Symbol: Downturned sword sprouting branches from hilt

Home Plane: Seven Heavens

Portfolios: Truth and Peace

Worshippers: Scholars, healers, judges, monks, nobility, pacifists

Worshipper’s Alignment: any non-evil

Clerics: LG; monks LG or LN

Domains: Celestial Good, Law, Planning, Protection

Favored Weapon(s): None

 

Description:

 

Galen is depicted as a wizened, old man with flowing white hair and beard. Traditionally, he wears white robes. Galen’s eyes remain alert, clear, and bright. An open book accompanies him in iconographs, at his feet if standing, or in his lap, if sitting. A sword overgrown by entwined branches lies half buried in the ground at his feet.

 

History/Relationships:

 

Galen’s wife is Averran, the goddess of family and fidelity. Their daughters are Healda, The Battlemaiden of Truth and Sybel, The Midwife . Galen names Erden as his brother, but there is no recorded knowledge of their parents. Galen holds Lomar in deep respect for his endurance of suffering without lashing out. Galen considers Rahab as a rebellious son, disapproving of his drive for exacting retribution, but otherwise embracing him. He loves Tirith for her freely given gift of healing. Galen has a neutral relationship with Ceiwen as she represents killing for provision and not just for pleasure. Hunters for sport, however, displease him. Galen opposes those deities who prosper by lies (Phantos and Garrotongue), violence (Dana, Macha, Nemain, Rakoth, and Raistrick), suffering or pain (Crylla and Myk). He disdains all evil on principle, putting him at odds with all deities of those pantheons to one degree or another.

 

Dogma:

 

Truth is paramount in all things. Peace follows in the footsteps of truth. Harm no living thing. Always seek peaceful resolution to conflict. Sadly, violence and conflict are usually inevitable when faced with evil; strike quickly and decisively to end this type of conflict with minimal destruction, always protecting innocents first.  Absolve the sins of evil before death at every opportunity. Evil opposes truth and peace; therefore, oppose evil at every turn. Neutrality believes peace is a balance between good and evil; this is illusion. Good can exist alone in perfection. Live through your deeds, not your words. Convert others to live in harmony. Let your mouth know no falsehood and your heart no anger.

 

Clergy and Temples:

 

Temples of Galen are never found separated from the worship of Averran, Sybel and Healda. In smaller areas, Lomar and Erden often are also worshipped in the same temple. That being said, temples to the LG pantheon are found in nearly all major cities and most cities larger than a hamlet. Ironically, most worshippers come to temples seeking the favor of Averran and Sybel. Outside their temples, Galenite clerics are found in public places preaching peace and helping victims of violence. Clerics are also commonly found in war zones, healing the wounded and helping the dying reach peace. Clerics of Galen pray for spells in the morning in peaceful solitude. The traditional dress of Galenite clergy is a white or grey robe trimmed in gold. Galen does not have paladins; these holy warriors are the charge of his daughter Healda. Galenite clerics are male; females are worshippers of Averran or Sybel. Clerics of Galen seldom multiclass but are not forbidden to do so by the tenets of their faith. Acolytes to Galen come freely to their calling and are tested for worthiness through a ceremony which tests their ability to remain peaceful in the face of all manner of threats. Initiates (and other clergy and worshippers at various stages of advancement) are tried in a ceremony called truthtelling. There are no traditional holy days within Galen’s church save Liesrouting (Pyros 13) which is celebrated in conjunction with the church of Rahab. Local celebrations are called when major violence is avoided and wider celebrations are called to honor events like the endings of wars. These celebrations are composed of music, song, dance, and feasting.

 

Special Abilities:

 

Galenite clergy gain special abilities as they progress in their dedication to the Divine Truth. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are supernatural abilities usable at will by the caster only.

 

3rd level –   the cleric may take sense motive and spot as class skills

5th level –   the cleric gains a bonus +2 on all DC involving illusions

7th level –   the cleric gains a bonus +2 on all DC involving Bluff, Disguise, and opposed Hide rolls

12th level – the cleric gains the use of the ability inquisition (1/day). When activated, the cleric designates an individual who must make a Will                                    save (DC = caster’s level + CHA) modifier or truthfully and completely answer the next three questions posed by the cleric.

                       Spell resistance must also be overcome.

 

Rituals:

 

Galen makes several rituals available to those who please him. They are detailed below along with costs and other pre-requisites. Before any of these rituals will be performed, a truthtelling is used to determine the worthiness of the individual. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are usable only by the recipient of the ritual.

 

The Divine Spark of Truth -- This ritual draws the divine blessing of Galen into a worthy recipient granting him/her a permanent increase of +1 to charisma as a divine bonus. This bonus cannot be dispelled or magically removed except as punishment by Galen. The ritual costs the individual 4,000XP and requires the participation of at least three Galenite priests of 9th level or higher.

 

Tranquility of the Soul – This ritual bestows the supernatural power to radiate an aura akin to the sanctuary spell. If the aura is dispelled, it may be reactivated as a free action on the next round. An individual affected by this ritual aura may not attack the cleric unless attacked in turn or until one day has passed. Creatures saving versus this effect are immune to it for one day; whereafter, if the cleric is met anew, another save must be made.

 

Truthtelling - This ritual is similar in ways to the mage spell phantasmal killer. It is used when an individual must truthfully face incidences where he has strayed from the beliefs of Galen or for initiation and advancement within the order. Galen will sometimes use the ordeal to show some personal truth to the believer. Once the ritual is cast, a question is put before the acolyte regarding his actions and/or beliefs. the individual then views related events as an observer alongside the clergy invoking the truthtelling. Only confronting the event in question will end the ritual once it has begun. Unlike phantasmal killer, this ritual never causes death, although the events viewed may make the recipient wish for it.