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Church of Siamorphe

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The church of Siamorphe, also known as the church of Divine Right,[2] 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,[6] albeit one of the least numerous.[2]

“
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.[2]

Organization[]

While small, the church maintained a disciplined order among its members.[5]

Titles[]

Individual members of the church were known as Scions,[2] a name originating from the fact they all descended from one of the god(dess)'s mortal incarnations. Thus in theory, any member of her clergy could become a vessel for the divine being's next reincarnation.[1]

Titles included (in descending order): High Lord/Lady Scion, Duke/Duchess Scion, Marquis/Marquise Scion, Count/Countess Scion, Viscount/Viscountess Scion, Baron/Baroness Scion, and Lord/Lady Scion.[1]

Activities[]

Siamorphe's clergy sought to further increase the wealth of nobles that patronized the church.[7] Many of them served as royal advisers, viziers, sages, and religious advisors,[1][2] while some others acted as matchmakers for unwed nobles (when those duties were not carried out by clergy of Lathander).[8]

On some occasions, Scions served as personal bodyguards and would even take a ruler's place when their court came under threat or a possible assassination seemed iminent.[2]

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.[2]

Rituals[]

Priests of Siamorphe prayed for their spells at noon, under the warmth and light of the Chalice of Siamorphe.[5]

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 later recovered.[1][5]

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.[1][5]

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.[1][5]

The Canticle of the Silver Chalice was a hymn that honored the goddess of nobility.[9]

Regions[]

Siamorphe's faith could be found across the breadth of Faerûn, including regions like the North,[2] including Waterdeep,[10][11] the Western and Eastern Heartlands, Calimshan,[12][13] and Tethyr[14][15] in the Lands of Intrigue,[note 1] and the realms along the Chultan Peninsula along the Shining Sea.[2]

Temples[]

Shrines and temples to Siamorphe were often built as small marble–and–mahogany chapels attached to the grand manor-houses of noble families. They were often extravagantly built, to the extent of being considered distasteful. The crests of noble families were often a prominent piece of any Siamorphan altar.[1]

The most notable of Siamorphe was the Chapel and Chalice of the Divine Right, built within Assumbar Villa in the Sea Ward[1] of Waterdeep on the Sword Coast North.[16]

Shrines to Siamorphe were found in numerous manors of Patriar families in Baldur's Gate,[17] the kingdom of Cormyr,[1] the royal palace of Fearntarn in the Crown Lands,[18] and Waterdeep.[19]

Equipment, Spells, and Relics[]

The holy symbol of Siamorphe was a silver chalice emblazoned with a golden sun,[20] referred to as the Golden Cup[21] or cup of bounty.[14]

Dress[]

Priests of Siamorphe wore filigreed silk robes of deep purple. At all times they either wore a silver circlet adorned with Siamorphe's holy symbol or carried with them a silver goblet, often filled with holy water.[1]

Weapons and Arms[]

Adventuring Scions guarded themselves in only the finest armor available to them, never settling for anything less protective than chain mail. They preferred weapons that were often associated with rulership or royalty, such as maces, rods, or scepters.[1]

Spells[]

Spells associated with or unique to worshipers of Siamorphe included divine bloodline, Unquestioning obedience, loyal vassal,[22] and divine investiture.[23]

Dogma[]

Members of the church believed their collective actions helped provide the most stable and just forms of government across the Realms.[5]

Beliefs[]

Siamorphe's followers were taught that nobles had the right to rule over others, 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.[1][5] Church leadership believed that nobles' public personas were far more important than any errors or mistakes they made in private.[6]

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.[1][5]

Orders[]

The Order of the Silver Chalice was a group of Tethyrian noble warriors that fought in support of the throne during the mid–14th century DR.[24][25][26]

Classes[]

The church of Siamorphe primarily comprised clerics and specialty priests, known as Highborns, but also included wizards, paladins, and fighters.[1] Some of Siamorphe's clerics took on additional responsibilities as loremasters.[5]

History[]

Worship of Siamorphe was prominent in Baldur's Gate during the city's early history, before his[1][note 2] temple was razed during an uprising.[27] It was seen as more of a local cult rather than an officially-recognized religion, and diminished as the city's Baldurian nobility devolved over the course of several centuries. That iteration of Siamorphe nearly died from lack of worship.[1]

When Siamorphe finally did die, during a riot during the mid–13th century DR, he appointed a Waterdhavian noblewoman to succeed him as Lady Siamorphe. She garnered great influence in Waterdeep following the city's Guild Wars and emerged as the patron of its noble class.[1]

For the next hundred years, worship of Siamorphe was limited to within the City of Splendors.[28] However by the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, her faith had garnered a small following in the southern realm of Tethyr.[29][1]

Members of Siamorphe's church greatly shaped the political landscapes of realms in the decades that followed, well into the 15th century DR.[2] They accomplished this feat despite the goddess' relegation as exarch of Waukeen some time during the Era of Upheaval.[30]

Siamorphe's exact status during the time of the Second Sundering was not entirely clear. She was not counted among the members of the Faerûnian pantheon as of the Year of the Warrior Princess, 1489 DR,[31] but was still known as a demipower worshiped by the Waterdhavian Cassalanter family around that same time.[32]

Members[]

Clergy of Siamorphe's church were often nobles and royal courtiers themselves.[2]

Notable Members[]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms states that Calimshan is excluded from the Shining Sea realms in which the worship of Siamorphe was prevalent.
  2. ↑ Siamorphe manifested as both a masculine and feminine gender throughout the history of the Realms. Either pronoun is used depending on usage in the source material.

Appearances[]

Adventures
Referenced only
Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 58–60. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 164–165. ISBN 0786960345.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  4. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 106–107. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  7. ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 0786960345.
  8. ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 0786960345.
  9. ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 120. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  10. ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Who's Who in Waterdeep”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 61. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
  11. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  12. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  13. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  15. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  16. ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  17. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Matt Sernett, Steve Winter (August 20, 2013). “Campaign Guide”. In Dawn J. Geluso ed. Murder in Baldur's Gate (Wizards of the Coast), p. 50. ISBN 0-7869-6463-4.
  18. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Three: Erlkazar & Folk of Intrigue”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  19. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 106. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  20. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 235. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  21. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Three: Erlkazar & Folk of Intrigue”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  22. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  23. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  24. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Three: Erlkazar & Folk of Intrigue”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  25. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  26. ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  27. ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 167. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
  28. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), Running the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  30. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  31. ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  32. ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  33. ↑ Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
  34. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  35. ↑ Troy Denning (April 2014). The Sentinel. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 283. ISBN 0786964596.
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