Nils:
mentioned that the Nobility of Teshnos should have an ascetic trait.
I disagree. Just because they are associated with a distant sky-god does not of itself imply that they must be ascetes. Cronisper is a similar god to Zitro-Argon (more so than either to Dayzatar) and yet the Doraddi worshippers of him are grandfatherly type cool dudes and not monkish prudes. One only has to look at the Sky Gods Nut (who in some egyptian tales begat the world through masturbation) or Uranus (who overstayed his welcome in Gaia's fertile pastures) to know that equating sky worship with puritanism makes a travesty of either philosophies.
I wish to stand on a soap-box and rage against the instinctive reaction between a solar culture and theologically repressive prudishness. We already *have* Dara Happa and Sun County for crying out loud. Why should we seek to make each and every solar culture bigotted anal-retentives?
There *are* ascetics in Teshnos. They are IMO found among the Somashi scribes who keep a clear head so that others can enjoy foggy ones. They abstain from unchaste behaviour so that the nobility can be sure that they are dealing with noon caste members and not risk loss of status due to pollution.
> >I think that you also don't get access to all
> >the benefits (magic and whatever) if you are
> >from the wrong caste.
I don't like the idea of the zitro-argon cult having a special relationship with the evening caste. The only reason that we know Zitro-Argon is top-dog is because the Vessel of Light is said to be the incarnation of the god. He is most prominent in Teshnan society as the patron of old men and women and not the nobility.
I am convinced that the evening caste has more potent magic than the noon caste and so on down to the morning caste. This applies to *all* gods IMO.
Joerg
> If this is the case, there should be some social consequences from
> worshipping another caste's (or out-of caste) deity. To worship a
>god higher than your own caste will give you some respect or at least
> regard for purity by your own caste's members. Worship of a god of
> lower or no-caste would in return gain you the disdain of your caste.
I disagree. The Five Gods of Teshnos should resemble the Seven Mothers IMO in their (lack of) hierachy rather correspond to a strict graduation of vedic caste structure. The Caste is their because of a recognition of inherited spiritual merit. I want to have Evening Caste Solfic Drug Lords that are viewed as the Pillars of Society in Teshnos. Even Garusharp should see them as honorable folk. I want to have high priests of Furalor cross the street when they see a Somash villager because they fear pollution from him. I want the Nobility to dissapate themselves in a wasted life of shameless debauchery and opulent orgies cloistered from the eyes of the commoners. I want hardworking Somash bureacracts honestly toiling their lives away to keep the Glory that is Teshnos functioning harmoniously. When Dara Happan tourists are shocked and outraged at the apparent impiety of Teshnan Society, and go up to the nearest Somashi scribe (who is probably checking that a shipment of opium is up to scratch) to complain about the depravity and suggest that he do something, the scribe should wonder what the tourist is complaining about...
JB>> BTW, what deities do the women of Teshnos worship?
NW>IMO they worship the same gods as men of their
>caste. Except for the egalitarian cult of Calyz
>and the cult of Furalor the priesthoods are
>exclusively male though.
I doubt this. Zitro-Argon for instance represents old women as well as men and so a Teshnan wouldn't be scandalised to see a old women in this cultic position. IMO they believe that exceptional women can achieve high cultic rank (about 1 women for every four males is considered optimum).
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