Temple of the Knowing Mistress

The Temples of Ioun are Erden's original institutions of higher learning. Her followers are teachers, scholars, and archivists who dedicate themselves to the acquisition and dissemination of information.
Ioun's temples are not especially ostentatious, but their calm atmosphere is perfect for reading and learning. They all have their own library (however small), and some even have a printing shop or scriptorium to reproduce valuable manuscripts. The actual sanctuary resembles a lecture hall, with tiered seating arranged in a semicircle. Laypersons are allowed to visit the library and attend lectures.

Divine Origins

Ioun, along with Rao, was originally part of the Cathayan pantheon. There she is known as Ayin (阿銀).

Tenets of Faith

Preserve any valuable knowledge you find, and do not allow it to be suppressed without good reason.
Uphold and teach the importance of reason, perception, and truth in guiding one's emotions and path.
Promote literacy so that knowledge may be available to all. Condemn those who lie without moral cause, for evil folk gain power when their followers obscure the truth. Never stoop to the level of selfish liars.

Worship

Iounian services are usually held on Aquasday mornings. They resemble an academic lecture more than a religious sermon; the Knowing Mistress would rather watch her disciples teach and learn than listen to them sing her praises. Accordingly, her services involve a presiding cleric, monk, or visiting scholar delivering a lecture on a topic of their choosing. The subject can be anything from a more conventional religious subject (such as the legends of Ioun) to science and magic. For Iounians, all matters of knowledge are a part of their religion.

Sects

The main Temple of Ioun is made up of scholarly clerics. They serve the public as teachers, librarians, and scribes. Those who tend the temples concern themselves with maintaining archives and libraries. Other clerics travel from one frontier settlement to the next, teaching the people to read and write.
The monks of the Order of the Cobalt Soul are Ioun's more proactive agents. Their mission is to gather lost knowledge and uncover truths; often, they spend their time exploring forgotten corners of the world in search of ancient secrets.