Religion

[Guine]

Oct 17, 2009 22:50:23 GMT -8 Guine said:

I have not read every post here at the forum in many months but I have read the sourcebook very many times. It talks in the sourcebook about Celestial religion and a legend of a five dimensional Great Archivist. I play a Celestial character name of Hydra and he prays often to the Great Archivist. More than anything he prays that he will be interesting enough to be Archived by the Great Archivist and to then live forever. Guine

I hear through the Teresa from Pip that the religion of Celestials is more like a small legend or even small occult following. Can we discuss this here? I game with a Celestial Hydra who is very religious for him.

Thank you.

Guine

[Launa]

I have also always found this fact fascinating. (One of my original characters in "Ganymede: Transformations," Kyprios e'Ornbergh, is also very intent on being Archived)

I know that belief in the Archivist began in Irivale, but I would think that, after Unification at the very least, this belief would be more wide-spread. Particularly since there is a restriction after Unification on who and what can be Archived. I had never thought of how religious a Homidus could become about the Great Archive, however. This is such an amazing idea, Guine! My head is spinning with new thoughts

Does Hydra follow any particular tenants or is he part of a religious order? Or is his faith more personal? Do you think there might be a group on Hom that practices a religion surrounding the Great Archivist?

Also, I am wondering what the Council's decision to monitor the Homidus Archive might mean to such a group? If Council does not deem them fit for archival on Hom, do they still believe they can be Archived by the Great Archivist? And would this make them want to work with Council to ensure Archival or would they be opposed to Council? Or does it even matter?

I am also curious about what Hydra's prayers are like. I would think a prayer for a Homidus would be very beautiful.

Again, I love this idea and can't wait to see where it goes. Thank you so much for sharing.

[EJ]

I have to agree with Launa on this one, Guine. I would be fascinated to hear your take on exactly the questions she posted. In terms of confirming for you: Yes, what you heard from Teresa is true. The belief in the Archivist (the Great Archive is the tree and the 5D entity who collects unique souls is just the Archivist... for now, at least) is more like a small sect. It did begin in Irivale but now can be found here and there (since Unification) though they have a Centre of Exploration on a cliff face above the sea in Irivale.

Can you tell us more, Guine?

EJ

[Tiveen]

Guine asked of me to post for her which is fine because she is working extra hours to go to London for the xGames next year. My BBRPG character Mercurus is from Bei'sel and she does not understand why and how Hydra can stay so calming but she is drawn to him again every day. They are stationed together on Earth in later than Prime Time in Moscow City.

I will put answers to the questions:

Q) Does Hydra follow any particular tenants or is he part of a religious order?

Guine plays Hydra as part of a sect. She now thinks on this sect as the one over the sea at the coast of Irivale.

Q) Also, I am wondering what the Council's decision to monitor the Homidus Archive might mean to such a group?

Hydra is Choatic Good. His alignment does not believe in laws and rules but what is extreme right and correct. He does not like Council and thinks they have angered for certain the Master Archivist by reducing the beauty of unique offers in the Great Archive.

Q) If Council does not deem them fit for archival on Hom, do they still believe they can be Archived by the Great Archivist?

Yes and also no is the answer. Guine sat and talked and talked more into the hours about this all since reading above here Eliza's posting. She decides that Hydra and his people who believe like him have made their place to look like the old Great Archive in some ways so that they pray the Master Archivist will find their souls.

Q) And would this make them want to work with Council to ensure Archival or would they be opposed to Council?

As a player of Celestials I do not think that the Council could be so easy manipulated to archive someone. Hydra is opposing Council. Mercurus is Lawful Good but is times being swayed by Hydra.

Q) I am also curious about what Hydra's prayers are like.

I will have pictures in a posting put up. We have some. He chants telepathically and aloud sometimes and there are many colors. His words are alway Homidin.

I will go see if pictures can be found.

Tiveen

[Tiveen]

Raelyn has some pictures she made for Guine. Rae is our artist here and she loves to create for the game. We don't have IMVu but we love it. These pictures will not be IMVu but maybe some day we can do that to.

Tiveen

[Raelyn]

Here are the pictures. Tiveen asked me for them to be posted. Brianne, if I do this wrong please fix for me? I used the bucket but I never use that before and so maybe I did it wrong?

Hydra praying

[Raelyn]

The centre of the sect for Hydra

[Raelyn]

A close up of the centre and how it looks like Great Archive but upsidedown

[Launa]

*gasp* Oh my goodness... Raelyn, these are beautiful.

I want a moment to sit and think on all this information. I do have more to say and more questions, but my head is spinning again I love it all so much. I just couldn't wait to say how much I love the artwork.

The center of this sect is amazing. It looks almost like a talisman as well as the archive. It may sound strange, but if I could get the image on a pendant, I would wear it everywhere and feel very Celestial.

Oh, that brings up a question. Do Homidus who belong to this sect wear any particular marks/glyphs/talismans or something like it?

[Admin]

Raelyn, you posted the pictures perfectly. These images are beautiful and very stunning. I particularly am facsinated with the first.

Do Homidus who belong to this sect wear any particular marks/glyphs/talismans or something like it?

Perhaps this would show on how they manifest their faces?

Brianne

[Launa]

Do you think that Council would approve of such an organization since they are so openly unhappy with Council and how they manage the Great Archive? Would Homidus who belong to this religion (does it have a name?) be very open about their involvement or would they be cautious because of all the Celestials who are faithful to Council (as they control the soldiers going to Earth)? Might Council even blame this organization for various problems on earth/on Hom that might relate to the Archive? I ask because a glyph on their mask seems like the perfect way for a Homidus to mark him/herself as a member of this sect. But then I thought (just now, actually. I climbed out of bed to write this post because I couldn't sleep.) would they have to be more careful than to let this mark be so visible?

Also, I wonder about the internal workings of the religion itself. Do different Homidus hold different ranks or perform different duties? How do they view the six skills in terms of archival? Obviously they would be great record keepers and historians. Would their records (which they would fight to keep pure and accurate) be a danger to Council as certain moments in history are slowly sponged out of public knowledge? (like the battle at Lochlann Por.) What are the rules about entering the Center? I would think the knowledge stored there would be invaluable to certain Homidus. Particularly those opposing Council.

So many fascinating areas to explore!

Now I'm going back to sleep.

[EJ]

I'll leave the sect-specific questions to Guine and her helpers but I would like to weigh in a little here about Council.

I like the idea of a mark on the face. Why? Because Celestials don't lie. They show. They may not explain everything but their bodies and their faces reveal so very much. I don't think a true believer would be able to hide some sign or symbol.

Also, if this centre/temple exists at all, the Council is allowing it to. What does this say about Council? How do they handle groups/people who do not see eye to eye with them? I am going to start a new thread for this in a moment.

Back to the face: Often people say when they look at someone that they can see if that person (human -- Human -- obviously, I'm talking about) is different. "Oh! You're in love!" or "Something has changed about you..." If Humans can't always hide these base, basic emotions, I don't think a Celestial could hide great big parts of themselves like their religion. I think it makes for a more interesting society really.

Also, I think this is why Eris (no spoilers here, promise) is so dangerous. He can hide... so very much.

EJ

[EJ]

Raelyn... the pictures are breath-taking. Really beautiful. I had no idea. Hydra praying is so holy. I love the temple the best, though, the way it clings to the cliff. What is the scale? How many Celestials can be inside it? What is it like in there? How do they get in? Should I ask you or Guine these questions? (Who conceived the temple?)

... hm... so amazing!

EJ

[Guine]

I can only tell here about Hydra and EJ can then tell me what is fitting with Hom. The sect Hydra belongs to is very free. They do not believe in unity or congregation. None of them know which of them built the centre. All of them add to it. They spin into the frame memories and genetic discovers to share. They do hiking or climbing to close and then Warp into the shifting core. This core can hold 137 personal matique. They commune alone there. They have amazing collection of not censored histories and other facts. But they will not share these truths with anyone outside their religion. They do not believe in going against the authority of the land but to live untouched by it. They are focusing on making themselves as individuals more unique and experienced. They are great loves of adventure and exploring. They are peaceful. They pray to think and puzzle.

I hope this is interesting and found helpful.

Guine

[EJ]

Very interesting and very helpful, Guine. I really like this sect. They sound very unique and I'm going to have Cris include them in the sourcebook. We may want to have a word (a Homidin word) if not for the sect as a whole than for those who follow it as individuals. Just so readers/players can identify. Thank you so much for sharing, Guine.