religion [Memento Mundi]

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====== Religion ======

===== Faith in Acryn =====


Four major churches exist within the city of Acryn, each devoted to the worship of a member of a shared pantheon, based on the legend of the founders of the city. Their names have passed into myth, and so each is now known by a title, and worshipped as somewhere between a god, a saint and an ideal. Whether or not these individuals existed any longer (or indeed, ever) as an entity was a matter of some debate within the churches before the Upheaval. Certainly all would ascribe some seemingly miraculous occurrences to their patron, and priests were often considered by their flock to be blessed with talents in the purview of each god (though this was perhaps through practice more than any divine intervention), but their day to day work was largely mundane in nature. All shared a belief that one day, in time of great need, the gods would return to defend Acryn.

Around 80% of the city held to one of the faiths, each roughly even in popularity, and the churches represented easily the largest power bloc outside the council.

As with all other aspects of city life, the Upheaval has brought change to the churches, indeed perhaps the greatest changes of all seen, no mean claim. Simply put, since the Upheaval the gods seem to be listening. Where priests of the Tender once studied their whole lives to perfect the arts of agriculture and healing, now they re-knit bones with healing light that springs forth from their hands, and congregations lead in song outside the city walls find crops springing to life full grown around them. Where this power is coming from is uncertain, and it does not seem to be unlimited or entirely consistent, but it is undeniable that something has started answering prayers, and the churches are clear that, in the wake of the Upheaval, the gods’ prophesied return has come to pass.

==== Gaze of the Gods ====

 	 	 	
Working miracles through faith requires calling down the attention of the gods, through prayer, hymns or other suitable devotion. Once attracted, the attention grants the priest access to a flow of power that can be invoked through suitable chants or gestures, which lasts until the priest lets it ebb or the exhaustion of channeling divine might grows too great. A congregation assisting a priest in attracting the eyes of the gods grants greater power to work with, but exhaustion tends to come much faster. It seems that the gods do not wish priests over reliant upon their blessings – calling upon their aid too frequently leads to them failing to answer. Channeling divine power seems to give an aura to the priest, fitted to the god they are calling.

===== The Patron Gods of Acryn =====


==== The Tender====

Patron of healing and agriculture, who sheltered the inhabitants of Acryn againt the cold winters in the wake of its founding. Priests of the tender have ever studied the skills that would allow them to continue the work of their patron, both in a theoretical fashion at the college, and more practically at the many teaching clinics and farms the church maintains. In the wake of the upheaval, the divine blessings of the tender allows even novice priests to gradually reknit bones and close wounds, or bring clean water up through the ground. More powerful priests can regrow missing limbs, or cause fields full of crops to bloom and ripen in minutes. Calling the power of the tender grants priests an aura of peace and harmony that can calm wild animals and those distressed by injury or illness.
	 	 	 	
==== The Leader ====


The stories tell that the Leader was the one who lead the other founders and their followers to stake their flag into the ground and declare the founding of Acryn. The priests of the leader have always been those who represent the interests of the churches upon the council, and they study diplomacy, rhetoric and management. The divine will of the Leader grants them power to command, inspiring allies to greater feats of heroism and strength, while causing their foes to cower and flee before them, their will to stand against the priest stolen from their bodies. In negotiations too a priest can demand attention – not able to forcibly change a mind, but at the very least to gain the chance to speak their part. In addition, the aura granted by the Leader is one of majesty and authority, drawing attention and respect from friend and foe alike.
	 	 	
==== The Warrior ====


The Warrior stood vigil over the newly founded Acryn, defending it against beasts and would-be invaders alike, their strong arm and honed skill keeping the city safe. Priests of the Warrior study martial arts, hunting and warfare, and many hold rank within the city's guard and armies. The divine might of the Warrior makes their priests a terrifying force in battle, strengthening their arms, shielding them from harm and, as the priest gains experience, blasting foes from their feet and shattering their shields with blows that seem to come from nowhere. 	 	

==== The Builder ====


While the other founders did their parts, the first stones of Acryn's walls were laid down by the Builder. Now their priests work to maintain and enhance them, and to secure the materials needed for the city's expansion. Priests of the builder study engineering, construction and economics, and many are involved in the city's mercantile guilds. Priests of the builder are notably less likely to become adventurers than those of any other faith, but they still have some representation amongst the ranks. The divine guidance of the builder allows priests to first repair and then construct and transmute, creating and enhancing buildings, fortifications contributing to engineering projects, or repairing broken armour and shattered shields.
	 	 	
==== The Traitor ====


Officially, Acryn has four gods, but the tale of those gods' origin contains a fifth figure, whose tale is of of treachery and betrayal. They tried to seize control of the nascent city from their companions, but were outwitted and were either executed, cast out or fled. Rumours have ever persisted of a cult within the city devoted to this figure, stories of which are used to scare children to sleep.
	 	 	
===== Other Faiths found in Acryn =====


Religion has never been something exclusive to Acryn – most of Acryn's near neighbours (those with whom best contact has been re-established) were relatively secular in their outlook, many having split off from Acryn in past conflicts and defiantly proud of their non-mythical origin (though relations are much more peaceful these days), but further afield a few other cities or groups therof have their own gods, and there are a few faiths claim small patches of followers across larger areas. These have never been so popular within Acryn as the local ones, but most have a few adherents among the diplomatic corps from other cities, or within groups of expatriates living within the city. It is a matter of some interest to many within the city as to whether the priests of these other gods have gained similar divine powers to their own spiritual representatives. Unfortunately, while faithful of many religions live within the city, very few have local priesthoods, and given the difficulty of travel to other cities, they're mostly just as interested as the natives of Acryn are to find out what the current status quo is.

There are a few exceptions to this. Travelling priests of Aetheyta the Wanderer have found that the waystones the faith traditionally set upon the roads around the world have begun to manifest minor powers of healing and plenty when traditional offerings are made at them, something that has won Aetheyta a lot of respect within the mercantile community in a very short amount of time, since anything that can ease road travel is welcome in these times. In addition, anywhere a waystone had been erected prior to the Upheaval seems to have ended up with a small patch of Consensus around it, no matter how remote, making them excellent sites for a camp. Sadly, while the healing powers manifest in newly enshrined waystones, the power to drive back the flux does not.
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