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 prolific religions in the Realms, and 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 there was no chief authority within Tempus' church, it maintained a disciplined and militaristic hierarchy.

Titles
Befitting an organization that extolled the virtues of warfare, the church bestowed upon its members 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 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, the title of Direhar was used for guardian-priests, Rauthar for swordmasters, Hardhar for warrior-priests, and Stalwart for other priests.

Activities
The faithful of Tempus aided anyone or group that had genuine need to engage in battle, regardless of affiliation. They would often serve as wartime chaplains, but would not act as commanders or generals-for-hire. Rather they strived to maintain honor, respect, and professionalism among the combatants of battles, including those in which they participated.

Tempus' clergy made great efforts to help predominantly human societies prepare for war, with a focus on mustering defenses against terrifying creatures or monstrous humanoids. They worked as smiths, armorers, and farriers, offering weapon maintenance and repairs as well as weapons for purchase. When needed, they acted as witnesses for the signing of mercenary contracts.

On occasion, the church led crusades against other groups or entities whose actions threatened their institution. These great and terrible campaigns were described by some 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 otherwise engaging in warfare themselves, Tempuran clergy spent much of their time in training in preparation for their next battle.

The most mighty of Tempus' priests could magically imbue weaponry and armor with the consciousness of retired and elderly once-great warriors. This could be witnessed in the construction of some helmed horrors found across Faerûn.

Rituals
One of the most common Tempuran rituals was the prayer calling for bravery and self-preservation invoked before battle, or the night before battle. Clerics specifically prayed for their divine spells before Highsun every day.

Additionally, clergy members held the Feast of Heroes at Highsun each day, 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—either their own or that of an enemy combatant—at least once per tenday.

Celebrations
Once each year, during the Feast of the Moon following Uktar, priests of Tempus from across the Realms began the March of the Dead in their nearby settlements. During this ceremony, priests would list the names of the fallen dead in a chant as they walked through town or throughout the city 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 Creek on Flamerule 17.

On occasion, some of the larger temples would host grand athletic competitions known as "champion frays".

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. Shrines were often adorned with shattered weapons, damaged armor, or even the heads of recently-slain monsters.

An altar to Tempus was also set up within each temple of the Red Knight.

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 Battle Lions, the ruins of 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, Bezantur, Calimport (in addition to the Beacon of Battle), Glister, Hillsfar, Luskan, Monksblade, Mulmaster,  Proskur, Tantras,  and Yûlash,  and Zhentil Keep.

Shrines could be found in Arabel, Berdusk,  Calaunt,  Daggerford,   Dolselar, Elturel,   the Golden Fortress academy in Eshpurta, Essembra, Good Mead, Halfhap, Highcastle, Hill's Edge, Iriaebor, Saerloon,  Melvaunt,  Newfort, Scardale Town,  Shadowdale town,   Suzail,   Swordpoint in Arkhen Vale,  Tasseldale, Thentia, Thunderstone, Urmlaspyr, Voonlar,  and Wyvernhunt.

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

The gemstones known as red tears 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 from battle. The quality of their armor depended on their rank. High-ranking Warlyon priests wore enchanted plate mail decorated with filigree, while battle-chaplain Arahars wore splint mail, and lesser priests wore simple chainmail. They always took care to never wear helms or headgear that covered their face however, that was considered profane emulation of Tempus' likeness.

Some of the more zealous orders of the church always kept at least one piece of armor on their bodies 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 deserving of it. 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.

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.

While in battle, Tempuran faithful often called out the names of their fellow clergymen that had previously been slain, or otherwise were forced to retire from a life of active combat.

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 their faith in battle, Tempus' clergy did not engage in war without reason, or when they felt there was no chance of victory. A swift, decisive battle was much more preferable over a long, drawn-out engagement. They felt the consequences of engaging in war should be carefully considered before initiating the first battle. At the same time, those that attempted to avoid conflict, either by fleeing or attempts at parlay, were cowards among the most harmful to all of civilization.

Worshipers of Tempus always honored the dead that fell in battles past. Their names were to be recorded after every battle, for future inclusion in the March of the Dead. Gratuitous destruction was never acceptable under any circumstances.

Military Orders

 * Order of the Broken Blade, a order composed of former Tempuran warriors and other clergy that were unable to effectively fight in battle.
 * Order of the Steel Fang, an elite fighting group often dispatched by the church to the deadliest assignments across the Realms.

Classes
The church of Tempus attracted numerous clerics, crusaders, specialty priests, known as battleguards battleforges,, or glorybloods, and in some locales, even tribal shamans. It also attracted some number of barbarians, fighters, and even some divine champions within its ranks.

Relationships
Distinct conflict arose between Tempus' Waterdhavian clergy and the city's worshipers of Shar.

Following the decline of the Untheric pantheon, the Tempuran church maintained a rivalrous relationship with the church of Anhur. Each organization 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 faithful.

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

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 tribal communities across the Realms, including the Reghedmen of Icewind Dale (as Tempos), the Northlanders of the Moonshae Isles, the Nars people of Narfell, and the Uthgardt of the Savage Frontier. It was among these communities that tribal shamans, rather than priests, served as spiritual leaders of Tempus' faith.

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.
 * Islif Lurelake, one of the original members of the Knights of Myth Drannor.
 * Jerrod, the barbarian shaman that united the tribes of the North against the archmage Arakon and sacrificed himself to stop an invasion from the Nine Hells.
 * Mizhena, one of Tempus' clerics that joined the Coalition army during the War of the Shining Crusade.
 * Lady Morwen Daggerford, Duchess of Daggerford during the late 15 century DR.
 * Wulfgar, the famed barbarian adventurer of the Companions of the Hall and the former heir of the Tribe of the Elk.
 * Priest-Captain Zeidero, head of the Tempuran temple of Bezantur in Thay.

Appearances

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