Tethrin Veralde, The Stinging Blade

"Hearken, O champions of the blade, to the words of Tethrin Veraldé, the Shining One, the Master of Blades.

I am the blade that sings in the moonlight, the edge that cleaves through darkness with grace and precision. From the union of Corellon and Sehanine, I was born to wield the power of both blade and magic, to defend the just and vanquish the unjust.

In the harmony of sword and spell, you shall find your true strength. Let your blades be sharp and your hearts true, for in the dance of combat and the weave of enchantment, the light of Elysium shall guide your path.

Walk boldly upon this earth, as I walk the realms beyond. Embrace the art of the bladesinger, blend the elegance of the sword with the might of magic, and let your deeds be a testament to the glory of our divine heritage.

Stand firm against the forces of chaos and shadow, for with each strike, each spell, you uphold the honor of the elven race and the eternal light of our cause. As the moons guide the tides, so shall your actions illuminate the way for those who follow in your footsteps.

Remember, my followers, that in the quiet of your heart and the clash of your blade, the essence of my teachings lives on. For as long as there is light in the world, as long as there are heroes who rise to defend it, the legacy of Tethrin Veraldé shall endure."

"from the Book of Tethrin Veralde"

Tethrin Veraldé, known as The Shining One and The Master of Blades, is a demipower of Elysium revered as the patron deity of bladesingers and swordsmen. Born from the union of Corellon Larethian and Sehanine Moonbow, Tethrin embodies the elven mastery of swordsmanship and combat magic.

Though he is a relatively recent addition to the pantheon of elven deities, Tethrin has quickly established himself as a prominent figure among the elves. His skills in blade and magic are unmatched, save for those of Corellon himself. Tethrin favors close combat and the art of bladesinging over ranged attacks and mass warfare. His responsibilities within the pantheon include promoting the art of bladesinging and ensuring the protection and advancement of elven kind through the mastery of both sword and spell.

Tethrin's realm, Amoria/Tethridar in Elysium, is shared with his lover and confidant, the goddess Kirith Sotheril. There, in a serene environment filled with trees and fruit orchards, the souls of his followers continue to practice and hone their skills in an eternal pursuit of perfection.

The Church of Tethrin Veraldé is dedicated to the promotion of swordsmanship and the blending of martial prowess with magic. The clergy of Tethrin includes clerics, specialty priests (Tethryls), bladesingers, and fighters, reflecting the god's focus on both spiritual and physical mastery.

Holy days in the church coincide with the celebrations of Sehanine Moonbow and Corellon Larethian, honoring the divine heritage that birthed Tethrin. Monthly, the church holds a special event known as Tethrin's Match, where followers showcase their combat skills and recruit new devotees.

Clergy members typically wear blue and silver robes, symbolizing Tethrin's association with the colors of the night sky and the moon. The church's teachings emphasize the importance of combining swordplay with magical abilities, and the dedication to protecting the elven race from threats.

Specialty priests of Tethrin, known as Tethryls, are highly skilled in both martial and magical disciplines. They are required to have a minimum Strength of 12, Dexterity of 13, and Wisdom of 13, with Dexterity and Wisdom being their prime requisites. Tethryls are proficient in all daggers and swords, and they may wear any type of armor.

They have access to a broad range of major spheres including combat, divination, and war, and minor spheres such as charm and wards. Tethryls can cast various spells related to swordsmanship and combat, including swordbless, flameblade, and dragonbane, and they gain special bonuses with their chosen sword types.

Their training includes a focus on the Bladesong fighting style, which integrates swordplay with spellcasting, reflecting the unique blend of skills that Tethrin himself exemplifies.

Divine Portfolio:

• Bladesingers
• Swordsmanship

Religious Dogma:

1. Honor through mastery of swordsmanship and magic.
2. Protect the elven race and uphold the values of courage and skill.
3. Commit to the art of bladesinging as both a martial and magical discipline.

Appearance and Symbols:

• Holy Symbol: A long and a short sword lying parallel to each other on a disk, their blade tips angled toward the upper left; a quarter moon lies above the swords, while a full moon lies underneath.
• Regalia:
  1. Blue and silver robes during holy ceremonies.
  2. Elegant blade-themed ceremonial attire for priests and Tethryls.

Role in Ceremonies: Priests and followers engage in combat displays and ritual swordsmanship during ceremonies, celebrating their skills and devotion.

Treatment of Worshippers, Priests, and Organizations

• Worshippers: Treated with respect and encouraged to hone their skills in swordsmanship and magic.
• Priests:
  • Held in high regard for their commitment to blending martial and magical arts.
  • Provided with necessary resources and training to excel in their roles.
• Organizations:
  • Hierarchical Structure: The church is organized with a clear hierarchy from the high priests to the lower clergy and Tethryls.
• Punishment and Discipline:
  • Failure to uphold Tethrin's values may result in reprimands or loss of privileges.
  • Serious breaches may lead to excommunication or other severe penalties.

Temples and Influence

• Temples: Temples are often designed with an emphasis on martial training areas and magical study rooms.
• Influence:
  • Strong influence in elven societies, especially among warriors and magic users.
  • Role in Society: Encourages the protection of elven lands and the advancement of martial and magical skills.

Philosophical Influence: Tethrin's teachings emphasize the fusion of martial prowess with magical ability, encouraging balance and mastery.

Cultural Impact: Influences elven culture by promoting a high value on swordsmanship and the integration of combat with spellcasting.

Legacy

1. Tethrin's promotion of bladesinging has become a core aspect of elven martial culture.
2. His teachings have led to the creation of various fighting and clerical orders dedicated to his principles.
3. He has inspired numerous epic tales and legends among the elves.
4. His influence ensures the continuous development of elven combat arts and magical practices.
5. His presence strengthens the unity of elven societies through shared values and skills.
6. The Influence on Elven Society: In elven society, Tethrin's emphasis on mastery and protection has fostered a culture of honor and excellence in combat.

Divine Attributes:

• Mastery of swords and magic
• Protector of elven kind
• Patron of bladesingers and swordsmen

Organizational Structure of Religion

The Hierarchy of the Faith:

• High Priest: Oversees all religious activities and ensures adherence to Tethrin's doctrines.
• Senior Priests: Manage regional temples and guide local clergy.
• Priests: Perform daily rituals and ceremonies, lead worship services.
• Tethryls: Specialty priests who blend swordsmanship with magical prowess.
• Lay Worshippers: Followers who engage in combat training and support religious activities.

Religious Orders and their Organizational Structure

• Fighting Orders

  1. Order of the Celestial Blades: Elite warriors and bladesingers dedicated to protecting sacred sites and advancing swordsmanship.
  2. The Silver Sabres: Highly disciplined order focused on defense and suppression of dark forces.
  3. The Moonlit Vanguard: Specialize in stealth and precision strikes under darkness.
  4. The Radiant Blades: Champions leading campaigns against evil creatures with radiant magic.

• Clerical Orders

  1. Order of the Eternal Flame: Priests using fire magic and swordsmanship to purify evil.
  2. The Shield of the Silver Moon: Clerics focused on protection and healing with defensive spells.
  3. The Astral Wardens: Guardians of sacred knowledge and artifacts.
  4. The Blade of Harmony: Integrates swordsmanship with divine magic to maintain balance.
  5. The Heralds of Valor: Promote Tethrin's teachings through public demonstrations and scholarly pursuits.

Each of these orders plays a crucial role in the overarching structure of Tethrin Veraldé's religious and mystical framework, ensuring the protection, preservation, and enforcement of divine principles across various aspects of his followers. All are pledged to support in the defense of his church.
See the Religious Orders section for more detail.

Holy Artifacts

1. Blade of Eternal Valor: A legendary sword said to be imbued with Tethrin's divine essence, providing unmatched power and protection to its wielder.
2. Amulet of the Moon's Grace: An amulet that grants its wearer enhanced agility and the ability to channel moon-based magic.
3. Shield of Radiance: A magical shield that reflects and deflects dark magic, offering protection against evil forces.

Religious Practices

• Ritual of the Blades: A ceremonial practice where followers demonstrate their swordsmanship and magical prowess in a public setting.
• Moonlit Meditation: A practice performed under the moonlight to enhance one's magical abilities and seek guidance from Tethrin.
• Purification Rites: Rituals involving fire magic to cleanse and purify sacred spaces and individuals.

Celebrated Holidays

Day of the Radiant Moon: A major holiday celebrating Tethrin's divine light and the unity of his followers through swordsmanship and magic. It involves grand ceremonies and displays of combat skills.

The Festival of Blades: A celebration honoring the art of bladesinging, featuring tournaments and exhibitions by the most skilled warriors and mages.

Alignment: Unprincipled

Size: 13 feet (Imposing presence)

Horror/Awe Factor: 16

OCCs:

• Bladesinger: Master of both swordsmanship and magic, upholding Tethrin's teachings in combat and spellcasting.
• Celestial Warrior: Elite combatant focused on defending sacred sites and vanquishing dark forces.
• Arcane Knight: A knight who integrates magical spells into their combat techniques, representing Tethrin's blend of magic and martial skill.

Deific Powers of Tethrin Veralde
Tethrin Veralde has the full range of powers over his followers, and can perform all prototypical deific powers at regular cost, as well as the following special powers:

Priest/Healing Powers: Tethrin Veraldé has the full range of Clerical Magic and Healing Magic.

Magic Powers: Tethrin possesses formidable arcane abilities, particularly in blending swordsmanship and spellcraft. His magic powers focus on enhancing combat skills, protection, and offensive spells.

Psionic Powers: Class of Psionic: 400 ISP. Tethrin has a mastery of psionics that allows him to control and manipulate mental energies to protect his followers and enhance his combat effectiveness.

Favoured Weapons

Tethrin favors swords, particularly long swords and short swords, which are often enchanted with moonlight energy to strike down his foes.

Armour:

• Radiant Armor of the Moon: A gleaming suit of armor infused with lunar energy, providing Tethrin with enhanced protection against dark forces and nullifying necromantic attacks.

Alliances/Allies:

• Corellon Larethian: His father and mentor, leader of the Seldarine.
• Sehanine Moonbow: His mother, the goddess of the moon and dreams.
• Solonor Thelandira: The elven god of archery and hunting, who supports Tethrin in his fight against evil.
• Kirith Sotheril: His lover and confidant, a goddess of knowledge and magic.

Enemies:

• Lolth: The Spider Queen, who seeks to corrupt and destroy Tethrin to hurt Corellon.
• Selvetarm: The demipower of drow warriors, sent by Lolth to assassinate Tethrin.
• Hextor: The Oerthian god of war and tyranny, who harbors a grudge against Tethrin for past battles.

Vulnerabilities:

• The Eternal Eclipse: A rare cosmic event that weakens Tethrin's connection to the moon, reducing his powers significantly.
• Dark Magic: While resistant to most forms of necromancy, powerful dark magic from Lolth and Selvetarm can bypass his defenses.

Minions:

• Moonblades: Ethereal warriors created from the essence of moonlight, loyal to Tethrin and capable of phasing through shadows.
• Lunar Sentinels: Elven knights blessed by Tethrin, who serve as his eyes and ears in the mortal world, guarding sacred sites and temples.
• Silver Shadows: Stealthy agents tasked with countering the influence of Lolth's assassins and drow operatives.