Yes I had wondered about the religous angle. I would probably play Anniston a little more aggressively, but I decided (for the convenience of party unity) to play him more in the role of good-natured evangalist rather than intolerant witch hunter, especially given his current standing in his order. I don't think Anniston has said anything that could be considered heretical.
Rhun sent this earlier:
Vadric addresses Jaroth as well. "No offense taken, Jaroth. Some of those who follow the light fear that anything unfamiliar or foreign to them is darkness. I, however, believe that darkness or light reside within a man's heart, and only through his actions may he be judged."
I tried to indicate by my character's reaction that I thought this was unusual for a cleric of the light to say. It seems to me that from the perspective of the Church of the Light that what a man believes in his heart, and the faith that he holds, is at least as important as what actions he performs (if not infinitely MORE important...). But once again, the media of the pbp is not an easy forum to discuss such delicate topics, particularly when a party is just trying to get to know one another.
J Alexander, please tell me if ANY properly trained follower of the Light would find ANY use of the Old Tongue to be heretical by definition. In other words, is its use grounds for immediate arrest and presentment before an ecclesiastical court. The answer to this question may go far to inform the players on how to react to it in the future (and in whose company it is appropriate to use the language).
Also, Fenris said:
Modjan comforts Jaroth in Northern Gaullic "Light comes from many places, the sun, the moon and the stars. Yet all three drive away the darkness. Still there are those who find one light better than the others. Still, best to leave the North to the North" says the veteran using an old saying from the Brotherhood.
Which discussion I might have taken up immediately except that I mistakenly thought that Modjan and Jaroth were still speaking in the Old Tongue (a language that Anniston does not understand) so I did not respond. Upon looking back at the quote I now see that the comment was made in Northern Gaullic and as a result, Anniston's opinion of Modjan will be affected by it.
Technically, I do not see the comments of either Modjan or Jaroth as being heretical, but rather paganistic. As such, they present themselves as oppotunities for enlightenment, rather than as heretics to be cleansed. Once again, I will take whatever advice you might have as to how we want to handle this as a party.
One more topic: Jaroth has hinted to his magic ability more than once now and Anniston will not let this dangle for long. I understand that if a spellcaster is a sorcerer then the magic is "granted by the light" and thus the practitioner can be saved (and is typically viewed as "blessed"). Whereas a wizard (or druid, or cleric of a non-light faith) is generally concidered beyond help and "evil" by definition. Please let me know how much latitude I have if this is the case so my actions can be determined appropriately.
Of course I also understand that to tell the difference between a sorcerer and a wizard is difficult and in an ecclesiastical court an arcane practitioner must be taken at his word. I assumed that after Canaan answered my last religeous post that I would ask him about the source of Jaroth's magic.
Sorry for the book.