Selene

The Deity
The Church
Clerics
Holy Warriors
Prestige Classes

Selene, goddess of the Moon

Selene (pronounced SELL-uh-nee) is the subtle goddess of the night, bearer of hope for those in darkness, and Mistress of Secrets.  She rides across the night sky in her radiant silver chariot, drawn by twenty-one snow-white swans, bringing light to the darkened land.  Like her brother Selene, she is the daughter of Malbor and Shorral, and is the firm foe of her father and his works. 

A tale of Selene and Caravok.
Selene holds much of the beauty of her mother, and is fair in both form and voice. In the ancient days between her birth and the Second War, when Malbor had slain Shorral and taken the twins Selene and Selene to his palace at Azhran, no fairer thing could be found upon Theeurth.  Therefore, when in the pits of Azhran she was espied by the lustful gaze of the evil god Caravok, he was consumed with desire for Selene and swore that only he and no other would possess her.  

Then with honeyed words he wooed her, but she was repelled and spurned him.  Thereupon he flew into a rage, saying that if he could not have her, no one could.  Almost, he killed her, but she was the daughter of Shorral and possessed the changing nature of fire.  As she strove with Caravok, she assumed many forms, seeking to escape him.  And thus it is today that she still assumes many forms, and judges none by their form alone.  At last she escaped the assault of her would-be suitor, and was rescued by creatures of the Infernal Host who were her father's minions.

For twenty-eight days she lay near death and though the arts of the Infernal Host were sufficient to restore her to health, she bears with her still the scars of that assault and her beauty, though still great, is forever marred.  Thus it is that Selene and Caravok are enemies, and his followers the were-beasts are driven mad when the moon is full.  Also, because of her wounds which have never fully healed, she is not constant in her going across the sky, but tarries often in the daylight sky, or races on ahead, even occasionally blocking out the light of her brother, Selene.  And every twenty-eight days her light waxes and wanes, in memory of her time in Azhran.

Associations

Selene is beloved by all the divine races, who see in her the reflection of their mutual ancestor, Shorral.  "Sister Selene" is a common name for her, as is the Silver Maiden, and Mistress of the Night.  She is most loved by the elves, among whom she often walked before ascending into the sky. She is the patron of lovers, bards and all who work for good in secret.  There is also a secret sisterhood of female wizards and sorceresses dedicated to her worship.

Alignment

Selene is Chaotic good.

Representations

Selene is usually portrayed as a young woman with long white hair wearing silvery robes or armor, and usually accompanied by white swans or by the moon itself.  But she takes many forms.  Her followers bear moon-disks, circles of beaten silver, sometimes depicting the surface of the moon.  South of the Valesian sea, she is represented as a swan.

Purpose

Selene was born of the rape of Shorral by Malbor.  Though she was rescued by her foster-father Thandor as a result of the Second War of the Gods, Selene still bears the scars of her time in the pits of Azhran.  Where her brother is fiery and intense, Selene is cool and patient.  But like him, she works for a time when her father and his lieutenant Caravok will be ruined, and all their evil come to naught.  Though she is constant in her travels and in her enmity to evil, she is ever-changing, and is said to be "constant in her variability".  

Her silvery passage through the night sky is a constant reminder to the things of evil that the gods are watching, and that the day of reckoning shall come.  She is also the especial foe of all were-beasts, save only the very few that seek out her aid and protection.

Unlike the Great Church and most of her fellow gods of the Chalice, Selene does not perceive the savage races as irredeemably evil.  She believes that in all things there is the hope for salvation.

Servants

Selene employs few servants, though she is friendly with many of the Celestial Host, particularly Vacamiel, known as the Liber Exaltus, who serves her nephew, Borlamnos.

THE CHURCH - The Fanes of Selene

Church Description

The Argent Order is dedicated to watchfulness and protection.  It provides aid and spiritual advice to those who live in the night, including lovers, thieves, prostitutes, night watchmen, bards, poets and astrologers.  

The Order's members are ever vigilant, looking for hidden evil and those who would use the night for evil ends.  It maintains a loose affiliation with many local groups and individuals across Vatheria who supply it with information, funds and even adventurers when needed.

Church Structure

The Church is a loose hierarchy, centered around the local temples, known as the Lunar Fanes.  Each fane is administered by a senior priest with the title of prelate.  Many local fanes and prelates are united under a single regional authority known as a hierarch.  The authority of the hierarch is more moral than temporal, but is powerful nonetheless.  The hierarchs report to no central authority, but instead remain in contact with each other where possible and occasionally convene conclaves to enact important business. The fanes vary widely in appearance and in the temperament of their worshippers, ranging from white marble temples in great cities to rough-hewn edifices open to the sky.  

Within the Fanes of Selene are two orders.  The Moon Circle is the larger, quieter group of priests and priestesses who tend the fanes and administer to the faithful.  A smaller, more active organization is called the Watchmen.  Nearly all adventuring Selenite clerics and all of Selene's holy warriors are members of the Watchmen.

Doctrine

Shine Light Into Dark Corners -  Long ago, Selene ascended into the heavens to light the skies when her brother Selene drew beneath the earth each night.  This was a sign to the creatures of Malbor that there was no time when the gods were not watching.  Just so, it is the duty of all good persons to reveal corruption and evil wherever it hides.

Do Not Judge a Scroll by its Cover - Just as the goddess takes many forms, so too do the children of the light.  Judge no creature by its appearance, but by the content of its heart.

Respect the Balance - Balance your work with play.  Balance your zeal with wisdom.  Balance civilization with wilderness, and duty with pleasure.  

Holy Days

Lunarius - Each full moon (which occurs on the fourteenth of every month in Theeurth) is a holy day of rest for Selenites.  The first full moon of Harvestide is Lunarius, and is the holiest day of the year for Selenites.  Lunarius is attended by a night-long festival of games and feasts.  These are usually accompanied by costumes and is often a time of passionate abandonment of social strictures, depending upon the local population.  It is a festival often happily attended by the followers of Ilion and Eristemus.

Preferred Weapon

Selene's favored weapon is "Quickshaft", a silvery composite shortbow.

CLERICS - The Watchmen

The Order

The Watchmen are the activist arm of Selene's church and are loosely affiliated with like-minded groups across Vatheria.  They work in the shadows to oppose the works of evil, particularly those of the gods Malbor and Caravok.  They have a cordial but distant relationship with the Moon Circle and with other activist priesthoods (such as those of Selene and Artorius).  

The Watchmen work in secret, and has a network of informants, sympathizers, allies and sources who keep many sets of eyes on the secret doings of groups like the Brotherhood of Bone and the Grey Cabal.  In some cases, the Watchmen have even infiltrated these groups.

Titles

For the most part, the Watchmen eschew titles, referring to each other merely as "brother" and "sister".  However, at 12th level, they become Senior Watchmen, and are addressed as "reverend father" and "reverend mother". 

Domains

Clerics of Selene may choose two of the following domains: Good, Moon, Portal and Protection. The Moon and Portal domains are from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Sourcebook, by Wizards of the Coast.  

Moon Domain 
Granted Powers: : You can turn or destroy lycanthropes as a good cleric turns or destroys undead.  Using this power uses up one of your "Turn Undead" attempts for the day.

Moon Domain Spells:
1. Faerie Fire                                                               6. Permanent Image
2. Moonbeam  (FRCS)                                               7. Insanity
3. Moon Blade  (FRCS)                                               8. Animal Shapes
4. Emotion                                                                   9. Moonfire (FRCS)
5. Moon Path (FRCS)

Portal Domain 
Granted Powers: : You can detect an active or inactive portal as if it were a "normal" secret door (DC 20).

Portal Domain Spells:
1. Summon Monster I                                              6. Banishment
2. Analyze Portal (FRCS)                                           7. Etherealness
3. Dimensional Anchor                                             8. Maze
4. Dimension Door                                                     9. Gate
5. Teleport

A brief explanation of the FRCS spells is given below:

Analyze Portal -Locates and identifies the properties of magical portals.
Moonbeam - Can force lycanthropes to change shape.
Moon Blade - Sword-like beam injures opponents, does more damage to undead, scrambles magic.
Moon Path - Creates a stair or bridge of moonlight.
Moonfire - Causes 1d8/level, forces lycanthropes to change, creates light and negates electricity.

Spells

The Spells of the Watchmen may be found here.

Alignments

Watchmen may be neutral good, chaotic good or chaotic neutral. 

HOLY WARRIORS* - The Knights Argent

The Order

All of the Knights Argent, Selene's holy warriors, are members of the Watchmen, and are considered to be of equal rank with the clerics in that order, though Knights Argent will often defer to the clerics on matters of faith.

Titles

Like their clerical fellows, the Knights Argent are not overly fond of titles.  They are referred to simply as "sir" or "lady".  

Races - Any race may choose to be a Knight Argent, though elves and humans are the most common.

Hit Die - d10

Class Skills - The Knight Argent's  class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: , Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Religion) (Int),  Knowledge (lycanthrope)(Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis) and Spot (Wis).  

Weapon and Armor - Knights Argent are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light, medium and heavy armor and with shields.

Smite Evil - Once per day, a Knight Argent may attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma modifier (if positive) to his attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per level. If the holy warrior accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect but it is still used up for that day. The Knight Argent may Smite Evil twice per day at 5th level, three times per day at 10th, four times per day at 15th, and five times per day at 20th level.  Smite evil is a supernatural ability.

Divine Grace - The Knight Argent adds his Charisma modifier as a bonus to his saving throws.

Penetrating Gaze - Knights Argent are famously observant.  They receive a +2 bonus on all Search,  Sense Motive and Spot checks.

Divine Health - At 2nd level, a Knight Argent immune to all diseases, including magical diseases.

Lay On Hands - At 2nd level, the Knight Argent gains the ability to cure damage with his holy touch.  Each day a Knight Argent can cure a total number of hit points equal to the Knight Argent's Charisma bonus (if any) times the Knight Argent's level. The Knight Argent can cure himself. The Knight Argent may choose to divide his curing among multiple recipients, and he doesn't have to use it all at once. Lay on hands is a spell-like ability whose use is a standard action.

Aura of Courage - Beginning at 3rd level, a Knight Argent is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Allies within 10 feet of the Knight Argent gain a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. Granting the morale bonus to allies is a supernatural ability.

Moonblade - Any weapon, including natural weapons, wielded by the Knight Argent at 3rd level and above are treated as if made of silver when attacking were-beasts (i.e., they ignore lycanthropic damage resistance).

Gifts of Selene

Beginning at 6th level, the Knight Argent can cast moon blade, once a week, as per the spell.  He can use this ability twice per week at 9th level).  Moon blade is a spell-like ability for Knights Argent.

Beginning at 12th level, the Knight Argent may use moon blade, as above, or he may choose to use his Gift of Selene to cast lycanthrope bane weapon as per the spell. (as from a caster of his class level).  He can use either ability more often as he advances in levels (four per week at 15th level and five times per week at 18th level).  Lycanthrope bane weapon is a spell-like ability for Knights Argent.

Spells

The spells of the Knights Argent may be found here.

Animal Companion, Code of Conduct & Associates

At 5th level, the Knight Argent gains a faithful animal companion.  This is often an owl or other night bird.  

Alignments

All Knights Argent are Chaotic Good.

PRESTIGE CLASSES

None Yet.

* The Holy Warrior Class is derived from The Book of the Righteous by Green Ronin Publishing.  Details can be found here.