Church of Tymora
The City of Splendors has long been a beacon for adventurers who trust their lives to Lady Luck. The donations of those who braved the depths of Undermountain and survived to tell the tale alone were enough to construct the Tower of Luck in just a few short years. Nevertheless, the church of Tymora continues to struggle, due in large part to the lack of adherents among the year-round citizenry. Some say that High Lady Priest Seenroas and Lord Prior Markos are too mercenary, trading in luck as if it were a commodity, while others say they are ignoring the burgeoning number of adherents among the halfling population of Waterdeep.
Base of Operations: The Tower of Luck.
Church of Tymora (Standard Religious): AL CG, CN, N; 40,000 gp resource limit; Membership 192; Integrated (humans 71, halflings 38, elves 35, dwarves 19, gnomes 13, half-elves 10, half-orcs 4, others 2 dues 5 gp/month (none to join).
Authority Figure: Honorable Mistress
Creed: To dare is to live. Be bold, take risks, and live not only according to prudence and plans. Trust in the Lady, for she is luck, and in risking you shall be the master of your own life. Yet seek to follow aims you set for yourself, for to drift unthinkingly from boldness to boldness is to fall into the unmerciful embrace of Beshaba. Leave the outcome of something, large or small, to pure luck every day. Counsel all others to live in the same way; give them encouragement and lead by example. Some who venerate the Lady of Luck believe that planning for battle, adventure, or major life decisions is a mild sin. They believe that those who truly venerate Tymora and follow her de¬sires should do everything by chance, “trusting in the Lady.” Some Tymorans enjoy games of chance, while others dismiss such activities as “showing rude¬ness to the Lady by idling away time and coins playing at something you should be doing for real, in earnest.” Most of Tymora’s followers believe that calling on the Lady aloud with a murmured “Lady, be with me,” when going into battle is crucial to her worship. If this gesture is forgotten or dismissed, Beshaba’s ill luck rather than Tymora’s good luck will accompany that person in the fray. Elderly and infirm persons wanting to vener¬ate Tymora often give aid, shelter, items, or even sponsorship to adventurers, who can chance things and therefore please the Lady better than they themselves can. Jugglers—especially those who juggle sharp weapons, or otherwise court danger when per¬forming—always pray to Tymora before their acts, and they believe their performances are of¬ferings to the goddess. Wayfarers lost at a choice of roads know very well that the right thing to do, unless one beseeches another deity such as Gwaeron Wind¬strom or Shaundakul for specific directions, is to call on the Lady. To do this, one invokes her name, drops a coin onto his or her own head from above, and is guided as to the route to take by where it falls. When guidance is deemed less than definitive, wayfarers repeat this process until “the way shows clear.” Secular Aims: Lady Luck’s priests are called Luckbringers by many, but they call themselves the Fortunate Faithful, or just Fortunates. They are expected to spread stories of success and good fortune achieved through daring, and to establish, maintain, and staff a widespread web of temples and shrines to Tymora, that her inspiration and guidance be within easy reach of all. Tymora is the primary goddess of many adven¬turers, and Tymoran clergy are expected to tend, shelter, and support needy adventurers—and to expect generous offerings from the same adven¬turers when good fortune attends them. Even a simple “roof and prevailing-wind wall over an altar” shrine to Tymora in the wilds has two or more Fortunates staffing it, plus a handful of lay worshipers. Such altars are equipped with healing potions, means of neutralizing poison, a fire and cooking cauldron, blankets, splints, food, herbs, weapons, tools, lanterns and oil for them, and cudgel torches—all for giving, renting, or selling to adventurers, wayfarers, and others in need. A Fortunate will aid a crofter seeking his lost child as enthusiastically as will a professional ad¬venturer—for they both enjoy boldly chancing the unknown and perils, and Tymora regards such actions as holy and desirable. Tymorans support risky business ventures as well as adventuring ac¬tivities, but the church is divided on gambling. Tymorans believe that personal wagering is fine, even in gaming, but professional gambling—both the institutions that develop and inevitably cheat or tilt the odds so as to make a guaranteed cut, and the gamblers who cheat or try to count cards rather than trusting in chance, are frowned upon. It reverences Tymora to live in chance and the moment of fortune, but it sins against Tymora to try to alter the chancing to your own benefit. Of course, preparing yourself to gain the best odds beforehand is fine—it is cheating or recasting the chance during the chancing that is decidedly not acceptable. Tymorans support hopeless causes and the un¬derdog, and want to see chances taken. However, Lady Luck herself guides senior clergy in decid¬ing if this stance should still be followed when such support might lead to war or open violence. As a result, some Tymorans become popular or widely known. In the mid- and later 1300s DR, these prominent Fortunates include the following individuals. Asmrele Staglar: Staglar is usually based in Wa- terdeep but known to travel all over the Sword Coast North and Heartlands, as far east as Elver- suit and as far south as the northern boundary of Amn. A merry, “blades out!” adventurer, Staglar has long, flowing white hair despite her youth, and is known for flashy sword play, utter fearless-ness, acrobatics, and frequent laughter. Staglar seems to genuinely love danger, and she wants others to share in her carefree daring. Rumors insist that “the Staglar” has been slain and resur¬rected scores of times, but the truth is unknown. Sandurl Sarradren: Usually based in southwest¬ern Sembia, but often found spending a winter over in Cormyr, this jovial and daring merchant trader is getting steadily older and paunchier. Nonetheless, Sarradren still lives for the bold— often borderline, but never illicit—trade gamble, and seems to have more bustling energy than men a third his age. Tannath Daerovur: Based in Tethyr, but moving around constantly, Daerovur is a dashingly hand¬some, living-with-gusto young man who makes friends easily and helps them carry out all man¬ner of seemingly crazy schemes, business forays, and social and romantic ploys. As a result of this behavior—and the songs of smitten minstrels who chronicle it—he is entering local legend as a young, romantic action hero. Lathlan Zauntur: Calishite-born but apt to be found anywhere around the shores of the Shining Sea, this battered-looking, middle-aged veteran is an accomplished actor and mimic. He usually poses as a weary, lowcoin trader—until he falls in with someone who has a daring plan or a crazed scheme, whereupon he grins, his eyes twinkle, and he reveals himself as an agile, swift-witted veteran of swindles, long chances, and risky busi¬ness. He honestly doesn’t care if he profits, but he wants his new friends to profit. As a result, he is seldom attacked and often admired, and his name is spreading as a good friend to have.
Creed: To dare is to live. Be bold, take risks, and live not only according to prudence and plans. Trust in the Lady, for she is luck, and in risking you shall be the master of your own life. Yet seek to follow aims you set for yourself, for to drift unthinkingly from boldness to boldness is to fall into the unmerciful embrace of Beshaba. Leave the outcome of something, large or small, to pure luck every day. Counsel all others to live in the same way; give them encouragement and lead by example. Some who venerate the Lady of Luck believe that planning for battle, adventure, or major life decisions is a mild sin. They believe that those who truly venerate Tymora and follow her de¬sires should do everything by chance, “trusting in the Lady.” Some Tymorans enjoy games of chance, while others dismiss such activities as “showing rude¬ness to the Lady by idling away time and coins playing at something you should be doing for real, in earnest.” Most of Tymora’s followers believe that calling on the Lady aloud with a murmured “Lady, be with me,” when going into battle is crucial to her worship. If this gesture is forgotten or dismissed, Beshaba’s ill luck rather than Tymora’s good luck will accompany that person in the fray. Elderly and infirm persons wanting to vener¬ate Tymora often give aid, shelter, items, or even sponsorship to adventurers, who can chance things and therefore please the Lady better than they themselves can. Jugglers—especially those who juggle sharp weapons, or otherwise court danger when per¬forming—always pray to Tymora before their acts, and they believe their performances are of¬ferings to the goddess. Wayfarers lost at a choice of roads know very well that the right thing to do, unless one beseeches another deity such as Gwaeron Wind¬strom or Shaundakul for specific directions, is to call on the Lady. To do this, one invokes her name, drops a coin onto his or her own head from above, and is guided as to the route to take by where it falls. When guidance is deemed less than definitive, wayfarers repeat this process until “the way shows clear.” Secular Aims: Lady Luck’s priests are called Luckbringers by many, but they call themselves the Fortunate Faithful, or just Fortunates. They are expected to spread stories of success and good fortune achieved through daring, and to establish, maintain, and staff a widespread web of temples and shrines to Tymora, that her inspiration and guidance be within easy reach of all. Tymora is the primary goddess of many adven¬turers, and Tymoran clergy are expected to tend, shelter, and support needy adventurers—and to expect generous offerings from the same adven¬turers when good fortune attends them. Even a simple “roof and prevailing-wind wall over an altar” shrine to Tymora in the wilds has two or more Fortunates staffing it, plus a handful of lay worshipers. Such altars are equipped with healing potions, means of neutralizing poison, a fire and cooking cauldron, blankets, splints, food, herbs, weapons, tools, lanterns and oil for them, and cudgel torches—all for giving, renting, or selling to adventurers, wayfarers, and others in need. A Fortunate will aid a crofter seeking his lost child as enthusiastically as will a professional ad¬venturer—for they both enjoy boldly chancing the unknown and perils, and Tymora regards such actions as holy and desirable. Tymorans support risky business ventures as well as adventuring ac¬tivities, but the church is divided on gambling. Tymorans believe that personal wagering is fine, even in gaming, but professional gambling—both the institutions that develop and inevitably cheat or tilt the odds so as to make a guaranteed cut, and the gamblers who cheat or try to count cards rather than trusting in chance, are frowned upon. It reverences Tymora to live in chance and the moment of fortune, but it sins against Tymora to try to alter the chancing to your own benefit. Of course, preparing yourself to gain the best odds beforehand is fine—it is cheating or recasting the chance during the chancing that is decidedly not acceptable. Tymorans support hopeless causes and the un¬derdog, and want to see chances taken. However, Lady Luck herself guides senior clergy in decid¬ing if this stance should still be followed when such support might lead to war or open violence. As a result, some Tymorans become popular or widely known. In the mid- and later 1300s DR, these prominent Fortunates include the following individuals. Asmrele Staglar: Staglar is usually based in Wa- terdeep but known to travel all over the Sword Coast North and Heartlands, as far east as Elver- suit and as far south as the northern boundary of Amn. A merry, “blades out!” adventurer, Staglar has long, flowing white hair despite her youth, and is known for flashy sword play, utter fearless-ness, acrobatics, and frequent laughter. Staglar seems to genuinely love danger, and she wants others to share in her carefree daring. Rumors insist that “the Staglar” has been slain and resur¬rected scores of times, but the truth is unknown. Sandurl Sarradren: Usually based in southwest¬ern Sembia, but often found spending a winter over in Cormyr, this jovial and daring merchant trader is getting steadily older and paunchier. Nonetheless, Sarradren still lives for the bold— often borderline, but never illicit—trade gamble, and seems to have more bustling energy than men a third his age. Tannath Daerovur: Based in Tethyr, but moving around constantly, Daerovur is a dashingly hand¬some, living-with-gusto young man who makes friends easily and helps them carry out all man¬ner of seemingly crazy schemes, business forays, and social and romantic ploys. As a result of this behavior—and the songs of smitten minstrels who chronicle it—he is entering local legend as a young, romantic action hero. Lathlan Zauntur: Calishite-born but apt to be found anywhere around the shores of the Shining Sea, this battered-looking, middle-aged veteran is an accomplished actor and mimic. He usually poses as a weary, lowcoin trader—until he falls in with someone who has a daring plan or a crazed scheme, whereupon he grins, his eyes twinkle, and he reveals himself as an agile, swift-witted veteran of swindles, long chances, and risky busi¬ness. He honestly doesn’t care if he profits, but he wants his new friends to profit. As a result, he is seldom attacked and often admired, and his name is spreading as a good friend to have.
CLERGY
The clerics of Tymora, known as luckbringers, are often called upon to officiate at high class gambling halls, provide counseling for business, or to organize entertainment for nobles. The luckbringers also maintain beneficial relationships with adventuring guilds throughout the realms, providing healings and blessings (at a discount) to those who brave the dangers of the world. Occasionally, a luckbringer may be requested to bring some good luck to an important life event such as a childbirth or coming of age ceremony. The paladins of Tymora are known as luckriders. These holy warriors enforce fair play in games of chance and punish cheaters who attempt to replace luck with their own dishonorable manipulations. The luckriders are also known for rescuing adventurers who have become captured, lost, or entrenched in quests beyond their capabilities. Should a potential hero find themselves in desperate circumstances, the Smiling Lady may have a luckrider nearby to provide support. At virtually every popular resting stop for adventurers, one will find a shrine or temple of Tymora. The widespread Church of the Bright Lady teaches its followers to set up shop wherever adventurers are known to pass, providing supplies and other forms of support to the weary travelers. Each temple in the church is run independently with its own hierarchy and doctrinal interpretation, but all Tymoran priests share a sense of goodwill and a desire to take a gamble with their resources to sponsor brave heroes of strong potential; the greater the deeds performed by heroes sponsored by Tymora’s clergy, the greater the support the faith of Lady Luck receives from the people of the realms. Clerics and paladins of Tymora traditionally pray for their spells in the morning. As most adventurers set off to begin or continue their journeys in the early hours of day, so too do the servants of the Lady Who Smiles ready themselves to greet and bless those who are willing to take chances for glory. A stroke of good luck at a critical turn can also be said to be like the morning light washing away the darkness of night. There are no standard daily rituals for the clerics or paladins of Tymora, but each individual sect of the faith may practice its own set of ceremonies. Some examples include flipping a coin in the morning to decide a path of decision for the day, or rolling a die to determine how many hours or days one might stay in a particular location before heading to new places. One particular custom that is popular among Tymora’s clergy however is the Greeting of Coins, in which two or more servants of the Lady of Fortune touch their holy symbols after watchwords of recognition have been exchanged. The common watchword exchange with strangers newly met is “Life is short. Live it as Tymora means it to be lived!” to be answered with “Dare all, and trust in the Lady.” The common watchword exchange with friends and known colleagues is “Defy.” to be answered with “Dare much.” Traditional ceremonial dress for the faithful of Tymora tends to vary greatly from temple to temple much as their rituals and customs may. The priests at Arabel for example favor full habits and headpieces, while the priests at Shadowdale prefer simple robes. Blue and silver are the most common colors of their ceremonial dress. Small holy symbols engraved on jewelry worn underneath the clothing and high boots are popular among traveling clergy. All clergy of the Bright Lady wear a holy symbol (Tymora’s silver disc) hung from the neck in addition to whatever else they may wear. While traveling or adventuring, a cleric or paladin of Tymora will wear whatever feels comfortable for the journey, and will always maintain materials needed for games of chance, such as marked sticks, cards, or dice. Books of maps are popular among traveling Tymoran clergy, especially those with locations of gambling halls and adventurers’ guilds marked for interest. Some have also been known to carry tools for fortunetelling, offering Tymora’s blessing should they predict misfortune in some poor soul’s future.CUSTOMS OF THE FAITH
The faithful of Tymora hold their most popular festival, the Meeting of Fates, on Midsummer (the midpoint of Summer, between the 7th month and 8th month). Drinking, gambling, and romantic trysts set the backdrop for the common celebrations, while the clergy take this opportunity to meet with friends, allies, and relatives to discuss future plans and possibly even missions of great import. The holiest occasion for the faithful of Tymora is called “Starfall” and takes place on the 22nd day of Marpenoth (10th month of the year). This date is believed by the followers of Tymora (and disputed by followers of Beshaba) as the date of Tyche’s splitting, which resulted in the immediate births of Tymora and Beshaba. Clergy of Lady Luck usually receive formal acclaim for advancement in their hierarchy on this day, receiving tokens and vestments appropriate for their new stations. On the 20th day of Nightal (12th month of the year), during the regional winter festival that is celebrated along the Sword Coast, it is a popular custom among the common folk and nobles alike to view the night sky even into the latest hours of evening. An observer of this custom will look for stars that were lucky for their ancestors or associated with their day of birth. Being able to glimpse one’s own star even on a cloudy night on this date is considered a sign of blessing from Tymora, a portent of good luck in times ahead. Vendors of star maps set up stalls in the streets of cities for this holiday, offering to divine stars of luck (based on place and date of birth) for those willing to contribute a modest sum for such a service.Если вы хотите что то добавить или присоединится к команде редакторов - пишите комментарии
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