The Helmsman
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:40 pm
The Helmsman
The Watcher
Spheres of Influence: Honour, Compassion, Wisdom (Understanding), Vigilance (Watching), Protection
Symbol: The Lighted Torch
PLAYER INFORMATION
Requirements for Worship:
Those who worship the Helmsman must devote themselves to his five Watch Words. They work at the borders of civilization, tending the Stone Circles, and opposing the encroachment of evil into the known world. Followers must be any good alignment, or Lawful Neutral.
Clerical Domains:
The Helmsman's Grace (Sacred Items)
The Watchmans Helm: Originally helmets worn by Helm's followers called "Gods' Eyes" and enchanted to aid their sight, it's seen as a funny coincidence at first when these started to be found around Glorwing. The council started to collect them and amassed a great many in their vault (just in case they were ever needed!).
Endian’s Purity: An amulet worn by a young Paladin and imbued with the light of the Helmsman at a time of great need.
Helm’s Torch: Relics of old said to burn with the light of Helm and later The Helmsman. Several such torches were held by the church though since the war ended they appear to have gone missing.
Sacred Flames: Blessed by the Helmsman, these burn at the heart of all braziers which make up the beacons found in the wilds or in the places of worship. A constant source of his warmth and light they do no burn those who show faith but will consume anything of dark or evil magic placed within them.
Stone Circles: Why a circle? A circle holds its own beginning and end, a loop which is unbreaking like the bond between all those who seek the Helmsman. It also holds only one edge and any who gather around it will look upon each other as equals, much as the council first did. A long-held practice at the Hall of Valour had always been to invite those who wished to speak a place at the center of the circle so that all could see them and gather their fullest attention.
The Helmsman's Light (Sacred Beacons)
The Helmsman’s light would fall a total of four times in the days leading up to the great war of the Gods and as the world returned to normal in its wake, his followers would find four beacons in the places that his light first fell. While most were never sure who constructed them and some believed them to be a prelude to an invading force, the Helmsman’s faithful believed better and recognized the importance of the places on which each beacon stood. Taking them as a sign Cali, a young priestess, called on her followers to sanctify and consecrate them. Blessed by the Helmsman’s himself these flames burn constantly with His warmth, ward against evil and remain cool to the touch for any true to his faith. It is said that so long as people believe and have faith in Him, the flames will never die.
While originally numbering just four, the church has since built additional beacons in places they believed His light was needed, dotting them about the land and in places of worship. Though all hold special meaning to the church as a whole, there are two which will forever be the most sacred among those few original seekers of Him.
Known Beacons: Lands occupied by kobolds near Port Sunrise, a desert road outside Dry Town, a forested path beyond The Darkwoods, the Singing Meadow near Crescent Bay, , the southern Crystal Coast, an unnamed shrine at the Sun Church, the Hall of Valour and the Beacon of Hope.
Rumoured Beacons: Bryne, either on the road to it or actually within it. Arbar, likely placed by the Lancers during their stay and exile in the remote settlement.
The Helmsman's Rest (Places of worship)
Hall of Valour: Seeking to honour him, a place they could look for him and somewhere to shelter those who needed him, the Watchman purchased the abandoned inn on the hill just outside The Delta. A place surrounded by Drow, Lizardman and Undead, most may have seen this as a fools choice but for them there was meaning. A light in the dark, a beacon on a hill by a town the late King loved was special to one among them. Taken as a self-imposed penance the warrior and kings friend, Shana, built the Helmsman’s first home. Consecrated by their first High Priestess, Cali Chapman, the hall would see the birth of the Church of the Helmsman and stand not only as their meeting place but as their first remembrance to all they had lost and gained.
The Beacon of Hope: Standing in Crescent Bays Harbor, this impressive structure differs greatly from the first and while the hall had been a place to meet and to talk this new building would be a symbol, a guiding light and quite literally, a beacon. Designed as a lighthouse by one of the council, Nickel Swiftbow took great pride in his achievement and upon its completion was nominated to be its first keeper. Named after the child who had found shelter within the church in darker times it would become their main place of worship comprising of a meeting place and several apartments, while housing a great library and vault. A far cry from their humbler beings but a much welcomed one which would take on greater meaning to some in the dark days to come.
The Shield of the West: Sitting proudly in Byrne, the Shield of the West is the newest worship place of the Helmsman's followers. Providing spiritual aid and guidance to a people who have long faced Evil head on, the Shield is headed maintained by Dephin Cardal, reformed Ravenite and former High Priest of Liana, who sought sanctuary in Glorwing and eventually took up the Helmsman faith and mission.
Unnamed Shine: Placed within the Sun Church's main temple in Port Sunrise, this simple shrine would serve to highlight the connection between both churches as well as mark a point of friction. While most may never know the tale or hear the true words there are those within the Helmsman’s faithful who still do not accept this as a true shrine consecrated by them or their God.
The Church in War
The civil war brought a trying time for the young church, a time that would test their faith, the very foundation of the church and then continue to do so long after it was over. Many faithful had to bury their feelings and swallow their pride for it wasn't in the church's nature to wage war. A church divided, though what may have looked like a group at odds with itself was perhaps a more calculated and risky path. The council opposed any military action which would call upon the faithful to fight, though should any wish to then they were free to act as they saw fit.
Faced with having to side with one of two possible rulers in a conflict they never thought they would ever see the followers did what they always did in times of strife and trouble and turned to their faith. The Helmsman would guide them and their faith in the greater good would steer them true though not before each would lose a little of themselves in the process.
Not wishing to take a side nor find themselves placed as the Sun church had they did as King Victor Lumens IV himself would have done and looked to the safety of the people he so loved and denied their support to either would be ruler... much to the surprise and anger of many. Placed in the middle they outwardly became criticised for their lack of position and their clinging to their dogma of not involving themselves with the politics of the land.
An unquestioning support of the Sun church had been expected and eventually outright demanded and such only served to further bitter the relationship between the two when they refused to blindly follow the Regent or his orders. They promised to stand and protect the Lady as they always swore to, even if such would mean protecting her from her own!
There was an equal expectation that they would favour the rise of Crysannia Mirel, for if the rumors were to be true, she was the rightful heir not only to the throne but also of the direct bloodline to the man who had become their God. Many were angered and believed they had broken their vow and oath to the King and their Lord when they stood neutral to her claim. However, they betrayed no one, not even themselves. While officially neutral on the matter the church began to offer aid and care to those displaced, making use of the Hall of Valour as a refuge as The Delta came under increased attacks and refusing the ‘request’ that they relinquish the hall to the Crown Guard. The Beacon in Crescent Bay offered similar hope to those who sort a place away from the growing war and as dark forces moved to sack the settlement the church would respond with more than just words or blankets!
Some questioned all along if the church knew that Crysannia Mirel was the rightful heir and had been withholding their support until the time was right, leaving them free to render aid to those suffering as the war took hold. Their neutral stance however, shifted greatly towards the end of the war when the Regents involvement in the sacking of Crescent Bay and numerous assassinations was proven. Great exception was taken when assassins attempted to dispose of Crysannia Mirel, now confirmed to be Victor Lumin IV’s daughter Cassandra Lumens, and prevent her from assuming her rightful place.
As the dust began to settle the church held an uneasy place and those who had once stood to steer it had now seemingly disappeared leaving a void into which few felt right to stand. After the war rumours began to surface the High Priestess having been arrested and any members confirmed to be of the council were ‘detained’ for their involvement in providing aid to certain factions and for helping to spirit away those ‘marked-for-death’ individuals hiding out in Port Sunrise... though officially no warrants were ever issued.
As the sun rises on a new dawn Sebastian Wilhelm has taken up residence as the (temporary) High Priest though he himself attests his appointment was not by divine means and he remains quiet as to why he assumed the role... and how he came by a set of keys bound together by a short, tattered, length of royal blue cloth with gold edging and embroidered with the crest of Victor Lumens IV.
VIEWS ON OTHER CHURCHES
DEITY INFORMATION
The Watcher
Spheres of Influence: Honour, Compassion, Wisdom (Understanding), Vigilance (Watching), Protection
Symbol: The Lighted Torch
PLAYER INFORMATION
Requirements for Worship:
Those who worship the Helmsman must devote themselves to his five Watch Words. They work at the borders of civilization, tending the Stone Circles, and opposing the encroachment of evil into the known world. Followers must be any good alignment, or Lawful Neutral.
Clerical Domains:
- Required: Good, Healing, Protection
Optional: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Knowledge, Magic, Plant, Strength, Sun, Travel, War, Water
Banned: Death, Destruction, Evil, Trickery
The Helmsman's Grace (Sacred Items)
The Watchmans Helm: Originally helmets worn by Helm's followers called "Gods' Eyes" and enchanted to aid their sight, it's seen as a funny coincidence at first when these started to be found around Glorwing. The council started to collect them and amassed a great many in their vault (just in case they were ever needed!).
Endian’s Purity: An amulet worn by a young Paladin and imbued with the light of the Helmsman at a time of great need.
Helm’s Torch: Relics of old said to burn with the light of Helm and later The Helmsman. Several such torches were held by the church though since the war ended they appear to have gone missing.
Sacred Flames: Blessed by the Helmsman, these burn at the heart of all braziers which make up the beacons found in the wilds or in the places of worship. A constant source of his warmth and light they do no burn those who show faith but will consume anything of dark or evil magic placed within them.
Stone Circles: Why a circle? A circle holds its own beginning and end, a loop which is unbreaking like the bond between all those who seek the Helmsman. It also holds only one edge and any who gather around it will look upon each other as equals, much as the council first did. A long-held practice at the Hall of Valour had always been to invite those who wished to speak a place at the center of the circle so that all could see them and gather their fullest attention.
The Helmsman's Light (Sacred Beacons)
The Helmsman’s light would fall a total of four times in the days leading up to the great war of the Gods and as the world returned to normal in its wake, his followers would find four beacons in the places that his light first fell. While most were never sure who constructed them and some believed them to be a prelude to an invading force, the Helmsman’s faithful believed better and recognized the importance of the places on which each beacon stood. Taking them as a sign Cali, a young priestess, called on her followers to sanctify and consecrate them. Blessed by the Helmsman’s himself these flames burn constantly with His warmth, ward against evil and remain cool to the touch for any true to his faith. It is said that so long as people believe and have faith in Him, the flames will never die.
While originally numbering just four, the church has since built additional beacons in places they believed His light was needed, dotting them about the land and in places of worship. Though all hold special meaning to the church as a whole, there are two which will forever be the most sacred among those few original seekers of Him.
Known Beacons: Lands occupied by kobolds near Port Sunrise, a desert road outside Dry Town, a forested path beyond The Darkwoods, the Singing Meadow near Crescent Bay, , the southern Crystal Coast, an unnamed shrine at the Sun Church, the Hall of Valour and the Beacon of Hope.
Rumoured Beacons: Bryne, either on the road to it or actually within it. Arbar, likely placed by the Lancers during their stay and exile in the remote settlement.
The Helmsman's Rest (Places of worship)
Hall of Valour: Seeking to honour him, a place they could look for him and somewhere to shelter those who needed him, the Watchman purchased the abandoned inn on the hill just outside The Delta. A place surrounded by Drow, Lizardman and Undead, most may have seen this as a fools choice but for them there was meaning. A light in the dark, a beacon on a hill by a town the late King loved was special to one among them. Taken as a self-imposed penance the warrior and kings friend, Shana, built the Helmsman’s first home. Consecrated by their first High Priestess, Cali Chapman, the hall would see the birth of the Church of the Helmsman and stand not only as their meeting place but as their first remembrance to all they had lost and gained.
The Beacon of Hope: Standing in Crescent Bays Harbor, this impressive structure differs greatly from the first and while the hall had been a place to meet and to talk this new building would be a symbol, a guiding light and quite literally, a beacon. Designed as a lighthouse by one of the council, Nickel Swiftbow took great pride in his achievement and upon its completion was nominated to be its first keeper. Named after the child who had found shelter within the church in darker times it would become their main place of worship comprising of a meeting place and several apartments, while housing a great library and vault. A far cry from their humbler beings but a much welcomed one which would take on greater meaning to some in the dark days to come.
The Shield of the West: Sitting proudly in Byrne, the Shield of the West is the newest worship place of the Helmsman's followers. Providing spiritual aid and guidance to a people who have long faced Evil head on, the Shield is headed maintained by Dephin Cardal, reformed Ravenite and former High Priest of Liana, who sought sanctuary in Glorwing and eventually took up the Helmsman faith and mission.
Unnamed Shine: Placed within the Sun Church's main temple in Port Sunrise, this simple shrine would serve to highlight the connection between both churches as well as mark a point of friction. While most may never know the tale or hear the true words there are those within the Helmsman’s faithful who still do not accept this as a true shrine consecrated by them or their God.
The Church in War
The civil war brought a trying time for the young church, a time that would test their faith, the very foundation of the church and then continue to do so long after it was over. Many faithful had to bury their feelings and swallow their pride for it wasn't in the church's nature to wage war. A church divided, though what may have looked like a group at odds with itself was perhaps a more calculated and risky path. The council opposed any military action which would call upon the faithful to fight, though should any wish to then they were free to act as they saw fit.
Faced with having to side with one of two possible rulers in a conflict they never thought they would ever see the followers did what they always did in times of strife and trouble and turned to their faith. The Helmsman would guide them and their faith in the greater good would steer them true though not before each would lose a little of themselves in the process.
Not wishing to take a side nor find themselves placed as the Sun church had they did as King Victor Lumens IV himself would have done and looked to the safety of the people he so loved and denied their support to either would be ruler... much to the surprise and anger of many. Placed in the middle they outwardly became criticised for their lack of position and their clinging to their dogma of not involving themselves with the politics of the land.
An unquestioning support of the Sun church had been expected and eventually outright demanded and such only served to further bitter the relationship between the two when they refused to blindly follow the Regent or his orders. They promised to stand and protect the Lady as they always swore to, even if such would mean protecting her from her own!
There was an equal expectation that they would favour the rise of Crysannia Mirel, for if the rumors were to be true, she was the rightful heir not only to the throne but also of the direct bloodline to the man who had become their God. Many were angered and believed they had broken their vow and oath to the King and their Lord when they stood neutral to her claim. However, they betrayed no one, not even themselves. While officially neutral on the matter the church began to offer aid and care to those displaced, making use of the Hall of Valour as a refuge as The Delta came under increased attacks and refusing the ‘request’ that they relinquish the hall to the Crown Guard. The Beacon in Crescent Bay offered similar hope to those who sort a place away from the growing war and as dark forces moved to sack the settlement the church would respond with more than just words or blankets!
Some questioned all along if the church knew that Crysannia Mirel was the rightful heir and had been withholding their support until the time was right, leaving them free to render aid to those suffering as the war took hold. Their neutral stance however, shifted greatly towards the end of the war when the Regents involvement in the sacking of Crescent Bay and numerous assassinations was proven. Great exception was taken when assassins attempted to dispose of Crysannia Mirel, now confirmed to be Victor Lumin IV’s daughter Cassandra Lumens, and prevent her from assuming her rightful place.
As the dust began to settle the church held an uneasy place and those who had once stood to steer it had now seemingly disappeared leaving a void into which few felt right to stand. After the war rumours began to surface the High Priestess having been arrested and any members confirmed to be of the council were ‘detained’ for their involvement in providing aid to certain factions and for helping to spirit away those ‘marked-for-death’ individuals hiding out in Port Sunrise... though officially no warrants were ever issued.
As the sun rises on a new dawn Sebastian Wilhelm has taken up residence as the (temporary) High Priest though he himself attests his appointment was not by divine means and he remains quiet as to why he assumed the role... and how he came by a set of keys bound together by a short, tattered, length of royal blue cloth with gold edging and embroidered with the crest of Victor Lumens IV.
VIEWS ON OTHER CHURCHES
- The Sun Church: (Allied) The wounds are deep within, but they have not forsaken the Light. We will continue to stand with them as best we can, and continue to act as the Shield to their Sword.
- The Church of Branneggarr: (Allied) The Craftmasters are as dependable as the weapons and armor they produce.
- The Church of Justin: (Allied) The Stampede are a curious and undisciplined lot. Still, their results can't be ignored.
- The Church of Mysilvia: (Neutral) Respect the Druids and their territories, else our neighbors can be provoked to hostilities.
- The Church of the Death God: (Neutral) We are unsure what to make of these strangers. They oppose the undead, yet they work for death. We must be cautious with them.
- The Church of the Quiet God: (Allied) They see the world through a different lens, yet they understand law and order better than most. For that reason, we stand together.
- The Church of Cyparthia: (Neutral) Their agenda and ours seem never to coincide.
- The Church of the War Triad: (Mixed) Their paladins and are our friends, while their blackguards are mortal foes. Such a church should not stand, and yet we speak of it.
- The Church of Tyrannos: (Hated) We oppose these devils in nearly all things, and we know the feeling is mutual.
- The Church of Ravenons: (Hated) Though they are close to the end of existence, we will continue to deny them safe haven for the crimes they have committed.
- The Church of Asoth Thal: (Hostile) Dark tides rise again, but patience must be had with these. Haste to action will only cause further suffering.
- The Church of Ruhn Alesi: (Neutral) These dark tricksters are a constant nuisance. But that is all they are.
DEITY INFORMATION
- Alignment: The Helmsman is Neutral Good in nature
Appearance: The Helmsman has manifested as a brilliant pillar of flame or as the man Victor Lumens shortly before his death and ascension.
Messengers: The Helmsman is known to send Angels called "Voices" to speak with those who are in need of guidance. These Voices represent the five watchwords, and each gathers its personality from the word it represents. These Angels often disguise themselves as hermits or mystics, and cloak their divine radiance. Lantern Archons have also been used from time to time.
Known Powers and Practices: The Helmsman is as he as always been, the Shield of the Lady. His primary concern are those items containing the taint of evil, and to see them eradicated. To this end, he encourages his Church to seek out those items that embody evil, and destroy them at his central temple, The Beacon of Hope.
Though not outright banned, Negative Energy spells are generally not taken by Clerics of the Helmsman. Victor Lumens IV was killed by such power, and to use it is a sign of disrespect to the man, if not the deity.