Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow
Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow is a religious Order of the Church of the Larani and a powerful force in the Kingdoms of Kaldor and Melderyn. Its bishops wield military, political, and spiritual power equivalent to that of powerful Earls and landholders.
The Order's chief temple is the Cathedral of New Hope in the City of Thay. It has major temples in the Cities of Cherafir and Tashal, as well as minor temples throughout its vast estates. It also has a significant presence in the Kingdom of Chybisa.
This Order sponsors the Fighting Order, Order of the Lady of Paladins, a significant military force.
Current Situation
Kingdom of Melderyn
The Order’s headquarters is in the City of Thay. The Grandmistress of the Order is pious Kerthede Talvail, who is also the Laranian Primate of Hârn. The Order is a significant political power in Melderyn and holds many manors and abbeys.
The Order of the Lady of Paladins holds lands directly from the King, and as a result, the Clerical Order has less control over its sponsored fighting order here than it does elsewhere. The so-called “holy war,” the Solora Crusade, being waged by the Lady of Paladins against the neighboring primitive Solori Barbarian Tribes, has caused some division.
Kingdom of Kaldor
Almost all of this Kingdoms nobles worship Larani; therefore, this Church has considerable spiritual authority and a major landholder. Being removed from the Church hierarchy in Thay, the Archbishop of Kaldor enjoys considerable autonomy. Unlike in Melderyn, the Kaldorian branch of the Order of the Lady of Paladins holds its lands from the Order of the Spear, not the King, and therefore does not act independently. It is rumored that some of the Order's Priests would prefer Kaldor to have its own Clerical and Fighting Order.
Kingdom of Chybisa
The Order has less influence in Chybisa than it does in Kaldor or Melderyn as it holds few lands and relies on royal patronage. As both Kaldor and Melderyn claim fealty from Chybisa, the Laranian Church has refused to appoint an Archbishop of Chybisa. The Bishop of Burzyn is the Kingdom's highest-ranking priest.
History
~50 to 100TR - Larani Missionaries from the Lythian continent arrived onto the Kingdom of Melderyn. The Church Prospered and was granted it lands for abbeys and revenue. Within 200 years, it had spread and established temples in each of the eastern Hârnic kingdoms.
~350TR - Agrikian Missionaries arrived from the Azeryani Empire and western Hârn. Fardir of Tenil, a pious priest and knight, was at the forefront of the defense wielding the Holy Silver Spear Protector. Protector was shattered in Fardir greatest final battle. Fardir disappeared with Protector's Spearhead.
465 to 471TR - Fardir’s Order reformed when the threat from evil religions of the expanding Corani Empire became evident. The new Clerical Order adopted Fardir’s spear as its symbol and called itself the Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow.
558TR - In the West, the martyrdom of the Morgathian prophet Balsha led to the fall of the Corani Empire and the birth of the Theocracy of Tekhos.
575TR - The King of Melderyn funded the creation of a Laranian fighting Order, the Order of the Lady of Paladins. They aided the resistance against the Morgathians and were instrumental in the founding of the Kingdom of Kanday.
Mythology & Lore
The Legend of the Spear - the Tale of Fardir of Tenil and the Spear of Shattered Sorrow
Around the third century TR, Sir Fardir Tenil was a famous Priest and Knight who guarded the newly consecrated temple at Gythrun, in the Kingdom of Melderyn. Around this time, Eastern Hârn was assaulted by waves of Agrikian missionaries, and Fardir was at the forefront of the defense. Wielding the enchanted silver spear Protector, a weapon which could both heal and slay, he won many victories over Agrik’s forces.
With each combat, his love of battle grew; however, his mercy diminished. In Fardir’s final battle, the last Agrikan knight to face him shattered Protector with a mighty blow of his flaming mace. Fardir was able to slay this great warrior, driving Protector's blade through the warrior's throat. However, he was overcome by horror. The man looked so much like him; he could have been his brother. He realized that it profits a man nothing to defeat an enemy if he becomes that enemy.
Realizing that he had caused great suffering, he told his companions he had sinned and entrusting Protector’s shaft into their safekeeping. He carried the spearhead away in silence, and neither Fardir nor the spearhead was ever seen again.
Religious Paraphernalia
Shattered Staff
The Order of the Spear uses a peculiar Staff as their holy focus and a weapon. This Staff is adorned at its head with a carved broken wooden spearhead and used in many of the Order's rituals and ceremonies.
Shattered Spear
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Touch
Components: V S M (Staff is adorned at its head with a carved broken wooden spearhead)
Duration: 1 minute
Classes: Priests of the Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow.
Your staff is imbued with holy power. For the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of melee attacks using that weapon, and the weapon’s damage die becomes a d8. The weapon also becomes magical, if it isn’t already. The spell ends if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.
The Letters of the Road
All members of this Order have a copy of this holy text. It is a collection of parables and theological discourse meant to inspire clergy in the beliefs and behavior worthy of Larani’s grace.
Reading this book daily spiritually fortifies a Priest granting a +1 bonus to Saving Throws against Fear or Compulsion.
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