The Dawnfather’s Hand is a sect that was founded many hundreds of years ago by a family of wood elves at the edge of
The Redwillow Forest. The sect worships the sun god
Pelor and states that the most important duty they have is helping others in his name. They also realize the importance of being able to live comfortable lives themselves, so they have a policy of not helping others for free. Any time someone needs healing from a cleric, or would like one of the sect’s guards to escort them while traveling, or if someone is in need of anything else at all from the sect they must pay the appropriate fee. One cannot simply starve themselves in the name of helping others.
Another reason for the prices they charge for their services is so they can properly pay honor to Pelor. They would hardly be worshipping him properly if they did not make the temple they have dedicated to him extremely beautiful, and of course they had to honor the elders of the temple with the finest clothes and best possessions. It is only right to honor those who have done so much good for so many people in their lives.
Rumors
The Dawnfather’s Hand has very limited reach, primarily serving just one little town closest to them. They are content with this as they do not seek control or have immense greed as those rude people who would criticize them often say. Some who do not like them spread vicious rumors that they pay the bandits that lurk outside of town so that the sect can then charge people for protection. Some even say that they have subtle ties to shady dealings elsewhere in the kingdom, but this is always dismissed as a wild conspiracy as the Dawnfather’s Hand has never openly gotten involved in much beyond the one town they help.
Conversion
Although the Dawnfather’s Hand was founded by a single family of wood elves, they will always accept outsiders who are willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the teachings of the sect. If an outsider is willing to spend one year learning all of the sect’s teachings and then another year staying completely inside the temple helping wherever they are needed, then they will be able to go through their Rebirth ceremony on the two year anniversary of them coming to the temple and become a full member of the sect.
Rebirth Ceremony
When a child who grew up in the Dawnfather’s Hand celebrates their 35th birthday (or in the two year anniversary of an adult coming to the temple and converting), they go through a beautiful ceremony to be Reborn as a full member of the sect. At dawn on the day of the ceremony, they will wake up and begin to pray. They will spend many hours praying to the Dawnfather, and then at midday someone will come get them to continue on to the next part of the ceremony.
In the middle of the day, when the sun is at its peak, the sect member will go out into the forest to find a branch to add to the great fire that burns in the middle of the temple. This fire is a symbol of the gentle warmth and beautiful radiance of their god Pelor. It has been burning since the day the temple was built and it is never allowed to go out. After they have added a branch to the fire, there is a feast in their honor. Once night falls, the sect member has the great privilege of being the one to tend the fire in the middle of the temple throughout the night. Once the sun rises on the next day, they are reborn as a full member of the Dawnfather’s Hand and receive a name relating to their position in the temple and the way in which they will help serve their god.
Known Members
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