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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1309 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Sep 2020 : 01:09:54
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Hello.
Are there any canonical examples of mixed race marriages - human/elf, human/halfling, dwarf/gnome, elf/dragon, et cetera - and how the attendant religious ritual is decided? I imagine the more Lawful races (and individuals, of course) tend to push for their own god out of tradition whereas the Chaotic races are more flexible...although they may make passionate cases for their deities instead of referring to enshrined protocol.
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Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2020 : 04:10:35
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I don't think faith and alignment are so strongly correlated.
Certainly each deity or power is strongly aligned and prefers (or demands) its followers abide (or avoid) specific alignment philosophies.
But some people are zealously aligned, some people are passively aligned, some people are fanatically faithful, some people only nominally practice their religion. It's obvious that an idealized paladin tirelessly champions his alignment beliefs and religious beliefs so they reinforce each other, but most people are not so passionate about their beliefs, some people even struggle when alignment beliefs and religious beliefs produce conflicts and tradeoffs.
It's quite possible for a Lawful society to require certain minimum legal compliance in the ceremony (record-keeping, signatures, etc) but to not specify any restrictions or exclusions in how the ceremony is performed.
It's quite possible for a Chaotic society to require strict observance of many conditions imposed by state or church, certain invocations and rituals and sacrifices and taxes, etc, regardless of any actual desire (or lack thereof) from the participants.
Marriage ceremonies are largely intended to formally declare bonding before peers and witnesses, as well as provide a happy or solemn event which is memorable to all who attend. Weddings of affluent or noble folk are often lavish displays of wealth and power. Weddings of prominent folk are often political and even symbolic of greater unions (an alliance of two families, clans, cities, or nations). Weddings of simple folk can be informal gatherings brought to observe oaths of love and loyalty.
It's quite possible to be married in more than one ceremony. Many real-world couples will have a civil ceremony (which is overseen by some civil authority figure) AND have a religious ceremony (overseen by some ordained clergy figure). Many real-world couples will reaffirm their bond with repeated ceremonies after already being married.
It seems quite possible for mixed demirace marriages to hold two separate ceremonies. Or to merge two ceremonies into a single ceremony - marriage is after all the merging of two things together.
So a human-and-elf marriage might invoke Faerunian and Seldarine deities, call them to recognize the union and ask for their blessings. Bride and groom already invite their kith and keth and kin to sit together at the ceremony, if their gods are important to them then why not invite these gods to sit together as well? It would only be problematic if the couple disagreed on details, or if their human and elven peers imposed disagreement onto them, or if the Powers That Be (gods, kings, etc) chose to oppose the marriage.
There are some ceremonial priest spells and rituals (in the old AD&D game editions, at least) which provide small bonuses or effects to the recipients. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 15 Sep 2020 05:06:41 |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2020 : 07:44:07
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Seeker Azar,
I agree with Great Reader Ayrik. Alignment is a really poor example of ethical and moral attitudes, behaviors, etc. I look at things predicated upon culture, which informs ethical models, and thus what is moral or not. That being said...
...it also matters just how religious someone is in terms of the constraints.
As to mixed marriages happening, absolutely! :)
Danilo Thann and Arilyn Moonblade are a couple that come to mind right away, as well as Catti-brie and Drizz't.
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Mixed race/species marriage religious ceremonies?
