| Domain: | Law, Ceremony, and Truth. Supreme among the pantheon. |
| Symbol: | Sword over incense |
| Deity Alignment: | Lawful Neutral/Good |
| Worshipers: | Any non-evil, non-chaotic |
First-born among the twins, Estereal is identical in appearance to his brother, Azkal, except for being clean-shaven. He is depicted as tall, strongly built, and handsome with a square jaw and finely chiseled features. His neatly trimmed hair is white-blond, and his eyes are a pale blue. Estereal is always portrayed as dressed in fine clothing of royal purple, white and gold. He often wears shining plate armor, and carries the Unbreakable Sword of Truth, a rune-carved long sword that glows with a golden light that is uncannily similar to the power given to some of Estereal´s paladins. Most of The One´s portraits show him serious and stern, except for those that show him lovingly smiling at Soltana, or proudly beaming at one of his children.
Myths portray Estereal as a stern disciplinarian, a leader and warrior dedicated to truth and justice. Many see him as overly serious and even pompous, but there is numerous evidence of Estereal´s fondness for his wife, siblings and children. He often behaves as the father of the gods, both looking out for their welfare and lecturing them for wayward behavior. Estereal is famous for his long-winded speeches; he likes to talk, and many believe him to be a great philosopher among the pantheon. He is certainly concerned with ethics and fairness, and goes to great lengths to instill these values in the other gods. Estereal is loyal himself, and values this trait in others. He is a demanding god, expecting a great deal from his allies, but seldom asks his brothers and sisters to go against their own beliefs and true natures. Estereal once said that any man or god must first be true to himself, and has often shown remarkable tolerance when the other gods´ beliefs differ from his own. There is a line, however, that Estereal will not cross -- His judgment for traitors and deceivers is swift and stern, and he is seldom able to forgive those who betray him.
Estereal is the most popularly worshipped deity all across Hurva. Regardless of personal loyalties and lifestyles, almost every Hurvan citizen pays homage to The One, and most of the major holidays honor Estereal. His most ardent worshipers are leaders of all types - kings, nobles, administrators, officers, and the elite in general. All the clerics of Hurva pay homage to Estereal to some degree, and the Church is structured with The One´s disciples at its head -- the Archbishop of Hurva is always a priest of Estereal. In addition to the leadership of Hurva, those dedicated to truth have special reverence for The One, and he is sometimes referred to as the philosopher´s god.
Though Estereal has been known to show affection to all of his siblings, he esteems his wife and partner Soltana above all others. Stories of the couples´ undying love and devotion to one another have been the subject of Hurva´s most popular ballads, stories and plays for centuries. Though Estereal himself is stern and strong-willed, he places great value upon his wife´s gentle and loving nature. Estereal is often persuaded by his wife´s council towards mercy and compassion when making decisions. Soltana seems to bring out the lighter side of Estereal´s nature, and in her company he is a loving husband and devoted father.
Estereal bears great respect for Wajen, and has often professed admiration for her great wisdom. Of all the pantheon, she is the one he turns to most often for advice. There are those who claim that Estereal´s regard for his sister is too high - that The One is blind to Wajen´s darker impulses, and for centuries remained ignorant of her alliance with Othniel. Others claim that Estereal always knew of Wajen´s friendship with the Soultaker, but respected her judgment enough to allow her to make her own alliances as she deemed necessary. Whatever the reasons, it is certainly true that Estereal´s disagreements with the Great Mother have been rare.
With Jvelto, Estereal seems torn between appreciation for the Oceanlord´s enthusiasm and frustration with his chaotic nature and tendency towards excess. Estereal has often been known to lecture Jvelto about his excessive drinking and general irresponsibility -- always to no avail. Yet stories proved that Estereal has always valued Jvelto´s unwavering loyalty and has openly praised his robust brother for his devotion to his siblings and to his worshipers. Though Estereal seldom consults Jvelto for advice, he has never doubted that his brother would be there when needed.
Estereal´s relationship with his twin Azkal was once very rocky, in the days when Azkal joined forces with the Dark Gods. But Estereal´s forgiveness of Azkal seems to have been sincere and complete. Though seldom affectionate with his twin, Estereal has displayed remarkable trust in the Great Warrior, and has constantly relied upon him as his general and right arm whenever conflicts arise. Estereal´s orders to Azkal have rarely been met with question or complaint, and Estereal greatly appreciates his twin´s discipline and loyalty. (The most notable exception to this is The One´s edict prohibiting his allies from visiting the corrupting lower planes. Azkal has consistently rushed to engage in every skirmish, battle and war that he could find in the lower planes.)
Though Torodin is Estereal´s youngest brother, he tends to treat the Shadowlord more as a rebellious son than a sibling. Estereal lectures Torodin far more often than any of the other gods. Some theologians believe that this is because Estereal does not quite trust Torodin, and longs to counter the young god´s mischievous nature with structure and discipline. Others argue that Torodin is much beloved by Estereal, who has simply been worried and overprotective ever since Torodin was captured and nearly killed by the evil gods. There is evidence to support both points of view, and perhaps both are true to a degree. What none will argue is that, except for Wajen, Estereal relies most heavily on Torodin´s advice. He has praised his brother for his perception and intelligence, and greatly respects Torodin´s powers of prophesy. Estereal has claimed that the Shadowlord´s visions often allow him to see the truth clearly, and as a wise and just leader he is bound to make use of this gift as much as possible.
Estereal utterly despises all the evil gods, but has claimed that Othniel is the most dangerous and diabolical of them all. Estereal calls Othniel The Great Deceiver, and hates him as much for his lies as for his evil and hateful nature. Estereal has often counseled the gods not to lower themselves to dealing with Othniel, who has used and deceived them time and again.
Estereal has been said to agree with Soltana´s opinion that Athelstan is insane, but does not agree that he is deserving of pity. Athelstan raped his beloved wife, and Estereal has never forgotten or forgiven this terrible crime, and has sworn that he never will. Estereal has claimed that Athelstan´s violent nature will never change, that he bears no regard for divine edicts and has repeatedly come close to killing other members of the pantheon. Insane or not, Estereal has described Athelstan as a "dangerous beast that must be destroyed."
The One maintains good relations with most of the minor deities who have not sided with the evil ones, and treats them much as his children. But by far his greatest devotion is reserved for his and Soltana´s own children -- Natanael, Ushas, Tritherion, Amayeta, Corryn, Sarod and Misae. For a deity with great devotion to truth and justice, Estereal has at times displayed a fatherly blindness for the faults of his beloved offspring.
Given Estereal´s love of ceremony, his temples are among the most grandiose structures all across Hurva. Even the smallest of shrines are expected to maintain a clean and well-ordered sanctuary, a well-trained choir, and a library. The larger temples (most notably the Cathedral of the One in Geston) are works of art created by master architects. Usually made of white or light-colored stone, both inside and out are often trimmed with gold. Large bell towers, fountains, and well-maintained gardens filled with exquisite statuary are also common. The inside of the temples is normally adorned with art, stained glass windows, and plush carpets of deep purple. The aroma of expensive incenses wafts throughout the sanctuary. In honor of Estereal´s divine light, all churches are lit by numerous candles, sconces, and chandeliers. Every altar boasts a candelabra whose pure white candles are never extinguished.
Each visitor to the church of Estereal is met by a robed priest, who offers the blessings of The One and provides a lit candle, even during the brightest days. Worshipers are expected to carry the candle as a sign of their willingness to be guided by Estereal´s light. The candle gives off no heat, will not set items aflame, and will not go out even if dropped.
Church services are generally long and somber, with numerous processions, hymns, and lengthy sermons. An average service lasts two hours. Services on holy days can take all day. Though worshipers have been known to fall asleep, the priests themselves seem to take great delight in the ceremonies (though it is difficult to tell whether their smiles arise from patience or discipline).
In addition to the massive sanctuaries where services are held, larger temples include one or more chapels where the faithful may come to light candles and pray for Estereal´s guidance. Chapels can be reserved for private ceremonies such as baptisms. Between services, the sanctuary is always staffed by one or more priests who are available to offer advice and hear confession. (Given the busy nature of the clergy, those wishing to see a particular priest are advised to make an appointment.)
Temples of Estereal usually contain substantial and well-staffed libraries. The church does all it can to encourage sages, scholars, and anyone seeking to uncover the truth. All visitors are welcome to use the library. A donation is required for the librarian, who will search for and deliver the requested texts. Most visitors are not permitted to search through the stacks themselves. In addition, novitiates are often available as scribes.
Temples to Estereal usually maintain the local cemeteries, often with the assistance of other churches and secular authorities. Some temples contain infirmaries, but these are usually only a small room designed for administering first aid. The church of Estereal relies on more capable healers, particularly the Soltanites, to provide healing for the community.
The church of the One is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the beliefs held dear by Estereal. First and foremost, they strive to uphold the truth. A priest of Estereal never lies. Those who break this fundamental tenet of the faith are dismissed from service. Nor should priests tolerate deceit in others, but seek to reform or punish those with a tendency towards dishonesty. Those who profit by deceiving others are especially despised by the church, and its priests seek to apprehend and punish these individuals whenever possible. Priests of Estereal are also encouraged to halt the spreading of any falsehood, whether it be unfounded rumors, malicious lies, or false reports of current or historical events.
As Estereal upholds the law and guards the kings and rulers, so do his mortal servants. Disciples of The One are expected to obey secular as well as church law, and to respect those with worldly authority. Mortal law, however, is not be followed blindly. Corruption is among the greatest sins in Estereal´s eyes; priests finding evidence of unjust rule are required to report these crimes to their superiors, who will decide what steps to take to address the matter. The Church of Estereal seeks to guide kings and administrators on the right path, to offer advice when needed, admonition when necessary, and respect always. Estereal loves a just ruler, and His church has always enjoyed good relations with the kings of Hurva. It has been both the duty and the privilege of the archbishop of Estereal to conduct the ordination ceremony of the king and barons for over 900 years.
Estereal also loves ceremony, and many of his priests share this feeling. To the church of The One, elaborate ritual is a sign of their pride in their service and their dedication to their divine patron. Church services are long and elaborate, speeches and sermons are thorough and eloquent (and never considered complete without the requisite retelling of a few stories of the saints or recounting of historical events), and dress and bearing are always proud and regal.
The chain of command in temples of Estereal and even between temples is rigidly structured, and great importance is placed upon written law and record-keeping. All priests are expected to file regular written reports with their superiors, and the High Priests of each temple maintain regular correspondence with both their sister churches and with the major temples of the other deities. The major temples have divided their authority based upon geography, and require regular reports from the smaller temples and shrines within their jurisdiction. Likewise, they require reports from all the churches of the lesser gods who owe fealty to Estereal. In large cities, the High Priest of Estereal often requires both written reports and regular meetings with the leadership of each church in the area. In a similar vein, all paladins of Estereal traveling through the area are expected to make an appointment with the High Priest -- a written report may or may not be required, depending on the nature of the paladin´s recent activities, and how long it has been since their last report was filed with a church of Estereal.
Because of the organized nature of the church and the vast scope of their duties, each priest within a given shrine or temple is assigned specific tasks to attend to on a daily basis. Some of these are always the province of a single individual, while others rotate. In addition, there are further duties required of all priests. The churches of Estereal expect all duties to be carried out with diligence and efficiency -- tardiness and sloppy work ethics are not tolerated. The only priests excused from regular duties are those absent on missions, and these individuals are expected to file reports as often as possible.
Duties shared by all priests on a daily basis include morning and evening vespers, participation in ceremonies, and regular confession to the High Priests. Duties that rotate among priests include hearing the confessions of worshipers, keeping the candles of the temple lit, keeping the temple and its grounds clean, greeting worshipers at the door, conducting private ceremonies such as baptisms and burials, and tending the chapels. Churches are expected to cooperate with local law enforcement, and its priests take turns providing services as truth-testers and sometimes even detectives. Novitiates handle a great deal of temple cleaning duties, as well as acting as scribes and messengers. Churches with a large enough staff free individuals from these rotating duties to act as the High Priest´s Secretary, the Treasurer, the Choirmaster, The Deacon of Novitiates, The Head Librarian, The Sextant, The Keeper of the Records, The Master Guardian (responsible for maintaining security), and the Verger (arranges church services and organizes preparations for holy days). These specific titles and offices vary greatly from temple to temple depending on its size and the personality of the High Priests, and in many cases one priest will fill two or more offices.
There are some duties of the temple that are handled by the High Priest, and delegated only when absolutely necessary. The church leadership is called upon to ordain nobles and important administrators, and they do their utmost to send a priest of sufficient rank to honor the particular noble´s station and/or patronage to the Church. The High Priest personally leads all church services and important ceremonies, and maintains discipline within the temple. The High Priest is also expected to cultivate a personal relationship with the leadership of other churches, local rulers and administrators, law enforcement, and the elite members of the community. The High Priest himself is expected to file regular reports with the Archbishop, and to convey messages and advice from the Holy Father to the members of his temple.
Temples to Estereal are the most commonly found of all the churches in Hurva, and most towns boast at least a small shrine. The largest temple is The Cathedral of The One in Geston, the seat of the Archbishop. This is a magnificent structure, graced by some of the greatest works of art in Hurva. Since it was consecrated in HY 680, every king of Hurva has been crowned here and many are entombed within its crypt. The cathedral includes a chapel devoted to each of the Elder Six.
The second largest temple to Estereal is the Light of Truth in Tonn. Other large temples are found in Reggis, Palk, and Ft. Kalohar. There are great hopes that the new shrine in Istur will one day grow to be a large temple as well.
Priests of Estereal are required to always wear their priestly colors, and to keep their clothing, weapons, and armor in the best possible condition. Ritual vestments vary according to the rank of the priests. Novitiates wear plain white robes. Newly ordained priests wear white robes adorned with purple stoles. Further adornments, such as gold trim, runes, and sigils are added as the priest gains further honors, and the High Priest´s garments are quite elaborate. Priests generally have special robes reserved for services and holy days, -- these are ornately designed and of the finest quality.
