Pelor

The god of the Sun, Light, Strength, and Healing

Title: The Sun Father, the Sun God, the Sun Lord, the Shining One

Symbol: Sun face

Alignment: Neutral Good

Portfolio: Sun, light, strength, healing

Worshipers: Bards, rangers, druids, healers, commoners

Worshiper's Alignment: Any

Cleric Alignments: GG, LG, NG

Domains: Good, Healing, Strength, Sun

Favoured Weapon: Mace

Pelor is the god of the Sun, Light, Strength, and Healing. Pelor is known as the Shining One, and the Sun Father. He is known as the creator of much that is good. Pelor is worshipped virtually everywhere and on other worlds as well; he is the most commonly worshipped god in the Lands of Warlderia. Pelor is a popular deity, greatly beloved by the common folk. He is particularly revered in the Divine Empire and Successor States though even the True Empire has temples to him. He is depicted as an older man with wild golden hair and beard, dressed in robes of shining white.

Pelorians believe that the life-giving sun is the best cure for all ills. Justice and freedom are brought about through charity, modesty, and perseverance. Pelor's priests teach that the truly strong don't need to prove their power. Pelorians strive to perform so many good acts that evil has no room in which to exist, though they will fight if necessary. Pelor strength is a spiritual strength, opposed to physical strength like Kord. His strength is the power of will and hope, the need to face evil in the face of insurmountable odds. Pelor is wrathful against the forces of evil, corruption, and darkness, and is especially opposed to the undead. However, Pelor urges his followers to remember that excessive attention to things of evil can blind one to the truly important things: compassion and goodness.

Pelor's services involve communal prayer, the singing of hymns, and the distribution of alms. Prayers to Pelor are often affirmations in the first person, for example, "I am merciful, just as the Sun of Mercy shines on me." Weddings and rites of passage often take place at the beginning of a new season. Farmers often request a ritual known as the Blessing of the Sun-Kissed Field. Pelor's major holy days generally take place on the solstices and equinoxes. Pelor's temples are tall, with large windows; many are stained-glass cathedrals. They are arranged so that the sun shines into most of the rooms during the day, and many feature large courtyards. They tend to be airy and blindingly white. Temple trappings are typically yellow or gold. They are always kept clean. Many Pelorian temples have hospital wings.

Pelor's clergy heal the sick, bless crops, help the needy, and destroy evil and the undead. They are caring and nurturing, with backbones of steel. The Pelorian priesthood attracts many naive youths to his service, but training is rigorous enough to send many of them back to their farms. Pelor's elite priests are called Radiant Servants but all wear usually vestments of yellow or gold. Pelorian paladins, known as Crusaders, are rare and see themselves as the burning light of the sun which scours away darkness bringing strength and comfort to the innocent. Their slogan is Equity for the Meek with Perseverance and Strength. Some dress in commoner's clothing, especially when serving as community healers or in disguise. On formal occasions, they wear a black cloak emblazoned with the symbol of the sun. 

Pelor's favored weapon is the mace (heavy or light). Pelor opposes all evil deities and his followers avoid neutral deities with teachings counter to Pelor's. Pelor particularly loathes Tharizdun, having played a role in the Dark God's imprisonment, and Nerull the evil god of Darkness, Murder, and the Underworld.

Pelorian Saints

Beatrix of Pelor by Pino44io- please do not use without permission 

Saint Bane the Scourger is a renowned servant of  Pelor. Saint Bane is regarded as the patron saint of those who hunt the undead. His symbol is a flaming black trident. It is said that Bane, early in his career, accomplished the incredible task of slaying three vampires. As he rose in power, Bane faced ever-deadlier foes, eventually slaying a mighty servant of Orcus. Some say that Bane even went so far as battle Orcus on his home plane, nearly slaying the Prince of the Undead. Impressed with Bane's valor, Pelor rewarded his mortal servant with sainthood. He has a widespread cult in areas threatened by the undead, though his priesthood is small.

Saint Jalnir the Gentle was a half-orc priest who dedicated himself to Pelor after being driven from his orcish tribe. He was famed for both his piety and for his bravery in the face of prejudice, and it is this latter quality that helped him gain a small but loyal group of followers even after his death. Shrines in his honor are found in several larger cities; his devotees are renowned for their ability to calm conflicts and are often asked to be diplomats in disagreements between races.

Saint Pentival was a rising paladin of Pelor who fought against the rise of an evil other world demilich. Initially victorious, Pentivil was tricked and captured in a tower prison on the negative energy plane where, shielded from divination, he is still said to remain to this day. His loyalty and devotion is widely praised and his release is an aspiration all Pelorians share.

Saint Obethiah the Tranquil was a priest of Pelor for all those who place their trust in Pelor through silence and prayer. A faith of deep meditation and active healing whose followers, are the least warlike of Pelor's faithful.

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