Difference between revisions of "Religions"

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==Religions==
==Introduction==
Gods are associated with emotions, feelings, and moods; they delight when people feel these emotions. Clerics and disciples of the gods are devoted to instilling those feelings and emotions in others.
Religions in Asmythe are not abstract as they are on Earth, but physical beings with demonstrable power, Elder Dragons, in eternal slumber whose dreams create reality. Asmythe also has real beings, Ilthura and outsiders, of immense power that appear to be gods.


By their nature the gods are ethereal and shapeless but they have taken, or been given, physical representation. These physical metaphors vary as greatly as the gods themselves; some are human or humanoid, some are animal, some are elemental, and most are a combination of each.
Religious practice in Asmythe is based on the power of self and the development of physical and mental discipline.  


Although gods are universal they tend to attract disciples of a particular race, nation, of disposition. The gods themselves aren't particular about race or nation but the races and nations are particular about their gods. Each nation usually gives patronage to one of the six families of god, the "cosmos". These cosmos are, in turn, aligned against each other.
Each of the Elder Dragons is associated with a set of emotions and manifest in the world through these emotions. Dragon Priests claim to gain power from the Elder Dragons when they experience these emotions.  


{| class="wikitable sortable"
The Elder Dragon manifestations are ethereal and shapeless; they have no physical form or ego of their own. Yet through the thoughts and actions of the Dragon Priests they have acquired physical appearances. These physical metaphors vary as greatly as the Elder Dragons themselves; some are human or humanoid, some are animal, some are elemental, and most are a combination of each. The priests don't agree if these manifestations are facets of the Elder Dragons themselves, or apparitions created by the minds of the priest attempting to understand the ineffable.
!Deity!!Alignment!!Influence
 
|-
Although Elder Dragons are universal they tend to attract disciples of a particular race, nation, of disposition. The Elder Dragons themselves aren't particular about race or nation but the races and nations are particular about their Elder Dragons. Each nation usually gives patronage to one of the six families of Dragon, the "cosmos". These cosmos are, in turn, aligned against each other.
|Acedia||NN||''Apathy'',Boredom,Depression,Indifference
|-
|Ankou||CN||''Despair'',Anguish,Dread
|-
|Arwenna||LG||''Awe'',Wonder
|-
|Erida||CE||''Hatred'',Loathing,Rage,Fear
|-
|Eros||CG||''Passion'',Arousal,Desire,Lust
|-
|G'Kar||LN||''Disappointment'',Annoyance,Frustration
|-
|Hotei||NG||''Happiness'',Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction
|-
|Hybris||LN||''Boldness'',Fearlessness,Pride
|-
|Irae||LE||''Contempt'',Disgust,Pity
|-
|Laetitia||CG||''Joy'',Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure
|-
|Lyssa||CN||''Panic'',Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry
|-
|Malu||LE||''Shame'',Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment
|-
|Nedolya||NE||''Sadness'',Sorrow,Suffering
|-
|Penthos||NE||''Grief'',Guilt,Misery
|-
|Rus'Ker||CE||''Terror'',Shock,Surprise,Horror
|-
|Sekhmet||NE||''Anger'',Angst,Hostility
|-
|Sirona||LG||''Love'',Affection,Hope
|-
|Vor||NG||''Curiosity'',Interest,Excitement
|-
|Zelos||NN||''Envy'',Jealousy,Shyness,Loneliness
|-
|}


==Cosmos==
==Cosmos==
The six families of gods, the Cosmos, are aligned in three oppositions. Gods and clerics of each cosmos are eternally fighting against the gods and clerics of the opposed cosmos. Only Acedia is neutral.
The six families of Elder Dragons, the Cosmos, are aligned in three oppositions. Elder Dragons and clerics of each cosmos are eternally in conflict with the Elder Dragons and clerics of the opposed cosmos. Only Acedia is neutral.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 98: Line 59:


===Health Cosmos===
===Health Cosmos===
The gods of the health cosmos are aligned to promote the health, welfare, and propagation of life.
Characters following this cosmos promote health, welfare, and propagation of life.


===Pain Cosmos===
===Pain Cosmos===
The gods of pain kill and destroy.
Characters following this cosmos inflict pain, kill, and destroy life.


===Selfless Cosmos===
===Selfless Cosmos===
The gods of selflessness are those of nature and learning.
Characters following this cosmos put nature and the happiness of others above their own. They help all people, even those they don't agree with and expect no reward for their actions. Followers of the selfless cosmos are often teachers, public servants, and such.


===Selfish Cosmos===
===Selfish Cosmos===
The goal of the selfish cosmos is personal gain and attainment, often at the expense of others.
Characters following this cosmos strive to become the best person they can, the richest, smartest, strongest, and most powerful. They will gladly help others, when the reward outweighs the effort.


===Fate Cosmos===
===Fate Cosmos===
The gods of fate believe in the togetherness of the universe, and that individuals have but a small part to play in the whole.
Characters following this cosmos believe in the one-ness of the universe, and that individuals have but a small part to play in the whole. There are no coincidences and nothing is random. Followers of the fate cosmos "go with the flow" and will actively support and encourage the natural flow of the world. "A river should not be stopped, but if a rock blocks the path then fate has chosen for it to change direction."


===Fanatic Cosmos===
===Fanatic Cosmos===
Fanatics are dedicated to a single purpose at the expense of all else and, usually, the prosecution of those not aligned to the purpose. The specific purpose varies greatly by god and cleric but is always something "greater" than the clerics themselves.
Characters following this cosmos are dedicated to a single purpose at the expense of all else and, usually, the prosecution of those not aligned to the purpose. The specific purpose will vary greatly by but is always something "greater" than the clerics themselves.  


==Descriptions==
==Elder Dragons==
The driving purpose of each god is to instill specific feelings and emotions in people. The gods gain power from these emotions and use that power to infuse their clerics with supernatural abilities.
The elder dragons are each infinitely powerful and also have a tendency toward specific aspects of thought and influence.


{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Dragon!!Alignment!!Influence!!Color
|-
|Acedia||NN||''Apathy'',Boredom,Depression,Indifference||Gray
|-
|Ankou||CN||''Despair'',Anguish,Dread||Teal
|-
|Arwenna||LG||''Awe'',Wonder||White
|-
|Erida||CE||''Hatred'',Loathing,Rage,Fear||Red
|-
|Eros||CG||''Passion'',Arousal,Desire,Lust||Pink
|-
|G'Kar||LN||''Disappointment'',Annoyance,Frustration||Lime
|-
|Hotei||NG||''Happiness'',Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction||Green
|-
|Hybris||LN||''Boldness'',Fearlessness,Pride||Orange
|-
|Irae||LE||''Contempt'',Disgust,Pity||Brown
|-
|Laetitia||CG||''Joy'',Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure||Yellow
|-
|Lyssa||CN||''Panic'',Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry||Violet
|-
|Malu||LE||''Shame'',Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment|Tan
|-
|Nedolya||NE||''Sadness'',Sorrow,Suffering||Blue
|-
|Penthos||NE||''Grief'',Guilt,Misery||Purple
|-
|Rus'Ker||CE||''Terror'',Shock,Surprise,Horror||Black
|-
|Sekhmet||NE||''Anger'',Angst,Hostility||Red
|-
|Sirona||LG||''Love'',Affection,Hope||Yellow
|-
|Vor||NG||''Curiosity'',Interest,Excitement||Silver
|-
|Zelos||NN||''Envy'',Jealousy,Shyness,Loneliness||Green
|-
|}


===Acedia===
===Acedia===
NN -- ''Apathy'',Boredom,Depression,Indifference
''Apathy'',Boredom,Depression,Indifference


Avatar
True Neutral,


Symbol
Symbol
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===Ankou===
===Ankou===
CN -- ''Despair'',Anguish,Dread
CN -- ''Despair'',Anguish,Dread
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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LG -- ''Awe'',Wonder
LG -- ''Awe'',Wonder


Avatar
Arwenna represents the manifestation of magic and the Forge and a connection to the other realms. She is the highest and most pure realization of knowledge and magical prowess.


Arwenna's symbol is a twelve-point star-burst in gold and silver.
Symbol -- Arwenna's symbol is a twelve-point star-burst in gold and silver.


===Erida===
===Erida===
CE -- ''Hatred'',Loathing,Rage,Fear
''Hatred'',Loathing,Rage,Fear
 
Avatar


Symbol
Chaotic Evil, Black, Darkness


===Eros===
===Eros===
CG -- ''Passion'',Arousal,Desire,Lust
CG -- ''Passion'',Arousal,Desire,Lust
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===G'Kar===
===G'Kar===
LN -- ''Disappointment'',Annoyance,Frustration
LN -- ''Disappointment'',Annoyance,Frustration
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Hotei===
===Hotei===
NG -- ''Happiness'',Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction
NG -- ''Happiness'',Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Hybris===
===Hybris===
LN -- ''Boldness'',Fearlessness,Pride
LN -- ''Boldness'',Fearlessness,Pride
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol


===Irae===
===Irae===
LE -- ''Contempt'',Disgust,Pity
''Contempt'',Disgust,Pity


Avatar
Lawful Evil, Blue, Lihtning


Symbol
Symbol
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===Laetitia===
===Laetitia===
CG -- ''Joy'',Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure
CG -- ''Joy'',Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Lyssa===
===Lyssa===
CN -- ''Panic'',Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry
CN -- ''Panic'',Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Malu===
===Malu===
LE -- ''Shame'',Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment
LE -- ''Shame'',Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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NE -- ''Sadness'',Sorrow,Suffering
NE -- ''Sadness'',Sorrow,Suffering


Avatar
Symbol --
 
Symbol


===Penthos===
===Penthos===
NE -- ''Grief'',Guilt,Loneliness,Misery
NE -- ''Grief'',Guilt,Loneliness,Misery
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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CE -- ''Terror'',Shock,Surprise,Horror
CE -- ''Terror'',Shock,Surprise,Horror


Avatar
Rus'Ker is often associated with death and dying, especially in a gruesome and unexpected way. Disciples of Rus'Ker also defile the dead and more than any other priests make use of undead minions.


Symbol
Symbol -- Rus'Ker's followers identify themselves with the image of a cracked skull painted red on a black background, the eyes are starbursts of pure white.


===Sekhmet===
===Sekhmet===
NE -- ''Anger'',Angst,Hostility
NE -- ''Anger'',Angst,Hostility
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Sirona===
===Sirona===
LG -- ''Love'',Affection,Hope
LG -- ''Love'',Affection,Hope
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Vor===
===Vor===
NG -- ''Curiosity'',Interest,Excitement
NG -- ''Curiosity'',Interest,Excitement
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol
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===Zelos===
===Zelos===
NN -- ''Envy'',Jealousy,Shyness
NN -- ''Envy'',Jealousy,Shyness
Avatar


Symbol
Symbol


==Eternals==
==Outsiders==
The gods are beings created directly from the unbound forge. The outer planes sprung once from the forge and the eternals are creatures of these planes.  Eternals are beings like Demons, Devils, Angels, Divines, Elementals, Fey, and Dragons who, although very powerful, usually can not bestow powers directly to their followers. Eternals empower their followers by teaching them how to access arcane and divine powers that already existed; in the rare case that an eternal can "lend" a power directly to a follower the power may be taken back or lost at the will of the eternal.
See also: [[Almanac#Cosmology|Cosmology]]
 
It is worth mentioning that not all creatures from other planes are eternals; just as not all creatures of Asmythe is dragon or fey so too does each plane have it's own ecosystem with only the strongest worthy of the title "eternal".
 
===Native Eternals===
Dragons and Fey are native to the realm of Asmythe.
 
===Celestials===
Eternals of the "upper" planes, the celestials are angels and other beings of light and goodness.
 
===Abyssals===
Abyssals are eternals of the "lower" planes; demons and other beings of darkness and evil.


===Elementals===
An outsider is any create from any plane other than Asmythe. Usually Dragon Priests don't have the power to summon outsiders, except from some conceptual planes. But since most outsiders are sentient they can be affected by dream magic.
All other eternals are collectively called "elementals" even when they are not strictly creatures of water, fire, shadow, tapioca, etc. The outer planes are infinite and the creatures of the planes doubly so.

Revision as of 19:09, 20 October 2021

Introduction

Religions in Asmythe are not abstract as they are on Earth, but physical beings with demonstrable power, Elder Dragons, in eternal slumber whose dreams create reality. Asmythe also has real beings, Ilthura and outsiders, of immense power that appear to be gods.

Religious practice in Asmythe is based on the power of self and the development of physical and mental discipline.

Each of the Elder Dragons is associated with a set of emotions and manifest in the world through these emotions. Dragon Priests claim to gain power from the Elder Dragons when they experience these emotions.

The Elder Dragon manifestations are ethereal and shapeless; they have no physical form or ego of their own. Yet through the thoughts and actions of the Dragon Priests they have acquired physical appearances. These physical metaphors vary as greatly as the Elder Dragons themselves; some are human or humanoid, some are animal, some are elemental, and most are a combination of each. The priests don't agree if these manifestations are facets of the Elder Dragons themselves, or apparitions created by the minds of the priest attempting to understand the ineffable.

Although Elder Dragons are universal they tend to attract disciples of a particular race, nation, of disposition. The Elder Dragons themselves aren't particular about race or nation but the races and nations are particular about their Elder Dragons. Each nation usually gives patronage to one of the six families of Dragon, the "cosmos". These cosmos are, in turn, aligned against each other.

Cosmos

The six families of Elder Dragons, the Cosmos, are aligned in three oppositions. Elder Dragons and clerics of each cosmos are eternally in conflict with the Elder Dragons and clerics of the opposed cosmos. Only Acedia is neutral.

Health vs. Pain
Health Cosmos Pain Cosmos
  • Eros
  • Hotei
  • Laetitia
  • Nedolya
  • Penthos
  • Rus'Ker
Selfless vs. Selfish
Selfless Cosmos Selfish Cosmos
  • Arwenna
  • Vor
  • Sirona
  • Malu
  • Zelos
  • Irae
Fate vs. Fanatic
Fate Cosmos Fanatic Cosmos
  • G'Kar
  • Ankou
  • Lyssa
  • Sekhmet
  • Erida
  • Hybris

Health Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos promote health, welfare, and propagation of life.

Pain Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos inflict pain, kill, and destroy life.

Selfless Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos put nature and the happiness of others above their own. They help all people, even those they don't agree with and expect no reward for their actions. Followers of the selfless cosmos are often teachers, public servants, and such.

Selfish Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos strive to become the best person they can, the richest, smartest, strongest, and most powerful. They will gladly help others, when the reward outweighs the effort.

Fate Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos believe in the one-ness of the universe, and that individuals have but a small part to play in the whole. There are no coincidences and nothing is random. Followers of the fate cosmos "go with the flow" and will actively support and encourage the natural flow of the world. "A river should not be stopped, but if a rock blocks the path then fate has chosen for it to change direction."

Fanatic Cosmos

Characters following this cosmos are dedicated to a single purpose at the expense of all else and, usually, the prosecution of those not aligned to the purpose. The specific purpose will vary greatly by but is always something "greater" than the clerics themselves.

Elder Dragons

The elder dragons are each infinitely powerful and also have a tendency toward specific aspects of thought and influence.

Dragon Alignment Influence Color
Acedia NN Apathy,Boredom,Depression,Indifference Gray
Ankou CN Despair,Anguish,Dread Teal
Arwenna LG Awe,Wonder White
Erida CE Hatred,Loathing,Rage,Fear Red
Eros CG Passion,Arousal,Desire,Lust Pink
G'Kar LN Disappointment,Annoyance,Frustration Lime
Hotei NG Happiness,Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction Green
Hybris LN Boldness,Fearlessness,Pride Orange
Irae LE Contempt,Disgust,Pity Brown
Laetitia CG Joy,Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure Yellow
Lyssa CN Panic,Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry Violet
Malu LE Tan
Nedolya NE Sadness,Sorrow,Suffering Blue
Penthos NE Grief,Guilt,Misery Purple
Rus'Ker CE Terror,Shock,Surprise,Horror Black
Sekhmet NE Anger,Angst,Hostility Red
Sirona LG Love,Affection,Hope Yellow
Vor NG Curiosity,Interest,Excitement Silver
Zelos NN Envy,Jealousy,Shyness,Loneliness Green

Acedia

Apathy,Boredom,Depression,Indifference

True Neutral,

Symbol

Ankou

CN -- Despair,Anguish,Dread

Symbol

Arwenna

LG -- Awe,Wonder

Arwenna represents the manifestation of magic and the Forge and a connection to the other realms. She is the highest and most pure realization of knowledge and magical prowess.

Symbol -- Arwenna's symbol is a twelve-point star-burst in gold and silver.

Erida

Hatred,Loathing,Rage,Fear

Chaotic Evil, Black, Darkness

Eros

CG -- Passion,Arousal,Desire,Lust

Symbol

G'Kar

LN -- Disappointment,Annoyance,Frustration

Symbol

Hotei

NG -- Happiness,Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction

Symbol

Hybris

LN -- Boldness,Fearlessness,Pride

Symbol

Irae

Contempt,Disgust,Pity

Lawful Evil, Blue, Lihtning

Symbol

Laetitia

CG -- Joy,Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure

Symbol

Lyssa

CN -- Panic,Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry

Symbol

Malu

LE -- Shame,Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment

Symbol

Nedolya

NE -- Sadness,Sorrow,Suffering

Symbol --

Penthos

NE -- Grief,Guilt,Loneliness,Misery

Symbol

Rus'Ker

CE -- Terror,Shock,Surprise,Horror

Rus'Ker is often associated with death and dying, especially in a gruesome and unexpected way. Disciples of Rus'Ker also defile the dead and more than any other priests make use of undead minions.

Symbol -- Rus'Ker's followers identify themselves with the image of a cracked skull painted red on a black background, the eyes are starbursts of pure white.

Sekhmet

NE -- Anger,Angst,Hostility

Symbol

Sirona

LG -- Love,Affection,Hope

Symbol

Vor

NG -- Curiosity,Interest,Excitement

Symbol

Zelos

NN -- Envy,Jealousy,Shyness

Symbol

Outsiders

See also: Cosmology

An outsider is any create from any plane other than Asmythe. Usually Dragon Priests don't have the power to summon outsiders, except from some conceptual planes. But since most outsiders are sentient they can be affected by dream magic.