You are here:   Forum
Register  |  Login
 Forum
Minimize
 
ForumForumCampaign Discus...Campaign Discus...Gaia GeneralGaia GeneralReligionReligion
Disabled 
Previous
 
Next
 Disabled
New Post
 7/18/2007 10:02 AM
 

--Zorandor--

Obedience to the laws is an absolute.  There are no exceptions.  Only by following the laws in exactness, can true happiness and enlightenment be achieved.  Second, until this, is the never ending drive for more knowledge.

Many of the rules that a follower of Zorandor lives by make little sense to one not familiar with the faith.  Only by living the laws and careful study and contemplation can one come to understand the true meaning of the laws.

Failure to follow the laws is a significant sin, and requires a great effort to overcome.  Each of these cases is handled by a priest who gives clear instructions to the sinner on the difficult path he must follow for redemption. 

In return for their obedience, followers of Zorandor are given great knowledge.  Temples of Zorandor contain vast libraries for study and contemplation.  They collect and copy any books that they do not already have, that contain real knowledge. 

New Post
 7/18/2007 10:03 AM
 
 Modified By Jeremy (Eloc)  on 7/18/2007 10:06:47 AM

--Orkist--

Fire is the most powerful and sacred of all the elements. Much can be learned by watching a fire burn. Fire is not, however, expected to be allowed to run free, else it would consume the world in fiery glory. Some extremists do not necessarily agree that it shouldn't be allowed to do so. Worshipers and Priests alike are expected to honor and control fires, should they encounter them.

Each year in the spring, the church organizes local burnings, where they bring something of value to the church and it is burned to the glory of Orkist. It is believed that such burnings grant the participants a heaping of blessings in return.

It is expected that at least once in a worshiper's life that they will make a pilgrimage to one of the great centers of the fire. It is believed that Mount Sa'gra is one of these sites, as well as the Fire Circle. At least on the first trip, the worshipper is expected to throw their most valuable physical possession into the flames. This allows the worshiper to demonstrate their dedication to the flame. This would replace the burning ceremony for the worshiper for the year.

Donations to the church are not necessarily required, but are highly sought after. Those who commit sins in the eyes of Orkist are expected to pay money to the church, as part of the redemption process. Those unable to pay are required to assist the church in some other manner.

Orkist's primary tenets include the love of fire & the natural order, obedience to local laws, and completing the burning yearly. The church also forbids cheating and taking advantage of another. Some Priests have also forbid members from joining their local militaries, but this is rare.

The priests of Orkist dress very well indeed. Some priests of other religions may take a vow of poverty, but not the priests and priestesses of Orkist. At the bottom of the chain you find the Candles, who wear a robe of fine white cloth and a torque of silver around their necks. Important cities may have a Torch or two, who wears a robe of red silk and a golden torque.
At the very top, there are Flames, who wear blue or purple silk robes with golden torques with jewels set in them.

The smaller churches are relatively plain, to stop non-believers robbing them. They typically house only a small stained glass window and well built fire. The great cathedral, by contrast, is wonderful to behold, with its golden altar, stained glass windows, a beautiful fire, and pico-wood benches with soft pillows for those who kneel to pray.

A believer who steals from his or her Church, and that includes embezzlement at even the highest levels, is cut off from Orkist. Such a person is also excommunicated, will have bad luck in life in a myriad of small ways, and, it is believed, will go to Hell in the afterlife and their souls will wonder starving in a plane of cold for all eternity.

A good worshipper will have their own idea of Heaven awaiting them in their afterlife. Whilst those who serve Orkist do not want to die, they do not fear death as much as others because of their thoughts of a happy afterlife. When they eventually do die, the preferred method of burial is public cremation.

EDIT: typo

New Post
 7/18/2007 2:10 PM
 

Do any of the religions try to explain magic and its association with the deities?

New Post
 7/18/2007 2:50 PM
 

Off-topic (kinda)... are you planning on organizing this material into actual "Pages" on the site, or are we waiting until the Campaign Manager module is far enough to be useable to do that sort of thing?


- Fooberichu
www.seeleyware.com
New Post
 7/18/2007 5:01 PM
 

fooberichu wrote

Off-topic (kinda)... are you planning on organizing this material into actual "Pages" on the site, or are we waiting until the Campaign Manager module is far enough to be useable to do that sort of thing?

So far, the only ability I have to modify anything is the forums.  If I can turn these to content pages and then link a forum entry to discussions about them, that would be ideal.

Disabled 
Previous
 
Next
 Disabled
ForumForumCampaign Discus...Campaign Discus...Gaia GeneralGaia GeneralReligionReligion