Lul'nir, The Light Bringer

“In every shadow, a light must shine. A sword unsheathed, a justice divine. To guard the weak, to smite the foe, in Lul'nir’s name, our courage grows.”

— from the "The Book of Laws"

Lul’nir, known as The Light Bringer, is the embodiment of valor, justice, and unwavering protection. Clad in gleaming armor and wielding a sword of pure light, he cuts through the deepest shadows, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness over evil. His followers see him as the ultimate guardian, a beacon of hope and courage for those who fight to defend the weak and destroy evil wherever it lurks. In the kingdom of Landora, his presence is most strongly felt, with his church holding great political and spiritual power.
Despite his noble intentions, Lul’nir’s fervor for justice has led some of his followers, particularly the militant Light Bringers, to view the world in stark black-and-white terms. Their zeal for eradicating evil often blurs the line between righteous crusade and dangerous fanaticism.

The Divine War and the Bleeding

During the Divine War, Lul’nir led the forces of light in a crusade to purge the world of the corruption sown by the dark gods Dashiva and Morgesh. His relentless pursuit of justice, however, had devastating consequences. The catastrophic event known as The Bleeding was caused by the unchecked power Lul’nir unleashed, resulting in widespread destruction across the lands he sought to protect.
Following the war, Lul’nir retreated to the Divine Realms to reflect on his actions. Sealed away, he now contemplates the consequences of his fervor and seeks redemption for the harm caused by his overzealousness. His absence has left his followers with a complex legacy of righteousness, tempered by the cautionary tale of the dangers of unrestrained zeal.

The Court of the Sun

Lul’nir now resides in the Court of the Sun, a radiant divine realm where he reflects on his past and awaits redemption for the harm caused by his overzealousness during the Divine War. The court is said to be surrounded by fields of golden corn, symbolic of the light he represents, and is a place unreachable by mortals. Visions of this court are sometimes granted to his most devout clerics, offering them glimpses of Lul’nir’s eternal vigilance and his unyielding commitment to justice.

The Light Bringers and Their Zeal

The Light Bringers, a knightly order devoted to Lul’nir, serve as the enforcers of his will across Tavomia. These Paladins, Clerics, and Fighters, drawn from all walks of life, renounce their former ties to take up the mantle of Lul’nir’s justice. They are beacons of hope for the innocent, but whispers persist that some members take their mission of “Purging the Wicked” too far, crossing into dangerous fanaticism.
The hierarchy within Lul’nir’s church, especially in Landora, is highly structured, with High Inquisitors and Paladins wielding significant influence. However, political corruption has taken root in the upper ranks of the church, leading to tensions between the zealotry of the Light Bringers and the more measured teachings of Lul’nir. Clerics who exhibit the Divine Taint are often sent away on missions to confront evil, while the politically savvy upper clergy dictate the broader actions of the church—many of whom lack signs of divine favor.

Divine Taint: The Marks of Lul’nir’s Power

Those who channel Lul’nir’s divine power often experience physical changes known as Divine Taint. As they draw more deeply from his strength, their eyes begin to glow with an inner fire, and their skin takes on a golden hue, marking them as conduits of Lul’nir’s divine light. These transformations signify the bearer’s deep connection to Lul’nir but come with a growing risk of zealotry.
As the Divine Taint deepens, these clerics and paladins often become singularly focused on eradicating evil, losing sight of nuance and mercy. Lul’nir’s teachings emphasize balance in justice, but many of his most devout followers struggle with maintaining this balance, allowing their righteousness to become rigid and uncompromising.

Festivals of Light

Lul’nir’s followers observe two key festivals aligned with Tavomia’s Wheel of the Year, celebrating his ideals of protection and justice.
The Festival of Midsummer, celebrated during Summer Song, is a weeklong celebration of Lul’nir’s light. Prayers for protection and guidance fill the air as towns come alive with revelry. Bonfires are lit, and parades of Light Bringers, their armor shining in the sun, march through the streets to represent Lul’nir’s unwavering vigilance over Tavomia’s people.
The Eve of the Golden Dawn, held in The Turning, marks Lul’nir’s victory in the Divine War. This somber day of reflection involves confessions of moral failings and the renewal of vows to uphold the principles of justice. It is a time for Lul’nir’s followers to remember the high cost of unrestrained zeal and to seek balance in their quest for justice.

Adventuring Clerics of Lul’nir

Lul’nir’s clerics often take up the mantle of adventurers, driven by their duty to root out evil and protect the innocent. These holy warriors bring Lul’nir’s light into the darkest corners of the world, facing malevolent creatures and uncovering corruption within mortal society. Those who exhibit the Divine Taint are especially fervent, their zeal propelling them into battle, often at great personal risk.
Their strict adherence to Lul’nir’s laws can create friction with more morally ambiguous adventurers, as Lul’nir’s clerics see the world in clear-cut terms—good versus evil, light versus darkness. This unwavering sense of justice drives their actions, but can sometimes clash with those who view the world through shades of gray.

The Ethos of Lul’nir

Lul’nir’s teachings revolve around the virtues of justice, protection, and the destruction of evil. His followers are expected to uphold the law, safeguard the innocent, and eradicate darkness wherever it is found.

• Uphold Justice: The law is sacred, and justice must be served without hesitation.
• Destroy Evil: Seek out and eliminate evil, wherever it hides.
• Protect the Innocent: Defend those who cannot protect themselves, for they are the heart of a just society.

Lul’nir’s ethos aligns with Lawful Good, emphasizing the strict adherence to justice and the protection of the vulnerable while leaving little room for moral ambiguity.

Domains and Worship

Clerics of Lul’nir draw their power from the Light, War, and Protection domains, reflecting his role as a warrior deity who defends the innocent and fights for justice. His temples, often resembling fortresses, serve as both places of worship and training grounds for battle. These grand structures emphasize Lul’nir’s belief in the strength and discipline required to protect the world.
In more rural areas, however, Lul’nir’s church faces resistance, especially in regions where reverence for the Fey Elders is strong. The church’s rigid intolerance for alternative beliefs has led to tensions and conflicts with those who follow ancient traditions, as Lul’nir’s followers strive to enforce his unyielding sense of justice.

Titles: The Light Bringer, Lord of the Sun
Alignment: Lawful Good
Domains: Light, War, Protection
Symbol: A radiant shield with a stylized sword
Favored Weapon: Longsword

Golden-Winged Knights

"When the shadows stretch long, and evil rises unchecked, look to the skies—for the Golden-Winged Knights shall descend, their light searing through the darkness."
The legends of the Golden-Winged Knights are tales whispered among the faithful of Lul’nir, stories of divine warriors gifted with radiant wings to carry them into battle. Blessed by the Light Bringer himself, these knights are said to soar above the battlefield, their golden feathers gleaming like the sun, cutting through the forces of corruption with swords of pure light. Rare are the times when such warriors are needed, but when they appear, their arrival is heralded by a blaze of hope.
They are more than just soldiers—they are Lul’nir’s living testament to the triumph of light over shadow. To see a Golden-Winged Knight is to witness the hand of the divine, and in their wake, evil trembles. The stories of these knights inspire courage, reminding the faithful that in the darkest hours, Lul’nir’s light will always find its way.

Blades of Light

"When all hope fades, the blade will blaze again."
The Blades of Light are legendary swords bestowed by Lul’nir upon his chosen champions during the War of the Divine. Forged from divine steel and burning with the sun’s radiance, these blades were said to be indestructible, capable of cutting through any darkness.
Lost during the chaos of The Bleeding, the blades are believed to lie buried beneath the earth. One is rumored to rest with the Light Bringers, but the others remain missing.
More than just weapons, the Blades of Light are symbols of hope, reminding the faithful that Lul’nir’s light will always return in times of greatest need.

Rural Tensions

"The light may be warm to some, but to others, it burns."
In the deep forests and remote hamlets where the Fey Elders are revered, Lul’nir’s church is met with quiet resistance. To the people of these untamed places, the Light Bringers are outsiders, bringing their rigid doctrines and uncompromising view of justice to lands that live by older, subtler ways. Here, the light of Lul’nir clashes with the ancient, wild magic of the Fey, and while the Light Bringers preach salvation, the people see only disruption.
Though the church seeks to spread its light across all lands, these old places hold tightly to their traditions. The Light Bringers’ presence is felt, but their influence struggles to take root, and in the shadows of the ancient trees, the Fey watch, waiting.

Purge the Wicked

"In the name of Lul’nir, we shall cleanse this land of its sins."
The phrase “Purge the Wicked” is more than a command; it is a call to arms, a mandate that drives the faithful of Lul’nir to seek out and destroy evil wherever it may hide. For the Light Bringers, this is their sacred duty, a holy war that must be waged against corruption. But the line between justice and fanaticism is thin, and some carry the mandate too far.
Tales are whispered of villages razed on mere suspicion, of innocents caught in the crossfire of righteous fury. Those who lose themselves in their zeal are quietly removed, sent away to isolated outposts to atone—or perhaps simply to disappear. These stories are shrouded in secrecy, but the weight of them lingers. The Light Bringers are feared as much as they are revered, and in their pursuit of justice, mercy is often left behind.