Religion: The Five Temples

The Five Temples was the main pantheon of empyrean gods from the old kingdoms and the first empire, which was brought along with the exiles that settled into the lands that at present day are known as the Coastlands and the Midlands. The name refers to how it is five gods working together, not that there would only be five temple buildings in total. All of the larger cities and most towns have temples dedicated to the gods of the Five Temples, and even villages host a shrine or two.

The ethos of the Five Temples acknowledges the existence of other gods, but requires their worshippers to remain faithful and not stray. This is a point of some contention among the various factions within the Five Temples, as some argue that decisive action should be taken to convert those who still cling to nature worship or ancestor worship. Traditionalists accept that the other faiths are out there, and fulfil a reason. Unifiers believe that many other, smaller religions are in fact just aspects of the gods of the Five Temples, and should be brought into the fold. Radicals argue that the Five Temples should be expanded to allow for other deities. Apostles instead want to prepare the Five Temples to convert the unfaithful by any means necessary.

Each temple maintains a small body of armed forces, and each main temple hosts a much larger number. Put together, the military might of the Five Temples is equal to that of any nation, and are not technically beholden to any ruler other than their high priests, and the chosen voice of the gods - a person known only as the Sybil. The high priests of each god, together with the Sybil, interpret the gods' will and establish the policies of the temples.

The gods themselves are thought to be celestial beings that has taken an interest in the wellbeing of the mortal races, but not as the creators of the world (or the races) themselves. The gods are also not ascribed a gender, or even anthropomorphised, but rather considered to be absolute virtues.

The Five Temples embody the qualities of knowledge, mercy, order, beauty, and protection.

Astar, the Keeper of Wisdom
The god of knowledge, magic, mysteries and secrets. Those who revere Astar are usually magicians or scholars. Priests of Astar are also known as Anchorites, or informally as teachers. The symbol of Astar is a silver book. The main temple is in Otchedar, Gion.

The clergy of Astar are the custodians of all knowledge, and do not moralise about the nature of it, or its origin. What is important is how it is used to better the world. Great good can come from a terrible evil. It will not justify that evil, but it will make the sacrifices mean something. Because of this, it is not surprising that the Anchorites of Astar help schools and other places of learning with both material resources or teachers.

While the priesthood believe in the importance of knowledge, they don't recognise absolute freedom of knowledge, and work to make sure that availability of information will not outpace the presence of wisdom to use it correctly.

The order of Astar was also took the initiative in creating the Inquisition as a means to combat the influence of demonic visitors in the world of Aden. Inquisitors today are still mainly Anchorites, but draw from the Rectors and Paladins as well to form their ranks.

Kuros, the Sheltering Hand
The god of mercy, healing, humility and charity. Those who serve Kuros are apothecaries, charity workers or caretakers. Priests of Kuros are also known as Prelates, or informally as healers. The symbol of Kuros is a copper hand. The main temple is in Radent, Olmar.

The clergy of Kuros are unusually well organised and make sure that their limited resources are distributed where they are needed, so that even smaller temples are able to accept to all who are sick or in need of help. By tradition the doors to a temple of Kuros are never closed, representing the open hands of the god of mercy.

Melat, the Resolute Judge
The god of order, laws, commerce, and authority. Those who follow Melat are magisters, peacekeepers or merchants. Priests of Melat are also known as Rectors, or informally as judges. The symbol of Melat is a set of iron scales. The main temple is in Etrana, Etria.

With the establishment of the Five Temples across the land, also came a unified set of laws that both protects and punishes. While every land-owning nobleman has the right to render verdict in criminal cases or in disputes, many make use of a priest of Melat as an advisor to make sure the law is upheld to its letter. Larger communities often have several Rectors working separate districts independently and giving periodical reports to the ruler.

When there are conflicts between the will of the ruling noble and the interpretation of the law as made by the local priest usually one of two things happen – the ruler accepts the Rector’s judgement and alters the sentence, or the Rector reports the lapse of proper lawfulness to whomever the noble answers to, or in case of a sovereign, back to the main temple in Etrana whereupon economic sanctions starts to happen. Having a priest of Melat by your side is a double-edged sword: they will strive to satisfy the letter of the law either with you, or without you.

Semat, the Exalted Hymn
The god of beauty, art, music and love. Those who cherish Semat are artisans, performers, prostitutes or the newly married. Priests of Semat are also known as Cantors, or informally as muses. The symbol of Semat is a platinum harp. The main temple is in Telasero, Kasmantur.

The priesthood of Semat channels the generous donations given to them by their many influential sponsors into funding theatres, galleries and other places where beauty is being created. Among the Cantors there is a slight, albeit amiable, division regarding whether permanent art like paintings or sculptures are more pleasing than ephemeral art like song or performances. Is art in the artist, or the production?

Telum, the Sword of Heaven
The god of protection, justice, truth and war. Those who stand for Telum are usually soldiers or adventurers. Priests of Telum are also known as Paladins, or informally as knights. The symbol of Telum is a golden sword. The main temple is in Tier.

Squadrons of paladins (also called a 'banner of knights') are regularly sent to patrol regions from where there have been reports of trouble. Knights are also sent in response to hostile incursions where normal militia are not suitable, such as during attacks by magical creatures, magicians or otherworldly visitors. To maintain a wide presence, the temple of Telum also use "errant knights", who along with their squires follow their own lines of investigation into great injustices. Local constabulary are often both thankful and alarmed by the presence of an errant knight in their jurisdiction, since it means that whatever problem their region is having, it warrants the attention of a paladin.

Priests
Magicians who devote their lives in the service of a god are known as priests. Upon the ritual of induction into the clergy, the nature of their connection to magic is altered to draw upon not their inner magical reserves, but upon the collective strength of the entire faith. In doing so, the priest also essentially forfeits their own magic resource, allowing it to be subsumed into something greater than themselves. Being connected to the pool of the faithful provides any single priest with a theoretically inexhaustable amount of magic, but since many priests draw upon this source at any given time the actual ability of the individual magician is more or less equivalent to that of any other tradition. However, in times of great need the priest can call upon more than "their share" of the collective and literally work miracles.

This potential power comes with a drawback, however. A priest cannot go against the ethos of their faith, since every magical act they perform is subject to divine scrutiny, a filter that can deny any spell that would be contrary to the will of their temple or god.