Sun Spirit (Intermediate God)
Sun, sometimes called Shakuru, is charged by the Great Spirit with casting warmth and light over the world. Aside from the Great Spirit himself, Sun is the most powerful of the dominant American Indian spirits.
Although he serves the Great Spirit’s will, he is not subordinate to the Great Spirit in any servile sense, for he is free to discharge his duty as he pleases.
On most days, Sun is clearly visible in his true form, a shimmering disc of light. He is said to walk from one side of the world to the other, spreading warmth and light over the land as he goes.
Sun has the power to create warmth and light wherever he can see, though he is often inconsistent in his use of this power.
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Unlike the Great Spirit, Sun is heavily involved in the affairs of men.
As he walks across the sky each day, he cannot help but see what the tribes are doing. When he is pleased with their actions, he shines down upon their lands brightly and keeps them warm.
When he is displeased, however, he does not show himself and the day is dim and chilly.
If angered, he shines down with great intensity, making men hot and tired and withering their plants.
Unfortunately, Sun has a mercurial disposition , so it is difficult to determine what will make him angry and what will not.
In addition, he is not one given to gentle messages. Often, the first sign of Sun’s anger may be a severe sunburn suffered during the dead of night, or sudden and severe heat exhaustion.
Sun rarely punishes fallen priests with death, however. If a priest offends him too deeply, Sun simply severs the spiritual connection which gave the medicine man his powers.
STATISTICS
- Alignment. Chaotic Neutral.
- Worshippers Alignment. Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral.
- Spheres of Influence. Light, Heat.
- Holy Symbol. Sun.
Clerics of the Sun Spirit
Medicine men devoted to Sun spend the majority of their time trying to appease their spirit . They are constantly sending messengers, in the form of powerful birds, to the Upper World with messages of supplication.
When Sun shines too brightly for too long, they must suffer endless hours of rigorous penance in the hope of saving his anger. If Sun chooses not to shine, they must often spend days on end begging him to show himself.
One of the most important duties of a medicine man devoted to Sun is greeting him each morning. The surest way for a priest to incur Sun’s wrath is to sleep past dawn.
Another important ceremony is the Sun Dance held each spring. The medicine man must spend an entire week dancing. It is during this time that young warriors hoping for Sun’s favor must endure a test of pain to prove their worthiness.
In each tribe, the most experienced medicine man worshipping Sun is granted the power to call and command birds of prey, which serve as messengers to the Upper World.
Alignment Restriction. Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral.
Weapons Allowed. Long Bow, Short Bow, Hand Axe (or Tomahawk).
Armors Allowed. Non-metal armors.
Divine Domains. Life, Light, Twilight.
GRANTED POWERS
- Level 1. Control bird of prey (eagles, hawks, etc.) to send message to the Lawful and Good planes of existence.