Sarpedon

The ever-protective god of guardians, Sarpedon promotes strength in spirit, body and mind as a means to perfection. He is closely aligned with Majestas, his mother, Evander, his father, Meliboea and Fides, though it is rare that his temples (called Chapterhouses) occupy the same structure as his family. Worship of Sarpedon is strong in any civilized land, with numerous town guards and woodland rangers loyal to the local government claiming him as a patron. His highly organized clergy are typically involved in training town guards and, in smaller towns or in emergencies, the highest ranking cleric to Sarpedon often acts as Captain of the Guard.

Sarpedon's greatest enemy is Empusa, goddess of poison, though his followers are more often at odds with followers of Britomaris, goddess of thieves.

As Sard, Sarpedon is the Duke of Mystery for Abjuration spells and is thus closely aligned with Abaris as well. In the Danic Tradition, he is known as Heimdul and guards the pathways between this world and the next.

Sarpedon

God of Guardians

Descriptive Info

Gender: Male

Avatar: Heimdul, Saard

Consort(s): None

Allies: Abaris, Goddess of Magic; Aridnus, God of Judgment; Baelthor, God of Earth (paternal grandfather) Evander, God of Gates (father); Fides, God of Oaths (half-brother); Majestas, Goddess of Law (mother); Meliboea, Goddess of Justice (half-sister); Pavor, God of Travel; Thalia, Goddess of the Hearth; Vitulus, God of Cities; Vortumnus, God of Chivalry; Zelos, God of the State.

Foes: Britomaris, God of Thievery; Empusa, Goddess of Poison; Mormo, God of Deception; Themis, God of Mischief.

Spiritual Info

Rank: Intermediate

Nature: Harmonius

Ethos: Benign

Major Influence: Guardians

Minor Influence(s): Abjuration, Rangers, and Law Enforcement

Spheres: Law, Protection, Travel, Messenger

Depictions

Sarpedon is typically depicted as a vibrant, middle-aged man wearing his chain mail suit, called Glerung, and holding Baelbane, his shield, aloft. Both were forged by Mulciber, though the latter was one of three items forged of the Pristine Steel. He is only rarely depicted wielding a weapon, instead choosing to use Baelbane to fight his foes.

As Saard, he is typically shown without Glerung, instead wearing long, blue robes. He still carries Baelbane, often on his back.

As Heimdul, he is depicted as an aged, yet strong, man carrying a broadsword and wearing plate armor and is guardian of the rainbow bridge which spans between the world of mortals and the world of gods. On his belt he carries his magic horn, Gjall, which he will blow at the end of the world. He has golden teeth and wears a ram’s horn helmet.

Symbols

The symbol of Sarpedon is an open eye, often on a white field. Holy symbols rarely include the white field unless the individual is of rank within the Church. The ash tree is extremely significant to the worship of Sarpedon; ash is typically used as a backing for shields and its leaves are often seen embellishing Sarpedian architecture.

Dwelling Place

The Fortress of Steel

Servants

St. Antonidus the Brave, St. Hjergal of the Golden Sword, St. Graladar the Warder.

Doctrine

No information available on the doctrine of Sarpedon

Mission

No information available on the mission of Sarpedon

Geography

No geographic information available on Sarpedon

History of the Church

No historic information available on Sarpedon

Organization

No information available on the Organization of the Church of Sarpedon

Priesthood

Potential priests to Sarpedon are chosen not only for their wisdom, but their personal strength and health as well. A keen attention to detail is perhaps most important, however. Priests are rarely recruited at a young age; the priesthood prefers to recruit individuals who have experience as guards. Even those priests who are recruited in their youth are often required by their superiors to have some combat training before they are accepted as full members of the clergy. Acolytes are required to serve the Church for at least five years before they are confirmed.

When an Acolyte is confirmed, the clergyman must choose whether he will become a cleric, priest or monk, as in other Churches. However, there are extremely few monks within the clergy of Sarpedon. The vast majority of clergymen are clerics, as martial ability is significant to the priesthood. Most churches do have some priests, who tend to handle more of the bureaucratic duties of the temple than provide spiritual guidance to lay worshippers. The monastic order is primarily composed of former clerics, soldiers and others who have become too infirm to perform their duties and instead opt to reflect upon the spiritual nature of Sarpedon and care for those wounded in his service.

Garments

Clergymen tend to wear colors according to their rank, modified by their station. Goodmen primarily wear brown, Squires wear a light tan, Warders wear green (with Master Warders typically wearing a dark, forest green), Decons wear bright red and Archdecons a dark burgundy. All of the uniforms of Sarpedon contain gray or silver linings, but only the Steward may wear only gray clothing.

Religious Practices

There are several lay groups who have dedicated themselves to the worship of Sarpedon, most of which are something of a private club for town guardsmen and, in some regions, even go so far as to provide political protection for its members. Of particular note is the Antonidians, a group of loosely-associated adventurers throughout the Empire of Zeth who associate primarily to record and share their travels. In contrast are the Rovers of Gaveric, a secretive group of rangers in the Adan-Halic region who work against the orcs, forces of Thet and other nations which seek to dominate or destroy the free peoples of the region. Even the clergy do not fully understand the inner workings of the Rovers or their ultimate purpose.

Calendar

Sarpedians observe several holidays, but two are the most significant. The first is the Confirmation, which takes place on the second day of the new year, Folloch 2. On Confirmation, Acolytes who qualify become clergymen, new contracts are signed or renegotiated and new temples are founded. It is a solemn occasion of new beginnings and tends to be a very public affair. In the evening, however, the clergymen lock the doors to the temples and enjoy a grand feast and revel in ways they are not typically permitted. It is said that any enemy which attacks the charge of a Sarpedian on this night is cursed by Sarpedon to not live to see another Confirmation.

The other holy day significant to Sarpedon is St. Graladar’s Day on the 1st of Damhar. Traditionally the end of the wartime season, St. Graladar’s Day is a day for personal reflection and remembrance of those who have died in the service of Sarpedon. It is a very somber affair where the shields (or representations thereof) of the year’s dead are hung on the walls and honored before being melted down for reforging. The reforged shields are given to the new Goodmen at the next year’s Confirmation. Those clergymen whose duties allow typically use this opportunity to conduct a voluntary pilgrimage to the nearest High Temple, the seat of the local Archdecon.

Customs

The clergy of Sarpedon tend to be highly hierarchal, though there are a few priests who feel that they best serve their deity by disassociating themselves somewhat from the established clergy. It is most often these priests who become adventurers or advisors to lay organizations dedicated to Sarpedon. Even so, they obey a very strict chain-of-command within the Church.

The lowest grade within the Church is the Goodman or Goodwoman. Goodmen generally have the responsibility of handling the menial chores around the Temple, though particularly promising ones may be given a Task under the close supervision of a superior. Ranking above them are the Squires; these are the rank-and-file priests of the Church and are responsible for overseeing the Goodmen as well as patrolling the grounds of the Church and seeing to its defenses. Above them are the Warders, who are typically the highest ranking officials in most Temples. The Warders are responsible for leading units in wartime and oversight of various functions of the Temple. Each Temple has a Master Warder who is the ultimate authority in that temple, unless other clergymen of higher rank are in residence. The Decons are next in rank and typically have administrative authority over several Temples. There are five Archdecons, who have authority over several Deconrics, who report to the Steward of Sarpedon. Rank is gained through years of service, loyalty and performance and not on heredity or social position. The Steward of Sarpedon is raised from the Archdecons upon unanimous vote by the other four Archdecons.

Clergymen of the lowest and highest ranks tend to be the most restricted in their activities. Most clergymen not directly attached to a Temple are Squires or Warders. Very few Decons have responsibilities outside the Church, though a few act as the de facto leader of the town guard in the regions that they preside over.

Clergymen and lay parishioners of Sarpedon use a particular salute when greeting one another. The salute begins with the left hand brought across to the right side of the body, with the elbow at a 90-degree angle and the knuckles towards the person being greeted. The arm is then swept down and to the left side. The movement is to represent your guard being relaxed in the presence of a friend in faith.

Clergymen are often called upon to bolster the ranks of the local guard, particularly in times of war. Except in times of war or other emergency, the Church typically charges for the services rendered by their clergymen. The money is paid to the Church, as all clergymen of Sarpedon accept a vow of poverty when they are first confirmed. All necessaries, whether it be food, weaponry or even the shields on their backs is formally owned by the Church. Purchasing extravagant items or luxuries is frowned upon and may result in an investigation by Church leaders.

Despite being a martially-oriented faith, clergymen of Sarpedon consider the most honorable death to be in one’s own bed. Dead in the course of duty is considered honorable only when the clergyman’s charge is saved by his death. Death that results in the clergyman’s charge falling to an enemy is considered an undesirable death and may prevent the clergyman from reaching his place at the Fortress of Steel.