Category:Church of Hala: Difference between revisions

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As depicted in VRMHC III above, there is a level of biological essentialism between males and females in how they relate to the Weave, and this is reflected in the mechanics of the separate witch and warlock kits. Warlocks operate with flashier and more destructive powers, whereas witches are more subtle in how they relate to the Weave. Moreover in VRMHC, covens operate with only members of a single sex, though this does not prevent witches and warlocks from otherwise associating and working with each other. Halan doctrine acknowledges that inter-gender differences in relation to the Weave has provoked inter-gender strife and jealousy, so their [[coven]]s grant witches and warlocks capabilities that make the two types of Halan followers more akin to each other. Moreover, church dogma recognizes that each gender has qualities representative of the opposite one inside of it.<ref>[[Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III]] p 241-241, 245, 257-258, 272-278<</ref>
As depicted in VRMHC III above, there is a level of biological essentialism between males and females in how they relate to the Weave, and this is reflected in the mechanics of the separate witch and warlock kits. Warlocks operate with flashier and more destructive powers, whereas witches are more subtle in how they relate to the Weave. Moreover in VRMHC, covens operate with only members of a single sex, though this does not prevent witches and warlocks from otherwise associating and working with each other. Halan doctrine acknowledges that inter-gender differences in relation to the Weave has provoked inter-gender strife and jealousy, so their [[coven]]s grant witches and warlocks capabilities that make the two types of Halan followers more akin to each other. Moreover, church dogma recognizes that each gender has qualities representative of the opposite one inside of it.<ref>[[Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III]] p 241-241, 245, 257-258, 272-278<</ref>


3rd Edition sources seem not to have carried over the gender differentiation. Clerics of Hala in general are called witches.<ref name="R3E p. 52">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p. 52</ref><ref name="RLPHB p. 66">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p. 66"</ref> [[Van Richten's Archive]] does specify members of the Hallowed Witch Prestige Class are called "hallowed witches" or "hallowed warlocks" depending upon gender, but there are no mechanical differences.<ref name="VRA p. 96-98">[[Van Richten's Arsenal]] p. 96-98</ref>
3rd Edition sources seem not to have carried over the gender differentiation. Clerics of Hala in general are called witches.<ref name="R3E p. 52">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p. 52</ref><ref name="RLPHB p. 66">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p. 66"</ref> [[Van Richten's Archive]] does specify members of the Hallowed Witch Prestige Class are called "hallowed witches" or "hallowed warlocks" depending upon gender, but there are no mechanical differences. In addition, gender restrictions exist for coven member<ref name="VRA p. 96-98">[[Van Richten's Arsenal]] p. 96-98</ref>
A witch is usually a magic user with hereditary or innate power.


===Persecution===
===Persecution===

Revision as of 14:51, 27 December 2018

The symbol of Hala with 13 snakes devouring each others' tails.

The Church of Hala worships Hala. It is a mystical faith shrouded in secrecy][1][2][3] loosely based on modern, real-world paganism and witchcraft practices.

Centers

The Church of Hala keeps its many secrets from the general public and does not actively recruit][1][2][3] (though it does indulge curious newcomers if specifically questioned about their goddess][1]). Therefore, Hala's church holds the majority of power over matters of faith and religion in no domain. However, it has hospices for the needy and sick sprinkled throughout the Core[2][3] , though Hala's worship is most focused in the Southern Core.[4][5]

Beliefs

Creation Myth

The exact stories and mythic traditions told within Hala's churches are varied and diversed. The most elementary version is given in the Tales of Ages[6] the Church's sacred text.[2][3] According to this book, it was a collective of nine deities that brought the world into existence from Chaos' mists. However, the other gods then stood back and left mortal kind to make their own decisions. Hala alone of the Nine Gods saw how mortals lacked insight to make the right decisions, so she came back to alleviate the world's burdens. To a cadre of 13 men and women[7], she instructed the secrets of the Weave.[2][3][8] This myth strange resembles a benign version of the Tepestani story of the witch Hallah, whom malevolently usurped the power of magic from the gods; the resemblance of these tales and names is a contributor to the demonization of Hala by the Tepestani Inquisition.[9]

The Weave

The Church of Hala describes magic in a different way, a sort of universal weave. It is not clear if witchcraft or the Weave is something separate from magic powers elsewhere in the multiverse.

Reason for Secrecy

Given that secrecy may contribute to the faith's undesirable reputation, one may ask why the Halan church clings to such a doctrine. According to Sister Marena, Hala's witches wish to operate within society but to avoid the corruption of it. Public knowledge may bring adulation, and this adulation may invite desire for further power. Hala's followers seek to avoid such temptation. Moreover, secrecy allows them to assist the sick and the needy with less distraction from people whom would seek to exploit their power.][10]

Members

There is some imprecision across sources on the difference between clergy of the Church of Hala and Halan witches. Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III, a 2nd Edition source, specifies they are often viewed as one and the same, but but draws a line between the two, although many duties within Hala's churches and hospices are tended to by witches. In 2nd Edition, Halan witches and warlocks were represented by character kits that could only be taken by fighter or thief classes without any other sort of spellcasting abilities beyond those granted by their kits. Priests of Hala, on the other hand, were generally clerics. In 3rd Edition, Hala's clerics in general are called witches[2][3], with the Hallowed Witch prestige class representing a tradition special to Hala's Church.[11] Also in 3rd Edition, Clerics of Hala may chose the Weave Domain, another piece of magic unique to Hala's faith.[12]

Gender and Witchcraft

As depicted in VRMHC III above, there is a level of biological essentialism between males and females in how they relate to the Weave, and this is reflected in the mechanics of the separate witch and warlock kits. Warlocks operate with flashier and more destructive powers, whereas witches are more subtle in how they relate to the Weave. Moreover in VRMHC, covens operate with only members of a single sex, though this does not prevent witches and warlocks from otherwise associating and working with each other. Halan doctrine acknowledges that inter-gender differences in relation to the Weave has provoked inter-gender strife and jealousy, so their covens grant witches and warlocks capabilities that make the two types of Halan followers more akin to each other. Moreover, church dogma recognizes that each gender has qualities representative of the opposite one inside of it.[13]

3rd Edition sources seem not to have carried over the gender differentiation. Clerics of Hala in general are called witches.[2][3] Van Richten's Archive does specify members of the Hallowed Witch Prestige Class are called "hallowed witches" or "hallowed warlocks" depending upon gender, but there are no mechanical differences. In addition, gender restrictions exist for coven member[11]

Persecution

The Weave is also known as witchcraft and provokes widespread, superstitious fear. Hags, witchcraft's most notorious users, are are the major party responsible for ruining witchcraft’s reputation. Although witchcraft holds no inherent evils, but it is believed to lead down a path festered with occult peril. Exposure to witchcraft is thought to create calibans. folklore posits that transformation into a hag is the fate that awaits a witch that loses control over her magic. People Outside their faith treat Hala's witches with animosity, fear, and wariness. For example, encounters with the Tepestani Inquisition are likely to end quite direly, even fatally, for any recognized witches.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p. 244
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Ravenloft Third Edition p. 52
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p. 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RLPHB p. 66" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ Ravenloft Third Edition p. 54
  5. ↑ Ravenloft Player's Handbook p. 69
  6. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p. 239-240
  7. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p. 257 states that it was 13 men and women total, whereas Ravenloft Third Edition (p. 52) and the Ravenloft Player's Handbook p. 54 specify it was 13 women and 13 men (26 total)
  8. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p. 239-240
  9. ↑ Gazetteer V p. 64
  10. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p. 240-241
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Van Richten's Arsenal p. 96-98
  12. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer V p. 134
  13. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III p 241-241, 245, 257-258, 272-278<

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Ravenloft Third Edition

Ravenloft Third Edition - p52

Ravenloft Third Edition - p54

Ravenloft Third Edition - p52

Subcategories

This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total.

B

D

H

K

S

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