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The Paladins of Arvoreen are a Halfling Order in Tethyr, known officially as the “Arvoreen Marchers” but also as Halfling Defenders, officially recognized by the Crown; a small but highly regarded order, Arvoreen’s Marchers are respected by humans and halflings alike.
Arvoreen is the Halfling God of War, whose portfolio includes Defense (Protection), Good, Duty (Law), and vigilance; his is a “Power of stern defense and aggressive watchfulness, who is always preparing for incursions into (H)alfling lands and making ready to repulse hostile creatures at the first sign of trouble.” His primary worshippers are Halfling soldiers and warriors including battle clerics and paladin-rogues, who specialize in all matters of defense.
Arvoreen's dogma is best captured by the phrase: “The Best Offense is a Strong Defense,” and is as follows:
“Keep the community's burrows secure, and always be prepared for threats and attacks. Prepare an active defense, drill continuously, and leave nothing to chance. Put down danger before it even rears its head. Seek out allies, no matter how unorthodox. Those who give aid against a mutual foe are friends to be rewarded and trusted. Stealing from other halflings and allies is never acceptable, but thieving is not necessarily dishonorable, as long as it is employed against enemies to better the odds in combat later.”
The Arvoreen Marchers adhere to this dogma in a manner befitting the Code of Heironeous (see,
Click Here (“Paladin Code”), being also another paladin order with whose deity Arvoreen is closely allied such that, even although Arvoreen’s Marchers are a bit unorthodox as compared to most, the two paladin orders share a common bond. Accordingly, Arvoreen's Defenders are protectors of halfling communities, “constructing defensive barriers, signaling systems, beacons, and traps, and reviewing defenses already in place . . . (Whereas m)any clerics organize the local militia, procure weapons for volunteers, and train every able-bodied halfling in the use of weapons and other defense strategies or at least in how to best seek safety, … Arvoreen's Marshals regularly adventure to gain magical weapons and defensive items of all kinds.”
Arvoreen is an intermediate deity but a major Power in the Halfling Universe, being a child of (and subservient only to) Yondalla, the “Blessed One.” Yondalla is a major deity throughout all of Faerun for she is the Creator of the Halfling race and thus the Matriarch, Provider, and Ultimate Protector of all Halflings and their good-aligned/good-natured allies, being herself aligned closely with Corellon, Moradin, Tyr, Torm, Helm and Chanteau. Like Yondalla, Arvoreen smiles on followers who aid and protect those in need. He is likewise a LG deity, his favored weapon being “Aegisheart” (shortsword) and his symbol that of two crossed shortswords.
Source: This information is excerpted and adapted from:
http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Arvoreen
