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DM Frayne
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Karma: 13 |  | Deities
« Thread Started on Dec 29, 2005, 6:57pm » | |
LUMINAR
Names: Luminar or Gloriola (Classical), Halos or Phoebus (Alkuon), Solar (Popular), Sol (Palean)
Influence: Goodness, the sun, light, day, heaven, dawn, artificial light sources, lampwrights, candle-makers, mirrors etc.
Morality: Lawful Good, Neutral Good or Lawful Neutral
Dominant Gender: Male
Sacred Days: Summer & Winter Solstice
Adornment: Cruciform Pendant
Colours: White, Gold and Scarlet
Materials: Gold, silver, chalcedony, carnelian, topaz, sunstone and amber
Sacrifice/Act: Holy Communion (weekly)
Symbols & Devices: The Tailed Cross, Oriflamme, Phoenix and Roses.
Worshippers' Names:
Masculine Examples - Abner, Agnes, Ambrose, Angelo, Eusebius, Gustavus, Justin, Lucius, Santo.
Feminine Examples - Ambrosine, Aurora, Celeste, Danica, Eleanor, Leoma, Levana, Levina, Lucy, Phoebe, Roxana, Seraphina.
Luminar is considered the one true god in the part of Sphera and sits in direct opposition to Ebon. Beyond the promotion of virtuous living and destruction/conversion of all things evil, the church has few specific aims. That said though, Luminarians do consider the abundance of light desirable and as such seek this; yet not to the extent of insisting light is provided for the needy when such still require food or clothes, for example.
The Luminar clergy are puritans that forswear all vices; they must not drink alcohol, smoke or eat excessively or needlessly expensive foods. Similarly, they cannot retain wealth or goods beyond what is needed to survive and go about their business, all remaining funds must be invested in the church, or distributed amongst the needful. Gambling, fornication, slothfulness, lying, ambition, envy, pride and such are all punishable to some degree. Crusaders are permitted to marry, whereas Angelists and Priests must remain celibate.
In addition Angelists, and to a lesser extent Crusaders, must exhibit the qualities of knighthood, their fealty being towards the church rather than any nobleman or prelate. Angelists are, if anything, even more zealous than the priesthood, probably because the latter generally delegate the worst quests to them for which absolute faith is nothing more than is necessary to keep sane, when confronted by the deeds of diabolical cults.
Fire is sacred to Luminarians, chiefly for its light giving qualities, yet also as a means of 'cleansing' evil. Witches and heretics are traditionally burnt at the stake by the Luminarian inquisitors.
The symbol of Luminar is a tailed cross, the same shape as a crucifix, yet not symbolising such. The Cross of Luminar is meant to represent rays of light emanating from a point, such as those of the sun when one squints at it. The longer lower line of the cross symbolises Luminar's influence on the world below and sending of his various offspring and prophets. Luminar has never appeared in humanoid form and his voice may have the sound of either gender. He only ever appears as a blinding light.
The Oriflamme (meaning 'gold-flame') is the military flag of the Luminarian faith. This consists of a golden tailed cross or phoenix displayed (belly front with outstretched wings) on blood red sanguine. It may only be carried by Angelists and very senior templars.
Luminar has an endless host of saints, seraphim, cherubim and lesser angels and it is such that deal with the worldly clergy on a day to day level, usually with several priests being assigned to each subordinate angel. The highest bishop does not commune with saints, let alone Luminar, with any regularity. The faith has countless spiritual servants, the majority of which are varieties of light elemental.
Mainly for the sake of continuity there is a Luminar religious festival corresponding to Christmas, although this occurs at the Winter Solstice, for this is more appropriate to the faith. It is permissible to refer to this as Christmas, as it also celebrates the birth of the principle Luminarian Messiah in the First Age, during the most pernicious, frigid and darkest of deadwinters. And coincidentally, it is also a time of giving. Similarly, this Messiah was burnt to death by heretics on the eve of the Summer Solstice, only to arise from the flames as the phoenix when the first rays of the dawn touched his ashes. Thus this date is a celebration of his sacrifice and almost immediate rebirth.
Sorcery is considered irreligious by the Luminarian faith. This is primarily simply distaste at seeing mortals wield preternatural powers that the faithful would contend belong exclusively in the hands of immortals, yet this is further strengthened by the fact that sorcerers are drawing upon the same source of power as are the gods (the mana). One could therefore argue that sorcerers are acting like minor gods in the material world, which is deeply disturbing to the faithful. It is further theorised that there is a finite amount of mana and that sorcerers not only deprive the heavens of their personal energy but also leech more from the world that might otherwise go to god. It is also widely believed - and not only by the religious - that personal magic is deeply corrupting, making its exponents an evil influence on the world.
Luminar churches are built to be places of light. As such they always have many windows, mirrors and some source of artificial illumination, whether magical or of ordinary origin (lanterns, candles, fires and suchlike), to ensure the place is lit through the night. Whereas almost all the solid surfaces, decoration and furnishing is pure white, or at least colourful, to increase reflection. Every chapel has a large sacred flame, lit by the focused rays of the sun.
Certain trades are held in high regard by the faith, including candle-makers, lamp-wrights, glass-blowers and indeed mirror-smiths and as such, a favoured follower who works in one of these trades will infrequently produce wares of an exceptional nature. Many of the relics associated with Luminar are such devices of illumination or mirrors with peculiar magical properties. Magical crystals, prisms, lenses, candles, incense, solaurum (sun-gold) arms and armour are all commonplace.
The Goddess Luna is the daughter of Luminar and the only other 'deity' recognised and encouraged by the faith. Her followers are active at night and it is often the case, in particularly beleaguered areas, that her followers will guard the Luminarian churches at night, while Luminarians will guard the shrines of Luna during the day.
CLERICS, FRIARS & NUNS of Luminar
Parish priests are only a minority of Luminarian ecclesiastics. The vast majority are monks, cloistered from the world in abbeys and priories, most often situated within certain settlements, especially those of religious significance, yet also sometimes located far from civilisation. Although initially tied to their monastery, friars are not discouraged from going on pilgrimages nor from becoming wandering preachers.
The only female Luminarian ecclesiastics are nuns who usually enter a convent at a pre-pubescent age, or at any rate while still virginal. Generally speaking they remain remote from the rest of society, only regularly interacting with those who seek succour at the convent or abbey. Nuns never have normal parish congregations, unless ultimately that of the convent interns, yet a few odd sisters have been known to strike out and live the life of a wandering preacher. The church frowns on such behaviour but would not seek to stop a determined and successful character.
There is a long tradition of hermitic Luminarians, monks that have not only spurned secular society yet also deprive themselves of companionship with their fellow brethren. Such recluses often seek out and guard holy places in the wilderness, such as sacred springs or the ruins of ancient churches. Whereas the building or renovation of a shrine (sometimes hewn from the solid rock) may be undertaken alone as an act of personal faith.
PALADINS
The Guardians of Luminar are called Paladins because, in the Old Kingdom, they were exclusively attached to the Mirror Palace, the magnificent residence of the Arch-Bishop. Nowadays they are also wielded by provincial bishops, who also generally have their own palaces in their cathedral or abbey grounds; hence the name has stuck. Luminarian Guardians are also known as 'Angelists'.
Angelists are closely associated with angels and may indeed become such on death, or at some time thereafter, if they have led a remarkably productive and virtuous life. Every Angelist chapter has its own guardian angel that the Angelists (and to a lesser extent the clergy and parishioners) share and revere. The more powerful angels may be further shared with other chapters that have similar causes, but generally speaking there is one per individual order of Angelists. As one might expect, chastity and the cult of chivalry are all bound into the adoration of the angelic being. Whilst always beautiful, Luminarian Angels may be male or female in aspect. This is however, largely irrelevant to the chaste love that exists between angel and paladin.
All Angelists are raised from infancy within the church, having been foundlings, orphans, the bastard offspring of disgraced nuns or clergy and suchlike. The churches have no shortage of such charges and given the opportunity to indoctrinate them from an early age, they are considered perfect Paladin material. Whereas regardless of lineage, their monastic upbringing gives them a classless, not to say spotless level of respectability.
Just as knights may be errant, all player Angelists are errant from their chapter. They are generally afforded the same respect as knights by secular and devout lords alike while also having the support of the white church in its entirety. Angelists are by inclination solitary and independent, they may adventure with others but may not hire servants; although if any charge wishes to freely assist the Paladin this is acceptable.
Angelists are somewhat notorious for taking mortification and penance to an extreme; whether through extended prayer, fasting, flagellation, hard labour, sleep deprivation, washing, purging by drinking gallons of holy water, exposing their nakedness to the elements, enforced solitude and so on.
Angelists are constrained by all the ideals of knighthood, though they are in most things more humble than proud. Additionally they cannot lie directly (although they may choose to remain silent) unless to avert some greater evil and nor can they refuse assistance and protection to any needful innocent. They must also grant mercy and forgiveness to anyone who asks for it and promises to turn from evil, although repeat offenders and those who are known to be diabolical will be subject to the full weight of the Paladin's justice. Angelists can only use sharp weaponry against 'evil' creatures and must do penance for accidentally spilling the blood of innocents.
Angelists are particularly paranoid about the activities of sorcerers and will often believe such are plotting against them without much in the way of evidence.
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DM Frayne
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Karma: 13 | | Re: Deities
« Reply #1 on Dec 29, 2005, 6:59pm » | |
LUNA
NAMES: Luna (Palean)
INFLUENCE: The Moon, Nature, Magnetism.
GENDER: Feminine
SACRED DAYS: Each of the 13 annual full moons. Solar Eclipses.
ADORNMENT: White Cowls & Wimples (women) or Silver Skullcaps (men)
COLOURS: White, Grey, Silver and Blue.
MATERIALS: Silver, Silflur (Fools' Silver), Mercury, Diamonds, Sapphires, Wolf Pelts
SACRIFICE/ACT: Luminarian Communion
SYMBOLS/DEVICES: Luminarian Crosses
WORSHIPPERS' NAMES: Masculine Examples – Artemis, Astarte, Ashtoreth. Feminine Examples – Chandra, Cynthia, Diana, Hecate, Lewanna, Lunetta, Neoma, Philomena, Phoebe, Selena,
Luna is best thought as an aspect of Luminar, rather than a goddess in her own right ((she is Luminar's 'Daughter', much like Jesus is referred to as the son of a Christian god)). She fulfils one of the messiah roles in the Luminarian faith, her avatar having purportedly visited this world on several occasions, typically whenever the religion has faltered in its struggle to overcome the Old Gods and has suffered particular oppression… and not, therefore, for some time. She is pictured as the chaste daughter of Luminar, childless mother to the world, to Nature and everything in it. Given these associations, she has often been used by the Church as an attractive alternative to various pagan gods when converting savages. Consequently it is not unusual to see old pagan shrines to nature or elemental gods that have been ‘converted’ for use as Lunarian shrines. The Empire was and is tolerant of this for the most part – which is partly why it has been so successful – but as the Luminarian faith has achieved absolute dominance such continuing displays of old beliefs are less welcome.
Luna has a particular association with wolves, which are seen as a sacred animal (embodying the savage and ferocious aspects of nature). They are ritualistically hunted by the faith and their parts used in various rituals and for adornment, yet whenever possible, Lunarians also prevents their needless carnage by others, doing what they can to dispel the myth that wolves are wantonly murderous. This fascination with and protection of the wolf sometimes leads to tensions with farmers that have lost livestock to them. Within the church there is also controversy in that the Lunarians have undertaken a study into Lycanthropy and have been found to harbour werewolves… suggesting that the disease, like the wolf, is not necessarily evil and that its victims might be ‘cured’. The rest of the Church – not to mention the Inquisition – regards this as utter madness and all Lunarians thusfar found to be involved in such heresies have gone to the stake.
While the greater majority of Luminarian celibates are men – the friars and monks of various orders – almost all women who take to the cloth enter Lunarian Convents. Most of the male ecclesiastics involved with this sect are senior clergy (monks/fighters), militant Champions of Luna (paladins or CoT) or ‘prophets’ (clerics) that have shown some particular bond to Luna.
Players are referred back to the ‘Concerning Luminar’ thread… most everything there also applies to any Lunarian Cleric.
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DM Frayne
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DM and BTP Creator
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Posts: 441
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Karma: 13 | | Re: Deities
« Reply #2 on Dec 29, 2005, 7:00pm » | |
A couple of Pagan gods favoured by the Caravana:
Raido
Influence: Travel, Adventure & Wagons/Vardo
Morality: True Neutral
Dominant Gender: Male
Sacred Days: 1st day of Spring (The Day of Setting Forth)
Colours: Green and Grey
Symbols & Devices: Rune (see feat or item icon), Wagon Wheels.
Bonus Spells: Expeditious Retreat (1), Haste (3), Freedom of Movement (4), Mass Haste (6).
Raido is the god of wanderlust, curiosity, exploration and dogged persistence in all things. His followers are preoccupied not only with travel but with the business of transportation, and therefore typically have knowledge of horses, carts, wagons... even boats and ships. Raido is the guide that will bring one safely to the end of a perilous journey.
Pertho
Influence: Fate, Secrets, 'Luck', Deception, Time & Fortune Telling
Morality: Chaotic Neutral
Dominant Gender: Female
Sacred Days: None
Colours: Black and White
Symbols & Devices: Rune (see feat or item icon), Dice, Crystals.
Pertho is the goddess of fortunes, good or bad, of chance and fate. Her followers know the power of secrets; notoriously secretive and deceptive, they obscure their intentions while seeking to learn those of others. The game of life is one of tempting fate, to make one's own destiny and to shape that of others.
In superstitious Caravana society the role of fortune teller falls always to the women. The seer not only sees, but through the act of revelation she shapes the fate of others. For as often as not, knowledge of a probable fate can make it more rather than less likely. Curiously enough, Caravana men never seek to know of their fate and the ultimate power (and deadly insult) the women have over their men is to offer an unwanted prediction.
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DM Frayne
Administrators
DM and BTP Creator
member is offline
Joined: Jun 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 441
Location: Darkest Surrey
Karma: 13 | | Re: Deities
« Reply #3 on Mar 7, 2006, 4:57pm » | |
Nereus
Names: Nereus or Undine (Alkuon), Laguz (Borean & Caravana).
Influence: Water, The Sea, Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls, Springs, Wells, Wetlands & Marshes; Rain, Mists and Rainbows; Fish, Fishing, Nets and Spears; Ships, Boats & Swimming; Healing, Insanity and the Unconscious mind.
Morality: Chaotic Neutral
Dominant Gender: Female
Sacred Days: Saturdays & 1st April
Gemstone: Pearls
Colours: Blue and Green
Symbols & Devices: Rune (see feat or sacred item icon).
Bonus Abilities: Healing spells are empowered.
Bonus Spells: Remove Fear (1), Calm Emotions (2), Neutralise Poison (3), Water Breathing (4), Remove Disease (5), Raise Dead (6), Greater Restoration (7), Mass Heal (8), Resurrection (9).
Nereus is a water goddess still worshipped among many primitive human peoples. Her person is preserved in the Luminarian faith through the masculinised figure of Colbert, patron saint of the sea and all mariners. It is not uncommon to see pagan symbols relating to Nereus in churches dedicated to Colbert.
The main role of Nereus in the pantheon of pagan deities is that of healer. Her waters wash away wounds and such impurities as disease and poison. Although not an 'evil' deity, she also has a wild, capricious and mysterious aspect, representing both the randomly destructive power of water and the hidden depths of the unconscious mind. Many of her shaman (who are as often male as female) are rather emotional, eccentric or even mad, but always demonstrate great empathy toward those troubled in mind.
Human sacrifice among worshippers of Nereus was formally and may yet be very common, the belief being that the waters must be appeased. This was most common where a body of water was particularly threatening (the sea) or the primary source of food.
An enduring taboo among all followers of Nereus is that they will only wash in running water. The practice of bathing followers (baptism) is widespread and predates its adoption by the Luminarian faith. Nereus also has some secondary associations with the moon, although these are not widely understood.
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