Tolvajok
Tolvajokism is a sect of believer in Amora. Tolvajokists are mostly those who pray to the Goddess of Shadows for assistance in concealing their priorities and practices.
Structure
Teacher, Rais, Abbot/Abbess, Monk, Novice
Culture
The Tolvajok worship Amora because they do most of their dealings in the shadows. Sunset is generally when they worship, as that is when shadows are the longest (and the most powerful). Tolvajok flood the streets in front of their temples starting with the most powerful of their order as the sun lowers in the sky. As the sun gets closer to the horizon, the lower-ranked members make their way out into the streets as the shadows get longer and their skills become easier to practice.
The members of the Tolvajok are magic users almost without exception. Common disciplines within the order include Twilight Domain Clerics, Echo Knight Fighters, and Arcane Trickster Rogues. Because their magic is most powerful when Amora is most powerful, worship is conducted after they have practiced their skills (following the completion of the sun's setting).
Though they excel in shadows and darkness, Tolvajok are not necessarily thieves. The Tolvajok order does contain a small number of thieves and pretenders, though Tolvajokists who are of this persuasion usually find their way to either the local thieves' guild or to a smaller sect of Tolvajokism known as the Nosiriths.
Public Agenda
Tolvajokists tend to keep their goals and agenda fairly well hidden. They do worship the Goddess of Shadows, after all. However, what the public does know about their operations is what they see in the street. Some of the order are militant and practice their fighting styles in the streets, while others are Clerics of Amora and will gladly heal small maladies of commoners as a way to increase their skills. It seems to a casual observer as though this order is similar to an adventuring party inasmuch as they try to become better-equipped to deal with the world, though they rarely stray beyond the walls of the city wherein they live.
To a more watchful eye, it may become apparent that the Tolvajokists could be preparing for some larger move. Nobody really knows what the purpose of this preparation could be — whether a religious conquest, a defense of their temple, or simple paranoia.
Assets
Each Tolvajokist branch has a temple that is large enough to host their entire order at one time. Typically, these buildings are relatively nondescript structures with enormous underground cellars where business is conducted. Walking into one, a casual observer would likely see the humble abode of a servant of Amora. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes obvious that there is some kind of misalignment of expectations as the room from the outside seems smaller than what the exterior would hint at.
Tolvajokist establishments also are typically equipped with the religious supplies and reliquaries of religious organizations. Candles, candelabras, incense, gold from offerings, and food in cellars are commonly found in temples of Tolvajokists.
History
Tolvajokism was established in 12434 in a small town in the Obsidian Fells known as Adaric. The nature of the Obsidian Fells led to the mining of obsidian and the building of structures out of the glassy rock. Smiths in the town soon learned that obsidian was a great substance for arrow and spear heads, and the most crafty of the smiths learned how to make functional armor out of it. Eventually, mages came along and donned the armor after enchanting it to help them avoid detection. The protection that this dark, shadowy armor offered the mages led them to seek the favor of a being that was tied closely to their cause, and Amora was identified as a fitting candidate. Entreaties were made for her assistance in continuing their process of learning arcane secrets without alerting the rest of Volorun, and Amora obliged.
Eventually, Tolvajokists expanded as their powers were witnessed widely. What was once a cult soon grew to enormous proportions and became a leading religious sect of Amora. As this happened, Tolvajokism moved out of the Obsidian Fells and spread throughout Volorun by way of Baybluff and Ukkhigil, eventually making its way to Yapmoor in the east and Palliholm in the west. Tolvajokism never seemed to expand past the Sea of Dreams, though the reason for that is unknown.
Currently, Tolvajokists have established temples in Palliholm, Tiburh, Braedebekkr, Baybluff, Ukkhigil, Yapmoor, and Helonde. Adaric still contains their largest temple, the only one that is an openly enormous aboveground structure. There also was a temple in Medua, though it was destroyed in the sacking of the city. Its inhabitants have not yet been found.
Granted Divine Powers
Twilight Shroud, Darkvision, Pass Without Trace (1/day w/o spell slot)
Varjus
Founding Date
Byrum, 7 Evissa 12434
Type
Religious, Sect
Subsidiary Organizations
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