B7 Temple of St. Cuthbert "new"

The Church of St. Cuthbert in Verbobonc

The new Church of St. Cuthbert, now prominently positioned in the Business Quarter of Verbobonc, stands as a testament to the faith's growing influence and its strategic importance within the city. This new temple, larger and more magnificent than any other church in Verbobonc aside from the Cathedral of Trithereon, has been erected in the heart of the city's commercial hub, near the bustling market square and the waterfront docks, where trade and commerce thrive.

• Symbol of Faith and Power: The construction of a temple grander than any other church, aside from the Cathedral of Trithereon, is a bold declaration of St. Cuthbert's paramount importance in Verbobonc. It embodies the church's influence and the deity's guardianship over the city's inhabitants.
• Heart of the City: Its placement in the Business Quarter, adjacent to the market square and close to the waterfront docks, is strategic. It ensures the church's presence is deeply felt in the economic and social life of Verbobonc, symbolizing the intertwining of faith with daily commerce and livelihood.

Approaching the New Temple

Influence and Presence

The Church of St. Cuthbert's influence extends throughout Verbobonc, evidenced by its guardianships and the strategic placement of abbeys near key towns and within the city itself. The clergy's visible and active role in the community, from the bustling streets of the Business Quarter to the serene settings of their abbeys, reflects their commitment to the welfare of the faithful and the defense of the realm.

The building serves as:

• The principal urban stronghold of the Church.
• The central command of the Billets in Verbobonc City, coordinating joint patrols with the Vigil Wardens.
• Bishop Haufren’s principal seat and courtroom of conscience, where law, doctrine, and politics collide.

Services and Teachings

• Daily Worship: Services are held every morning at dawn and twice on Godsday, focusing on prayer, moral teachings, and communal sharing of simple foods.
• Guidance and Support: The Church offers guidance through St. Cuthbert's Holy Sayings, providing spiritual and practical advice to the faithful.

Community and Defense

The Church's abbeys serve not only as spiritual centers but also as strongholds during raids, showcasing the Church's role as a protector against external threats. Through its tireless efforts, the Church has solidified its position as the state-favored religion, gaining widespread support from the citizens of Verbobonc.

Historical Significance and Strategic Placement

The decision to construct this grand temple within the Business Quarter was no mere coincidence. Following the Elemental War, the worship of St. Cuthbert has seen an unprecedented surge, necessitating a larger space to accommodate the faithful and to assert the church's presence amidst the city's economic heart. This strategic location ensures the church remains at the center of daily life, influencing both the spiritual and commercial activities of the city.

Purpose & Role in the City

The Church of St. Cuthbert is officially recognized as the state church of the Viscounty and is now the strongest religious institution in Verbobonc.

From this temple, Bishop Haufren and his Stalwart Host:

• Provide daily worship at dawn and multiple Godsday services.
• Coordinate the eight abbey guardianships across the Viscounty (Verbobonc city, Rhynehurst, Taymouth, Hommlet, Osnabrolt, Lorien’s Point, Loren’s Ford, Ostverk).
• Support joint patrols of Billets and Vigil Wardens, ensuring both secular law and Cuthbertine doctrine are enforced on city streets.

The temple’s prominence surged after Emridy Meadows, when Cuthbertine clergy rallied support and provided sanctuary to the wounded and displaced, cementing their reputation as defenders of the Viscounty.

Internal Layout & Orders

Nave of the Billets – Order of Protection & Care
A broad side of the temple is effectively the Billets’ hall:

• Rows of stout pews and a plain altar emphasize practicality over opulence.
• Off this wing lie armories and dormitories for city Billets who accompany the Vigil Wardens.
• Here the faithful receive healing, blessings before patrol, and stern lectures on duty and discipline.

Chapeaux Transept – Mission & Evangelism
Another transept houses the Chapeaux:

• Maps and travel banners line the walls.
• A small chapel dedicated to Cuthbert’s wandering cudgellers serves as a launching point for missions to Hommlet, Kron Hills, and beyond.

Stars Choir & Archive – Doctrine & Inquisition
High behind the main altar, the choir loft and rear chambers belong primarily to the Stars:

• A scriptorium and record hall maintain church law, censures, and doctrinal rulings.
• Quiet, severe clerics keep watch for heresy, corruption, and doctrinal drift, reporting directly to Bishop Haufren.

Gardens & Cloisters
Enclosing the temple’s flanks, cloistered walks and gardens offer:

• Space for meditation and private confession.
• Small statues carved with Cuthbert’s famous maxims and “Holy Sayings,” encouraging common sense and honesty.

Bishop Haufren & Politics

Bishop Haufren, a 68-year-old, heavy-set cleric with a hard, unyielding gaze, is both Archbishop of St. Cuthbert in Verbobonc and one of the most influential men in the Viscounty.

• Veteran of Emridy Meadows, he personally saved Viscount Wilfrick’s life during an ambush in the Kron Hills and was knighted and decorated by Prince Thrommel.
• His counsel is highly valued at court, and he can recommend individuals for knighthood, giving the temple a direct hand in shaping Verbobonc’s elite.
• He is deeply concerned about the Free Alliance of the Kron Hills, viewing isolationist gnome politics as dangerous to the Church’s strength and the Viscounty’s unity.

Though fundamentally Lawful Good, his zeal and his old political break with Wilfrick over support for House Haxx have left him weary and somewhat withdrawn, but still a formidable force behind the altar.

The Cuthbertine Billets and Vigil's Wardens

Located in this vital economic quarter, the temple also houses the prime organizational center for the Cuthbertine Billets. This division is instrumental in supporting the Vigils Wardens' patrols, ensuring the safety and security of the faithful and the city's populace. The presence of the Billets underscores the church's commitment to protect and serve, aligning with St. Cuthbert's teachings of zeal, honesty, and discipline.

Motivation and Vision

The establishment of the new Temple of St. Cuthbert in the Business Quarter was driven by a vision to integrate the faith more deeply into the daily lives of Verbobonc's citizens. By situating the temple amidst the city's commercial and trade center, the church aims to:

• Influence Commerce with Morality: Embedding moral and ethical considerations into the bustling trade and commerce activities, encouraging fair dealings, and supporting the needy.
• Expand Outreach: Facilitate easier access for a broader audience, including merchants, travelers, and local citizens, to participate in services and seek spiritual guidance.
• Strengthen Community Bonds: Act as a focal point for community gatherings, celebrations, and festivals, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among the diverse population of Verbobonc.

Conclusion

The new location of the Church of St. Cuthbert in the Business Quarter of Verbobonc is a bold statement of the faith's enduring relevance and its pivotal role in shaping the city's spiritual and temporal affairs. As a beacon of wisdom, honesty, and discipline, it stands ready to guide the faithful and influence the city's future for generations to come.

Straining under the huge weight of their burden, a small gang of burly workmen carries an enormous log on their shoulders to a construction site just up the street. A broken crew wagon is visible down the street, where several more of the construction logs have spilled out onto the street, blocking traffic. Several angry pedestrians are tossing curses at the harried construction crew.

Adventure Hooks

• NSQ-02: St. Cuthbert’s Investigation Tie-In: The Bishop or a senior Billet assigns the party to quietly investigate suspected heresy or cult influence in the Business Quarter, using the temple as base of operations.
• Trial under the Cudgel: A major NPC (or PC ally) is accused of fraud or treason. The hearing will be held before Bishop Haufren in the temple choir, under a zone of truth. The party must gather evidence—or decide whether to subvert a trial overseen by divine law.
• Guardianship in Crisis: One of the outlying abbeys sends word of demonic incursions or Elemental cults. The temple looks for capable agents to ride out, investigate, and report back—potentially launching a full side-arc into Hommlet, Ostverk, or the Kron Hills.
• Cracks in the Alliance: With tensions rising between Verbobonc and the Free Alliance of the Kron Hills, Jimm’s manor (B6) and B7 become opposite poles of political gravity. The PCs may be drawn into attempts to reconcile Haufren’s hard-line stance with Jimm’s diplomacy—or to exploit the rift.

Use B7 New Temple of St. Cuthbert as the anchor of law and moral pressure in your Business Quarter chapter: a place where players seek healing, face judgment, negotiate under divine truth, and feel the full weight of the state church behind every cudgel carved in stone.