Hoar, also known as The Doombringer, is the vengeful deity of retribution invoked by those who sought to repay an eye for an eye. When a guilty party falls prey to fate (such as when a murderer is killed accidentally just after the murder is committed—for example, slipping to his death), the hand of Hoar is given credit.
Hoar has a more benign aspect in the North, where he is seen less as a god of vengeance and more as a god of poetic justice. Many bounty hunters and some assassins propitiate the Doombringer before commencing a hunt, the truly faithful among them seeking to capture their quarry in a suitably ironic style.
Hoar is also an exarch of Bane. He is a bitter deity, prone to mood swings and fits of violence. Ever since the Time of Troubles, the Doombringer was obsessed with plotting the downfall of Anhur, the Mulhorandi deity of war, and to a lesser extent, the rest of his pantheon.
Aside from a handful of temples, the church of Hoar is composed primarily of itinerant wanderers who travel from town to town agreeing to pray for Hoar's intercession on behalf of one who seeks or fears vengeance for some attack in exchange for a small fee. Charlatans receive a fitting punishment by Hoar's hand.
Hoar's clergy also seek out victims of injustice, hear their stories, evaluate the veracity of their accounts, and track down the perpetrators in order to inflict a fitting form of punishment. No injustice is too large or too small for revenge to be sought and a fitting punishment meted out. Actions of this type have caused most town watches and Tyrists to brand priests of the Doombringer as vigilantes, and has raised the stature of the priesthood to that of champion of the downtroddon and underdogs in the eyes of the common folk.
Many clerics of Hoar multiclass as assassins, fighters, or rogues.
Vestments
The clergy of Hoar wear their ceremonial garb whenever possible except when they wish to conceal their identity while stalking a perpetrator of some injustice. Their ceremonial raiment always includes a black tunic over a long gray robe, soft, black leather gloves, and a surreal mask that covers their faces when they are officially on a "hunt" for vengeance. Priests typically keep small tokens of their successes on silver-bordered, dark red sashes slung from their waists. They carry curved daggers, and sport the symbol of Hoar worked into a piece of jewelry as a holy symbol.
When adventuring, priests of the Doombringer wear whatever garb is best suited for the mission. Typically they garb themselves in leather armor when stealth is required, and the heaviest armor available when a frontal attack is anticipated. While they can wield any weapon, Hoarite priests must carry at least one blunt, one piercing, and one slashing weapon at all times. When injured (or anticipating injury) by an opponent, Hoarite priests are expected to use a weapon of the same type or at least the same damage type in response, as such attacks are more fitting in their impact. Those who deserve death should be finished off with their own weapons.
Temples
The few temples of Hoar found scattered throughout the Realms are plain, even severe, stone edifices. Most are built in high, hidden places where their inhabitants can secretly brood and plot vengeance against all who have slighted them.
Hierarchy
As could be expected, the clergy is splintered into a multitude of backstabbing factions with centuries-old hatreds and constantly shifting alliances. Commonly used titles vary from faction to faction, but in the Heartlands, priests of Hoar are known as (in ascending order): Eye of Irony, Hand of Doom, Fist of Vengeance, Claw of Revenge, Fateful Eye of Irony, Fateful Hand of Doom, Fateful Fist of Vengeance, and Fateful Claw of Revenge. Senior priests are known as Lords of Thunderous Vengeance.
Rituals
Clerics of Hoar pray for their spells at midnight, when the bells toll for those deserving of fitting justice. Clerics of Hoar are encouraged to celebrate the anniversary of the most fitting and sweetest act of revenge. Silent or thunderous praises (as appropriate) must be given to Hoar each and every time some form of vengeance is exacted.
The church of Hoar observes two official holy days. On the 11th of Eleint, the Penultimate Thunder is celebrated with feasts of game, bread, fruits, and mead, marking the defeat of the Untheric war god Ramman. On the 11th of Marpenoth, the Impending Doom is observed with daylong ceremonies of rumbling drums, vigorous oaths, and exhausting acts of purification. It celebrates justices yet to be meted out, revenges yet to be carried through with, and good deeds that call to the celebrants to be remembered.
Orders
The Hunters of Vengeance are an informal order of bounty hunters and vigilantes active throughout the Heartlands and the North. Few in number, their actions are spoken of with admiration and dread long after they have moved on.
The Fellowship of Poetic Justices is an order of bards and crusaders founded in the aftermath of the Time of Troubles. Dedicated to both Hoar and Tyr and supported by clergy from both faiths, members of the fellowship seek to spread tales of ironic justice throughout the Realms and achieve through words and deeds what violence often fails to accomplish.
Uphold true and fitting justice and maintain the spirit of law, not the letter of law. Fitting recompense will always accrue for one's actions. Violence will meet violence and evil pay back evil, but good will also come to those who do good. Walk the line of the Doombringer's teachings, seeking retribution, but do not fall into the trap of pursuing evil acts for evil's sake, for that way is seductive and leads only to one's downfall. Vengeance must be sought for all injustices, and all punishments must fit the crime. Revenge is sweetest when it is sharpened with irony. All attacks must be avenged. Those who do not respond to attacks against their person or that which they hold dear only invite future attacks.
Hoars eyes are jet black and he wears the garments of a noble or rich merchant, most often of Unthei, but sometimes of Chessenta. Alternatively, he appears tired and battered, sporting several poorly healed, serious cuts attributed to Ramman or Anhur, depending upon the time period. Hoar wields a massive broad sword, but wears no armor save for a pair of golden bracers. He also has a quiver of javelins on his back.
Additionally, Hoar commonly manifests as three deep rolls of thunder when a guilty party falls prety to a suitable, often ironic, fate.
Hoar is actually the ancient Untheric deity worshipped in the eastern Inner Sea lands as Assuran. Centuries ago, he was driven from Unther by Ramman, although his cult remained strong in Chessenta. He eventually slew his rival during the Time of Troubles, but Anhur stole Ramman's unclaimed portfolio before Hoar could act, earning Hoar's ire. Both Tyr and Shar contest for Hoar's tormented soul, as the Dark Goddess seeks to turn him into a servant of blind vengeance and bitterness while the Maimed God seeks to unlock Hoar's bittersweet humor and shift his portfolio to favor irony and poetic justice. Meanwhile, Hoar conspires with Beshaba in unleashing bad luck on the deserving.
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A coin with two heads, part of Hoar's symbol.
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A necklace featuring the coin of Hoar's symbol.
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A shield with Hoar's symbol.
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A red sash with a silver trim is used to mark kills. Sometimes tokens from their conquests hang from the sash.
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Another charm used to mark conquests.
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A wall etched with the symbol of Hoar.
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A rock with the symbol of Hoar etched on the surface.
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A crude sewn patch of Hoar's symbol.
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A tattoo of Hoar's symbol on someone's wrist.
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A tattoo of Hoar's symbol on someone's shoulder.
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A wall marked with the symbol of Hoar -- sometimes used to make a target's door.
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A crossed out symbol of Hoar designated that vengeance has been completed.
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Burlap sacks with the symbol of Hoar on the side.
