|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:14 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:39 pm
The Religion
In Terre d'Ange, the gods they follow bear different names and faces than those the rest of the savanna might be familiar with. It is possible, however, that they were one lifetime of gods known to the rest of the savanna...
D'Angelines worship Blessed Elua and his Companions, numbering nine total. Blessed Elua can be considered the supreme deity. He gave his followers only one precept: Love as Thou Wilt. This statement forms the basis of D'Angeline religion and society. (The scarves mentioned are made of dyed hide or fur. Cloth is generally tattered and reserved for the highest members of the clergy.)
Elua
The most important deity in the religion of the people of Terre d'Ange. It is believed he was conceived from the blood of a martyred child of the Highest Goddess and the tears of their mate in the womb of Earth. Elua was rejected by many in his travels, because of his strange ways.
Elua was captured in one pride, and eight of the Highest Goddess' servants--who became Elua's Companions--came to Earth to free him. Naamah went to the King of the pride and offered herself for one night in exchange for Elua's freedom. Each of the houses of the Night Court have their own explanation for Naamah's motives. Fearing Elua and his Companions, the King went back on his promise and put them on a raft after giving them strong fermented berries. The boat came to shore in another pride, far away. There, Naamah slept with strangers in exchange for kills so that Elua could eat. Eventually Elua and his Companions traveled to Terre d'Ange, before it was so called, where he was finally accepted. Elua and his Companions settled, and each Companion save Cassiel founded their own territory. Elua claimed no territory except the Clearing of Elua, which was the only place he ever lingered during his travels. Elua gave his precept as "Love as Thou Wilt," and he and his Companions lived with the populace, creating a pride of felines with divine bloodlines.
They caught the attention of the Highest Goddess, who sent her messenger to welcome Elua into heaven. Elua rejected her offer, taking Cassiel's obsidian dagger and slicing his paw. He informed the messenger that because heaven was bloodless and he was not, he would not go there. This led to the creation of the Terre-d'Ange-that-lies-beyond, where Elua and his Companions went and where D'Angelines believe they go after death.
Priests of Elua wear blue scarves. The temples to Elua are in ruins that have no roofs, only four pillars to mark the corners. Any kind of plants are allowed to grow in the temple undisturbed. Visitors are required to remove all leg-wear in the temple. Anemones and lilies are flowers associated with Elua and may be given in offering. Priests of Elua, along with priests of Naamah, perform D'Angeline marriages.
Cassiel
Cassiel, also called the Perfect Companion, is one of Elua's Companions. He chose to remain by Elua's side throughout Elua's travels and believed himself damned for it for abandoning the Highest Goddess. He took up the duty the Highest Goddess neglected when she was too busy grieving for her child to pay attention to Elua. It was his dagger that Elua borrowed when he confronted the Highest Goddess' messenger. He was the only one of the Companions who did not turn away from the Highest Goddess and disobey her laws, remaining celibate. It is said that he was the only one who looked back in sorrow when Elua and his Companions entered the Terre-d'Ange-that-lies-beyond. He claimed no territory in Terre d'Ange.
The Cassiline Brotherhood was founded in his name, in imitation of Cassiel's devotion to Elua. They serve as his priests, and he has no temples. Cassiel is not frequently prayed to.
Eisheth
Eisheth, one of Elua's Compaions, is known for giving creatures the healing arts, music and story. Many of the best healers and chirurgeons come from her province. She gave rise to Mendacants, or traveling storytellers. She founded the territory of Eisande in the south of Terre d'Ange. Her priests and priestesses wear sea-blue scarves. Healing offerings may be made in her temples.
Her symbol is two fish swimming in opposite directions. This is the arms of House Mereliot, the ruling house of Eisande. Because Eisheth was female, the head of House Mereliot is always female. She is called the Lady of Marsilikos.
Anael
He taught D'Angelines about growing crops and tracking the herds. He founded the province L'Agnace in the heartland of Terre d'Ange. His priests and priestesses wear brown scarves and a rope 'belt' around their middles.
Azza
He gave Terre d'Ange his knowledge of navigation. He founded the province Azzalle on the north coast of Terre d'Ange. Priests and priestesses of Azza wear saffron scarves and crimson cloaks fastened with bronze broaches. They also wear bronze masks so they might sublimate their individual pride before Azza's.
Kushiel
Kushiel served as the punisher for the Highest Goddess before he became one of Elua's Companions. He understood the pain and chastisement he gave his subjects was an act of love, and his subjects came to love him for it. When the sinners in his care were offered a chance to repent, they refused out of love for him. He chose to join Elua because he felt that Elua understood what he did. Kushiel founded the territory of Kusheth along the north coast of Terre d'Ange.
Kushiel's priests and priestesses wear bronze masks and black scarves, often painting over markings to conceal their identities. Temples are intimidating places where worshipers come for atonement. Atoners are typically struck before the altar by a priest and have their wounds cleansed with salt water. Mandrake House and Valerian House both have shrines to Kushiel as well as shrines to Naamah.
It is said Kushiel will mark a mortal as his own with a red mote in their eye. This is known as Kushiel's Dart. The chosen mortals are called anguissettes and take pleasure from pain. Their purpose is to provide a balance to the world. Prior to Phedre, there had not been an anguissette in living memory. It is said that a D'Angeline who kills an anguissette will be tormented in hell for a thousand years. If they are a Kusheline, it will be ten thousand years.
Naamah
Naamah is the deity of sexuality and one of Elua's Companions. She came to earth along with the other Companions when Elua was imprisoned in the far-off pride. Naamah offered herself to the King in exchange for Elua's freedom. Each house of the Night Court has a different interpretation of why she did this. She lay with strangers in another pride so Elua might eat. When they reached Terre d'Ange, she founded the province Namarre. There is a shrine dedicated to her there where the River Naamah rises from beneath the earth. All of her Servants make a pilgrimage there once in their lifetimes.
Her priests and priestesses wear scarlet scarves. Training as a priest or priestess requires one year of service where the acolyte is forbidden to turn anyone away who comes to him or her out of true longing. Naamah blesses the acolyte with desire for each patron. After this, they are free to take lovers and patrons as they wish.
The temple of Naamah in the Clearing of Elua is a small ruin of white marble, surrounded by gardens. Doves are sacred to Naamah and may be brought as offerings. They are released in the temple and fly out through an opening in the still-existent roof. The doves roosting on the temple grounds remain unharmed. Each house of the Night Court has its own shrine to Naamah.
Servants of Naamah engage in prostitution as a holy act. They may be a member of a house of the Night Court or they may work independently. They bear tattooed marques on their back. It is blasphemous for anyone to be forced into Naamah's Service or forced to take assignations. Initiation into Naamah's Service is performed by a priest of Naamah and involves annointing with oil, eating a small piece of honeycomb, eating fermented berries and releasing a dove.
She is known to have one mortal daughter named Mara. Mara's father was a man convicted of murder. She is believed to be the first anguissette.
Camael
Camael is known for being martial and founded Terre d'Ange's first armies. He founded the territory Camlach along the north east border of Terre d'Ange. His priests wear dark green scarves and carry long knives made of obsidian. His symbol is a flaming knife. This became the symbol of the province of Camlach.
Shemhazai
Shemhazai valued knowledge and taught D'Angelines their written language. He founded the province of Siovale located in the southwest of Terre d'Ange. His priests and priestesses wear gray scarves. His priests teach that "all knowledge is worth having".
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 3:25 am
The Priesthood
Priest(ess) of Elua: The priests of the pride's main god are a peaceful lot. They welcome all into their temples as friends, and will not turn away someone seeking aid. It isn't rare for an unwanted child or orphan to be left in the care of the priesthood of Elua.
Initiate of Elua: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of Elua's priesthood. They help with minor chores while learning, and are often unwanted children or orphans left with the priests.
Priest(ess) of Naamah: The priests of Naamah are often confused with the Servants of Naamah by outsiders. However, while Servants of Naamah seeks payment for their services...the priests seek to bring a sort of...divine grace to those who seek them out. They also help to teach enjoyment of life to others, and their counsel is invaluable when it comes to love.
Initiate of Naamah: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of Naamah. Juveniles help with simple chores while learning about the less physical aspects of love, and learning to enjoy life and the simple pleasures in it. Adolescents start learning about the more...physical aspects, and what it means to do things with Naamah's grace. At the end of adolescence is when their year of wandering begins, in which they are forbidden to turn away any who come to him or her out of true longing.
Priest(ess) of Anael: Anael's servants are another peaceful lot, tending to the trees and various wild-growing 'crops' of the pride. They also often collaborate with hunters on tracking herds, so that the pride never goes hungry.
Initiate of Anael: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood. They spend most of their time learning which plants are what, and how to husband the plants into growing strong and healthy. In adolescence, they start learning how to track herds as well.
Priest(ess) of Azza: The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of Azza: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Priest(ess) of Camael: The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of Camael: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Priest(ess) of Eisheth: The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of Eisheth: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Priest(ess) of Kushiel: The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of Kushiel: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Priest(ess) of Shemhazai: The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of Shemhazai: The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Cassiline Brotherhood
Cassiline Prefect: The head of the Cassiline Brotherhood.
Cassiline Brother: The adults of the Brotherhood.
Cassiline Trainee: The juves and adolescents of the Brotherhood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
