NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3353311" data-attributes="member: 2012">RELLord of the Rakasta, The Husband of LoveLesser DeitySymbol: War clawsHome Plane: BeastlandsGodly Realm: Savanna of the RainAlignment: Neutral goodPortfolio: Community, family, rakastaWorshipers: Rakasta, kitt, some elves, gnomes, and halflings of the Far SouthCleric Alignments: NG, CG, LGDomains: Community, Family, Feline, Good, ProtectionFavored Weapon: Scimitar or kasaRel, Lord of the Rakasta, is both a North God and the patron of good catfolk throughout the Lands of Harqual. He is husband to Ramara and father to Draven. Rel and Ramara’s other divine children died during the Divinity War. Rel is a bit of a pragmatist about life and death, yet losing his children was hard on him. If it hadn’t been for the loving nature of Ramara then he would have likely slipped to True Neutral over the last millennium.Rel’s Avatar rarely appears on the Material Plane, and almost never to non-catfolk. The avatars form varies on whether or not the Avatar is appearing to rakasta or to kitts. To rakasta, the Avatar appears as a Large-sized rakasta wearing the trappings of a tiger rider, or hatra, riding a Huge-sized rakasta cat (see World of Kulan: Monster Compilation II). To kitts, the Avatar appears as a Medium-sized kitt wearing the trappings of a rogue or a ranger. In both forms, the Avatar looks proud and defiant, but with a aura of good.The Lord of the Rakasta’s Avatar is always armed and armored. The Avatar either carries a +5 defending keen scimitar or wears a pair of +5 keen speed kasas. If wielding the scimitar then the avatar also carries a light shield. The Avatar always appears wearing some form of nonmetallic light armor. Regardless, the Avatar’s AC is always the same in both forms.DogmaRel’s faith teaches rakasta and kitt that they are part of a community of deities, and that the other members of the North Gods and their followers are to be treated like family. Cronn is the father and Inanna is the mother, while the other North Gods are brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. Rel also includes Mirella as a member of this family. She is the Great Grandmother of all. Rel’s faith also teaches its faithful that it is important o protect those that can’t protect themselves, even those that aren’t part of the Great Family of the North Gods. It is important to note that Rel’s church does not teach that rakasta are more enlightened than the other races of Harqual, and those rakasta that twist Rel’s faith in this way have corrupted the dogma of the church.Clerics and TemplesThe clergy of Rel is almost exclusively made up of rakasta. Rel’s clergy is often includes adepts, favored souls, rangers, and a few druids, as well as clerics. Those kitt communities that worship Rel do have their own clerics and adepts, but they aren’t considered part of the main church of Rel. The very few elves, gnomes, and halflings of the Far south that do venerate Rel often do so as simple laypersons.The clergy of Rel doesn’t exclude those that wish to worship The Husband of Love, however, and if a non-rakasta wanted to become a cleric dedicated to Rel then he or she would be accepted, wholeheartedly. This almost never happens, however, as non-rakasta simply don’t see Rel in this way. Non-rakasta see Rel and his followers more as social workers that strive to keep the members of the Great Family happy and speaking to each other.The clergy of Rel is also divided by how rakasta live. Rakasta tradition is based on a more rural way or life and a sense of honor. To many rakasta, the idea of living in an urban environment is simply unappealing, and those with radical views, it is considered taboo. Thus, the rakasta that live a nomadic existence throughout the savannas of the Far South, follow a more traditional form of way of life and worship, regarding the teachings of Rel. They do not build temples. The traditional clergy of Rel refer to themselves as shamans, regardless of character class.Those rakasta that have taken to city life, live a very different lifestyle and worship Rel more as a mainstream member of the North Gods. They build large temples and perform services the way other churches of the North Gods do, usually following the practices of Bast, regarding religious trappings and ceremonies, but altered for the teachings of Rel. In a way, the urban-swelling rakasta of the Far South have created a new sect dedicated to Rel; a sect that is tolerated by the more orthodox members of Rel’s faithful. The urban-dwelling clergy of Rel refer to themselves as priests or ministers, regardless of character class.It is important to note that this religious schism is rarely a violent one, as all those that worship Rel are part of the same family. They simply don’t always agree, and do argue from time to time.The known temples dedicated to Rel number less than two-dozen, and they are rarely grand edifices with hundreds of worshippers. The largest known temple dedicated solely to Rel is in the City of Rhid, located on the southern shore of the continent, just west of the City-state of Xcellian. Rhid was built by several prides of rakasta that decided to go completely urban, centuries before the start of the First Ogre War. The Refuge of Rel stands in the very center of the city, and is the heart and soul of the rakasta living in that community.Other communities with notable temples to Rel are as follows: Arhein, Bandontown, Finder, Filbor, Lauaefal, Onnostok, Relaini City, Tidad, Valquay, Washhome, Woodhold, and the Four Cities.--------------------------------Next deity... Sanh, The Stormmaker!</blockquote>

Verification