Each of the establishments along the Vein’s central square trade in the exploitation of human vice or false hope, and the tower-flanked Church of St. Cuthbert is certainly no exception. Within this austere stucco structure, the poorest of Diamond Lake’s poor huddle in a torch-lit sanctuary listening to the fiery sermons of Jierian Wierus, a bombastic orator whose populist rants appeal to the best virtues and values of the common man while at the same time preying upon their fears and superstitions. Wierus spends most of his time in seclusion, writing sermons and communicating with his god during intense self-flagellation sessions. Rarely, he pays a personal visit to Jalek’s Flophouse to evangelize directly with his flock, usually attracting a dozen or more new converts to his cause each time.
Wierus performs three sermons a week; each fills to capacity at least an hour before the high priest arrives and is a rambunctious affair. Not all devotees whip themselves into religious fervor, but enough do that those who abstain mark themselves as outsiders. Wierus often tailors his sermons to first-time visitors, urging them to join his growing congregation and reclaim Diamond Lake under the banner of community and strong values.
A secondary acolyte, the scrupulous Hameneezer, manages the day-to-day affairs of the church facility and can nearly always be found within. After religious ceremonies, Hameneezer often soaks the congregation’s congealing blood into rags, which are later sold as holy relics of the faith. Hameneezer and an assortment of acolytes also offer healing potions and ritual casting services to the general public at inflated rates. Members of the flock receive these boons for standard prices, so Cuthbert’s faithful constantly drone on about the value of regularly attending church services.
The church sells healing potions. Hameneezer can brew any potion for any applicable cleric spells up to 3rd level (750 gp value). He can send away for items above this level.
St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel is the god of wisdom, honesty, and discipline. He may have once been a mortal man as his worshipers claim, but if so it was a long time ago and from an unknown people. He opposes chaos and evil sternly, with no backsliding or compromise permitted. His portfolio is common sense, wisdom, zeal, truth, and discipline.
The Church of St. Cuthbert teaches new clerics with specially recruited mentors that have drill-sergeant attitudes and stern demeanors. Day and night clerics pray, train, and fight, until they can recite entire books of St. Cuthbert’s scripture from memory.
The great enmity between Iuz and St. Cuthbert adds to his appeal amongst the many folk living with the threat of Iuz to the north. Under the fiery leadership of Jierian Wierus, the Church of St. Cuthbert in Diamond Lake has grown to over 150 strong, making it the largest congregation in Diamond Lake. Many claim that the flagellants seem to follow Wierus as much as they do St. Cuthbert, and it is only because the charismatic firebrand somehow keeps his followers from breaking the law that his sect has been allowed to thrive.
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