Re: Thesim Initiates

From: bryan_thx <bethexton_at_trDt437Ue6QEWZv0OE8-Zoq3Rt4UMmBeM8OD_4aHknTH8lYIYrGSvwOlaVpiD5lWgr>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:31:10 -0000


To add about temples....don't get too hung up the word temple as a building. A temple is a sacred place, with all that is needed for worship of the deity to whom it is dedicated. A temple gets its power from essentially two things:

Whether the structure is grand and rich looking or a bare hill top is not reall significant. All hill tops are at least a little sacred to Orlanth, so for most clans a good hill top near their main village will be their temple, probably with some holy figure being there, maybe a good fire pit for burning sacrifices, etc....but no roof (you worship the storm god--deal with the weather!)

Minor gods, including Yinkin, are most often worshipped at a shrine, often associated with a temple of a greater god. So if the clan has a history of Yinkin worship, there will probably be a shrine to Yinkin in the clan lands, and it may be associated with the temple of his half-brother, Orlanth (or it could stand alone).

Lankhor My is not a minor god, but he is not that widely worshipped. As already said, his temples tend to be libraries. But for a clan it might be one small building, with only canopies to make the 'Y' shape, and only a few scrolls held therein. But in the cities are much larger libraries/temples, right up to the famous Jonstown Library, where the question is more likely to be whether or not anyone can find the information you are looking for, not whether it is contained in their extensive collection.

Theistic worship services are generally not one person preaching to a crowd (look to the west for that sort of thing). Rather people are very involved, although a priest or "god-talker" will lead the worship ("Priest" is a profession, "god-talker" is a literal description of the role of some people in teh community. For lesser gods the clan may have a god talker, but probably not a full time priest).

I hope that helps.

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