Church of Ishtar

• Spheres: Love, War, Fertility (fertility in plants, animals, and people), Grainhouses, Maternity
• Symbols of Isthar: blue crystal rod (clerical holy symbol), lion, the morning star, holy sword
• Favored Sacrifices: Weapons
• Holy Animal: lion (also eagle and wolf)

Cities

• Babylon (Furyundy YR1)
• Chathold (Duchy of Urnst YR0)
• New Evermore (Free City)
• Tyr (Free City in the Sea of Dust YR3)
• Selid-Din City (Nyrond, YR18)
• Other temples are located in the Theocracy, Altaruk (Sea of Dust), the second plane of hell near the River Styx, and former Hookhill (Ket).

The Goddess

Ishtar taught humanity to survive by through procreation (fertility and love), combat (war, codes of chivalry), and preserving the fertility of the land (the grainhouses and her Ishtarian druids). During the Dark Times, Ishtar cried at the banks of the City of Enwall. Her tears enchanted all rivers. Demons/devils/daemons cannot cross natural, moving waters.

As the Goddess of Love, she has a reputation for sleeping with human heroes (as well as with other gods), and one of Gilgamesh's major claims to fame is that he resisted her charms (perhaps because of his fundamental narcissism) and threw great insults at her. The Church of Ishtar has a tenuous relationship with Gilgamesh as a result of this history, and the policy is often to avoid interactions with the King of Nyrond whenever possible.

Ishtar is basically a lawful good deity, but one of her sayings is "All's fair in love and war." In practice, she is a chaotic-lawful-good god, who often employs creative interpretation of laws or begs favors of her father, Anu, to change the laws on her behalf. Anu, notorious for his slow-working bureaucracy, makes his bureaucracy particularly slow when it comes to meting out punishments against this daughter, and the church of Anu has a similar practice with the church of Ishtar.

Teachings

Aims of the church: promote the worship of Ishtar and understanding of the link in both deity and responsibility between creation and gods, prepare for victory in the next battle and fight for the right of the goodness of creation to survive and succeed, and advance culture in goodness (love, war, fertility)

1. The duty of all who live in cities of Ishtar is to prepare for the next battle at Tovag Baragu. All citizens must keep the knowledge of the Dark Times and of the battles of ages past and learn the strategies for survival in the next war.

• Secrets are weapons in the hands of the Dark One. All citizens are required to do confession 1/month. (Cities that disobey this edict are punished by the Theocracy)
• Secrets are weapons in the hands of the Dark One. Cities should build a wall of rumours: confessions and a variety of unconfirmed rumors are placed on a wall so there are no secrets within town. This is accomplished through the talking grapevines which are rumor-mongers in themselves. The grapevines were a gift from the Great Druid long ago.

2. Life is cut off in battle and renewed in conception.

• Celebrating the sacrament of love (through sex, incuding prostitution) honors the goddess and her gifts of life and fertility; abortions are outlawed. See the epic poetry of Ishtar's Dominion over Fertility and the Sacred Marriage Rite.
• Expectant mothers are carried in a Matron's Chair as they prepare for birth.
• When Ishtar goes to the Underworld, all procreation and fertility stops.

3. All's fair in love and war, yet both should be conducted with honor. 

• All who carry swords must obey the codes of chivalry.
• Rape is a major offense to the goddess.

4. What does not kill you makes you stronger. Always strive to use your enemies' greatest weapons against them.

5. Ishtar brings fertility to the earth and protects the grainhouses. It is the duty of her worshippers to feed the god on Sapatu and major holy days. 

6. Slavery is an abomination and a strategic nightmare. If you cannot conquer your enemies, you must do the work yourself.

7. The church also teaches specific strategies to be used in combat as well as the morals learned fom them. Often, a particular historical, famous, or recent battle is used as the main story of the sermon and by example of the combatants various strategies are taught as well as some of the powers of evil creatures. Continual exposure to these sermons can increase Knowldge (Battles) and/or Profession (Soldier) sklls.

8. Ishtar grants to her clerics, in the form of mircales, the knowledge to create specific weapons of war. Spells such as Craft Holy Sword, Craft Giantbane Sword, etc grant the clerics the knowledge to create them but they still need flames that are hot enough to make them (the magical holy fires of Gibbil or Girru).

**Favorite Saints: St. Anda, patron of quests; Gregarin, battles, strategy; St. Dalvenar, purity; St. Cuthbert, battles v. undead/demons esp.

Teachings Dictated by the Theocracy

Holy Days of Ishtar

• January 1st: Ishtar's Birthday and Mass Marriage Ceremonies (True Marriage City Spell).
• January 2nd: The Highest Priest(ess) of Ishtar officiates prayers in the Theocracy for victory and mercy and makes report about the status of war in the world. 
• January 10th: Blessings of the druids and lions and ceremony to Tammuz, Ishtar’s husband, the shepherd. 
• January 11th: In Babylon, the city re-enacts the Battle at Tovag Baragu for the people of the city gathered in the Gladiatorial Arena.
• February 15th-28th: Days of Danger (Istaritu travel and give warning)
• March 1st: Matronalia (True Marriage ceremonies of Ishtar)
• March 28th: Rahasia Alvere's Birthday, Traditional Fesitival of Ishtar
• April 1st: Festival of Ishtar, Lion fights (Babylon, Chathold, Tyr, New Evermore)
• April 2nd: Lion Fights (Babylon), Master of the Walls Celebration, Sword of Siege Day
• April 3rd: Lion Fights, Celebration of the Daemon War (Babylon)
• April 4th: Lion Fights, Celebration of Ketian attacks (Babylon)
• April 5th: Lion Fights, Celebration of Desert battles (Babylon)
• April 6th: Lion Fights, Feast of the demon war (Babylon)
• April 20th: Avendasora (Celebration of the Tree of Life) (Babylon)
• June 1st: Celebration of trade pacts, first Mardukian trade pact since the Dark Times (Babylon and Chendl)
• June 17th: New Evermorean Day of Marriage
• July 1st: Celebration of Holy Swords, Birth of Conquest, first holy sword forged since the Dark Times (Babylon)
• July 22nd: Charrissa Soothra's birthday (first child born after the Dark Times)
• October 31st: Tovag Baragu Day, Remembrance and Celebration of the Defeat of the Dark One at Tovag Baragu 
• November 2nd: New Evermorian Festival of Salvation, Day of Swords
• November 17th: Feast of St. Hilda (Nyrundian women's feast)
  

Rituals

• On Sapatu (first of the month, holy day), the sacrament of Love is performed in a special area within the church and all citizens and worshippers of Ishtar are welcome (huge orgy). The High Priest officiates/directs (but does not participate). The large amassing of love feelings are offered up to Ishtar as a gift (as well as used in the casting of other holy miracles).
• Under emergency circumstances, the brothels become activated and enchanted with the Ishtar’s Love of Heaven and Earth--this essentially creates a stasis field around the people engaged in the activities of the brothel. Only people who will engage in the activities of the group may enter the area--once in, they cannot be affected by magics, psionics, natural occurrences, etc. This could be used to survive an earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc. The catch, of course, is that there must be sexual activity, so there is obviously a duration limit. The aim is to protect the innocent and the common people; no self-respecting warrior would go there during a battle. In times of danger, the church rings a bell and always alerts all prostitutes. The prostitutes go out into the town to warn people of the danger. If the city is under attack, the citizenry is directed to the church to participate in the Sacrament of Love Protection - (any having sex in the area are immune to ALL attacks so long as they continue to have sex). Such sexual energy is also used in defense of the city.... 
• After the battle, prostitutes go out among the wounded, performing dances and songs that raise morale (and offer up temporary hit points to allow extra time for clerics to do proper healing).
  

Sermons and Epics

The sermons of Rahasia during the first year after Babylon was founded will be about strength and forgiveness. How does one live to best glorify their gods and why does one do this? 

Sermon of the Dragon Reborn

The story of Kas begins long before the man was born, with Tiamat, the Great Mother, the willfulness and pride of the people awoke her and she, roused by our wickedness, raised up the Dark One. Through our folly, we pushed our own mother and mother to the gods away from us. Yet, not all the gods abandoned us and we were given another chance. Even Tiamat herself did not wholly forsake us for the bonds between a mother and her children are stronger than 1000-fold steel. Kas battled with the Dark One and her Forsaken and foiled the initial plans of the Dark One to release the Reign of Colorless Fire on all of Oerth. With this second chance, the children of those who had angered the gods came to remember again, but the Dark One kept this knowledge shrouded in secret, and the Great Kingdom grew corrupt. Discuss famous wars and famous loves in this time. 

In the desert, Kas rose again in a man named Shai, destined for greatness. Shai foretold our return to the desert and the renaissance of the worship of our gods. As the years went by, the gods became pleased with their servants again. They foresaw the coming battle at Tovag Baragu and began to make revelations to the people of the Great Kingdom, releasing the secrets of their proper names and Nyrond broke free from their wicked bonds. Discuss the tale of the war between Jalpa and Nyrond and the swords used. 

Once again, the people grew greedy, however, and tried to tap into the power of the Tree of Life. In the desert, the Hachdeshani rose to avenge this prideful gesture and from this arose a great war and a great love (Taran’s parents). From this war and this love the Dragon was Reborn, Kas walked again in Taran. 

Sermon of the Defeat of the Dark One at Tovag Baragu

Discuss prophesies about fighting the Dark One, then the stories of the Swords of Power including all the rhymes, powers, and locations. The parallel tales are of Ishtar coming down to prepare and the gods sending down swords. It is best that Ishtar came for no powers could be better suited than Love and War to use the swords to their fullest potential. 

But in the desert, nothing brewed and no desert creature stepped up to the battlefield to raise arms against the Dark One. They turned from our gods again, and the Dark One held the beauty of service to the gods as a great secret from them. Discuss the story of the Tovag War—who came and who didn’t, the open portals to places and times when the Dark One had worshippers. Our duty now is never to allow our age to be one upon which the Dark One can call. 

Sermon of the Virtues: Love, Truth, War, Fertility. 

1. Love what is good and fight evil. Protect what is good and arm it with light. 
2. Let the evening star dispel the darkest of secrets and let no one arm the Dark One with her swords of lies. 
3. Be strong and true in your battle, for each day we live to do true and good acts we march forward in the eternal war. 
4. Be fruitful in both your children and your grains. Prepare your children to be good servants to the gods and the gods will bless them with glory. Prepare your grains to be good food for the gods and the gods will bless you with a beautiful life. 

The story of Taran, Finerio, Lanfear, and Rahasia illustrates the four virtues: the secret of Lanfear and Finerio’s deal, the battle strong and true against the liches, Finerio not strong and true when Lanfear corrupts him, but redeemed after his quests. Taran strong and true throughout. Lanfear’s trickery—bad children and bad food v. end with love, love is why Taran was able to succeed and why Finerio could be redeemed, love of Blood Brother. Our food and our faithful children are the shining steel from which the gods forge their swords. Our secrets are the dark iron from which the Dark One folds her blade. Finerio’s story of his quest: the weapons he faced, which secrets he kept; the greatness of his weapons forged in strength, truth, and love of Ishtar; the greatest weapons, the Sword of Love, which destroyed the agents of the Dark One, her hands in New Evermore, when Finerio cleansed himself before all the gods and completed his quest. 

If you shall falter in your path, think upon the rhymes of these swords: Wayfinder, Lawgiver, Sword of Love.

Sermon of the Temptations of Great Power

At some point each year as part of preparing for the next battle, archbishops/bishops of Ishtar cities give a sermon about the temptations of great power. It’s the story of Stiletto Jim and the Golden Skull and how, despite the great ability to detect lie bestowed on Jim from the skull, Romag was able to manipulate him horribly. 

For two years Brother Romag spoke nothing but the truth, yet his words led Jim to fashion an awful army of hoardlings and trollocks and march it through the most populous parts of Veluna. His truths led Jim to seek the eye of the Dark One in order to place it into the Golden Skull and create a self-generating evil unparalleled in our world. Although truth is pure, the selection of truths need not be. In his insanity, Jim’s motives were false and he liked the sound of truths that led him to greater power. In his evil machinations, Romag selected truths that made them hardly look like truth at all.  The quest for power that consumes casts an evil taint on all that we hold dear, and like Jim with the Golden Skull, we give up more and more of ourselves to it the more we follow its temptations until we have given up our very knowledge of right and wrong, our connections to each other, and the possibility for love.

Sermon of Marriage

Explains why Ishtar clerics with their True Loves are the best brides/grooms and how marriage in a Church of Ishtar offers a true marriage that renews not only the couple but the whole world. Una had a success of 107% to write this sermon. Sermon is informed by and incorporates the epic poetry of Ishtar's Dominion over Fertility and the Sacred Marriage Rite.

Sermon of Ishtar's Inspiration in Battle

Bishop Una of Babylon gives thanks to Ishtar for the sacrifice she made for humanity because she cares about humanity. Una was at the final battle, one of those rescued from hell to help call the avatar of Ishtar to the battle. Her life, and the Archbishop’s life were spared. Alexis Selenyasay is the Angel of Swords, the newest of her guardians. You may call for her when you are in great need. She has been called in battle when Lord Soothra had been taken. The Archbishop Al’vere called her and then was about to wield 1000 swords in the battle. 

Sermon of the Goodness of Ishtar and the Duties of her Worshippers

Epic of the Descent of Ishtar into the hells to save Tammuz, the god of shepherds, her consort.

Clerics

Clerical Requirements

• All clerics must be good, with a very strong preference for lawful good (other alignments are rare).
• Clerics learn religion, etiquette, read/write, herbalism, healing, sex ability, sex appeal, detect lie, spellcraft, tactics, strategy, econoly, ancient history (ages, Balcuni Silouese, Greyhawkian, Nyrundian), sociology (acts as mass psychology aiding in checks in religion, diplomacy, and ancient history), agronomy, law, heraldry, survival
• All clerics learn to be careful with wishing (because the Dark One is always willing to grant a wish in a way that will harm). Taran fell prey to Romag once when he accidentally wished and Zeutmoy granted it by throwing him, bound, into a cage where Romag could get to him. Sultan also has inadvertently wished and cast many of his own spells. Clerics learn never to say the word unless they intend to cast it. Clerics learn to word wishes precisely and carefully, using no “ands” and indicating “immediately” or “now.” You cannot wish for someone to be dead. You cannot wish for someone to love you. You should not wish to have an item out of someone’s hand, or it will come to you with the sharp end first. 

God Granted Powers

• All clerics have +5% reaction adjustment and 10% fame as good wives in Nyrond, Furyundy, and the Southlands.
• Church has the 'Beneficience of Gula' placed upon it (may spontaneously cast healing)
• Clerics gain access to a wide range of weapon and battle-related Ishtarian Miracles

1st--Weapon Focus Sword or Rod +1 to base attack and +1 to attack rolls with that weapon
3rd- Beauty of the Goddess (1d4+1 sacred bonus to chr 1/day)
5th- Fury of Battle (as Mass Haste 2/day)
9th- Multiple True Loves 1 per 3 lvls. Each love will always feel that the cleric spends enough time with him or her. Healing one love will heal all loves, and clerics can reach one level higher with heal spells (enabling clerics to resurrect or regenerate loves)

Role and Function of the Church Clergy

• Each church has a High Priestess which is served by three chancellors, the Chancellor of War, Love, and the Grain Houses. All High Priestesses report to the Highest Priestess which is located in Babylon.
• The Chancellor of War is responsible for the War College and the Acolytes of War. The college trains paladins, generals, and other students in the arts of war. He or she maintains the records of battles and wars fought on any soil. The Chancellor of War is also responsible for oversight and management of weapons manufacture, trade and maintenance within the church and city. 
• The Chancellor of Love is responsible for the Istaritu, the Devoted of Ishtar. The Istaritu are trained in dance, song, and lovemaking. They are the divine prostitutes of Ishtar and have god granted abilities and are renowned for their beauty and prized for their companionship. The Chancellor of Love also runs the regular city brothels and plays a role in information gathering and recruitment. This chancellor also coordinates the midwives of the church with the Chancellor of the Grain Houses. The chancellor of love performs marriages when the High Priest does not. 
• The Chancellor of the Grainhouses is responsibile for fertility. He or she employs miracles to see to the fertility of soils, the health of crops, and the safety of the warehoused food. The Chancellor of the Grainhouses also runs the midwives in conjunction with the Chancellor of Love. This chancellor also tends the lion kennels. 
• The Church also oversees the spiritual and strategic training of paladins of the Knights of the Hart, Order of the Lion. 
• The Church is currently in alliance with the Church of Anshar. Ishtar sells silver weapons to the barbarians who are fighting the Narians; in turn the barbarians allow Nevrond Nevrond to continue to make sacrifice to Anshar. Anshar will support Ishtar until Ishtar has three cities in the desert, then Ishtar will conquer a city for Anshar (the goal is Balik). Anshar will also work to expose the secret of its redeemed vampire clerics.
• The Church has a Trade Pact with the Church of Gibbil in Chendl. Clerics of Ishtar will send aid in the war against the Ketians, and 10 clerics of Gibbil will live in Babylon as blacksmiths to stoke the magical fires necessary for making holy swords.
• Adventuring clerics are responsible for seeking more knowledge, strategies, and weapons for use in the battle against the Dark One and for developing allies and collecting information and intelligence about all holy wars and other wars and conflicts on Oerth to be reported annually in the Theocracy during the Akitu Festival.

Churches of Ishtar and Their Clergy

Terrabinth, The Maze Connecting All Churches, The Strategic Hub

The most devoted worshippers and allies of the church of Ishtar are aware of the Terrabinth, a labyrinth of portals connecting all churches of Ishtar across Oerth. During the first years after the Dark Times when all forms of teleportation were impossible, these passages provided a strategic link between Ishtar’s clerics and paladins. They still allow the church greater flexibility and communication than most others, despite the great distance between Ishtar’s holy sites.

The terrabinth is built in the form of an elaborate maze of portals beneath all the churches of Ishtar, connecting them all and facilitating military and spiritual quests and missions of the church and its cities. The terrabinth is really difficult to navigate—it’s like a cross between a hall of mirrors and the Great Mosque with openings (and illusory openings) at many different levels. It has several layers of protections and glyphs that prevent all but clerics from entering. Even if a wayward creep does end up in the terrabinth and survives all the protections, it’s extremely unlikely (1/1000 chance) that the person would be able to find their desired location (and of course, there are similar protections on the other side, and you’d have to find the way OUT, too). When the Drow took over Chathold, they didn’t even try to get through; they just blew it up with some pretty complicated dimensional mines. You can’t get an army through without complicated magic, but you can send for high-powered help pretty fast. Not all churches link directly to all other churches, so in some cases you actually would have to go to New Evermore to get to Chathold or to Hookhill to get to Babylon. There are also portal traps around them that take you directly to the station of the master of the watch or the lion kennels if you aren’t careful. One gateway within the overall structure (not directly from Selid-din City) leads to the Order of the Hart in Furyondy.

The terrabinth of each church is 100 ft. in diameter, and extends across four levels. It appears larger due to mirror usage. There is only 1/1000 random chance of finding the right gateway, and each Terrabinth is linked to certain church terrabinths but not others. Groups of over 10 people will be separated if only one person leads the way. The mirrors are made of a silvered steel backing to anti-magic glass. Each area has an antipathy to evil cast at 19th lvl (DC 28), divination spells do not function, and each archway radiates a type of magic (no connection between type and function of archway). On the archways are stairs that are difficult to spot leading up to the uppermost level--the only way to get upstairs from the terrabinth. Unseen servants sweep the area of tracks every ten minutes and lions roam freely. Paladins and lions patrol the terrabinth.

The maze is actually designed such that one would be foiled if they attempt to “logically” discern their way through the maze. If they have not been led through it before they only have 1 in 100 chance every turn of finding a true portal. One can, however, intuit their way through the maze. A wisdom check of DC 20 is necessary to find the correct gateway. Characters gain +1 for every time they have been guided through the maze. Each check takes 10 minutes of travel. (roll for guards and wards if failed). Characters finding a gateway (1/100 roll or successful wis check) roll randomly to determine which gateway they access unless they have been led through to that location before. 

Portals go to the Babylon Cathedral, Theocracy Temple (60,000 gp), Chathold Basilica (60,000 gp), Hookhill Church (60,000 gp), Furyondy Shrine in the Order of the Hart (280,000 gp), New Evermore Church (60,000 gp), Tyr (60,000 gp), Selid-din City Church (60,000 gp). Gateways by location:

• Babylon: New Evermore, Hookhill, Tyr, Order of the Hart (Furyondy), Sultan’s Chamber, Babylon Lion Kennels (50 lions)
• Chathold: Selid-din, Theocracy, Chathold Lion Kennels (20 lions)
• Hookhill: Chathold, Babylon
• New Evermore: Babylon, Selid-din, Theocracy, New Evermore Mountain Lion Kennels (12 lions)
• Order of the Hart: New Evermore
• Selid-din: Theocracy, New Evermore, Chathold, Selid-din Lion Kennels (15 lions), One way to forest
• Tyr: Theocracy, Babylon, Tyr Lion Kennels (10 lions + others)
• Theocracy: Selid-din, Chathold, Tyr, New Evermore, Theocracy Lion Kennels (2 lions)

On several archways are cast clerical glyphs cast by Rahasia Al'Vere at 30th lvl casting or Sultan at 25th lvl.Clerics, Paladins and True Believers of Ishtar are immune to the Glyph effects but not to Wards. Nonmagical physical traps also await intruders. For each turn spent wandering lost in the maze roll 1d6 to trigger a trap:

Cathedral De’ Babylon, High Church of Ishtar

• Highest Priestess of the Church of Ishtar: Cardinal of Babylon, Divine Savant Rahasia Al’Vere
• High Priestess of Babylon: Archbishop Una (Rahasia’s henchman)
• Chancellor of War (war college/war/paladins): Bishop Nineva (Rahasia’s henchman)
• Chancellor of Grainhouses (gardens/tree/lions/food stores): Adele (Rahasia’s henchman) 
• Chancellor of Love (Istaritu, midwives): Ser Ineluke (Rahasia’s henchman)
• Fatima (Rahasia’s henchman), Hanging Gardens
• Other posts include the Hanging Gardens, Cultural relations, Armory/Weaponship, Healing and damage control during/after battles, Security, Reconnaissance about wars (esp. with Sultan’s school), Fight against the Dark One
• Babylon Acolytes and Lower Level Clerics (lawful good)=64
  

Basilica of Innana-Ishtar, Basilica of Chathold

• High Priestess: June, The Bishop of Chathold (Rahasia’s henchman): June, Chathold Cleric Level: 9, Age 21, HP: 33 I: 11, W: 17, Con: 13, St: 14, D: 14, Chr: 17 NWP: aerdian religion, nyrondian religion (+2 knows Marduk), read/write, ancient history, healing, midwifery (heal special), bureaucracy/administration languages: aerdian, nyrondian AC: -2 (+2 plate, +1 shield), Brooch of shielding magic missiles, +4 hammer, Necklace of Missiles (7HD fireball, 2x5HD fireball, 4x3HD fireball), bearded devil hide, Ketian ear, Boots of Speed (desert elvish make) 2x potion of fire resistance, Scrolls to Tiamant: 2x Sands of Time (5th lvl), Elemental Bonding 1d4 +1 HP healed (1st lvl), Deep Breath 1rd/lvl longer to suffocate(1st lvl) 4x oil of disenchantment (removes ench/charm on persons), potion of health (cure disease on 10 people), can pray for 1st lvl Appraisal miracle Designed Prenatal Policy, no infant mortality 500 people/lvl of cleric, Studied with Archbishop of Ishmangallah, 2 contacts with clerics of Marduk in Theocracy, Contact with cleric of Nabu, Contact with cleric of Anu. Formerly a worshipper of Innana, converted as a result of our great faith in conquering Chathold. Received note from Telkearyendar: “Ephemeral thoughts at the edge of night / Darkness shrouds the temple of knowledge / waiting for the dawn. / The morning star rides against the Dark One.” Laurel Sirith Ahava
• Aurora, Chathold Cleric (June’s henchman) convert from Innana Level: 1, Age: 20, HP: 8 I: 10, W: 16, Con: 12, St: 11, D: 15, Chr: 16 NWP: aerdian religion, nyrondian religion, seamanship, swimming, fishing, etiquette, read/write Languages: aerdian, nyrondian, sea elf AC: 0, +1 plate, shield, hammer 
• Fidessa, Chathold Cleric (June’s henchman) convert from Innana Level: 2, Age: 21, HP: 16 I: 12, W: 15, Con: 8, St: 13, D: 12, Chr: 18 NWP: aerdian religion, nyrondian religion, singing, dancing, etiquette, read/write, ancient history Languages: aerdian, nyrondian, 2 more slots AC: 2, +1 plate reflects magic missiles, Ketian ear, bearded devil hide, shield, Staff of Windbolts-10d6/bolt, 20 charges, fights as +3 staff  July: went on Dry Steppes adventure and got a level. Never got past the halflings in the Sulhaut Mts. Nog Champa is halfling king. Halflings do not let anyone pass, but we saw many towers in the Steppes. Halflings have the faces of wise and beautiful children, like to eat flesh, esp. off living victims, view humans as food, very unified culture, believe that the land should not be tampered with, e.g. finding gold they would mine then build great golden structures ON THAT SPOT, will not allow treasure to move away, have a rich cultural history and believe humans have destroyed the environment. Mayan has a lead on the Cloak of the Hell Furnaces. January went with Finerio McBain to Rel Mord
• Other posts: Refugees, Reconnaissance about war (esp. with Beer), Fight against the Dark One
• Chathold Acolytes and Lower Level Clerics=18
• 6 clerics, 3rd level to Innana from some other city in the Southlands (stationed in Chathold)

1.    F 11, 18, 11, 10, 16, 11
2.    F open 11, 11, 17, 14, 16, 13 (June's henchman)
3.    F open 17, 16, 14, 10, 15, 10 (June's henchman)
4.    M 14, 13, 14, 16, 15, 11
5.    F open 9, 11, 13, 16, 12, 15
6.    F 12, 13, 15, 17, 13, 11 (June's henchman)

• 5 additional first levels (one is June's henchman) stationed in Chathold
• 1 Rhadighast City cleric: M 15, 12, 14, 10, 16, 13 (June's henchman), stationed in Chathold
• 6 1st levels recruited in May by Madeline in the Theocracy (go to Chathold)
  

Recruits from refugees in June:
•    16 blacksmiths
•    3 mages to Sultan
•    2 mages to Prydeon male NG from Southlands, male LN from Southlands
•    2 possible druids (Clarissa, Thylaira) 

Church of Ishtar, New Evermore

• High Priestess: Tasha, Bishop of New Evermore (Rahasia’s henchman): Tasha, Hookhill Cleric from Nyrond, 1st followers Level: 6, Age: 20, HP: 28 I: 7, W:16, Con: 11, St: 9, D:11, Chr: 13 NWP: religion, read/write, etiquette, ancient history, sociology, healing AC: -1, (plate +1 reflect magic missiles, shield +1), hammer +2, basilisk head of flesh to fire, telepathy item, Ketian ears, bearded devil hide, dust devil heart, +3 Ring of Protection, Ring of protection from evil; Wrote 2nd lvl animal fertility, Loves Esau (missing one leg), with prophet in New Evermore
• With the child prophet (?)
  

Church of Ishtar, Tyr

Church of Ishtar-Selid-din City (YR 18)

Bishop Beatrice Birdsong (Rahasia’s henchman), formerly served in Altaruk and in the Hanging Gardens

Church of Ishtar-Hookhill

• High Priest (Rahasia’s henchman)
• 1 first level cleric stationed in Hookhill
• 1 Hookhill cleric (2nd level): Stats: 13, 16, 12, 15, 14, 14; went to Wild Coast to gather vegetation for Garden for Queen of Celene
• 1 Hookhill cleric (2nd level): Stats: 13, 14, 15, 15,13, 15; went to Wild Coast to gather vegetation for Garden for Queen of Celene 97%

200000gp platinum font and basin, holds 51 vials of holy water; lion statues stand on either side of the font, their arms extended; 2 x 5 ½ gold, with electrum trims; eyes—4 medium, blue sapphires (4000 gp), translucent blue crystal, rod 6’ long in shape of Ishtar’s rod. Hookhill is also home to the pig farm and the War College.

Church of Ishtar, The Theocracy

High Priestess: Madeline (Rahasia’s henchman): Madeline, Theocracy Cleric from Rakers Mountains (91% to set up church in Theocracy) Level: 4, Age: 19, HP 40 I: 15, W: 19, Con: 11, St: 10, D: 11, Chr: 16 NWP: sociology, mountain survival, animal lore, hunting, religion, read/write, etiquette, ancient history AC: -1 (+1 plate reflects magic missiles, +1 shield), Ketian ear, bearded devil hide, dust devil heart, 50.000 gp amulet of 18 Chr in moonlight Loves: Bishop of Keishar (101%) Amon Kishati’s father, obtained maps of Hell Furnaces, Great Kingdom, Ket.  

• 6 1st levels recruited in May by Madeline in the Theocracy
  

Land on the Second Plane of Hell 

Adventuring Clerics

Anachi (Rahasia’s henchman), from Chathold, male Level: 4, Age: 20, HP: 46 I: 14, W: 19, Con: 9, St: 12, D: 10, Chr: 15 NWP: strategy (+1), religion, read/write, etiquette, ancient history languages: aerdian, nyrondian AC: -1 (+1 plate, +1 shield), 5000 gp, bearded devil hide, dust devil heart, Ketian ear Wrote War Library Book: Tovag War History of Babylon worth 15000 gp and will start to have magical powers as continue to collect stories. Killed Ballay’s Landshark used to make 3 +1 non-magical shields. Saw Innspa, Edgefield, Eastfaire (cultist of the Hand and the Eye w/Scarlet Brotherhood) , fought in Altaruk, Wrote The Thoughts of the Fall of Bodal +5 ideas any time about combat evil, and make evil work against itself, War History of Babylon (with magical powers)

Lower level clerics and new recruits, all lawful good (Total 73)

Church Programs of Love, War, and Fertility

The Brothels and Istaritu

Dedicated to the worship of Ishtar, the faithful and unfaithful alike may offer their sacrifices to Ishtar in the form of love and fertility in the holy brothels. Men and women of great beauty and charm are trained and selected to make the best and most fruitful matches in the sacraments. The prostitutes perform the sacrament of love for donations to the church, and they participate regularly in various community rituals and in maintaining morale during and after attacks on Ishtar's Cities

All of these prostitutes are regularly cleansed of disease and other maladies as well as receiving other blessings from the church including free healing, etc. Prostitutes (all have +15% reaction with locals and +20% reaction with mayors & leaders).

Prostitute Network (as of YR 3):

• Dyvers 16
• Rhadigast City 14
• Greyhawk City 11
• Beer ???
• Babylon 74
• Chathold 40
• Includes Colette, head prostitute (June’s henchman), age 22 (YR1), 3rd lvl spy, Chr: 18, D: 11, W: 12, Con: 10, I: 16, St: 12 NWP: dancing, singing, etiquette, sex skill (21), 2 slots Languages: Nyrondian, Aerdian AC 2 Ketian armband (when activated as armor), absorbs 20 hp, bearded devil hide
• Includes 1 professional prostitute and 3rd lvl spy (June's henchman), ring of diminution
• Includes 1 professional prostitute and 5th lvl fighter (June's henchman), ring of diminution
• Waybridge from Theocracy 10
• Central Waybridge point 3
• Hookhill 10
• F sex skill 13, Ch12, D10, C 13
• M sex skill 12, Ch 10, D 11, C 15
• Ch 12, D 14, C 12
• Ch 14, D 10, C 14
• Tyr 30
• 50 homeless children from the Dark Times who may be trained as prostitutes

Istaritu 

Distinct from the other prostitutes of the brothels are the Istaritu, the "Beloved of Ishtar." These are divine prostitutes trained by Ser’Ineluke, master sorceress, Chancellor of Love and whore of Babylon. They are trained as prostitutes from birth and follow the Way of Ishtar.  

They receive magical training in the sorceress’s charms of illusions and granted divine powers by Ishtar. Trained in the arts of love, sex, dance, performance, and magic, they cannot cast spells, have few bonuses in combat, and few hit points, but their abilities to celebrate the love aspect of Ishtar are legendary. 

Istaritu like most to find heroes and nobles to practice their holy rituals. They do, of course, perform the sacrament of love with commoners as well (although they are very expensive). Note that before Istaritu go out with heroes and other special people they always have fertilities cast, ensuring a child. 

Anyone who harms an Istaritu receives a curse from Ser’Ineluke (bearer of the Sword of Vengeance, Farslayer). These curses may be placed at a range of 1 plane away, DC 30 or more and subtract 6 points each on 3 stats. In years 1-3, the curse is transitive (anyone who removes it, gets it).

Requirements: Istaritu require a minimum of +6 dance, +6 sex, 18 Charisma, 12 Intelligence. Due to Miracle of Ishtar (6th lvl) they do not age from their devoted use of the charm. Normal aging occurs at 3/4 normal rate, and they are immune to disease. They must go to priests for dedication at age 15. They may touch or carry NO weapons, except daggers, under ANY circumstances. They must pray 3 times a day and must always wear something blue. They may not marry. No birth control may be used, nor does it work if someone does attempt to use it. 

Abilities: (6+Int bonus)x4 skill points at first level, (6+Int)/level afterwards. All DCs v. their powers are equal to performance check. They save v. reflex as a thief, will and fortitude as a magic user. Istaritu get use magic device as a class skill. They perform magically the following spell-like effects as feats:

The Istaritu, Followers of the Babylonian Chancellor of Love, and Their Duties

• Barbara—May YR3 Dyvers one check
• Kith—May YR3 Babylon one check
• Bess—May YR3Chathold one check
• Czyl—May  YR3 Rhadigast
• Bliss—May YR3 Greyhawk City
• Rys—May YR3 Bridge 96% to set up, one level
• Sasha—May YR3 Bridge

Children of the Prostitutes

The growing numbers of children are carefully tended by the midwives guild within the church and raised within the faith to be good, often acolytes, Paladins, etc. Children of the Istaritu and other prostitutes are taught that their parents were devoted to Ishtar and offered their love as tribute to the Goddess. The parents are givers of life and revered for granting the children the gift to be raised among the followers of the Goddess of Love, War, and Fertility. These children are all a blessing to the world to make the lands prosper again after the desolation of whatever war was going on or just ended when they were conceived (we are never at a loss for wars & conflicts, and we’re actually still catching up for some of the bigger ones).

The Archbishop Rahasia Al'vere’s first child was conceived in a similar fashion, so there is no stigma within the church or within cities of Ishtar toward that sort of behavior. Anyone who has a problem with it would have to have a problem with the Archbishop, too, and she has really quite nasty black plate mail armor and a very bad-ass mace, so I don’t know that they want to go there. Taran’s mother also died in childbirth, and his father was never found. Like these children, he was raised by an adoptive family as well. Children are told these stories so that they know that alternative families are not just for the poor and the powerless.

As for the logistics of fathers, the church actually prefers to maintain the confidentiality of the fathers, simply by not tracking it. Each child of a prostitute could be the product of any number of people, and that’s really more the point of the exercise--they are children of humanity. Male prostitutes also produce children, which the mother may leave with the church to be raised should they so choose. In addition, the church raises refugee children and orphans as needed, giving them training, education, and seeing that they get an appropriate apprenticeship if they are not adventurer material. Children without families are not uncommon, and the church’s goal is to help these children see that the Church of Ishtar is also their family.

If fathers want to verify their paternity, visit, and otherwise incorporate the child into their family lineage, they certainly may, but they are asked to maintain that contact throughout the life of the child as much as possible if they chose to initiate contact. Specifically, once acknowledged, if the child should seek out the parent, the parent has the responsibility to continue to acknowledge the child. Fathers cannot only be fathers when they chose to visit the child; the child is better off without a specific father than with an on-again/off-again parent who would deny them should they show up at the father’s door. Fathers may chose which scenario they desire. Should they initially chose to leave the pregnancy to chance with no one really knowing the father, but later want to acknowledge the child, we can find the child that belongs to that father--under the stipulations of contact established earlier.

Marriage Ceremonies

Marriage ceremonies are a mainstay of the church, and the epic poetry of Ishtar's Sacred Marriage informs the practice of such ceremonies. Any two spirits joined in matrimony are truly blessed. (The miracle also places liens on the lovers’ souls, ensuring that they reach the best possible place in the after life. For instance, if they are of differing alignments they may coexist on one plane together (usually the best of the two choices), and if they are of the same alignment, they are always guaranteed being in the same place on their planes in the afterlife. 

There are also higher level marriage ceremonies that do more, and Chathold is the main city of marriage within the church, signalling its symbolic meaning as the city conquered just after Ishtar returned from the Underworld with her consort, Tammuz, and its role in uniting the Countess of Urnst and the son of the Duke of Urnst in the first True Marriage ceremony conducted during the Dark Times.

Midwives

The church's midwives will recruit and teach women how to be midwives and then send those people out into the populous to aid with the birthing of children. The Church regularly casts Fertility miracles and the church recommends people to go to the druids for same if for some reason they feel uncomfortable going to the church. The fertility miracle itself should cause fewer problems with birthing but the midwives still have lots of work to do. Expectant Mothers are carried in a Matron’s Chair. Cities of Ishtar follow birth policies—babies are born in the temple; no abortions allowed, punishable by one year indentured servitude; casting of magics, use of herbs, or other anti-fertility measures are punishable by quest. Couples receive the fertility spell at marriage. Any clerics who violate these rules are unable to get 1-3 lvl spells until atoned.

Grainhouses 

Lion Kennels

The church maintains sacred lion kennels near the church. The church works with druids to see to the health of the lions. Note that Speak with Lions is a miracle granted by Ishtar and a god granted power of paladins. The largest and toughest of lions are used in defense of the city, church, and Grainhouses. Some are posted at the gates to the church and the gates to the city (there is always a priest and/or paladin to attend the lion).

Lions as a species love Ishtar and desire to test the Paladins of Ishtar in Lion fights. These tests, where the paladin and lion go mano-a-mano are large spectator sports that many can watch in the gladiatorial arenas. If the paladin kills the lion, he may progress as a paladin. If the lion defeats the paladin, the lion is granted further powers by Ishtar and/or Nyrana Sin (there are some damn tough lions after a while). Any paladin who defeats a lion, earns his right to have a lion companion. These lions will fight to the death by the paladin’s side. 

Some of the named Lions in the Gladiatorial Arenas (by YR 23) are as follows: 

• Ballwrecker: 7 paladins
• Armswallower: 6 paladns
• Jumper: 5 paladins
• Cleaver: 4 paladins
• Rake: 3 paladins (rake 10d8 +20)

     

War College...aka Hall of Heroes

Every church of Ishtar has a war college overseen by the Chancellor of War. The college sends out scribes into the city on a regular basis to collect tales of battles fought. They take meticulous notes and these notes are transcribed and placed in the war college library. Medals may even be given for particularly valorous battles. These notes form the basis of a huge database upon which the war college develops strategy, preserves, and passes on knowledge about fighting the Dark One and other enemies.

The War College also attracts adventurers and city defenders who wish to obtain the Spoils of War from their victorious battles. Their stories are also recorded and their sacrifices of weapons delivered to Ishtar.

The War College trains nobles, city officials, and adventurers from all over Oerth in strategy (large scale and or small scale as well as logistics and other war-related skills). The War College can train in some specializations and can train certain feats & skills (DMs option).

Spoils of War

Any people who partake in a valorous battle may bring their opponent’s weapon and a trophy of their opponent - an ear, a scalp, etc. and the clerics of Ishtar will freely perform a Spoils of War miracle (q.v.) which blesses the trophy (the victor keeps the trophy while the weapon is sacrificed). The trophy will give bonuses or protections in battle against foes somehow similar in nature to the one defeated. Note: Victors are not required to sacrifice weapons after every battle. When Ishtar grants a victory in battle, warriors may claim the weapon as their gift, or they may choose to send a weapon that is beyond them or inappropriate for them to Ishtar's forces in Heaven and gain some earthly benefit instead. Spoils of War are available in the Gladiatorial Arenas, Challenge Rings, Battlefields, during adventures, or after adventures if a sacrificial weapon and a trophy are brought to the church's War College.

Weapons Trade

Magical Weapons Profits per year (120/year for specials) profit per x4=cost
1440000 (100 swords +1/mo x 2000 gp profit per–80% costs and bones +40%)
22500 (25 flame tongues +1,2,3,4 x 900 gp profit per)
40000 (25 frost brands +3,+6 x 1600 gp profit per)
5000 (5 luckblades no wishes, can absorb, +1 x 1000 gp profit per)
6000 (10 weapons +1,+2 v. enchanted creatures and magic users x 600 gp profit per)
2100 (3 weapons +1, +3 v. lycanthropes/shapechangers x 700gp profit per)
4000 (5 weapons +1, +3 v. regenerating x 800 gp profit per)
2400 (3 weapons +1, +4 v. reptiles x 800 gp profit per)
4000 (5 weapons +2 x 800 gp profit per)
5400 (6 giantslayer +2 x 900 gp profit per)
18000 (12 dragonslayers +2 x 900 gp profit per)
16000 (10 quickness short swords +2 x 1600 gp profit per)
14000 (10 weapons +3 x 1400 gp profit per)
Total magic weapons profits 1,579,400 gp

See the New Babylonian Weapons invented in the first 20 years of Babylon: Babylonian Holy Swords, Babylonian Swords, Babylonian Desert Daggers, Babylonian Fire Whips, and Babylonian Man-Catchers

Note: Instead of 100 swords +1 per month, we can make 100 non-magical throwing daggers +1 or 20 polearms either +1 or +1 non-magical
**Note: 40000 hoardling bones can be used as materials for up to +2 weapons. Every year use 1200 bones for +1 swords for a total of 960000/year in profit

Hard Assets of Church of Ishtar

Land/property (gp)—Total; 1,600,000
500000 Shieldlands
200000 Hookhill church
Hookhill land
400000 Chathold cathedral
500000 Wendt, outside Dyvers

Magic Items, etc.—Total 12,220,000
Font 200000
20000
12000000

Total: 13,820,000

Specialty Spells

Ishtar Miracles By Level: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Epic

First-Level

Second-Level

Third Level

Fourth Level

Fifth Level

Sixth Level

Seventh Level

Epic