Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolios: music, mathematics, fertility, art
Races: human, elven
Animal Totem: mockingbird

Physical Description: Habrem is portrayed as a very tall and slender woman, with wild hair the color of autumn leaves in a mix of red and gold. Her long, slender fingers and toes are rarely far from an instrument of some sort, from guitterns to tamborines, and there is always the hint of a smile on her face. The painted sculpture of her in the Les Ventweh shows he wearing a satiny gown with a wide silk belt tied at her waist. It is said that songbirds travel from miles around just to perch on the sculpture and sing to the goddess.

History: During the Age of Peace after the Shaping Wars, there were a great many minstrels, actors, and artists that travelled the realms. Often thought of as little more than thieves or fools, they found plenty of work, but little respect. In the foothills of the Brel Hills, a bard by the name of Tomias found her Relic, and became the first Chosen of Habrem. Gifted with a wonderful voice, Tomias' word soon spread, uniting many of the others like him. A wave of Mikindim reared purists attempted to silence the Chosen, and found themselves entranced with him instead. Several musical guilds within the more larger cities decided that Tomias was too powerful, and his attempts to unite the various gypsies would endanger their income. An invisible civil war broke out throughout the midlands, and for close to a decade, the outcome was undecided. Finally emerging victorious, Tomias did as the guilds had feared, uniting all the artists, musicians, bards, minstrels, and performers in a new philosophy -- the Church of Habrem. Information flowed regarding once-secret works, and the quiet guerilla organization maintained its covert nature, trading plays and sheets of music like illicit drugs. Carefully organized rallies, demonstrations, and a new generation of free and gifted musicians, artists, and performers swept over the western lands. In the space of a generation, Habrem went from whispered rumor to delightful fact, and her followers received the respect they had so richly deserved. During the Storm Wars, Habrem suffered massive casualties, as her covert guerillas became spies and messengers for the Karatikan Alliance. In the aftermath of the war, the followers of Mikindim and several other gods and nations rewarded Habrem with a building inspired by the brave sacrifices of her artistic children. The Les Ventweh in Karmen stands on the sight of an older temple to a god that perished during the Storm Wars, and seemed fitting tribute to the goddess that had sacrificed so much for so many others. During the Inquisition, however, Habrem's travelling followers helped to smuggled mages and wizards west, while at the same time other sects within her church became fearsome Seekers.

Relic: Habrem's Relic is stored in a vault deep beneath the Les Ventweh in Karmen. Accessible only to the Chosen of Habrem and her Disciples, it has lain in the sarcophagus of Tomias since construction of the temple was completed just three years after the Storm Wars.

Church: The Church of Habrem is loosely organized, with only two permanent temples -- the Les Ventweh in Karmen, and the Les Rushal in Buktal. The Les Ventweh acts as a specialized university and guild for musicians and singers, while the Les Rushal acts as a college for actors and performers. The Chosen resides at either Les Ventweh or Les Rushal, depending on her own background in the arts. Various Disciples also reside in both temples, teaching students, and maintaing sway over the other teachers. The majority of Habrem's followers are highly mobile, travelling all over the land. Her priests are both entertainers and teachers, as well as specialists in fertility and pleasure. While welcomed and favored by both the rich and the poor, the more conservative elements of most cities have an open disdain for the Church of Habrem because of its association with sex and fornication. While most of the rumors are unfounded and false, a kernel of truth remains -- much to the chagrin of the other High Priests. However, the followers of Habrem are also, for the most part, gifted mathematicians, and often find secondary positions as money-lenders and accountants when the pickings are slim for performances. The division of the church into two distinct sects -- one to protect mages, and one to hunt them down, has marred the hierarchy for several centuries. Each has its Disciples, though the Chosen rarely takes sides, and the sects maneuver politically and covertly through the systems, attempting to gain the upper hand. The division has come to blows, but never has come to real bloodshed because of the overall unity of the church behind its music, and the Chosen.

Clerics: The clerics of Habrem are men and women who took to the streets and back roads to keep them safe for all minstrels. Excellent musicians and performers themselves, they also earn their way passing themselves off as the very people they protect. Their music is often appreciated, and their mathematical finesse allows them privy information that others would prefer not to get out. The Ariaso sect of the church helps to protect the mage-gifted bards and songmage followers of Habrem, while the Meiatanyo sect acts as Seekers attempting to ferret them out from among the ranks of Habrem's flock.

Crusaders: The majority of Habrem's crusaders are musically inclined fanatics, belonging to the Meiatanyo sect that seeks to find mages. Efficient and collected, they carefully tail or confront the gypsies they consider to harbor wizards; however, they are cautious as well, understanding that their bold moves might alienate them from the very people they are supposed to protect. Those crusaders that are of the Ariaso sect have the reverse challenge -- of protecting the songmages and wizards.

Specialty priests: Habrem's most devout followers have spent a lifetime in the arts of music, developing a range of instruments and vocal fonts. They also have a gift for mathematics, which forms the basis for the written language of music used on Gaeleth (a sample of which is shown on the pennon of Habrem). These priests have developed a Dexterity of at least 10, as well as an Intelligence of 11, Wisdom of 12, and Charisma of 13. They have major access to the spheres of All, Charm, Creation, Healing, Summoning, and Protection. Because of their intense focus in the musical divinity, they have only minor access to the spheres of Combat, Divination, Guardian, and Necromantic. Habrem grants her favored followers considerable abilities in exchange for their love and devotion: 1) all nonweapon proficiencies dealing with music, performing arts, or acting are free to them, and they may choose as many or as few as they please at no cost, 2) they are immune to enchantments and charms, the songs of sirens, and all sound or musical-based special attacks, and 3) they can invoke one additional spell per level of their maximum spell level, by singing, playing, or performing for it, based off of the free nonweapon proficiencies chosen above. These priests' most dangerous weapon is their performance, but when the situation calls for it, they can wear light armor and defend themselves with gypsy weapons such as shortbows, shortswords, and daggers (basically light, small weapons made for speed).

Bards: The bards of Habrem have a unique ability -- the ability to learn either mage spells or priest spells, depending on which sect they belong to. The spheres of access for the members of the Meiatanyo sect that is against wizardry, are All, Charm, Divination, Healing, Guardian, Protection, and Sun. The Ariaso sect of bards uses conventional wizardly magic, and has become rather adept at hiding its use, and hiding its wizards.

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