Church of Tempus

The Church of Tempus was the collective group of individuals that called upon Tempus the god of war as their patron deity. It was one of the most famous religions in the Realms, one that attracted people from all walks of life across Toril. Its members engaged many wars without specific affiliation to one government or another.

"The sun rises out of blood and sets into blood, and all the time between belongs to the Lord of Battles."

- Official saying of Tempus' church.

Organization
While their was no head authority within the Tempuran church, it maintained a disciplined and militaristic hierarchy.

Titles
Befitting a religious organization that elevated the tenets of warfare, the church bestowed upon its members a number of military-style ranks and titles. Clergy members often referred to one another as 'Hammers', a name derived from the saying: "the small, hammering hands of the Foehammer".

As of the early Era of Upheaval, circa the mid–14 century DR, these included, in descending order: Lord/Lady of the Field, Swordmaster/mistress, Battlelord/lady, Shield of the God, Lance of the Lord, Terrible Sword, Swung Sword, and Warpriest. Higher rank could be achieved by distinct service to the church, when necessary in times of need, or temporarily when it was deemed necessary.

Additional titles associated with a specific role in the church were put in these ranks when appropriate. The title of Warlyon, or Trusted Sword, was bestowed upon the heads of Tempus' temples and Arahar, or Battle Chaplain, was give to clergy members that oversaw his shrines.

Circa the late 15 century, other titles included Direhar used for guardian-priests, Rauthar for swordmasters, Hardhar for warrior-priests, and Stalwart for other priests.

Activities
The faithful of Tempus were tasked with aiding anyone that had a need to engage in battle, regardless of affiliation. However they would never serve as commanders or generals-for-hire. They were charged with maintaining honor, respect, and professionalism among the combatants of battles in which they participated.

They also made great efforts to help predominantly human societies prepare for war, with a focus on defense against terrifying creatures or monstrous humanoids. They worked as smiths, armorers, and farriers, offering weapon maintenance and repair services along with weapons for direct purchase. At times they served as witnesses during the signing of mercenary contracts.

On occasion, the church has led crusades against other groups or entities whose actions the church as a whole. In the past, these great campaigns were described as "a civilized man's barbarian horde".

When not instructing or supporting others in the arts of war, offering prayers to Tempus (or his servant the Red Knight), or engaged in warfare themselves, Tempuran clergy spent much of their time in training.

The most mighty of Tempus' priests could magically imbue weaponry and armor with the consciousness of retired and elderly once-great warriors. Some instances of this practice were witnessed in a small number of helmed horrors.

Rituals
One of the most common Tempuran rituals was a prayer calling for bravery and self-preservation made before each battle. Clerics specifically prayed for their divine spells before Highsun each day.

Additionally each day, they held the Feast of Heroes at Highsun, and performed the Song for the Fallen as the sun began to set. At some temples, high priests would perform a ceremony entitled the Song of the Sword for Tempus' faithful worshipers.

All followers to Tempus were expected to spill blood—even their own if not that of an enemy combatant—at least once per tenday.

Celebrations
Once each year, after the final night of Uktar, priests of Tempus undertook the March of the Dead in various towns and cities across the Realms. During this ceremony, priests would list the names of the fallen dead in a chant as they walked through the streets.

Two famous battles were celebrated locally among Tempus' faithful in the Dalelands, the Battle of Ambrose's Fall on Uktar 7, and the Battle of Swords Creed on Flamerule 17.

Regions
Worship of Tempus was prominent among the peoples of Amn, Chessenta, Cormyr, the Dalelands, Damara, Dambrath, the Dragon Coast, Icewind Dale, the Moonshae Isles Narfell the Nelanther Isles, the North, the Ride, the Shaar,  the Sword Coast, Threskel, Unther, the Vast, the Vilhon Reach, Waterdeep, and the Western Heartlands.

Places of Worship
Temples dedicated to the Lord of Battle tended to resemble military fortresses rather than actual places of worship.

Notable Shrines & Temples
Notable temples of Tempus included:
 * Abbey of the Sword, the temple in Battledale that marked the location where Tempus arrived in the Realms during the Time of Troubles.
 * Beacon of Battle, a small temple in the Qhibal Sabban of Calimport that recruited new members from among the city's gladiators.
 * High House of Swords and Banners, also known as the "Bloodhall" in Ormpetarr in the Vilhon Reach.
 * Hold of the Battle Lions, a small but significant shrine found in Dragonspear Castle.
 * House of Heroes, the local temple in Waterdeep that drew members from combatants of the Field of Triumph.
 * House of War, the imposing fortress-temple found in the city of Ravens Bluff.
 * Towers of the Vengeful Hand, the lucrative and influential holy house found in Eshpurta in Amn.

Other temples could be found in Archenbridge, Calimport (in addition to the aforementioned Beacon of Battle), Glister, Hillsfar, Luskan, Mulmaster,  Proskur, Tantras,  and Yûlash.

Shrines could be found in Arabel, Berdusk, Calaunt,  Daggerford,  Elturel,  in the Golden Fortress academy in Eshpurta, Esembra, Good Mead, Halfhap, Highcastle, Iriaebor, Saerloon,  Melvaunt,  Scardale Town,  Shadowdale town,   Suzail,   Swordpoint in Arkhen Vale,  Tasseldale, Thenia, Thunderstone, Urmlaspyr, Voonlar,  and Zhentil Keep.

Equipment, Spells, and Relics
The holy symbol of Tempus included a flaming sword set upon a field of crimson red.

Red tear gemstones were also referred to as Tempus' weeping.

Dress
Tempus' clergy typically wore the same armor they would don on the battlefield— often still stained with blood— the quality of which depended on their rank. The high-ranking Warlyon priests wore enchanted plate mail, while battle-chaplain Arahars wore splint mail, and lesser priests wore simple chainmail. They were always careful to never wear helms or headgear that covered their face however, as to do otherwise was seen as a profane emulation of Tempus' likeness.

Some of the more zealous orders of the church always kept at least one piece of their armor on at all times. This practice was less common among Tempuran clergy found in larger cities.

Priests' robes varied in color depending on rank, from brown and purple worn by lesser priests to red and amber worn by high priests. Yellow and white robes were only to be worn by the most esteemed of Tempus' priests. The robes of all priests were adorned in red trim, dyed with actual blood.

Spells
Notable spells associated wit Tempus and his faithful included holy flail, reveal, dance of the fallen, bladebless, and sacred link.

Clerics of Tempus could channel their divinity to invoke the rage of Tempus in battle.

Relics

 * Illydrael, an elven made bastard sword used to slay the fiend Baazka during the Second Dragonspear War.
 * Prayer of Anger, a +2 greatsword that granted its wielder complete immunity to any fear-inducing effects.

Dogma
"Only time and Tempus know who shall prevail."

- Common Tempuran saying.

Beliefs
Followers of Tempus believed their god did not achieve victory in war, rather provided aid for those that were so deserving. Warfare was a natural force of the world; the great equalizer of the mortals of the Realms. For during battle, any mortal could be just as easily slain as they could achieve greatness and glory.

When fighting in battle themselves, Tempuran faithful often called out the names of their fellow clergymen that had died in battle, or otherwise were forced to retire from a life of active combat.

They believed Tempus honored those that engaged in honorable warfare and did not succumb to cowardly or shameful tactics such as terrorizing innocents, performing torture, utilizing poisons, or committing outright slaughter.

Attitudes
"(you should) disparage no foe and respect all, for valor blazes in all, regardless of age, gender, or race."

- Excerpt of the Tempuran dogma.

While they were stalwart in their beliefs, and would readily defend the tenets of their faith in battle, Tempus' faithful did not engage in war without reason. They felt the consequences of initiating battle should be carefully considered before committing to action in battle. At the same time, those that attempted to avoid conflict, either by speech or by fleeing, were among the most harmful cowards to all of civilization.

Tempurans felt they should never avoid battle but did not engage in conflicts for which there was no chance of victory. They believed a swift, decisive battle was much more preferable over a long, drawn-out engagement.

Worshipers of Tempus firmly believed in honoring the dead that fell in battles past. Their names were always to be recorded following battle, to be honored during the March of the Dead. Gratuitous destruction was never acceptable under any circumstances.

Military Orders

 * Order of the Broken Blade, former Tempuran warriors and other clergy members that could no longer effectively fight in battle.
 * Order of the Steel Fang, an elite fighting order that were often dispatched by the church to the most deadly assignments across the Realms.

Classes
The church of Torm attracted numerous clerics, crusaders, specialty priests known as Battleguards, and in some locales even tribal shamans. It also attracted barbarians, fighters, and even some divine champions within its ranks.

Relationships
Distinct conflict arose between Tempus' Waterdhavian clergy and those that venerated the goddess Shar.

Following the decline of the Untheric pantheon, the Tempuran church maintained a rivalrous relationship with the church of Anhur. They each competed with one another for faithful that sought to venerate a patron of martial combat.

The church's dogma was diametrically opposed to that of the Eldath's clergy members.

History
Waterdhavian clergy of Tempus engaged in a brief religious conflict with the churches of Shar, Lathander, and Selûne in the.

Clerics of Tempus fought alongside local Dalesfolk when Battledale came under threat of occupation by the drow of Clan Auzkovyn in the.

Members
Tempus was worshipped by several localized tribal communities, including Reghedmen of Icewind Dale, the Northlanders of the Moonshae Isles, the Nars people of Narfell. It was among these communities that tribal shamans, rather than priests, oversaw and led worship of Tempus.

The faith attracted many mercenaries from across the Realms.

Notable Tempurans

 * Abordabe, the influential leader of the largest of the Nars barbarian tribes.
 * Brom Bellowharl, a famous Tempuran priest from long before the era of the Second Sundering.
 * Furifax, a half-elven former slave and freedom fighter in Unther.
 * Gorm "Brightshield" Harndrekker, acting Priest-General of the Abbey of the Sword as of 1372 DR.
 * Imdarr Relvaunder, a Tempuran priest of the Allfaiths Shrine in Red Larch and member of the Order of the Gauntlet.
 * Lady Morwen Daggerford, Duchess of Daggerford during the late 15 century DR.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus