Siegmund - The Lawbringer
Can't you see that your endless raiding has destroyed any semblance of order? Without order, you cannot have peace, you cannot have justice, and the good in men's hearts dies. You are guilty of all of this, and I am here to deliver justice to you.
Siegmund is the God of Law, Order, Justice, and Good in that order; teaching that justice cannot exist without law and good cannot exist without order. Born in the lands that would one day become Fruchtbarland, he began a campaign to end the chaos and bring order to the region nearly the moment that he ascended to his father's throne. Siegmund would end up uniting much of modern day Fruchtbarland under his banner, creating and enforcing a strict system of laws with an iron fist, and establishing a judicial system, all of which formed the basis for the modern states of Fruchtbarland and The Valorous Dominion.
Mortal Life
Born the heir to a minor kingdom in what would one day become Fruchtbarland, Siegmund grew up in an era of constant warfare, his father's lands surrounded by innumerable warlords and petty kings all vying for power. He ascended to the throne after the death of his father in a minor border conflict, betrayed by an erstwhile ally, and vowed to end the chaos and bring peace and order to the region. The opportunity to begin his crusade occurred when a nearby friendly kingdom came under siege by several warlords and he arrived just in time to shatter their armies against the outer walls of the beseiged keep. A tremendously charismatic leader, he convinced the king to become a duke under his rule, and immediately pushed out into the territories once controlled by the late worlords.
Siegmund became well known for seeking out enemy lords mid battle, often berating them for their failings as rulers and preaching his philosophy of rule of law above all else as he dueled with them. While on campaign, he could often be found joining his men around the communal cook fires, regaling them with his visions of a peaceful land united under his banner and by his laws. As his crusade progressed, he gained a following of loyal knights who would become known as The Valorous Companions, and as more and more land fell under his control, he would grand the lands to his companions, entrusting them with enforcing the strict system of laws that he had devised and maintaining order as he continued his crusade.
As Siegmund's crusade drew closer to the mountain range known as The Western Wall, human bandits and warlords began to become less prevalant, replaced by warbands, raiding parties, and even some kingdoms comprised of members of the so called 'monstrous races'. The Lawbringer regarded the orcs, and assorted goblinoids as being incapable of and incompatible with the law and order that he so fervently believed was necessary for justice and good to exist. Indeed, it is Siegmund who is credited with coining the term "the monstrous races", and the fervor with which he waged war against them was nearly fanatical in it's intensity, eventually driving them back across the western wall and out of human claimed lands.
As his crusade progressed, uniting the lands under his banner, establishing the rule of law and enforcing those strict laws with an iron fist, the deeds of Siegmund and his companions became legendary. Tales of routing armies with a single cavalry charge, downing powerful monsters, and duels with enemy lords spread far and wide. There was no king, warlord, or champion that Siegmund would not challenge to single combat, and he won those battles without fail, even against the most legendary or monstrous of opponents.
With all of the lands from the great river known as the Grosserfluss to The Western Wall tamed and brought under his control, Siegmund called all of the princes to his capital of Elterdorf, on the shores of the massive lake known as the Zentrumsee, to hear his vision for the future of the nation. With the princes at his side and his companions flanking him, Siegmund spoke to the assembled masses of all they had accomplished and his vision for the future. His speech reached a crescendo as he spoke of his vision for a safe and peaceful Fruchtbarland, united under a single system of laws where every man can be assured of a peaceful and fruitful existance. As he spoke, motes of light began to build in the air around him and his voice gained a deeper, more resonant note. As he issued his final words, golden light enveloped him and when it cleared he was gone, leaving behind a few motes of light floating in the air and a deep resolve to continue his work and bring his vision to life in his audience.
Siegmund's followers would go on to unite much of modern Fruchrbarland under his banner, enforcing his laws, stamping out banditry and establishing a judicial system which is still a model across The Shattered Continent. It is unknown how far his crusade might have gone with him at it's head, as his ascenency occurred before it was completed, but his companions continued it to the best of their ablities, and he is credited with the creation of the modern nation of Fruchtbarland. The ascended were already beginning to become known by the time of his ascension, and worship of Siegmund, The Lawbringer, began almost immediately, quickly becoming the dominant religion in the lands which he so loved.
Teachings
Siegmund stands apart from the other good aligned gods in his belief that law and order were absolutely essential in order for good to exist, prioritizing the rule of law above all else. This belief has lead some to criticize his followers for being cold hearted and tyrannical, but they insist that chaos and debauchery are just the first steps leading to the rise of evil.
The Monstrous Races
Although they have become among the most controversial of Siegmund's Teachings, the concept that certain races are simply incompatible with law, order, and his vision of a civilized society is one of the most widely known. Followers of the ascended across the continent subscribe to this belief, regardless of whether or not they revere siegmund or one of his fellow pantheon members. Members of the races in question who live in human dominated societies bristle at the label and the prejudice that come with it, but its origins with one of The Ascended makes arguing against it a controversial act.
Worship
Unsurprisingly, Siegmund finds most of his worshippers among people who are sworn to uphold law, justice and order. Constables, Guardsmen, Magistrates, and the like are among his most common devotees, and he along with Sigune are the two dieties most popular among champions who are inclined to be crusaders against evil, and are sometimes known as The Champion Gods. His worship is obviously more prevalant in his homeland of Fruchtbarland, and he is also particularly popular among knights in Galacia, where knighthood is closely tied to martial religious orders.
The Valorous Dominion
TODO
Siegmund
The Lawbringer
Alignment
Lawful Good
Edicts
Uphold Law and Order, Good cannot exist without order, Justice is born from law,
Anathema
Break Laws, Disrupt Order, Prevent Justice from being enacted
Areas of Concern
Law, Order, Justice
Follower Alignments
LG, LN, NG, N
Devotee Benefits
Divine Ability
Strength or Wisdom
Divine Font
Heal
Divine Skill
Religion
Favored Weapon
Bastard Sword
Domains
Duty, Might, Zeal, Truth
Cleric Spells
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