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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:02 pm
RELIGION IN MISTWICKA BRIEF PRIMMER XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ TWO OF MANY OPTIONSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMistwick is vast and varied in its population. This includes both its races, nationalities, and religions. ButXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthe vast majorities of the city practice either Coreist (Core-ist), or Sphereists (Sphere-ist) practices. ThisXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXsection of the guild explains those two major sects. The other various religions of Zoama resembled severalXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEarth-style religions, ranging from Buddhism, Pagan practices, etc. Should you want your character to haveXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXa different religion than the two listed here feel free to talk it over with Static. (No religious beliefs are very,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXvery common as well, so don't fret about having to use this in character. It's just here to add onto the worldXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXyou're RPing in.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:07 pm
COREISTMAY THE MOTHER GUIDE YOU AND THE FATHER KEEP YOU SAFE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ Core beliefs and practices.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCoreists are the more modern version of Sphereists. Instead of worshiping several gods, they just worshipXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthe two. Mother Sun and Father Moon. While they acknowledge the same creation myth, they do notXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXacknowledge the children of the two deities as gods, they only view them as constellations. Instead ofXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXproviding gifts to the shrines or praying to the different gods for certain situations they simply follow teachingsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXof the two parental forces. The Mother represents honor, light and good will, The Father represents protection,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXdreams, and change. They also have various other things, but those are the most common associated whenXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXactually written down. There is a "bible" of teaching that many follow as far as morals go and they're the generalXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXteachings that any religion teaches, be good to others, help the needy, shun the wicked, etc.etc. They're alsoXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXone of the few religions to mark bad will and evil with an actual force or entity. They speak of a beast of darkXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXshadow and tainted aether that once ate the souls of the dead before it was sealed away by the two gods. ManyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXscholars have actually linked this is ancient texts of history that have been recovered.
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:16 pm
SPHEREISTTO THE MOTHER AND THE FATHER FOLLOW THEIR CHILDREN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ Core beliefs and practices.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSphereists(sphere-ists) follow the "original" religion of Zoama. While obviously not the first form of worship andXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXreligion, it's the first to have any sort of proper records and pantheon. Religions before this were mostly "Pagan"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXstyle religions with a veritable sea of gods and goddesses for people to pray to in various ways, but those wereXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXnever really recorded through anything more than oral traditions and rarely spread further than a settlement or two.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSphereist's core beliefs sit squarely within their Pantheon and their creation myth. Zoama was created and caredXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXfor by The Mother, viewed as the sun (nurturing sunlight, but also has a fierce and harmful side), The Father, viewedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXas the moon (ever watchful in the darkest of times), and their seven children. All their children have different shapesXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXand forms depending on the story, but all have a constellation linked to their most common forms.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMost Sphereists practice their religion by giving thanks to particular gods at certain times, leaving offers at the shrinesXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXin the city, and generally trying to keep to their teachings. Someone who worships Doth as a family deity will have differentXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXcore values than one who follows the teachings of Edoley.XXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ THE SEVEN CHILDRENXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOrdered from eldest to youngestXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ DOTH, god of warfare and battleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ LOLOPE, goddess of craftsmen and artisansXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ ALNA'OAM, twin goddesses of chastity and virtue, lust and loveXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ RADOVAIN, god/goddess of fortune, luck, and travelersXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ EDOLEY, goddess of oceans, rivers, sailors, and stormsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ HOTHERN, god of good harvest, wine, and celebrations
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:17 pm
DOTHTHE WHITE HOUND XXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ WAREFARE and BATTLEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDoth is the first child of the Pantheon. He is also the least human. Depicted as a white, emaciated dog, heXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXis traditionally known for leading the charges of ancient battles before the war. Doth was said to be the originXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXof battle. Legend says when the mortals were just babes in the basket they were peaceful and boring littleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthings in the eyes of the first child. So while the Sun and the Moon were both out of the sky, a rare twilight sky,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXhe planted a seed of hate in man's heart. He had hoped this would lead to excitement and battle. It only led toXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbloodshed and murders. The creators scolded their first born, his siblings already growing in the womb of stars,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXhe had to be a better example. So he went back to the mortals, parting the seas of war and instilling honor inXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthe hearts of men. If they were to fight, they would do so honorably. They would prove their worth, they wouldXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXnot kill for the thrill of it. With the approval of his parents back on his side, Doth grew to enjoy the company ofXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXmortals on the field. He led many a charge, picking and choosing the side, his favorites depending on the soldiers.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXIt was Doth that had the hardest time giving up his ties to men when the gods left for their court. He did not approveXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXof the War, there was no more honor in it. It wasn't defending anyone's homeland, it was fighting over petty things.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThere were no temples built for Doth. Instead it was tradition to make statues of him out of common metals,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXcarrying them on strings as a talisman, in pockets, and larger ones were often placed around tents on theXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbattlefields. The most famous bit of worship was the infamous "Crimson Shields." Yomer and War led theXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbattalion, never loosing a skirmish. They lost plenty of men over the years, but never the battle. They carriedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXcrimson shields with whitedogs painted on into battle.
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:18 pm
LOLOPETHE CRAFTSMAN'S MUSE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ CRAFTSMEN and ARTISANSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXLolope is considered the second child of the gods, but all her myths denote her as a being that simply appearedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXas the result of humanity's collective muse in a short golden age. The gods took the young muse into their court,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXgranting her godhood over the very people that had created her in the first place. Doth and Lolope are often shownXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXas having a long time on-again off-again romance, dancing between love and disinterest depending on what war DothXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXwas fighting at the time. She's often placed on plaques and banners to hang in workshops, prayed to when difficultXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXcrafts are to be made and praised when masterworks are completed.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWhile the background of her plaques and banners are often varied depending on the material, Lolope herself is dressedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXin a white toga, displaying her hands that are nearly black with soot from a forge. Sometimes she can be seen holdingXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXa hammer or a chisel.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:23 pm
ALNA 'OAMTHE TWO BECOME ONE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ CHASTITY and VIRTUE, LUST and DESIRE, FERTILITY and LOVEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXBorn after Lolope had been adopted into the fold, the first of Doth's actual siblings but the third in age. While twoXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXgoddesses were born, they are so often in each other's company that they've just become a single deity, just withXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXtwo bodies. Worship of Alna'Oam is very curious due to the split nature of the two goddesses. Alna is often seenXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXas representing the pure and untouched, chastity, virtue, etc.etc. Oam is the half that is more primal in her viewsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXof love, representing desire, passion, lust, etc.etc. Temples were set up for these two, often focusing on one of theXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXtwins. Alna temples would be similar to the priesthood we have in that they're swore off of carnal pleasures and theXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXlike. Oam temples are often the complete opposite, known for their enjoyment of those same desires. But the realXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXtrick to pleasing the twins to to worship them as they are, a single entity. Together they've come to represent love,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXfertility and acceptance. The stories of them together are often far more compelling than those when they are apart.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAlso curious is that, while depicted and spoken of in the female sense, their original creation myth has always referredXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXto them as genderless.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXShown as two women, one in silver the other in shimmering black, they often seem to be drifting or dancing around aXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXstar, mimicking their constellation, two identical women circling the "North Star." Made into jewelry, plaques, or evenXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXpainted onto banners and walls, this imagery is perhaps the most varied of style and placement.
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:26 pm
RADOVAINTHE TRICKSTER XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ FORTUNE, LUCK, TRAVELERS and TRICKSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRadovain is the most mysterious of the gods, not because he's dark and brooding, but because he can't seem toXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXkeep himself in one shape for long. Seen as both male and female, he proceeds over fortunes, travelers, luck andXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXis often associated with trickery. Most tales of Radovain involve him asking travelers to solve riddles or tricking hisXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXsiblings into terrible blunders. Despite all his trickery and his inability to keep to a certain form for very long beforeXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXgrowing bored and picking a new one, he's the only one of the gods to have a permanent love affair. Radovain is saidXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXto have fallen in love with a mortal woman, going so far as to chase her spirit through the aether when she died,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbringing her back into the stares to stay with him on his plane. It happened rather suddenly, he was out trickingXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXtravelers again and when he asked her to solve a riddle in exchange for a gold coin, she solved it easily and went onXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXher way, refusing his coin all the while. Time and time again they would meet on the same bridge as she walked fromXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXher home to the town, and every time she would refuse to play his game. Finally he fell at her feet, begging to know theXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXname of a woman so clever. Instead of her name she gave Radovain a riddle, "Once you solve it," she said, "you willXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXknow my name." For years he was stumped, simply waiting at the bridge for her at their usual time, enjoying nothingXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXmore than the mundane task of escorting her across and then back again when she returned. The story eventually endsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXwith the woman taking pity on a fooled god and giving him the answer in return for him not bothering the other travelers.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"Why would I bother others when I can happily enjoy the company of the cleverest one right here?" Other tales afterwardXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXalways include the woman at his side.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRadovain is often depicted as a traditional minstrel of sorts, the large silly hat and fool's curved slippers usually a constant.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHis gender changes back and forth and is often interchangeable. Sometimes shown holding a star, a symbol for his beloved,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXor flipping a coin. When flipping a coin the way the coin faces the viewer often tells if it's a sign of good luck or trickery. MostXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXtravelers carry pendants of Radovain to ward off bad luck when crossing great distances.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:29 pm
EDOLEYTHE OCEAN'S WRATH XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ OCEAN, RIVERS, and SAILORSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEdoley is a goddess with a legendary temper, literally. Sailors and fishermen tell tales of massive tempests and wavesXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthat have taken even the greatest of ships down whole to the watery depths. But they aren't all bad, Edoley can be merciful,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXguiding lost ships home to port. She is the most fickle of the court and it shows in her unpredictable tempers. Stories ofXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEdoley are often violent, but for different reasons than Doth. Instead of outright fighting in wars she'll take entire fleets ofXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXships into the depths should they cross her. Sailors have made it a habit to give a quick prayer to her before launching,XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXand dropping a few coins overboard in an offering of safe travel.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOften depicted as a mermaid, it's a common statue to have mounted to the front of a ship. But due to her dual nature she'sXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXalso shown as a vengeful sea serpent. Pirates will often mount a carving much like the maw of this serpent to their black ships.
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Signo Amisso Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:30 pm
HOTHERNA GOD OF GOOD SPIRITS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX❧ GOOD HARVEST, WINE, WOMEN, and MERRIMENT.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHothern would easily be considered the "good times" god. He is the youngest of the seven siblings and thus proceedsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXover smaller affairs like harvests and merriment. They couldn't have picked a better guy. Often shown as a round sort ofXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXman covered in rich gold and purple fabrics while he pours a pitcher of wine, much like our Aquarius pours water. WhenXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHothern was born he came into the world as a child would, curious and only wanting to touch and to laugh and to have fun.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHe never really grew out of that. Popular stories and myths of the god almost always involve drunken shenanigans, goodXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXparties, and the veritable laundry list of women he is said to have bed down with.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWorship of Hothern is very easy. If one is happy, if one celebrates a good harvest and revels in the things that make themXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXhappy, then they are making him proud. Many wine and spirit makers put a variation of Hothern onto their labels. There wereXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXno temples of Hothern, but shrines set in fields or farm houses and ale halls were common. A large marble carving still sits inXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXthe largest of Mistwick's farms, keeping guard over their wheat.
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