Church of Haela Brightaxe

The church of Haela Brightaxe was the primary religious organization dedicated to the worship and service of the goddess Haela Brightaxe, the Lady of the Fray. They were commonly called Haelans.

"Because it was there, and because I have always wanted to cut my way out of something's stomach."

- A Haelan cleric upon being asked why she attacked an ancient dragon.

Shrines & Temples
Main article: Category:Temples to Haela Brightaxe

Kaxanar cared little for dwarven tradition, flaunting precedent and building their temples wherever was most convenient to where nearby conflict was to be found. Temples were regularly built in caves or underground, rooms, such as the cellars of human ruins, abandoned dwarf holds, or even empty gnome warrens. Most temples also doubled as food storehouses, small smithies, and armories crammed with odd weapons and armor. They were never guarded by less than a dozen priests, more often 16-20, and all were set with at least one bombastically violent trap so that no temple could fall into enemy hands.

This could take the form of an explosive, but one famous example was a temple in Amphail that, upon being overrun by orcs, was revealed to have six separate blade barriers set up that used the cached weapons one after the other to whirl and slice at the invaders.

Symbol
Priests carried their holy symbol in the form of a steel medallion embossed with the insignia.

Possessions
Priests and priestesses of Haela were always heavily armed and normally skilled enough to repair their own equipment, but they freely gave away excess weapons to dwarves in need while keeping at least one for themselves (potentially hidden).

In honor of an ancient custom, between the Luckmaiden's clergy and the halflings of Secomber, part of an ultimately futile effort to protect what remained of the Phalorm, Haelans constantly carried around bags of caltrops with the hope of using them, the practice being a kind of joke and affectionate tradition between both sides.

Payment was expected for Haelan services in the form of a spare weapon, or failing that armor or useful gear of some kind, for the follower to give to those in need. They were practiced at throwing weapons so that they'd land on ledges, cut ropes, land hilt up, and in other ways to get them besides those who needed them. It was considered bad form to give back a weapon that was just bestowed.

Dress
For ceremonial purposes, Haela's clergy typically dressed in plain, steel-gray robes or any kind of armor, preferably chainmail, with a scarlet overcloak, crimson footwear, and an open helm. Those planning to adventure donned the best armor available, again usually chainmail, the best weapons they could find, and a helm, though not necessarily an open-faced one.