Half-Staff

### Alias

Half-Staff, Crosier of Combat, Polymath Paladin of the Poor, The Warrior of Wands, The First Apprentice, The Guardian Magnus of the Forgotten Portal, The First Father (Half-Elves only)

### Domains

War, Spells, Magic, Protection, Portals, Elf

### Portfolio

Magic, Protection of the Weak, Guardian of Portals, Half-Elves

### Favored Weapon

Sapphire's Truth (Longsword)

**Half-Staff**, Crosier of Combat, Polymath Paladin of the Poor, The Warrior of Wands,The First Apprentice, The Guardian Magnus of the Forgotten Portal, The First Father (Half-Elves only), is the Greater Deity of Magic, Elves, Half Elves, Protection(Especially of those who lack the ability to protect themselves), and the guardian of powerful portals. He manifests bodily as a figure who could easily be mistaken for an elf or half elf, who wears a traveler's cape and is armed with a staff which conceals a Longsword, which is called the Sapphire's Truth.

## Worshippers

The clergy of Half-Staff were collective known as Staffers. They worshipers were a mix lot of elves, humans and half-elves. Currently, The church is divided in how the words of Half-Staff should be interpreted

## **Orders**

* **The Order of the First Apprenticeship**: A highly selective secret group of Half-Staff faithfuls that make up the unknown Council that oversees all actions and doings with the church. They are also the the body that directly oversees and guides the The order of the broken staffs.
* **Theurgic of the 1st Staff.** Among one of the higher social orders of Staffers were a group of Elven arcane paragons known as High Staffers. They are Elvens devote of Half-Staff and his magical teachings, and spend most of their time trying to develop and further the ancient elven magics through studying, formulating, and practicing arcane processes. They are considered one of the top apex of magical science among the faithful.
* **The Banneret of the Befallen** A group of Knightly priest that protect those that can't protect themselves.
* **The Order of the Broken Staves (of colors):** This is a very small, super secretive sect of the church that only those deeper knowledge about Half-staff religion even know they exist. This is the dark side of the faith. These individuals are those that are tasked to do the dirtiest of work that is require by the flock. Such task as finding traitors within their own flock, delivering threats or severe action to nobles, merchants, or others that are protected by the existing legal system yet do wrong and injustice upon the world. Single or duo agents are often assigned to churches where there are large congregations, and the greater chance for injustice from the Law or corruption. The Broken staffs do not follow the typically Staffer Hierarchy of rank. They take their orders directly from the The order of the 1st Apprenticeship. Although it is common for the order to be given that Broken Staffers aid and follow the orders of Local church leaders, unless they conflict with the orders given by the Order of the First Apprenticeship (OFA).

## Relationships

He is good relations with all the Gods that were once Decians, and other gods that are benevolent toward magic and protecting the weak. He despises Lolth and Rathamue(Thiumefoul III).

## History

Half-Staff was once a member of the Decians before becoming a god. He is also the first apprentice to Rathamue (Thiumefoul III), before the The Dark One was taken by evil and turned toward the dark arts. It is also said they Half-staff was the first elf to ever have child with a human. At that time, elf and human could never procreate it was a complete impossibility. The first half-elf child was a gift created from the purest of love between Half-Staff and Jorvanna, a famous hero known to protect the poor and destitute. Unfortunately, the cross bred intrigued Rathamue. There are some that say that unbeknownst to Half-staff and Jorvanna that Rathamue used his magic to allow the elven and human blood to crossbreed, but true believers of Half-staff claim this to be blasphemy. Either Way, the Half-blood child was very unique and special, and Rathamue greatly wanted the child. He intended to do experiments and figure out if he could find a way to combine other creatures that would normally not be able to cross-breed. His intent was to create a "master" breed of perfection. Rathamue quickly found Half-staff, Jorvanna, and his new born child in the streets of Humdoor. Rathamue demanded the child. The streets cleared yet watched from afar, as Half-Staff and Jorvanna refused the great wizard. Suddenly a great battle ensued. Although Half-Staff was already through the trials and was an lower immortal, and his wife Jorvanna was an Epic Hero unmatched in most lands, they were no match for Rathamue and his mighty control of the weave. Within a few minutes, the mighty Dark One had them near defeat. Jorvanna knew where this was headed, and handed Half-staff their new babe. With one last kiss and a few whispered words, she charged the Dark Arcane Wizard with a battle cry as she tried to give Half-Staff some time so he could escape with their child. Rathamue did not fear steel since he had magic to protect him from such things. Perhaps that is why he didnt move or deflect as Jorvanna swung her steel past the magical protections and into the shoulder of the Dark Wizard. There is no reason why her blade should have done so, but it did. It is said that the Dark One still holds a scar there to remind him to be wary of all. Jorvanna, knew she could not beat the wizard, but she thought she could at least give her lover and child a few minutes of fighting to escape. It was not minutes, that one lightning fast strike she scored was her only try. With amble dark rage the Dark Wizard snapped his fingers and Jorvanna exploded into thousands pieces of blood and gore. Half-Staff now stood and clutched the child, but did not have time to escape. The Dark Wizard was about to snap his fingers again, when dozens upon dozen of the most downtrodden, impoverished, and dregs of the city's citizens came rushing from the darks of the alleys, doorways, and sewers. All those that Jorvanna had at one time or another defended, healed or aided came Rushing at the Great Dark lord of magic. The swarmed like insects on the robed figure,all the way calling out "For Jorvanna!" (Which has become a phrase of staffers when ever they are about to take great risk for the greater good of others.) It gave Half-Staff enough time to get away from the area and teleport to his Decian ally, the great archmage Ekeen. Half-staff knew that he could not protect the child from Rathamue and so he gave it to Ekeen to protect. Ekeen took the child and said he would ensure that Rathamue would never find it. There is now a prophecy/story known as the 1st blood with the half-elf community It speaks of a unknown half-elf of the blood of Half-Staff and Jorvanna that will bring greatness and prosperity for all the half-elf community.

## Clergy and Temples

The temples are usually located in cities and are never far from the sections where scholars, sages, and wizards thrive. Although every temple usually has a few outpost within the more poor and downtrodden neighborhoods where the clergy offer shelter, protection and aid to the poor.

## Dogma

*Learn how to use steel, Learn how to use Magic. These are the old Elven ways, and must never be forgotten. They are both tools and each carries their equal weight when weighted on the scales of truth. Although like all tools, they must be put to use to build something of nothings, into somethings of use. The Laws of the land will change, but the scales of True Justice never sway from winds of time. Protect the poor and those who lack the ability to protect themselves. Guard the gateways that lead to where men should never tread. Train like there is war tomorrow, Dream like there is life forever, and live like today is the last before the great judgement.*