The Church of St. Cuthbert (CUTH-bert) is of major importance just about everywhere on Wearth with the exception of the City States of the World Emperor and the Invincible Overlord, with more converts to it everyday, despite the zealous and stern nature of many of it's clerics.

St. Cuthbert is a Power of dedication, zeal, and devotion to the causes of law (primarily) and good (secondarily). Common sense, truth, and forthrightness are his watchwords. He opposes Chaos and Evil sternly, with no backsliding or compromise permitted. This is a stern Power who, with his clerics, sees matters in black and white terms. For many folk living with the threat of evil creatures at your doorstep, this is a very credible view. In more civilized and settled areas his influence is less. St. Cuthbert's clerics are also determined rivals of the clerics of Pholtus.

St. Cuthbert appears as a red-faced, barrel-chested man of nondescript appearance, even looking like a simple yokel at times. He is famous for wearing a crumpled hat and a starburst of rubies set in a platinum brooch.

The words of St. Cuthbert are wise, practical, and sensible. The words of the Cudgel is law, and the word must be spread so that all may benefit from his wisdom. Weakness in faith and acting against the Saint's teachings are intolerable in believers. Unceasing effort should be made to bring unbelievers into the fold. Honesty, truthfulness, practicality, and reasonability are the highest virtues.

Clerics of St. Cuthbert are stout, stern folk who take no nonsense and speak their minds plainly. It's not that they won't suffer fools gladly - they won't suffer them at all. Honesty and common sense are more prized than book learning and arcane knowledge. The faith is very practical, with attention to detail of everyday life and the concerns of common people. Military training and fitness is mandatory, much to the discomfiture of the more rotund members of the clergy.

There are three orders of the clergy: the Chapeaux, who wear crumpled hats and are zealots who seek converts to the faith; the Stars, who wear a form of the Power's chest medallion and seek to retain doctrinal purity among the faithful; and the Billets, the most numerous, who use a cudgel as a holy symbol and serve as ministers and protectors of the faithful (some 70% of the Billets are lawful good).

Services in honor of St. Cuthbert are often conducted in the small, wayside shrines and humble chapels he favors. Singing, prayer, recitation of edifying moral tales, and sharing of simple food (bread, milk, and gruel) are common.

BILLETS:
Symbol: Wooden cudgel
Raiment: Brown and russet, with an oaken or bronzewood cudgel

CHAPEAUX:
Symbol: Crumpled hat
Raiment: Crumpled hat of brown and green, with affixed starburst symbol (copper)

STARS:
Symbol: Starburst medallion
Raiment: Dark green robes with copper, golden, or platinum starburst (1^st , 6^th, and 10^th level)