The Little Ceremonies of Life

Followers of Winlas

The Empyreal Lords are vast and varied. Winlas is an archon that oversees ceremonies, religiousness, and services. Pretty much nothing is known about this greater celestial being, and so today we look at three possible sects for the Empyreal Lord.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Winlas. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of the Empyreal Lord. What character do you make?

For more information on Winlas

Winlas’s Pathfinder Wiki Page 

Winlas’s Archives of Nethys Page 

Divine Travelers

For many small towns and villages affording a priest isn’t viable. There is no money to build a church, nor pay for a full time holy man. This is even more true in spread out farmlands. To this end a small sect of followers of Winlas called the Divine Travelers wander from small town to farming homestead to perform religious ceremonies. Weddings, baptisms, funeral rites, you name it they do it.

Becoming a Divine Traveler is more of a calling than anything else. Not every priest is cut out for it. Some priests don’t do well with a life of constant wandering; the road itself can be the enemy with its many perils, such as robbers and wandering monsters. The Travelers accept anyone who wishes to join, although many don’t make it past one season of travel.

The Silver Egrets

The Silver Egrets are the sole paladin order within the church of Winlas. These holy warriors take the Empyreal Lord’s dedication to service as the only true way to live life. Like many paladins, the order seeks to stamp out evil, and in the Egret’s case there is no greater evil than treachery. When someone turns against forces of good, whether that be the church of Winlas, another church, or a known good secular authority, the Silver Egrets can be counted on to bring these villains to justice.

Acceptance into the Silver Egrets is easier than the strict adherence to ritual and ceremony would make it seem. Since they are the sole order of paladins, if one has been granted divine power by Winlas that means they have already been chosen to join the order. Winlas however is very demanding and any slip-up, even in the daily rituals, can be enough for him to reclaim his granted power.

Monks of the Sacred Dance

The Monks of the Sacred Dance are an order of ascetic fighting monks who revere the Empyreal Lord Winlas. The monk’s entire lives are based around a very strict regimen of ceremonies, from how one prays you wake up to the process of performing a certain kata. The martial art of the monks looks much like a dance with each step being very precise and deliberate.

Entry into the order requires the supplicant to wait a full year. His entire day is planned out for him and he must live it out in an exacting manner. One mistake and the would-be monk must wait five years to start the process over. Although the group are called monks most of the brothers are actually warpriests (sacred fist archetype), although a few enlightened paladins who choose not to join Silver Egrets also become monks.

Services to the most holy, the desire of all follower of this Empyreal Lord. Who is your follower of Winlas? Why have they chosen to dedicate themselves to the Elder Divinity? Where does their devotion come from? Let me know in the comments.

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