[Phonetic]
Basic Information
- Name: Clypeus
- Domain: Protection, Defense and Fortifications
- Title: The Shield of the Faithful, The Unyielding Bastion
- Alignment: Lawful Neutral
- Symbol: A great shield adorned with a central eye, ringed by fort walls
- Primary Worship Area: Military bastions, forts, and strongholds across Staterum, with particular prominence in Amyna.
Physical Description
- Appearance:
Clypeus appears as a towering figure clad in heavy, immaculately maintained armor that seems fused to his very being. His form is broad and solid, like a walking fortress, with every plate of his armor etched with intricate designs of walls, gates, and battlements. His presence emanates a palpable sense of immovability, as if the very earth would refuse to move beneath his feet.
The most iconic feature of Clypeus is the colossal tower shield he bears—an unbreakable slab of gleaming metal that stands as tall as he does. His face is rarely seen, often hidden behind a solid, expressionless helmet with a narrow, glowing slit where his eyes would be, emanating a soft silver light.
- Height: 233cm
- Weight: Unknown
- Distinguishing Features: His massive tower shield that radiates divine protection
Personality
- Traits: Stoic, resolute, unwaveringly loyal, disciplined, and honorable.
- Strengths: Possesses divine power over defense and protection, capable of creating near-impenetrable barriers and fortifications. His presence alone can inspire bravery and endurance in those he protects.
- Weaknesses: Clypeus struggles with stubborn pride and an inability to back down from provocation. Once challenged, he will hold his ground no matter the cost, even when retreat or flexibility might better serve the greater good.
- Goals and Motivations: Clypeus is singularly driven by the duty to shield and defend those weaker than himself. It matters not who threatens them—be it mortal, god, or vice—he will stand unflinchingly between the danger and those under his protection.
Relationships
Family:
- Sthenos: Father, Clypeus has long since eclipsed his father’s influence, earning a divine blessing directly from Statera herself. His relationship with Sthenos is complex—marked by a sense of respect tinged with pity, viewing his father as a relic of a time before true purpose was forged through action.
Rivals/Enemies:
- The Vices: Clypeus harbors deep and unwavering enmity toward all Vices, viewing them as the ultimate tormentors of mortal life and the antithesis of everything he stands for. His life’s mission is their total eradication.
- Trogs: He also holds a particular hatred for the Trogs, though such a foe is well beneath him, they have thus far avoid his wraith and remain a blight on Staterum.
Attitude towards Mortals: Clypeus is a vigilant and protective deity toward mortals. He sees himself as their shield and bulwark against the terrors of the world, caring little for their flaws so long as they stand behind him in need. He demands loyalty and courage in return for his protection, but he never abandons those who place their trust in his defense.
Mythology and Worship
- Creation Myth:
In the days when the Paleomyna Wall was first erected to protect against the Anteanus Peninsula, Sthenos crafted a mighty iron golem to lead the other golems, and to serve as the Wall’s eternal sentinel. Into this construct he placed his personal shield, imbued with his unshakable resilience, tasking the construct with a simple yet monumental command: defend at all costs
Yet, what was created as a mere guardian soon transcended its purpose. The golem, later known as Clypeus, demonstrated courage, judgment, and an unwavering spirit that surpassed even the expectations of its maker. It fought not with mechanical obedience, but with something far greater—will.
When the Age of Darkness (AoD) fell upon Staterum and demonic forces surged against Paleomyna Wall, it was Clypeus who stood resolute. Wave after wave of horrors assailed the fortress, but he held firm, his colossal shield a bastion against chaos. His heroism became legend, as tales spread of the golem who stood where no mortal could.
Moved by his valor, Statera herself descended upon the battlefield. In recognition of his unmatched defense and steadfast soul, she granted Clypeus divine ascension, raising him from construct to godhood. No longer bound solely to the Wall, Clypeus ventured into the wider world, taking up the eternal cause of protecting the innocent. It is said that thanks to Clypeus’ intervention, New Birania remained one of the few regions relatively untouched during the terrors of the Age of Darkness.
- Major Cults and Religious Practices: Worship of Clypeus is most concentrated within Amyna and Fort Logos. His followers are primarily soldiers, city guards, and professional mercenaries who dedicate themselves to the ideals of unwavering defense and sacrifice for the greater good. The Rift Watch are his most devoted adherents, stationed at key fortifications across the land. Their oaths bind them not to conquest, but to the protection of others—especially those who cannot protect themselves.
- Festivals: The most significant festival dedicated to Clypeus is The Day of the Last Wall, held annually at Paleomyna Wall. Soldiers and civilians alike gather to honor the defenders of the past and to renew their vows of vigilance. Ceremonies include mock defensive drills, shield blessings, and symbolic re-enactments of the legendary last stand of Clypeus during the Age of Darkness.
- Clergy and Temples: Temples dedicated to Clypeus are often practical fortifications themselves—designed as both places of worship and last refuges in times of siege. They are sparse in ornamentation but impeccable in construction, usually built from heavy stone with defensive bastions and watchtowers.
Significant Historical Impact
Major Plot Points in World History:
- During the early stages of the Age of Darkness, when demonic forces first poured into Staterum, it was Clypeus—then still a mere construct—who orchestrated the unbreakable defense of Paleomyna Wall during the Siege of Solway. For seventy days and nights without rest, he repelled wave after wave of horrors, refusing to let even a single breach occur.
- In the aftermath of the Age of Darkness, Clypeus came across an impressive warrior known as Parthos Calipus. Upon this warrior Clypeus bestowed his blessing, charging him and his bloodline with the sacred duty of protecting Siar’Morrin from the lingering threats of the dark. From this action the Rift Watch was born.
Artifacts:
- The Watchers Shield: This massive, almost immovable shield with an eye etched into its centre.
- +3 Shield
- You can’t be surprised while you are conscious.
- You gain a +5 bonus to initiative rolls.
- Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being hidden from you.
Quotes
”Stand firm, for in your steadfastness, others will find their hope.”
Cultural Reverence
To the Rift Watch, Clypeus is more than a divine protector — he is the spirit of their founding purpose. His legendary resolve in the face of overwhelming darkness during the Age of Darkness is seen as the spark that led to the creation of their order. They revere him not just for his physical might, but for his unwavering commitment to shielding those who could not shield themselves. Within their teachings, Clypeus represents the highest ideal: to be the shield that stands between innocence and annihilation. Every member of the Rift Watch swears their oaths with his name on their lips, vowing to embody his resilience and unyielding resolve in all they do.
The Soldiers of Paleomyna Wall
Among the soldiers who defend Paleomyna Wall, Clypeus is regarded almost as the Wall itself made divine. They see in him the embodiment of steadfastness, endurance, and sacrifice. To them, Clypeus is the immovable guardian who asks for no glory and seeks no reward — only the knowledge that those behind him remain safe. His story serves as a reminder of the oaths they took and the protection their sacrifices offer to the rest of Siar’Morrin.
Among the Elves, the name Clypeus is recognized but interpreted through a different lens. In their ancient tongue, “Clypeus” once referred to the divine protection afforded by Gahrian and Alache’s eternal vigil over the realms. Elven scholars believe that mortal traditions, prone to twisting and confusing ancient stories, have misunderstood and personified this old concept into a separate god. Nevertheless, they view the worship of Clypeus not as heresy, but as a natural extension of devotion to the Ancients. His ideals of defense, vigilance, and protection mirror the original purpose Gahrian and Alache once stood for, and so Clypeus is quietly honored among them as a reflection of the first guardians.