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| {{Greyhawk Deity|fgcolor=#fff|
| | '''Name''': Heironeous |
| image=[[Image:Heironeous & Hextor01.jpg]]|
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| caption=Heironeous (right) battles his half-brother, [[Hextor]]. From ''Deities and Demigods'' (2002). |
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| bgcolor=#000|
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| fgcolor=#fff|
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| name=Heironeous|
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| title=The Archpaladin, the Invincible, the Valorous Knight|
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| home=[[Mount Celestia|Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia]]|
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| power=Intermediate|
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| gender=Male|
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| class=Paladin 35/Ranger 35/Fighter 35/Cleric 33 (2nd edition avatar)<br>Cleric 20/Paladin 20 (3rd edition)|
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| alignment=Lawful Good|
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| portfolio=Chivalry, Justice, Honor, War, Daring, Valor|
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| domains=Law, Good, Nobility, Planning, War|
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| alias=none|
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| super=none|
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| }}
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| '''Heironeous''' is the [[Oeridian]] god of Chivalry, Justice, Honor, War, Daring, and Valor. His holy symbol is a silver lightning bolt, often clutched in a fist. | |
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| ==Description==
| | '''Gender: '''m |
| Heironeous appears as a tall human man in fine chainmail with auburn hair. His skin is a coppery shade, and impervious to all but the mightiest weapons due to a secret solution known as ''meersalm''. His signature weapon is a great magical battleaxe, though he has recently taken to the longsword.
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| ==Relationships==
| | '''Rank: '''Intermediate Deity |
| The half-brother and sworn enemy of [[Hextor]], Heironeous is the son of [[Stern Alia]], the goddess of Oeridan Culture, Motherhood, and Law. Another brother, [[Stratis]], is mentioned in literature for the ''Chainmail'' miniatures game in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #285, but he is deceased. Heironeous sponsored the apotheosis of [[Murlynd]], and remains on very good terms with him.
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| Though this is known to very few, Heironeous also has a daughter, known as the [[Chalice of Heironeous]].
| | '''Areas of Concern/Portfolio: '''Chivarly, Justice, Honour, War, Daring, Valour |
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| In general, Heironeous considers all other gods who stand against evil to be allies, while those deities who promote suffering and evil he regards as foes. Specifically, however, he is a staunch ally of [[Al'Akbar]], [[Allitur]], [[Bahamut]], [[Daern]], [[Delleb]], [[Fortubo]], [[Johydee]], [[Mayaheine]], Murlynd, [[Pelor]], [[Pholtus]], [[Rao]], [[Saint Cuthbert]], [[Zilchus]], and [[Zodal]]. His strong adherence to Law sometimes brings Heironeous into conflict with [[Trithereon]]. He finds [[Olidammara]] annoying at times, but tolerates him because of his charm and humor. Heironeous considers himself the enemy of [[Beltar]], [[Bralm]], [[Damaran]], [[Erythnul]], Hextor, [[Iuz]], [[Kyuss]], and [[Kurell]], [[Llerg]], [[Meyanok]], [[Pyremius]], [[Ralishaz]], [[Raxivort]], [[Syrul]], [[Tezcatlipoca]], [[Tharizdun]], [[Tiamat]], [[Tlaloc]], [[Vara]], [[Vecna]], and [[Wastri]].
| | '''Titles: '''The Invincible, The Valorous Knight, The Archpaladin |
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| ==Realm==
| | '''Holy Symbol''': Fist holding a silver lightning bolt |
| Heironeous's realm, known as the '''Fields of Glory''', is located in Venya, the third of the [[Mount Celestia|Seven Heavens]].
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| ==Dogma==
| | '''Alignment''': Lawful Good |
| [[Image:Heironeous03.jpg|177px|thumb|right|The symbol of Heironeous, as depicted in ''Deities and Demigods'' (2002).]]
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| Heironeous sees the world as a deadly place, filled with perpetual challenges and trials for those who battle for justice and defend the weak and innocent. His followers should always act with honor and chivalry, and to uphold justice. Danger is to be faced head-on, with calm and resolve. Those who defeat evil are rewarded with Glory, while those who uphold the tenets of the Arch-paladin are rewarded with Virtue. The Arch-paladin's teachings have been codified in a chivalric code known as the Heironean Code.
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| ===The Heironean Code===
| | '''Origin of Worship''': Oerdian |
| The Heironean Code consists of three sets of duties:
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| *'''Duty to the People'''. This duty stresses courage, justice, mercy, valor, protection of the weak, and faithfulness to church superiors of officer of righteous law.
| | '''Favored Weapon''': Battleaxe or longsword |
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| *'''Duty to the Arch-paladin'''. This duty stresses obedience to Heironeous himself, devotion to the church, generosity, championing good against evil, putting the needs of the church and the faith above those of mortals.
| | '''Domains: '''Glory, Good, Law, Nobility, War |
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| *'''Duty to a Lady'''. This duty pertains to the concept of courtly love, devotion to one's beloved, and respect toward all women in general.
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| ===Scriptures===
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| A number of holy texts are venerated by the faith of Heironeous. The best-known work is likely ''The Book of the Code'', a four-chapter work outlining the Heironean Code and providing examples of how one is expected to follow it. Another well-known work is the ''Book of Penitence'' (also known as the ''Just Book''), which describes the achievements of [[Ferrante]], a legendary paladin who is now venerated as a saint by some Heironean sects.
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| ==Worshippers==
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| The faith of Heironeous is a very militaristic one, launching crusades against evil and championing causes. As one would expect, many soldiers, city watchmen, mercenaries, and others who make their living by the sword find themselves honoring the Archpaladin.
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| ===Clergy===
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| [[Image:Cleric of Heironeous01.jpg|134px|thumb|right|A cleric of Heironeous, as depicted in ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' (2000).]]
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| Priests of Heironeous often travel the world on orders from their superiors to seek out and destroy evil. Older priests often work as strategists, military instructors, or judges. Several of the faith's most powerful clerics, seeking to gain the benefits of ''meersalm'', have had themselves embalmed alive with the substance, though some have not survived the ritual. Their favored weapons are the longsword and battleaxe.
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| Novices of Heironeous are known as the Blessed. Full priests are called the Glorious or, collectively, the Valorous Host. Other titles used by Heironian priests are Hero of the Third Rank, Hero of the Second Rank, Hero of the First Rank, Champion of Glory, Knight Gallant, Knight Courageous, Knight Valiant, and Knight Champion. Senior priests are called Paragons, while those who command armies are known as Paragon-Generals. These titles are separate from duty-titles such as postulant, novitiate, professed priest, cloistered cleric, affirmed priest, and templar. They are also separate from ranks within the temple hierarchy such as hierodeacon and abbot. In everyday use, senior priests are called Father or Mother, while lesser priests are known as Brother or Sister. There is also an elite order of priests known as the ''gloryaxes''.
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| Priestly vestments include chain mail and blue robes with silver trim.
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| ===Paladins===
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| Large numbers of paladins in the [[Flanaess]] follow Heironeous, as he himself is one. Because of this, and his utter dedication to Law and Good, paladins of Heironeous can be among the most devout, albeit overbearing, people on the [[Material Plane]]. The ancient Oeridian hero [[Arnd]] of Tdon is credited with establishing the first order of paladins among the Oeridian tribes before the [[Great Migrations]]. The hero-deity Murlynd was also a paladin of Heironeous, and his order of [[White Paladins]] is actually part of Heironeous's ecclesiastical hierarchy. [[Saint Handraleo the Swift]], another paladin, is honored by a group of Heironeans called the Order of the True Strike.
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| Prominent paladins of Heironeous include [[Artur Jakartai]], [[Belvor IV]], and [[Karistyne]].
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| ===Affiliated Orders===
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| The church of Heironeous is supported by numerous religious-military orders, some of which can trace their origins back to the church armies of the [[Great Kingdom]] (though none swear allegiance to the [[Malachite Throne]] or its successors today). Prominent examples include the Order of the Shining Sword, the Brotherhood of the Lance Unbroken, and the Copper Crusaders.
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| The Holy Order of the Supernal Topaz Defenders, or the [[Topaz Order]] for short, is an organization of Heironean clerics, paladins, fighters, fighter/clerics, and monks dedicated to purging the world of evil, aberrant races such [[illithid]]s, [[beholder]]s, [[grell]], [[aboleth]]s, and neogi. Their emblem is a brilliant yellow topaz on a field of cobalt blue.
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| Although this is uncommon, there are also orders of Heironean fighting-monks. The most famous is the Order of the Glory Everlasting, led by a former nobleman named [[Luther]]. The Order of the Glory Everlasting is dedicated to the preservation of Oeridian culture and the destruction of an order of Hextorian monks called the Brotherhood of the Gray Hand.
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| The most famous group of Heironean knights, however, are the [[Knights of Holy Shielding]].
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| ==Temples==
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| [[Image:Heironeous01.jpg|91px|thumb|right|The symbol of Heironeous, as depicted in ''[[From the Ashes]]'' (1992).]]
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| Temples, chapels, and shrines to Heironeous can be found throughout the [[Flanaess]]. His church is the favored state religion of [[Nyrond]] and the [[Shield Lands]], and his faith is also strong in [[Bissel]], the northern half of [[Furyondy]], [[Gran March]], the Free City of [[Irongate]], [[Keoland]], [[Sterich]], and the [[County of Urnst]]. Notable houses of worship include the [[Sanctum of Heironeous]] in [[Greyhawk City]], as well as a chapel at [[Diamond Lake]]. The [[Kingdom of Thalland]] was once a major center of Heironeous' faith.
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| There are several temples to Heironeous in [[Chendl]], but the most prominent one is called the Spire of Glory, whose high priest is Glorylord [[Gaeraeth Heldenster]].
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| The Shield Reclaimed is a great cathedral in [[Critwall]]. It has only just begun to be rebuilt after being destroyed by the forces of Iuz during the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. Its high priest is Abbot [[Roderick Docamald]].
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| Heironeous' temples are decorated with blue and silver trappings, and often scenes of Heironeous triumphant in stained glass.
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| ==Rituals==
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| Heironean services and holy texts are all in the Old Oeridian language. Services to Heironeous include triumphant battle hymns, offerings to copper statues of the god, and the sharing of hearty, strengthening foods such as meat, full-bodied red wine (in moderation), and spiced, stewed, [[kara]]-fruit.
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| ===The Tests of Valor===
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| Before advancing in rank, priests of Heironeous must clearly demonstrate their bravery, honor, and sense of justice. The exact nature of these tests varies, but they are revealed through prayer and divinely-inspired visions. They can range from tests of fortitude that can be completed within the temple to crusades against the forces of evil.
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| ==Holy days==
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| [[Image:Heironeous00.jpg|99px|thumb|right|The symbol of Heironeous, as depicted in the 3.5 ''Player's Handbook'' (2003).]]
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| The church of Heironeous celebrates only a few major holy days, which usually mark the anniversaries of great battles, significant triumphs over evil, and visitations by the Archpaladin.
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| *'''[[Newmass]]''', celebrated on the first day of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Fireseek]], is when Heironeans celebrate the new year. They spend it reflecting on the past year and giving one another gifts.
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| *'''The [[Day of Just Rebellion]]'''. This holy day, held on the 18th of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Coldeven]], commemorates the battles fought to free [[Almor]] from the oppressive rule of the [[Great Kingdom]].
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| *'''[[Justday]]''', held on the 20th of Coldeven, is a time when each worshipper of Heironeous is expected to right some injustice. This can range from apologizing for minor misdeeds to attempting to liberate the [[Wild Coast]] from the Empire of [[Turrosh Mak]].
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| *'''The [[Feast of Edoira]]'''. An interfaith celebration exclusive to the [[Domain of Greyhawk]], Heironeans occasionally join [[Pelor|Pelorians]] and [[Rao|Raoans]] in observing this holy day, which occurs on the 4th of [[Growfest]].
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| *'''[[Fortnight's Feast]]'''. This two-week event lasts from the 25th of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Wealsun]] to the 4th of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Reaping]], and celebrates the victories of the Heironean armies of the Kingdom of [[Aerdy]] over [[Nyrondal]] cavalry during the [[Battle of a Fortnight's Length]].
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| *'''[[St. Ferrante's Day]]''' is observed on the last day of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Patchwall]] (the 28th). The likeness of Ferrante is paraded about, candy is thrown at children, and much food is consumed.
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| *'''[[Valormight]]'''. Held on the 25th of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Ready'reat]], this holy day predates the founding of the Great Kingdom. Valormight commemorates a ten-month war in which Heironean forces are said to have been outnumbered six to one by Hextorians, yet still managed to confine the Hextorians to the lands east of the [[Flanmi River]].
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| *'''[[Communion]]''' is observed on the 10th of [[Greyhawk Calendar|Sunsebb]]. It is a day of quiet introspection.
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| ==Myths and legends==
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| [[Image:Heironeous02.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Heironeous, as depicted in ''[[Dragon mag|Dragon]]'' #67 (1982). Art by Jim Holloway.]]
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| ===Sibling rivalry===
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| Heironeous and his half-brother Hextor were both born to Stern Alia, called the Shield Mother, goddess of Oeridian Culture, Motherhood, and Law. Alia had many lovers, and was often out visiting them even after the births of her sons. When Heironeous was born, his skin was anointed with a special salve called ''meersalm'' that made him virtually invulnerable. Hextor was not given this salve, and as a result he was always weaker in battle than his brother.
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| Even so, at first the brothers were not enemies, though their differing temperaments gradually became clear. When [[Savnok]], a servant of the brothers, stole the armor of Stern Alia and used its power to set up a dictatorship in the mortal world, Hextor's instinct was to hide Savnok's body (after he had killed him with one of his mother's arrows), put the weapons and armor back, and pretend nothing had happened. Heironeous' instincts were to tell the truth to his mother and face the consequences, but his desire to protect his weaker brother caused him to uncomfortably acquiesce to the scheme.
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| As they grew older, their opposite natures made them rivals. Frustrated at his relative weakness, Hextor made a bargain with the Lords of Evil, gaining two new pairs of arms grafted on to his torso. From then on, he and Heironeous were equals in combat.
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| Initially, their rivalry was viewed as healthy for the Oeridian culture. The followers of the respective gods would struggle to outdo one another, to prove that their respective philosophies were superior. This would drive the culture as a whole to greater and greater heights. Since the [[Turmoil Between Crowns]] (437-446 [[Common Year|CY]]), a civil war in the [[Great Kingdom of Aerdy]], the faith of Heironeous has been marginalized there, powerful champions of Heironeous have defected to [[Nyrond]] and other neighboring states, and the two brothers have become patrons of different nations locked in hatred for one another.
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| ===The Chalice of Heironeous===
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| What is probably the nadir of their rivalry is told in a secret myth known only to the highest echelons of [[the Chalice]], a branch of the knights of Heironeous. Most believe the Chalice to be a powerful relic of Heironeous's faith kept safe by the Masters of the order. The masters of the order, the Lightning Councilors, know that the Chalice of Heironeous is actually the daughter of Heironeous, a young goddess-angel kidnapped by Hextor and given over to [[Dispater]] in order to shirk responsibility for his deed. The Chalice was founded a thousand years ago in order to find a way to rescue the Chalice and reunite her with her father [''Player's Handbook II'', page 170].
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| ==Creative origins==
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| Heironeous was created by E. [[Gary Gygax]] for his ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. Heironeous, with his invulnerable skin, is somewhat inspired by Achilles of Greek myth. His brother Hextor, then, is somewhat of a pastiche of Hector, also from the Iliad, though reinterpreted as a force of evil to Heironeous's good.
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| ==Bibliography==
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| *Baker, Richard, [[James Jacobs]], and Steve Winter. ''Lords of Madness''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005.
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| *Conforti, Steven, ed. ''Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip]
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| *[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]] ''[[Bastion of Faith]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.
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| *[[Gygax, Gary]]. "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #67. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
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| *-----. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
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| *[[Holian, Gary]]. "[[Paladins of Greyhawk]]." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #104. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.
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| *[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
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| *McVey, Geoffrey. "Small Gods." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #293. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
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| *[[Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
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| *[[Niles, Douglas]], and [[Carl Sargent]]. ''The City of Greyhawk''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
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| *[[Noonan, David]]. ''Complete Divine''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
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| *-----. ''Player's Handbook II''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
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| *[[Pramas, Chris]]. "The Armies of Thalos." ''Dragon'' #287. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001.
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| *-----. "The Empire of Ravilla." ''Dragon'' #285. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001.
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| *Redman, Rich, [[Skip Williams]], and James Wyatt. ''Deities and Demigods''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
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| *Reynolds, Sean K. "Core Beliefs: Heironeous." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #354. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
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| *-----. "Core Beliefs: Hextor." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #356. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
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| *[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
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| *-----. ''[[Ivid the Undying]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, unpublished. Available online: [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads]
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| *Sernett, Matthew, [[Dave Noonan]], [[Ari Marmell]], and [[Robert J. Schwalb]]. ''[[Tome of Magic]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=823 Heironeous on Canonfire!].
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heironeous Heironeous on Wikipedia].
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| [[Category:Characters of the Seven Heavens]]
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| [[Category:Gods of law]]
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| [[Category:Human deities]]
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| [[Category:Martial deities]]
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| [[Category:Oeridian deities]]
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