Tag: holy

#Lore24 – Entry #294 – Sentinel City by Night #20 – Matters of Faith

From the Journal of Sheba O’Rourke, Private Investigator

“Been to several strange places all over Sentinel City, but Light’s Hope Chapel was the strangest one yet.  Hadn’t planned on stopping in, no reason to really, just happened to be in the neighborhood.  I’d continued my work, had a couple more instances where I picked up on someone following me, but never could pin them down.  Think they know that I know for sure now, so they’re being a lot more subtle about it.  Got word to Grim Jacobs via Sokolova but hadn’t heard from him or his Hounds yet.

Was on my way back from trolling for a source on the drug when I happened upon the church.  Parking lot had to have been half full, odd for this time of night, so I figured what the hell, I’d bite the bullet and stop in and see what this preacher was all about. 

Can’t say I was prepared for what I experienced when I walked into the chapel.  Heard her preaching about the works of the “Great One”, of the power found within its “pure and holy light” and the like.  The crowd was enthralled by her, don’t know if she was using one of our vampiric tricks or if she was just that damn good at preaching.  Still, noticed she wasn’t referencing God or Jesus during that sermon.

Tried to get a good look at Ausar.  Could tell she was dressed like a nun but had trouble keeping my eyes on her.  Hadn’t felt this kind of sensation…ever.  My skin tingled as I hit the rear pews, not painfully so, but I couldn’t keep from squirming, kinda like that feeling I got that time back in San Diego when I was nearly caught outdoors on a late night and felt the dawn creeping up on me.  Had to avert my eyes when she picked up her cross and brandished it over the crowd, the candlelight glinting off the gold just too intense for me.  I wasn’t even using my heightened senses.  Then I got the bright idea to read her aura.

Was damn near blinded by the light radiating off her, pure, golden…holy.  I’d never seen that before, had to quickly shut that off and rub my eyes, but still couldn’t get the after images to clear for a good while.  I’d never come across this before, but I knew instinctively what it was.  True faith. It might not have been in the god that cursed us Kindred, but whatever it was, Ausar had the utmost unshakeable belief in it, and I’d wager her flock believed in it just as much as she did. 

And here I thought I got hyper-obsessed with my work sometimes…

That was probably the most uncomfortable twenty minutes of my unlife; just kept waiting for my skin to burst into flames under the power of ‘the Light’, and though I’d thought to leave, I couldn’t make myself get up.  Fact that I’m writing this means I made it out, of course, and not even a sunburn to show for it.

Ausar’s intensity faded once she’d wrapped up her sermon, thankfully.  I kept my distance while she mingled with her flock, but eventually, once they had started to file out, she came up to me.  She seemed every bit the true believer she presented herself as, a fervor in her that I’d almost call a mania, barely contained.  Still had trouble keeping eye contact with her, kept feeling like I was transgressing or something.  Damn strange sensation.  She apologized for it, though, said those like me with increased senses often struggled around her at first.  Won’t go into too much detail about what we discussed; I’ve never been the type to be especially religious, but a little food for thought never hurt anyone. 

Wasted damn near the whole night chatting with her, though; tried to wiggle out of it, but something about her kept drawing me back in.  Definitely counting this one amongst the strangest nights in my life…so far, anyway.  Who knows what tomorrow may bring?  By the end of it, she’d extended an invitation for me to share her haven if I didn’t wish to go home, an offer I respectfully declined, but likewise advised me to keep her in mind should I require guidance in spiritual matters and even if I should find myself in need of healing.  Not so sure I wanted to be touched by those hands of hers or not given that her presence alone was enough to make my skin crawl. 

Ankara Ausar is something else.  That’s all I can really say.  Don’t know if that’s holy fervor and her faith guiding her or some kind of madness.  Maybe both.  She is a fellow Malkavian, after all.  We’re all known to have our moments of lunacy, just have to wonder if she’s living in hers all the damn time or if I caught her on a lucid night.”

#Lore24 – Entry #77 – Fantasy Month #17 – Thundering Dawn

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

The long lost legendary holy sword, Thundering Dawn, the Searing Light of Lashana, the Scorching Terror of Demons and Undead, has been sought after by holy knights, exorcists, treasure hunters, historians, and many an Emperor for centuries.  The blade itself was forged during the years before the Great Cataclysm and first wielded by Melisande no Synstralia de’Rashnikova herself, founder of the Holy Order of Rashnikova, known for their dedication to the goddess Lashana and their mission to see demons, undead, and other such fiends and supernatural creatures driven from Andyllion. 

Though Rashnikova would survive the Great Cataclysm, her line supposedly still continuing to this day, in fact, in the form of the aptly named Brightblade family, her famous sword would go missing in the centuries following the upheaval of the world, and has remained but a legend since, though many stories of heroic knights, kings and queens, seekers of justice, etc, have been written in which this blade features prominently.  Some theorize that it was stolen by demonkind after its final wielder was slain, hidden away within the Horrid Abyss in order to corrupt its very nature, while others suggest that the blade still remains hidden upon Andyllion, resting within the heart of an ancient evil that will awaken should it ever be removed, while others still would believe that the blade lies safely within the treasures of the Emperor, and the very power of having it so close has been responsible for the continuing prosperity of the Empire.

Thundering Dawn was, or perhaps, is, a bastard sword of exceptional make, forged from the purest mythril supposedly collected from a fallen star sent by Lashana herself by a remarkable combined effort between the master dwarven and kobold smiths of the era.  Thusly forged, the blade was then anointed by the clergy of Lashana through dozens of sanctifying rituals and finally bathed in the “blood of Lashana” to infuse the sword with its legendary power before it was given to Lady Rashnikova as she led the crusade against the demonic incursion. 

Though a weapon of remarkable power against any bearing ill-intent to its wielder, in the hands of a dedicated champion of Lashana, the true power of the sword was brought to bear.  When drawn in the presence of the demons or undead, owing to its namesake, thunder would shake the skies, and the sword’s blade would radiate with the light of the sun, searing such creatures that would be caught within its radiance.  Only the strongest of demons or undead could survive more than a single strike from the blade as its holy energy would spill forth and burn them into ashes, those that were not driven to flee by its powerful aura alone, that is.  Those evil supernatural creatures who were slain by Thundering Dawn were supposedly seared into oblivion, their vile essences burned away permanently by Lashana’s justice. 

Though I certainly would like to believe that Thundering Dawn exists, or once did, I find myself leaning more toward the sword’s supposed power being the stuff of legends.  Perhaps there was a sword with that name, and perhaps it was in fact wielded by Lady Rashnikova, but likely its powers and exploits were greatly exaggerated through time as the stories were told and retold.  Still, I can’t deny that I do enjoy many of the tales involving Thundering Dawn, and were it to be found, I would very much like to lay eyes upon it at least once.

LORE24 ENTRY #31 – Holy Order of Rashnikova

Category – Organization

Founded during the Age of Legends to combat both a resurgence in demonic activity and an upsurge of undead and other supernatural threats, this holy order was originally founded by the paladin Melisande no’Synstralia de’Rashnikova of Arcavarlon, upon the planet Andyllion, originally under the divine guidance of the goddess Lashana and her drive to punish evil in all its forms.  The Holy Order has survived to modern times and has since opened its doors to those of other faiths who have dedicated themselves to combating supernatural evil.

Though not a prerequisite, nearly all of the Order’s membership possess divine or natural magic abilities, divided mostly between the clergy and the paladins, with the paladins being the ones most often sent to the frontlines to deal with the threats, while the clergy handle healing, more complex rites of exorcism, and research.  In the current times, the most common threat the Order faces are the undead, though lycanthropes and other evil shapechangers and similar spirits are not entirely uncommon.  On rare occasions a true demon has been encountered, requiring a much more significant response to deal with.

Though a relatively small group, they are backed by multiple organizations and individuals across known space.  As such, the Order has access to some of the best craftsmen, mystics, and technology available to perform their holy exterminations, with its members possessing some of the most highly enchanted arms and armor available, including their customized Fenrir assault rifles, now something of an iconic weapon.  Trained in all forms of combat, not just firearms (because some creatures simply won’t die until their heads are removed with a silver blade or a stake to the heart), many of their members come from related backgrounds, such as mercenary or military groups, often with a particular incident they managed to survive driving them onto their new path as a holy slayer.  

 

LORE24 ENTRY #3 – Prayer of Blessing

Category – Spell / Magic

A Prayer of Blessing is a type of divine magic used by priests and priestesses.  The caster of this spell speaks a prayer to the deity to which they have devoted themselves, asking for the blessing of their deity to protect and bolster themselves and their allies, most often in a combat situation, though there are variations for other circumstances.  This is a very common type of spell.

 

Example Blessings

Blessing of Battle – A blessing of this type bolsters the combat prowess of the recipient, enhancing their ability to land telling blows and enhancing the amount of damage done should the strike land.

Blessing of Defense – A blessing of this type bolsters the defenses of the recipient, creating a magical shield that will soften incoming blows or deflect incoming bullets, if not completely, enough to allow the victim of the attack to perhaps survive the attack.

Blessing of Endurance – A blessing of this type bolsters the physical resilience of the recipient, granting them greater endurance and fortitude to withstand harsh conditions, march for longer, or even resist the effects of poisons and toxins.