Tempest
(God of War, Storms, and
Smithing)
Warlord of the Four Storm Winds
High King of the Storms
Supreme Artificer of the Divine Smithy
Symbol: A Greatsword crossed by a bolt of lightning
Description:
The god Tempest is commonly depicted as a large, burly warrior, clad in plate mail and bearing a mighty greatsword. Illustrations of the god often portray him in a stormy setting, amid heavy winds and lightning and accompanied by his large, grey wolf “Vargreig.” Tempest revels in warfare and combat, as well as the fury of violent weather (such as thunderstorms, hurricanes and blizzards). His clerics train themselves and others in the art of warfare; they also assist smiths in their craft (primarily the production of weapons and armor).
Worship:
As would be expected, warriors and smiths venerate the Storm Lord. His clerics, known as Stormriders, are a common sight throughout Talous (especially in the Ulthian Imperium, where Tempest is the official deity of the Empire). Mountainous regions are holy to the religion and are home to numerous Tempestran shrines and temples. Stormriders are almost exclusively human.
Temples:
Temples to the Storm Lord are large, grey, and monolithic; “cold” in appearance due to their tall, stone walls, the buildings more like castles or fortresses. Their sanctuary is not found inside, as is the case with the other religions, but on the roof of the temple. Exposure to the weather is said to bring the Stormriders closer to their god. The chief temple for the religion is located in the Valnysian city of Aldenmark on the Continent of
Talous.
Clerical Raiments:
Stormriders adorn themselves in cloaks of dark blue. Regular clerics wear a greatsword on their right side, while high priests wear one on their left. All standard clerics are always clean shaven, but high priests usually wear a moustache. High priests also wear torcs emblazoned with symbols of the faith.
Holy Days and Times:
Yulefest (Morningstar 16th) is the holiest day of the religion, celebrating the height of Erndorth’s stormy winter weather. On Yulefest, Tempest blesses his clergy with enhanced fighting ability. The Winter Solstice (Eveningstar 22nd) is also honored by Stormriders with prayers and ceremonies. Daily, Stormriders rise before the sun, petitioning Tempest for their divine spells during the hours of
Nightfade.
Relationships:
The Church of Tempest is friendly with the religions of Alainus and Kord, while it regards most of the other faiths with some disdain or simple disinterest. Like many other churches, they abhor Bertoxxulous and Sanathon, considering them “enemies of the faith.” However, their deepest hatred is reserved for the god Erythnul and his followers (including the reptilian Viss’takh) – Stormriders consider them to be their ultimate adversaries.
Essence of the Faith:
• Reject cowardice and discipline those who do not.
• Just as the storm rages in the sky, so too do you rage in battle below.
• There are enemies everywhere. If no enemies of the Faith are near, find you the enemies of the
Kingdom. If they are outside your reach, bring death and war to the enemies of Man.
• Wield not a common weapon, nor wear common armor, that has not been crafted by thine own
hand.
• Accept nothing less than perfection from yourself, whether swinging your sword on the
battlefield or swinging your hammer in the smithy.
• Never pass up an opportunity to hasten the eradication of the False God of War
(Erythnul) and his minions.
Factions and Orders:
There are four major factions in the Church of Tempest. They are: the
Imperial Church of Tempest, which is the official state religion of the Ulthian Empire; the
Order of the Storm, which is comprised of the Stormriders of the North Realms; the
Swords of Lightning, a small order of fierce dervishes that call the Emerald Coast or Varghani Desert their home; and the
Riders of the Sky Horse (or the “Sky Horses”), a large band of Tempestrian priests found among the Khazrani barbarian clans.
Game Information:
Allowed Alignments:
Neutral Good, Neutral Evil, Lawful Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral
Domains:
Creation, Storms, Strength, War
Favored Weapon:
Greatsword
Favored Class:
Fighter
Holy Day Powers:
The clerics of this god gain two boons. First, they gain electricity resistance 5 (if they already have electricity resistance from some source, it is increased by 5). The other benefit is that on this day the cleric’s Base Attack Bonus is that of a fighter of equivalent level (if multi-classed, the fighter BAB applies only to the cleric class). examples: A 6th Level Cleric, normally +4, is treated as being +6/+1
• A 5th Level Cleric/2nd Level Fighter, normally +5, is treated as +7/+2 No extra abilities or bonuses are granted by this power (i.e.; it does not overcome damage reduction). These powers are granted at sunrise of the holy day and last until sunrise of he following day.
Divine Gifts for Laity:
Once per month, laity of this god may do one of the following: Add a +2 competence bonus to a Craft roll, or, add a +2 sacred bonus to a single attack and damage roll (they must choose one or the other, not both; but they need not make the same choice every month). The attack bonus is not magical, nor will it overcome damage reduction. On their holy day, lay worshippers of the god may cast magic weapon.
Common Prayers:
Some of the oldest prayers to Tempest are actually quite poetic and are still in use. One used by soldiers before battle is so ancient that scholars are uncertain of its ultimate origin, with many maintaining that it is what Tempest himself uttered before his final battle with
Orcus.
“I am the river and the mountain.
As the river, I rage in times of torrent,
and gentle in times of drought.
I swell to overflowing with my wrath,
And my rage is dry in calmer seasons.
None can control my course,
None can alter it.
None can stand against me.
As the mountain, I am strong.
I do not wax or wane.
Age shall never overcome me.
I will not be moved.
I will not be shaken.
I will not be broken.
I am the river and the mountain,
Unstoppable and unbreakable.”
Another common prayer is said by an apprentice when binding himself to a master.
“King of the Crucible, smile on me!
The first master among us was your apprentice;
I follow now, as my master did before me.
I swear to obey,
I swear to work,
I swear to serve,
I swear to learn,
And when I am the master,
I swear to teach.
I bind myself to this oath in your name, Master Tempest.
May your blessing be upon me.”
A common rite recited by Stormriders before starting work on a new craft item.
"Tempest, of arts and skills;
as your sword, so too my hammer.
May it fall powerfully and accurately, and may my work be performed with beauty
and without delay."
