Lathander

**Lathander,** whose title was **The Morninglord**, was the neutral good deity of life, dawn and renewal. He favoured those who dispelled the undead and blessed those who planted new life. Lathander was also the god called upon to bless birth and fertility related ceremonies. His favoured animals were eagles and his symbol, a brilliant rising sun over a field. Held in high esteem he was considered the youngest of the Ogdoad, yet by the Fifth Age had existed countless millennia. An ardent opponent of the undead, clerics drawn to Lathander would dedicate their lives to the destruction of these creatures.

“Offer prayers to Lathander, and his light will shield thee.”

— A statue in Thileth Asari

## Worshipers

Novices in the Lathanderian faith were called the Awakened, while clerics were known as Dawncallers. The full priests took a new name in his service when they were ready to signify that Lathander personally recognized and accepted them. This new name could either be used instead of their old name or simply used only when addressing other Dawncallers and when in solitary prayer. Other titles included: Dawngreeter, Dawnlord, High Dawnlord, and Dawnmaster, while an elite cleric was referred to as a Morninglord. All followers were required to be of neutral to good alignment.

All of Lathander's clergy respected art, liberty, nature, and culture; promoted betterment of oneself; and strove to bring hope to their followers and others. Many of these followers worked in various creative arts. They were intolerant of evil, especially undead and inaction that caused evil to prosper. Most ceremonies of Lathander were held at dawn and actions and contracts agreed to at sunrise were said to be blessed by him. Funerals, among his followers, were held at dusk, and followed by a wake that lasted until dawn.

## Description

Lathander was frequently depicted in art and literature as an extraordinarily handsome young male of whichever race commissioned the work, often wearing white with his familiar symbol of dawn emblazoned somewhere upon his person. Other guises were eagles comprised of morning light, soaring over the gloom.

### Temples

* Lathander's Light: In Westerberg, the temple of Lathander there was rebuilt in 834 FA after the Kyoshi Shogunate burnt it down during their assault on the capital.
* Spires of the Morning: A grand temple to Lathander in Thileth Asari.
* Morninglow Tower: The largest temple in Glimmervein, a tunnel directly above allows the dawn to strike the tower.
* Song of the Morning: A massive structure made of glass and marble in Vinay Del Hexan.
* Dawnhall: The largest structure in Summerseat.

### Orders

The Church of Lathander was controlled from The Core, under the watchful eye of the High Dawnlord and his five Dawnlords. Below this were the five Pillars;

* The Harrow - An order dedicated to the eradication of Necromancy and all who practice it.
* The Conception - Concerned with the debate of Philosophy and Theology and Lathanders role within everyday life.
* The Seekers - Collectors of relics and artefacts blessed by Lathander.
* The Absolution - An Order of Sun Soul Monks that seek Lathanders blessing in physical form. Members take an oath of silence upon joining.
* The Lanterns - On occasion, the church would be called upon to lend assistance in conflicts, primarily against evil. The Lanterns were this military force.