Deity Preview: Neus

Symbol : Circle divided into three equal portions
Alignment : Neutral Good
Portfolio : Hunter, Farmer, Scribe
Worshipers : 600,000 (4000 priests)
Cleric Alignments : Lawful good, Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral.
Domains : Hunter (animal, healing),  Farmer (plant, protection),  Scribe (good, knowledge).

As more starving people came to worship him, the fields began to strain under the need to feed them all.  Families lacked water to drink, hides to shelter them and tools to work.  Again, Neus pondered the problem for many days.  He focused his energies upon the nature of men and created ways for people to live together, each working with his own talents but all of them combining to achieve far greater results then any one could by working alone.  Again, he brought his discoveries to his people.  He taught them how to build sturdy homes to shelter their bodies and to place words upon stone to be read by others, he taught them to preserve knowledge and to work together.  Towns were built, grew into cities and prospered under his tutelage.  All the while, more worshippers came to his banners and spread to fill the Accordlands.

While the Deverenians built an Empire that ruled the lands, the common people wanted nothing to do with their bloodthirsty gods.  They publicly praised the Deverenian deities, but privately cherished and revered Neus and the other gods who had survived the battle with the Dragon.  Eventually the people grew tired of rule by the cold Emperors and threw off his shackles to live freely and to openly worship their lord Neus. 

With their newfound freedom, dissension broke out among Neus people.  Some declared him the Lord of Hunters, others hailed him as the Father of the Farmer and yet others called him the Scribe of Heaven.  Despite his urgings for peace, the conflict between these factions grew until brother fought brother on what the true nature of Neus was.  Until then Neus had simply wandered from one gathering of his people to another but now, each town and village demanded the honor of housing him.

When the god could not take the conflict anymore, he summoned his followers together on a vast plain.  Neus confounded them all by holding aloft a large disc and declaring that it held his essence.  With a thunderous crack, he split the disc in three equal pieces and declared himself Hunter, Farmer and Scribe.  Each part of equal importance and each a part of his whole.  Then he ascended from this world to another, never to step foot among his beloved people again.  His people finally understood his will and lived together with each other in peace.

On the day he ascended, Neus taught his people that all his followers formed their own family and any crime against another believer of Neus is to act against a brother and the family of Neus, a major sin.  To take the goods of another believer is a sin because it injures him, but believers are expected to assist their brothers and give freely of their gifts.  If a believer does not share his gifts, then a thief who steals from him is only redressing the wrong.  Rogues who follow Neus tend to prey upon the rich and treat the poor well.  To harm another believer is a sin, but if done to aid or protect another, then it is acceptable.

Neus does not dwell overly much upon punishment.  Those who believe in him and act for the good of their people will prosper.  Those who act wickedly against their brothers will suffer.  Priests are to remind sinners how to act righteously but not to scold them.  If a believer sins against a brother, he must apologize to him and make amends.  The wronged may forgive the sinner or not, but if the apology is sincere the sin is cleansed.  Insincere apologies or those made when the wronged cannot accept it are sins as is not forgiving a repentant sinner.  These acts prevent the family of Neus from being healed from the injury done to it and are themselves sins.

Great Grandfather Ardolus Gal leads The Church of Neus from the city of Saraga.  He rules the church and ensures that Neus’ doctrine remains pure and united.  Gal is an older priest who has watched as nothrogs, elves and Deverenians attacked and drove his people back.  Now he desires nothing more than peace for his people.  He is willing to do anything to achieve peace, even if it means allowing his people to become slaves to these cruel masters.  Gal also acts as the grandfather of the Scribes, the highest-ranking priest of that faction.