Priesthood of Ares

Overview

Ares is the unloved god of war, he is hated by all - even his own father.
In Homeric Hymns he is described as:


Ἆρες ὑπερμενέτα, βρισάρματε, χρυσεοπήληξ, ὀβριμόθυμε, φέρασπι, πολισσόε, χαλκοκορυστά

“Ares haughty in spirit, heavy on chariot, golden-helmed; grim-hearted, shieldbearer, rouser and shaker of cities, bronze-armored [...]” (Homeric Hymn 8.2)


The Priesthood of Ares is popular among Orcs and the more Violent Warriors in Atlantis.

Chronic Anachronism Control

Ares is thought to have linked the sacrifice of all types of living creatures to the maintenance of time. Orcs and other humanoid tribes, but also some Humans practice blood-sacrifice that takes two forms - the first is every heart taken, and the second is the rhythm of droplets of blood from wounds that enforce his contribution to the temporal regularity of the Universe.

Restrictions

The Priests of Ares are blood-thirsty and battle-hungry. If a character is a Priest of Ares they must have a Strength and a Constitution of 15 or greater. They must be neutral or evil.

They do not recognise honor or codes of chivalry in battle, but rather consider battle to be the natural state of the world.

In the Iliad, his father Zeus tells him that he is the god most hateful to him. This has been seen by Ares's Priests as a sign that they are to work against Zeus's clerics at every opportunity - and to bring more glory to their God. Ares worship is known to include the skins of men they have slain draped over the altar.

Weaponry

The Priests of Ares are permitted to use any form of spear, single handed sword, darts, and all blunt weapons normally permitted for Clerics. The Clerics of Ares prefer to fight in close but do use darts, representative of the birds of Ares (Ornithes Areioi) which were a flock of feather-dart-dropping birds.

Armour

Standard Priest Armor - including Platemail and shield.
Spheres of Magic

The Priesthood provides access to 9 of these
All
Combat (Major)
Healing (Major)
Creation (Minor)
Divination (Minor)
Elemental (Major)
Healing (Major)
Necromantic (Minor)
Summoning (Major)

Granted Powers

Wrathful Anger - 1/day +1 TH and +2 DAM for 5 rounds.

Omnia Bella (War Over All)

Founding Date

unknown

Alternative Names

Warmongers, Warmasters, Warbringers

Demonym

The Hated

Parent Organization

The Olympian Pantheon

Location

Atlantis