Tag: Mausolus

#Lore24 – Entry #179 – Wild West Month #28 – Gods of the Peoples Who Are Not Our Own

As told by Kumiko Stalks-Amongst-the-Stars, shaman of the Midnight Panther tribe of Kerra-Kerra

There are many gods that exist alongside our Great Mother Saressh.  I have spoken of Lashana and her followers before, of how we sometimes have our disagreements, but do not seek conflict if it can be avoided.  This is not often the case with those of other gods, for not all gods are good, and not all gods are just.  As with the Many Peoples, there are many reasons that the gods do what they do, and why they guide their followers as they do.  Always be wary when dealing with those of the other gods; you may not know their intentions, but you can keep some things in mind.

Amongst the Gods of the Peoples Who Are Not Our Own is one that you should be very cautious of, the evil god known as Malvaxor.  His ways are deceptive, preaching of healing the sick and the mad, only to make those who fall for his treatments worse, often hidden within the new Fortresses of Stone and Metal.  There have been times terrible abominations of flesh have been created by his followers, and great plagues have spread because of his “healers”.  Though the followers of Malvaxor do not recognize the Many Spirits, they are doing the work of the Reaper Spirit without question. 

The followers of Goldeneyes, the Seekers of Knowledge, may seem trustworthy, but be cautious what you may reveal to them.  They seek to know all, even that which should remain sacred and amongst only the Kerra-Kerra.  Though they say they record this knowledge to preserve it, who is to say what others may use this knowledge for?  Always guard our secrets, especially around the followers of Goldeneyes. 

Though the God of Death, Mausolus, and his followers, do not often work with the Reaper Spirit in mind, for he is a vain and prideful god, and his ways are only of benefit to him.  Those seeking the death of a specific person will often ask for his favor, the bounty killers and assassins of those with great power Beyond the Great Walls, usually, but his influence is spreading into the Bitter Frontier.

If life in upon the Bitter Frontier has taught us anything, it is that chaos is firmly in control, and this is pleasing to Old Man Entropy.  Some say he knows not what he does, for he is mad, but this is not so; mortals simply cannot fathom the true nature of his ways.  Understand that all tries to return to chaos, and this is the ultimate goal of Old Man Entropy.  It is said that he sometimes will reveal himself upon the great buttes and mesas on nights of the full moon, appearing as a great steed composed of starlight twinkling in shadow, a great horn upon its head.  Be ever cautious of such a strange vision, for it is a sign to contemplate and consider well what may come.

Chief among the gods of the Orc People of the north is Mantok Badaxe, a great warrior god who seeks to guide his people beyond the ways of the raider and barbarian.  His people upon the Bitter Frontier do not listen often to him and may have even forsaken his teachings altogether.  A rare few, however, still seek to follow his ancient ways, and it is these orcs who are often reaching out to live amongst other peoples, to learn their ways and live “civilized” lives.  If that is the path they have chosen, then so be it; be wary of them as you would be for any outside the Kerra-Kerra, but if their intentions are true, they will find their own rewards with Mantok.

It is often difficult to say where you will find followers of the goddesses Erisaya and Yurisaya, for they are as two halves of the same being, one standing in light, the other in shadow, sometimes in a temple, sometimes in the Houses of Whores and Fire Water.  Generally, they are goodly, bringing healing and their chosen forms of “love and compassion” to the world, but this often brings with it stirred passions and its own form of chaos as the hearts and minds can be swayed by their ways.  Always be careful around them, for they know well the ways of the flesh, and can say sweet words that will twist the mind as surely as any dark sorcery to sway those to their ways of thinking. 

#Lore24 – Entry #79 – Fantasy Month #19 – Sisters of Silence

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

A curious and mysterious cult, there is little in the archives that I have been able to find during my admittedly light research into the group over the years.  The general consensus is that the Sisters of Silence, also known as the Silent Sisterhood, are followers of Mausolus, the god of death, and in particular, the aspect of his domain devoted to assassination.  What is not entirely clear is the nature of their service to Mausolus, and what the associated rituals may be. 

The very existence of such a female-centered group dedicating themselves to this particular deity is curious because it is well known that Mausolus favors men and is quite misogynistic in his ways, tending to believe women inferior in most things aside from childrearing and keeping the home orderly.  Though few are historically known, the Hands of Mausolus, the most elite assassins chosen by the god himself, have all been men, and supposedly, have had dalliances with the god during their service.  There is an entirely different discussion that could be had about the nature of Mausolus’s relationships and attitudes to the two genders, but I shall refrain from delving too deeply here and instead focus upon the Sisters as requested.

Some theorize that the Sisters of Silence may represent the idealized purpose of women under Mausolus, serving his clergy and Hands as a woman should, as quietly as possible and with a minimum of complaint, whatever it is the men of the order may require, perhaps even acting as little more than breeding stock to increase the number of faithful.  Others suspect a more sinister purpose to the Sisterhood, however.  While these women dedicate themselves to service and worship of Mausolus, there are some accounts that indicate they too may be assassins and spies, though not on the same level as the Hands.  Perhaps it is they who handle the more mundane killings for the god, the ones that don’t require the skills that a Hand possesses?  Though unconfirmed, there are a few accounts of encounters with a supposed Sister, appearing and striking suddenly, then vanishing just as quickly once their target has been dealt with, and other tales of poisonings that have been attributed to them.  There are even some descriptions of a particular style of mask worn by the Sisters, further supporting their name, which covers their faces below their eyes and contains a silencing, phallic gag (I suppose this goes back to the idea that they are in some way embracing the idea of a perfect woman in the eyes of Mausolus?), which may also contain a capsule filled with deadly poison that they will consume should their mission fail and capture seems imminent. 

Certainly, more information would need to be collected before any true determinations could be made, but I am not going to hold my breath.  Delving into the ways of assassins and death cults often leads to particularly terrible ends, and I am certainly in no hurry to find my final rest.