One Deity Fantasy

1. One Deity Fantasy

   #1

   This thread is for posting monotheistic religions to be used in games.
   
   Most gamers think "Fantasy" requires "Many Gods". A trend that is only exacerbated by DnD, which is the training wheel system for most gamers. To a point, there is nothing wrong with it. Many gamers choose a many gods option because it is required, in their minds, for game worlds. Many gamers choose a many gods option because they think, they can seperate their reality and their fantasy (even though a significant portion of the world's population is polytheistic) and avoid offending someone's religious beliefs (like most Christians are not offended by polytheism/ or would take an adverse view of any game/ story that had a less than perfect priest in it ... Like The Three Musketeers). The inspiration of this many gods option came from Conan and many early works of fantasy that inspired the early gamers.
   
   Yet some of the best fantasy fiction, especially fiction based on Medieval history, are monotheistic. Historical and Historically styled games need a monotheistic religion. It is almost imperative to have one, if you want a real medieval feel.
   
   Now some people feel uncomfortable using the Catholic faith as their game's religion (though there is plenty of source material to study about it). I can understand that. If you are not running a strict historical game, there are lots of ways you can create a monotheistic game religion. This gives you all the medieval feel without being bound by "real" religion.
   
   That is what this thread is about. Post your ideas for a primary single God religion. (One religion per post if you can.) While most of these will be analogs to Abrahamic religions (Judism, Christianity in all its forms, and Islam) or Zorasterism, other options are possible (A single Earth Mother Diety or so on). (You can also crib ideas from other books/ works of fiction).
   
   And remember, just because it is a religion with a primary diety, does not mean it can't have minions beings (like Angels, Devils, etc).

2. One more thing....

   #2

   Deities in the Abrahamic religions
   Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe in the same God. If pressed, all but those who hold the most extreme views would agree. Muslims, and to some degree Jews (see below), visualize God in strictly monotheistic terms, whereas most Christians believe that God exists as a Trinity. It is a nice example of one basic diety/ religion set manifested in three different ways. Remember that any one god might have several religions based upon it, so keep this in mind.
   
   Judaism
   The Basis is a set of ideas about the world and the way Jews should live their lives that is called "Judaism." There is a lot of flexibility about certain aspects of those beliefs, and a lot of disagreement about specifics, but that flexibility is built into the organized system of belief that is Judaism. The key beliefs center around a single diety and that his word was revealed to the people through his prophets (Moses being the chief one). God chose the Jewish people to be in a unique covenant with God; the description of this covenant is the Torah itself. Contrary to popular belief, Jewish people do not simply say that "God chose the Jews." Jews believe that they were chosen for a specific mission; to be a light unto the nations, and to have a covenant with God as described in the Torah. This idea is discussed further in the entry on the chosen people. Reconstructionist Judaism rejects the concept chosenness as morally defunct.
   
   Judism is the foundation on which Christianity is built upon. Jews reject Jesus Christ as a false messiah, and do not assign any deity to him (though some do agree he was a great teacher).
   
   
   Christianity
   Jesus Christ, a historical figure, expanded upon the Jewish faith. Some called him the Jewish Messiah that had been prophecised about. The Jesus Cult became the dominant religion of the Western World.
   
   Historically, Christianity has professed belief in one deity, three divine persons (the Trinity- Father God, Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit), that make up one deity or Godhead, known as "God". (See Athanasian Creed.) Thus, most Christians are trinitarian monotheists, although there have been dissenters.
   
   Islam
   Islām or "submission (to God)") is a monotheistic faith and the world's second-largest religion. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, believe that God (or, in Arabic, Allāh) revealed His Will to Muhammad (c. 570–632) and other prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The Muslims hold that the main written record of revelation to mankind is the Qur'an.
   
   Each of these churches has a overlap of names of Gods, certain angelic figures, and their underpinning structure. See Three Monotheistic religions... the same diety even... and each is different.

3. The Messenger

   #3

   This is the monotheistic religion for a world with magic, and had many dieties at one time.
   
   The Messenger claimed to be the (spiritual) Son of the Primal Diety, call BA'AN (or Primal One). This primal diety created the universe and all the other lesser Gods. Those dieties were supposed to run the place while he was gone. These lesser Gods took the credit for creating the universe and being true powers, rather than simply administrating things for the Primal one. Upon his return to the world, He (the Primal One) took the reigns from those lesser gods and forbade their worship. He sent his son to inform the people of this change and his Avatars (Angels) to inform the lesser gods. Those lesser Gods that did not rejoin the ranks of the Avatars were destroyed.
   
   Many people resisted the Messenger and his new faith. They were entrenched in the existing order. Yet, all of a sudden, there was no clerical power. The Messenger, and his annointed followers, had clerical abilities.
   People know that the lesser Gods were defeated as their clerics could no longer draw upon their power (i.e. no clerical spells). The Messenger's Church was built upon the ruins of the lesser churches. (The religion has a JudeoChristian feel, except that the Avatars/ Angels are given special worship, much like Catholic Saints). The Messenger's Church is the only source of healing (magical or otherwise), spiritual protection (spells vs demons, magic, and evil), and wisdom. The Paladins of the church, tend to be witch hunters- those that hunt witches those that use magic beyond mortal control (i.e. infernal magics from the Outsider dieties). They also protect priests who go out to spread the word of the Messenger.
   
   I would like to apologize for the original mispellings.

4. God of The People

   #4

   Magic Level: Any
   
   In this world, each race had its own Spirit, or Diety it revered. It personified the race. The Mythic people (Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, et al) had worshiped their spirits since before time began, long before Humans crawled out of their caves and became a speaking race.
   
   Humans had been helped by the Mythic people, much like one would help a child; yet also treated them like a vermin, removing them when they were too much trouble. The Human tribes became semi-nomadic, moving along to avoid the ire (anger/ annoyance) of the Mythics. It is during this time that Humans connected with their Spirit. The Spirit of Humanity took to sheparding its people. In addition, the spirit adopted the Human Companions... the Wolf/Dog, the Horse, and to a lesser extent Buffalo (the only herd beasts of the land). The Mythics had never domesticated companions, they simply created what they needed.
   
   When a genocidal war broke out between the Goblins and The Forest Folk (fur covered humanoids, gentle giants (well bigger than humans) of the forest), Humans took in the few surviving Forest Folk. The Goblins had destroyed the Spirit of the Forest Folk. It was then that the God of Humanity became the God of The People, for it was the first time The Spirit of one talking people had "adopted" another peoples. It was no longer a matter of blood, it was a matter of helping those who needed help and sheparding The People. The blood of the forest folk has limitedly been mixed with that of Humanity.
   
   Eventually Humanity became strong and developed enough to become less nomadic. They developed town and ceremonial sites in territories just outside the populuated Mythic's lands. Eventually exiles and free spirits from the Mythics found their way to the Human sites. Humanity and their God usually embraced any soul that joined them. Human nomadic tribes and those that groups that had never touched The Spirit, slowly learned of the God of the People. Speakers taught them the ways, helping them in any way they could. Humanity prospered and grew under the grace of the God of The People.
   
   The Mythics' spirits slowly began to weaken. The Mythics who counted upon their Dieties for empowerment, also slowly weakened. Reluctantly the began to trade with the Humans they had previously scorned. After a while, they treated the Humans as equals (though they were often lesser equals... "sniff" ). Humanity developed cities and encrouched on more and more of the Mythic's lands. Small pockets of Mythics lived among The People.
   
   The independent Mythics have nearly faded away. Their Spirits' can barely support them, if they have not faded away completely. There is only one God, The God of The People. The Speakers acted as Shepards and Helpers for The People.

5. One Deity Fantasy

   #5

   As religion is a very complex and personal subject in our world, I saw no reason for it to be any different in Midian. I was not aware of this before this thread, but there aren't any major religions in Midian that are polytheistic.
   
   The largest faith, is the official state religion of the powerful Kingdom of Formour. They follow the Temple of the Light, based upon the Book of the Cannon by the prophet Mammon. This is probably the closest Christian analog, as many of the same rites & precepts apply. The Light is not viewed as sentient, but rather an abstract of life & light. This is primarily a moral belief system, rather than a religion in the strictest sense.
   
   The Church of Melchom, the Merchant's Friend, is mostly found in Byzant, Formour's neighbours to the south. Like the Temple of the Light, this religion does not worship an actual diety, but rather Melchom is viewed as an unknowable mathematical concept. This is a church with a strong central authority--a Pope--and has many followers, although they mostly only give lip service.
   
   The followers of the Red God are found in three different countries, each with its own views & practices. This is the most dominant true religion (having an actual godhead), but has little authority. This is largely a warrior's faith, but perhaps this is coloured by the militaristic societies that follow it.
   
   Bhahi is the most geographically widespread, but has relatively few followers. They feel that all religion stems from the same source, and that all are equal before God. The church espouses peace and an end to prejudice, but some do not consider non-Humans to be included (the articles of faith do not specify species at all), and there is a sect of violent Human supremacists.
   
   Followers of Stryfe are perhaps pre-polytheistic. They have a single godhead (and even they admit he is rather Demonic in aspect), and acknowledge the existance of other religions--the only one to do so.
   
   There are cults in Midian that could be called polytheistic, but the major ones are listed above, and are all monotheistic.

6. The Dreaming Lord

   #6

   This religion is meant to be a minor counterpoint, or even a cult, in a world dominated by a polytheistic religion. Religions do not exist in a vacuum, and few worlds are homogenous enough to have only one religion.
   
   Magic Level : V. Low - Especially low 'divine' magics.
   
   Excerpted from the Tome of Midnight:
   
   Hear me, oh my brothers in the night, and know that my words are truth. Hear me, oh my brothers in the dream, and feel the touch of my words upon thy dreams, for they are dictated by Sogna, Lord of the Dreaming and Master of Mortality.
   
   Know, my brothers, know that in this fragile, mortal world of ours there are no gods! Know that our mortal shells and souls are unguided, and know that as we walk this realm, our pitiful selves cannot even aspire to become as the deity that we so desperately need! Tremble, oh ye purveyors of false gods, tremble for thy lie is exposed, tremble, for soon thy flocks shall cast thee into the dreamless abyss, where shall thee be no more than the memory of the zephyr! Given thee was thy chance, oh phantasms of sun and moon, of thunder and fire and rain and stone! Given to thee the chance to prove thyselves our true and rightful lords, and thou hast spurned us, leaving us to rot in this mortal realm!
   
   Yet, Despair not, my brothers in the dreaming, for I bring to you the words of the One who IS! HE is Sogna, the Dream and The Master of All Things Beyond This World, and HE is Truth!
   
   HE speaks to us when we enter HIS realm at night, in the little death we know as Sleep. Sleeping, we are the perfect receptacle of HIS Divine Wisdom, our minds and spirits but clay beneath HIS Touch. Follow ye, then, the wisdom of thy dreamings, so that HIS Will might be done! Please HIM, and ye shall be brought fully into HIS Realm upon the day of thy death, to serve HIM forever more in the dreaming. Please HIM not, and to be cast away shall be thy fate, all thy life and deeds forgotten like the child's dream upon awakening.
   
   (Here, the book breaks into hundreds of tedious recounts of parable-dreams.)
   --
   
   Walking the edge between dreams and waking reality, the sanity of the Dreaming Priests is much in question by the rest of reality, and even their followers. However, their illusiory powers and their sway over the dreams of sleeping men is unquestionable, enormous power in a world where magic is hard to come upon.

7. One Deity Fantasy

   #7

   There seems to be alot in common here with Autrum Ortus: creepy cult, poetic "holy" book, half-mad seers & priests, vague & non-public goals.
   
   I'll see if I can get reprint permission from the cult's creator. It's good stuff.

8. One Deity Fantasy

   #8

   Thanks, Kinslayer... I think. :) The Cult of the Dreamer is pretty much intended to be a good source of those half-mad seers and priests, both villanous and non, as well as serve an example of how a religion can hold sway in a fantasy world with little more than the power of suggestion: Priests don't have to have access to have a mighty grimore for their faith to be mighty. Holy men Get Things Done(TM), and it's rarely by relying solely on a whispered prayer, especially in a world where a god doesn't feel the need to grant flashy spells in order to retain worshippers .
   
   While we're talking about the subject of constructing religions, I'd like to bring up the concept of the Creed. The creed is nothing more than a simple statement of the religion's beliefs, meant to be recited. If you cannot write a creed for your monotheistic religion, it probably needs work on internal consistency. Creed examples:
   
   The Nicene Creed summarizes the essential beliefs of Christianity, and the creed is shared by the Catholic Church and most modern liturgical churches. Originally written in Greek by a full council of Bishops at Nicea, it is as follows:
   
   'We believe in one God,
   the Father, the Almighty,
   maker of heaven and earth,
   of all that is, seen and unseen.
   
   We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
   the only son of God,
   eternally begotten of the Father,
   God from God, Light from Light,
   true God from true God,
   begotten, not made,
   of one being with the Father.
   Through him all things were made.
   For us and for our salvation
   he came down from heaven:
   by the power of the Holy Spirit
   he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
   and was made man.
   For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
   he suffered death and was buried.
   On the third day he rose again
   in accordance with the Scriptures;
   he ascended into heaven
   and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
   He will come again in glory
   to judge the living and the dead,
   and his kingdom will have no end.
   
   We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
   who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
   With the Father and the Son
   he is worshipped and glorified.
   He has spoken through the Prophets.
   We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
   We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
   We look for the resurrection of the dead,
   and the life of the world to come. AMEN.'
   
   The bracketed words are accepted only in Western churches, and represent a source of significant theological contention. If one were to dismantle the Nicene Creed, one could reconstruct a church very similar in intent to the Catholic Church, despite the similarity or dissimilarity of rituals, and the church would be instantly recognized by any Christian who entered it as Christian. Other important creeds to the christian faith are the Apostole's Creed and the Athanasian Creed, though the Athanasian has largely fallen into disuse.
   
   Now, by writing such a creed, a belief-statement, we can effectively write an entire religion, and the behaviour of our priests will then depend on how we view the creed through the interpretive light of a single person.
   
   A declaration of faith for the Cult of the Dreamer, then, might be as follows:
   
   'I believe in the True God Sogna,
   not of this world,
   but of the next.
   I believe in the Truth of the Dreaming,
   the mortal Glimpse of the next world.
   I believe in the Voice of Dreams,
   the words the Lord of the Dreaming
   I believe in the passage of man,
   From the dreams of parents,
   to the dreams of self,
   to the Dreams of the Lord.
   I belive in the illumination of dreams,
   in the end of the dreams of the false ones,
   in the bringing of the True Dreams.
   I believe in the dreams of the Disciples,
   through which all dreams may be Illuminated,
   and through which this world may be brought into accordance with the next.
   AMEN.'
   
   Subject to deconstruction, our 'Dreamer's creed' establishes the following as tenets of the faith:
   First, that there is only one god, Sogna, and that he is not to be seen as a part of the mortal world. Second, that Dreams are a view of the world of Sogna. Third, that Sogna may speak to mortal man by dreams. Fourth, that Dreams are the source, substance, and end of all life. Fifth, (and this makes the religion 'dangerous') that others must be shown the truths above. Sixth, that those Sogna speaks to are the ones whom have been chosen to perform the will of Sogna. In one chanted prayer, then, the tenets of faith are taught, and the church of this god is established.
   
   --
   
   Yeah, so, uh, I love religion in games. It adds an entirely new level of life to a culture, a society, where their beliefs, hopes, dreams, and fears are encapsulated.

9. One Deity Fantasy

   #9

   The Judge
   
   (Note: thanks to Ancient Gamer for a nice chat and ideas)
   
   
   Put simply, the one true deity is the ultimate Judge, that judges all beings after death, little concerned with the Living, and rarely intervening on their behalf. When a soul faces The One, The One knows instantly of all deeds and thoughts of the deceased, and for a tiny split moment of the eternity considers this one life, aware of its past lives, if there are any.
   
   After the judgement, the soul can be dealt with in three ways:
   1. Unchanged it will be re-born again.
   2. It is put into the Bowl of Rebirth, as countless other souls before, where it dissolves. From the Bowl are new (random) souls created.
   3. It is "put away". (the exact meaning of this varies, see below)
   
   
   The One has several servants, that are slightly more active in the world, sometimes granting power to their worshippers.
   
   
   This much is known and recognized by all, confirmed by The Servants and theirs followers. But beyond this base, there is a jungle of conflicting beliefs.
   
   
   First of all, what are the judging criteria of The One?
   Second, and not less important, what is the punishment, and what the reward.
   
   
   Note, for instance, that the option of "putting away" is explained as:
   - the annihilation of a soul
   - tearing it apart, and make it suffer forever
   - put away as a display for the God(s) because of some exceptional feature
   - becoming an eternal servant of The One or The Servants, or a low ranking angel
   - becoming one with the universe, merging with The One and his creation
   - or become immortal spirits (adding yet another dimension to the world).
   - perhaps re-made into actual natural spirits
   - or a superior soul (as MoonHunters avatars)
   
   - ...and possibly more
   
   
   To show the complexity a bit more clearly, let's apply a scale to it: lowest could be utter annihilation OR eternal pain; middle reincarnation and top ascendancy to a superior state of existence.
   
   Of course, some claim there are more steps on that ladder and the different religions/sects argue in what order the steps are arranged.
   
   
   (About Nr.2)
   I imagine people, particularly of lower classes, that have the "I am at least as good as any other" attitude.
   
   They are the base of the world. Where would be all the heroes and kings, were it not for simple farmers.
   
   So No.2 may be the proper end for proper people, that get together with all their fellows at last, but will have their impact on others.
   
   
   (AG's thoughts: )
   And the opposite: annihilation, becoming a demon, becoming an anti-saint, becoming a spectre or ghost, becoming an inferior soul (rats, etc)?
   
   And then, what are anti saints: Black souls? Reapers and harbingers of chaos and doom?
   
   Annihilation of the soul could even be combined with undeath, for extreme punishment.
   
   Eternal damnation and annihilation of the soul.
   
   Would a saint simply be someone born as utterly pure? Like mother theresa?
   
   // may need some more editing

10. Uedha-a

    #10

    Uedha-a ("way-thah-ah", with a hard 'th') is the God who dwells here. That I am not afraid, he makes me so- Uedha-a bolsters hearts with iron, and with-holds souls from the Shadow Himself.
    In the Eldest of Eldest of Days, the God said to Nullity, which is and always is nothing, "Be so!". Nullity, hearing these words, thought that this was the name of the God, and so the God is called Uedha-a, "be so".
    When the God went to Nullity and said these words, "Be so!," once again, Nullity became Totality, and the God went to Totality.
    There on Totality, Uedha-a took embers from hand, and there made a great lamp in the semblance of a sphere, and this was the Sun. But when the Sun shone his brightness upon Uedha-a, there was cast a great, sharp shadow, and this shadow said to the God:
    "I repudiate you! Surely, this is a dastardly trick, for there has been yet no renumeration for rendered arrivals. Do you attend so to guests?"
    Replied Uedha-a: "Ah, but never was it this party's intention to render arrival; therefore, continue disappearance and bring no more woes. Do you attend so to hosts?"
    The shadow said: "I am The Shadow Himself!"
    And the God said: "Indeed, as a stone does cast light, does a shadow come, yet it is not afraid."
    And the Shadow Himself said: "I shall topple all the stones, then, until there are not anymore stones upon stones."
    And the God said: "I shall make a great fall of water, and push stone upon stone once again."
    And the Shadow Himself said: "I shall drink in all the waters, then, until there are no more waters flowing."
    And the God said: "I shall then make a great fire, and ashes will breed rains."
    And the Shadow Himself said: "I shall douse the fires with swallowing of air into myself."
    And the God said: "I shall then reliquish you stewardship; I had hoped to have you stand beside me, but the Shadow Himself is petulant and has much rage. Sun, attend!"
    And the Sun came around to another side, but the Shadow Himself only fled about Uedha-a.
    So Uedha-a took hold of a great stone, and lifting it up, cast it upon the Shadow Himself. But the Shadow Himself only lay beneath the stone.
    The Shadow Himself said: "Do you attend? Your courtesy is poor, and I have not recieved my desires!"
    So the God called out to the earth, and from it rose Man.
    And Man said: "There is a great ringing from afar."
    And the God said: "That is the sound of my voice."
    And the Shadow Himself said: "Deny the host satisfaction; I give gifts."
    But Uedha-a took up the Shadow Himself, and cut the Shadow Himself into pieces- one piece he locked away in the heart of Man. The other, greater share he devoured.
    Thus, Man has within him the inclination to do evil and follow the Shadow Himself, and because the God ate a portion of the Shadow Himself, the God cannot raise his hand against the Shadow Himself, but Man still must battle the Shadow Himself within his own heart.
    But as the stone casts a shadow, but it is not afraid, I cast a shadow, but I am not afraid, for Uedha-a looks over me, and encourages to battle the Shadow Himself.

11. Various Theisms

    #11

    http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=29019#29019
    
    Yes, another article. This one touches upon this thread: Polytheism, Monotheism, Henotheism (which most modern religions are), and so on. Religions. Sigh. Can't live with them, can't live without them. They have been such an intergral part of Human existance, that ignoring them is something you do at your own peril. A lack of religion (even hidden away in the background) completely destroys the verisimiltude that a world designer desperately works so hard to achieve.
    
    So most Monotheistic religions are actually Henotheisms...
    
    Heck, that means I could include Arth's religion, in its correct form... rather than the one practiced in the Known World... in this thread.

12. Danu

    #12

    The Worship of Danu has changed over time. Originally, the worship of Danu, was a worship of faith, rather than respect/ miracle. The worshipers were magically transported to Arth, a world of many spirit beings. Upon travelling to Arth, they accepted that there were new and mighty spirits to respect, but continued to worship Danu and the principle of Masque. Now, they have found that the master of masques exists. Their worship empowers Danu and in turn, he empowers his priests. Most KnownWorlders do not understand why the MaskLanders would worship a mere master. They do not understand the word Masque.
    
    Masque is the controlling abstract for the physical noun masks. In the MaskLander's home tongue, mask/ masque has many additional meanings beyond what a ThirdLander might mean by the word mask. The most important of which is the appearance of all things that are different than their core. "Nothing is what it seems on the outside" is the easiest way to view it. Thus Masques are somewhat deceptive and that one should never assume that what something is, is what it is truly is.
    
    They use the name Danu for the Master of Masques. Danu is a deceiver (hiding truths), a revealer (exposing truths), teacher (leading those to truth), and the core of which the natural universe we can sense is merely a mask for what is really there. In short, Danu is associated with Ge-Em, the aloof primal god that formed the universe but does not seem to be very involved in things.
    
    Part of the worship of Danu is the wearing of masks and disguises, which are both concealing and revealing. There is a complex iconary that MaskLanders use to express aspects of their inner self externally. Only one's family or confidants are allowed to see one without their mask. The various ranks of society wear different levels of masques.
    
    Note: Danu Worshipers have there own magics tied to the religion of Danu.
    Each person can learn "heart magic" or spells tied to their inner self. (The higher their rank, the more likely that they know these charms). These spells amplify those inner aspects and give them outer form. If one is a hawk, one can learn heart magic to enhance ones eyesight, increase one's grip or ability to leap, and even fly. General magics are not normally practiced by Danu worshipers, but are not prohibited.
    
    The Priestly class takes those who are of appropriate leanings. (If one is born to a priest, but does not become a priest, they will revert to the class of their father or forefather). The Priests are masterful psychologists, spiritual interpreters, and are known for creating intricate riddles, puzzles, and alagorical stories. They attempt to teach others the complexity of Danu. It is all about teaching wisdom and greater understanding of the world around people.
    
    The kind of mask you can wear is determiend by your rank in society. MaskLanders have a very regimented feudal society of obligations and duty. So you can tell who someone is by what they are wearing.
    
    Priests wear robes that completely cover their bodies and faces. They have meshes that cover their eyes (only slightly obscuring their vision) and their blank robed faces have a pocket like slits that food and drink can be slipped through. They wear gloves and boots. No one is allowed to see their visage after they are accepted into the priesthood. They also have no name, just Priest.
    
    Peasants wear simple cloth masks and what ever clothes they have (usually a tunic and a pair of silk tights). These masks normally drape from the forehead, with eye cut outs, but other variations exist. Many of these are highly decorated with the assistance of priests, to show elements of themselves.
    
    Merchants wear nicer versions of what peasants wear, soft masks and appropriate clothes. Some Merchants have taken to wearing costumes to enhance themselves. Most are reminicent of a harliquin, but others look more like halloween costumes. In fits of Hubris, some merchants are taking to making elaborate built up masks made of "soft materials".
    
    Those of the Skilled Class, wear solid masks. These are made from a variety of materials, though intricately wood seems to be the most common. The Skilled classes tend to wear clothing appropriate to their various crafts in addition to their masks. They have a tendancy to coordinate their clothing with their mask, creating the costume/ uniform concept that pervades MaskLand.
    
    Between the Skilled Class and the Noble Class is that of the Warrior rank. There are skilled warrior who work for nobles and lesser nobles who are also knights to greater nobles. Warriors constantly wear their warrior's regalea, fancy armor with a full face helm (usually with horns or addornment) with their weapons. These warrior's armors are combinations of plate, mail, strong layers of MaskLand silk (which seems to be blak lyrca) holding things together and quieting the metal clinking. They are quite exotic looking.
    
    Note: That the arts of war and command are the province of the noble class. Most warriors are lesser nobles, and will choose to dress like nobles in many cases. It is only skilled warriors of non noble line that always wear their armor.
    
    Those of the Noble Class are the most visable of the MaskLanders. In fact, when people say "MaskLander" people think of the nobles. Typically they are wearing full body suits of MaskLander Silk (a black lyrca-esk fabric), accesorized with fur, feathers, padded shoulders, and exotic character boots. Their faces are carefully painted. Traditionally, a white field of the face is adorned with appropriate symbolic facepaint. They make quite a sight. These costumes and masks carefully enhance the noble's masque. (Also note that they will have 1-10 magical charms based on their masque).
    
    For Example: A Noble who is a "cat", would have a black cat nose, wiskers, and the shape of cat's eyes pained in black on their whitened faces. Their suit would be black, with fur around the neck and wrists, and cat clawed boots and gloves. (The noble's charms would include seeing in darkness, dexterity, magic claws, talking with cats, super balance, and the ability to summon/ manipulate cats).
    
    For Example: A female noble who personifies Love, might have their suit dyed a red tone. She will have a star over her right eye (showing her eye for emotion). There may be a heart cut out in the center of her bosom. Her boots might be thigh high and have a "heart" motif. Any other accessories would have a similar heart motif. (Her charms would be toward empathic awareness and manipulation, possibly the ability to fortell someone's fate (to see if they are to have love)).
    
    Yes, if you know the RockBand Kiss, they will look a lot like a fully decked out member of the Kiss Army who are portraying themselves.

13. One Deity Fantasy

    #13

    SO, basically, a Maskland warrior looks like Gene Simmons with a sword?

14. One Deity Fantasy

    #14

    This is more appropriate for the ARTH THREAD.
    http://www.rpgcitadel.com/guild/index.php?board=35.0
    
    A MaskLander Noble might look like Gene Simons, if his spirit was that of a demon dragon. If he was carrying a sword. He might also have charms that grant him dragon/ demon wings, firey breath, a firey sword, and giant size.
    
    A MaskLander Warrior with the demon/ dragon avatar would be a stylized set of platmail, with demonic visage on the helm and monsterous adornments upon the armor. He would have the fireblade charms, possibly a fireblast though it as well. The Warriors never really show their faces, they keep them behind their helms at all times, showing them only to intimate family members... if them.

15. The Weaver

    #15

    The Weaver is also known as the Celestrial Weaver. This primal diety took chaos and spun time, space, fire, earth, air, water, light, and spirit into existance. He then wove these things into the world, choosing things for their artistic quality.
    
    Sure there are other spirits, he made them. Some of them claim to be Gods, but they are just powerful spirits.
    
    Priests of the Weaver are embedded into society. There is one priest in every endevor, company, or village. They are advisors who help "those who do" follow the correct pattern, as set down by the Weaver. There are five ranks of priests who report to and are advised by the rank above them. Every rank is assigned a more important group, with only the top most weaver priests doing nothing but advising lesser priests and kings. This way the vision of the Weaver can be maintained, society and event continues on as if they are supposed to.
    
    Not following the Weaver's pattern leads to chaos (or unluck). If you are not in your right place at the right time you will be cut from the cloth of the world. It fear of being removed that keeps people following the general advice of the Weaver Priesthood.
    
    The reward for following your "pattern" is that your pattern will be re-used time and time again... a reincarnation of sorts.
    
    The Weaver's priesthood is astrologically inclined. The stars are the language that The Weaver communicates his ideas for the pattern.

16. The One

    #16

    The One is the primal spirit of the universe. The One shaped the Material, for as the spirit goes so does the dust. The One is behind everything.
    
    Every spirit, from a mighty dragon god to a low rock, is split off from The One at one point. From The One came the Many. The first are the Over-Spirits. These important spirits often split themselves up into lesser spirits, so they can lean and experience more; some of the overspirit's spirits split up to be lesser spirits, and so on. As each spirit learns and experiences, it merges back into its higher self... so that self can experience the universe it created properly. To learn and experience, each spirit must lose some of its Oneness and its omni-knowing. Binding to the material world blocks some of this. It is most spirits duty to relearn these things lost so they can rejoin The One.
    
    Unfortunately, some spirits gets lost... trapped in the material. They lose their purpose and their way. This is agains the wishes of The One, who morns the loss of its wayward spirits.
    
    The Priesthood of The One waunder about the world, trying to divorce themselves of the material. Those who have the calling are those who feel the duty to relearn the spirit. They then try to pass the mysteries of the spirit on to others, in the forms of stories and riddles. They also provide advice on how best to achieve ones purpose, to work with the flow of cosmic forces/ spiritual energies, and to achieve happiness.

17. The Bringer of the Word

    #17

    In the same world as the The Messenger
    http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=28292#28292
    
    The Bringer of the Word was first in the lands of the North. His disciples (The Cleric Kethen and a dozen others) brought the word to the Lands of the South and East.
    
    The Bringer of the Word was The Son of the Primal Deity BA'AN.
    He brought his message to the peoples that the Primal Deity had returned and the false Spirits had been cast down. His was the only font of life. He wrote down his message in The Book. Included in the Book were the work of the four primary Disciples, expressing the hows and whys of proper living under BA'AN.
    
    With the Book under their arm, they brought the Word to the Hundred Tribes. The tribes were lost without their tribal spirits. The suggestions for proper living became the foundation for The Law in the Land of the Hundred Tribes. From The Law came the Lands of Corbis, Alaba'am and Chekk'ka.
    
    The Followers of The Book and The Word follow the path of prayer and devotion, the giving of gifts to friends and the poor, the supporting of the elders, and the slaying of the those who worship the old Gods/ demons over BA'AN. Also the Book suggest to "walk the path of the Bringer", so those who can will often pilgrimage to the various venerated places the Bringer preached the Message of the Word.
    
    The Followers of The Book and The Word find the Northerners weak, as they do not properly follow the tenants of The Disciples and the Word of the Bringer. The Followers have to pass through this so called civilized mess on their way to the venerated places of the Word. There is much talk among the Holy Men of the Followers that the Right Path must be brought to the Northerners.

18. Followers of Pandjit

    #18

    The world was created by the interflow of the cosmic forces. The First one is distant and not a "god" in any sense. In the spiritual turbulance of the cosmic forces, spirits of great power were created. Many call these spirits Gods. While they are things to be respected, they need not be worshiped.
    
    Pandjit was a magi and philospher several hundred years ago. He used meditation, prayer (focused) dance, and soul access to determine the nature of the universe. He discovered a form of magic which did not require empowerment from any so called God or powerful spirit. This magic provided a strong degree of defense against the powers of the so called dieties and enhancement of the mind and body.
    
    He discovered the re-incarnation of souls, that the Gods could only manipulate the destiny of a soul... rather than created it. Everything occured in accordance to the interplay of cosmic forces. It was the contemplation of the cosmic forces that lead to "Great Understanding". The greater ones understanding, the more a person could manipulate the world around them.
    
    The Movement his discovery created threw down the Priest Kings/ Wizard Kings (secular sorcerry was actually just empowerment by spirits that did not require worship, just barter and exchange). New, more secular, rulers were installed. After the Removal, the movement lost momentum. The various leaders in the movement touted their version of Pandjit's teachings (and associated fighting techniques) were the best. This fragmented the Movement, into dozens of sects supported by schools that taught their "way".
    
    Anyone who wishes to be considered "On the path (to Great Understanding)" simply declares themselves. One should be able to back up ones claims by performing feats requiring "Great Undersanding". These feats and the philosphy behind them are taught at a variety of schools and retreats. While most of the schools teach martial arts in addition to the various mental techniques and philosphy, some school simply teach philosphy and the occasional non martial mental technique.
    
    Most schools of thought/ technique have their own "uniform". It is normally a shaved or partially shaved head with a painted tattoo, but some schools have uniforms as well.

19. The Great One

    #19

    There used to be many Gods. They were petty, cruel, and plagued Humanity almost as badly as the Demons of Sogoth. They bore more Gods. They fought with each other. They were unworthy of the divine mantle.
    
    One of the Godlings of this time was called Argon. Argon's parent, one Tibrius Diety of Widsom and Wise Warfare, gave his son to be raised as a mortal. It was only upon the youths 21st birthday that his divine herritage was revealed. Argon was to be The Diety of Humanity (not the species, but the quality). Argon learned great wisdom from his father and took on his destiny's mantle. Slowly and carefully, Argon killed several dieties. He arranged each death to have the blame fall to another, causing the dieties to fall upon each other. He arranged things to keep the various God busy with their own affairs. During this time he visited the the Priests of the time. He converted over several of the priesthoods who had lost their diety to the divine war. He taught them the new way. This weakened the remaining Gods who could not divert their attention from their conflict. The final battle occured as the Dieties fought over the last font of divine power. Argon used his powers to keep the God's Battle from spilling over into the mortal world. When the dust cleared, there was only one diety left upon the great field... Sogoth the Demon Lord. Both were tired and wounded, but Sogoth had his bleeding wounds (the ones he has to this day) . Sogoth asked for mercy, claiming only to have fought to prevent any of the others from claiming this ultimate power. He asked to go back to his Hell and rule over his Demons and Lost Souls. (He also said he admired Argon for arranging all this). Argon showed him mercy and let him live.
    
    Now Argon was the only diety left. He granted the priestly powers to any who would embrace his new way. To this day, the priests follow his directives about "right living" and proper deviotion. They teach those same ideals to us, the flock.

20. The Vicean Church

    #20

    Long ago, several priests from a minor sect in the city of Vicea had a revelation. All of a sudden they understood the nature of reality. They began to teach their new ideas, which freed people from the missions of the various deities and focused upon their soul and their place in the universe and scheme of things.
    
    It became very successful at attracting new members because it was a simple religion, with rules that were as complex as you wanted them to be, and a very government friendly tenents.
    
    The Vicean Church is one that expresses the mysteries of existance and explains the process of life and death and lifebeyond. While other churchs have "aims" and "goals", the Vicean church focuses on the soul and faith of its members and all peoples.
    
    The Vicean Deity is something of a mystery. Some say it is the primal god - the universal spark- that created all the other dieties and the rest of the universe. Some say that it is the God within all of us (with each of use being a shard of the primal god). The theology is thick with symbolism that each could be true, both could be true, and their may be more truths reachable through prayer and contemplation. There is no "personaification" of the Vicean Deity. Since there is no "God" with a personality and conflicts with other deities, the Viceans can work with other religions with ease. (And take on their disenfrancised members). They may call him All Father (and paint him as an elderly patriarch), but that is mostly because the Vicean Church comes from a patriarchial society. The "correct" way to do it is to paint the sun, not the sun in they sky (but that is commonly done), but the sun/ star in ones soul. Is it confusing. Yes. Of course this variability of faith allows the Viceans the most paths of good living.
    
    The Church is centered on "right living" which is much like being a good and lawful citizen in most places. They help people for working to be better, to do good without looking for reward, to help others who need help, and to have faith in the Deity's path of the world. For most Evil and hardship comes from not understanding the greater plan the Vicean Deity has laid out. "One learns more from adversity than one does from benovolence," is a popular quote of the Viceans. (One lesson might be... So while the flood was terrible, it set up decades of good harvests.) In fact, they do not condem Evil Churches (unlike most Good ones). They see those people as living the "right path" that has been set down for them by the Vicean Deity for this life. Those people will be appropriately tortured in the lifebeyond, learn their lesson and become right walking people the next past through.
    
    The Vicean cosmology is all about life, death, lifebeyond, and rebirth. Every wrong or evil act you perform empowers a spirit. They act upon your soul as a weight. Upon death, a right walking person, ascends to unity and paradise with the Deity. Those who do not make it, are reborn here... the demons they made in the previous life setting up their next. Those who have too many demons may have a layover in the spirit planes being tortured by demons of their own creation. Walking the Right Path means one will do what one should be doing for the people of the world, as the people make up the Vicean Deity and much as The Deity makes them. (Yes the cosmology is very slippery...)
    
    Other deities are seen much like mountains, clouds, and oceans: just part of existance. They are important because they have power and effect the world, not because they are Gods. They should be respected and prepared for, just like one prepares for storms and winter. The Vicean followers will often make snide comments about how these "Gods" are selfish things, just in it for their own goals... not the assention of their follower's soul.
    
    Note: While priests of this church can perform "magic", they don't do it very often. In fact, it is a skill they only occasionally teach. While this seems counter intuitive, when compared to other churches and their claims of miracles and great power, it has worked well for them. Fear of magic has come and gone with the tides, as have many of these magically orriented churches, the Vicean Church continues. (In fact, the Church as helped fan such flames, as their church does not require a steady diet of magic and miracles to keep its members).

21. Mothon

    #21

    Mothon is considered a Demon Cult by the other religions. Each City has their own archetypal deity with lip service being paid to the other deities of the pantheons. These official churches have big temples, public worship, the endorsement of the government, and the weight of tradition. However, any magics they produce are just that magics, not miracles. So these priests use a magic system, just like any spell caster.
    
    Mothon is called The Spirit of the Darkness. That is true, though not an appealing name. It was "he" that was the primal darkness. He created space, light, and time. He created spirits by seperating Mothon and Not-Mothon. He created the world, the stars, and the universe. He created time and set things in motion. He created spirits to balance the material.
    
    Mortals created all this other stuff that was not in his plan like oppressive governments, slavery, organized religions, and so on.
    
    Mothon is not a friendly god. His image is that of "Evil". Though the visage is frightening, it is the truth (accurate). Mortals seem to judge by appearance. He is neither "Good" nor "Evil" as those are Human Constructs. He is the supreme Order Bringer, being the creator of the universe. Yet, he does not set down Law. That is not his view of Law, that is Human's view of Order and Law. Mortals can not understand Mothon directly, they do not have the perspective and the knowledge of the Great All. They can only understand Mothon through analogy and by what Mothon is not.
    
    Mothon does not require worship. He is not a weak thing requiring the adoration. The Worship of Mothon is secretive and personal. It is all about the contemplation of the Eternal Dark and One. Those that follow Mothon receive the ability to create "clerical" miracles, to alter reality slightly to fufill Mothon's will. Small groups gather together to discuss their meditations and contemplations of Mothon. Together these groups quietly seek The Truth.
    
    Of course, other priests call him a Demon. That he grants inhuman powers to his worshipers, rather than proper spells. Mothon worshipers are hunted by the government as subversive. Those who have a vested interested in the falsehood produced by mortal made religions wish to obscure The Truth of Mothon.
    
    http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=33229#33229

22. The Divine Lord- The Adoni

    #22

    This mythology acknowledges the existance of powerful spirit beings. While some cultures would think them Gods, those that acknowledge the divine one would not.... thought they do have a piece to play in the hisotry of the world...they are just spirits.
    
    The Adoni is celebrated in several regions of the world, sometimes under a different name. Some of the details are different, but it is basically the same myth. This is not a full religion on its own, but a mystery cult within a larger pantheonistic religion.
    
    
    "Upon the lower world (material universe) the spirit flowed. There it fought the Great Dragon. From the bones of the Great Dragon was built the material universe. The Powerful Spirit Beings played with this new toy, forgetting their place in the universe."
    
    The Adoni was born by a mortal mother moved by the spirit. She was turned into a tree for a time by Powerful Spirit Beings. A wild boar, symbol of natural force, rubbed against her bark and the Adoni issued forth. The time was midnight on the winter solstice, a day celebrated by those that know of The Adoni.
    
    He was raised by local priests. During his time with them, he was the one who taught them. He expressed the concept that the Human body was a perfect copy of the more complete three tiered universe. Through the study of the human form, and the perfecting their of, humanity could regain the knowledge of the higher realms. Since their enshrouded souls are truly stars/ suns, it is Humans that are the divine.
    
    The Adoni was originally represented as an androgynous deity who represented the solar power which in the winter was destroyed by the evil principle of cold. Though a male, he had female traits (these very... but he is said to have been a very beautiful man who would often cry.) The Adoni embodied mortal power, one who could be aware of the lower realm and the two higher spiritual realms.
    
    In the story "died" for three months in the tomb, then rose triumphantly admist the acclamtions of his priets and followers. His death was supposedly by a boar, he was gored to death. His body was taken to its tomb, where it stood undecaying for the three months. When he returned, he continued to teach others in secret. These teachings are the great mysteries of universe and humanity's place inside of it.
    
    Those that excell in the study of The Adoni's mysteries are said to gain supernatural powers, beyond those of mere spell casters.

23. Helion

    #23

    In the begining there was a great Darkness. Then there was light. It was Helion.
    
    Bits and pieces of Helion fell away in that brilliant moment. They are in the sky as stars.
    
    Seeing the world, he breathed life into it. The world smiled at him. He breathed life into the air that moved. He breathed life into the water that stood before it fell and flowed. He breathed life into the earth, and it slowly moved. Sometimes he breathed and some air spilled over, thus bringing fire to the world. The elements played upon the world.
    
    Sometimes he would be close, sometimes he would be far away, just to keep things changing for the elementals.
    
    Then new things came to be. These things began to grow. These things began to move. They grew and moved for a time, then went silent. They needed to be renewed. Helion traveled the sky, bringing light and life to all its parts.
    
    Time passed. Helion granted life each day. He even blew life into the moon, so it could gently grant slight life at the night.
    
    The new things lived and played with the elements. They would eventually die away, their gift of breath exhausted. They would return to the elemental state, to someday receive the breath of life again.
    
    He eventually blew enough spark into a beast to fan a small flame. These beasts kept the flame inside them, never allowing it to burn out. With little thought, they were selfish. They used their flame to destroy the dance, rather than join in. They seldom spread their eternal flame into other like he had. He blew out a few of their flames and the rest of the kind fell silent, seldom to bothers other ever again.
    
    But he grew lonely. He was high above all, shining down on them, forever seperate. There was no one to really understand what he did. No one else to know. Late one winter he despaired. Carefully, quietly, he blew the spark of thought into a few forms. They rejoiced. Helion grew happy.
    
    Eventually he chose a form that was correct for him. He blew not jsut a spark of thought, but fanned it into a small spirit flame. Through these flames he would live among then. He whos flame burned most bright had the touch of Helios and all wisdom. He led the people. They propered multiplied and diversified.
    
    Now things had been accidently created - Shadows. Where there is light, there is dark. As Helion granted light to the world, he also granted dark. They decieved those with flames (probably responsible for Eternal Flame Beasts being Selfish), turning them away from the light and the warm of Helion. Making them rely only on their own flames (and diminishing those along the way).

24. Re: One Deity Fantasy

    #24

    This thread is closing. If you have an idea for this thread, please post it as the appropriate System's post (Divine/ Defining) for the religion's cosmology and diety set. If you do post a religion's divinity, please remember to follow up with a Society (religious and ) for the appropriate church. 

25. Re: One Deity Fantasy

    #25

    Thread moved to main Citadel.
    
    Closed only in terms of the forum but very much open for more ideas and submissions!!!
    
    GO HERE
    
    http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=1754

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