The Acolytes of the Hallowed Order are the lowest ranks of the Hallowed Priesthood. These individuals sanctify the Worthy Dead, and Acolytes take first action in the process of sanctification; they inspect the dead, and Weigh the Scales. Weighing the Scales finds the individual worthy or not by the code of ethics practiced by the Hallowed Order. If they are worthy, they are sanctified, and allowed to pass into the afterlife with the blessing of their people. The Unworthy Souls are collected in the Hallowed Phylactery, and the Acolyte takes them to the local Sepulcher for the Higher Orders of Priests to decide their fate. If they are particularly evil, they may go as far as having their fate decided by the Judges themselves, the highest order of Priests in the Hallowed Order.
Individuals who follow the Hallowed Order tend to be from the Western Realms, and are normally halflings, humans, elves, half-elves or dwarves. It is not strictly racialized, however, and technically any member of any race is allowed to join the Hallowed Order.
The Priests begin their education at ten-years-old, and though leaving is always allowed, it is quite uncommon. Unlike the Order of the Sacred Flame, the Hallowed Order does not practice celibacy, and the Priests are allowed to marry. Priests of the Hallowed Order draw their power from the Dia-An, a wise death god, normally symbolized as a black flame, or dark gray, flame.
Though believed to be an opposite of the Sacred Flame’s Dia-Ty, they believe that the duality of the God’s nature speaks to one and the other, and neither is inherently evil or corrupt, merely that the Dia-An seeks to purify the soul and perfect them for the Next Life, whereas the Dia-Ty is mostly interested in pursuit of the Physical, as His realm is that of the Physical, Chaos and Change. Most common people pray to the Dia-An for spiritual guidance, and Otherworldly Justice; whereas when one prays to the Dia-Ty, they are praying for guidance in matters of this realm, often in the area of medicine, war and Worldly Justice.
- Skill Proficiencies: Gain Proficiency in Insight, Persuasion or Religion (Pick Two).
- Languages: Celestial and Sylvan
As an acolyte of the Unhallowed Order, you command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform the religious ceremonies of Dia-An. You and your adventuring companions can expect to receive free healing and care at a temple of Dia-Ty or a Sepulcher of Dia-An, or other established presence of your faith, though sometimes they will ask that you provide any material components needed for spells. Those who share your religion will support you and your companions at a modest lifestyle.
You might also have ties to a specific Sepulcher, and you have a residence there. This could be the Sepulcher where you used to serve, if you remain on good terms with it, or a Sepulcher where you have found a new home. While near your Sepulcher, you can call upon the priests for assistance, provided the assistance you ask for is not hazardous and you remain in good standing with your temple.
Spell List
| Spell Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | [Tooltip Not Found] |
Suggested Characteristics
Acolytes of the Unhallowed Order are shaped by their experience in Sepulchers of Dia-An and the Sun Temples of Dia-Ty. Their study of the history and tenets of their faith and their relationships to temples, shrines, or hierarchies affect their mannerisms and ideals. Their flaws might be some hidden hypocrisy or heretical idea, or an ideal or bond taken to an extreme.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I idolize a particular hero of my faith, and constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example. |
| 2 | I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace. |
| 3 | I see omens in every event and action. The gods try to speak to us, we just need to listen. |
| 4 | Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude. |
| 5 | I quote (or misquote) sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation. |
| 6 | I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods. |
| d5 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Charity. I always try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good) |
| 3 | Power. I hope to one day rise to the top of the Unhallowed Order. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Faith. I trust that Dia-An will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of Dia-An's favor by matching my actions against their teachings. (Any) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago. |
| 2 | I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died. |
| 3 | Everything I do is for the common people. |
| 4 | I will do anything to protect the temple where I served. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely. |
| 2 | I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy. |
| 3 | My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god. |
| 4 | I am inflexible in my thinking. |
| 5 | I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worst of them. |
| 6 | Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life. |
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