Church of Luceras

Author: Prizurk

Luceras - Shepherd of Humanity

Sun, Hope, Community

Not much is known about Luceras’s past. Believers, historians and theologists alike still argue if he is the Creator of Humanity, or if he just brought the wandering souls together, but all of them agree that without him Humanity might have never been united to stand against the darkness of the world. It’s unknown at what point and for what reason Luceras fell asleep, but during the beginning of the last Dark Age, as the great darkness and evil started looming over the world, the god of Light and Hope has awakened once more. Nowadays the Church of Luceras does charity work, provides shelter and rehabilitation for the lost and the misguided, and healing for the hurt.

• Domains: Hope, Life, Light, Loyalty, Nature, Redemption
• Oaths: Ancients, Devotion, Glory, Redemption
• Sanctioned Orders: Marshal, Witch Hunter
• Alignments: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Neutral

Symbols of Luceras

• The most common holy symbol is a bronze or gold sun.
• Amber and sunstone are considered symbols of Luceras.
• Two types of animals are seen as connected to Luceras: shepherd and guide animals like dogs as they bring the people and the herd to the light; and herd animals like sheep as they are in need of guidance and protection

History

Home Plane

The Divine Realm of Luceras, the Radiant Fields on the surface of Nirvana, is a seemingly endless grassland with many pastures filled with all sorts of peaceful herd animals and their shepherds. In the centre of this realm is a natural amphitheatre for the people to gather. While the Realm is endless, one can easily reach any destination if they wish to be guided there.

Appearance

In his humanoid form Luceras has an appearance of a young (~26 yo) human man. Tall in stature, broad in shoulders, with short brown curly hair and golden eyes. He wears a simple shepherd robe and a shepherd crook made out of slightly golden wood. In his non-humanoid form he is an amorphous light, preferring to take on a shape of the Sun.

Churches

Church of the Guiding Light

Regions of Popular Worship

Berusia, Alentus

Common Followers

The followers of Luceras are usually shepherds, those who lost their way, those who guide the way, and those who seek redemption. In addition, many humans, especially those from older cities and settlements, worship him as their racial patron deity. Not only humans worship Luceras, and neither the god himself nor his church will turn away from a non-human in need.

Adjective

Luceran

Practices

• The holy symbol used by Lucerans can be worn in three different ways depending on the “role” the worshipper puts themselves into:
• Around the waist if they are a simple believer or worshipper
• Around the neck if they are on a path to the light, be it the one who lost their way, one who seeks redemption, or one who seeks enlightenment
• Around the end of the staff, usually a shepherd’s crook, if they are the ones who guide others
• Individual followers are expected to pray to their god during the midday, when the sun is most visible, asking Luceras to keep guiding their way.
• Ceremonial gatherings don’t have a set tradition, instead depending on the region and even settlement, but all serve the same purpose of bringing the community together and strengthening the bond between people.
• The practice of returning the dead to life is considered sacred, as returning people to the light can only be done with the consent of their soul. But raising the dead as undead is considered one of the most terrible crimes, one that Luceras and his Church would never forgive.
• The faithful of Luceras are burned with radiant flames after their passing, so that their souls could follow the light to the Radiant Fields of Nirvana.

Tenets

1. Help and be helped, build a community of kindness and loyalty.
2. Lead to the light and be led to the light, leave no one in the darkness.
3. Fight against the forces of darkness, help the Light destroy doubts and despair.

Virtues

1. Kindness. Help others in need. Guide them to the Light.
Loyalty. It is difficult to stand alone. Stand together, be strong.
2. Hope. Do not despair even in the darkest hour. Your light will illuminate the path for others.
3. Self-reflection. Do not be afraid of looking deep into yourself. Do not be afraid of asking others to guide you into the light.

Sins

1. Practising Necromancy and returning the dead to unlife.
2. Leading others into the dark, sowing doubts and despair.
3. Betraying the fellow mortal.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion