Church of the Silver Flame

The priests and paladins of the Silver Flame have battled the forces of darkness for hundreds of years. While it is a relatively young religion, it has found staunch support across Khorvaire, especially in the kingdom of Thrane. The lawful good deity called the Silver Flame is an abstract, disembodied force closely associated with a once-human woman named Tira Miron. Herself now immortal, Tira (now known as the Voice of the Silver Flame), serves as the intermediary between the holy Silver Flame and the mortals who can never attain sufficient purity to communicate with the Silver Flame directly. The Church of the Silver Flame is dedicated to protecting the common people against supernatural forces of evil, and thus it attracts a significant number of paladins to its cause. The Silver Flame grants access to the domains of Exorcism, Good, Law, and Protection. The deity's favored weapon is the longbow, and archery is an important tradition within the Church.
The priests and paladins of the Silver Flame have battled the forces of darkness for hundreds of years. A relatively young religion, the Church of the Silver Flame, has found staunch support across Khorvaire, especially in the nation of Thrane. This organization is based in the city of Flamekeep, under the leadership of Jaela Daran, the Keeper of the Flame. Members of the Church carry a silver arrowhead engraved with a stylized flame. The Church of the Silver Flame was born in 299 YK when the paladin Tira Miron and a couatl merged with a silvery pillar of fire to stop a demon from escaping Khyber. Tira now acts as the Voice of the Silver Flame, serving as an intermediary between the common races and the divine. The current Keeper of the Flame, eleven-year-old Jaela Daran, receives the powers and abilities of an 18th-level cleric as long as she is within the confines of the city of Flamekeep, where the Silver Flame continually burns. Beyond the proximity of the pillar of fire, she must rely on her own skills as a 3rd-level cleric. Over the centuries, the Church of the Silver Flame has spread across Khorvaire. Its followers are engaged in a never-ending struggle against the forces of evil. They have fought demons, hunted lycanthropes almost to extinction, and battled all manner of monsters. Corruption within the ranks, however, continues to be the organization's most relentless foe. The Keeper of the Flame sits on the spiritual and temporal thrones of the Church and nation. The next level in church hierarchy is the Council of Cardinals, which oversees the operations of both Church and state. Church ministers provide spiritual guidance to the faithful, both in Thrane and abroad, battling evil by nurturing good. Church templars consist of warriors, paladins, clerics, and exorcists trained to meet evil head-on with sword, mace, and spell. The order's cardinal sits on the Council of Cardinals, and his templars protect Thrane, the churches, and religious holdings throughout Khorvaire. The third order within the Silver Flame, the friars, provides missionaries for the Church. Friars devoted to the Silver Flame spread the faith beyond Thrane's borders with zeal. While not a separate order, a small portion of the faithful believes in the Pure Flame. These fervent Flamers, called Puritans, interpret every utterance of the Voice of the Flame literally. In the past, the Puritans helped initiate the inquisition against lycanthropes and inspired crusades of all types. Today, they remain a vocal group within the Church. The Church of the Silver Flame seeks to purify the world. It wages war against supernatural evil; members of the church templars roam the land fighting fiends, undead, and magical beasts. The Church also seeks to fight corruption, greed, and other human evils, and through these acts of faith kept the Last War raging on. The average faithful is not expected to fight zombies and ghouls, but he is expected to live a noble life and encourage others to do the same. The Church teaches that those who purify their spirits in this life join with the Silver Flame after death, strengthening the fires that bind the forces of evil within Khyber. Sadly, church clergy and members don't always live up to the Silver Flame's noble standards. The greatest enemy of the Silver Flame is the Lords of Dust. The Lords of Dust rarely move openly, but over the centuries, there have been many clashes between the Flame and the fiends' agents.
The Church of the Silver Flame is dedicated to fighting supernatural forces of evil across Khorvaire. Trying to remain above the Last War's lingering conflicts, the Church focuses its energy on combating extraplanar threats such as possessing devils and corrupting demons. Leading this unceasing war are the exorcists of the Silver Flame, spiritual heroes. They channel the Silver Flame's power to ward off evil outsiders, cast out possessing spirits, and smite the material forms of the forces of evil. Exorcists of the Silver Flame are drawn from the ranks of the most experienced and dedicated champions of the Church, primarily clerics and paladins. Multiclass cleric/wizards (and accomplished mystic theurges of the Church) are also drawn to the class, though most of these retain their emphasis on divine spells and powers. Most exorcists of the Silver Flame are active in the world, out on the front lines of the war against evil. A few NPC exorcists might be found in a state of retirement—so physically and emotionally scarred from their experiences that their minds border on insanity.
The Voice of the Silver Flame whispers from the depths of the everburning fire located in the Cathedral of the Silver Flame in Flamekeep. The Voice, said to belong to Tira Miron, usually communicates through the Keeper of the Flame (currently Jaela Daran). Others of the faith sometimes hear the crackling Voice, and many make pilgrimages to Flamekeep in hopes of participating in just such a miracle. However, some scholars outside the faith believe the Voice isn't Tira Miron, at least not solely. Some believe that the demonic entity that shares the flame with Tira and the rainbow-winged serpent can speak through the silver fire in rare instances. In these rare instances, these scholars believe that the demon lures people to acts of terrible evil by whispering that they will accomplish good works. Some of the crusades and inquisitions undertaken on behalf of the Silver Flame may fall into this category. The Church of the Silver Flame, naturally, rejects this theory.
Adventure Ideas: In any PC is a cleric or paladin in the service of the Silver Flame; the Church presents an easy way to draw the characters into a conflict; a local priest calls on the passing pilgrims to overcome an evil that has arisen within the area. Corrupt priests also present opportunities for adventure, as the heroes realize that the work they have been doing for the Church has only benefited the priest. How far does the corruption go? If the heroes try to expose the priest, will they simply endanger themselves further? At higher levels, characters may be directly summoned by the Keeper of the Flame. Jaela may have seen the characters' destiny in the flame itself; this could be the start of a significant campaign arc, as she equips them with relics of the Church and sends them on a task that only they can accomplish. Note that followers of the flame may receive a cold welcome from monstrous communities. Droaam and Darguun have both suffered at the hands of the Silver Flame -- and pilgrims who pass through these regions would be well advised to be prepared for treachery and aggression.
Opportunities: Any PC who chooses to play a paladin or cleric devoted to the Silver Flame has a tie to the Church. A fighter or wizard with strong religious beliefs could also decide to join the church militant. In most cases, these characters should be pilgrims -- freed from the strict hierarchy of the Church. As a pilgrim, a character will be treated respectfully by others of the faith, but does not have access to the resources of the Church; the purpose of his journey is to learn about the world on his own. The Church of the Silver Flame can serve as a valuable ally to good-aligned parties. It is engaged in an endless battle against evil, and while the church militant has many warriors, few have the potential of player characters. If they chose, PCs who align with the Silver Flame could become champions of the Church. However, there are several limitations to consider when using the Church as a patron. First, good contacts with the Church does not automatically equal free healing magic. In small towns or smaller communities, the Silver Flame priest may simply be an expert with ranks in Healing, Sense Motive, Knowledge (religion), and Diplomacy -- but no actual magical powers. Even in larger cities, members of the ministry are more likely to be adepts than full clerics. Clerics are rare and exalted and are usually tied to the church militant, serving on the front lines of the war against evil. While most priests know mundane healing techniques, House Jorasco is the center for magical healing. Another limitation is the high moral standards of the Church. Normal parishioners are not expected to behave as paladins. But the Silver Flame sees the world in black and white, and when dealing with the Church of Thrane, PCs will be expected to act as heroes. But then there is the final issue: The fact that not all priests live up to these standards. Characters who appeal to the Church for aid may find that the local priest cares little about their problems. In fact, a truly noble pilgrim or champion might actually become the target of treachery if a corrupt priest sees the character as a threat to his position.
In 299 YK, the event that started the religion of the Silver Flame took place. In that year, a terrible eruption split the ground, and a great pillar of crimson fire emerged from the resulting chasm. No one understood the significance of the blazing column of flame, but most who dared approach it felt unrelenting malevolence in its radiating heat. Tira Miron, a paladin dedicated to Dol Arrah, received a powerful vision about this strange fire while exploring the realm's western reaches. In her vision, a great rainbow-winged serpent warned her that a terrible evil was emerging in the east, riding crimson fire from Khyber's depths. Tira rallied Thrane's forces and defeated the dark creatures that had come to venerate the crimson fire and help free the malevolent entity trapped within its flames. With her great sword Kloinjer, its pommel capped with a Khyber dragonshard, Tira turned to face the emerging demon just as the great serpent with the rainbow-feathered wings of her vision appeared and dove headfirst into the fire. Tira watched as the serpent and the demon struggled in the flames. The battle within the fire seemed to last for an eternity, and as she watched, the demon began to overcome the serpent. Horrified, she saw the demon strike a crippling blow. The serpent, calling on its last reserves of power, encircled the demon and buried its fangs into the fiend's fiery throat. At the same moment, it sent a mental plea to Tira, and the paladin didn't hesitate. She leaped into the fire, plunging Kloinjer through the writhing serpent and deep into the demon's flesh. Then, the legend says, a powerful explosion rocked the entire kingdom of Galifar. The hot crimson fire became a cool silver flame. Tira remained within, now part of the divine fire that had replaced the evil conflagration. She became the Voice of the Silver Flame, and a new religion was born. Flamekeep, a simple stone castle, was erected around the everburning pillar of silver fire. Deep within the chasm, at the point where the fire erupts from the earth, it is said that mighty Kloinjer's blade is buried almost to the hilt, binding demon, serpent, and paladin together forever. Priests and devout followers gather three times a day to celebrate the Mass of Silver Fire, and the faith starts every week with the Day of Cleansing Fire—a daylong devotion that includes prayer, fasting, and a recitation of the Nine Miracles of the Silver Flame performed in the Draconic tongue. During these various rituals and ceremonies, most nonessential activities in the nation stop so that everyone can meditate and reflect on the power and glory of the Silver Flame.
Allies: The Silver Flame has close ties to the Knights of Thrane. Most of the knights are devotees of the Silver Flame, but they have chosen to serve the crown instead of taking up the monastical rule of the church militant.
Enemies: The greatest enemies of the Silver Flame are the Lords of Dust. Though few even within the ministry are aware of it, the Silver Flame was born in the ancient struggle between the rakshasas and the couatl, and it is the power of the Silver Flame that holds the rajahs at bay. The Lords of Dust rarely move openly, but over the centuries, there have been many clashes between the agents of the flame and this alliance of fiends. A second deadly rival is the Order of the Emerald Claw. The Church militant will take any opportunity to strike down these necromancers and their vile creations -- a situation that may exacerbate tensions between Thrane and Karrnath, where the order has been gaining support.
Flamekeep, Thrane
Jaela Daran, the Keeper of the Flame
Jaela Daran is a nine-year-old girl who was called to serve as the Church of the Silver Flame's spiritual leader. She has a streak of pure silver in her hair, a sign of the divine touch. She is disturbingly intelligent and charismatic; while her body is that of a little girl, she speaks with the voice of all of the Keepers of the Flame who have come before her. While Jaela is one of the most powerful clerics in Khorvaire, she is bound to the flame and cannot venture far from it. She is not a hero, but she has been empowered to recognize and guide heroes, and adventurers may be summoned to Flamekeep to receive messages from the Flame.
The symbol of the Church is a silver arrowhead engraved with a stylized flame.
Hierarchy: The Church of the Silver Flame is divided into the church militant and the church ministry. The ministry oversees the administrative functions of the Church. The members of the ministry are also responsible for providing spiritual guidance to the followers of the Church. They are shepherds rather than soldiers, and they battle evil by nurturing good. Each kingdom is overseen by a network of priests and bishops; this chain of command continues up to the Council of Flamekeep and the Keeper of the Flame. The current Keeper is a girl named Jaela Daran, who was appointed in 995 YK.
The Church militant is comprised of warriors, paladins, clerics, and exorcists. Where the ministry attempts to kindle a spark of good in the human spirit, the church militant battles the forces of evil wherever they appear. Members of this spiritual army live ascetic lives in monastic fortresses, alternating periods of devotion and training with circular patrols across the territory protected by the Flame. The church militant has its own internal hierarchy, but it is under the rule of the Keeper of the Flame, and the rank and file of the army are expected to defer to the ministry. The church militant is the sword of the Flame; the ministry is the mind that guides it. Within both the ministry and the church militant, a promising initiate is often sent on an extended and unstructured pilgrimage, charged to discover the true nature of good and evil by walking in the world and trying to make a difference as an individual. These pilgrims are expected to respond to the needs of the Church in the communities they pass through.
Motivation: The Church of the Silver Flame seeks to purify the world. Its most obvious work is its war against supernatural evil; members of the Church militant roam the land fighting fiends, undead, and magical beasts. But the Church also seeks to fight corruption, greed, and other human evils. The common layman is not expected to fight zombies and ghouls; this is the work of the Church's soldiers. But he is expected to live a noble life and to encourage others to do the same. It is said that those who purify their spirits in this life will join with the Silver Flame after death, strengthening the flame as it binds the forces of evil within Khyber. Sadly, the priests and parishioners of the Church don't always live up to these noble standards. Within Thrane, the warriors and ministers of the Silver Flame are generally dedicated to the ideals of the Church -- sometimes with an almost frightening zealotry. But the further away one gets from Flamekeep and the watchful eye of the Keeper of the Flame, the more common it is to find corrupt ministers and warriors who abuse their reputation for personal gain. Southern Breland is particularly infamous for the conduct of its ministers. Periodically, the Council of Flamekeep sends agents to seek out and eliminate corruption within the Church -- but the foul often find shelter in the shadows.
Brief History: The Church of the Silver Flame was born in 299 YK. A massive and unexpected volcanic eruption in Thrane released a demon lord and its minions, and for a time it seemed that darkness would cover the land. But the upheaval had also opened a path to the force that had bound the demons for an aeon. This silver flame found a vessel in a young woman named Tira Miron; empowered and inspired, Tira rallied the forces of Thrane and drove the fiends back to the black mountain, sealing them in the vaults of Khyber once more. But Tira's work was not done. Traveling to the cavern where the flame rose from the earth, she allowed her body to be consumed so that her soul could join with the flame itself. Tira now serves as the Voice of the Silver Flame, the intermediary between humanity and the divine. Over the centuries the Church of the Silver Flame has spread across Khorvaire. Its followers are engaged in a never-ending struggle against the forces of evil. They have fought demons, hunted the lycanthropes almost to extinction, and battled all manner of monsters. But all too often, it is human corruption that proves the most dangerous foe.
"Why do you hurt your fellow citizens?" The innkeeper froze. "What?" "I can see the greed swirling in your soul," Handor said. "Do you water down your ale? Charge three crowns when the price is two? Or worse?" "I don't know what you're talking about," the man stammered. His eyes flickered down to Handor's blade. "I am a paladin of the Silver Flame. I am sworn to fight evil in all its forms. My sword is for the fiends and monsters that deserve neither reason nor mercy. But you are no monster, and you can still find redemption." Handor put his hand on the hosteller's shoulder. "Consider your actions. Think about those you have harmed. Seek out a minister and cleanse your soul. The true darkness is rising, and if we are to survive we must all find a path to the light. If you cannot . . . then perhaps you are a monster, after all."
Core Beliefs The Silver Flame has existed since the dawn of time. When Eberron was overrun by darkness and the demon spawn of Khyber, the Flame arose to bring light to the world and to bind the fiends in the depths of the Dragon Below. But the Flame was too pure for flawed humanity, and the people of Khorvaire could not hear its call -- until Tira Miron set upon her righteous path. This noble warrior had devoted her life to the cause of honor and sacrifice, and in her the Flame found a worthy vessel. Guided by a glorious feathered serpent, Tira gave her life to end the reign of a demon lord that had escaped its bond. Though she fell in battle, Tira's soul joined with the Silver Flame, and in so doing, she became a conduit -- a voice that humanity could hear. Across Thrane, the pure of heart heard her call; and ever since then, the Church of the Silver Flame has stood against evil, whatever form it might take.
The Silver Flame is not an anthropomorphic deity. It is a celestial force comprised of a vast multitude of noble spirits. It neither requires sacrifices of gold or spices, nor does it want praise in the form of prayer. Instead, it needs bold warriors and pure ministers who will embrace the light and use that inspiration to banish evil from the world. A typical worshiper of the Sovereign Host offers prayers in the hopes that the deities will help him; a true follower of the Silver Flame is interested only in how she can serve the cause of the flame.
The Afterlife: Some say that when a true follower of the Flame passes on, his spirit joins with the Silver Flame, strengthening the light. While some people may see this as a mediocre reward, the priests of the Flame say that they can achieve no greater bliss and that glory beyond anything that can be experienced in life awaits -- not to mention that this far surpasses the experience of wasting away in Dolurrh. For this reason, clerics of the Silver Flame are loathe to raise the dead; when a true hero dies, his spirit has gone to a better place, and he continues to fight from the other side. Gold rarely influences a true priest of the Flame; the cleric brings the hero back only if she believes he has a noble purpose to serve in this life, and this often involves a quest or vow.
Human Evil: The goal of the Church is to cleanse the world of evil. In the minds of most outsiders, this conjures up images of templars and exorcists fighting with sword and spell. But the vast majority of the members of the Church are not warriors. More people are in the ministry and the Order of Friars than in the Order of Templars, and they seek to battle evil by nurturing good. A Thrane farmer who is faithful to the Flame does not fight demons. But he seeks to live his life by the ideals of the Church: to help those in need, to encourage virtuous behavior, and to be a force of light in the world. Gradations of evil exist, and while no mercy can be granted to the demon, hope remains that the greedy merchant or the arrogant king may follow a different path if shown how. The minister -- and the paladin -- leads by example and demonstrates to others the errors of their ways. With this said, puritans of the Flame may be less forgiving and more apt to use violence as a tool to eliminate social evils as well as supernatural forces.
Other Faiths: While the Church of the Silver Flame seeks to abolish the worship of the Blood of Vol, the Cults of the Dragon Below, and the Dark Six, it can be tolerant of other religions. Warriors of the Flame have much in common with the followers of Dol Arrah, and the teachings of Aureon and Boldrei echo those of the Church. With that said, followers of the Sovereign Host are often somewhat lackadaisical in their faith, and this often draws disdain from the faithful of the Church. A loyal member of the Church can associate freely with followers of the Sovereign Host or the Path of Light, but a zealous friar will still try to lure them to the true faith. The Fury of the Flame
The ministry of the Silver Flame performs countless good works throughout the Five Nations, but the actions of the templars often overshadow these efforts. The most dramatic instance of this occurred when the inquisition destroyed the lycanthropes. To outsiders, this wholesale slaughter may seem shocking and unforgivable. However, a few factors can help people understand how such an event could occur -- and what the Church might do in the future.
The Church of the Silver Flame operates under a strict hierarchy. The Church expects the faithful to trust the wisdom of those who stand above them, since those higher in the hierarchy stand closer to the Flame. Thus, most templars act without questioning their orders: If a cardinal authorizes an action, it must be in the best interests of the world. This is especially true of the puritans.
The ultimate goal of the Church is to cleanse Eberron itself. For many members of the Church, this noble goal justifies any means required to reach it. This manner of thinking serves as one of the sources of evil-aligned priests within Thrane. Such a priest may be good in almost all ways, but she has a willingness to employ evil tools -- such as torture -- when necessary to achieve a goal that furthers the Church's cause. When the Church targets a problem, it seeks to completely eliminate it. The templars act with ruthless efficiency. In the case of lycanthropy, any lycanthrope can afflict a victim with a curse that alters behavior and alignment, and this makes the victim a threat to others and a new carrier for the curse. In 832 YK, the Keeper of the Silver Flame declared that lycanthropy afflicted the soul as well as the body, since it could turn the noblest soul to a tool of darkness. Even those lycanthropic strains that were not inherently evil still force a change of behavior on the subject, and were thus suspect; the Keeper declared that these still imperiled the soul. If a single lycanthrope remained alive, it could pass the curse to others, and they could pass the curse to others, and within a generation the problem could arise anew. Thus all lycanthropes -- even those seemingly innocent and young -- must be destroyed.
A handful of paladins found alternatives. Some helped werebears escape to Lamannia, while others sought to cure the afflicted. Unfortunately, the process of breaking the curse is long and involved, and the Keeper of the Flame said that once the curse was set (via changing alignment), nothing could save the victim's soul. And so the templars relied on their silvered swords, cutting out the cancer and praying for forgiveness when innocents fell at their hands.
The Church is fighting a war, and it intends to win. Casualties are certain. Sacrifices must be made, and allies may fall to friendly fire. But the Church will always act swiftly, decisively, and in a manner that serves the greater good -- at least, as the cardinals see it.
The idea that good people can do evil and that evil people can serve the cause of good is a central theme of Eberron. The Church of the Silver Flame embraces this paradox. It has a noble cause. The majority of its followers champion the ways of the light. And yet, with the best of intentions, they can become your enemies -- or you may be asked to do questionable things in the service of the Church. Ministers and Priests The Church of the Silver Flame is highly structured. Someone who seeks to enter the order of friars or ministers first serves as an apprentice within his local community, learning the basic teachings of the Flame. When he receives the blessing of the local minister, he can enter one of the seminaries of the Flame.
Most initiates progress as experts, learning mundane skills that will help them serve their communities. Knowledge (religion), Heal, and Diplomacy are vital skills, and Knowledge (the planes) and Sense Motive are encouraged. In addition, most initiates have ranks in Craft or Profession. Various challenges test an initiate's potential to channel divine magic; those who possess this talent are called to the Great Seminary of Flamekeep, where the wisest adepts of the Church teach them. The cardinals occasionally visit the Great Seminary, and on rare occasions the Keeper herself will speak to the young adepts. A character's backstory could incorporate this, giving a PC a pre-existing connection with a high-ranking patron in the Church. But is the cardinal in question faithful to the Flame, or is she a corrupt schemer?

Paladins and Templars The templars learn their trade in one of the fortress monasteries scattered across Khorvaire. While monasteries exist throughout Thrane, Breland, and Aundair, the three largest fortresses are located in Thrane: the massive monastery of Kloijnir, which watches over Flamekeep; Tira's Watch, on the southeastern border of Thrane and Breland; and Morningcrest to the west. Templars live an austere life, and they dedicate themselves to combat training and religious studies. The majority of templars become warriors, while the most gifted become fighters or monks. A cleric typically travels to a fortress monastery after completing spiritual training in Flamekeep, and here he learns the use of weapons and armor. These monasteries also serve as garrisons, and most templars remain at the monastery even after completing their training. Occasionally a templar accompanies a friar or serves as a pilgrim; this calling is a matter between the templar and the abbot.
Paladins are a special case. You cannot train to be a paladin: it is a spiritual calling. Many paladins learn basic skills outside of the Church, since the Voice of the Flame guides them. Ministers and friars who discover a potential paladin send her to a monastery for full training, though some paladins have risen to significant levels before officially joining the Church. A paladin must undergo tests at Flamekeep before she can act as an official representative of the Church. Some then take up residence at the templar monasteries, but many serve as pilgrims or serve in secular organizations, such as the Knights of Thrane or the King's Citadel; their calling draws them out to the world, and they find monastic life stifling.
Eberron is a place where alignments are blurred, but the paladin is held to a higher standard. A paladin embodies good, and the Flame itself calls her to serve as a champion of the light. A paladin's powers are the result of her faith, her purity, and her destiny. If a player wants to be a corrupt warrior with divine powers or a holy warrior who doubts her cause, she shouldn't be a paladin -- she should play a fighter/cleric, or something similar. With that said, the moral ambiguity of Eberron makes life challenging for the paladin who expects everything to be black and white. In a crowd of ten commoners, odds are good that three will be evil. But that doesn't mean they are monsters or even killers -- each is just a greedy, selfish person who willingly watches others suffer. The sword is no answer here; the paladin is charged to protect these people. Oratory, virtue, and inspiration are the weapons of the paladin -- though intimidation may have its place. A paladin who meets this challenge and lives up to the ideals of the Flame should be treated with respect by the faithful; a paladin in good standing should find shelter and support among any community of the Flame.
Friars and Pilgrims Ministers and templars are assigned to specific regions. Friars and pilgrims take the light of the Flame into dark places. A friar goes through the same training as a minister, but instead of settling in a single community, he is charged with the task of missionary work. A friar travels across Khorvaire preaching the virtues of the Silver Flame and attempting to win converts to the Church. Friars also serve as the eyes of the Church; a friar will search every new village for signs of possession, cult activity, or other foulness, and then he can report his findings back to the nearest Church official. The majority of friars are experts; a few remarkable individuals possess adept levels.
The role of the pilgrim is less strictly defined. A pilgrim wanders the world. She is not required to perform missionary work, but she is expected to lead by example wherever she goes, to oppose evil in all its forms. This is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of the Church, but it still represents a commitment -- a vow to serve and protect. Pilgrims are not as well received as paladins, but the faithful will still support a passing pilgrim in exchange for a sermon or tales of her bold deeds. This is the most likely role for a PC cleric to fill: As a pilgrim, she is free to go on any adventure she sees fit.
Corruption In Eberron, the alignment of a priest does not have to match that of his deity. As a result, corruption is a major concern in the Church of the Silver Flame. However, corruption can take many forms, and each can have a vastly different impact on a campaign.
The most common form of corruption is when zealous devotion causes a priest to set aside mercy and compassion. Such a priest may be a pillar of his community and an admirable man who has absolute dedication to the Church. But if he must sacrifice the innocent in pursuit of the greater good, he will. He will torture and kill without remorse. He will not glorify these actions, and will not torture needlessly -- but he will not shirk from using dark methods to win the battle against evil.
A second form of corruption is greed. The clerics and adepts of the Silver Flame are not supposed to sell divine spells; these miracles are to be saved for the protection of the faithful. But some clerics use their spells to gain gold or influence. Some just want to live lives of luxury, but others believe that there are many ways to fight evil -- and that political power is a more effective weapon than a paladin's sword. While these priests have an evil alignment, they may still be working in the interests of the greater good -- at least, as they see it.
These two types of priests both have their redeeming features. They do not see themselves as evil and may aid the cause of good. But then there is the third category -- the priest who knowingly embraces the darkness. A second voice whispers in the Silver Flame -- that of the terrible demon that Tira bound in battle. Occasionally a good priest is led astray by this false flame. However, a few seek out this quiet voice and serve the interests of the Lords of Dust from the heart of the Church. Some believe they will gain immortality or fiendish power in exchange for their devotion. Others have been driven mad by the horrors of the Last War and believe that the light has forsaken the world. Either way, these heretics are cunning and dangerous.
Unfortunately, dealing with corruption is a tricky business. The Church does not define evil as "that which can be detected with detect evil"; as noted earlier, someone with an evil alignment may serve the greater good. Furthermore, a cleric of a good deity always possesses a good aura, regardless of her personal alignment. Rank within the church hierarchy is another complication: a pilgrim can't kill a cardinal and expect to get away with it because "he was evil." She will need proof of actions that went against church doctrine and harmed the innocent. Thus, a paladin's ability to detect evil allows her to judge the character of those around her -- but it's in no way a license to kill.
When dealing with this sort of situation, a DM should bear in mind that a significant difference exists between rank and character level. A cardinal may be a high-level cleric. He could also be a low-level expert. A high-ranking church official may not be able to physically challenge a high-level PC -- but he has the many resources of the Church and the Templars behind him, and lower-ranking members of the Church are expected to defer to his judgment or face sanction and excommunication.
Quests The Silver Flame has a simple goal: Abolish evil. There are hundreds of options: venturing into Droaam to strike against an enclave of monsters; sneaking into Karrnath to destroy a temple of the Blood of Vol; battling lurking fiends or possessing demons in the cities of Khorvaire; recovering a cursed object and then traveling to the Demon Wastes to destroy it; and so on.
Prayers Appeals to the Silver Flame are short and direct; this religion is born of war, and prayers must be called out in the midst of battle. References to light and flame are extremely common. "Light of the Flame, guide my arm."
Temples Temples of the Silver Flame always are heavily fortified and capable of providing shelter to the innocent. Furnishings are typically austere, but elaborate carvings displaying intertwining flames and heroes of the Church often cover the walls. A brazier filled with silver continual flame is set before the altar. Rites
Priests of the Silver Flame perform many services. While some of these are practical -- ranging from marriage to military training (specifically, archery) -- the tasks of the priest also include offering guidance and inspiration to the community. Daily services provide the faithful with the chance to hear the words of the priest and to present their troubles. Heralds and Allies
Tira Miron is the voice of the Silver Flame, and her spirit responds to commune, augury, or similar entreaties -- or so it appears. Tira has never manifested physically since her sacrifice, and in all likelihood she cannot; she is a conduit that allows the Flame to speak to the common races, not an avatar to fight its battles. Its primary allies are the couatl, but over the millennia a number of noble celestials have heard the call of the Flame and chosen to serve its cause. Thus, a cleric's call for aid could be answered by an archon, an angel, or something stranger and more exotic.
Favored Weapon The favored weapon of the Church of the Silver Flame is the longbow. Many believe that this dates back to the battle against the rakshasas, who are most vulnerable to piercing weapons. Furthermore, a quiver of arrows can include shafts with a wide range of enchantments or arrowhead materials, allowing a templar to operate at peak efficiency against all manner of beasts and fiends. Priests also encourage archery as a form of meditation, and in many communities the faithful can come to train at the local Church of the Flame. This can result in an unusually high number of 1st-level warriors or commoners with Martial Weapon Proficiency (longbow) in areas devoted to the Flame.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Leader

Jaela Daran

Leader Title

Keeper of the Flame

Related Ranks & Titles

• Keeper of the Flame