ALVATIA: Religion - Presences

Presences

Presences may be called a ghod, saint, angel, daemon or spirit by one religion, but called the something else by another religion. However, there are two broad different kinds of Presences - Templed, and Untempled.

Templed Presences

Templed Presences are located in a specific place or places. This could be an object, a room, building, or site. In most cases Templed Presences serve and/or are served by those that serve where they are located. However, in some cases, the Priests of a Templed Presence serve to defend the world from the uncontrolled manifestation of a Presence.

Untempled Presences

Untempled Presences do manifest in a any place or location, or, as some scholars think, are templed in such a such large area such as a country, world, or universe that they can effectively manifest most anywhere.

Presences in Alvatia

Saints

Most Priests in Alvatia are followers of churches dedicated to various saints. In particular, St. Carmund, St. Eva, St. Rhys are popular. These particular saints of Alvatia are considered untempled, however, there are many saints that are specific to a particular site and have few followers beyond.

Angels & Archangels

In the past, some great miracles of the saints have resulted in the manifestation of angels or even archangels. Some Priests have claimed that they pray directly to angels, however, knowledge of this practice is unknown.

The High Lord / The All-Father

All of the saints and angels are said to be servants of a higher Presence, sometimes called the High Lord (by more heirarchical churches) or the All-Father (by less heirarchical churches.) However, no priest is dedicated only to the High Lord/All-Father, instead they are dedicated to one of his minions.

The Lady / The All-Mother

Most churches and saints do not speak of the Lord's Lady, or of the All-Mother. Some see the Lady as just the feminine manifestation of the High Lord, others see her as a lesser companion of the High Lord. A few see her as opposed to the masculine powers of the High Lord. In any case, there are no known priestesses dedicated to the Lady, but some minions such as St. Eva are closely associated with her.