HELM

Helm is also known as He of the Unsleeping Eyes, the Watcher, the Vigilant, the Vigilant One, the Great Guard and the God of Guardians. Before the Time of Troubles, Helm was well respected and widely worshiped in most areas of the North. Many large temple complexes stand in this area, situated near dangerous and evil strongholds as the first line of defense against evil men and creatures.

However, when the Time of Troubles arrived, Lord Ao commanded Helm to keep the other gods confined to Toril. As a result, Helm was the only god not stripped of immortal powers. The story is told of his encounter with Mystra, Goddess of Magic, who attempted to demand an audience with Ao. Helm, bound to the duties placed on him by Ao, was forced to destroy Mystra. The resulting backlash of magical forces horribly scared the land surrounding the encounter. All use of magic in this area is now impossible; the magical weave seemingly ripped away. These blasted areas of dead and wild magic in northern Cormyr are often referred to as "The Legacy of Helm" or "The Helmlands."

The worship of Helm has dropped drastically in the Northern areas, many blaming the role Helm played during the Time of Troubles as the root. However, in the South, Helm's following is strong and has, if anything, grown since that time. It is speculated that this is due to the fact that other gods created greater havoc in the South.

Under the capable leadership of Watcher Sade Sevowa, Lord-General Nivek and Lady Adsartha Firemane, the church has seen a resurgence of respectability in the North. Most recently, Sade Sevowa accepted title and responsibilities of Steeleye as the High Priestess of the faith. Lower ranked priests are commonly called Watchers or Godseyes, the latter being a derisive term commonly used behind their backs.

Helm's church sponsors several affiliated orders. Lord-General Nivek, a fighter of great skill, commands the lay members of the faith in battle. His wife, Lady Adsartha Firemane, a bard of no small repute, serves as the Knight Commander of the Everwatch Knights, a group of dedicated bodyguards hired out by the church to generate revenue. Priests have the option of joining the Watchers Over the Fallen, a small group of battlefield healers, under the direct command of Steeleye Sevowa. Sir Andreas serves as the High Knight of the Order of the Vigilant Eyes; the knightly order of Paladins dedicated to Helm's service.

The faith has a strict, military hierarchy in which every member knows their place. Those who were members before the Time of Troubles are often referred to as the Tested and True. After the Time of Troubles, the church established more universal titles of rank yet many members of the clergy retain older, personal or variant titles with the blessings of Helm.

Never betray your trust. He also stands to serve who waits and watches carefully. Careful planning always defeats rushed actions in the end. Be vigilant. Always obey the orders of your superiors and be fair and diligent in carrying them out. Protect the weak, the unpopular, the injured and the young. Do not sacrifice them for yourself or others. Know your enemies and be prepared to defend against them. Take good care of your weapons and armour. These are the guiding principles of Helm's faith. The church believes that through demonstrated excellence of vigilance and purity of loyalty, they can win back the rightful power of their god.

Helm's followers actively train so they will always be ready to answer the call to duty and know how to best defend against enemy attacks. Although Bane and Bhaal were destroyed during the Time of Troubles, Shar, Talos and Mask remain enemies of the God of Guardians. Allied closely with Torm, Helm and his faithful actively guard against those forces of evil.