While not every answer will be found, much can be understood, learned, and perceived about religious worship and belief in the Turamzzyrian Empire. Enjoy!
Worship in the Empire
"What is the arrogance of man to question the blessing of Koar?" – Paltrach, Patriarch of Koar
The Empire is one, but it is also many. Many peoples in many different provinces. As there are many gods, there are also many ways to worship. I have sought to detach myself from my own beliefs to present a neutral survey of worship throughout our Empire. I make no promise to cover all cities and regions, but will do my best to present a representation of what there is and what may be found. Naturally, we shall have to begin at the heart; we begin in Tamzyrr.
The capital of our Empire is dominated by the Church of Koar. The Imperial palace is rivaled only in size and extravagance by the Temple of Steps. It sits on the opposite end of Chaston’s Way from the palace, down the grand boulevard, and on the east side of Grand Imperial Plaza. From the plaza rises one of many steps that the penitent must climb to reach the temple and common altar area of the Temple of Steps. Every section of steps is decorated with statues of all the children of Liabo and Lornon; they kneel in supplication to their king. The more devout followers kneel at these sections as well and offer prayer. It is on these steps that the ruler of our empire is proclaimed Koar's and crowned with the Three Sun Crown. One might spend a treatise describing the Temple of Steps, so I will conclude that it is from the top of this man-made Koargard that the Patriarch watches the palace. His humble chair is seated at the end of the Whispers Hall, and at the other, a great circular window that views upon the home of our emperors and empresses.
Behind the Temple of the Steps you will find much smaller temples to the Gods of Liabo and none to those of Lornon. For the mayhem and mischief such gods have wrought, their priests are no longer welcome within the Imperial capital. It is very much the same throughout the Empire. Rarely will one find open and visible places of worship to Lornon. They are the dark gods and their worship is not done in daylight, nor often in conspicuous places. More often, should such temples or shrines exist, they are hidden away and sought only by those desperate or deluded enough to consider attracting the attention of Lornon. Should a citizen of the Empire have need to pray to the Gods of Lornon, they can pray to Koar, and he will command them to act.
Beyond Tamzyrr and for many leagues, the Church's power of influence remains strong. Our churches and temples rank among the finest in every major city. It is by the order of the Imperial Throne, since the time of Emperor Rallick Anodheles, that every provisional capital possess such a home for the Church and her priests. It is at these temples that law is given and justice sought. It is true that the power of justice does rest with the rulers, the barons, the earls, and the counts, and so their laws often have their own courts. However, it is a law of the Church, which provides the last refuge for those who cannot find justice elsewhere. They are judgments made by the Prelates, those chosen by the Patriarch to be his extension beyond the center of the Empire. Because the Patriarch grants them his power, they can rule with his wisdom. It is true, one must lament, that the farther away from Tamzyrr one travels, the less power of the Prelate, but it is a momentary concern. The power of the Church grows ever and always. Beneath the Prelates are the First and Second Watchers, who govern the smaller churches, and who at times travel to spread Koar's justice and his will.
It is of no surprise that along the coasts of the Empire there are many great temples to Charl and his daughter. I cannot neglect to mention the Temple of Green Waters in Idolone. Built upon a large reef just off the coast, accessible by boat only after high tide, the temple is carved from the same reef in part, and built of white salt-encrusted stone. It is more squat than tall and it is within the center of the temple in which the shrine to Charl is found. In a room of coral there is a pool of green sea water, free of the effects of the wind and waves, and at its bottom is rumored a mirror that belonged to Niima. About the pool sit the priests and priestesses, watching the surface of the water for any ripple or disturbance. By its condition, the people of Idolone know the Sea Lord's temperament when they set off onto the ocean’s waves. Should the pool go from clear to cloudy and ripples mar its surface, then a tempest stirs and lives are saved by such a warning.
Tales speaks of one such disturbance back in the time before the civility of the Empire came to Idolone, when men and women were sacrificed through the green waters on an annual basis. It was believed then that the Sea Lord would be satisfied with that offering of blood and would not seek to drown any more of man. Some rumors go so far as to claim that the practice happens still from time to time, and if not at the Temple of Green Waters, then in the rural ports and villages. Regardless, the old ways of the empire have mostly faded away.
To the north, Niima is honored in Ubl, as well in Fairport. In those ports, they shout folly for those of Idolone, who spend too much time garnering the attention of Niima’s father. For these fishermen, sailors, and merchants of the northern waters, Charl is to be feared, treated with respect, and his attention sought only as much as needed to placate his tempers. One knows they are in the presence of people from these regions when they frown at idle mention of the Sea Lord’s name and are quick to offer a prayer for Niima’s blessing on the foolish speaker.
While devoutness varies from individual to individual, those lands that still recall the Kannalan tongue are considered more sincere than most. Much of the old language is steeped in the words and phrases of worship. Of particular note are the people of Aldora and Trauntor, those provinces that directly border the Southron Wastes. In these lands, much prayer has been offered for protection from the unknown and the known that inhabit those terrible neighboring lands. Commonly worn are prayer bands woven of the abundant wool in the region and worn on the arm. Prayer bands may be unique to the wearer or generic and sold by merchants at festivals or before temples and shrines. Upon them are woven prayers to the wearer’s chosen god or goddess, and these bands are touched when making a prayer, be it a quick or lengthy one.
As suppressed as worship of the dark gods is in the capital of the empire, for particular gods of Lornon, it has been driven underground if not quenched completely in Aldora. The decades long assault by the Horned Cabal has resulted in any Lornon god associated with the undead as unwelcome in the land overseen by the Chandrennin dukes. Vocal supporters of Luukos are expelled, if not executed. For those followers of the gods of the Lornon moon who are not associated with the undead, they are relegated to the alleyways and dark places of Elstreth. The same is true for most of the great cities of the empire. Beyond that city’s massive walls, Lornon worship is virtually unknown and remains underground.
The presence of the Imperial garrisons along the southern mountain lands has resulted in a boost to Kai worship alongside the more native faiths of the provinces. Many a garrison will have a shrine to the Liabo god adjacent to the dedicated Koar shrine. Not present are those shrines to V’tull. Among the soldiers of the Empire, that Lornon god is not welcomed and any compatriot found to prayer or worship him are immediately cast out of their respective company. There is no place for a soldier who might be overcome by that god’s bloodlust, and thus, becomes an unpredictable and dangerous. Some veterans have confided that in those rare instances where troops are at the point of defeat, there have been plenty of battlefield pleas to the dark god regardless of feelings elsewhere.
In the provinces with the lower population density, where rural communities are prevalent, the gods of field and fertility have increased importance. From Highmount up through the upper half of the Kannalan Crescent, Imaera and Oleani have increased importance, as do Eonak and Phoen, courtesy of being their spouses. Some claim of the strength of Imaera worship in Highmount that it is a legacy of sylvan migration thousands of years ago which resulted in the goddess taking a special attention to the region. Of particular note are the surviving groves of the old forests that still play setting for old rituals despite the insistence by the Church to eliminate them.
Part One Concluded.
GM Scribes
GS4-SCRIBES
GS4-SCRIBES
Worship in the Empire - Repost Part One
02/08/2013 11:10 AM CST
Here's a repost...
Worship in the Empire
"What is the arrogance of man to question the blessing of Koar?" – Paltrach, Patriarch of Koar
The Empire is one, but it is also many. Many peoples in many different provinces. As there are many gods, there are also many ways to worship. I have sought to detach myself from my own beliefs to present a neutral survey of worship throughout our Empire. I make no promise to cover all cities and regions, but will do my best to present a representation of what there is and what may be found. Naturally, we shall have to begin at the heart; we begin in Tamzyrr.
The capital of our Empire is dominated by the Church of Koar. The Imperial palace is rivaled only in size and extravagance by the Temple of Steps. It sits on the opposite end of Chaston’s Way from the palace, down the grand boulevard, and on the east side of Grand Imperial Plaza. From the plaza rises one of many steps that the penitent must climb to reach the temple and common altar area of the Temple of Steps. Every section of steps is decorated with statues of all the children of Liabo and Lornon; they kneel in supplication to their king. The more devout followers kneel at these sections as well and offer prayer. It is on these steps that the ruler of our empire is proclaimed Koar's and crowned with the Three Sun Crown. One might spend a treatise describing the Temple of Steps, so I will conclude that it is from the top of this man-made Koargard that the Patriarch watches the palace. His humble chair is seated at the end of the Whispers Hall, and at the other, a great circular window that views upon the home of our emperors and empresses.
Behind the Temple of the Steps you will find much smaller temples to the Gods of Liabo and none to those of Lornon. For the mayhem and mischief such gods have wrought, their priests are no longer welcome within the Imperial capital. It is very much the same throughout the Empire. Rarely will one find open and visible places of worship to Lornon. They are the dark gods and their worship is not done in daylight, nor often in conspicuous places. More often, should such temples or shrines exist, they are hidden away and sought only by those desperate or deluded enough to consider attracting the attention of Lornon. Should a citizen of the Empire have need to pray to the Gods of Lornon, they can pray to Koar, and he will command them to act.
Beyond Tamzyrr and for many leagues, the Church's power of influence remains strong. Our churches and temples rank among the finest in every major city. It is by the order of the Imperial Throne, since the time of Emperor Rallick Anodheles, that every provisional capital possess such a home for the Church and her priests. It is at these temples that law is given and justice sought. It is true that the power of justice does rest with the rulers, the barons, the earls, and the counts, and so their laws often have their own courts. However, it is a law of the Church, which provides the last refuge for those who cannot find justice elsewhere. They are judgments made by the Prelates, those chosen by the Patriarch to be his extension beyond the center of the Empire. Because the Patriarch grants them his power, they can rule with his wisdom. It is true, one must lament, that the farther away from Tamzyrr one travels, the less power of the Prelate, but it is a momentary concern. The power of the Church grows ever and always. Beneath the Prelates are the First and Second Watchers, who govern the smaller churches, and who at times travel to spread Koar's justice and his will.
It is of no surprise that along the coasts of the Empire there are many great temples to Charl and his daughter. I cannot neglect to mention the Temple of Green Waters in Idolone. Built upon a large reef just off the coast, accessible by boat only after high tide, the temple is carved from the same reef in part, and built of white salt-encrusted stone. It is more squat than tall and it is within the center of the temple in which the shrine to Charl is found. In a room of coral there is a pool of green sea water, free of the effects of the wind and waves, and at its bottom is rumored a mirror that belonged to Niima. About the pool sit the priests and priestesses, watching the surface of the water for any ripple or disturbance. By its condition, the people of Idolone know the Sea Lord's temperament when they set off onto the ocean’s waves. Should the pool go from clear to cloudy and ripples mar its surface, then a tempest stirs and lives are saved by such a warning.
Tales speaks of one such disturbance back in the time before the civility of the Empire came to Idolone, when men and women were sacrificed through the green waters on an annual basis. It was believed then that the Sea Lord would be satisfied with that offering of blood and would not seek to drown any more of man. Some rumors go so far as to claim that the practice happens still from time to time, and if not at the Temple of Green Waters, then in the rural ports and villages. Regardless, the old ways of the empire have mostly faded away.
To the north, Niima is honored in Ubl, as well in Fairport. In those ports, they shout folly for those of Idolone, who spend too much time garnering the attention of Niima’s father. For these fishermen, sailors, and merchants of the northern waters, Charl is to be feared, treated with respect, and his attention sought only as much as needed to placate his tempers. One knows they are in the presence of people from these regions when they frown at idle mention of the Sea Lord’s name and are quick to offer a prayer for Niima’s blessing on the foolish speaker.
While devoutness varies from individual to individual, those lands that still recall the Kannalan tongue are considered more sincere than most. Much of the old language is steeped in the words and phrases of worship. Of particular note are the people of Aldora and Trauntor, those provinces that directly border the Southron Wastes. In these lands, much prayer has been offered for protection from the unknown and the known that inhabit those terrible neighboring lands. Commonly worn are prayer bands woven of the abundant wool in the region and worn on the arm. Prayer bands may be unique to the wearer or generic and sold by merchants at festivals or before temples and shrines. Upon them are woven prayers to the wearer’s chosen god or goddess, and these bands are touched when making a prayer, be it a quick or lengthy one.
As suppressed as worship of the dark gods is in the capital of the empire, for particular gods of Lornon, it has been driven underground if not quenched completely in Aldora. The decades long assault by the Horned Cabal has resulted in any Lornon god associated with the undead as unwelcome in the land overseen by the Chandrennin dukes. Vocal supporters of Luukos are expelled, if not executed. For those followers of the gods of the Lornon moon who are not associated with the undead, they are relegated to the alleyways and dark places of Elstreth. The same is true for most of the great cities of the empire. Beyond that city’s massive walls, Lornon worship is virtually unknown and remains underground.
The presence of the Imperial garrisons along the southern mountain lands has resulted in a boost to Kai worship alongside the more native faiths of the provinces. Many a garrison will have a shrine to the Liabo god adjacent to the dedicated Koar shrine. Not present are those shrines to V’tull. Among the soldiers of the Empire, that Lornon god is not welcomed and any compatriot found to prayer or worship him are immediately cast out of their respective company. There is no place for a soldier who might be overcome by that god’s bloodlust, and thus, becomes an unpredictable and dangerous. Some veterans have confided that in those rare instances where troops are at the point of defeat, there have been plenty of battlefield pleas to the dark god regardless of feelings elsewhere.
In the provinces with the lower population density, where rural communities are prevalent, the gods of field and fertility have increased importance. From Highmount up through the upper half of the Kannalan Crescent, Imaera and Oleani have increased importance, as do Eonak and Phoen, courtesy of being their spouses. Some claim of the strength of Imaera worship in Highmount that it is a legacy of sylvan migration thousands of years ago which resulted in the goddess taking a special attention to the region. Of particular note are the surviving groves of the old forests that still play setting for old rituals despite the insistence by the Church to eliminate them.
Part One Concluded.
GM Scribes
Worship in the Empire
"What is the arrogance of man to question the blessing of Koar?" – Paltrach, Patriarch of Koar
The Empire is one, but it is also many. Many peoples in many different provinces. As there are many gods, there are also many ways to worship. I have sought to detach myself from my own beliefs to present a neutral survey of worship throughout our Empire. I make no promise to cover all cities and regions, but will do my best to present a representation of what there is and what may be found. Naturally, we shall have to begin at the heart; we begin in Tamzyrr.
The capital of our Empire is dominated by the Church of Koar. The Imperial palace is rivaled only in size and extravagance by the Temple of Steps. It sits on the opposite end of Chaston’s Way from the palace, down the grand boulevard, and on the east side of Grand Imperial Plaza. From the plaza rises one of many steps that the penitent must climb to reach the temple and common altar area of the Temple of Steps. Every section of steps is decorated with statues of all the children of Liabo and Lornon; they kneel in supplication to their king. The more devout followers kneel at these sections as well and offer prayer. It is on these steps that the ruler of our empire is proclaimed Koar's and crowned with the Three Sun Crown. One might spend a treatise describing the Temple of Steps, so I will conclude that it is from the top of this man-made Koargard that the Patriarch watches the palace. His humble chair is seated at the end of the Whispers Hall, and at the other, a great circular window that views upon the home of our emperors and empresses.
Behind the Temple of the Steps you will find much smaller temples to the Gods of Liabo and none to those of Lornon. For the mayhem and mischief such gods have wrought, their priests are no longer welcome within the Imperial capital. It is very much the same throughout the Empire. Rarely will one find open and visible places of worship to Lornon. They are the dark gods and their worship is not done in daylight, nor often in conspicuous places. More often, should such temples or shrines exist, they are hidden away and sought only by those desperate or deluded enough to consider attracting the attention of Lornon. Should a citizen of the Empire have need to pray to the Gods of Lornon, they can pray to Koar, and he will command them to act.
Beyond Tamzyrr and for many leagues, the Church's power of influence remains strong. Our churches and temples rank among the finest in every major city. It is by the order of the Imperial Throne, since the time of Emperor Rallick Anodheles, that every provisional capital possess such a home for the Church and her priests. It is at these temples that law is given and justice sought. It is true that the power of justice does rest with the rulers, the barons, the earls, and the counts, and so their laws often have their own courts. However, it is a law of the Church, which provides the last refuge for those who cannot find justice elsewhere. They are judgments made by the Prelates, those chosen by the Patriarch to be his extension beyond the center of the Empire. Because the Patriarch grants them his power, they can rule with his wisdom. It is true, one must lament, that the farther away from Tamzyrr one travels, the less power of the Prelate, but it is a momentary concern. The power of the Church grows ever and always. Beneath the Prelates are the First and Second Watchers, who govern the smaller churches, and who at times travel to spread Koar's justice and his will.
It is of no surprise that along the coasts of the Empire there are many great temples to Charl and his daughter. I cannot neglect to mention the Temple of Green Waters in Idolone. Built upon a large reef just off the coast, accessible by boat only after high tide, the temple is carved from the same reef in part, and built of white salt-encrusted stone. It is more squat than tall and it is within the center of the temple in which the shrine to Charl is found. In a room of coral there is a pool of green sea water, free of the effects of the wind and waves, and at its bottom is rumored a mirror that belonged to Niima. About the pool sit the priests and priestesses, watching the surface of the water for any ripple or disturbance. By its condition, the people of Idolone know the Sea Lord's temperament when they set off onto the ocean’s waves. Should the pool go from clear to cloudy and ripples mar its surface, then a tempest stirs and lives are saved by such a warning.
Tales speaks of one such disturbance back in the time before the civility of the Empire came to Idolone, when men and women were sacrificed through the green waters on an annual basis. It was believed then that the Sea Lord would be satisfied with that offering of blood and would not seek to drown any more of man. Some rumors go so far as to claim that the practice happens still from time to time, and if not at the Temple of Green Waters, then in the rural ports and villages. Regardless, the old ways of the empire have mostly faded away.
To the north, Niima is honored in Ubl, as well in Fairport. In those ports, they shout folly for those of Idolone, who spend too much time garnering the attention of Niima’s father. For these fishermen, sailors, and merchants of the northern waters, Charl is to be feared, treated with respect, and his attention sought only as much as needed to placate his tempers. One knows they are in the presence of people from these regions when they frown at idle mention of the Sea Lord’s name and are quick to offer a prayer for Niima’s blessing on the foolish speaker.
While devoutness varies from individual to individual, those lands that still recall the Kannalan tongue are considered more sincere than most. Much of the old language is steeped in the words and phrases of worship. Of particular note are the people of Aldora and Trauntor, those provinces that directly border the Southron Wastes. In these lands, much prayer has been offered for protection from the unknown and the known that inhabit those terrible neighboring lands. Commonly worn are prayer bands woven of the abundant wool in the region and worn on the arm. Prayer bands may be unique to the wearer or generic and sold by merchants at festivals or before temples and shrines. Upon them are woven prayers to the wearer’s chosen god or goddess, and these bands are touched when making a prayer, be it a quick or lengthy one.
As suppressed as worship of the dark gods is in the capital of the empire, for particular gods of Lornon, it has been driven underground if not quenched completely in Aldora. The decades long assault by the Horned Cabal has resulted in any Lornon god associated with the undead as unwelcome in the land overseen by the Chandrennin dukes. Vocal supporters of Luukos are expelled, if not executed. For those followers of the gods of the Lornon moon who are not associated with the undead, they are relegated to the alleyways and dark places of Elstreth. The same is true for most of the great cities of the empire. Beyond that city’s massive walls, Lornon worship is virtually unknown and remains underground.
The presence of the Imperial garrisons along the southern mountain lands has resulted in a boost to Kai worship alongside the more native faiths of the provinces. Many a garrison will have a shrine to the Liabo god adjacent to the dedicated Koar shrine. Not present are those shrines to V’tull. Among the soldiers of the Empire, that Lornon god is not welcomed and any compatriot found to prayer or worship him are immediately cast out of their respective company. There is no place for a soldier who might be overcome by that god’s bloodlust, and thus, becomes an unpredictable and dangerous. Some veterans have confided that in those rare instances where troops are at the point of defeat, there have been plenty of battlefield pleas to the dark god regardless of feelings elsewhere.
In the provinces with the lower population density, where rural communities are prevalent, the gods of field and fertility have increased importance. From Highmount up through the upper half of the Kannalan Crescent, Imaera and Oleani have increased importance, as do Eonak and Phoen, courtesy of being their spouses. Some claim of the strength of Imaera worship in Highmount that it is a legacy of sylvan migration thousands of years ago which resulted in the goddess taking a special attention to the region. Of particular note are the surviving groves of the old forests that still play setting for old rituals despite the insistence by the Church to eliminate them.
Part One Concluded.
GM Scribes
