When I first wrote up the Litany of the Gods of Honor I commented that I had no idea where Demerhaze came from, she just "seemed to fit." Well, apparently my non-conscious mind has been working for some time on complementary religions to the Ministry of Inquiry (of which Exquaestio is a member), because I've since figured out how well my picture of Demerhaze fits with the mythic structure of the Ministry. In a world like Celandra, the deities exist regardless of the patterns that mortals wish to put them in, whether those patterns be those of logic or the unconscious. However, even if such a designation as "God of Storms" has no real meaning to the god himself, that doesn't disallow a religion or a god from making use of such a designation. For some gods this may happen by accident, as a particular set of myths resonates with a particular cultures, and another god's do not. More sophisticated gods, however, will use this process deliberately. On Celandra, Feroze has presented himself using a set of myths which are suitable for the current world, but which are also suitable for a world based on principles whose seeds or roots can currently be seen, but which haven't attracted much notice. As so much of Celandra remains undeveloped, I can't say what those myths are, but such was Feroze's intention. As part of those myths he deliberately presented himself with the archetype of the Guide. He holds the knowledge which will allow the hero to avoid the dangers which might destroy him in his journey. His knowledge will also help the hero the surmount the challenges which he needs to face in order to achieve his destiny. In more technological terms, Feroze provides a "map" which allows a worshiper to select a destination appropriate to himself instead of being dragged along according to the desires of others. As a complement to the Ministry of Inquiry, the archetype I perceive for Demerhaze is that of the Shadow Child. In this aspect she represents the childish, primitive, and often animalistic urges which exist in all worshipers. She is nature, the origin that all worshipers must grow beyond to achieve their true destiny. She is the child that is left behind when a worshipers grows to be an adult. She is the danger from which the hero protects. She is the divine fool who drives the search for wisdom. And yet, the priesthood of Demerhaze would understand very well that "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." For when growth is done, danger met, wisdom acquired, the worshiper discovers that Demerhaze is just as much where he is now as where he was when he started. I see Demerhaze most often as being depicted as a child or young woman in primitive or historical garb. Her tools are primitive, but effective. Often she may be depicted as having two or three faces: one serene and childlike, one feral and mad, and one blank and ignorant. However, it is important to note that however shadowed and dreadful Demerhaze may be, her religion exists not to worship or extend those shadows, but rather to aide a worshiper in dealing with them. Thus, when a worshiper comes to Demerhaze seeking vengeance, it is the duty of her priests to aid the supplicant in such a way that he grows "beyond" the vengeance, becoming greater than he was, not lesser. (As an ideal taught to the priesthood the image of Inigo Montoya from _The Princess Bride_ comes to my mind. Though had he be guided by the Cult of Demerhaze he would have been far more prepared when his vengeance was achieved.) Granted divine authority is usually extremely idiosyncratic. One chosen priest might be granted the ability to see the relations between individuals and how she can affect them. Her student might become a destroyer ferocious and strong when calling upon the authority of Demerhaze. We can, of course, see how this religion can be easily misconstrued. Even for its adherents it becomes all to easy to confuse its worship of means (childhood as a means to adulthood, ignorance as a means to knowledge, and vengeance as a means to morality) as a worship of ends (unending childhood, deliberate ignorance, and vengeance for vengeance's sake). There is another issue, however, which makes the Cult of Demerhaze even less popular in certain areas. To societies based upon obedience and stability, the Cult of Demerhaze is a haven of rebels, freethinkers, and radicals (or whatever epithets are most appropriate to the culture in question). Such cultures often attempt to anathematize the Cult, only to find that their efforts may have destroyed the cult, but done nothing about the problems they thought the Cult originated. Such, then, is the cult of Demerhaze. Its complementary aspects with Feroze's worship should be obvious. Demerhaze is the origin or mystery which leads the worshiper to seek out Feroze for the tools and instructions needed to reach towards the final destination (not currently identified with a particular god). Demerhaze and Feroze thus join together (with the subsidiary organizations and deities) as members of a single pantheon; allies in some ways, rivals in others, but not differing in ultimate goals. (Comments?) Jefferson (Exquaestio) http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
