The Beast Gods
The nomadic tribesmen of the Northern Wastes worship animal totems, which differ between tribes. They believe that the World is filled with powerful animal spirits, usually giant versions of common animals. These spirits will help those who worship them by lending them their powers. Tribesmen identify with aspects of the animal they follow and shamen often dress in ceremonial gear which emulates them.
The beast gods are representations of aspects of the Life dragon, and therefore share some powers with the priests of Amairya. However, they are less verstile.
The tribes who worship the beast gods have a number of creation myths, but a common theme of many is the creation of their tribe by the totem animal, who endowed it's children with it's spiritual power. These animist religions ascribe active and powerful toten spirits to all animals, and many plants and inanimate objects as well.
Appropriate animal
Journeying
Often combat
Areas appropriate to the totem animal:
- Wolf - Hierarchy and order
- Horse - The sun. Swift travel.
- Eagle - The air, knowledge
- Bear - Combat, stamina
- Badger - The earth
- Arctic Fox - Cunning
- Musk Oxen - Strength, unity
- Seal - Water
- Wooly Rhino - Courage
- Tiger - Fire
- Owl - The moon
- Yak - The mother goddess
The nomadic tribes each follow a totem animal and it's Cult. The worship of a few Cults, notably the Eagle, Bear and Wolf, have spread to the Golden Empire.
There are no set rules for all Cults. The Priests of most have little hierarchy, unless the totem animal is strongly hierarchical such as the wolf. Worship of the totem animal spirit is conducted at tribal camps, although there may be periodic gatherings of the whole tribe. Specific ceremonies and rituals should be decided for each Cult.
Priest Heirarchy
| Level | Powers
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| Sense Totem | Locate the totem type of animal. May bestow senses appropriate to the animal - better eysight for an Eagle, or better sense of smell for a Wolf. May allow ilness and injury to be diagnosed. Detect the presence of the Dark if it is powerful nearby. The priest may also sense what is the best course of action to take for the tribe in the near future.
| | Shape Totem | Heal injuries and illnesses. Temporarily change some of the characteristics of a creature (make a horse stronger or a plant bear fruit out of season.) Changes can be made permentant, but this requires a sacrifice of a permanent Quality pool point by the priest. Such unnatural changes are usually frowned upon by the tribe as close to the unnatural peversions of the Dark.
| | Talk to Totem | Communicate with the totem animal. Does not bestow extra intelligence on the animal.
| | Awaken Totem | Gifts totem animal with temporary sentience. The awakened creature will be friendly to the priest. A sacrifice of permenant Essence pool point by the priest allows the creature to remain Awakened permenantly. Otherwise, the creature remains awake for a limited time. Note that some creatures (such as herd animals) do not enjoy being Awakened and should be returned to their natural condition as soon as possible. This power is most commonly employed to allow complicated conversations with animals which would be otherwise unable to understand the priest's needs.
| | Shapeshift | In the appropriate animal form, and, for extra Essence pool points, a giant form.
| | Travel to Plane of Totem | This in fact allows the priest ot travel to a part of the plane of Life where their totem animal can be found. Such spirit totems can often grant important knowledge, although the priest commonly undergoes some kind of trial before the wisdom is gained.
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- Priests of a Cult often possess a supernatural amount of the quality represented by their totem (see areas of influence above.
- The priest may use a bonus dice in all attempts to interact with their totem animal. Unless frightened or provoked, normal totem animals will never attack the priest and will tend to be friendly. The priest will be able to calm even frightened or aggressive animals most of the time without a roll.
- When in the presence of their totem animal, the priest has a reduced difficulty of one on all actions directly connected to their work as priests.
- Through meditation, the priest is able to shapeshift into the appropriate animal form, and, for extra Essence pool points, a giant form.
- The priests has an especially strong connection to the vital forces of nature. Because of this, they regenerate at the rate of 1 Wound per level on the hierarchy per day, whether they have any medical attention or not. In cities, this is reduced to 1 Wound per week.
Beast cult priests are beholden to their Totem spirirt, to it's animals representatives, and to the fellow tribe members. They must aid all these groups when requested.
©1995 - 1999 Anna Simpson. All rights reserved.
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