Lothian
From Praemal
Lothian is a god of order, light and peace. He was once a mortal man, ascending to godhood approximately 1,000 years ago after being martyred by the then-dominant church of Castain, whom the mortal preacher Lothian decried as one of the Demon Gods.
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Worship of Lothian
Lothian's church is the official religion of the Tarsisian Empire, and is by far the most popular religion among humans, although its influence has greatly waned in recent centuries.
Chapels and churches to Lothian can be found all over the Empire, including several locations around the the Barony of Midwood. More than 80 percent of human residents of Midwood worship Lothian, including the baron.
In Ptolus, approximately 60 percent of residents worship Lothian.
Lothian observes Theoday as a day of rest, theoretically to be spent in meditation and prayer. Clerical magic other than healing and curing spells will not function from sunrise to Sunset on Theoday.
Church of Lothian Hierarchy
The Church has a highly regimented hierarchy, stemming from the local priests to the regional bishops, to the national archbishops up through the Emperor of the Church, Rehoboth Ylestos.
- Emperor of the Church
- Prince of the Church
- Council of Archbishops - Senior bishops who oversee all the bishops in a nation and advise the prince and emperor
- Bishops - Priest who runs a cathedral and consults with the community's Commissar, governor or other temporal ruler
- High Priest - Priest who runs a temple and normally oversees a staff of priests
- Curate - Longer serving, more-accomplished priest
- Acolyte - Lowest priestly rank in the church
Not every bishopric has many priests -- in Midwood, only Foxton on Moss has a priest of Lothian distinct from Bishop Jurgen Lehmann in Middleborough.
Priests are also bespoken priests, who have set duties and are attached to a church or cathedral, and itinerant priests, who are wandering missionaries charged to do good works.
Outside of the formal hierarchy are priests errant (see Lothian's Law vs. Church Law) and orders of monks and nuns. While nominally answering to the Emperor of the Church, they are a relatively independent force and serve as a rival religious power in the communities where they exist. The Sisters of the New Dawn are one such order, and they previously ran Maidensbridge Abbey in Midwood.
The Emperor of the Church is also served by the 250-man knightly order, the Order of the Dawn.
Lothian's Law vs. Church Law
As the patron god of the Empire, worshippers enjoy special privileges. Among them, worshippers of Lothian only have to pay one-fifth of the marriage tax non-worshippers pay when they are married. Thus, many subjects of the empire are at least worshippers of Lothian in name, if nothing else.
Although the Church of Lothian has not officially sold indulgences in almost a century, it is legal for the church to do so; indulgences sold by other churches within the empire are prohibited by law, and both the seller and purchaser are guilty of a serious crime.
On rare occasions, the Church recognizes that someone can violate Church law without actually committing a crime against Lothian.
For example, a curate might violate a high priest's direct order but still retain his spellcasting abilities. Clearly, Lothian continues to reward and appreciate the curate's faith, even if he has violated the temporal authority of the Church hierarchy. In such an instance, the curate might be rebuked but not defrocked -- for who are the Church authorities to challenge what is obviously Lothian's will? At worst, he could be removed from Church hierarchy altogether to become a priest errant. Far rarer is the case where a lay person might violate Church law but not contravene Lothian's will. For all intents and purposes, to nonclergy, Church law is Lothian's law.
Sacred texts
Among the books worshippers and members of the church hierarchy consult are the 88-volume Book of Lothian, Hymns of Penance and The Book of the Brilliant Dawn.
Hymns
The faithful raises their voices in praise of Lothian whenever they gather as well as in daily life. Among the hymns sung in praise of Lothian are the following:
Sacraments of Lothian
Every temple includes the following Sacraments of Lothian:
- Air: Burning incense represents the breath of Lothian and the efforts of his followers to do good in his name.
- Earth: A stone or a bag of dirt represents the body of Lothian and his sacrifice for truth.
- Fire: A burning candle or brazier represents the soul of Lothian and the fires of life, emotion, and action.
- Water: A flask or bowl of water represents the blood of Lothian and the restoration of all injustice.
Lothian is one of the gods of Praemal.
He is Lawful Good and his domains are Good, Law, Protection and Sun. His symbol is an ankh crucifix and his favored weapon is the long sword. His clerics pray to receive spells from Lothian at dawn.
Most church officials are not clerics. Most are experts (NPC class in the DMG) and there are also paladins in the hierarchy in the same roles as their cleric and expert counterparts. All members of the church hierarchy -- as well as devout laypersons -- are expected to tithe 10 percent of their income to the church.
Imperial law also has a number of provisions specifically dealing with the Church of Lothian.
Also see saints and angels.
