Editing Religions (section)

=Cults=

===Cult of the Opaque===

There is a new cult appearing in the hinterlands. Their creed says that both reflection and transparancy are abominations. They claim that only that which is hidden has power. They build temples of stone with no windows and their priests cover their faces with cloth when they go out in public. It is feared that some of the leaders of the petty kingdoms sympathize with this Cult of the Opaque.

-- by Glyptodont

Opaque magic may not, however, be dismissed as forever inelegant and second-rate. Legends say that an opera singer can use the power or her voice to shatter a wine glass. Now, rumors circulate that the Cult of the Opaque is exploring the use of sound as a magical weapon. Large pieces of glass come into resonance with low-frequency sounds, often below the range of human hearing. If the Cult of the Opaque masters the technique of shaping and directing low-frequency sound, they may be able to attack the glass cities at will, from a considerable distance, without being detected.

-- by RPG_Dad

A splinter faction of the cult has decided to create their own city. They already daydream of echoing valleys, canyons, and opera houses. They use the password "sonance".

-- by shanoxilt

The Cult of the Opaque is distrusted by the majority of citizens, but the cult has made public denouncements of their involvement with the Empty Masters.

"Opacity is a natural obfuscation of sight outside the observer; Blindness is the lack of [in]sight from the observer. The former is a phenomenon that inhibits perception, whereas the latter is a phenomena that deprives perception."

-- by shanoxilt

The Cult of the Opaque has constructed a series of monoliths and megaliths. These structures have several purposes: to mark astrological events, to allow entry to the spirit world, and to venerate the concept of opacity.

-- by shanoxilt

====Shadow Magic====

The magic of the Twin Cities would be ancient and nuanced with generations of tradition and refinement. The magic of the Cult of the Opaque is raw, illiterate and still in its infancy. 

The Cult of the Opaque use magic that is blunt and simple. Broken mirrors lose their powers of reflection and blackened glass is a fragile and visible target. Darkness, defacement and damage are the themes of Opaque magic. 

-- by Glyptodont

Shadow magic is the magic of opacity.  It hides things, protects them from being revealed, protects your soul from being reflected (and stolen), protects you from being seen, brings darkness where there is only light.  

-- by Kakita Kojiro

mantra: “perception stops”

spirit-world:  [[Spirit_world|the Shadow World]]

tools: (eclectic variety of tools used: things to smash with, things to make loud noises with, things to cast shadows with... whatever is at hand)

talent: Shadow Magic (10 pts/level)

spells:
- block perception (IQ/Average)
- cast shadow (IQ/Average)
- see in shadow and darkness (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 1+)
- block pellucid magic (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 2+)
- shatter reflective magic (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 2+)
- mute chromatic magic (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 2+)
- enter shadow world (IQ/Very Hard, req. Shadow Magic 3+, see in shadow and darkness) (note: penalties to enter shadow world, except at specific times and places)
- travel through shadow world (IQ/Very Hard, req. Shadow Magic 3+, enter shadow world) (note: penalties to enter shadow world, except at specific times and places)
- reveal invisible things (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 3+, block pellucid magic, at least two other shadow spells) (note: attack against spirits of pellucid magic)
- break mirrored things (IQ/Hard, req. Shadow Magic 3+, shatter reflective magic, at least two other shadow spells) (note: attack against spirits of mirror magic)
note: although possible, it is much more difficult to use shadow magic to enter the spirit-world, except at special locations and under special conditions. knowledge of these locations and conditions is difficult to discover.

-- by Kakita Kojiro

===Cult of the Sun===

But what of the sun? This is the one unifying priciple that all Three Cities revere. A mirror cannot reflect without light. A crystal's purpose is to transmit light. The spectrum is the separated elements of light. Even the Opaque acknowledge the primacy of the sun--shadows can only be created with light. If there is no light, then there are no shadows--only uniform darkness (an important distinction in Opaque theology). The Twin Cities, the Spectrum youth and the Opaque agree on the importance of the sun, but debate about its true spiritual purpose.

-- by Glyptodont

The Cult of the Sun worships the sun as their only god. To give credence to their beliefs, they have added the symbolism and dogma of the Immaculate Principle of The Sublime Joy. The Cult of the Sun is swiftly gaining followers and gaining power. Now, it is nearly a minor religion. 

-- by shanoxilt

===Cults of the Twin Moons===

The various factions look to the heavens for astronomical symbolism. The city of [[Narcissus]] takes the Inner Moon as its icon. As the largest mirror in the sky, it reflects the most light upon the world. The smaller Outer Moon is the totem of the city of [[Diaphane]]. It is a crystal sphere shimmering at night. (The Inner Moon couldn't be crystal or else we could see through it when it eclipsed the Outer Moon--or so say the astrologers.) [[Iridos]] chooses the multicolored stars as its totem, and the Cult of the Opaque claim they represent the inky darkness between the stars.

-- by Glyptodont