As an aside, I have finally laid out point by point the plot of my first novel. I am excited! I feel like I am making progress; albeit very very slow progress. It was an excruciating process trying to make sure a story flows not only from the narrative perspective, but also that it makes sense. Juggling multiple characters and having their goals, actions, and accomplishments intersect and clash in different and interesting ways is very challenging. You have to be on constant watch for plot holes that could completely destroy the internal logic and narrative urgency within the novel.
It's also thrilling when you get it just right. And I think, for the first time, I have a story that I would not be ashamed to stamp my name on.
I'm giving it to my friend (edit: bff) to review tomorrow. We'll see how far my hopes are crushed ... haha.
...
Sorcery and the House of Vagrants
And so the Shepherd cast out the unfaithful from his flock.
They were corrupted, meandering, villains with no path.
He left them to the madness of the Wolf,
And lamented their aimlessness, a house of vagrants.
- Song of the Black Soul, Verse 13
It is said that when the Golden Cane snapped, sorcery was borne unto the world. Though the Faithful Forsaken would contest this point, the Sanctuary has always maintained that sorcery was never meant for every mortal. Its power was known to corrupt, pervert the mind, and seemed to be derived from demons. The Mad-Emperor was a known practitioner of these dark arts, and one need only look to his tyrannical rule to see the deadly consequences of such heresy.
The actual origins of sorcery (during the time period of this novel) are as yet unknown. Known effects of sorcery include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, mind control and domination, the manipulation of the elements, and the healing of bodily injury. Sorcery is still rather an uncertain element. It is uncertain why some mortals are able to control it, while others are capable of awe-inspiring, and terrible things.
Those who possess the power of sorcery, and who choose not to suppress it, but rather to embrace its dark temptations and abuse its diabolical power have been dubbed "Vagrant." These are people who have strayed from the Pristine Path, who no longer have purpose in their life, or guidance from the Shepherd.
There are, however, certain aspects of sorcery which are embraced by the Sanctuary. Healers, for example, are highly respected and well-regarded almost universally. Of course, all Healers are required to answer to Sanctuary Law. A vagrant is capable of healing; in such a case, it would still be considered Heresy to use such a power without the express sanction of the Path of Ministers.
In recent times, a new organization has sprung from the ashes of what remained of the Empire's once-mighty retinue of mage-enforcers. Calling themselves the Ardent Flame, the group is composed of the most powerful of the Mad Emperor's personal guard and advisors. They are each and every one dangerous beyond the most heinous of criminals, and brazenly defy the Sanctuary. Constantly on the move to evade the Sanctuary's Redeemers, other members of the Realm's Assembly have named them their very own House of Vagrants. A seat is reserved for them, each year in a different location, to represent the group's nomadic nature. Of course, the Ardent Flame never partake of the Assembly, as they would be seized and slain on sight.
I will discuss the Realm's Assembly in my next entry.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Pantheon and Other Minor Faiths
The Pantheon of Spirits
" ... The Zhent guide was quite insistent that we remove our shoes before entering the temple. My companion, bless his stubborn heart, had the misguided notion that he was exempt from such traditions and proudly stepped past the threshold with boots firmly in place.
Three days later, his shoes were utterly befouled by the stench of excrement: dog, bird, even human. It seemed there was nowhere he could go within this eastern Kingdom that did not have a ready pile of shit waiting for him. Our guide merely laughed when my friend complained, and recommended to him a speedy act of contrition to the Spirit of the Temple. My companion was a devout follower of the Pristine Path, but you would marvel at the speed at which he raced to deliver his penance to the Pantheon."
- From the Journal of Sanzo, Scholar
While the Empire is dominated by the Pristine Path, there are other nations and lands who follow other Faiths. These Faiths are often spurned by the brothers and sisters of the Sanctuary as heresy, and thus few within the Empire have any significant knowledge of these other so-called "minor" faiths. Of these, it is the worship of the Pantheon that has the greatest following. The Kingdom of Zhent has adopted worship of the Pantheon as their national faith in all but name, and many neighboring islands have come under the Pantheon's practices as well.
While the Sanctuary of the Pristine Path teaches that the one true deity (at least during one's mortal lifespan) is the Shepherd, followers of the Pantheon do not believe in only one god. Instead, most Zhents and other faithful give their devotions and prayers to countless Spirits, which are believed to embody all social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of life. Faithful offer prayer to the Spirit of Fertility for ripe fields and bountiful harvests, then dedicate a song to the Spirit of Passion to grant success in romance. They pray to the River Spirits to quell floods, the Fire Spirits to provide warmth for their houses, and even the Kitchen Spirits before grand festivals so that food may be especially delectable upon consumption. Politicians pray to the Spirit of Fortune, and students pray to the Spirit of Knowledge.
It is said that all Spirits are ruled by a single Overgod, otherwise referred to as the Spirit King, who is also said to be the King of Zhent's Divine form. Only the Zhentian King has ever offered verbal prayer to the Spirit King; to do so otherwise would be an affront and great offense to the mortal King, and an unwelcome annoyance to the Spirit.
Every physical object, from the lowliest pebble to the most towering of statues is said to harbor a Spirit. And while it is not necessary to offer prayer to every single Spirit one comes across, it is considered extremely ill luck to deliberately or negligently offend any Spirit. It is not uncommon for mothers to warn children never to deface a statue, lest it fall over and smash their little legs.
The worship of the Pantheon is not organized into any church or temple as the Pristine Path is. Rather, each faithful offers prayer in their own way and to those spirits they believe would be most capable of aid. Those who have studied the Spirits and dedicate their lives to them are referred to as Sages, but there is no governing body to which these priests answer to, nor are they sanctioned by the Zhent, or any other political faction. Instead, these sages hold sway based on the size of their following.
To test their strength and determine the superiority of one's faithfulness, these Sages often organize tournaments and duels to test the extent of their own powers. Such competitions are foreign and bizarre to behold, often with no clear indication of the conditions for victory. One foreign observer once happened upon two sages laughably attempting to perform handstands.
The Faithful Forsaken
So was the Foul Wolf beaten
Fleeing, back to the Abyss
And yet, the cane of gold was broken
its power to us freely given
Never to be forsaken.
- Song of the Gift, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals (Apocrypha)
An offshoot of the Pristine Path, followers of the Faithful Forsaken (or simply the Forsaken) were once the devout of the Sanctuary. However, when the Sacred Hymnals were revealed to condemn the use and proliferation of sorcery, a large number of priests abandoned the Pristine Path and formed their own denomination, dubbing themselves the Faithful Forsaken.
The teachings of the Faithful Forsaken are essentially the same as those of the Pristine Path, to the extent that they share the first hundred or so of verses from the Sacred Hymnals. The two faiths also share a similar governing body, though the Forsaken refer to their church as the Haven. Haven similarly has its own set of Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers.
Sorcery is where the two versions begin to deviate. The Faithful Forsaken believe that sorcery is no more than a tool, no different than a spoon, axe, sword, or shield, and that any capable of wielding it should be allowed so by the Shepherd's divine providence. To that end, the Forsaken have even adopted newly proliferated verses to which they have amended the Sacred Hymnals. Officially the Sanctuary views these verses as apocrypha and its worshipers as heretics. Still, the Forsaken number few and the Sanctuary has yet to take open action against this middling faith.
The Path to Freedom
We of able body and sound mind,
We of means and ability,
The Blind lead us no longer,
Shackles bind us no more,
The Truth shall set us Free.
- From the Devotions of the Prophet (Heresy)
Another offshoot of the Sanctuary, the Path to Freedom is filled with people who have deviated from the teachings of the Sanctuary, and believe that it is the Wolf - not the Shepherd - that deserves worship. These people devote themselves to the vices: greed, lust, pride and countless others, all in the name of freedom, liberty and individual expression. The Sanctuary quashes these groups wherever they come across them, believing them to be dangerous dissidents, but some small orders have managed to elude purification.
The Path to Freedom has no governing body, instead relying on a single man dubbed "The Prophet" to spread the Faith. The Prophet is revered above all others, but is constantly on the move, for fear of persecution from the Sanctuary. He spreads his devotions through secret signals: ravens, Qi pieces, and letters shrouded in code.
I will discuss Sorcery in my next entry.
" ... The Zhent guide was quite insistent that we remove our shoes before entering the temple. My companion, bless his stubborn heart, had the misguided notion that he was exempt from such traditions and proudly stepped past the threshold with boots firmly in place.
Three days later, his shoes were utterly befouled by the stench of excrement: dog, bird, even human. It seemed there was nowhere he could go within this eastern Kingdom that did not have a ready pile of shit waiting for him. Our guide merely laughed when my friend complained, and recommended to him a speedy act of contrition to the Spirit of the Temple. My companion was a devout follower of the Pristine Path, but you would marvel at the speed at which he raced to deliver his penance to the Pantheon."
- From the Journal of Sanzo, Scholar
While the Empire is dominated by the Pristine Path, there are other nations and lands who follow other Faiths. These Faiths are often spurned by the brothers and sisters of the Sanctuary as heresy, and thus few within the Empire have any significant knowledge of these other so-called "minor" faiths. Of these, it is the worship of the Pantheon that has the greatest following. The Kingdom of Zhent has adopted worship of the Pantheon as their national faith in all but name, and many neighboring islands have come under the Pantheon's practices as well.
While the Sanctuary of the Pristine Path teaches that the one true deity (at least during one's mortal lifespan) is the Shepherd, followers of the Pantheon do not believe in only one god. Instead, most Zhents and other faithful give their devotions and prayers to countless Spirits, which are believed to embody all social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of life. Faithful offer prayer to the Spirit of Fertility for ripe fields and bountiful harvests, then dedicate a song to the Spirit of Passion to grant success in romance. They pray to the River Spirits to quell floods, the Fire Spirits to provide warmth for their houses, and even the Kitchen Spirits before grand festivals so that food may be especially delectable upon consumption. Politicians pray to the Spirit of Fortune, and students pray to the Spirit of Knowledge.
It is said that all Spirits are ruled by a single Overgod, otherwise referred to as the Spirit King, who is also said to be the King of Zhent's Divine form. Only the Zhentian King has ever offered verbal prayer to the Spirit King; to do so otherwise would be an affront and great offense to the mortal King, and an unwelcome annoyance to the Spirit.
Every physical object, from the lowliest pebble to the most towering of statues is said to harbor a Spirit. And while it is not necessary to offer prayer to every single Spirit one comes across, it is considered extremely ill luck to deliberately or negligently offend any Spirit. It is not uncommon for mothers to warn children never to deface a statue, lest it fall over and smash their little legs.
The worship of the Pantheon is not organized into any church or temple as the Pristine Path is. Rather, each faithful offers prayer in their own way and to those spirits they believe would be most capable of aid. Those who have studied the Spirits and dedicate their lives to them are referred to as Sages, but there is no governing body to which these priests answer to, nor are they sanctioned by the Zhent, or any other political faction. Instead, these sages hold sway based on the size of their following.
To test their strength and determine the superiority of one's faithfulness, these Sages often organize tournaments and duels to test the extent of their own powers. Such competitions are foreign and bizarre to behold, often with no clear indication of the conditions for victory. One foreign observer once happened upon two sages laughably attempting to perform handstands.
The Faithful Forsaken
So was the Foul Wolf beaten
Fleeing, back to the Abyss
And yet, the cane of gold was broken
its power to us freely given
Never to be forsaken.
- Song of the Gift, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals (Apocrypha)
An offshoot of the Pristine Path, followers of the Faithful Forsaken (or simply the Forsaken) were once the devout of the Sanctuary. However, when the Sacred Hymnals were revealed to condemn the use and proliferation of sorcery, a large number of priests abandoned the Pristine Path and formed their own denomination, dubbing themselves the Faithful Forsaken.
The teachings of the Faithful Forsaken are essentially the same as those of the Pristine Path, to the extent that they share the first hundred or so of verses from the Sacred Hymnals. The two faiths also share a similar governing body, though the Forsaken refer to their church as the Haven. Haven similarly has its own set of Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers.
Sorcery is where the two versions begin to deviate. The Faithful Forsaken believe that sorcery is no more than a tool, no different than a spoon, axe, sword, or shield, and that any capable of wielding it should be allowed so by the Shepherd's divine providence. To that end, the Forsaken have even adopted newly proliferated verses to which they have amended the Sacred Hymnals. Officially the Sanctuary views these verses as apocrypha and its worshipers as heretics. Still, the Forsaken number few and the Sanctuary has yet to take open action against this middling faith.
The Path to Freedom
We of able body and sound mind,
We of means and ability,
The Blind lead us no longer,
Shackles bind us no more,
The Truth shall set us Free.
- From the Devotions of the Prophet (Heresy)
Another offshoot of the Sanctuary, the Path to Freedom is filled with people who have deviated from the teachings of the Sanctuary, and believe that it is the Wolf - not the Shepherd - that deserves worship. These people devote themselves to the vices: greed, lust, pride and countless others, all in the name of freedom, liberty and individual expression. The Sanctuary quashes these groups wherever they come across them, believing them to be dangerous dissidents, but some small orders have managed to elude purification.
The Path to Freedom has no governing body, instead relying on a single man dubbed "The Prophet" to spread the Faith. The Prophet is revered above all others, but is constantly on the move, for fear of persecution from the Sanctuary. He spreads his devotions through secret signals: ravens, Qi pieces, and letters shrouded in code.
I will discuss Sorcery in my next entry.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Pristine Path
Before me lies a field of alabaster white.
In the distance, I see storms that must be weathered.
In the distance, I see mountains that must be crossed.
In the distance, I see a Red Eye that must be spurned.
I question whether I can overcome these things.
But with the Shepherd as my guide.
I walk the Pristine Path.
- Song of Truths, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals
While the Known Realms is home to many religions, some of which hold only shades of difference from others, it is the Pristine Path that dominates the land. It is named for the biblical story of the path with which the first man ascended to Paradise and became the first Shepherd.
Deity(ies): The Shepherd, The Caretaker, The Wolf
The Shepherd is the One True God, as spoken by the Sanctuary and the Hymnals. The Shepherd watches over mortals lives with painstaking care and careful planning, hoping to see his wards learn and grow and be good to one another. He teaches the Virtues: Compassion, Empathy, and Kindness. He protects the weak and ensures Justice and Fairness are the prevailing law of the land. He is revered by all who follow the Pristine Path and is said to guide mortals to their final resting place in Paradise.
The Hymnals also tell of the Shepherd's Cane, a verse of which refers to how the Cane is passed onto another at the end of the Path. To most modern religious scholars, this implies the existence of another Deity that watches over mortals in Paradise, now commonly referred to as the Caretaker. It should be noted that nowhere in the Hymnals is this other deity named, however, and whether the Caretaker is in fact a separate entity, or simply another aspect of the Shepherd, is a subject of heated debate amongst many scholars within the Holy City, Mecca.
The counterpart to the Shepherd is Fenrir, the Red-Eyed Wolf, or simply The Wolf. He is so named for his wicked attempts to cause pilgrims to stray from the Pristine Path, upon which he devours their souls and sends them to the Restless Abaddon. The existence of radical and heretic cults devoted to his cause have shown that Fenrir values selfishness, violence, and injustice. The Hymnals sing that he is forever on the hunt for souls who waver in their piety, and delights in dragging down devout followers of the Path.
Several captured heretics and worshippers of the Wolf have claimed that Fenrir is not the devil that he is described to be, despite all evidence and teaching to the contrary. They claim that he is another aspect of humanity - one of individual expression. freedom, and even love - and that he should be given the same respect and worship as the Shepherd, if not more. Most of these heretics recant these blasphemous ravings, however, under the Sanctuary's "purifying" fires.
Religious Institution: The Sanctum Penitent
The Teachings of the Pristine Path are proliferated by the Sanctum Penitent. The Sanctum Penitent operates chiefly within Mecca, the Holy City. All who teach the Path are required to journey to Mecca at least once every few years (depending on their mission and current location) in order to pay respects and receive the latest divinations of the Sanctum. Medina is located governed by the highest ranking priest within the Sanctuary, referred to as High Father. In order to spread the teachings of the Pristine Path, the High Father delegates Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers to be the Shepherd's eyes, ears, sword and shield within the Known Realms.
Ministers are the Shepherd's words made law, and they often serve as arbitrators of disputes, leaders of congregations, and judges of holy law. Ministers are accepted within the Sanctuary as leaders, though the Hymnals do not give its servants rank. The wisest and most reverent of Ministers provide counsel to High Father within Mecca, but even those not so stationed are afforded great respect by everyone from commoners to Kings.
Healers do as their title implies, but they offer more than healing for the flesh. Healers are also the Sanctuary's Confessors, who receive confession from penitent pilgrims and absolve sin from the soul. They answer directly to the Ministers.
Redeemers are the Sanctuary's sword and shield on the mortal plane. Redeemers are knights, vigilant and honorable, sworn to uphold Sanctuary and Pristine Law. They answer to the Ministers. A large contingent is always present in Mecca to defend it from invaders, though in recent times the realm has found more Redeemers outside the Holy City as well. They are so named in the hopes that even the most vile of criminals and barbarians may be reformed and taught to follow the Path.
Those who follow the Pristine Path, but do not serve within the Sanctuary's ordered ranks are referred to as Pilgrims.
Symbols: The Broken Cane
Priests, including all Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers, are required to wear the symbol of the Broken Cane in deference to the Shepherd. The Hymnals sing of the ancient story, how when the Shepherd first came to encounter Fenrir.
For most of the early times, sin was unheard of, vice was nonexistent, and evil was impossible. This paradise on earth was soon ruined by the arrival of the Red-Eyed Wolf, however. Fenrir brought sin to the land, teaching men to covet, to be jealous, to use violence to take what is desired by force. The Shepherd soon realized that his Paradise was being filled with corrupted men.
Thus, he went to entreat with the Wolf, hoping to show the vile beast the error of his ways. In return for leaving his wards alone, the Shepherd offered the Wolf friendship and companionship. Fenrir laughed, and told the Shepherd he had no need for friends. The Shepherd tried again to treat with him, this time by granting the Wolf his own afterlife to rule, what would become known as the Restless Abaddon. The Wolf was content to prowl these empty wastes for a time, but soon grew discontent and began to prey on mortals once again.
The Shepherd went a final time to plead with the wolf to abandon his vile ways, offering his most prized possession - his Golden Cane. The Cane was said to harbor extraordinary power, though only to those who could control it. The Wolf greedily seized the Cane, but its nature and intent violated the spirit of their bargain. It is said the Golden Cane wrested itself away from the Wolf's grasp and smashed itself against the vile beast, breaking in half and losing all of its power. The Wolf ran howling back to the Abaddon, and the Shepherd taught his faithful a valuable lesson: redeem when possible, but defend when necessary.
I will discuss the minor Faiths in my next entry.
In the distance, I see storms that must be weathered.
In the distance, I see mountains that must be crossed.
In the distance, I see a Red Eye that must be spurned.
I question whether I can overcome these things.
But with the Shepherd as my guide.
I walk the Pristine Path.
- Song of Truths, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals
While the Known Realms is home to many religions, some of which hold only shades of difference from others, it is the Pristine Path that dominates the land. It is named for the biblical story of the path with which the first man ascended to Paradise and became the first Shepherd.
Deity(ies): The Shepherd, The Caretaker, The Wolf
The Shepherd is the One True God, as spoken by the Sanctuary and the Hymnals. The Shepherd watches over mortals lives with painstaking care and careful planning, hoping to see his wards learn and grow and be good to one another. He teaches the Virtues: Compassion, Empathy, and Kindness. He protects the weak and ensures Justice and Fairness are the prevailing law of the land. He is revered by all who follow the Pristine Path and is said to guide mortals to their final resting place in Paradise.
The Hymnals also tell of the Shepherd's Cane, a verse of which refers to how the Cane is passed onto another at the end of the Path. To most modern religious scholars, this implies the existence of another Deity that watches over mortals in Paradise, now commonly referred to as the Caretaker. It should be noted that nowhere in the Hymnals is this other deity named, however, and whether the Caretaker is in fact a separate entity, or simply another aspect of the Shepherd, is a subject of heated debate amongst many scholars within the Holy City, Mecca.
The counterpart to the Shepherd is Fenrir, the Red-Eyed Wolf, or simply The Wolf. He is so named for his wicked attempts to cause pilgrims to stray from the Pristine Path, upon which he devours their souls and sends them to the Restless Abaddon. The existence of radical and heretic cults devoted to his cause have shown that Fenrir values selfishness, violence, and injustice. The Hymnals sing that he is forever on the hunt for souls who waver in their piety, and delights in dragging down devout followers of the Path.
Several captured heretics and worshippers of the Wolf have claimed that Fenrir is not the devil that he is described to be, despite all evidence and teaching to the contrary. They claim that he is another aspect of humanity - one of individual expression. freedom, and even love - and that he should be given the same respect and worship as the Shepherd, if not more. Most of these heretics recant these blasphemous ravings, however, under the Sanctuary's "purifying" fires.
Religious Institution: The Sanctum Penitent
The Teachings of the Pristine Path are proliferated by the Sanctum Penitent. The Sanctum Penitent operates chiefly within Mecca, the Holy City. All who teach the Path are required to journey to Mecca at least once every few years (depending on their mission and current location) in order to pay respects and receive the latest divinations of the Sanctum. Medina is located governed by the highest ranking priest within the Sanctuary, referred to as High Father. In order to spread the teachings of the Pristine Path, the High Father delegates Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers to be the Shepherd's eyes, ears, sword and shield within the Known Realms.
Ministers are the Shepherd's words made law, and they often serve as arbitrators of disputes, leaders of congregations, and judges of holy law. Ministers are accepted within the Sanctuary as leaders, though the Hymnals do not give its servants rank. The wisest and most reverent of Ministers provide counsel to High Father within Mecca, but even those not so stationed are afforded great respect by everyone from commoners to Kings.
Healers do as their title implies, but they offer more than healing for the flesh. Healers are also the Sanctuary's Confessors, who receive confession from penitent pilgrims and absolve sin from the soul. They answer directly to the Ministers.
Redeemers are the Sanctuary's sword and shield on the mortal plane. Redeemers are knights, vigilant and honorable, sworn to uphold Sanctuary and Pristine Law. They answer to the Ministers. A large contingent is always present in Mecca to defend it from invaders, though in recent times the realm has found more Redeemers outside the Holy City as well. They are so named in the hopes that even the most vile of criminals and barbarians may be reformed and taught to follow the Path.
Those who follow the Pristine Path, but do not serve within the Sanctuary's ordered ranks are referred to as Pilgrims.
Symbols: The Broken Cane
Priests, including all Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers, are required to wear the symbol of the Broken Cane in deference to the Shepherd. The Hymnals sing of the ancient story, how when the Shepherd first came to encounter Fenrir.
For most of the early times, sin was unheard of, vice was nonexistent, and evil was impossible. This paradise on earth was soon ruined by the arrival of the Red-Eyed Wolf, however. Fenrir brought sin to the land, teaching men to covet, to be jealous, to use violence to take what is desired by force. The Shepherd soon realized that his Paradise was being filled with corrupted men.
Thus, he went to entreat with the Wolf, hoping to show the vile beast the error of his ways. In return for leaving his wards alone, the Shepherd offered the Wolf friendship and companionship. Fenrir laughed, and told the Shepherd he had no need for friends. The Shepherd tried again to treat with him, this time by granting the Wolf his own afterlife to rule, what would become known as the Restless Abaddon. The Wolf was content to prowl these empty wastes for a time, but soon grew discontent and began to prey on mortals once again.
The Shepherd went a final time to plead with the wolf to abandon his vile ways, offering his most prized possession - his Golden Cane. The Cane was said to harbor extraordinary power, though only to those who could control it. The Wolf greedily seized the Cane, but its nature and intent violated the spirit of their bargain. It is said the Golden Cane wrested itself away from the Wolf's grasp and smashed itself against the vile beast, breaking in half and losing all of its power. The Wolf ran howling back to the Abaddon, and the Shepherd taught his faithful a valuable lesson: redeem when possible, but defend when necessary.
I will discuss the minor Faiths in my next entry.
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