I wrote this bit up for my home campaign and thought others might be able to use it. My campaign differs from the book in various places, most notably in the timeline. In my campaign, the events are more spread out. For example, this was written for the time immediately after "Drakthar's Way", which occurred approximately one year after "Life's Bazaar".
Questions and comments are welcome. Enjoy!
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CHURCH LEADERS
Sarcem Delasharn
Head of the Cauldron Church of St. Cuthbert
Human male, 5’7” 120 lbs., 61 years of age
A quiet, unassuming man most of the time, Sarcem Delasharn is the diplomat of Cauldron. Even more so than the nobles and mayor, Sarcem has a way of bringing people together and working out a deal. It is only through his strong leadership that the Council of Churches in Cauldron gets anything done.
(While there is no “head” of the council, by the Council’s charter, Sarcem’s strong voice is generally heard the loudest. Also, on the few occasions that the Council has made a public decree, it is Sarcem that has made the decree in the Council’s name.)
Sarcem appears to most people as a kindly old man with a heart of gold – and this is true. What most people don’t see is his passion and drive to make Cauldron a better place for all people, especially those less fortunate. While he never openly opposes the nobles, he works (politics) very hard for fairness in judicial decisions and all laws that are passed in Cauldron.
Sarcem’s wife died some years ago, a victim of a bandit attack not far from the Lucky Monkey. He still misses her deeply.
Jenya Urikas
Second in command
Human female, 5’6” 125 lbs., 31 years of age
As the second in command at the church and Sarcem’s right hand woman, Jenya handles many of the duties that Sarcem himself does not have time for. This typically means dealing with the Lantern Street Orphanage while Sarcem is meeting with the Council of Churches or discussing Captain Skellerang’s concerns while Sarcem is advising the mayor.
Jenya is an able diplomat, but not nearly as polished as Sarcem. She is often frustrated by the behind-the-scenes politicking and “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” mentality of Cauldron’s nobility. She wants the right thing to be done and expects people to do it, regardless of personal consequences. While she is very polite in her views, she is generally unbending.
She avoids the Council of Churches because of an unfortunate incident in which she punched out Asfelkir Hranleurt, head of the Cauldron Church of Kord. Asfelkir didn’t appreciate Jenya’s unyielding stance on a topic (one that has since been forgotten by all parties) and said that she needed to loosen up – and then proceeded to lewdly describe how that was to be accomplished. (It was a lucky hit, but one that Asfelkir will never live down.)
She is also in charge of acolyte instruction, though she doesn’t actually instruct the acolytes. (Think of her sort of like a principal. She sets the overall direction of the learning, but someone else comes up with course plans and does the instruction.)
Jenya was married to a man named Akkel for a brief time in her youth. After their divorce, Akkel took up the life of an adventurer and hasn't been heard from since. Amelia, the couple's daughter, has never met her father.
Rufus Laro
Administrator
Human male, 5’9” 175 lbs., 27 years of age
Rufus Laro is a very likeable fellow and in many ways, he’s much more like High Priest Delasharn than Jenya Urikas. While Jenya is obviously more experienced than Rufus, many question whether he should be Sarcem’s second in command, rather than she. Rufus puts people at ease and can hold a conversation with a barstool (figuratively speaking – he’s not crazy), whereas Jenya sometimes seems downright uncomfortable in social situations.
What Rufus lacks, however, is political savvy and backbone. He’s so likeable because he wants to be liked and works at it. In his desire to be liked, he tries to make everyone happy, which often means agreeing to things that he doesn’t necessarily believe in or even understand. Sarcem knows that sometimes someone’s toes need to be trod upon for the greater good and worries that when the chips are down, Rufus can’t make the hard decision that needs to be made.
Rufus’ role at the church is that of administrator. Rufus acts the accountant, purchaser, and hirer all wrapped up into one. As an administrator, Rufus is excellent, if a bit miserly. He may not stand up very well in the political arena, but when it comes to negotiating the best price on bananas or coffee, Rufus is the bane of merchants everywhere – he negotiates down to the last copper.
When Sarcem is not in the pulpit, it often falls to Rufus to run the service – something he relishes.
Rufus is engaged to a lovely lass from the Coy Nixie. Everyone but Rufus sees her for the golddigger she is. She doesn't seem to understand that priestly work doesn't pay very well, so it's a wonder what will happen when she does.
Comparing the diplomatic styles of Sarcem, Jenya, and Rufus
Let’s say that the nobles are considering a new law that needs to be made, one that will either favor the nobles a lot and commoners little or favor both equally. The nobles obviously desire the former. When asked for advice:
• Rufus initially disagrees with the nobles, but quickly changes his advice even though he knows it’s not the right choice.
• Jenya disagrees with the nobles and stands firm, but offers no compromises.
• Sarcem disagrees with the nobles, but does so in such a way that the nobles agree the second version of the law is a better one.
OTHER CHURCH FOLK
Alek Tercival
Paladin
Human male, 6’2” 170 lbs., 29 years of age
Alek Tercival, heir to the Tercival name, last in the family line, and devout paladin of St. Cuthbert, is a loner. He spends most of his time in the field, traveling from Red Gorge to Hollowsky to Sasserine with stops in between as he feels necessary.
His life is the church; or rather, his life is doing the works of the church. Although Alek is a very good diplomat, he quickly tires of stationary life and the duties he’s called upon to perform when he’s in Cauldron. In his own words, “I’d rather risk my life, facing an indomitable foe under the most impenetrable jungle canopy than spend one more minute appeasing insipid nobles in their quests of vanity.”
Alek Tercival and Sarcem Delasharn are very close, bonded, it seems, by more than faith. Some event in their shared past has made these two akin to father and son, though there is no blood relation between them.
Alek has never married.
Morina Drakesblood
Instructor
Human female, 6’0” 165 lbs., 34 years of age
A lifelong worshiper of St. Cuthbert, it is only recently that she’s come into the fold as something more than a lay worshiper. She has a short fuse and is fanatical in St. Cuthbert’s faith. Morina really wants to do field work (i.e., become an adventurer), but she barely knows which end of her cudgel to hold. She has clashed with Jenya on numerous occasions regarding student instruction.
True to her name, Morina’s ancestry is not entirely human. This can be seen most prevalently in her black, almost pupil less eyes. It shows in other ways, too; Morina has some talent as a sorceress.
Part of Morina's zeal stems from the fact that she lost her family to a raiding band of humanoids a couple years ago. The same things that motivate her zeal can send her into a deep depression. Unknown to her, two of her four children still live, though as slaves to the selfsame raiders.
Gelan Elandro
Traveling cleric
Half-elf male, 5’6”, 135 lbs., 43 years of age
Gelan is a traveling cleric of St. Cuthbert, staying for a time in any one area only so long as it suits him. He’s been in Cauldron for almost two months, but has no formal duties within the church. He seems quite taken with the area and spends much of his time meeting the locals. Gelan’s an accomplished musician, singer, and storyteller and is already very popular in Cauldron’s inns and taverns. How long he will stay is anyone’s guess.
Gelan is a lifelong bachelor.
ACOLYTES
Adalla Cru (Human female)
Bron [Taskerhill] (Human male)
Bruth Ironfold (Dwarf male)
Hendal Kalandar (Human male)
Justina Crysword (Half-elf female)
Kel Shukstan (Human male)
William Sprite (Human male)
The acolytes are a diverse mix of people, with even a noble’s son amongst them. (Bron Taskerhill dropped the use of his surname when he joined the church and few know of his noble background.)
Adalla is a quiet girl who is extremely bright. After correcting the volatile Morina a couple times, Adalla now keeps her comments to herself. Jenya is aware of Adalla’s potential and the two set aside several hours each week for private instruction.
Bron joined the church because he wants to help people. He’s very uncomfortable in his new surroundings, however, because he feels like he doesn’t fit in. He went against his family’s wishes and is unused to having to do things for himself. He’s really quite lost and as a result lashes out at people, even when they don’t really deserve it. It’s unsure whether he will finish his training between familial pressure and his own doubts.
Bruth joined the church because it had a part in rescuing his mother from a half-troll slaver whose base was under the streets of Cauldron. He wants to learn as much as he can before embarking on a quest to find and rescue his father.
Hendal’s family have been devout worshipers of St. Cuthbert for several generations. It was only a matter of time before someone in the family joined the clergy.
Justina is a personable young lady who became an acolyte after being smitten by Gelan’s stories. (Truth be told, she’s just as smitten with Gelan himself.) Justina’s talents are actually better suited to a bardic college and she has a history with the Last Laugh that she doesn’t talk about.
Kel aspires to be a paladin, but has become a bit disillusioned by Alek’s lack of interest in retaining him as an apprentice.
William is lazy and unmotivated. His parents sent him here with the hope he’d find some direction and become a contributing member of society. Judging by the results so far, they’re going to be disappointed.
LAY FOLK
Alfred Roundgate
Human male, 6’0” 175 lbs., 42 years of age
Alfred Roundgate is ostensibly the church’s handyman, but in truth he is a brilliant architect and engineer. While he could be making many more coins in the service of the city or one of the noble families, Alfred is quite content in his current position, though how he got there is a story unto itself.
Five years ago, as part of a commission, Alfred traveled from a city far to the north to see firsthand the Zolman ruins in the jungles near Red Gorge. With his family in tow, he hired a local guide and a retinue of guards as funds allowed, then searched for the ruins. A couple days out, they were attacked and the guide and guards were slaughtered. Only the timely arrival of Alek Tercival saved the Roundgates. Seeing it as a sign, he sent notice that he was declining the job and devoting his life to the service of St. Cuthbert.
Alfred’s roots are now in Cauldron and he will spend the rest of his days here, though he suspects that when his children come of age, they will move on.
Zephrid Alamates
Archivist
Half-elf male, 5’3” 110 lbs., 25 years of age
Zephrid Alamates is the church’s archivist and historian. He was hired on less than a year ago, shortly after being sacked by the Blue Crater Academy. In the time he’s been here, he’s organized the archives twice and is seriously thinking that the third time will be the charm.
Zephrid is both hyperactive and a perfectionist. No sooner does he finish a job than he figures out a better way to do it. And does it over. He’d be glad to tell you how to do your job better, too. (Hence, the sacking.)
Bald by choice, Zephrid has many interesting tattoos about his body. Even more interesting, Zephrid’s not sure how they got there.
Ironically, Zephrid is an atheist.
Guardsmen
Atherol (Human male)
Bendin (Human male)
Beval (Human female)
Delvan (Human male)
Gedford (Human male)
Gregory (Half-elf male)
Jamison (Human male)
Serathar (Half-orc male)
Two guardsmen are on duty at any given time and the ranks change rather more frequently than Jenya would like. Unfortunately, guard duty at the Church of St. Cuthbert is pretty dull work. Laro knows little more about these people than their names. They all seem competent, though none is a particularly devout worshiper of St. Cuthbert.
A year ago, after several children went missing, the church guard were reassigned to the orphanage for a time.
Belevan Carstan
Wealthy patron
Human male, 6’1” 210 lbs., 47 years of age
Belevan Carstan is a successful merchant (self-made) who always seems to be a hand’s width away from receiving a patent of nobility. Unable to achieve it on his own, he formed an alliance with Sarcem Delasharn in order to reach his goal.
The thing is, Belevan is the only one who sees the current arrangement as an alliance. (That’s how Belevan views all of his dealings; even his marriage to the daughter of a powerful merchant family based in Sasserine is an “alliance.” His wife would be heartbroken if she knew how he felt.) To everyone else, he’s just a wealthy benefactor to the Church of St. Cuthbert.
The problem is that Belevan was astute enough to see the political power that Sarcem wields in Cauldron, but not astute enough to see that Sarcem is no man’s pawn. Frustrated at yet again being thwarted in his goal, he’s considering withdrawing his support from St. Cuthbert.
Other than his obsession of becoming one of the nobility, Belevan’s not a bad guy. In fact, if Belevan gave up on his obsession (or actually achieved it), he’d be a downright likeable guy who’d realize his wife is a charming, witty, intelligent woman whom he deeply loved.
Ironically, if he spent the time he wastes scheming, politicking, and working for the patent on managing his businesses, he’d get his patent of nobility by dint of his financial success.
Outstanding! Thank you for this. It will come in very handy as the church becomes more important in the campaign.
Well done!! Thank you!
Excellent job Jeffrey! I can tell you put a lot of work into fleshing out these clerics of St. Cuthbert. I passed your work along to my DM for the SCAP. Thanks!
Awesome... I started detailing the church myself a few days ago to add some depth to Cauldron, but this is way better than mine. Thanks for the post