--- RulingNations@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 4/10/04 12:47:47 AM Mountain Daylight Time, > andrewdj54701@yahoo.com writes: > > >Coron, God of the Dead > >----------------------> I really like this, and certainly this god is much needed. However, > there's something missing. As it stands, the description is pure > archetype. There needs to be something personal or cultural there. > Something _messy_ to say this is real. I've had a few thoughts, but > nothing has gelled so far. > > Jefferson (Exquaestio) Jeff's quite right, so, having described the God/Being, here's some discussion about the related Believers. Order of Coron -------------- The Order of Coron is at least as ubiquitous in Cedonia as the Order of Lucia. As one Coronite cleric put it, "It matters not if you are a rich man, a poor man, a city man, a rural man, a wise man, or a fool; all men , everywhere, die." The Order divides itself into three sub-Orders: White, Grey, and Black. Thw White Robes of Coron run hospices, leprosariums, and sanatoriums throughout Cedonia and the surrounding region, focusing on chronic and incurable diseases as well as caring for the indigent mentally handicapped and the terminally ill. They are a source of palliative care for those in pain, and when pain becomes unbearable, the White Robes provide euthanasia for those who wish it. The Grey Robes of Coron deal with transitions: Birth, coming-of-age, and death. The Order believes that not only does Coron collect the souls of the dead, he prepares raw, unformed souls for the yet-to-be-born. Thus, when a Cedonian is born, a Grey Robe midwife delivers the baby while a Grey Robe Priest names the child. Entry into puberty, the death of childhood, is marked by another ceremony conducted by a Grey Robe. During the Cedonian Empire, a Grey Robe priest would officiate at coronations. Finally, Grey Robes conduct funeral and memorial services. The association of Grey Robes with change and transition is strong enough that in traditional Cedonian architecture, all doorframes, lintels, archways, and gateposts are painted grey. The Black Robes of Coron build and maintain cemetaries, ossuaries, tombs, cenotaphs, and mausoleums. They are charged with the protection of the dead. Black Robes often serve as both coroner and embalmer, determining cause, manner, and time of death when those are in question, and then preparing the body for burial. In the capacity of coroner, they often work closely with the Order of Lucia. The Black Robes are charged with the responsibility of hunting down would-be necromancers and laying undead and ghosts to rest. There is a rumor, which has never been substantiated, that a secret group of mystical assassins exists within the Order of Coron. These assassins are said to be charged with ensuring that no one cheats Death. Their targets are said not to include the Mages of Mir, who gain extended life, but not immortality, from their relationship with Miracrasada; rather, these rumored assassins are said to kill those who try to extend their lives by such techniques as stealing life-energy from another; or by removing the heart, placing it in an enchanted jar, and hiding the jar in a safe place; or by trying to brew the alchemical Elixir of Life. In ancient times, it was said that only Alatta of Rian a'Avaerand escaped their efforts for any length of time, and everyone knows what happened to that unfortunate kingdom. Of course, none of the above has ever been proven, but the rumors persist. The Order of Coron's official public position on the matter has always been "No comment." Andrew __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
