The Aurelian Church

The Aurelian Church, also known as *The Golden Church*, *Church of the Golden Dawn* or simply as *The* *Peloric Church* is the state religion of Philidor and is one of the most prevalent religions throughout all of Dallian. The Church has many teachings relating to how one should live their life within the Light of Pelor but also states that Pelor welcomes all good-hearted folk to his fold. Pelor's favoured followers are those who give themselves fully to their duties, especially if those duties involve protecting the innocent and vanquishing the wicked.

###### Ranks

Those who give themselves fully to The Aurelian Church swear vows of duty and virtue. In previous ages, the ordained also swore vows of chastity and sobriety but this is no longer as common. Though there are separate knightly and priestly vows, any knight can give sermon and any priest can fight in the name of Pelor.

* **Brumer:** Roughly meaning "predawned", these are initiated but non-ordained members of the faith. They are addressed as "Brother" or "Sister". Some think or at the very least joke that the word is actually "Broomer" due to the immense amount of chores these members must undertake but this is a misnomer.
* **Auber:** Roughly meaning "of the dawn", Aubers have completed their training and sworn their vows, taking their first glimpse of the true light of Pelor becoming ordained priests or knights of the faith. They are addressed as "Father" or "Mother".
* **Jourer:** Meaning "of the day", Jourers have gained a deeper understanding of the light of Pelor and have progressed to archpriests or knight-captain. They are addressed as "Father" or "Mother".
* **Matinal:** Meaning "dawn lord", these men and women have gained full insight into the light of Pelor and sworn new vows becoming ordained bishops or knight-commanders of the faith. They are addressed as "Patriarch" or "Matriarch".
* **Midinal:** Meaning "day lord", this is the highest rank in within the faith and can only be achieved by the most devout. These are the archbishops and knight-grandmasters of the faith. They are addressed as "Patriarch" or "Matriarch".
* **Solar:** Meaning "of the sun", they are also known as the Luminary or the Radiant One. The Solar is the Head of the Peloric Church. The Solar is also the Midinal of Clisson and presides from Notre Lumiere. It is said upon a Solar's death their souls ascend to join Pelor and serve at his right hand.

### Orders & Sects

Both under the arms of the Peloric Church and independant of it many orders, chapters, and conclaves have arisen that dedicate themselves to Pelor and his Tenets. The vast majority of these, even if not a part of the Peloric Church, follow very similar Tenets. However, due to the openness in which Tenets can be interpreted and the silence of Pelor himself, a number of sects have arisen. These wayward orders interpret the Tenets uniquely and sometimes even hold contrary beliefs to the main faith.

###### Knights Templar

(*aka Order of The Temple, Knights of The Temple, Knightly Order of The Temple of Sol Omon*). Sworn swords of the Crown of Clisson, the Knights Templar are a high-ranking order in the military of Philidor. They are the assigned custodians of Sol Omon and serve as protectors of the realm.

###### Order of Secunda

A religious, scholarly, and militaristic branch of The Elturgard. They are dedicated to the study, understanding, and protection of The Secondsun.

###### The Lamplighters

Founded in Hockenheim, Eberhard. The Lamplighters are an order of dwarven knights dedicated to the purpose of bringing light to the darkest corners of The Underdark.

In the Empress Isles, Pelor is worshipped as one of the "Twelve and One" under the name *Phoebus*. In many rural parts of the world, Pelor and Melora are often worshipped in conjunction as the "Mother and Father of The Harvest". Pelor is worshipped as the stern and just Father and the embodiment of Sunlight and Melora as the kind and wise Mother and the embodiment of Rain. This practice is so common in the farmlands of Western Philidor that many farming towns have no temples of Pelor or Melora but instead have temples of The Harvest, dedicated to them both. Their combined symbol is the rainbow.