Church of Siamorphe

The church of Siamorphe, also known as the church of Divine Right, was the collection of followers and clergy that venerated Siamorphe, the patron deity of nobility. They were considered one of the wealthier churches of the Realms, albeit one of the least numerous.

"With the divine right to rule comes great responsibility, and great rulers support by great nobility can lift a realm so that its citizens high and low enjoy better lives. See that this happens often and wherever possible."

- Excerpt from the credo of Siamorphe's church.

Organization
While small, the church maintained a disciplined order among its members.

Titles
Individual members of the church were known as Scions.

Activities
Siamorphe's clergy strived to further elevate the wealth of nobles that pledged money to the church. Many of them served as royal advisers, viziers, sages, and religious advisors, and some others acted as matchmakers for unwed nobles (when those duties were not carried out by clergy of Lathander). Others

On some occasions, Scions served as personal bodyguards and would even take a ruler's place when court came under threat or possible assassination seemed likely.

Siamorphe's servants instructed Faerûnian nobility on how to best conduct themselves and make wise decisions, for the betterment of their subjects and the Realms overall. They offered loyal support to nobles during times of crisis or self-doubt and obstructed acts that could lead to ruin or revolt. When needed, they routed out corrupt members of royal court and ensured their patron received true and right advisement.

All these actions taken together help provide the most stable and just forms of government across the Realms.

Rituals
Priests of Siamorphe prayed for their spells at noon, under the warmth and light of the Chalice of Siamorphe.

Regular priestly services were congregations during which specifics of rule and governance were discussed among local nobility. Many of the faith's older rituals and observances had been lost to time, but were recovered in part over time.

Celebrations
Priests of Siamorphe presided over the induction of noble-born babes into the faith. These specific rites cost upwards of 10,000 gp, to which many nobles were more than happy to pay.

The Divine Pageantry was a celebration held during summer months in the city of Waterdeep and involved nobles dressing in anachronistic costumes and distributing copper and silver coins to the city's commoners.

Regions
Siamorphe's faith could be found across the breadth of Faerûn, including regions like the North, including Waterdeep, the Western and Eastern Heartlands, the Lands of Intrigue (save for Calimshan), and the realms along the Chultan Peninsula along the Shining Sea.

Spells
Spells associated with or unique to worshipers of Siamorphe included divine bloodline, Unquestioning obedience, loyal vassal, and divine investiture.

Beliefs
Siamorphe's followers were taught that nobles had the right to rule over folks of the Realms, so long as they did so ably and responsibly. They were obliged to provide the best possible leadership to their subjects, regardless of their personal interests. Church leadership believed that nobles' public personas were far more important than any errors or mistakes they made in private.

They subscribed to the belief that nobles inherited the better personal qualities along with the material wealth of their ancestors in order to provide best possible rulership. They maintained these strict rulers of financial inheritance in order to prevent squabbling between rival family members.

Orders
The Order of the Silver Chalice was a group of Tethyrian noble warriors that fought in support of the throne during the mid–14 century DR.

Classes
Some of Siamorphe's clerics took on additional responsibilities as loremasters.

History
Worship of Siamorphe was prominent in Baldur's Gate during the city's early history, before her temple was razed during an uprising.

Members of Siamorphe's church greatly shaped the political landscapes of realms under their influence throughout the 14 and 15 centuries DR.

Members
Clergy of Siamorphe's church were often nobles and royal courtiers themselves.

Notable Members

 * Aalangama Gulderhorn, a member of the Order of the Silver Chalice in Waterdeep.
 * Arietta Seasilver, Siamorphe's chosen during the era of the Second Sundering.
 * Darlynd Immur, the former High Vizier of Tashluta and adviser to the noble Rowanmantle family of Tilverton in Cormyr.
 * Ilmurra Tarlhawk, a thespian and escort that worked in Palace of Waterdeep.
 * Zaranda Star, the queen of Tethyr that converted to the faith following her ascension as monarch.