Clerics and the Last War [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clerics and the Last War [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
polt
01-02-05, 12:52 PM Inspired by the thread about what kind of armies the different nations had, i thought about what the clerics were doing under the last war.

If a cleric fought for her nation, she would defenetly end up fighting people from her own church, and what about the Paladins of the Silver Flame? There could be paladins of the flame, whoes origin is not Thrane.

What do you guys think?
Wizardman
01-02-05, 08:04 PM First and foremost, clerics serve their churches. Clerics of the Silver Flame could probably be found in the armies of Thrane, especially after it became a theocracy, but they would largely serve as magical support, and for healing. The Church of the Sovereign Host as a whole probably stayed out of it, but I can see their clerics serving as Eberron's answer to the Red Cross, and maybe a few independent minded clerics joining the armies. Clerics who did not serve established churches are naturally free to do as they liked. Clerics of the Blood of Vol served Karrn armies, at least after Kaius I made the deal and before the Emerald Claw was outlawed. The Valenari probably had the highest ratio of clerics to soldiers in their armies. Clerics of the Dark Six probably also stayed out, although some might have joined only to cause damage to both sides of every battle.

Paladins are a different matter. They almost certainly battled each other, to the sorrow of all paladins involved. It would make one hell of an RP session: portraying a paladin of the Silver Flame fighting for, say, Breland, against the armies of Thrane, who definitely fielded paladins.
Edymnion
01-02-05, 08:46 PM There's really nothing odd about Paladins fighting each other.
Nothing in the code forbids it, and each side in the War had a legitimate cause to fight. Good can fight Good and still remain Good. Of course, each Paladin is going to think that they are on the side of right, and that the others are being mislead, or something like that.

But there's really no big deal about two Lawful Good Paladins fighting each other.
chimpman
01-02-05, 11:24 PM First and foremost, clerics serve their churches.

I'd disagree with this statement, at least as far as the Soverign Host is concerned. Clerics (and other priests) can be just as nationalistic as any other human being (or elf, or dwarf, or gnome, or...). I see nothing in the ECS that would suggest that this church is monolythic in its thinking, or that it is politically on par with nations on Khorvaire.

IMO, nothing would prevent (for example) two priests of Dol Arrah from fighting on opposiite sides of the battlefield.

Having said that, I think that clerics and adepts of Dol Arrah and Dol Dorn would see action in the front ranks, as well as helping out with the wounded when they get a chance. Followers of Kol Korran might be found anywhere (perhaps fighting for profit). I think the more naturally inclined (Arawai, and Balinor) would either try to stay out of the conflict, protect their particualr regions of responsibility, or join up with the Eldeen Reaches. As for the others, I might agree with your assessment and say that they would be most comfortable in supporting roles.

The Church of the Silver Flame is a little different though. I think that for the most part the CotSF is synonomous with Thrane. I have a difficult time seeing adherents of this faith fighting against Thrane, since the leader of Thrane is also the leader of the Church.

The BoV would fight manily for Karnath, though I could see adherents from other nations fighting for their respective homelands.

It might also be interesting to think about how clerics and adepts of the Dark Six would fit in. Surely they were fielded by mercenary units of the Darguul. Clerics of the Devourer certianly operate out of Lhazaar. Secret adherents might also show up in the armies of nearly any nation (sans Thrane).
Sarlax
01-03-05, 12:19 AM There's really nothing odd about Paladins fighting each other.
Indeed. In World War 2, the Allies and Axis soldiers would befriend civilizians of invaded nations and even each other. Fundamentally, most people can find things in common even in war. Especially paladins.
Euangelion
01-03-05, 12:34 AM First and foremost, clerics serve their churches. Clerics of the Silver Flame could probably be found in the armies of Thrane, especially after it became a theocracy, but they would largely serve as magical support, and for healing.
No, clerics of the Silver Flame are very combat focused, even being their primary role in the church. I would even go as far as to suggest the purpose of their ability to spontaneously cast cure spells is as an offensive weapon against undead more than serving a defensive, healing purpose.

The Church of the Sovereign Host as a whole probably stayed out of it, but I can see their clerics serving as Eberron's answer to the Red Cross, and maybe a few independent minded clerics joining the armies.
Nah, that's "old school" thinking! ;) In the 5 nations, I willing to bet dollars for donuts that "knights" are as likely to be a cleric as they are to be a fighter, with paladins being very rare and more indepedent in general, no matter which tradition they follow. Again, there's a reason all clerics are trained to use all forms of armor and shields (except tower shields), and it's not to sit way back behind the front lines. They're meant to fight!
Clerics of the Dark Six probably also stayed out, although some might have joined only to cause damage to both sides of every battle.
Heck no! ;) War! Death! Destruction! Chaos! Trickery! Passion! Evil! Many a soldier quietly lifted prayers to the Mockery, the Devourer, the Fury, the Shadow as they prepared for battle. Some were even Dark Six clerics and adepts, but it's not something they went around bragging about, I'm sure.

Paladins are a different matter. They almost certainly battled each other, to the sorrow of all paladins involved. It would make one hell of an RP session: portraying a paladin of the Silver Flame fighting for, say, Breland, against the armies of Thrane, who definitely fielded paladins.
More than likely a paladin of the Silver Flame wouldn't be serving in the Brelish army, though clerics of the Flame would be. Again, Silver Flame paladins seem to be pretty independent, which gives them the freedom to avoid just that kind of conundrum.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
polt 01-02-05, 12:52 PM	Inspired by the thread about what kind of armies the different nations had, i thought about what the clerics were doing under the last war. If a cleric fought for her nation, she would defenetly end up fighting people from her own church, and what about the Paladins of the Silver Flame? There could be paladins of the flame, whoes origin is not Thrane. What do you guys think?
Wizardman 01-02-05, 08:04 PM	First and foremost, clerics serve their churches. Clerics of the Silver Flame could probably be found in the armies of Thrane, especially after it became a theocracy, but they would largely serve as magical support, and for healing. The Church of the Sovereign Host as a whole probably stayed out of it, but I can see their clerics serving as Eberron's answer to the Red Cross, and maybe a few independent minded clerics joining the armies. Clerics who did not serve established churches are naturally free to do as they liked. Clerics of the Blood of Vol served Karrn armies, at least after Kaius I made the deal and before the Emerald Claw was outlawed. The Valenari probably had the highest ratio of clerics to soldiers in their armies. Clerics of the Dark Six probably also stayed out, although some might have joined only to cause damage to both sides of every battle. Paladins are a different matter. They almost certainly battled each other, to the sorrow of all paladins involved. It would make one hell of an RP session: portraying a paladin of the Silver Flame fighting for, say, Breland, against the armies of Thrane, who definitely fielded paladins.
Edymnion 01-02-05, 08:46 PM	There's really nothing odd about Paladins fighting each other. Nothing in the code forbids it, and each side in the War had a legitimate cause to fight. Good can fight Good and still remain Good. Of course, each Paladin is going to think that they are on the side of right, and that the others are being mislead, or something like that. But there's really no big deal about two Lawful Good Paladins fighting each other.
chimpman 01-02-05, 11:24 PM	First and foremost, clerics serve their churches. I'd disagree with this statement, at least as far as the Soverign Host is concerned. Clerics (and other priests) can be just as nationalistic as any other human being (or elf, or dwarf, or gnome, or...). I see nothing in the ECS that would suggest that this church is monolythic in its thinking, or that it is politically on par with nations on Khorvaire. IMO, nothing would prevent (for example) two priests of Dol Arrah from fighting on opposiite sides of the battlefield. Having said that, I think that clerics and adepts of Dol Arrah and Dol Dorn would see action in the front ranks, as well as helping out with the wounded when they get a chance. Followers of Kol Korran might be found anywhere (perhaps fighting for profit). I think the more naturally inclined (Arawai, and Balinor) would either try to stay out of the conflict, protect their particualr regions of responsibility, or join up with the Eldeen Reaches. As for the others, I might agree with your assessment and say that they would be most comfortable in supporting roles. The Church of the Silver Flame is a little different though. I think that for the most part the CotSF is synonomous with Thrane. I have a difficult time seeing adherents of this faith fighting against Thrane, since the leader of Thrane is also the leader of the Church. The BoV would fight manily for Karnath, though I could see adherents from other nations fighting for their respective homelands. It might also be interesting to think about how clerics and adepts of the Dark Six would fit in. Surely they were fielded by mercenary units of the Darguul. Clerics of the Devourer certianly operate out of Lhazaar. Secret adherents might also show up in the armies of nearly any nation (sans Thrane).
Sarlax 01-03-05, 12:19 AM	There's really nothing odd about Paladins fighting each other. Indeed. In World War 2, the Allies and Axis soldiers would befriend civilizians of invaded nations and even each other. Fundamentally, most people can find things in common even in war. Especially paladins.
Euangelion 01-03-05, 12:34 AM	First and foremost, clerics serve their churches. Clerics of the Silver Flame could probably be found in the armies of Thrane, especially after it became a theocracy, but they would largely serve as magical support, and for healing. No, clerics of the Silver Flame are very combat focused, even being their primary role in the church. I would even go as far as to suggest the purpose of their ability to spontaneously cast cure spells is as an offensive weapon against undead more than serving a defensive, healing purpose. The Church of the Sovereign Host as a whole probably stayed out of it, but I can see their clerics serving as Eberron's answer to the Red Cross, and maybe a few independent minded clerics joining the armies. Nah, that's "old school" thinking! ;) In the 5 nations, I willing to bet dollars for donuts that "knights" are as likely to be a cleric as they are to be a fighter, with paladins being very rare and more indepedent in general, no matter which tradition they follow. Again, there's a reason all clerics are trained to use all forms of armor and shields (except tower shields), and it's not to sit way back behind the front lines. They're meant to fight! Clerics of the Dark Six probably also stayed out, although some might have joined only to cause damage to both sides of every battle. Heck no! ;) War! Death! Destruction! Chaos! Trickery! Passion! Evil! Many a soldier quietly lifted prayers to the Mockery, the Devourer, the Fury, the Shadow as they prepared for battle. Some were even Dark Six clerics and adepts, but it's not something they went around bragging about, I'm sure. Paladins are a different matter. They almost certainly battled each other, to the sorrow of all paladins involved. It would make one hell of an RP session: portraying a paladin of the Silver Flame fighting for, say, Breland, against the armies of Thrane, who definitely fielded paladins. More than likely a paladin of the Silver Flame wouldn't be serving in the Brelish army, though clerics of the Flame would be. Again, Silver Flame paladins seem to be pretty independent, which gives them the freedom to avoid just that kind of conundrum.