Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel, also known simply as St. Cuthbert, is the god of retribution, common sense, wisdom, zeal, honesty, truth and discipline from the crystal sphere known as Greyspace.
"The words of St. Cuthbert are wise, practical and sensible. The Word of the Cudgel is law, and must be spread so that all may benefit from his wisdom. Weakness in faith and acting against the Saint's teachings are intolerable, especially in believers. Unceasing effort should be made to bring unbelievers into the fold. Honesty, truthfulness, practicality and reasonability are the highest of virtues."
- Doctrine of the Church of St. Cuthbert.
Overview
St. Cuthbert exacts revenge and just punishment on those who transgress against the law. Because evil-aligned individuals are more likely to flagrantly break the law, St. Cuthbert favors good over evil, though he himself is not good-aligned. St. Cuthbert teaches that honesty, truthfulness, practicality, and reasonability are the highest of virtues. Among his followers the Word of the Cudgel is law, and they take great pains to spread the Word far and wide so that all may benefit from the wisdom of St. Cuthbert.
Description
St. Cuthbert assumes many forms, typically appearing as a common yokel, a green-and-brown robed wanderer, an elderly, slender tinker (itinerant tin smith), or as a white haired, mustachioed man wearing platemail. He typically wears a crumpled hat, and will have, somewhere on his person, a ruby starburst set in platinum.
Possessions
St. Cuthbert possesses a billet of bronzewood which beguiles anybody it touches. He also possesses an artifact weapon known as the Mace of Cuthbert, which resembles a bronzewood cudgel.
Holy symbol
St. Cuthbert's holy symbol is a ruby-studded starburst on a platinum circle. Other symbols include a circle at the centre of a starburst of lines, a wooden billet or a crumpled hat.
Favored weapon
St. Cuthbert wields a bronzewood cudgel known as the Mace of Cuthbert.
Realm
In the Great Wheel cosmology, St. Cuthbert resides within the Basilica of Saint Cuthbert at the center of his realm, known as the Bastion of Law, which is located on Abellio, the first layer of the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia. The Basilica itself is defended by high walls manned by specially selected paladins. At the very center of the Basilica is St. Cuthberts throne, known as the Seat of Truth, which is sheltered by a canopy supported by four serpentine pillars, reputed to have been taken as trophies from the Nine Hells.
Worship
The priests of St. Cuthbert are stern and unforgiving, and speak their minds plainly. The do not suffer fools, and disapprove of those who are weak in faith. They train in the art of war, and keep themselves physically fit. Many serve as constables, detectives, judges and bounty hunters.
Temples of St. Cuthbert are invariably solid and imposing, and their entrance ways and facades are usually decorated with inscriptions and sayings attributed to St. Cuthbert. The priesthood of St. Cuthbert is divided into three orders: the Chapeaux, who seek to convert new recruits to the faith, the Stars, who ensure doctrinal purity among the faithful, and the Billets, who minister to, and protect, the faithful.
In Spelljammer
St. Cuthbert is a member of the Greyhawk pantheon and is native to Greyspace. The priests of St. Cuthbert lose access to higher level spells when they leave the atmosphere of Oerth, and lose all access to spells when they enter the Flow. They can only regain access to spells when they re-enter Greyspace. Due to these limitations, the worship of St. Cuthbert is not common within wildspace, although some of his priests, particularly the Stars, occasionally travel into space to spread "the true way" among the unbelievers, although these voyages rarely gain any converts. The more devout followers of St. Cuthbert generally disapprove of spelljamming, considering it in some way "profane".