Editing Spolitism for Bogmoth
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− | [[File:Spol_pic.png| | + | [[File:Spol_pic.png|frame|Natha's Well at Night during Sacred Time|right|500px]] |
This is background information for Spol, Spolites, and Spolitism for the game [[Scarlet_Reeds]], and specifically for the character Dapyx Bogmoth. | This is background information for Spol, Spolites, and Spolitism for the game [[Scarlet_Reeds]], and specifically for the character Dapyx Bogmoth. | ||
=General Information= | =General Information= | ||
− | [[File:Spol.png | + | [[File:Spol.png|right|750px]] |
==Geography & Politics== | ==Geography & Politics== | ||
− | Spol is a cloudy land full of large ruins and small villages. The modern-day Satrapy is within the Western Reaches of the Lunar Empire, being the stretch of land bordered by the Poralistor River in the North, the Oronin River to the east, the Brass Mountains to the south, and the Sweet Sea to the west. The cultural region is larger than the Satrapy, continuing to the east to include the cities of Petela and Hariij, the Darsen Hills, and the haunted bog known as Natha’s Well. Consequently, there are a substantial number of Spolites within the Satrapies of Karasal and Oronin, in addition to Spol itself. | + | Spol is a cloudy land full of large ruins and small villages. The modern-day Satrapy by that name is within the Western Reaches of the Lunar Empire, being the stretch of land bordered by the Poralistor River in the North, the Oronin River to the east, the Brass Mountains to the south, and the Sweet Sea to the west. The cultural region is larger than the Satrapy, continuing to the east to include the cities of Petela and Hariij, the Darsen Hills, and the haunted bog known as Natha’s Well. Consequently, there are a substantial number of Spolites within the Satrapies of Karasal and Oronin, in addition to Spol itself. |
− | As a group, the Spolites are a relatively loyal to the Lunar Empire for three reasons. | + | As a group, the Spolites are a relatively loyal to the Lunar Empire for three reasons. They view the Lunars as liberating them from their Carmanian persecutors. Additionally, Lunar religion and philosophy has a deep connecting to both Natha and Gerra, two central goddesses for the Spolites. Finally, the Spolites are somewhat tolerant of the Lunar use of Chaos, since their own traditions are about dealing with inhuman monsters. |
==Religion== | ==Religion== | ||
Spolitism is an animist and theist religion found in that focuses on the underworld and the propitiation of often hostile spirits. While Spolitism has some similarities to the Jernotian Way, there is a greater role for shamanic practices, as well as the cults of Vogestes the Spearman, Derdromus the Hungry One, Natha the Balancer, and Gerra the Moon of Sorrow. Spolitism also speaks less of a unified group of “High Gods” who rule from the mountain top. | Spolitism is an animist and theist religion found in that focuses on the underworld and the propitiation of often hostile spirits. While Spolitism has some similarities to the Jernotian Way, there is a greater role for shamanic practices, as well as the cults of Vogestes the Spearman, Derdromus the Hungry One, Natha the Balancer, and Gerra the Moon of Sorrow. Spolitism also speaks less of a unified group of “High Gods” who rule from the mountain top. | ||
− | Human sacrifice has a constantly changing role in Pelanda before The Dawn. It was | + | Human sacrifice has a constantly changing role in Pelanda before The Dawn. It was introduced by YarGan, banned by Gartimirus and Idomon, defended by Natha and relied upon during the Bleak Times (Greater Darkness), and then banned again by Lenshi just before the Dawn. One of the core beliefs of Spolitism is that the Old Gods do, in fact, demand human blood, and it therefore supports Natha and rejects Idomon, Jernotia, and Gartemirus on a key issue of workship. |
The Spolites deny the the Bleak Times every truly ended. We still live in a world defined by death and suffering and confusion, even if it now happens under the sun half the time. The Spolites learned to negotiate and appease dark powers and forces other people attacked or escaped. As a result, their crops grew, they remembered oral histories that differed from those found in the great cities of the Upper Oronin, and they were able to remain in their homeland. | The Spolites deny the the Bleak Times every truly ended. We still live in a world defined by death and suffering and confusion, even if it now happens under the sun half the time. The Spolites learned to negotiate and appease dark powers and forces other people attacked or escaped. As a result, their crops grew, they remembered oral histories that differed from those found in the great cities of the Upper Oronin, and they were able to remain in their homeland. | ||
− | + | Spolites have a very legalistic understanding of the relationship between gods and spirits on one side, and humans on the other. This understanding is based on a reading of the Velortinian Principles where if a people accepts that a god helps the people, then the people must accept the god’s price for help. If gods require human blood – and the Spolites believe many of them do – then one must give them blood as long as the Gods maintain the covenant. | |
− | + | For the Spolite, true mystical union will involve an integration of the living world and the underworld. This eschatological moment is called DerMaElsor, or “The Return to the Mother Greater than Self.” Everyone and everything dies, including the world, which is the fullest moment of this return. Separation before union (life before death), however, has become useful and important as it creates an opportunity to reflect and understand that is not possible if everything merely stayed unified. | |
− | + | Additionally, many (but not all) of the sacrificial acts involve willing participants. Indeed, the magic is infinitely more powerful this way. Spolites are quick to point out that murder was only created because the Old Gods were denied their blood. Spolite myths of the Red King and Gerra’s dismemberment highlight the importance of the holy victim choosing what they do. | |
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=A Personal View of Spolite Life: What my Maskmaker Told me= | =A Personal View of Spolite Life: What my Maskmaker Told me= | ||
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===Vogestes, the Red King, and Yargan?=== | ===Vogestes, the Red King, and Yargan?=== | ||
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One of the secrets we know in Spol is that these three are all one man. Vogestes stayed apart from the tribe, and in doing so realized that death exists. He taught us how to to make and sustain the world by making sacrifices. Just as Idomon is the Prophet of Idovanus the Creator, Vogestes is the the Agent of GanEstoros. | One of the secrets we know in Spol is that these three are all one man. Vogestes stayed apart from the tribe, and in doing so realized that death exists. He taught us how to to make and sustain the world by making sacrifices. Just as Idomon is the Prophet of Idovanus the Creator, Vogestes is the the Agent of GanEstoros. | ||
− | Later, Vogestes became the Red King | + | Later, while away from Wednaria, Vogestes became the Red King. He was a good ruler, a loving husband to Naveria, and tragically, he was also her father. He proved his nobility by accepting his fate when Natha sacrificed him. In doing so, he ensured his land would be renewed as he had been. This earned him his own resurrection, and he returned as YarGan of the Blue Spear. |
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+ | His noble death and his inspiration allowed him to move freely between the underworld and the surface world. The Blue People aided his return, and his father Turos gave him a spear made by the Bluesmiths of the Brass Mountains. Under his rule, he promoted the ways of proper sacrifice, and his rule used the Logicians and their sorcery to create stability beneath a broken sky. He created the first city in Wendaria. He was eventually overthrown by the warlord Daxdarius, and the Angry Bull. | ||
===Gerra?=== | ===Gerra?=== | ||
− | [[File:Gerra.png| | + | [[File:Gerra.png|frame|Ancient Mural of Gerra at Dezarpovo, Restored by Lunars|400px|right]] |
Gerra is the black moon, and she is known as Sorrow, for she understood better than most how suffering and injustice work in the world. She constantly spoke truth, which made her unpopular. She sacrificed herself to create hope in darkness. | Gerra is the black moon, and she is known as Sorrow, for she understood better than most how suffering and injustice work in the world. She constantly spoke truth, which made her unpopular. She sacrificed herself to create hope in darkness. | ||
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===Turos and GanEstoro?=== | ===Turos and GanEstoro?=== | ||
− | Turos is the God of Power, and we know him as GanEstoro | + | Turos is the God of Power, and we know him as GanEstoro, the God who Gives and Takes. His implies Kingship is based on might, relationships, and choice. We worship him at the Black Mountain Throne, and his makes his proclamations through the cracks in the caves. Responsible only to himself, we offer him tribute so that he may aid us when we need it. |
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===Idovanus?=== | ===Idovanus?=== | ||
− | Idovanus is the god of order. He wants everything to be clean and organized, which is sometimes good and sometimes not. He eventually came to blows against | + | Idovanus is the god of order. He wants everything to be clean and organized, which is sometimes good and sometimes not. He eventually came to blows against Vogestes, whose sacrifices and survival were not clean and tidy. Vogestes revealed the full extent of his inspiration to Idomon, partially blinding him. But Idomon was able to win back enough animals and grain to have his people survive and be orderly. |
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+ | Unfortunately, Carmanos and his followers both exalt and misunderstand, thinking he is a perfect deity. This has caused misery. | ||
===Gartemirus?=== | ===Gartemirus?=== | ||
Gartemirus was a good and wise ruler, but he believed he could create a society free of suffering or sacrifice. Natha constantly pointed out the error of this. After a millennium of trying to perfect society, he gave up, and his kingdom promptly collapsed. | Gartemirus was a good and wise ruler, but he believed he could create a society free of suffering or sacrifice. Natha constantly pointed out the error of this. After a millennium of trying to perfect society, he gave up, and his kingdom promptly collapsed. |