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varyar
Learned Scribe
148 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 09:29:02
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The other day, I got to wondering what religious worship (organized, communal worship as opposed to private, individual prayer) was like in Faerun. A few lines from Races of Faerun describing sun and moon elf ceremonies always reminded me of the difference between a Catholic High Mass and a Baptist revival meeting (to an extent), and now I'm curious what other faiths are like when they come together to worship their gods. The 2E and 3E godbooks touch briefly on this for most gods, but not enough to get a useful picture, IMO. What soucebooks and novels, if any, take us through a Faerunian "Sunday mass from procession to recession" (so to speak)?
Along the same lines, what about the temples and churches themselves? It's easy to imagine, for example, Torm or Lathander having massive, ornate churches in the Faerunian equivalent of baroque architecture, while Chauntea more often has little shrines out in the fields and a small temple in the village where local farmers leave sheaves of wheat as offerings and thanks. This simplifies things somewhat in both cases, of course - one can easily picture a large and ornate high temple to the Earthmother in the capital of the Moonshaes and a small, simple battlefield memorial to Torm on some dusty plain in the Heartlands - but as a 'typical' style it seems right. What do you all think? What do you picture when it comes to the temple of a given god?
(real world terms used only for visual reference)
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Out Now on the DMs Guild:
Cormanthor: The First Flowering:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/502169/Cormanthor-The-First-Flowering
Leira the Mistshadow:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/493852/Leira-the-Mistshadow
Vandria Gilmadrith, Lady of Grief:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/481871/Vandria-Gilmadrith-Lady-of-Grief |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3746 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 22:33:37
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-Regarding the Seldarine:
Aerdrie Faenya: Aerdries temples, known as Aeries, are constantly maintained by her faithful. Like Aerdrie herself, her clergy, as a rule, enjoy freedom and do not like to be confined to small spaces. Most are built on high hilltops, or mountaintops. Aerdrie Faenyas clergy decorate her temples in manners that she approves of. Most have delicate crystalline spires, soft breezes, pleasant chimes, and colorful avian plumage. Some of her temples in the higher regions of Faerūns many mountains have created a very unique way of celebrating Aerdrie Faenya. They have carved out tunnels in the mountains they inhabit, creating honeycombing that would make a beholder proud. When the wind blows in these caverns, they produce whistling music, each note different, depending on the size and shape of the tunnel. The priests and priestess of Aerdrie Faenya also construct small shrines in her honor, and place them in various parts of Faerūns mountains. These shrines, which are usually little more than consecrated and blessed ledges, are usually only accessible to those with the ability of flight. This usually ensures the sanctity of the shrines, since her clergy members do not always have to check them every single day.
Corellon Larethian: Temples dedicated to Corellon Larethian are rare, since most Elves have their own special ways to pay homage to the Coronal of Arvandor. That is not to say, however, that Corellite temples do not exist. Shrines dedicated to Corellon Larethian are much more common, however.
Corellite temples and shrines are almost always shaped from great geological formations, such as great rock spires, or natural amphitheatres. Trees and other plants are incorporated into the designs of the temples and shrines, resulting in places of worship that weave stone and plant together. All Corellite temples and shrines afford any worshipper a clear view of the sky, moon, and stars.
Deep Sashelas: Temples dedicated to Deep Sashelas can be found in nearly every major undersea city- Iumashiashae, Fhaoralusyolkiir, Adoivaealumanth, Myth Nantar, and other cities. These temples are usually the physical, spiritual, social and cultural centers of Aquatic Elven settlements. The appearance temples vary from region to region. Temples in or around the Sea of Fallen Stars are typically made of coral. Temples found in the Great Sea are typically made of natural stone structures. All temples, however, are made to house aquatic worshipper and non-aquatic worshippers.
Eilistraee: Temples dedicated to Eilistraee appear very similar to those dedicated to the Seldarine- pristine, natural sites that need little modification. Temple complexes usually include a glade to dance in, a dark place removed from the harsh light of day, a fresh water stream, a forge and smithy, an access tunnel to the Underdark, and a nearby vein of iron, or a similar metal. Shrines dedicated to the Dark Maiden are not so complex, and need only be a moonlit glade, and a song to dance to.
Erevan Illesere: Because of the capricious and erratic nature of the Trickster, he allows no shrines or temples of himself in Faerūn. Of course, some of his followers have disobeyed him, and have erected shrines and temples in his honor. Erevan either does not care, or is secretly pleased with these followers for disobeying his orders. Given the faith's restriction prohibiting followers of the Trickster from ever worshiping their god in the same place twice, it is not surprising that few temples of Erevan exist in the Realms. However, a few sacred sites, scattered throughout Faerūn, serve as the foci of pilgrimages by Erevan's most daring followers. Overlooking the head of the Arglander River in the heart of the High lies a hidden cavern complex known as Quicksilver's Lair. Said to have once been the abode of Avachel, Erevan's Dragon companion, the legendary site is now the home of a clutch of mercury dragons, believed to be the descendants of Avachel. The caverns house a vast store of beautiful objects, most of which were brought there by followers of the Trickster. The resident Wyrms guard the objects with care. If the tales of the Fair Folk are to believed, the greatest collection of relics from the ancient Elven realms of Eiellur, Syorpiir, Orishaar, and Thearnytaar is hidden here as well, assembled as those realms crumbled before the armies of Ilythiir. All priests of the Trickster aspire to pray to their god once in their lives at Quicksilver's Lair, but the route to the site is a secret that each petitioner must discover separately. The High Peaks are said to be strewn with the lost treasures brought as offerings by those who failed to find the lair.
Fenmarel Mestarine: Neither camp regularly builds temples dedicated to the Lone Wolf. As a result, there are very few temples dedicated to Fenmarel Mestarine in Faerūn. Both Wild Elves and outcasts create shrines dedicated to the deity, however. The composition of these shrines varies from individual to individual, but most share some kind of common element and/or theme. Most are located in hidden hollows, and are decorated with bones, leaves, plants, teeth, claws, or something else that represents the Lone Wolfs savage nature. Exiles often include some kind of personal token that symbolizes the reasons for their separation from mainstream Elven society.
Hanali Celanil: Temples of Hanali Celanil are bright and beautiful, with fountains and springs, exotic gardens, magical effects, jewels of all different shapes, sizes and colors. Most of her temples are designed with young lovers in mind, so her temples always include romantic things- babbling brooks, small waterfalls, shady paths, quiet pools, leafy bowers, flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors. Interior chambers are designed to allow sunlight, moonlight and breezes to flow through. Many temples house great works of art, and act as museums. Other times, they are designed like great concert halls, to express verbal forms of art. The Vale of Evereska is a wide, alpine valley with an inner ring of knolls surrounding the center of the valley. The three highest hills, known as the Sisters, form a fairly even triangle around the city of Evereska. The highest hill of the three, Bellcrest, is the site of Hanali's temple, an enormous structure of white marble and moonstone, surrounded by gardens that bloom year-round, with rare flowers and exotic fruits. The Fountainheart of Shimmering Gold, as the temple is known, has housed countless Evereskan weddings, revels, and dances, and in addition to displaying works of Evereska's greatest artisans, it holds many greatest artistic treasures from other Elven civilizations, such as Ascalhom, Eaerlann, Illefarn, Myth Drannor, and Sharrven. A beautiful statue of Hanali Celanil within the city of Evereska itself is also the site of many pilgrims. Until recently, very few were aware that the statue, which was located roughly in the center of the city, had a very special purpose. This statue also served as the anchor of Evereskas Mythal. The war against the Phaerimm, and the reweaving of the citys Mythal marred the beauty of the statue, but it has since been repaired, and the sculpture of Lady Goldheart looks as ravishing as ever.
Labelas Enoreth: Temples and shrines dedicated to Labelas Enoreth are constructed in such a manner that they withstand the passage of time. For example, his temples and shrines are often built into ancient forests, or ancient mountains. His temples always include a large sundial inlaid on the floor, along with stained-glass windows, bathing the entire building in rays of colorful light. Temples of Labelas Enoreth often have libraries, and these libraries are said to be the greatest collection of Elven lore on Faerūn.
-And so on. I copied all of that from Elves of Faerūn, Vol. 1, which you can download from the link below if you want the rest.
-In terms of services, those would differ depending on what the reason for the service it. A funeral is obviously more grave than a wedding. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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varyar
Learned Scribe
148 Posts |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3746 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 12:41:29
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| -Majority of that is straight from Demihuman Deities, with additional details for specific places/locales added on a case-by-case basis, so Faiths & Avatars and Powers & Pantheons should have something comparable at the least. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
Edited by - Lord Karsus on 14 Mar 2012 12:42:07 |
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Rhewtani
Senior Scribe
USA
508 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2012 : 21:00:59
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| I think this comes from the complaints the citizens of Shadowdale make about the ... glass phoenix temple of Lathander there, but I image all Lathanderite temples to be awful monstrosities of light and color. I image the interiors to be reminiscient of the church in season 2 of True Blood. |
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Liturgies and churches of Faerun?
