Meckelorn Tenders
The Meckelorn Tenders is the only priesthood in the land of Meckelorn not dominated politically and numerically by it's dwarven members. Dwarves only make up a plurality, not a majority of the total members.
Structure
The Meckelorn Tenders are fairly decentralized without a formal hierarchy.
Having many years of service, wielding theurgy, or being able to mediate disputes is respected but it doesn't necessarily lead to possessing rank.
Meckelorn worship rituals usually have between five and fifty participants, making elaborate chains of command and organization unnecessary.
Culture
Influenced by the Meckelorn exile's hardship and the large number of kalazotz members, the Meckelorn Tenders are among the least materialist factions in Meckelorn. Their temples, vestments, holy symbols, and ritual tools are very spartan and they have very few written holy texts.
They Meckelorn Tenders rely on oral tradition, chanting, singing, and sometimes simple choreographed processions.
Clerical celibacy is respected but uncommon. A majority of priests and priestesses marry and have children. Sleeping around wantonly and not raising a family is frowned upon.
Public Agenda
To honor and revere Mera in the land of Meckelorn.
History
The Meckelorn Tenders have an ancient history, but they have had to change and adapt their ways many times over the centuries.
The Meckelorn Tender tradition extends all the way back to the Second Age. The earliest dwarf Tenders followed elven Walchese traditions.
After the Second Unmaking, the few surviving dwarf Tenders had to reconstruct many of their traditions and rituals almost from scratch. Meckelorn was very isolationist in the Red Era and the Meckelorn Tenders mostly followed suit. They were most open to outsiders than average dwarves but not by much. Meckelorn Tenders took an extreme version of "Good fences make good neighbors" embracing respectful isolationism as the best path to Mera's harmony and peace between peoples.
Eventually, Meckelorn gnomes who were Tenders reestablished contact with other gnomes who Tenders in human and elven lands but it was a very slow and gradual process.
Not every Tender believed peaceful isolationism was the best way to serve Mera and in general, isolationist leaning Tenders went to Meckelorn and more inclusionary Tenders went to Stahlheim.
When Mordock the Destroyer pushed the Meckelorn dwarves into exile, the Meckelorn Tenders were forced to adapt again.
For most of the Second Age, while the dwarf Tenders put a dwarven spin on Walchese traditions, they maintained reciprocal political ties with various Walchese temples in Elven lands and even exchanged fosterlings for cross-training.
2nd Age Meckelorn Coat of Arms, simplified by Me
Stahlheim Coat of Arms, simplified by Me
The land of Stahlheim started as a colony of Meckelorn became an independent nation. Even before the Dwarf Kingdom of Stahlheim became a thing, dwarf (and gnome) Tenders in Meckelorn and Tenders in Stahlheim became increasingly distinct from each other.
They dropped their last vestiges of ancient Walchese traditions in favor of wartime pragmatism and a need to travel light (so no more ornate temples or fancy clerical regalia). They also became less formal and inadvertantly picked up a lot of Terrawan traditions without meaning to simple because in exile they had to live closer lives to lay people.
Meckelorn Coat of Arms, simplified by Me
Comissioned Kalazotz Art (smaller version) by Diana Rahfoth
The Meckelorn Tenders were among the first dwarves to advance the new alliance with the kalazotz who lean heavily towards Mera worship.
The original Meckelorn Tenders and the Tenders among dwarf influenced kalazotz quickly opted to merge into one group and both groups assimilated a great many practices of the other creating a group of Tenders like no other in Scarterra.
Demography and Population
Military
The Meckelorn Tenders love peace, but they are not pacifists. The Meckelorn exile taught them that defending one's family and community often requires a sharp blade.
Many Meckelorn Tenders have basic fighting skills and a not insignificant number of them have exceptional fighting skills, often backed by theurgy. All that said, the Meckelorn Tenders are too decentralized in order to have a standing miliary unit or a militant order.
Since Tender holy warriors are often healers and warriors, they are extremely valuable assets to any military organization, so Meckelorn military leaders are happy to accomodate their religious needs in order to secure their loyalty.
Most Mera-aligned warriors in Meckelorn are members of at least two organizations rather than existing solely as Tenders. There are Meckelorn Tenders in the Maiden Guard. There are Meckelorn Tenders in various clan militias and the main Meckelorn army. A few are even attaches to the Guardians. A few have informal partnerships with Lantern warriors.
by me with Hero Forge
lighting the warmest hearths at the coldest times.
Meckelorn Tenders on the Others
Greystone Clan: They take us for granted, but that won't stop us from serving Meckelorn society. Redshaft Clan: They can be conscending and overbearing sometimes, but they mean well. Red Scales Clan: A friendly and wise clan. A fair number of our priests and priestesses come from their clan and their kalazotz allies. Heart's Fire dwarf clan: They don't just take our contributions for granted, they barely mask their disdain for us. Dragonbane Clan: They pretty much only pay attention to us on Hearth Day, but we shouldn't read into that too much. They give all the of the Nine one day a year. Order of the Stone: They embody the best in Hallisan's ideals and are paragons of honor and virtue, but I'm not sure they should be hoarding to the Great Stone to themselves. The Sóleið,: We understand each other. We are both vital to Meckelorn though we are commonly overlooked by those in power. Dwarven Masks of Phidas: If I cannot say anything nice, one shouldn't say anything at all. Rangers: I value the service they provide to society but I fear for their well being since they are separated from their family hearths for most of the year. Maiden Guard: They guard the physical hearth, we guide the spiritual hearth. Armorers Guild of Meckelorn: A necessary evil. Kalazotz: A critical bulwark of our order and Meckelorn as a whole. Stahlheim: The Stahlheim Tenders have different practices than us, but we are children of the same divine mother. Mondert: Kindred spirits from far away. Kantoca: They seem like reasonable humans but we don't have much reason to interact with them. Borderlanders: You have to judge them as individuals not as a group. They make up the best and worst humans in Scarterra. Fumayans: Honorable and grounded people. Swynfaredians: The Dragonbloods are not particularly good rulers, but the Swynfaredian commoners keep their hearths well lit. Codenya: I'd love the opportunity to meet some Codenya Tenders. Like us, they had to adapt Mera's values to unique circumstances. Uskalans: These poor humans languish under the boot heel of a literally inhuman monster. Orcs: I hope someday we can extend Mera's peace to all races on Scarterra. When this happens, the orcs will be the last group to sign on. Goblins: Pity them but do not trust them. Kobolds: Against all odds, we were able to forge a beautiful friendship with the kalazotz. There is potential to bring the kobolds in too.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Predecessor Organization
Gazetteer
The Meckelorn Tenders basically are confined to land of Meckelorn but they have some limited influence the Barony of Bats and the Freistadt Republic.
Parent Organization
Deities
Location
Related Ethnicities
Comments