Church of Tymora

The Church of Tymora was an organization dedicated to the worship of the goddess of good luck, Tymora.

Organization
Tymoran temples were spread throughout the heartlands of Faerûn. Places of worship were differed significantly from each other in powers, manners, and titles, though, with little overall authority or hierarchy. They were independent from each other, and each temple reflected the tastes of its high priestess or priest. Church of Tymora didn't discriminate, and saw all races and sexes as equal in the eyes of Tymora, however, in practice, most exalted ranks of the preesthood consisted of human women.

Dogma
Members of Tymoran faith believed that one should be bold and trust in one's own luck. Priests of Tymora were taught to think of themselves as their own masters and be brave enough to accept both good and bad fortune, as a trust in their goddess and in themselves.

Worshipers were urged to take risks and place themselves in the hands of fate and Lady Luck.

Activities
Tymoran clergy would often go throughout the lands of Faerûn and urge people to take chances and pursue their dreams, yet wouldn't encourage them to indulge in reckless whims and frivolity. They aided those who had dared to reinforce the message of the good fortune that one can get by by having enough trust in Tyche's Fair-Haired Daughter. Members of Tymoran clergy were also duty-bound to aid the daring by providing healing and even some minor magic items.

Hierarchy
In the recent past, Tymoran faith attempted to unify the church under a grand patriarch. That suggestion was given by high priest of the Lady's House in Arabel, Darmos Lauthyr.

Celebrations and Traditions
The clergy of Tymora was always united by the rituals of greeting. They would touch each others holy symbols of Tymora - Silver Disks, after watchwords of recognition have been exchanged. Watchwords consisted of telling to an unknown people and beings they know to be worshipers of Tymora: "Life is short. Live it as Tymora means it to be lived!" This is answered by: "Dare all, and trust in the Lady." The watchwords between friends, or members of clergy of Tymora, are simpler: "Defy," answered by "Dare much."

Midsummer is the most important festival of Tymora. During celebration, people would engage in a night of daring adventure, wild revels, mischievous pranks, and romantic trysts.

The most holy festival of Tymora is Starfall, which occurs on the 22nd day of Marpenoth. On this date, clergy who have earned advancement are formally acclaimed and presented with tokens and vestments appropriate to their new station. On that day, Tymorans would observe Starfall, believed to be the anniversary of the destruction of Tyche and the birth of Tymora.

During their stays in the Cormyrian city of Suzail, Tymoran priestesses would often travel barefoot to the Lady's House, a temple in the capital of the country, to commemorate Tymora's journey to Arabel in 1358 DR, during the Time of Troubles, when she protected that city during the crisis.

Orders

 * Fellows of Free Fate
 * This was a special fellowship of clergy within the church of Tymora who dedicated themselves to countering the efforts of Beshaba, and especially of the Black Fingers, her assassins. Any clergy member who showed experience, dedication to the cause, and was vouched for by a senior Fellow could join.


 * Testers
 * The Testers were fanatical followers of Tymora who took extreme risks in order to further the worship of the goddess. When the choice was between a safe approach and one with little margin for error, they would rely on the flashier but more difficult approach. This was to prove to others the glory of Tymora.


 * Fatemakers
 * A heretical band who believed that all luck deities were one and the same and that mortals could influence luck, if they had enough power. The Fatemakers were followers of many different gods and goddesses, including Tymora and Beshaba, and would often work together for a common goal. Many Tymorans despised the Fatemakers, rightly suspecting that many of them were corrupt and secret followers of Beshaba.

Magic Items

 * Torque of faith was a magical item, holy to the Church of Tymora. It was a golden torque, fashioned entirely from gold coins of different sizes. They interlocked so closely that the torque appeared almost seamless. When worn, the torque enabled a priest of Tymora to use their luck powers as often as desired, and boosted such luck. It also radiated a faint, golden glow, but only if it was worn by a priest of Tymora.


 * Symbols of Scorned Fate were Tymoran holy symbols, that looked like double-headed coins, and were first used by the Church of Tymora post-spellplague. They were imbued with the Lady Luck's divine magics and would protect their owner from bad fate for a short period of time. Additionally, these magic coins would increase their wielder's combat effectiveness.


 * Oil of Second Chances was a unique type of oil, produced only by the Church of Tymora. It could remove curses and grant good luck to the person who used the substance.

Shrines

 * Fairfortune Hall
 * Shrine of Luck

Temples

 * Clearlight
 * Fortune Hall
 * Fortuneboon Hall
 * Hall of Luck (Glister)
 * Hall of Luck (Ravens Bluff)
 * Hall of Luck (Urmlaspyr)
 * Happy Hall of Fortuitous Happenstance
 * House of Hope
 * The House of the Lady
 * The Lady's Favor
 * Lady's Hall
 * The Lady's Hall (Ordulin)
 * Lady's Happy Hall
 * Lady's House
 * Ladysluck Tower
 * Lap of Luck
 * The Sheltering Hand
 * Shrine of Luck
 * Tower of Luck
 * Towers of Good Fortune

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Azure Bonds
 * ''Stone of Tymora trilogy