Pallavia is host to many religions. Temples, churches, circles, and other places of worship are common in towns and villages wherever there are enough worshippers to justify it. The crown does not subsidize any religions, so the groups must raise funds on their own.
The organization of each religion is typically more complex than described here, with priests and various servants at all levels. While anyone ordained within a particular church could tell you all about these roles, the notes here skip over such minutae.
Most religions whose adherents do good works are sanctioned to practice in public. Members of non-sanctioned religions must worship in secret or face mild punishment. The penalty for practicing a non-sanctioned religion is tyipcally a small fine, but egregious or repeat offenders can eventually suffer banishment.
To become sanctioned, priests must petition the king and, with his approval, agree to two stipulations: a tax on the church’s earnings, and an oath not to raise arms against the king.
A few religions are completely banned and their worship is prohibited under pain of death or banishment. Most such banned religions are outright evil, preach sedition against Pallavia, or participated in an act of treason at some point in the past.
| Alignment: | Neutral Good, leaning Lawful Good |
| Domains: | Good, Knowledge, Water |
| Followers: | Seredozhists |
| Status: | Sanctioned, common |
Holy symbol is the World Book: an open book on a flat surface, with a half-circle domed overhead
The church of Seredozhia is the official church of the realm, with the king and his court as parishioners. Indeed, King Edward II is blessed by Seredozhia to bring about miracles in her name.
Seredozhia’s church preaches a doctrine of creation and good works through knowledge. Its rise has led to a dramatic increase in the literacy rate among the people of the capitol city, Thalis. The church raises money through donations, which funds the clergy and academic outreach programs. Every college in Pallavia has benefitted from the church of Seredozhia.
Since King Edward is blessed by Seredozhia, he currently serves as the head of the church within Pallavia. Below him are the Hierarchs, a group of seven respected priests who administer the church’s operations. Finally there are the Bishops, each of whom oversees one or more temples.
Blessed Ones of Seredozhia tend to be scholars and healers.
King Edward’s father, King Matthew I, publicly changed his faith 50 years ago to Seredozhia after the birth of his son. Since then, it has seen a huge growth in worshippers and temples, as nobility and those of weak faith decided it was advantageous to court the king’s church.
The King Matthew’s former church of Marcusis was exiled from Pallavia after a failed rebellion known as the Marcusis Heresy. Speaking of the heresy or the church is forbidden.
| Alignment: | Lawful Good |
| Domains: | Law, Healing, Protection |
| Followers: | Elabites |
| Status: | Sanctioned, common |
Depicted as a tall male humanoid in white robes, near an empty basket and holding a short rod.
The church of Elaban enjoys wide popularity in Pallavia, especially among the poor and rural folk. Its blessed priests are famous for casting Purify Food and Drink at no cost as a service to their communities. The curch preaches a doctrine of strict obedience, simplicity, and lack of waste. Priests and devout followers have a reputation for being very strict and uncompromising.
All parishoners are expected to bestow a tithe to their church equal to 10% of their earnigns, though the amount is often given in favors and goods rather than money. Elaban churches use this wealth to help parishoners who fall on hard times, similarly to the way the guilds use their dues. Money that is left over is used for the church and priests, as well as passed up the hierarchy.
The head of the Church of Eleban is the Archpriest. Below them are several Exarchs, each responsible for managing the church’s operations within a large geographical area. Within each of these regions are Daikons and Daikonessas, who oversee individual churches. Most Daikons serve a single church, but larger villages, towns, or cities might have a single Daikon overseeing every church within the town walls.
Blessed Ones of Elaban are usually righteous warriors and healers.
The Dragon God
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Domains: | Chaos, Fire, Travel |
| Followers: | Chirites |
| Status: | Sanctioned, less common |
Holy symbol is the Dragon Flame: a stylized flame whose base depicts a winding path as the flame above curls into the shape of an eastern-style dragon.
Depicted as a spiraling red eastern-style dragon, sometimes breathing fire, always in motion.
The church of Chireus is a church in motion, with many traveling monks and priests, and relatively few temples. Its doctrine is one of inevitable change, and priests encourage followers to direct the change in their lives toward beneficial things.
As a scattered faith, the church of Chireus is very loosely organized. Individual temples are led by one or more priests-in-residence. When a large group of Chirites gather, it is common to elect a High Priest to oversee that congregation. When the group inevitably disbands, the High Priest loses that title and returns to their normal priestly duties.
Blessed Ones of Chireus are usually hearty wanderers and fierce justiciars.
Canon texts refer to Chireus as both male and female. The god does not seem to care either way.
It is said that Chirites bring unrest and rebellion wherever they go and that their god encourages violent uprisings. Though this is not strictly true, Chireus does encourage resistance and rebellion against oppressive rulers. Anywhere that despots reign, Chirites will be some of the first to organize militias against their unjust rule. This doctrine has resulted in the worship of Chireus being banned in a number of countries, though it is currently still allowed within Pallavia.
| Alignment: | Lawful Good |
| Domains: | Good, Earth, Law |
| Followers: | Moradinites |
| Status: | Sanctioned, common |
Holy symbol is a dwarven hammer superimposed on an anvil.
Moradin is the traditional Dwarven god of creation. He was once part of a large pantheon of dwarf gods, but is the only one recognized by Pallavia since the fall of the great empires.
The church of Moradin is common, with at least one Forge Temple in every village and town. Most temples do, in fact, have a proper forge within their central chamber. A few tiny or ramshackle temples have nowhere to put a forge, but the central area of the temple is called its forge room nevertheless. The forge is open for use by any dwarf and any member of the congregation.
Moradin’s church organization is strongly hierarchical. At the top is the Council of Hadefar, a group of seven wise priests who govern the church as a whole. Below them are a number of Holy Masters, each of whom overseas the temples in a country or geographical region. Every temple within a region is led by a High Priest who is supported by a number of priests, depending on the size of the temple.
Congregants are expected to make donations to their temples on every high holy day. Coins are accepted, but valuable metals and gems are preferred and more traditional. These are all melted in the temple’s forge by the High Priest and used to create objects of worship for the temple. Leftovers are created into goods for sale or otherwise traded for the betterment of the temple.
Blessed Ones of Moradin are classic warrior priests, wielding scripture and great weapons against their foes.
The practice of forging metals is undeniably central to the worship of Moradin. Every priest must be a capable smith before they are ordained in the faith. As such, every temple provides education and apprenticeships in smithing, acting like a religious version of the Smithy Guild. Since temples to Moradin are not commercial smithies, there isn’t much conflict between the two organizations.
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Domains: | Good, Magic, War |
| Followers: | Hildi |
| Status: | Sanctioned, but rare |
Holy symbol is the Mutatrix or Star-and-Moon: a crescent moon whose right-facing opening cradles a four pointed star
Corellon Larethian is the traditional elven god of rebirth. He was once part of a large pantheon of elfven gods, but is the only one recognized by Pallavia since the fall of the great empires.
The worship of Corellon Larethian is rare outside of traditionalist elven families. As such, the church organization is fairly sparse. Each temple is run by a Celebrant who is directed by the faith’s High Exaltant. In times past, there was more need for various clergy, but this simple structure is all that’s needed now.
Worshippers are expected to donate their time and expertise to their temple and its members as needed. Money is raised for specific projects and causes and there is no routine tithe from worshippers.
Blessed Ones of Corellon Larethian are skilled advisers who use His gifts to bolster those around them.
| Alignment: | Lawful Neutral |
| Domains: | Animal, Healing, War |
| Followers: | Luthites |
| Status: | Sanctioned, but rare |
Holy symbol is made of three horizontal lines. The top one wavy, the other two straight, with the lower one shorter than the others.
Luthic is the most well-known Orc goddess, and the only one sanctioned in Pallavia. She is worshipped primarily by the orc tribes and has few followers elsewhere. This means that standing temples to Luthic are exceedingly rare, with the only known temple in Pallavia lying somewhere in the Ganhigh mountains in the western portion of the country.
There is no overarching organization to the church of Luthic. Each priestess ministers to her tribe, often acting as the matriarch’s second in command. If multiple tribes meet or travel for an extended period, their priestesses will join forces and name an Ovate to lead the greater congregation. When the tribes inevitably go their separate ways, the Ovate will step down.
All religious leaders within the church of Luthic are female by tradition. While males can be ordained, it happens only rarely and their legitimacy is challenged by every priestess they meet.
Blessed Ones of Luthic are renowned witches, granted wisdom and guidance in fertility, medicine, and strategy through Luthic’s domains.
Although religious leaders are (almost) always female, Blessed Ones have no such restrictions.
| Alignment: | Lawful Good |
| Domains: | Knowledge, Law, Strength |
| Followers: | Marcusists |
| Status: | Forbidden |
The church of Marcusis is now best known for their rebellion against King Matthew I, known as the Marcusis Heresy.
| Alignment: | |
| Domains: | |
| Followers: | |
| Status: | Known, Not Sanctioned |
| Alignment: | |
| Domains: | |
| Followers: | |
| Status: | Unknown in Pallavia |
The Subverter of Ways
| Status: | Forbidden |
| Status: | Unknown in Pallavia |