Pelor

Worshipped by : The “common folk”, mainly humans. Many clerics of other races tend to gravitate towards Pelor as well. Aliases: The Shining One, the Sun Father, Sol, Al’Asran Domain: Sun, Light, Strength, Healing, Time Allies: Mayaheine, Rao, Heironeous, Saint Cuthbert, Pholtus, Trithereon, Zodal, Moradin, Garl Glittergold, Corellon Larethian, Yondalla Foes: Shar, Tharizdun

General
It is not known where Pelor originally came from; only that he participated in the war between gods at the beginning of time at the forefront of many battles. Pelor is the deity of good, worshipped by many common humans with at least one shrine near every human settlement. His domains contain the protection of the common man: ensure good harvests, the rising of the sun, and protection from evil. He is also said to guard the flow of time.

Pelor’s realm is known as Hestevar, or the Bright City, a metropolis made of precious stones and metals built on islands that are rumored to float high above Earth. He dwells there with Erathis, goddess of civilization, in the golden palace Aurosion. There are rumors that he and Erathis may have a relationship going deeper than simply friends and joint stewards of the Bright City.

Clergy
Pelor’s clergy are caring an nurturing, with backbones of steel. They mostly consist of priests and clerics. Vestments are typically yellow or gold. Some druids follow the word of Pelor, similar to his clerics, but with a greater emphasis on the care of plants and animals. They usually associate themselves with settlements rather than living as hermits, aiding the community with their hands, spells, and animal companions whenever they can. They are also considered to have priest status within the Pelorian church, though they have a separate hierarchy.

Pelorian paladins are rare, and are known as Crusaders. Pelor’s paladins see themselves as the burning light of the sun which scours away darkness and evil, bringing strength and comfort to the innocent. Crusaders believe that laws are helpful, but that they are at best a secondary goal and must be tempered with mercy. Their slogan is “Equity for the Meek with Perseverance and Strength”. They favor light-colored tunics, particularly sky blues, pale greens, or greys. 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. They blend into the darkness, only the shining symbols visible to their foes.

Clergy Ranking
The highest ranking elite priests are called Radiant Servants and are located in the largest, most influential temples. Diplomatic solutions are applied to any problems between churches. Temple Appearance: The temples are usually 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 on many occasions, blindingly white. Temple trappings are yellow and gold. Pelorian temples often have hospital wings.

Temple Locations
Stonebend (unique temple built into a mountain), Aerilon (one of the largest cathedrals and one of the most technologically advanced hospitals)

Dogma
Energy and the power of life originates in the sun. Justice and freedom are brought about through charity, modesty, and perseverance. The truly strong don’t need to prove their power. Perform so many good acts that evil has no room in which to exist; fight if necessary. Pelorians believe in spiritual strength as opposed to physical strength; however, Pelor and his followers are wrathful against the forces of evil, corruption, and darkness, especially the undead. Pelor urges his followers to remember than excessive attention to evil can blind one to the truly important things: compassion and goodness. The Light of Pelor is the most common Pelorian holy book, beginning with Pelor's creation of the sun and telling of how Pelor instructed the first mortals. The Light of Pelor only has minor variations in it, and all are considered canonical, despite these small discrepancies. The book is often enchanted to glow with a soft solar radiance when it's closed, and some versions are gilded.

Day-to-day Activities
Heal the sick, bless crops, help the needy, protect from evil.

Ceremonies/Services
Communal prayer, singing of hymns, distribution of alms. Prayers to Pelor are often affirmations in the first person, such as “I am merciful, just as the Sun of Mercy shines on me.” Weddings and rites of passing take place at the beginning of a new season. Farmers may request rituals known as the Blessing of the Sun-Kissed Field. Holy Days: Spring and Autumn Equinoxes are both holy days consisting of celebration and honorary sermons held at temples, as well as general days to remember to be charitable. The Winter Solstice is also known as Breadsgiving Day and is a day of providing meals to the needy. The Summer Solstice is Pelor’s day and is given a lot of preparation and celebration.

Affiliated Orders
The Lords of Sol is an ancient order of Pelorian paladins who went extinct some time ago. However, rumor has it that their name has come up again recently. The Life Givers is a group of Pelorian druids who train and travel to areas where their crop-growing and animal-healing powers are needed.

The Healing Ray is a sect of Pelorian worshipers more focused on finding and killing undead and necromancers. They are often shunned by mainstream Pelorians, who find the Healing Ray to be too focused on seeking violence and not enough on actually helping people.

Relics
Four Dawnstars. They were gifts from Pelor to four solars who rescued a paladin from the bowels of Hell. The shards of the Sun are described in Pelorian texts as “Pelor’s gift, which I carry into darkness—a sun that never sets.” Ajira’s Rod of the Sun is a relic of a legendary paladin. Some of his bones were placed in the hilt of his mace, becoming the relic. It glows, removes disease, and regenerates its wielder.

Ronnam’s Icon was named after a Pelorian cleric who had been apprenticed to a smith. He created his holy symbol itself; it was flawed, a crude thing of mere bronze, but he wore it as a rebuke to those who revered only beauty. The icon has special qualities against undead, and its solar rays can turn into gold to use to feed the needy. It has been lost for a few hundred years.