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| | Selas and the Moon |  |
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noodle
Monthly Bather
Posts : 334
Join date : 2012-06-09
Location : Surna, Sanctimonia
 |  Subject: Selas and the Moon Sat Feb 16, 2013 2:00 pm | |
| Selas, Goddess of the Moon, night and shooting star. For eons man has gazed upon the moon with great intrigue. A glistening sphere of a material men call Selenium, the bane of the were-beast. The tower of Selas, one of which no mortal has stepped foot upon. This is the life of her. In the beginning, Ao had collected grey from the Plane of Nothingness into one space, thus creating the Crystal Sphere. Separating the light and the dark, wills amassed into souls bringing order to the chaos that was the Crystal Sphere. As these souls developed, they amassed into the first sentient beings, the Primal Gods. Ilithar, God of Light; and Uluthar, God of Darkness. Uluthar beget the twin goddesses, Shar and Selas to rule over the darkness. As time progressed, Selas beget her own children, Nazu and Velecar. In the following years, Aeria and life upon Aeria developed, Selas following the example of Aten set her great tower in the sky to govern the night. It's workings are a mystery to all mortal-kind as not even the great prophets of hers can tell the true nature of the moon. Goddess of the Moon- Spoiler:
As the weeks progress the moon's form shifts from young and slim to bold and round and returning to it's original slimness before finally dying and disappearing to be reborn anew. How or why the moon acts so strangely, mortals have yet to learn.
Selas is also known for her omens, lunar anomalies signify good or bad comings in the near future. The blue moon, when the moon is at it's grandest, gracing the sky twice in a month is said to have good blessings bestowed upon the children birthed under it.
Occasionally the moon can be seen intersecting with the sun. The viewing of both celestial towers of Selas and Aten, called an Eclipse, is said to cause an inexplicable surge of knowledge. However, knowledge comes at it's own price. Those who witness such an event lose their vision permanently and cause them spiraling into madness, such are the cruel ways of divine knowledge. Common belief is that those who experience the overwhelming knowledge of the divine are taken and morphed into shooting stars, the guardians of Selas.
Opposite of the Eclipse, the Lyncher's Moon, a period where a moon which should be viewable appears to be missing and replaced with utter darkness, believed to be a sign by Shar that someone of great importance has passed recently. This inexplicable theft of the moon is said to cause hysteria amongst populaces as they hurry to conclude who indeed has been caught in the lyncher's noose.
The moon goes through three cycles, the Cycle of the Maiden signifies the best time for birth and marriage, this cycle lasts from the Dark Moon to the Right-Half Moon. The Cycle of the Mother signifies the best time for childbirth and conception, it is the longest cycle lasting twice as long as the other cycles, from the Right-Half Moon to the Left-Half Moon. The Cycle of the Crone represents the best time to pass on. Of course no malady comes from disregarding these omens, only benefit to those who adhere to them.
Goddess of Mystery- Spoiler:
Attributed to Selas are all the inexplicable mysteries of our modern world of Aeria. Of particular note is that of childbirth. We have but an inkling of knowledge of the process of childbirth. The mysteries behind how mothers contain and expel such organisms are beyond our comprehension. A close-guarded secret of the gods who rule above the mortal races.
Of all the other things mortals have yet to have knowledge of, Selas guards with great contempt. Yet, mortals wait in anticipation for the age of knowledge when Selas will make known to mortals many of the great secrets of the universe and of existence itself.
Far to the north, strange lights mark the night-sky, these are one of the great mysteries of Aeria that are accredited to Selas. Speculated by some to be a manifestation of the conflict between the light and the dark over Aeria.
The Legend of Atros- Spoiler:
Long before the God Wars, there was a mortal man, who was a great hunter of beast. Then appearing before him, a grand wolf, much larger than any natural beast. This Avatar of Voar called upon the man, issuing a challenge unto him. To slay the master of the hunt himself. For months the man tracked the beast of great proportions, finally cornering the beast against a large cliffside, putting the avatar down with his mighty spear, the man was bestowed the blood of the beast, becoming the first lycanthrope.
Years passed and lycanthropes become the king of all beast, terrorizing the mortal races with their affliction and turning those unfortunate enough to not be put to death. During this time, Voar had chosen a champion from amongst his creations, a man named Atros. Atros in his thirst for power sought out the blood of an immortal, looking up into the night-sky his mind was set, he was to slay the goddess of the moon, for if he could slay her all werekin would know of his grand prowess.
Laying to death hundreds upon thousands of the devoted and slaying the Matron of the Moon, commited the grandest sin against Selas mortals have yet to commit. Infuriated Selas, taking the form of a werewolf herself, Selas' avatar came down before Atros in a beam of blinding silver light, quickly overtaking the prideful Atros. Leaning in to accept the mortal's dying wish, he struck a blow across her face, rearing up Selas ended the life of the sinner, Atros. Then returning to her plane, she vowed revenge upon Voar and his creation, and forever cursed the lycanthropes with her tower's light, causing them to turn when the moon is at it's largest and to be hunted by men.
And so, those who are blessed by Selas take the form of her avatar, a lyvanthrope with deep silver fur and claws, whose purpose is to remove Voar's pestilence from the world through bloodshed.
Selasian Calendar and the Sabbats- Spoiler:
Long ago, the devoted of Selas studied the seasons that come from the Spirit of Kielm, recording these studies the early priests of Selas developed the Selasian Calendar which is used throughout the civilized world. Consisting of the twelve months, January, Feburary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Each allocated it's own amount of cycles, also known as days. Alongside the months, the year is also divided by eight sabbats, dictating the seasons of planting, growing, harvest and rest. Yule - December 25th Midwinter begins shortly before the new year on December twenty-fifth, dictated as the longest night of the year. During this time, people across the world celebrate by exchanging gifts and enjoying each-others' company. Inns and Taverns reach their highest attendances at this time due to the amount of travelers passing through to visit their families in distant lands. Imbolc - February 1stImbolc marks the beginning of the planting season, spring. A common practice is the making of Dyaus Stars, four-pointed stars woven from rushes and nailed above doorways to ward off fire and lightning. Farmers observe the weather on Imbolc, poor weather on the first of February bears good omens for the season of growing, summer. Ostara - March 20thThe first of two times a year that both day and night are equal in time, Ostara. It is about this day that farmers maintain and sow their fields. Many trees and plants begin to blossom again and animals begin to return from hiding. Ostara is very closely associated with Selas as it is seen as a time of great fertility. Beltane - May 1stThe sabbat of Beltane is closely related to Aten and is a time of great purification, also marking the start of the season of growing, or summer. Large bonfires dot the landscape to ward off pestilence and malevolent spirits. During this time priests of the gods of light see a boost to their divine magics as the material plane drifts closer to the realms of light. Litha - June 21stLitha marks the time when the sun graces the sky for the longest time of the year. Also known as the Day of the Alchemist, several potion-makers flock to the wilderness or their private gardens to gather plants of healing, believed to be at the peak of their potency at this time. This Sabbat is often overshadowed by the Day of Atonement festival. Lammas - August 1stMarking the beginning of the season of harvest, one of three harvest festivals, designating the harvest of grain. The first crop of which was to be ground and baked, the bread thereof to be broken in four and placed in the corners of the barns containing the crop to protect them from weevils and other maladies. Mabon - September 22ndThe second equinox of the year, Mabon is also the second of the three harvest festivals, this one of thanksgiving for the other fruits of harvest. This time is marked by large feasts hosted by aristocrat and farmhand alike. Samhain - October 31stThe final of the three harvest festivals, capping off the season of harvest and ushering in the season of rest. Followers of the gods of the darkness find themselves with greater divine magics at this time as the material plane drifts closest to the realms of darkness.
The Priesthood Today- Spoiler:
A record on the inner workings of the Priesthood of Selas. A report on the rituals of Selas followers by Cleric Dáithí Ó Cuillinn to the Clerical College.It’s no secret that the priesthoods of minority religions in Sanctimonia tend to be rather secretive to avoid persecution by the followers of the Pact, (Aten, Tyr, and Ilmatyr). However some followers have come out into the open for their religion, such is the path of the Priesthood of Selas. I have been inducted into the Priesthood as an honorary Priest of Selas. LEGAL ISSUES- Spoiler:
For the most part, the Priesthood is a law-abiding group, with one exception. Under the Dark Arts and Dark Creatures section of the Sanctimonian Common Law, states that…
“Vampires and Therianthropes
The creatures are to be beheaded with a silver-edged axe. The bodies are to be disposed via burning.” – Sanctimonian Common LawThis is an issue, as the highest caste of the Priesthood consists entirely of lycanthropes. However, these lycanthropes, unlike the common lycanthropes that plague Sanctimonia, are white in fur, with silver claws and are blessed by Selas herself with the sole task of hunting down, and killing therianthropes. So, it is my wish that these white lycanthropes are the sole exception to this law.
CORE BELIEFS- Spoiler:
The Clergy has a strong sense of community among them, it's this close-knit community that allows them to keep the secrets of who is a White Lycan from the Watch. In one case I observed, ten or more unrelated Clerymen and Women were living in the same townhouse, under a cumulative income, acting like a family. The Clergy believes in deep passionate relationships, and polygamy is common within the Clergy. Due to the social pressures of the worship of the Pact in Sanctimonia, polygamy with the uninitated is highly uncommon, if it exists at all.
A common belief outside of the Clergy is if one is exposed to a full moon long enough, he will become insane. Scholars believe this has something to do with the selenium of the moon being a cause of this "moon madness." Of course, the Clergy denies the idea that the moon causes madness and that it's just superstitious nonsense involving Nazu, the goddess of madness, being a descendant of Selas.
Revered by the Clergy, shooting stars are an important symbol of the worship of Selas. When a shooting star streaks across the sky and connects with the ground, it leaves a crater, which is lined with a selenium residue, these craters are commonly interpreted as a sign from Selas to build a temple in her honor there, and so most temples are founded in or around these selenium deposits.
The shooting star itself is an elemental, made of crystaline selenium, a divine servant to Selas. When they crash-land, they will stay behind for eternity, guiding the devoted of Selas in the newly constructed temples.
CASTE SYSTEM- Spoiler:
Last edited by noodle on Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:58 pm; edited 5 times in total | |
|  | | noodle
Monthly Bather
Posts : 334
Join date : 2012-06-09
Location : Surna, Sanctimonia
| | Subject: Re: Selas and the Moon Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:51 pm | |
| Pretty much done, if you want something added just ask and Ill see about it.
| |
| | | | Dominator046
Senior Wizard
Posts : 458
Join date : 2012-08-09
Age : 29
Location : 'Murica.
| | Subject: Re: Selas and the Moon Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:25 pm | |
| I love what I'm seeing so far, but I have some ideas:
-Selas relation to the Night Sky at Large. [Aurora Borealis, Nebulae, Stars the Mortals see (perhaps she shields them from the true visage of the chaos gods, and her shielding them is what gives her an aura of mystery?)]
-Selas relation to the phases of the moon. (Wiccan ideals, as above so below, are probably big things to remember. Wiccan ideals about moon phases: Maiden, Mother, Crone, Reincarnation.)
-Selas relation with the life of men at large. (Is she revered for anything, any legends, any sort of trivial stuff people might associate with her blessing?)
-Maybe drag that order of Selas information over here, include important locations?
-Selas across different cultures.
-Selas' name and symbols being used to bring her powers to certain professions/areas? (Matron of Midwives, etc.)
-Images seen upon the moon? | |
| | | | noodle
Monthly Bather
Posts : 334
Join date : 2012-06-09
Location : Surna, Sanctimonia
| | Subject: Re: Selas and the Moon Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:05 pm | |
| - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Selas relation to the Night Sky at Large. [Aurora Borealis, Nebulae, Stars the Mortals see (perhaps she shields them from the true visage of the chaos gods, and her shielding them is what gives her an aura of mystery?)]
I added a little part under Goddess of Mystery about the Northern Lights - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Selas relation to the phases of the moon. (Wiccan ideals, as above so below, are probably big things to remember. Wiccan ideals about moon phases: Maiden, Mother, Crone, Reincarnation.)
Added the Cycles of the Moon under Goddess of the Moon for Maiden, Mother, and Crone. - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Selas relation with the life of men at large. (Is she revered for anything, any legends, any sort of trivial stuff people might associate with her blessing?)
Added the Sabbats, not sure if that counts but, hey, it's there. - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Maybe drag that order of Selas information over here, include important locations?
Dragged it over, not really sure if the locations really matter. - Quote :
- -Selas across different cultures.
I'd much rather leave that up to the other lore-writters for those cultures, seeing as how you took the initiative of making Gaerdic names for the gods. - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Selas' name and symbols being used to bring her powers to certain professions/areas? (Matron of Midwives, etc.)
Not really sure how that would work. :/ - Dominator046 wrote:
- -Images seen upon the moon?
Like the phases? Because I put those in. If you mean like craters and things, I don't think that would be a Selas thing. | |
| | | | noodle
Monthly Bather
Posts : 334
Join date : 2012-06-09
Location : Surna, Sanctimonia
| | Subject: Re: Selas and the Moon Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:19 am | |
| | |
| | | | Dominator046
Senior Wizard
Posts : 458
Join date : 2012-08-09
Age : 29
Location : 'Murica.
| | Subject: Re: Selas and the Moon Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:50 am | |
| Hmm, I like everything that's said here, personally, I think it does well as a beta document at the very least, in terms of surmising and preparing information to be inducted into an official Selas page. I like everything I see here, and it seems nothing is out of place.
I say, PewPewPew-powers go! | |
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