#Fantasy religions

[nateconnolly]

The whole universe spoke the same language

For the empire stretched from the Moon to each of the nine worlds.

But the edge of the universe remained untouched. 

And the men of the Moon said, “Come, let us go to the edge of the universe.”

They made starships with thicker hulls, and mightier engines.

The slaves of the Moon mined materials, and crafted sturdy walls.

But the One came down to see the empire and the ships that they were building.

The One said, “These ships are not built to travel from world to world, or from moon to moon.

“These ships are built to travel to the edge of the universe, where mortal men should not go.

“They did this in the same language, as the same tribe.

“But the slaves of the empire will no longer speak the language of the Moon.

“The other worlds will no longer be the same tribe as the men of the Moon.

“Let us confound their languages, so they cannot go where mortal men should not go.”

And the One said, “Let us confound their technologies, which they presumed to use against us.”

So the One hid the meanings of words, and the One struck the empire down from his holy sky.

[empyrean-thrones]

Religions/deities in Empyrean Thrones

Navarrian gods

Poromish gods

Ildros

Dracerath

???

[limbobilbo]

Tell about religion in your fantasy, sci fi or any sort of fictional world and I’ll tell you about mine.

[comikbook]

Violent Dog, 2023, Digital Painting by myself, Liz Pence

[ivynightshade]

fatima aamer bilal, excerpt from moony moonless sky’s ‘i am tired of making a religion out of my suffering’.

[text id: i am too little, and too much, and never enough.]

[phosilli]

eye of the vulture king

[descendinight]

study of picture 学习

[notebooks-and-laptops]

"If we use force against our enemies, our allies will remember it": an exploration of the Archon Quest in DAtV.

Not everyone will have gotten this quest, as it's only avaliable if you saved Minrathous over Treviso. So let me start by setting the scene:

Rook has just found a secret list of Venatori plans in a Venatori vault. This includes a list of magisters who have been engaging in 'illegal slavery' and also a list of the backers of said magisters.

Dorian and Mae are arguing over how best to use this information. They have decided that one of them should become the Archon, however, they both have different ways they would go about it:

Dorian wants to 'crush our enemies by any means neccessary' - 'destory them and their networks by any means neccessary'. Maeveas describes this as 'swords and spies and blackmail; the devious means [Dorian] learned in the South'.

Mae wants to 'do this in the open. Show the people of Tevinter that we're here for them'. She wants to make this information public in order to 'inspire'.

Both will support the other, depending on what Rook decides. Both of them want to abolish slavery and get rid of the rule of Altus mages; 'the Soporati deserve a say in their own governance'. They say they have the same aims, but they would go about getting them in different ways.

Except...none of what they say actually makes any sense whatsoever.

Tevinter is Not a Democracy

Tevinter is not a demoracy. People do not 'vote' on who represents them.

Instead, there is a magesterium made up of magisters. These roles are hereditary (although you can have apprentice who take your title instead). You rule, because of your birth, or because you were lucky enough that somebody who rules because of their birth picked you.

There is not an election cycle. The magisters do not have to do anything to remain in power beyond making sure people aren't angry/scared enough to stage a coup.

Political factions exist within the magisterium, but you have to work to gain those who already are in it onto your side, you can't just get people to vote more of your faction in.

So....with this in mind, how is Mae's plan ever going to work.

Mae talks about wanting to do things out in the open. She wants to show Tevinter that politicans can be here for them. But those people...don't have a say. They can't meaningfully change things, or vote, or do anything beyond have a (probably violent) revolution.

And yet, we are led to believe that Mae's option will be the path of least resistence. Mae's option is 'working within the system'. What system? Mae won't be able to do anything, even if the public is on her side. It doesn't matter.

The magisters who are Venatori may die by the end of the game, or they may simply step down and give their titles to their children to avoid public disgrace. Maybe, maybe if people are angry enough, the heirs and apprentaces from other houses and magisters will take their place. But I don't see how Mae publishing this list of people and their backers will get her into power.

Especially in a country where slavery is legal. You know the people who would want Dorian and Maevearis's plans to succeed? Slaves. Because they're the only ones unlikely to be culturally indocronated to believe slavery is a good thing. Those a 'rung above slavery' like Krem, may also want their plans to succeed, but they'd likely have to be convinced, or have something happen to them (e.g. like how Krem's family struggled to remain in business because slaves can do their work for free so the products never cost as much) to push them into seeing all this. I highly doubt most people in this society as is would distinquish much between 'legal' and 'illegal' slavery. What even is illegal slavery? Taking people from other nations into slavery without the consent of said nations? That's most of the nations in thedas then. And if slave imports are continuing then surely everyone already knows that this is taking place and that people are arranging it.

AND EVEN IF THEY DID THERE ISN'T A DEMOCRACY FOR THEM TO VOTE MAE IN. To get Mae in, Mae has to convince the magisterium - and that includes convincing them to let her back in ON TOP OF convincing them to elect her as their ruler OR she has to have a violent overthrow backed by the people. That is the only way that 'inspiring' the people can succeed here.

Meanwhile, We have Dorian. Tarquin acts like Dorians plan will mean another Anders style chantry explosion, with things getting worse before they get better. But Dorians plan is vague to say the least. Blackmail? Okay. Working within his place in the magisterium? Now that makes more sense to me; if he can work within his place that might get him to be archon which would in turn allow him to potentially effect meaningful change from the top down with less tape around what he can and can't do.

But Mae implies Dorian is going to start killing people; 'if we use force against our enemies they will remember it'. But....what? Okay maybe Dorian plans to assassinate some people? But if he does, their kids will just get in. Maybe he just plans to threaten to assassinate people (interesting move as that's what got his father, but I think that COULD be an intersting direction for him) and that's what it means by blackmail etc. But if that's the case, is he really going to get to be Archon for long?

Dorians way looks way more like working within the system or...maybe turning the system into some of kind of dictatorship in order to make it a democracy so that Soporati can vote? Do ex-slaves get the vote in this world?

None of this makes any sense, their plans are so so so vague, and what they pitch and what they want means their pitches should be switched.

Who should be the Archon?

Towards the end of this place, Maevaris and Dorian say that a quater of the magisterium are Venatori. This is the implied quater that we have information on, and who needs to be taken out of the magisterium. But...okay, how?

In DAI, three of our companions (Vivienne, Leliana and Cassandra) are up for the role of Divine. But the reason they're up for the role despite all three of them being in some way a break with the past, is that there is nobody else. Everyone else who was up for the position died in the conclave explosion. All three of them have also gained large leaps forward in their reputation based on their actions in the inquistion.

But in DAtV....even if that quater are all killed in the final fight with the Gods, that means 75% are left over. I can see perhaps Dorian - who has maintained his seat in the Magisterium - being able to elbow himself into that power vaccum, win over the 75% and become the Achon. But Mae has been kicked out of the Magisterium already. She's lost her title. How is she going to get herself back in. As detailed above, it won't be by democracy. The Viper talks about her 'triumphent return' but nobody has actually given me a plan to get her to that triumphent return???

Basically; it makes very little sense that these two people are up for archon, even now we know the current one is dead. The archon is usually an inherrited title, either by blood or by being the apprentace of the previous Archon. The Archon can be voted in by only the magisterium if the archon dies without either of these things, however, so that's what they're going for here. But why would any of these 75% of magisters vote for Mae or Dorian?

And even if you argue that the Venatori list had the illegal dealings of more than just those 25% so Dorian and Mae could blackmail them for the position; firstly, Mae has already said she's not blackmailing anyone. So that leaves only Dorian. But the Magisters can pass their seats onto their children, instead of giving in to Dorians demands. That way even if Dorian exposes them, they're no longer in the Magisterium. Similarly, it surely is well known that the magisterium are dealing in 'illegal slavery' and surely even if it isn't, there are ways those within the Magisterium can use their money and power to pretend that they weren't involved with that. Polticians in the real world get away with these lies all the time!

Violence and Thedas

I'm not planning on making this point at length, but I do think the quote I opened this with also makes no sense for Dragon Age. 'If we use force against our enemies, our allies will remember it'.

In a game. Which is. About fighting enemies.

Like, this is a fighting game. We fight our enemies in this game. We don't sit down for tea with the Gods. We don't invite the red templars over to discuss politics. We don't ask the darkspawn if there's any way they won't do what they want.

We've been killing venatori for the WHOLE GAME by this point. We've ALREADY been using force.

I guess that the writers are trying to make a distinction between political violence vs. the rest of the game but uhhh. That doesn't really work either, especially in a game series which has had political violence pretty much at its core (we start with a game about CIVIL WAR and then move swiftly into a game where one of your companions commits an act of terrorism to inspire an overthrow of an unjust system) but also like. The implication that all groups who are bad are just 'evil' and have no motivations beyond 'power' and 'being evil' is dumb, and dragon age games used to be better than that. The Venatori, the Antam, the Crows, Butcher, Illario, The Grey Wardens, all of these people are playing with politics. Dragon Age games used to know this, they ahve a whole thing about 'the great game'.

But. Whatever. I said I wouldn't labour this point and I won't, but this quote makes no sense in a game where we've already spent the whole time using force.

(and also...isn't trying to abolish slavery perhaps a good thing to use force against? This quote implies that both the enemies (pro-slavery) and the allies (anti-slavery) have a similar moral standing which uhhhh i wouldn't say is true)

Why did this happen; some closing remarks

DAtV is vague enough about Tevinter politics that I feel you could, without knowledge of the previous games lore/the codexes believe the following points

slavery is a fringe practice in Tevinter

tevinter is a democracy

In this set of circumstances, their plans would make a lot more sense. Mae really could hope to get people on her side to vote out magisters who are engaging in 'illegal slavery' and other unmentioned things. She really could try and get elected on the promise of honesty and doing things differently, but still working within the system and eventually being Archon.

But this isn't the case. What's happening here is 21st century Demoractic (American Centric) politics are being placed onto a system which is essentially ancient Rome with absolutely no effort to try and make either confirm.

These days there are serious questions surrounding democracy, truth and lies we tell the people, whether its better to work 'behind the scenes' for a better world or not etc. These are all questions that have becoming increasingly relevant in the rise of the far right since 2016. And those who think the system need to change have MANY MANY arguments about whether we need to burn down the system, or whether we need to work within the system and with the backing of everyone to achieve our aims.

But that doesn't work in Tevinter. It doesn't mean anything.

I think the writers were trying to short hand some contempary politics into this world, were purposely vague about the parts of tevinter that don't fit that mould, tried to act like slavery was some form of modern discrimination that can be easily brushed to one side, and then just...released the game like that, with this choice.

But thinking about it for more than 5 seconds makes it SO STUPID. I literally spent ALL of that cutscene going 'wait what??? huh???' i watched it back three times before I understood what they were doing and why Mae and Dorians views were supposed to make sense before I wrote this post.

Another example of the writers not taking established lore/politics/culture in this game seriously. Another example of this game not taking its setting into account. I just. Yeah. This one really pushes me.

td;lr this storyline about who is the future archon doesn't work because Tevinter is not a democracy and they don't actually take into account the political implications, nor lay out actual political plans on how they'd achieve their aims.

[prokopetz]

i've been trying to find a post you made a while ago about like. hearth-spirits for spaceships? and i have failed utterly. if you could provide any assistance, it would be greatly appreciated

I've posted on the topic a few times, but based on relative note counts you're probably thinking of this one.

[shellyscribbles]

Introduction to the world of Hallendrest

This story and world building, despite being a project I have worked on for years now, is still in the early stages and subject to change.

---

What is Hallendrest?

Hallendrest is a dying world where a central kingdom, the only one to successfully keep the ground from dying and turning grey, is slowly taking over control of the entire world.

---

Races of Hallendrest (with their magics)

Mages

Mages are beings who posses elemental magics as well as some ability to manipulate the inherit magic of the world through spells and totems. A mage can inherit magic from one or both parents though it is rare for a mage to inherit from both as it is less common for women to carry the magic. They sometimes carry the magic without having access to it.

Druids

Druids are beings who posses earth based magics. Their main abilities relate to the ability to transform themselves into the form of animals usually having a particular animal such as a wolf or lion that they are best at switching between.

They are also able to manipulate earth, water, and plant life.

The least used ability is the manipulation of small animals such as birds, ferrets and mice.

As with mages, their magic can be inherited from one or both parents with women being less likely to express it.

Humans

Humans are well, humans. They lack magic of any kind though they can sometimes, especially women, carry the magic in their bloodline without having access to or any expression of their magic.

---

Politics/Government

Vonterre is ostensibly ruled by a king who works in conjunction with a council of seven men who are overseen by a head. The council was established by the original government as a check on the king.

In reality, the king has no true power and is used as a scapegoat to take the blame for the unpopular actions of the council.

Most political maneuvering is related to taking control of new kingdoms as they join the expanding Vonterre. An emissary is sent from Kalt to assist with the transition usually resulting in a new government being established due to the rulers failure conform to the new order quickly enough.

---

Religions

Drestin (Drestinites) Worship of Drest. Original faith of the Druids but since the use of magic is forbidden, and the distinction between druid, mage, and human, is erased, it is followed by anyone. More common in rural areas though there are strong pockets of it in Kalt and Vonterre.

Drest: Druid God. Masculine. Interact with nature by force. Control nature. Command growth and development. Dominance over animals. Using animal forms and power gift given to Druids. Related to Drest’s drive to embody himself and live among the people of Hallendrest.

Core Ideals: Strength. Protection. Control.

Volar (Volarians) Worship of Vontis. Original faith of the Mages but since the use of magic is forbidden, it is followed by anyone. More common in rural areas, particularly the farthest points from Kalt.

Vontis: Mage Goddess. Soft interaction with Nature through magic. Manipulation of power. Largely impersonal.

Core Ideals: Humility. Responsibility. Stewardship.

Terr El Dur – Ancient religion worshiping both Drest and Vontis as a sacred couple. Largely out of practice though some remote villages still have fanes. Drest and Vontis were personal Gods with whom the people interacted and served.

Core Ideals: Love. Community. Service. Unity.

Hallenism (Hallenist) Worship of Hallen, Almighty silent God of Hallendrest. Gave magic to the world as a test. Full persons have no magic, having both neutralizes magic therefore humans are highest beings. Magic is a poison to the world. It is a test to see that men will reject power for the good of others and the world. False religion created by the first council of Kalt/Vonterre.

In accordance with his nature, he also withholds his power leaving it to men to redeem themselves and become worthy of entering the halls of Hallen. People receive multiple lives to try until they are worthy.

Dominate faith of Kalt and central Vonterre.

Core Ideals: Sacrifice. Obedience.

---

Important people (current and historic)

Torral - first King of Vonterre

Kallias Adlay - Present King of Vonterre

The Council of Kalt - Head of Council: Travastol. Operations half of council (day to day functions of the kingdom, logistics) : Berquist (Operations chair), Damek, and Halston. Executive half of council (maintaining law and order, preventing further death of Hallendrest through force):Khalid (Executive Chair), Kedar, and Rai.

Reena Adlay (Maiden: Zevach) - Third Princess of Adullam (new acquisition of Vonterre) married to Kallias as part of agreement that made Adullam a kingdom of Vonterre.

Kaisair Adlay - Kallias' father, previous king of Vonterre.

---

Other notable features:

As the death of Hallendrest spreads, Kalt at the heart of Vonterre is seen as remarkably alive and opulent. Its the only place where electricity, in door plumbing, and plant life are all ubiquitous.

The success of Kalt is attributed to the brutal measures King Kallias takes to keep the people from using magic including brutal public executions and the destruction of entire cities, with the people banished to the grey lands for disobeying the laws of Vonterre, usually by failing to surrender a fugitive.

[nateconnolly]

Azazel’s teeth have wound up in the tombs of kings, buried in their dead hands. Her teeth have also been found washed up with the trash and seaweed on every beach. A molar was brought up from the bottom of the world’s deepest pit. A canine was found in the nest of a crow. Azazel’s teeth are almost always misidentified—as human, or elephant, or dragon. Once, miners discovered a fang of Azazel and mistook it for a vein of gold. They dug and they dug, breaking off chunk after chunk, but their entire civilization came and went before they realized what they had uncovered: an angel’s colossal tooth. 

Each tooth is a different shape, size, color, density, and weight. Her throat is bottomless, and there are teeth all the way down. Infinitely many teeth glistened in the moonlight as we talked. 

I asked Azazel why her teeth are found on Earth.

“I spit them out when they begin to decay,” Azazel told me, with a voice so loud it rivaled hurricanes. “Entire species have evolved to feed off the pulp in my teeth. Parasites, scavengers, decomposers. It is an ecosystem that draws no energy from the Sun—for the light of the Sun cannot reach deep into my throat. No, I am the primary source of energy to the creatures who know only the dark. They are always hungry, always feeding. It is necessary, now and then, to spit out the rotten teeth.” 

“Do you replace them?”

“I have no need to replace them.”

“So, their number grows smaller as time passes.” I deduced. “One day you’ll run out.” 

Her eyes blinked in confusion. (They are not infinitely many, and number only somewhere in the millions.) Then they narrowed in amusement.

“The number of my teeth has never and will never grow smaller,” Azazel replied. “The Lord saw fit to give me infinitely many teeth. I lost my first tooth a thousand years after that. But infinity without one is still infinity. Another thousand years passed, and I lost another tooth. But infinity without two is still infinity. And infinity without one million is still infinity. Loosing my teeth is a process without end, subtraction without reduction.”

“So there is no end?”

“No end at all.”

“Is there a middle?”

Azazel smiled at my question. It was clear to me that she thought I was finally catching on, and that I had finally posed a question worth asking.

“It isn’t necessarily wrong to say there is a middle,” said Azazel, “but that is not how I think of it. Rather, I would say that it is all beginning.”

[cosmopoliturtle]

Chalkydri - Bringer of Dawn

Created for @13daysadvent

[limbobilbo]

Not memes but instead sharing some world building ive been doing:

A prayer to the god sons:

Javen lord Javen king on high, grant me your power and your wisdom

Sulgan lady Sulgan mother of all, grant your children safety

Lance lord Lancs hidden thunderer, may your rumble strike fear into the hearts of the non righteous

Adwe lord Adwe stalwart defender, grant me your prowess grant me your blade

Marthem fallen Marthem, my your death be not in vain

Osgrey great Osgrey the unknowable one, grant me your cunning grant me your wit

Maela lady Maela bringer of all, grant me my success and bring me my joys

Ael great Rel giver and taker, sister and brother, take what is owed and give what is granted

Lemea lady Lemea granter of prayer, hear my words and flow them to all

Ile of Ile triumph of all, all that was and all that will

May it be.

[comikbook]

In Sheep’s Clothing, 2023, Digital Painting by myself Liz Pence

[ivynightshade]

fatima aamer bilal, excerpt from moony moonless sky’s ‘i am tired of making a religion out of my suffering’.

[text id: my bones whimper at the thought of what could have been. / what could have been if i was not born in a grave?]

[oldschoolfrp]

Stone altars and painted statues surround a pentagram within a magic circle on the floor, from which rises a writhing column of smoke (Jon Glentoran, "The Temple of Testing" by A E Arkle, Warlock, The Fighting Fantasy Magazine #7, December 1985/January 1986)