Tempus

Tempus

Tempus (pronounced: /ˈtɛmpʌs/ TEM-pus), also known as the Lord of Battles, is the god of war. His dogma is primarily concerned with honorable battle, forbidding cowardice, and encouraging the use of force of arms to settle disputes.

History

Origin

Tempus was originally one of many potential war gods who emerged from the primordial clashes between Selûne and Shar. These gods fought constantly with each other, the victors absorbing the essence and power of those defeated. This continued until Tempus stood as the sole god of war in the Faerûnian pantheon, having defeated and absorbed all of his competitors (with the notable exception of Garagos, whom he defeated but spared). The barbarians of Icewind Dale claim that Tempus' original name was "Tempos".

The Time of Troubles

In the Time of Troubles of the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, Tempus' avatar appeared in a ruined castle in Battledale, just over five miles southwest of Essembra. Immediately following the Godswar, Eldan Ambrose, an Amnian cleric of Tempus, saw Tempus during a battle in Swords Creek. After the fighting ended, Ambrose followed his god's trail back to Battledale, and found the castle (which originally belonged to Belarus, a long-dead Tempuran). In the ruins of the great hall, Ambrose had a vision confirming the site as sacred to the Foehammer. Ambrose and his allies rebuilt the castle, establishing the Abbey of the Sword.

Relationships

Deities

Tempus is served by the Red Knight, deity of strategy and war planning; Valkur, god of seaboard warfare; and Uthgar, patron of the Uthgardt barbarians of the Sword Coast North. He opposes and is opposed by Garagos, who was formerly known as Targus and worshiped as the god of war in the fallen empire of Netheril until Tempus defeated him and claimed his station, reducing the greater god of war to the demigod Garagos. Tempus has slain many other deities aspiring to be the god of war in the past, and it is not certain why he tolerated Garagos's continued existence, having already defeated him once. Some scholars believe that Tempus' dislike of mindless slaughter and bloodlust prompted him to spare Garagos so that he could represent those more vicious aspects of war, rather than Tempus taking them on himself. This is supported by the fact that the Tempuran liturgy stress honorable combat, not wanton destruction. Sune saw Tempus as her enemy because of the destruction that wars wreak upon beautiful things and people, but Tempus does not consider her worth the conflict. Despite the fact that Tempus' dogma is diametrically opposed to that of Eldath and he considers her naive for her pacifist outlook, he has commanded his followers to not harm those of the goddess of peace, seeing that war was meaningless without peace following, and he punishes followers who disobeyed that command. Tempus is known as "the Butcher" to the followers of Eilistraee.

Worshipers

Faerûn is a violent land, and thus from sheer number of worshipers, Tempus is one of the mightiest deities in the Realms. Nearly everyone who has drawn a sword or nocked an arrow has fought alongside a cleric of the Foehammer, and just as many have fought against one. Temples to the Lord of Battle look more like military fortresses than the archetypal temple. They feature barracks, mess halls, armories, and training grounds.
Due to its tendency to have followers and priests on both sides of any engagement, the church of Tempus has no central authority that might support one side or the other exclusively. Within a given temple or order, however, there is a strict hierarchy and chain of command.

Orders

Order of the Broken Blade

The Order of the Broken Blade honors those warriors and clergy who can no longer fight at their best. They continue to serve Tempus by working at shrines and temples. 

Order of the Steel Fang

The Order of the Steel Fang are an elite group that takes on the most dangerous missions. Their leaders are battle-tested members of the clergy.

Hierarchy

All clergymen of Tempus are known as "Hammers". Each Hammer receives their own ceremonial armor, depending on their rank. Hammers are broken down further into ranks:

• Acolyte: The lowest in the hierarchy, they wear leather jackets and baldrics
• Stalwart: Priests, they wear chainmail
• Hardhar: Warrior-priests, they wear breastplates and bracers
• Arahar: Battle-chaplains, they wear splint mail
• Rauthat: Swordmasters, they wear plate mail with shoulder spikes
• Direhar: Guardian priests, they wear full plate
• Warlyon: High priests, they wear gilded magic plate mail that enables flight

Dogma

Tempus' orders to all combatants are simple and direct

Be fearless. Never turn away from a fight. Obey the rules of war.

Rituals

The words "Tempus thanks you" are used by the deity's faithful in conjunction with the response "and I thank Tempus" to indicate the completion of a deed that will please Tempus.