The Three
March 7, 1762 AG
Concerning the Gods pt. 2
I suppose the next logical group to cover is the Three.
Possibly the group with the largest following in modern times, the Three go by a number of different names in different parts of the world. The ones noted below are just a small sample. Most commonly worshiped by Humans and Avari (whose creation they are responsible for), they also have some small cults among the other races. Most often, they share temples, though sometimes they have their own. Their priesthood is… vast. They are the state religion of the Rose Empire, where it is erroneously taught that they gave Ebryn Stormlight the Crystal Light Blade. And while commonly seen as “good” deities, there are some people who worship their darker aspects under different names. But no matter the names, the Three are still the Three.
Three is an important number in many religions.
Three threes is nine.
Mark of Lanarae
Lanarae
Other names: Taijin, Ostrevyn, Helia, Montu-Ra
She is the eldest sister, goddess of the physical, the body; of healing, war, and fighting. A warrior goddess associated with strength, victory, honorable combat, and the sun. Her darker aspect is associated with dishonorable combat, slaughter, illness, and the horrors of war.
In addition to Humans and Avari, the Aradians hold her in high regard due to her battle prowess.
The temples she shares with her sisters are found all over, in major cities and small towns. Most Human or Avari settlements have at the very least a small shrine to the Three. For Lanarae specifically, there are sometimes shrines in armories and training salles. Offerings can be weapons, healing herbs, red wine, blood, pumpkins, incense, and oil. It is popular to make an offering to her on the eve of battle or childbirth, or simply in conjunction with her sisters. She is the most popular healing goddess in the Empire.
I say that, but… really, religion as a concept is sort of dying across the Empire. Do these goddesses struggle like Hades does?
Mark of Selenae
Selenae
Other names: Gakujin, Cater, Metis, Thoshat
The middle sister. Goddess of the mind, knowledge and wisdom, science, innovation, and truth. She who chases understanding and reason above all else, and despises false information (yet, in her darker aspect, deception is prevalent among her domains, along with insanity). She is often associated with the moon.
The Gini worship her more than the Espera, who created them, since they value her constant search for knowledge.
Though the majority of her temples are shared with her sisters, schools and universities often have small shrines to her, as well as libraries. Common offerings are tea, writing implements and paper, any knowledge recently gained (recorded and burnt), poetry and stories, citrus, and lilac. Scientists often keep citrus scents around their labs (if appropriate) and studies in her honor, and in the hope she will share insight with them. Students all but live with her name on their tongues.
Or, well… that’s how it used to be.
Mark of Firilae
Firilae
Other names: Kijin, Nyx, Hekasis, Tyrvia
The youngest of the three sisters, Firilae is the goddess of magic itself and the soul. Emotion, art, and the stars are also her domains. Ghosts are said to be the work of her darker aspect, the cruel imprint of emotion on a place of someone who has died. Monsters and other undead, the twisting of life that is or was are all hers. The night is made dangerous by her works.
In times past, it was said the Avari were particularly dear to her, and this is why they were blessed by magic more than Humans. The Lowkeef acknowledge her importance in the lifecycle and hold her in equal regard to the Patoran. Magic and life are the same, after all.
Besides the temples shared with her sisters, she often has a shrine in the households of those who have young learners of magic in the hopes that they may learn it faster. Artists also often have some small place of worship for her. Long ago, she also had shrines at crossroads to ward off evil things. Offerings made to her include white wine, sugary treats, perfume, artistic works, spells and spell crystals.
The wargs love her.
General Thoughts
Though the Three are… well, three, there is a lot of duality baked into each of their natures. Of course, most people only worship (and in some cases, acknowledge) the aspects they choose to identify, though I think this is unwise. Better to acknowledge the entirety of a being than be blind to part of it, is it not?
Selenae would probably approve.
-Ander 3/7/62
