dangerous place where those who fight for justice and who protect the weak and the innocent face a never-ending series of challenges. He exhorts his followers to act honorably at all times, and to uphold the virtues of justice and chivalry with deeds, not just words. Those who face danger with certainty and calm will prevail against evil, Heironeous advises.
Heironeous sees the world as a deadly place, filled with perpetual challenges and trials for those who battle for justice and defend the weak and innocent. His followers should always act with honor and chivalry, and to uphold justice. Danger is to be faced head-on, with calm and resolve. Those who defeat evil are rewarded with Glory, while those who uphold the tenets of the Arch-paladin are rewarded with Virtue. The Arch-paladin's teachings have been codified in a chivalric code known as the Heironean Code.
The Heironean Code
The Heironean Code consists of three sets of duties:
- Duty to the People. This duty stresses courage, justice, mercy, valor, protection of the weak, and faithfulness to church superiors or officers of righteous law.
- Duty to the Arch-paladin. This duty stresses obedience to Heironeous himself, devotion to the church, generosity, championing good against evil, putting the needs of the church and the faith above those of mortals.
- Duty to a Lady. This duty pertains to the concept of courtly love, devotion to one's beloved, and respect toward all women in general.
Worship
Heironean services and holy texts are all in the Old Oeridian language. Services to Heironeous include triumphant battle hymns, offerings to copper statues of the god, and the sharing of hearty, strengthening foods such as meat, full-bodied red wine (in moderation), and spiced, stewed, kara-fruit.
These servuses are usally held on Godsday. The most unique features of the church of Heironeous is the Exchange of Blows and the weekly grange night. The Arch-paladin teaches that all should be ready to fight against evil, thus whenever a member of the faithful enters a new city they are taught to make their way to the nearest grange to where they will be staying. Once there they are put onto the grange rolls so that the Marshal has an idea of whom they can summon and what kind of force they will muster if necessary; as part of checking in the Marshal tests the new arrivals combat prowess. This ritual of beating each other up has been seen by some as rather barbaric but it is a deeply important act to all Heironians. Grange night is every Starday and is when Yeoman and all faithful train in the granges.
The Tests of Valor
Before advancing in rank, priests of Heironeous must clearly demonstrate their bravery, honor, and sense of justice. The exact nature of these tests varies, but they are revealed through prayer and divinely-inspired visions. They can range from tests of fortitude that can be completed within the temple to crusades against the forces of evil.
Holy Days
The church of Heironeous celebrates only a few major holy days, which usually mark the anniversaries of great battles, significant triumphs over evil, and visitations by the Archpaladin.
- Communion is observed on the 10th of Sunsebb. It is a day of quiet introspection.
- The Day of Just Rebellion. This holy day, held late in Coldeven, commemorates the battles fought to free Almor from the oppressive rule of the Great Kingdom.
- The Feast of Edoira. An interfaith celebration exclusive to the Domain of Greyhawk, Heironeans occasionally join Pelorians and Raoans in observing this holy day, which occurs on the 4th of Growfest.
- Fortnight's Feast. This two-week event lasts from late Wealsun to early Reaping, and celebrates the victories of the Heironean armies of the Kingdom of Aerdy over Nyrondal cavalry during the Battle of a Fortnight's Length.
- Justday, held on the 20th of Coldeven, is a time when each worshipper of Heironeous is expected to right some injustice. This can range from apologizing for minor misdeeds to attempting to liberate the Wild Coast from the Empire of Turrosh Mak.
- Newmass, celebrated on the first day of Fireseek, is when Heironeans celebrate the new year. They spend it reflecting on the past year and giving one another gifts.
- St. Ferrante's Day is observed on the last day of Patchwall. The likeness of Ferrante is paraded about, candy is thrown at children, and much food is consumed.
- Valormight. Held on one of the last days in Ready'reat, this holy day predates the founding of the Great Kingdom. Valormight commemorates a ten-month war in which Heironean forces are said to have been outnumbered six to one by Hextorians, yet still managed to confine the Hextorians to the lands east of the Flanmi River.
Priesthood
Heironeous' church is very militaristic, championing causes and crusading to eliminate evils and enemies. The religious hierarchy of Heironeous is organized like a military order. It has a clear chain of command, lines of supply, and wellstocked armories. His clerics travel the world, fighting causes dictated by church commanders. Older clerics work as judges, strategists, and military instructors. Many of the most powerful clerics of Heironeous have themselves embalmed alive with secret Meersalm solution to gain its protective benefits, although some have not survived the process.
Clerics
Many of Heironeous's clerics begin their training as pages to a cleric or paladin of Heironeous, absorbing the code of chivalry as they see it lived before their very eyes. Pages that show promise become squires and then full-fledged clerics. The traditional chivalric quests are the bread and butter of a follower of Heironeous. They joust against the mysterious Black Knight, rescue the princess from the dragon, and lead the vanguard of a shining army of good.
Novices of Heironeous are known as the Blessed. Full priests are called the Glorious or, collectively, the Valorous Host. Other titles used by Heironian priests are Hero of the Third Rank, Hero of the Second Rank, Hero of the First Rank, Champion of Glory, Knight Gallant, Knight Courageous, Knight Valiant, and Knight Champion. Senior priests are called Paragons, while those who command armies are known as Paragon-Generals. These titles are separate from duty-titles such as postulant, novitiate, professed priest, cloistered cleric, affirmed priest, and templar. They are also separate from ranks within the temple hierarchy such as hierodeacon and abbot. In everyday use, senior priests are called Father or Mother, while lesser priests are known as Brother or Sister. There is also an elite order of priests known as the gloryaxes.
Priestly vestments include chain mail and blue robes with silver trim. Priests wear metal armor and robes of dark blue with silver trim indicating their station. Heironeous's followers are eager to recognize bravery, chivalry, and other battlefield virtues in medals or other decorations given from the clergy to a warrior—sometimes posthumously. The religious hierarchy of Heironeous is organized like a military order, having a clear chain of command, lines of supply, and well-stocked armories.
Paladins
Large numbers of paladins in the Flanaess follow Heironeous, as he himself is one. Because of this, and his utter dedication to Law and Good, paladins of Heironeous can be among the most devout, albeit overbearing, people on the Material Plane. The ancient Oeridian hero Arnd of Tdon is credited with establishing the first order of paladins among the Oeridian tribes before the Great Migrations. The hero-deity Murlynd was also paladin of Heironeous, and his order of White Paladins is actually part of Heironeous's ecclesiastical hierarchy. Saint Handraleo the Swift, another paladin, is honored by a group of Heironeans called the Order of the True Strike.
Prominent paladins of Heironeous include Artur Jakartai, Belvor IV, and Karistyne. It is claimed by his church that St. Cuthbert was the first paladin in the Flanaess and that he assisted the church of Heironeous and Pelor before the Great Migrations. The church does not disagrees with the followers of St. Cuthbert but they always make sure to point out, the first mortal paladin in the Flanaess.
Temples
A typical temple to Heironeous looks like a fortified castle. Most feature a large, grassy area where knights can joust and soldiers can drill. Places of worship of Heironeous are usually adorned with blue trappings, silver, and occasionally windows of colored glass depicting scenes of Heironeous triumphant. They are decorated with blue and silver trappings, and often scenes of Heironeous triumphant in stained glass or tapistry. A copper statue of the deity, armed with a silver battle axe and covered in silver mail, with seven silver bolts radiating from behind his head, typically stands behind the altar. Most temples provide healing and other magical services for those fighting the common enemies.
Heironeous’ church is the favored state religion of Nyrond and the Shield Lands, and his faith is also strong in Bissel, Furyondy, Gran March, the Free City of Irongate, Keoland, Sterich, and the Duchy of Urnst. Notable houses of worship include the Sanctum of Heironeous in Greyhawk City, as well as a chapel at Diamond Lake. The Kingdom of Thalland was once a major center of Heironeous’ faith; but since the building of the Great High Tempel in Pale, a gift of friendship by the church of Pelor, that has been the offical head of the faith.
There are several temples to Heironeous in Chendl, but the most prominent one is called the Spire of Glory, whose Marshal is Glorylord Marshal Gaeraeth Heldenster.
The Shield Reclaimed is a great cathedral in Critwall. It has only just begun to be rebuilt after being destroyed by the forces of Iuz during the Greyhawk Wars. Its Marshal is Hero of the First Rank Marshal Roderick Docamald.
Sects
The church of Heironeous is supported by numerous religious-military orders, some of which can trace their origins back to the church armies of the Great Kingdom (though none swear allegiance to the Malachite Throne or its successors today). Prominent examples include the Order of the Shining Sword, the Brotherhood of the Lance Unbroken, and the Copper Crusaders.
The Holy Order of the Supernal Topaz Defenders, or the Topaz Order for short, is an organization of Heironean clerics, paladins, fighters, fighter/clerics, and monks dedicated to purging the world of evil, aberrant races such illithids, beholders, grell, aboleths, and neogi. Their emblem is a brilliant yellow topaz on a field of cobalt blue.
Although this is uncommon, there are also orders of Heironean fighting-monks. The most famous is the Order of the Glory Everlasting, led by a former nobleman named Luther. The Order of the Glory Everlasting is dedicated to the preservation of Oeridian culture and the destruction of an order of Hextorian monks called the Brotherhood of the Gray Hand.
The most famous group of Heironean knights, however, are the Knights of Holy Shielding.
Knightly Heironean Orders:
- The Vigilant Order of the Bolt
- The Order of the Chalice
- The Order of the Copper Crusaders
- The Righteous Order of the Glory Everlasting
- The Pious Knights of Holy Shielding
- The Brotherhood of the Lance Unbroken
- The Sacred Order of the Plate
- The Order of the Protecting Fist
- The Holy Order of the Righteous Scales
- The Sacred Brotherhood of the Shining Sword
- The Holy Order of the Supernal Topaz Defenders
- The Order of the True Strike
- The Sacred Order of the White Paladins – Retired Paladins Only
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Alternative Names
The Invincible, The Valorous Knight, The Archpaladin
Demonym
Heironeians
Location
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