ARVOREEN (the Defender), Lesser Power, male, LG Attributes: Defenders, Sheriffs, Halfings Domains: Good, Guardian, Law, Protection, War Symbol: Short sword on shield Typical Worshippers: Halfling sheriffs, some adventurers, warriors Raiment: Steel helmet and chain mail Preferred Weapon: Short sword Holy Days: Before major battles, sacrifices of silvered weapons |
Arvoreen (ARE-voh-reen) the Defender, fiery guardian of the home, is the nearest thing to a halfling war god. He is a Power of stern defense and aggressive watchfulness, who is always preparing for incursions into halfling lands and making ready to repulse hostile creatures at the first sign of trouble. Arvoreen is venerated primarily by halfling fighters, but also by fighter/thieves who prefer the former set of skills over the latter.
Arvoreen has cultivated good relations with most of the good and neutral Powers, particularly of the dwarven, elven, and human pantheons. Of the halfling Powers, Arvoreen is most closely aligned with Yondalla, Cyrrollalee, and Urogalan, although he has strong ties with the entire halfling pantheon. Arvoreen is on especially good terms with Heironeous and the paladins of these two Powers share a common bond. As a large fraction of halflings live in and among human communities, Arvoreen finds that most of the divine threats to his charges are a result of the plots of the evil deities of the halflings' human neighbors.
Keep the community's burrows secure, and always be prepared for threats and attacks. Prepare an active defense, drill continuously, and leave nothing to chance. Put down danger before it even rears its head. Seek out allies, no matter how unorthodox. Those who give aid against a mutual foe are friends to be rewarded and trusted. Stealing from other halflings and allies is never acceptable, but thieving is not necessarily dishonorable, as long as it is employed against enemies to better the odds in combat later.
Arvoreen's clerics are the protectors and defenders of halfling communities. They spend their days constructing defensive barriers, signaling systems, beacons, and traps, and reviewing defenses already in place. Clerics of the Defender regularly patrol their communities, always investigating the slightest hint of a threat. Many clerics organize the local militia, procure weapons for volunteers, and train every able-bodied halfling in the use of weapons and other defense strategies or at least in how to best seek safety. Many of Arvoreen's Marshals regularly adventure to gain magical weapons and defensive items of all kinds.