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--- gods [2025/04/12 19:01] – andrew
+++ gods [2025/04/29 03:15] (current) – [The State of Religion] declan
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 ====== The Gods ======
-While there are congregations of organized religions, typically only the player characters may perform miracles of Divine Magic.
+While there are congregations of semi-organized religions, typically only the player characters may perform miracles of Divine Magic.
 In the distant past, in the troubled time where the Planes were just beginning to crack at the seams, the Gods suddenly vanished. A great silence befell those who heard the Gods so easily, and any cries for help or desperate prayers directed towards them seemingly went unanswered. Divine magic faltered, religions fell apart, but there were no signs of the Gods anymore. None interfered in the events that had been put into motion, and the planes shattered into the Shards we see today.
 In recent times, some beings carrying enough power to call themselves Gods have emerged.
+===== The State of Religion =====
+While many will refer to the various sects and cults of various Gods as clergy, and speak of their selected places of worship as temples or shrines, it is more out of habit than those words being true to the reality. Religions are as fragmented as the planes, with no overarching power structures within the faithful that have emerged post [[sundering|Sundering]]. The vast majority of people do not offer active worship to any God, seeing them as useless after everything fell apart. Some might offer casual worship, a prayer here and there, but little else.
+Those who do worship Gods actively are in the minority. Most think of them as- by the strictest definition of the word -cults, as in devoted groups of individuals with peculiar and unorthodox practices. The word carries a more negative connotation, however, so it's rarely used in the presence of the religious individuals in question. They're usually harmless, oftentimes helpful or friendly depending on their practices, so they have been allowed to create their own community spaces in certain populated areas. It's hard to be mad at people seeking comfort after many years of drastic changes, after all.
+Clergy or less active worshippers will typically be in smaller groups that practice on their own, leading to a variety of similar, yet never identical methods of worship all done in the name of the same deity. Teachings and prayers can be interpreted in many ways, so it was inevitable that a variety have emerged within these fledgling cults. This is both a point of contention and something of interest between the various sects, and depending on the God, might lead to conflict or collaboration.
+Most who do practice a religion and curate a public shrine do so more as a "side gig." Religion doesn't pay (unless you follow Mask, and are "taking tithes" from pockets) and very few people are interested in donating money to upkeep those spaces. This is part of the reason why these spaces are smaller or rather shabby looking the majority of the time. Clergy, thus, are usually known for whatever other work they do in the community first, and as clergy second. It isn't uncommon, though, for the profession of the clergy to have some ties to their deity of choice. Artisans and engineers make up the majority of [[isva|Isva's]] clergy, while surgeons and necromancers may look to [[valdis|Valdis]] for guidance.
+====== A List of Worshipped Gods ======
   * [[Aurora]] - Having only just appeared recently from [[aether|The Aether]], seemingly made of shattered starlight, Aurora claims dominion over light, space, gravity, and void. A Goddess of duality and balance, her followers emphasize the balance that can be found within this brand new landscape. There is order among the chaos, there is no darkness without light. She is young and inexperienced in comparison to many of her peers, but her newly found divine power is undeniable, making her an appealing option to worship for many adventurers. **Domain(s): Light, Nature, Twilight**
-  * [[Isva]] - (EES-vah) A Goddess seemingly born from the innovation the impending doom of [[The Sundering]] had caused, Isva claims dominion over technology and crafting. Her followers are forward thinkers, and shrines to Isva decorated in blueprints, tools, and prototypes. Artisans and inventors alike all look to Isva for the guiding spark of creation, and will typically dedicate their newest successful creations to her in some way by inscribing her sigil or writing her name on it somehow. **Domain(s): Forge, Light**
+  * [[Isva]] - (EES-vah) A Goddess seemingly born from the innovation the impending doom of [[sundering|The Sundering]] had caused, Isva claims dominion over technology and crafting. Her followers are forward thinkers, and shrines to Isva decorated in blueprints, tools, and prototypes. Artisans and inventors alike all look to Isva for the guiding spark of creation, and will typically dedicate their newest successful creations to her in some way by inscribing her sigil or writing her name on it somehow. **Domain(s): Forge, Light**
   * [[The Lady]] - A powerful being who lives on the [[WelMet]] , known only by her title. She inhabits the station itself, assisting those who maintain it. Some have begun to worship her in recent times, believing such powerful essence to be that of a Goddess. No one knows for sure what she truly is, however, not even The Lady herself. **Domain(s): Arcana, Knowledge, Order**
   * [[Letharr]] - (LEH-thar) The mysterious Goddess of water, death, and grief is rarely heard from. No one knows exactly when she first appeared, just that she has proven to be a comfort to many throughout her tenure. The always veiled, forever weeping Goddess is seen as weak by many, but those who follow her believe her shattered depiction to be one of true strength. To grieve is to love, and love is a very powerful thing indeed. Any small wave can become a tsunami if the conditions are right. **Domain(s): Death, Peace, Tempest**