The Temple of Sacred Roots

[pumpkinhollow]

In Reverence of the Goddesses

Tucked into a once-verdant park near the heart of the village is the Temple of the Sacred Roots of Our Four Earthly Mothers. The wooden building is cobbled together, seemingly added onto over the years in an organic way as additional stories were added on. Its walls are of dark wood, with steep steepled roofs and large stained glass windows. Most of the windows are vibrant bits of stained glass, often depicting symbols of nature related to each of the Four Mothers.

There are smaller rooms for individual worship or a quiet spot to meditate and even a small library, but the main hall is a circular open room where worshippers come to hear the good word together. They sit in a mishmash of chairs or pillows laid on the floor, or even a large root or stone, all circled around a pulpit and a singular chair in the center, although the pulpit appears to be a bit dusty from disuse. The tree that forms the heart of this building only grows within the confines of its walls, intertwined into the interior’s architecture. The only other room of note is the large kitchen just behind this hall. There many meals have been cooked to share among the faithful. Even if these meals are meager now, the villagers scrape together what they can in an effort to make sure no one goes hungry.

Services are held on Saturday evenings, Sunday mornings, and Wednesday evenings for the down-to-earth faithful. Attendance is highly encouraged - meals are often served! - and the bonds of fellowship must be kindled on a regular basis. However, Degas is often at the Temple either studying for his next sermon or reading one of the many books found in the library.

Use this post to RP threads that take place at or in relation to the Temple of Sacred Roots! More details on the organization and its workings can be found under the drop-downs.

Membership

Point of Contact
Reverend Degas Clayton

Joining
There is no initiation process when you first arrive. You are invited to attend service at any time and the moment you enter the building you become family. However, should you stray from the path of the Mothers, returning to the fold will require some atonement in the form of offerings and prayer.

Benefits
Most of the flock are welcoming, providing you show some effort in helping others as you have been helped. They are the friendliest bunch and often have simple meals prepared for evening services, as well as offering support and compassion to those afflicted by the evils that batter the village.

Drawbacks
The group as a whole seem content to wait for some mysterious event in the future that will surely save their village from ultimate destruction, and are stuck in their ways. Change comes rarely, if at all, nor do they take kindly to their beliefs being called into question. Being ostracized by this group means a cold shoulder from most of the village long afterwards.

Sermons

Degas likes to keep these more down to earth than the previous preacher, especially since he’s not especially trained in such matters. He will share news of a fellow villager’s death so that the others can keep a lookout for them upon their return. He organizes community projects to try and bolster flagging morale and to continue the teachings of the Temples through these simple deeds. Otherwise he just tries to offer words of comfort and encourage fellow Tempe go-ers to keep the faith. They just have to hold out for a sign that the tides will turn in their favor once more.

The arrival of newcomers is met with equal amounts of relief and wariness, unsure if this is a sign or a test. While Degas offers to help new arrivals and invites them to Temple functions openly he won’t take kindly to anyone trying to question held beliefs. Not enough to run them out of town like Elsie and her mother, but a socially cold shoulder on a tiny island isn’t ideal either. That would be about the extent of anything malicious on Degas’s part. He’s not into scheming, just hoping that change finally comes and their salvation is finally brought to fruition.

There is no tithing in the temple. The building was built by the community over the years and they tend to it, donating their time to its upkeep. Prayer or meditation is a part of the sermons as well, worshippers often lay a hand on the person closest to them, forming an interconnected web of touch that mimics tree branches or roots. Or they lift a hand up, palm facing upwards, as a new sprouted plant might push its way out of the dirt. Prayers are muttered, never shouted, creating a wind-like sound as the murmurs are offered up to the Goddesses. There’s songs sung, often accompanied by rhythmic clapping or stomping, or additional voices adding to the cacophony. Instruments are of the handheld variety (hurdy gurdy, fiddle, pan flute), there’s no pianos or organs to be found in the Temple.

Philosophy & Teachings

The Temple espouses the bonds of fellowship above all else, save for the reverence paid to the Four Mothers. It's beliefs are steeped in the hard-working, salt-of-the-earth people who first came to the island, weaving together the fabric of this new society from nothing more than a precious seedling. While its traditions are humble those who hold them dear also hold them close..

It is generally considered sacrilege to depict the goddesses in art with their faces showing, and most art of them will tactfully cover their faces with things like Serannai's mask, Kora's hat, a cloud in front of Celestine's face, or a mourning veil for Mortanne. As it is believed to be disrespectful to presume their facial features.

And while prayer in temples is perfectly fine, it's believed that it is more effective to go to the goddesses where they live--- the forest for Serannai, the beach for Kora, mountains or hearths for Celestine, and graveyards or anywhere snowy for Mortanne. However recent events makes this extremely difficult.

There’s a rock, the tree roots, a bowl of sand, and an old gravestone in the temple for substitutes, although they are poor ones.

The Goddesses

Serranai is the goddess of Spring and the Earth. She is depicted as a satyr who wears a deer skull mask and firey red hair. She can be somewhat mischievous and playful, but can also be a fierce warrior if needed, and is an exceptional archer. She also views the Earth as her canvas and flowers her paints, and any particularly beautiful nature scenes or flower beds are often described as "Serranai's art."

Kora is the goddess of Summer and the Sea. She is depicted as a pirate queen of sorts, a sailor and adventurer with a golden cutlass, olive skin, and long raven hair. She is often seen wearing jewelry made from fish bones, sea glass, and sapphires. It is sometimes believed that sailors who get lost at sea have joined Kora's crew.

Celestine is the goddess of Autumn and the Sky. She is depicted with very very dark skin and cloud-like coily hair that is pale golden like morning sunlight and iridescent. Her dark black eyes are said to be full of stars and she wears an intricate silver gown with a delicately embroidered starmap. She keeps rain, sunshine, snow, and wind in glass bottles on her shelves and will sprinkle them down onto the earth from her home in the clouds.

Mortanne is the goddess of Winter and the Beyond. She is depicted as very pale with long white hair who always appears as the same age or just slightly older than the person she is speaking to at the time of their death. She drives a black funeral carriage drawn by white ghostly horses, and will drive the spirits of the dead to their afterlife while talking to her passenger, asking them questions about their life and prompting them to reflect and take one last opportunity to learn and grow. It is said that the moment you fully understand what kind of life you have lived and what sort of afterlife you have earned is when the carriage will arrive at its destination.

The Building

Comments

*Just* before the start of the Thatcher's Blight, or John Rambo, Paladin

[theydrewfirstblood]

A Holy Knight of Land and Spring.

John hasn't been able to stop thinking about it since the barbecue. The revelation about paladins, talking to Angel about what he did or didn't feel worthy of doing, and Kora's intimation that he was...already on some kind of path...

He considers talking to Angel or the preacher, Degas, but decides against it. After, definitely, Angel made him realize how seriously he wants to take this--how right it feels--but he started this path alone, with no one but Serranai to guide him.

He decides that he'll take those next first steps the same way: alone, guided only by his heart. He takes some time to think about how he wants to do this, thinks about what he did when he was drafted...

John chooses a Wednesday night, after services have ended. There's precious few around, so he goes to Serranai's altar and draws his survival knife--his most constant weapon--and moves forward to lay it on the altar.

"I know your favorite is the bow and arrow, but this is my constant companion, so I wanna...make it part of this." he explains softly. From his pocket, he also pulls out a piece of animal hide, into which he's stitched a stylized arrow in a contrasting color. When he's done, he'll stitch it in as the new grip on his recurve bow at home.

Laying it on the altar beside his knife, John takes a breath.

"When I got drafted into the Army back home, they, uh...they made us swear an oath to support and defend the constitution and values of my country." he continues. "And I talked to Kora, hope she told you I said hi. She, uh--well, a lot of people gave me this idea. So...if I'm gonna choose to be a soldier this time, I feel like it fits to swear another oath. Not because I have to, but...because I want to. Just a promise, from me to you, and--and Kora mentioned magic, but I'm not looking for anything here. I'm not doing this for power or cause I feel like it's all I can offer. My friend, Angel...he got on me about my self worth, y'know? But this...it doesn't just feel right it feels good. The idea of doing this...it makes me feel good about myself. And I think that means something. So..."

Clearing his throat, John takes a small step back--and because it feels right, he gets down on one knee and instead of raising his hand, wraps his fingers around the bead that still hangs around his neck.

"I, John James Rambo, do solemnly swear, that I will support the people you watch over in this place, no matter who they are or where their values lie, in any way I'm able. I will defend all that you represent: the earth, the arts, the hunt, against all enemies or forces that might do them harm. I swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to you and yours, that I will obey any command you give me, fulfill any request you make of me, and show respect to your sisters and their will."

He pauses, unable to help a smile as he thinks of Kora.

"Unless they're stinking drunk, in which case I'll show respect to their will if they sit down and have a glass of water. Or whatever a goddess needs to do to prevent a hangover."

Take that, Pirate Queen. If he has to take care of himself then so do you.

"I swear that I will serve the will of those who serve you: those who serve the Temple of Sacred Roots. I will follow the creed and the rules of the faith, and...and I'll do whatever you would ask of me as...as a Holy Knight of Land and Spring, if that's what you would have me be."

Because it still feels a little ill-fitting, feels too much too...good, but he's trying to remember what Angel said, that he has value...

"...I swear all of that, and--and I promise, with all my heart 'n soul, that I'll make sure you're never sorry for the kindness you've shown me." he adds in a whisper, speaking more from the heart than simply swearing an oath. "I'll try to be a better man for you, someone you'll be proud to have...carrying your banner, I guess. I can't forget the God of my home, and I won't, but I'll accept you the way you seem to have accepted me: for what you are, as you are, and always give you the respect you're due as a goddess and--and love you. However you're okay with...'cause I do. At least a little, Serranai...I'm not sure I'm safe to love another person, and if I'm right I'll go to my grave happy just loving you, but...if I'm wrong, know that I'll always love you most. Not 'cause anyone else will come second, but because when I had no hope left for myself, you gave it to me. You took care of...my broken pieces, and if my love is ever safe to try and give someone again it'll be because of you."

John shuts his eyes, and feels the sting of tears.

"I...I hurt a lot, and the nights are always cold for me. You make things hurt less, you make the nights warmer...and if you'll have me as your soldier, I swear I'll do the same for other people...so help me, in your name."

John waits until he can swallow past the sudden lump in his throat, then stands up again and takes his things off the altar--and, after brushing the tears out of his eyes, kisses his fingers and touches the altar.

"Just so you know, too: one of the things I promise to do, as being yours, is fix this mess. Me 'n Jon Simms--we know. And we're workin' on it. We'll bring your people home."

John leaves the temple, goes home to fit his bow with the new symbol of his pledge...

And life goes on.