Editing ALVATIA: Religion - Saint Rhys (section)

==Saint Rhys==

The cult of Saint Rhys is a recent one, preaching self-sufficiency and self-defence.  Rhys was a simple farmer who took up arms against tyranny, and after defeat of his enemies returned back to his farm.  Followers of Rhys teach a curious combination of philosophy and common sense.  They also practice hand-to-hand fighting, common arms (such as the club, staff, bow, or knife), and wilderness survival.

The cult of Saint Rhys is not particularly popular with the nobility, in spite of the stories of his return to the farm. They still hold that he had no right to bear arms against his lord, and deny his sainthood. There is not an out-and-out ban of services in his name, however, there are no churches or shrines in his name other then a remote monastery in the mountains calle St. Rhys Peace. There are very few priests of Saint Rhys, and teachers of his way support themselves in other professions and hold services in barns or other common halls, and are known as Rhysmen.

In spite of this discouragement, in many rural areas the followers Saint Rhys are on the rise, in particular in villages or towns dominated by the harsher discipline of [[ALVATIA:_Religion_-_Saint_Carmund|Saint Carmund]].

Also notable is that the order of Saint Rhys is a relatively egalitarian one in regards to women. It doesn't officially condone the training of women in the martial arts, however, in most places women are welcome to join martial practices and learn self-defence.