Torse, God of Purification

Torse
[Sexless, Lawful Good]
Torse is known as the unrelenting deity of purification, an uncompromising force for goodness that seeks to wipe out all corruption and necrotic forces in existence. Torse represents the natural of order of things, and seeks to protect it with every fiber of his immortal being. Anything that threatens this order, such as undead, practitioners of necromancy, possession of the body by beings outside the scope of the mortal plane, and other unnatural abominations are met with extreme prejudice. Torse is stern to a point of seeming almost uncaring, but his actions are always made in the best interests of propagating natural life. In that sense, he is kind and benevolent towards mortals that know how to follow his rules.

Torse, while often referred to as a “he”, does not conform to a sex, although the features of his form tend to emulate a more masculine humanoid aura. He is a being of pure, positive, radiant energy. To most mortals he appears featureless, as humanoid eyes are unable to see past the overwhelming brilliance he exudes. Undead or those who tie themselves to necrotic forces cannot look at him at all without risking complete obliteration. He is always seen in a shining, silver breastplate suit of armor, with his symbol emblazoned in gold on the front.

As a deity of goodly natural law, his primary mission is the eradication of all unnatural and necrotic creatures. Regardless of how these beings or forces came into existence, and whether it was their fault or not, Torse will see to their destruction without compassion. He extends this power to his followers, and demands a certain level of fealty for this gift. Those who question his mission and their purpose under his wrathful gaze soon find themselves at odds with the God of the Searing Sun.
Portfolio: Purification
Spheres: Good, Law, Sun, and Wrath
Cleric Training:
The training for a Cleric of Torse is harsh. His church teaches that the forces of corruption and darkness are unrelenting and ruthless. Then, so too must be the followers of the righteous path. The doctrines of Torse are beat (figuratively, but sometimes literally) into the young, and should they embrace the teachings rather than shy away, they soon join Torse’s legion. Once indoctrinated into the church, the lessons only grow harsher.

A young cleric in training undergoes rigorous physical training and constant lectures, prayer, and sermon in equal parts to ensure that any potential for corruption is driven out before they grow into adulthood. Until they reach 18 years of age, budding clerics are subject to a battery of tests and temptations to root out any remaining “imperfections”. These include simple challenges such as potentially crippling weapons sparring and supervised church missions against the undead. On the more insidious side, they are also tempted with sins of the flesh or darker magics to test their willpower, as well as their faith. It is at this stage that the most prospects fall, either through weakness of limb or the spirit. Those who do not succeed here are cast out in shame and never again allowed to set foot within the domain of Torse.

Those who succeed prove themselves to be nigh incorruptible in the eyes of the Torse Clerics, and are welcomed into the fold as full fledged members in the battle against corruption.
Quests:
The Crusade of Sunwrath
Also known as the Trail of Retribution, this undertaking is bestowed upon an individual who’s example stands above the other membership in all aspects of Torse’ beliefs. They are tasked with the retrieval of Sunwrath, an artifact of great power that is said to possess the strength to destroy any creature of a necrotic nature, potentially even a god. Its exact physical from is largely speculated, as the numerous texts written on the subject seem to indicate a variety of different appearance. Some say it appears as a sword, while others claim it is a goblet that bestows gifts upon a worthy soul who drinks from it. Others even show it as a suit of armor, a powerful guardian that bestows wondrous powers upon the wearer. In any case, the item is highly sought after, and has been found several times throughout history by a worthy Torse Cleric or Paladin. Upon its retrieval, it is used relentlessly upon the beings that Torse despises by the one who found it. This is the burden placed on one so chosen by the order, that they may never stop in the crusade against evil, no matter the cost to themselves. They will use Sunwrath in a holy crusade until the day of their death, at which point the item mysteriously vanishes to another resting place, taking a new form appropriate to the next humanoid deemed worthy enough to possess it.
Prayers:
Vow of Torse
I who serve Torse will act as his Gavel, his Angel on earth, and his Hammer. All who deny his retribution prove themselves deserving, and shall fall with the piercing dawn.
Hymn of Searing Sun
Behold Torse’ Light
Behold and be burned o’ sinners
The pure shall feel his warm glow
The corrupt shall feel his burning ire
Suffer in his light or be renewed
Bask in the sun and be cleansed
Temples:
Aubade
In South Western Solmeria, Torse clerics have erected a stone temple in his name to serve as not just a place of worship, but also a base of operations for their never ending conflict against the undead. This temple is known as Aubade. Solmeria has for centuries been plagued by pockets of unlife infecting the dry earth that makes up the majority of the region. As the years pass, the dead left underneath the countless layers of earth grow restless and attack the living, seeking to regain what they had lost. The Clerics of Torse refuse to allow this corruption to grow, and desperately seek to wipe it out in the long term. To this end, Aubade was built.

This pure white citadel is made from stone augmented by the purified, blessed bones of the dead, allowing the Clerics to mask its presence from the sight of the undead. Nearly 500 of their membership man the temple at any given time, and from there “Purges” are sent out to keep the ever present undead threat at bay. A Purge typically consists of 4-6 Torse Clerics and 15-20 Acolytes in training.

Within the temple itself, the Clerics offer aid to any harmed by the scourge, or wishing to battle with the forces of corruption. Provided visitors are of pure intention, the Clerics are generous with their assistance. Should the guests falter, or prove themselves unfit to assist Torse in his divine purpose, they are quickly ejected from the grounds to fend for themselves.
Rites: The rituals of Torse Clerics are strictly observed, with little room allowed for interpretation or expression. Most of their rites are performed solely for the purpose of wiping out undead, and they believe that altering these magics is tampering with the fundamentals of strength and purity that Torse provides.

The most common rite used is the Rite of Preparation. Simple by their standards, but complex among other religions, this rite is used exclusively when preparing to do battle with the undead or those who wield necrotic forces. It involves creating a thin triangle of gold dust along a flat surface, and placing a censer burning with incense at its center. The Clerics surround the diagram and share in a hymn of strength in battle, resistance against corruption and infallible wisdom. Once the ritual is completed, the components are collected and stored and the emboldened priests promptly head out to their chosen target.

The majority of their rites are conducted in this straightforward manner, as they have little time to waste on pomp and circumstance. Their focus is the destruction of the undead threat, and anything that does not aid them in this goals is most often viewed as a distraction or temptation towards corruption.
Burial Rites: The Burial Rites of Torse Clerics are considered “excessive” by even the most goodly of churches. When burying the dead, they feel it would be a dishonor to their memory to do anything less than make absolutely certain that they cannot be brought back to an unnatural life under any circumstances. When the body is prepared, it is first cleansed with blessed oils, and several rituals are performed involving peace of the spirit and body, but most importantly, the cleansing of the soul. Even if the fallen had succumbed to the path of darkness before their death, Torse will allow their being to be purified for the sake of them remaining properly deceased. Once the body has been cleansed of any negative influences that may have been left behind, it is placed on top of a sanctified pyre surrounded by family, loved ones, and several clerics posted to assist in the cremation. The pyre is lit with blessed fire while prayers of protection, peace, and purity are sang as the body turns to ash. The ashes are then gathered and sealed in yet another blessed vessel, such as a vase, bottle, or metal box. The remains are given to the next of kin, but if the dead was a member of the clergy, their remains are filled in an underground tomb far beneath the church.
Tithe: Both members of the church and clerics are required to tithe weekly. For worshippers, the amount is most commonly a small fraction based off of their income. For those with little monetary wealth, labor and material goods are also accepted. For Clerics and Paladins, they are expected to tithe at least half of their earnings gained from payment for services as well as wealth earned from adventuring. The Church provides all of their membership with the necessities for a strong, pure body and a certain modicum of comfortable lodging, so they have little qualms with procuring as many resources as possible, given the enormity of their tasks.
Benefits: Cleric of Torse are granted unparalleled divine powers in dealing with the undead. They also gain access to prayers that allow them to visit divine retribution on anyone that stands in their way, and command lessers with impunity. As they grow in power, these divine servants channel the power of the sun to overwhelm even the most powerful of necrotic monstrosities. To others who would dare hinder them, their word becomes Law, and should even that fail, they can fill themselves with the righteous anger of Torse himself to grant them almost supernatural strength in combat.

All followers are provided regular church services and protection from necrotic forces. Depending on the severity of the threat, units of clerics may even be dispatched to a single location in the defense of one person. This is more for the purpose of destroying corruption, and less about the well-being of the individual, but the end result is all the same in the eyes of Torse.

Given how Torse churches are almost always set up in an area where their protections are needed (otherwise why be there?), this primary function is highly valued by the local residents. They are also known to perform charity work for local communities, but these gestures are considered to be of a low priority in comparison to their true purpose, and are performed sporadically.
Herald and Allies:
Gantro the Purifier [Herald]
The herald of Torse is an unusual creature known as Gantro the Purifier. This strange being appears to be a miniature sun, glowing with an unforgiving radiance. While very few features can be discerned on the surface of this being, an inspection done with protected sight (as staring directly into Gantro can cause blindness) will reveal several divine symbols and runes built into a burning metal frame. Unlike most divine beings in service to a god, Gantro was crafted by Torse himself, who desired a servant that would forever remain incorruptible to outside influence. It also ensured that Gantro would remain unflinching in its duties, as he does not tire or experience moral conflict.

Gantro possesses no weapons, or even limbs to wield them, however his body is made of pure divine fire, and projects radiant energy that disassembles the bodies of the living dead with ease. Contact with Gantro will deal Holy Fire damage, possibly incinerating the body of the victim if they are not strong enough. He can project this powerful energy in a variety of ways, launching it from his body to attack an almost limitless amount of targets within range. His voice emits from every area of the sphere, creating a booming, echoing effect that is overwhelming to the casual listener. This voice is also imbued with a commanding resonance that compels all who can understand him to obey his commands. Those that manage to resist his commands will soon find themselves in danger of being burned to a crisp, assuming they have upset or insulted him in some way.

He always appears in response to an overwhelming necromantic threat, and does not answer prayers. Gantro is a monitor of sorts, and is constantly scanning the mortal plane for undead beings too powerful to be dealt with by mortal means. He has been mistaken many times in the past for a savior of the followers of Torse, but he possesses little empathy for the plight of others, and does not offer assistance to those who have been hurt unless they have been infected by necrotic energies. In this case, his solution for dealing with the infection would be considered “heavy-handed” even by the clerics of Torse themselves.
Sisterhood of Pale Light [Ally]
Torse has mostly allies, and few friends. In Lystomia, many of Torse’ following have made their presence known to combat a growing threat of powerful undead. The figureheads behind this uprising are shrouded in mystery, but the little information that has been gathered suggests that they are an ancient circle of vampire lords who wish to use the mortal populace of Lystomia as cattle for many centuries.

The ones who gathered this information, and help Torse to combat this threat are known as The Sisterhood of Pale Light. Not as openly aggressive, they pose as an order of female priestesses dedicated to the Goddess of the same name. The goddess does not exist, and is merely a cover for them to train their membership within the large church they have erected. Beneath it is a hollowed out network of tunnels used for storing equipment, magical items, and reagents specialized in the elimination of vampires.

One of the few organizations that actually enjoy partnering with the rigid and unyielding Torse Clerics, their views on the eradication of this undead threat border on zealotry, perhaps due to their narrow focus. Torse finds this to be the correct way to deal with such problems, and often sends his own members to train and hunt with the Sisterhood to improve their skills and sense of dedication.
Relationships with other Gods: Vipis is Torse’ hated enemy, the two beings stand in opposition to each other in every sense of the word. Vipis constantly seeks to corrupt life and bring death to the world, plunging it in darkness. For this reason, the two deities constantly work against each other, often times even sending their avatars down to the mortal plane to thwart the other’s plans. These battles are viewed as somewhat childish by the other gods, but none have been able to dissuade their ageless conflict.

Vent often stands with Torse against his enemies, finding that their mutual desire for retribution and the destruction of their enemies to be of the utmost importance. While Vent’s focus is much more broad than Torse, necromancers have a habit of arousing the ire of nearly all the gods.

Halaka is counted as something of an unlikely friend to Torse, although “friend” is not the word others would use. The two are known for manipulating each other and their followers for personal gain many times. Their respective profiles are similar enough that it is a simple matter to fool a mortal mind into believing they are serving their god’s purpose. Despite this open manipulation of each other, the two seem to harbor little ill-will towards each other, only occasionally arguing about the others’ misdeeds much as brothers would.
Factions:
Most of the factions of Torse are nearly identical in their practices, sticking to a rigid set of rules and traditions that ensure they stay true to their purpose. Pockets of Torse’ following are scattered throughout Nexxen, and other than adapting some of the common clothing and non-religious customs of the locals, they largely stick to the same practices that Torse demands of them.

The only known exception to this is a small clan of Torse Shaman and Warriors living deep within the jungles of the Dragon Isles. A warship from a Torse Crusade was blown off course several hundred years ago, and the vessel was shipwrecked on the island. A tribe of primitive humans discovered the remains of the doomed ship, and slowly began to decipher the texts and artifacts of the strange civilization they had encountered. Seeing their technology and spiritual practices as superior, they began to adapt to these new methods, and after a century of drastic change, at last began to channel the power of Torse on their own. While nowhere near as sophisticated, the tribe of Crusader Savages known as Sumwrack has proven to be even more brutal and unforgiving to the undead threat than classically trained Torse Clerics. It is perhaps due to the harsh lifestyle of surviving in a location teaming with not only undead monstrosities, but also much larger beasts, dragons among them, that Sumwrack grew to be such a dangerous ally to Torse.

While Torse is content to leave them to their work in the Dragon Isles, he watches their progress carefully to ensure they stay pure in their intentions.
Relics:
Sunwrath
The legendary artifact known as Sunwrath was first pulled from the body of Gantro the Purifier by a Paladin of Torse many centuries past during the first great undead scourge. Gantro arrived on the scene of a horrible battle to eliminate the undead who had overtaken the armies of men. A Paladin of Torse, recognizing Gantro as a symbol of Torse himself, refused to allow the being fight alone, and recklessly reached inside the living sun to borrow some of its power. To his surprise, in his hand was the solidified energy of a star that shaped itself to his will. Since then, this weapon of pure, radiant fury has been praised as the most sacred of weapons, reserved once a generation for a chosen successor. While anyone can wield it for a time, it will soon sear the flesh from the hand of the one who grasped it, unless they are pure of heart in the eyes of Torse.
The Searing Ward
Bearing the symbol of Torse, this well made yet simple gold medallion is worn by the Archpriest of all Torse’ following. This powerful item is as much a symbol as it is tool for the Clerics of Torse, and when such an artifact is brought to the field of battle, the priests of the God of the Searing Sun will rally behind its might. Its forging was of a mortal design, inspired by the command of Torse himself. It has been passed down to every Archpriest since its inception without fail. The abilities granted by the medallion ensure a rigid rule,commanding the loyalty of those faithful to Torse with absolute certainty.