Pelor

The Sun and the Moon

ORB is the god of the sun and the moon; of war and of peace; of harmony through the embrace of differences. ORB is not a puritanical god, though some of his orders (Paladins in particular) take various vows of chastity, poverty, silence, etc. There are some differences within the church regarding ORB's will, and the conduct he expects of his people.

Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Sun, Moon, Kicking the ass of undead
Cleric’s weapon of choice: Flail (Light or Heavy, not Dire)
Cleric Domains: Sun and any one other except Chaos, Death, Destruction, Earth, Evil, Law, and Water.
Cleric Alignments: NG, LG, CG, N
Symbol: A Sunburst, set inside the arch of a crescent moon.
Avatar: Unknown

Religion

The Nation of Crescent is a theocracy, ruled entirely by the Church of the Sun and Moon. For the last 13 centuries or so, the worship of ORB has been the only legal religion. As such, until just recently, there have been no clerics of any other gods within Crescent society for centuries.

Practice

Religious practice in the Church of the Sun and Moon, and social interactions in general, are very concerned with symbols. Each of ORB's Holy Orders has its logo, with which they are identified, and there are signs and symbols throughout the religion. Visions are not uncommon for men of the cloth and other faithful followers, and are always somewhat cryptic, filled with symbolism and icons.

His preachers tend to be popular and persuasive, running their church and governing with a light touch. Nonetheless, there are some within the Devout Orders who take a more 'fire and brimstone' approach to their preaching. Each side has its adherents, and ORB does not seem to favor one or the other.

Note also that every member of the Devout Orders and most of the Divine orders, as well as the Celebrants of Harmony, are considered fully qualified priests, able to perform weddings and funerals, lead prayers, and pass judgment over minor crimes and civil disputes.

Holy Orders

In a church as large as ORB's, there are bound to be many, many orders. See Orders of the Church for an overview.

Holidays

See the Calendar for specific holiday dates.

Sunrise: The start of the new year. Marked by outdoor activities and the giving of small gifts to loved ones.
The Day of Harmony: Usually coincides with the spring equinox. Harmony between the races, one of the central tenets of Crescent religion, is celebrated this day. Music festivals, the largest and most well known of which is the Gloria, held in Luminaux, are the focus of most celebration. Celebrated on the 15th of Harmony
Maliceana: Held annually on the summer solstice. This holiday celebrates the life of the Prophet, Malicean the Chaste. Generally celebrated by contests of the body and mind, and large community picnics and festivals. This tends to be a family holiday. Celebrated on the 24th of Fidelity
Harvest Day: Held annually on the autumnal equinox. This holiday celebrates the cycle of life - birth and death, together. This is the holiest day of the year for druids, although the Church tends to gloss that over. Celebrated on the 19th of Bounty.
Night of the Moon: A holiday of repentance, justice and atonement. This is the night when major criminals are executed or forgiven, and when all people seek forgiveness from those they have wronged in the past year. With dawn comes Sunrise, and a new year. Celebrated on the 31st of Penitence.