Thanks for commenting Greg! :)
This will also help us visualize what the individual towns and villages in the North look like. I had a hard time picturing fairly small towns with 9-12 large temples. Probably most settlements will have a temple near the center of town, with those larger towns and cities like Blackmoor will have several large temples, and perhaps also a few smaller ones, in addition to multiple shrines within each temple.
The Thonian Pantheon I consider all the Deities listed in the Blackmoor Campaign Sourcebook (d20) to be part of the Thonian pantheon with the following exceptions: 1) the Deities of Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes and Halflings 2) the Evil Deities 3) The Deities of the Peshwah 4) The Dragon Deities (uncertain about these too, they definately seem to be respected in the North). 5) Kadis and Khoronus are linked specifically to the Duchy of Ten, but I prefer including them in the general Thonian Pantheon. Probably they have only a very small following outside the North.
The Holy Thonian Church Without making comparisons that would be too uncomfortable, I see the Holy Thonian Church as an organization that would have many similarities to the RW Catholic Church of the middle ages. The Holy Thonian Church follows basically a Polytheistic religion, though perhaps the individual Deities in some cases can be compared to saints. As a Christian Church could be dedicated to a single saint for instance, a Thonian Temple could be dedicated to a single deity, though worship of the other deities of the pantheon would be welcome. Many non-Clerics may choose to pray to different deities at different occasions, though Clerics have to follow a specific deity. The Holy Thonian Church is much less powerful than the RW medieval Church, having little chance to oppose the Thonian Emperor within the Empire. In the North the Church is probably ranked third after the King/Regency Council and the Wizards Cabal. The Church in the north has supported King Uther which has helped keep the Cabal in check. When it comes to Blackmoor vs. Thonia however, the Church cannot take position, the official line being that it will not interfer in worldly conflicts. They are clearly willing to make an exception when it comes to Wizards, however.
IMC, each province of the Empire has its own Patriarch, with the North counting as a province. There is a High Patriarch in the Province of Synobia, but each Patriarch is fairly independent. Each deity has its own little hierarchy and there is some rivalry between the different orders on who will get which positions. The most prominent positions are usually held by Clerics of one of the major deities though, such as Odir, Pacuun, Fronaus etc.
Within the North, the following Clerics hold important positions (as per the BMPG):
Order of Odir & Province Patriarch of the North: Bishop Garamond Bolitho, Blackmoor Order of Baldin: Maldern Springsong, Blackmoor Order of Fronaus: Flanagan Torvek, Bramwald Order of Henrin: Flanagan Torvek (again???), Newgate Order of Hersh: None Order of Kadis: Marta Rost, Duchy of Ten (Currently in hiding) Order of Khoronus: Galid Bronzures, Duchy of Ten (Currently in hiding) Order of Mwajin: Floral Kyle, Maus Order of Pacuun: Clemet Forz, Blackmoor Order of Phellia: Valerie Songbird, Maus Order of Sacwhynne: None Order of Sollus: Halgerd Leafstream (Druid!), Kenville
PS: Some of the original ideas on the Holy Thonian Church, including the name are based on work by James Mishler.
Comments are welcome as usual! :)
-Havard
_________________ Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
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