Editing Spolitism for Bogmoth
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− | + | This is background information for Spol, Spolites, and Spolitism for the game [[Scarlet_Reeds]], and specifically for the character Dapyx Fogmoth. | |
− | This is background information for Spol, Spolites, and Spolitism for the game [[Scarlet_Reeds]], and specifically for the character Dapyx | + | [[File:Spol.png|right|750px]] |
=General Information= | =General Information= | ||
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==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 some of the least bothered by the Lunar use of Chaos, since their own traditions are about dealing with inhuman monsters. |
==Religion== | ==Religion== | ||
− | Spolitism is an animist and theist religion | + | Spolitism is an animist and theist Pelandan religion on the underworld and the propitiation of spirits through a variety of methods that include human sacrifice. While similar to the Jernotian Way, it is not identical. 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. Idomon and Gertemirus are not as central as they are in the Jernotian Way, and Spolitism speaks less of a unified group of “High Gods” who rule from the mountain top. |
− | + | During the Bleak Times (which the Spolites deny ever ended), the Spolites learned to negotiate and appease dark powers and forces other people attacked or escaped. They found older practices of sacrifice to be a useful starting point to understand propitiation and shamanic mediation for these purposes, and so they broke Gartemirus’ ban on human sacrifice. 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. | |
− | Additionally, many (but not all) of the sacrificial acts involve willing participants. Indeed, the magic is infinitely more powerful this way | + | Additionally, many (but not all) of the sacrificial acts involve willing participants. Indeed, the magic is infinitely more powerful this way. Their 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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==What Makes us Great?== | ==What Makes us Great?== | ||
− | We know | + | We know the Bleak Truths: Night always returns, Shadow Never Leaves, Death is, If we are not light we are Dark, and the Old Gods demand payment in blood. We value survival and scoff at false virtue. We have no time for fanciful tales of a world without pain, for we know such stories cause trouble. |
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− | + | We know our debts, we accept that death is, and we know Natha will eventually all back to balance, even herself. We know the time of DerMaElsor will come, when all is reunified and life and death embrace in Hagu. | |
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==Where do we Live?== | ==Where do we Live?== | ||
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==Do We Worship Evil, As Others Claim?== | ==Do We Worship Evil, As Others Claim?== | ||
− | Of course not. You have been told that we worship the Evil God of the Lie. But I say to you that we worship Vogestes the Spearman, the Inspired One. He taught us that Death Is, and he taught us how to make proper sacrifices. His truth is that sacrifice makes the world. | + | Of course not. You have been told that we worship GanEstoro, the Evil God of the Lie. But I say to you that we worship Vogestes the Spearman, the Inspired One. He taught us that Death Is, and he taught us how to make proper sacrifices. His truth is that sacrifice makes the world. For that, Idomon, Gartemirus, and Carmanos all denounced him. |
You have heard human sacrifice is evil, but I say to you that the Old Gods demand human sacrifice, as is their right. Thus, it is not evil. To claim otherwise is not enlightened, it is foolish. | You have heard human sacrifice is evil, but I say to you that the Old Gods demand human sacrifice, as is their right. Thus, it is not evil. To claim otherwise is not enlightened, it is foolish. | ||
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Who do you wish to know? | Who do you wish to know? | ||
− | === | + | ===Ganesaturus?=== |
− | + | Though some call him that, we know him as Vogestes the Spearman. He 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. By right, he took what was his during the Bleak Times and brought it to the Black Mountain. A war was fought between him and Idovanus. Their struggle was great, but they reconciled when it was clear their struggle would end the world. Vogestes accepted law and custom must organize his demands, and Idovanus acknowledged the necessity of Barupanoss, the sacrifices that maintain the world. | |
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===Gerra?=== | ===Gerra?=== | ||
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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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===Derdromus?=== | ===Derdromus?=== | ||
− | Derdromus is the Final Winner, the once and future king of the Underworld. Turos invaded the underworld to find a wife, and while there he also took the underworld and all its treasures. Derdromus thus became the Monster Man, wandering the surface and causing strife as he seeks what he lost. Derdromus is a terrifying force that must be appeased. Upon his throne, he is divine right, for good and for ill. | + | Derdromus is the Final Winner, the once and future king of the Underworld. Turos invaded the underworld to find a wife, and while there he also took the underworld and all its treasures. Derdromus thus became the Monster Man, wandering the surface and causing strife as he seeks what he lost. Derdromus is a terrifying force that must be appeased. Upon his throne, he is divine right, for good and for ill. |
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===Azerlo?=== | ===Azerlo?=== | ||
Azerlo is the wife of Derdromus, she is compassion, for good and for ill. Supposedly, others call her Xiola Umbar, but that is not the name she told us. Derdromus and she are estranged since she was tricked into helping Turos. | Azerlo is the wife of Derdromus, she is compassion, for good and for ill. Supposedly, others call her Xiola Umbar, but that is not the name she told us. Derdromus and she are estranged since she was tricked into helping Turos. | ||
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===Natha?=== | ===Natha?=== | ||
Natha is the Balancer, the daughter and synthesis of the Oath Avengers Nansha and Naquasha. She brings low those who have become great by ignoring obligations to the Old Gods, and enforces the rights of the ones who made the world. The Lunars believe they follow Natha. We will see. | Natha is the Balancer, the daughter and synthesis of the Oath Avengers Nansha and Naquasha. She brings low those who have become great by ignoring obligations to the Old Gods, and enforces the rights of the ones who made the world. The Lunars believe they follow Natha. We will see. | ||
+ | ===The Red King?=== | ||
+ | The Red King was a good ruler and loving husband to Naveria. Tragically, he was also her father. He proved his nobility by accepting his fate and he was sacrificed by Natha. In doing so, he earned his place on the Mountain, and ensured his land would be renewed as he had been. | ||
===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. | ||
+ | ===Turos?=== | ||
+ | Turos is the God of Power, and many of the Urbanites view him as a God of Kingship. They do not seem to realize this implies Kingship is about power and might rather than justice and right. We revere him too, for power is necessary for survival, and greatness is his gift to give, but we know his place. | ||
===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. |