Rifkis
God of Peace and Just Battle
Intermediate God

Epithets: the Peacekeeper, Knight of the Silver Pegasus, the Grieving Warrior, Lord of Just Battle  
Alignment: Lawful good
Symbols: Long sword, silver pegasus
Colors: White, blue, and silver
Precious metal: Silver
Primary followers: Lay knights of good-aligned states, rangers, guardsmen, and warriors seeking combat in a just cause
Special mark: Silver trimmed helmets and blue capes worn by clerics and Knights

     The true form of this popular and respected deity is that of a tall, muscular human male in his youthful prime. His tightly curled hair is a brilliant golden blonde, and frames a handsome face bearing a hawkish nose, firm chin, and piercing sapphire blue eyes. While the demeanor of the deity is calm and relaxed, there exists an aura of strength and courage that cannot be resisted or ignored. The god’s favorite attire is a suit of mithril plate mail, flawlessly engraved and fitted by none other than Emberyl, goddess of artisans.

     Rifkis is one of the few Powers of the Minarran pantheon that has the companionship of a Servitor. His name is Jehnnah, a magnificent pegasus stallion whose fur and feathers appear to be made of the brightest silver!

     Many artistic renderings of Rifkis (especially in sculpture) give a curious and often misleading view of the god’s true nature. The Peacekeeper is often portrayed in the saddle of a beautifully barded Jehnnah, but here the resemblance to most equestrian statues ends. The god’s bare head is bent downward and his eyes are closed, as if the deity was exhausted, even despondent. Jehnnah’s reins are held loosely in his left hand, while the right clasps the rim of his silver helm, which lies in his lap. Jehnnah, on the other hand, is depicted with head held high, and with a proud and noble bearing to his stride.

     To the initiated, the contrast is merely symbolic, and not really a contrast at all. The bearing of the pegasus represents the honor, dignity, and drive of the Peacekeeper to do what is right, while the figure in the saddle represents Rifkis’s profound sadness at the bloodshed that must be done to preserve his ideals. Still, the image is still widely misread by the laity, who have dubbed Rifkis "The Grieving Warrior" because of it.

     The baldric of the Peacekeeper bears two long swords within silver scabbards, one at each side of the god. The blade at the deity’s right is Miésha, a mithril weapon that embodies the hopes and dreams of Rifkis for a peaceful and orderly society. It is the spirit of this weapon, so the faithful claim, that blesses the long swords presented to clerics and Knights upon their ordination. At the left hand of the god is Saryx, a blade of the blackest adamant and most unearthly edge. It is the spirit of this weapon that tempers the hearts of the faithful when called upon to defend the lives of the innocent.

     As already mentioned, Rifkis is the beloved son of Arzamark and Serenyi. The Third Book of the Astarith tells the tale of his conception and birth, an act of selfless love and calculated pragmatism in equal measure. The idea of raising a family was given to Rifkis’s parents through mortal example, an example so beautiful and noble that it could not possibly go without divine sanction and emulation. There was also the sad realization that truth and justice in the mortal world could be easily crushed without the arms and the will to defend them. The lessons were sometimes hard for the godling to learn, but in the end, Rifkis serenely reconciled himself to the wisdom and necessity of his position.

Avatars: Rifkis usually takes one of two forms. The first, his favorite, is that of a freelance lay warrior astride a pale gray warhorse. His armor is no heavier than chain mail (unless the nature of his visit demands otherwise), but is always of the finest quality. The second is that of a humble young cleric or Knight of his Order, in armor ranging from chain mail to plate mail, astride a white warhorse in fine leather barding. Only the twin long swords at the sides of the avatars could mark him as anything out of the ordinary.

     Unlike many avatars of the True Gods, those of Rifkis have no compunctions about being seen in public places, albeit incognito. Unless his purpose is a grim one, the manner of the avatar is gentle, soft-spoken, and polite. The good at heart seem drawn to the avatar, and children often flock unbidden about the god and his unflappable mount. Those of evil intent, however, instinctively know that this stranger is not of their ilk, and will avoid the avatar if possible. If posing as a mortal servant of his own Order, the avatar will obey his "superiors" for as long as it suits his needs.

     When Rifkis does reveal his true nature, the effect is stark and dramatic. Avatars have been known to inspire the staff of an entire temple for some worthy task, such as taking charge of a decimated garrison facing impossible odds or leading a desperate mass of refugees to safety. But Rifkis can also be subtle; more than once has the Peacekeeper opened the eyes of mortals to their own worth, concealing himself all the while until his chosen ones have set themselves willingly upon the path the god has revealed to them.

Mortal Servants: The servants of the Peacekeeper are a highly visible and typically welcome sight throughout Minarra. The vestments of Rifkis’s clerics are white, and clerics and Knights alike wear a knee-length cloak of deep blue. If girded for battle, servants of the Peacekeeper wear helms trimmed in silver. The holy symbols of the Order are fashioned from the purest silver; those of Graces and titled Knights members may be inlaid with small sapphires, while that of the Serenity is of mithril inlaid with a sapphire sword.

     In many societies throughout Minarra, the Order and civil authority have long since come to an "understanding". In exchange for their maintaining an apolitical stance (at least publicly), members of the Order are granted the authority to enforce civil laws. This arrangement leads many to view the Order as an instrument of worldly government as well as an instrument of divine will. Whenever possible, the Order will aid in the extradition of notorious criminals or assist in the negotiation of treaties, especially those of peace.

     These arrangements remain stable only where the spirit behind civil laws and the ideals of the Order are more or less harmonious. When they are not, the Order will either withdraw its support, or join with the worldly servants of Arzamark and Serenyi to affect change—by force, if necessary.

    Formal devotions to the Peacekeeper are held on New Years’ Eve and on the first day of each month. A special service may also be performed when the Order is about to engage in a pitched battle; in this instance, any lay warriors wishing to attend are welcome.

     One ancient ceremony, performed on the eve of the new year, stands out both in the church and in Minarran folklore: the khaz di’rohst, or the Dance of the Swords. Members of the Order, clad in light leather armor crafted for the occasion, are first paired off by age and rank. At the command of the senior priest, the ceremonial music begins: a stately number with a decidedly martial air. During the Dance, the pairs thrust and parry with their personal long swords in a carefully rehearsed series of maneuvers that have been drilled into the participants since childhood. But no matter how skilled or experienced the dancers, each will have suffered any number of minor nicks and cuts by the time the last note is sounded.

     These wounds are not truly of the body. In a deeper reality, they are the wounds inflicted upon the dancer’s soul in the course of his duties. Each dancer must then tell of how one such wound was suffered, so that it may begin to heal. When the last dancer has spoken, the blooded armor is set alight, and the flames of blue and silver bathe the dancers in a wondrous glow that salves their wounds and lightens their hearts. The Dance is a powerful and compelling ceremony, one that not even the Serenities of the Order can avoid; exceptions are made only for the injured, elderly, and infirm.

Philosophy/Tenets of Faith: The foremost ethical challenge faced by the Order has always been knowing when the peace must be broken in order to defend higher ideals and preserve life. Servants of the Peacekeeper must pursue any reasonable course to keep the peace, but once all options are exhausted, the Order must fight with fervor and resolve until justice and right prevail.

     This reluctance to draw blood also guides Rifkis’s servants in their capacity as law officers. Most criminals know that the Peacekeeper’s servants will not resort to undue force to apprehend them, and many will gladly surrender to a Knight of the Order rather than to the town guard or local sheriff; the Knight, at least, can be counted on not to kill or mistreat his charges.