God of War and Valor
Group (Pantheon): The Twelve
Domains: War, Courage, Defiance
Alignment: Chaotic Good
The holy symbol of Thanor is a flaming greatsword, its blade surrounded by a wreath of fire that symbolizes unyielding courage and burning defiance. The flame represents the eternal light of hope, even in the darkest times.
Clerics and paladins of Thanor carry this symbol as pendants or emblazon it on their shields and banners. Many soldiers and freedom fighters wear it as a token of strength.
The faith of Thanor is more decentralized than most of the other divine orders, reflecting its focus on individual courage and local resistance. Its structure emphasizes battlefield leadership and community defense.
The High Champion
The nominal leader of Thanor's faith, the High Champion serves as a figurehead who rallies the faithful during times of great crisis. This role is more symbolic than administrative, as the faith values local autonomy.
Wardens of Valor
These senior clerics and paladins oversee regions, training warriors and guiding communities in the defense of their homes. They are often found leading armies or serving as advisors to rulers.
Bladesworn
Paladins and battle clerics of Thanor who swear their lives to protecting others. They are the frontline warriors of the faith, often serving as commanders in armies or champions of local militias.
Flamebearers
Traveling priests and warrior-poets who spread Thanor's teachings, inspire courage, and organize resistance movements. Flamebearers are often found among rebels and freedom fighters.
Acolytes of the Flame
Initiates who train in the martial and spiritual arts of the faith. They serve as squires, healers, and scouts, preparing to take on greater roles within the faith.
Temples of Thanor, often called Halls of Valor, are fortified sanctuaries that double as training grounds for warriors. They house armories, barracks, and shrines where soldiers pray for strength and courage.
Sir Kaeldrin the Unyielding (past)
Role: Champion of the Fourth Age
Legacy: Kaeldrin was a legendary Bladesworn who led the defense of Ivarhold, a bastion of mortal resistance during Malachor's reign. Outnumbered and surrounded, he held the city for weeks, giving others time to escape. Though he perished in the final battle, his sacrifice is celebrated as a symbol of Thanor's unyielding spirit.
Varan Kellsong (past)
Role: Flamebearer and Rebel Leader
Legacy: During the Fifth Age, Varan inspired a peasant uprising against the tyrannical rule of the Ironthorn Baronies. Armed with only a handful of weapons and the teachings of Thanor, he united villages and overthrew the barons. His songs of defiance are still sung by bards today.
Khoran Dreadbane (past)
Role: Slayer of the Abyssal Warlord
Legacy: A Bladesworn knight during the Fourth Age, Khoran defeated an Abyssal Warlord who led one of Malachor's most feared armies. His flaming greatsword, Pyrebrand, was said to have been blessed by Thanor himself. The blade's current location is unknown, but it is considered a holy relic of the faith.
General Isadora Flamewright (present)
Role: Warden of Valor in the Stormmarch Republic
Legacy: Known as the Shield of the South, Isadora has led countless campaigns to protect the Stormmarch Republic's borders from incursions by void cultists and rogue warbands. Her unwavering courage and brilliant tactics make her a living legend.
Sister Erynn Brazenheart (present)
Role: Traveling Flamebearer
Legacy: Erynn is a wandering priest who has earned fame for rallying communities on the brink of collapse. Her charisma and fiery sermons have turned fearful villagers into determined defenders, and her presence is considered a blessing wherever she travels.
Thanor's faith is most prominent in regions where oppression and conflict are common, such as the Stormmarch Republic and the Redspire Compact. While his temples are not as numerous as those of Vara, his teachings resonate deeply with soldiers, rebels, and freedom fighters.
Thanor's followers have strong alliances with the faiths of Theris (justice), Vara (light and life), and Talandra (order and peace). However, they sometimes clash with more rigidly lawful deities when their pursuit of justice conflicts with established order.
The faith of Thanor faces several challenges in the Sixth Age:
Thanor, the God of War and Valor, is the embodiment of courage, defiance, and the indomitable spirit of those who fight for justice and freedom. Revered as a champion of righteous combat and the protector of the oppressed, Thanor inspires his followers to stand against tyranny and evil, no matter the odds. He is not a god of conquest or blind violence; instead, he represents the nobility of war when waged for protection, honor, and the defense of the weak.
Thanor is often depicted as a muscular warrior clad in gleaming silver and crimson armor, wielding a massive greatsword engraved with the symbol of a rising flame. His presence is said to ignite courage in the hearts of even the most terrified and weary soldiers.
Thanor's faith is a beacon of defiance and courage in a world still scarred by past darkness. His followers are warriors of justice and protectors of the vulnerable, standing as a bulwark against tyranny and evil. Through his teachings, Thanor inspires mortals to find strength in themselves and fight for a brighter future. His legacy endures in every act of bravery, sacrifice, and righteous battle fought across Thaloria.
Source: Homebrew, 2024.
Trindle Spring Lutheran Church RPG Club | Mechanicsburg, PA