Bear in mind this is a small cult, mainly Raibanthi and Yuthuppan. The cult is one of the servant cults of Yelm. Primary worshippers are Yelmites, people very interested in archery, and commoners who are members of archery auxilliary units that support DH hoplite units.
Sagittus, God of the Bow (Gods Wall III-17)
I. Mythos and History
Urengerum was the city god of Elempur since the time of Anaxial. Previously, he was a skilled hunter, master of Jajagapa, and well known protector to the south of Murharzam's Empire. Though a God of the Earth, and tainted by the wills of the soil, his gaze was ever to the heavens and Yelm himself. The Divine Emperor of the Universe deigned to share with him the secret of the Bow, to better protect the earth, and granted him the sight of the heavens that he might see more clearly. Urengerum was pleased and accepted these gracious gifts from the Emperor, and promised to use them with wisdom and in the interests of the new people that Yelm had made. He used these gifts and discovered that which Yelm knew but had not told him.
After the Great Flood, Emperor Anaxial noticed that people became more numerous and could not be next to another as they had before. He beseeched Antirius who taught him how to make new cities where none had been before. One of these new cities was in the land of Urengerum, and was named by Anaxial to be Elempur. Urengerum was pleased and protected his new city as he had his land before.
In the time of Emperor Urvairinus, the Ram People invaded from the South and beseiged Elempur. He had promised to use wisdom and so attempted to solve the problems of the Ram People, but they knew only hate. He and his citizens fought bravely, but the hate of the Ram People was too much. His city was destroyed, sacked and burned. Sagittus used this opportunity to enter the Underworld and find his master, Yelm, with the help of Jajagapa. Alas, the Divine Emperor could not be found. The Emperor Urvairinus, after defeating the Ram People, called the God back and offered a place for him in Raibanth. Urengerum received the vision of his new duty through Antirius and took the name Sagittus(Wise Archer) and entered his new temple in the land of the living. Displaced from his lands he has accepted his role to train the youths of Dara Happa in the art that he learned from Yelm.
Members of the cult of Sagittus understand that the time will come for them to join Yelm's Heavenly Mansion, much like Sagittus himself in the time of Urvairinus. Burial practices are varied, though they usually involve cremation and burial of the remains. It is considered a special honor to have ones ashes spread above the ruins of ancient Elempur or kept in the Great Temple of Raibanth.
II. Cult Ecology
Sagittus is the Dara Happan God of Archery. His followers teach this art to Yelmites and commoner auxillary units alike. The cults widespread presence, though small influence is as a result of the plan first put into action by Emperor Urvairinus. This plan was for even the commoners to take part in his army, and this plan has been conserved (in varying degrees) throughout history. The cult is supported by the Yelm cult and serves as an extension thereof.
The cults enemies include those who associate with the spirits of the ancient Ram People as well as the spirits themselves. The dietes of the Digijelm are also hated for the many blows struck against the Empire.
Cult Holy Days are Every Reed Day of week 3. The cults High Holy Day is in the Springtime.
III. The Cult in the World
This cult is centered around the Dara Happan Tripolis. He is primarily worshipped as a subcult of Yelm and has few initiates of his own. The largest of his worship sites is a Great Temple in Raibanth, with major temples in both Alkoth and Yuthuppa. Small shrines to Sagittus can be found in nearly every Yelm temple in the Oslir valley. The court position of Imperial Bowman for Dara Happa is always filled by a high priest of Sagittus. Shrines teach Arrowtrance to Sagittus initiates and Pureshot to Yelmites who have joined the Sagittus subcult.
IV. Initiate Membership
Initiates of Yelm the Warrior may automatically join by spending a point of POW in a worship service. Others may join after standard initiate tests in the skills of Any Bow Attack, Scan, Craft/Fletcher, Dodge, and First Aid. They must also sacrifice a lamb at initiation, which are then butchered and served in the accompanying feast. If failed, the prospective worshiper must wait a year. New initiates must also swear fealty to a Yelm Temple, usually the one in which they initiated.
Initiates are forbidden to learn the spell of Darkwall. They are also forbidden to wear sheepskin, or worship images of a ram. They must promise never to take part in the wholesale destruction of a city or village, though seige and conquer is acceptable. Initiates must own a Bow and contribute 10% of their time and income to the cult, primarily in the form of training others in the use of the Bow.
Initiates receive 100 hours of free training a year. Training is limited to the skills above plus Horse Archery(where taught), Craft/Bowyer, Craft/Fletcher, Animal Lore, and Firespeech. Initiates may also sacrifice for one-use divine magic.
Spirit Magic: Coordination, Farsee, Firearrow, Light Lightwall, Mobility, Multimissle, Speedart.
V. Urenguri (Priest)
Urenguri are masters of the art of the Bow. They must have 90% in Any Bow Attack, Speak Own Language and three of the following skills: Scan, Animal Lore, Craft/Fletcher, Craft/Bowyer, Dodge, or Firespeech. They must have been initiates in good standing for five years. They must then undergo a simple test of good intent and teaching ability. Abstract this as a (POW+APP)x2 on 1d100. Failed applicants can try again next year.
The new Urenguri must swear fealty to a Yelm Imperator and his temple. The Urenguri must dedicate 90% of time and income towards the cult. Teaching must be a fundamental part of this time. He will receive a gilded bow(for ceremonial purposes only), various regalia, as well as command position in whatever auxillary unit the shrine is associated with. The Urenguri must follow the same code of behavior as initiates, as well as travel to the ruins of Elempur at least once in his tenure.
The new Priest gains reuseable divine magic and a 1d10 chance for
divine intervention.
Common Divine Magic: Binding Enchantment, Command Cult Spirit, Divination,
Excommunication, Heal Wound, Sanctify, Spellteaching, Spirit Block,
Worship Sagittus
VI. Sagittus Special Rune Magic
Pureshot 2 Point
touch, temporal until used, nonstackable, reuseable
This spell must be cast on an arrow. The arrow is fired normally,
and a hit must be obtained. If the arrow hits, it ignores the target's
armor, both magical and physical. This spell is compatable with all
missle-affecting spells. If it is stacked with Multimissle, only the real
arrow receives the Pureshot benefit.
VII. Subcults
Spirit of Reprisal: Jajagapa
Through strange and ancient pacts, Urengerum became the master of Jajagapa, the dog-headed Catcher-of-Souls. Though trapped in the Fourth Hell by Deshkorgos, the pact with Urengerum allows him to be loosed on occasion to serve his master. This is reserved for serious transgressions(i.e. murder of cult members, desecration of holy sites), and lesser failings(like wearing sheepskin) are dealt with by the priest in his own way. Jajagapa hunts by the scent of the initiate's link to Saggitus and moves so fast he is barely visible. He will trap an initiate in his Net of Souls, and offer to take all of his magic(Divine and Spirit) and let him live or be eaten. If the initate agrees he is set free, looses his magic and receives a large scar of some sort on his face or hands. If the transgressor is a Urenguri, he is simply hunted down, caught, and taken body and spirit to the Fourth Hell. Only Deshkorgos knows what transpires there.
VIII. Associate Cults
Yelm
As Urengerem was shielded by Emperor Urvairinus, so does the cult of the Fiery Father grant Shield to members of the Sagittus cult. Yelm also provides Intellect and Power Spirits.
Lodril
The Earthly son of Aether provides Cremate Dead to Urenguri of the Sagittus cult.
Oria
The Mother of Many (including Urengerum) gives her wayward son's worshippers the blessings of many children, and the Heal Body divine spell.
XI. Miscellaneous Notes
The Ruins of Elempur
On a rocky hill south of Jillaro, near the banks of the Oslir river sits an Obelisk and small shrine commemorating the former city of Elempur, called the Ash Hill. This is the place where on clear days the ashes of the honored dead of Sagittus are spread. Ancient heros of bygone ages can be contacted here and it is a holy place to Sagittus, and guarded. Some say that this is not really the true ruins of Elempur, but the priests of Sagittus adamantly say it is so.
The Bow of Dominion/Lukarius
Legends say that this weapon was born with Lukarius himself during the Great Flood. It was strung (and some say still strung) with the umbilicus of Lukarius himself. This fiery bow was the first such weapon to be used by men, and for many emperors since Lukarius' time has been considered part of the Imperial Regalia. The Red Emperor himself is the present master of this ancient weapon, though it is rumored that he has never used it.
Raibamus and Urengerum
In ancient times, Urengerum was also a City God like Raibamus. His splendid city of Elempur was destroyed, but Urvairinus called him back. It is said that though Raibamus is the God of Raibanth, the neighborhoods around the great temple to Sagittus are watched by the God of Archery himself. It is well known that this arrangement has never pleased Raibamus.
Horse Archery
In modern times the study of Horse Archery has developed from the
the games between nobles houses. First introduced during the Pentian
occupation, the sport became popular among youths after the final defeat of
Sheng Seleris. At first the sport was suppressed by hard-liners, but it
has
gradually become popular in Yuthuppa and Raibanth, surpassing even wrestling
and some of the blood sports. In Alkoth, more confrontational sports of
have always been popular, and they are generally disinterested in horse
archery. Where the sport is popular, it is common for teams to give
sacrifice to Sagittus to better their chances of winning.
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