Pelaros

Titles
All-Seeing Eye, Light Bearer, Sun Lord

Governs
Healing, Light

Worshippers
Healers, Knights, Paladins

Weapon
Morningstar

Animal
Phoenix

Description
Pelaros is a deity of fire, light and righteousness who is worshipped in many realms, most often in association with their primary star. Pelaros is most often described as a protector to the righteous, a judge to the wicked, and as the all-seeing eye of the heavens.

Pelaros in the Divine Record
The Divine Record first refers describes Pelaros as breathing life into the stars themselves, and refers to him as the All-Seeing Eye. Flying high above the many realms over which he presides, he is most commonly depicted as riding in a flaming chariot, drawn by either flaming horses or phoenixes.

While he is mentioned often, there are few depictions of his actual interaction with mortals. Instead, most stories which identify Pelaros' involvement refer to him in terms of his granting strength to his followers, or banishing darkness, fear or illness in an allegorical tone.

Church
A variety of holy orders align themselves with Pelaros, acting as law-bringers, protectors of the weak, or militias standing against the undead or other evils. In places where religion plays a major role in government, such orders are often given sweeping privileges of surveillance and punishment of criminals, and leaders are often consulted in the formation of new laws.

Regardless of an individual order's focus, however, all followers of Pelaros abide by a written code of honor known as the Words of the Prelate, which are as follows:
 * 1) Be the light of hope, truth and honor wherever there is none.
 * 2) Be passionately merciful, but diligently just; the light illuminates, but also burns.
 * 3) Be fearless in the face of evil; darkness can never prevail over light.
 * 4) Be boundless in your generosity; the light of the Sun Lord is never-ending.
 * 5) Be mindful of your surroundings; the Sun Lord sees all, and so must we.
 * 6) Be dutiful in the light of day; when the Sun Lord rises, so shall we.
 * 7) Be restful in the dark of night; when the Sun Lord rests, so may we.

Important Rituals
Most followers hold dawn and dusk to be sacred moments, and will pause during both period to say prayers each day. Beginning one's work at dawn and working diligently until dusk is seen as an act of true devotion.

Summer Solstice
The weeks surrounding the Summer Solstice contain the longest periods of daylight within the year, and are considered holy. Most orders will fill these weeks with ceremonies, charitable events, or acts of great courage against significant sources of evil.

Winter Solstice
The weeks surrounding the Winter Solstice, when daylight lasts for the fewest hours of any within the year, are regarded as a period of vigilance and caution. It is believed that during this period, the Sun Lord is resting from his exertions during the long summer months, and leaving the safety of his demesne to his followers.