Church of Vuori
A small faith of smith-priests it’s popular primarily among those who work with metal. Though it’s membership is small, almost anyone who works with tools come to his places of worship to make offerings.
Structure
The bottom rung of the church hierarchy is the adelfia usually smiths or other craftsmen they perform small tasks for the church in addition to attending the worship services. While not strictly speaking a part of the hierarchy. The next rung up are the mathiteyomenos. Mathiteyomenos are students of the faith who hope, through great study and devotion, to become active members of the church in time. As a rule, they are young (generally in their mid-teens) and very eager to show their devotion to their superiors in the church. Above the mathiteyomenos are the technites. The technite is a mathiteyomenos who has proven himself to be true to the church and devoted in his vows. He is generally older (in his late teens or early twenties). Upon reaching his new level, the former mathiteyomenos is expected to take on more responsibilities. In addition to overseeing the training of the mathiteyomenos he has left behind, the technites is now expected to play a greater role in the worship of the deity. In fact, lesser holy services may actually be wholly under the supervision of the technites. The sidirourgos is the backbone of Vuori's chuch. Without them, there is no church. Each temple is assumed to be under the guidance of one sidirourgos, who is in charge of all that goes on within the temple he is associated with. A sidirourgos is usually in his late twenties or early thirties. Sidirourgos are selected from the ranks of the technites and assigned to serve in areas where the church needs to estab lish a new temple or replace another priest for some reason.
The afentis is recognized as the head of all church activities in a given town or city. Depending upon the size of the community, he may have up to six churches in his jurisdiction. Because the afentis is one of the most powerful members of the local religious community, he is assumed to have roughly the same rights and privileges as an important guildsman. As you might expect, a request for favors from such an individual is always taken very seriously by the local nobility. The next rung in the ladder of church affairs is occupied by the khalkos. In his hands is placed the supervision of all church holdings in several towns. The khalkos is an important link in the church structure, for he often acts as an interface between the church’s highest officials and the local representatives of the faith (in the person of the local afentis and sidirourgos.) Khalkos will tend to be in their mid-thirties, having devoted most of their lives to the service of Vuori. The asimii of a church are second in power only to the high priest. They are able to command such mighty power and have so much say in matters of the church that they are assumed to be fully as important as any member of the noble class. Obviously, the years of devotion and study required to attain this position means that the asimis will tend to be quite old. As a rule, the youngest of asimii will be in their forties. Near the top of Vuori's churcher is the krysos. This person is the absolute ruler of the faith in a given kingdom. Because of this, they are generally treated as if they were members of the royal family itself. This person, selected from among the krysos of the various states, is known as a khalyvas. The existence of the khalyvas does not reduce the power of the krysos by very much, as the church is so large that they must all manage the affairs of an entire nation. A khalyvas will almost always be at least 70 years old.
The afentis is recognized as the head of all church activities in a given town or city. Depending upon the size of the community, he may have up to six churches in his jurisdiction. Because the afentis is one of the most powerful members of the local religious community, he is assumed to have roughly the same rights and privileges as an important guildsman. As you might expect, a request for favors from such an individual is always taken very seriously by the local nobility. The next rung in the ladder of church affairs is occupied by the khalkos. In his hands is placed the supervision of all church holdings in several towns. The khalkos is an important link in the church structure, for he often acts as an interface between the church’s highest officials and the local representatives of the faith (in the person of the local afentis and sidirourgos.) Khalkos will tend to be in their mid-thirties, having devoted most of their lives to the service of Vuori. The asimii of a church are second in power only to the high priest. They are able to command such mighty power and have so much say in matters of the church that they are assumed to be fully as important as any member of the noble class. Obviously, the years of devotion and study required to attain this position means that the asimis will tend to be quite old. As a rule, the youngest of asimii will be in their forties. Near the top of Vuori's churcher is the krysos. This person is the absolute ruler of the faith in a given kingdom. Because of this, they are generally treated as if they were members of the royal family itself. This person, selected from among the krysos of the various states, is known as a khalyvas. The existence of the khalyvas does not reduce the power of the krysos by very much, as the church is so large that they must all manage the affairs of an entire nation. A khalyvas will almost always be at least 70 years old.
Public Agenda
The church of Vuori seeks to protect and encourage craftsmen, particularly smiths. Beyond that the church has little interest in temporal power, its members more interested in furthering their skill as smiths and unravelling the secrets of forging metal.
Assets
While the church is small, a competent smith makes a decent living Consequently, while the church doesn’t have a lot of assets itself, its members do.
Mythology & Lore
According to legend, Eresu grew tired of the constant fighting between Utu and Asmodeus and sought comfort in the arms of Io who largely stayed out of the fighting. This brief dalliance resulted in the birth of Vuori. When Vuori was born Eresu’s birth fluids were magma and her breasts smoked and gave off sparks. As a child the precocious Vuori took after his mother in his propensity for shaping things into other things. Utu, impressed by his industriousness formed a hammer and anvil from the primordial chaos and gifted them to Vuori to see what he would do with them. Pleased with the gifts Vuori took them and used them to forge a sword for Utu, gifting it with powers as befitting the god of the sun. Seeing how happy Utu was with his work, Vuori then proceeded to craft a ruby mace for Asmodeus, likewise filling it with fitting powers. This greatly leased Asmodeus but upset Utu. This reaction confused the young Vuori who thought that the pleasure of superb craftsmanship should be separate from what the use of the crafted item was for.
Undaunted, Vuori continued to craft tools for the many deities, both good and evil. While most of the tools he crafted were weapons, not all were, and deities needing a specific tool would come to Vuori for his work. Vuori didn’t distinguish between those deities dedicated to good and those dedicated to evil, instead selling his services to whomever would pay his prices. This attitude would cause a rift between Vuori and his mother Eresu when the Godswar started. Eresu was certain that the message of freedom for their creations that Eresu and Utu championed would appeal to Vuori, however, Vuori was concerned only with crafting and refused to take sides, continuing to sell his work to whomever would pay his prices (which continued to rise as the Godswar progressed). While he became quite wealthy as a result of his work during the Godswar, his relations with the deities of good and evil remain a little cool to this day.
Despite his rising prices business continued to boom during the Godswar, so much so that Vuori created helpers to assist in his work. First, he created short creatures to tend the fires, the ancestors of the goblins. Then still in need of assistance he fashioned the dwarves to join him in fashioning things and mining the metals that lay hidden within the rocks. While the dwarves proudly claim this as the origin of their race, the goblins take offense, claiming they were the special creation of Azag. This in large part contributes to the enmity between dwarves and goblins to this day.
In the wake of the Godswar business slowed down for Vuori and he freed his creations into the world to seek their own destinies, though he continues to watch over them. He also reconciled with his mother, though their relationship remains cool. While a creative force he not above taking inspiration from others. When Sinnis crafted the first golem, impressed by her achievement he sought to not only duplicated it but surpass it. His creation were the clockwork mechanisms, the secrets of crafting which he continues to share with select mortals. Unlike most deities who dwell in the outer planes, his followers believe that his home and forge are located in the heart of Arda, where he continues to work, perfecting his craft and crafting tools for whomever will meet his prices, be the gods or mortals. He continues to inspire craftsmen to this day, encouraging them to focus on their crafts and leave the questions of morality for others to debate.
Undaunted, Vuori continued to craft tools for the many deities, both good and evil. While most of the tools he crafted were weapons, not all were, and deities needing a specific tool would come to Vuori for his work. Vuori didn’t distinguish between those deities dedicated to good and those dedicated to evil, instead selling his services to whomever would pay his prices. This attitude would cause a rift between Vuori and his mother Eresu when the Godswar started. Eresu was certain that the message of freedom for their creations that Eresu and Utu championed would appeal to Vuori, however, Vuori was concerned only with crafting and refused to take sides, continuing to sell his work to whomever would pay his prices (which continued to rise as the Godswar progressed). While he became quite wealthy as a result of his work during the Godswar, his relations with the deities of good and evil remain a little cool to this day.
Despite his rising prices business continued to boom during the Godswar, so much so that Vuori created helpers to assist in his work. First, he created short creatures to tend the fires, the ancestors of the goblins. Then still in need of assistance he fashioned the dwarves to join him in fashioning things and mining the metals that lay hidden within the rocks. While the dwarves proudly claim this as the origin of their race, the goblins take offense, claiming they were the special creation of Azag. This in large part contributes to the enmity between dwarves and goblins to this day.
In the wake of the Godswar business slowed down for Vuori and he freed his creations into the world to seek their own destinies, though he continues to watch over them. He also reconciled with his mother, though their relationship remains cool. While a creative force he not above taking inspiration from others. When Sinnis crafted the first golem, impressed by her achievement he sought to not only duplicated it but surpass it. His creation were the clockwork mechanisms, the secrets of crafting which he continues to share with select mortals. Unlike most deities who dwell in the outer planes, his followers believe that his home and forge are located in the heart of Arda, where he continues to work, perfecting his craft and crafting tools for whomever will meet his prices, be the gods or mortals. He continues to inspire craftsmen to this day, encouraging them to focus on their crafts and leave the questions of morality for others to debate.
Cosmological Views
In Arda the cosmos is divided into the inner planes and the outer planes. The inner planes consist of the prime material plane where Vuori makes his home, which coexists with the First World and the Plane of Shadow. They are surrounded by the four elemental planes or earth, fire, water, and air, as well as the positive and negative material planes. All these planes “float” within the ethereal plane, the plane of ghosts and other incorporeal beings.
Surrounding and encompassing the inner planes is the astral plane which connects the inner planes with the outer planes. While the souls of other faithful expect to travel, via the astral plane, to be with their deities in the outer planes upon death, those faithful to Vuori believe that those who prove themselves true craftsmen are collected by Vuori’s agents upon their death and taken to his forge in the center of Arda where they will spend eternity working at their craft alongside Vuori.
Surrounding and encompassing the inner planes is the astral plane which connects the inner planes with the outer planes. While the souls of other faithful expect to travel, via the astral plane, to be with their deities in the outer planes upon death, those faithful to Vuori believe that those who prove themselves true craftsmen are collected by Vuori’s agents upon their death and taken to his forge in the center of Arda where they will spend eternity working at their craft alongside Vuori.
Tenets of Faith
Taking sides in a conflict only detracts from the time available for crafting. Temporal concerns should not infringe on a craftsman’s time which is best dedicated to practicing and perfecting his or her craft.
While profiting off of one’s talent and ability are good, the true profits are perfecting one’s skill. One should never allow the pursuit of profit to take precedence over the opportunity to practice and improve one’s craft.
People come and go, but gold is eternal. When given the choice between people and profit remember that to side with one person is usually to side against another. In the end do choose whoever guarantees the greater profit.
Respect the world, for the bounty it provides is the source of profit. A craftsman without something to shape cannot produce anything and for this reason the craftsmen respect Eresu who provides the materials that craftsmen turn into profits.
Along with their talent it is the spark of creativity that separates the craftsman from the other folk. While some out of jealousy would shame the creative mind it is those creative minds that make the comforts of the world possible.
The forge is sacred to Vuori, and not just the forge but anywhere a craftsman puts tools to use creating something of value from raw materials. Those who violate the sanctity of that space will face the wrath of Vuori.
When it comes to crafting, every craftsman has his tools, whether the hammer and anvil of the forge or the hammer and chisels of a stonemason. A craftsman always keeps his tools in good shape as pride in one’s tools is pride in one’s craft.
While profiting off of one’s talent and ability are good, the true profits are perfecting one’s skill. One should never allow the pursuit of profit to take precedence over the opportunity to practice and improve one’s craft.
People come and go, but gold is eternal. When given the choice between people and profit remember that to side with one person is usually to side against another. In the end do choose whoever guarantees the greater profit.
Respect the world, for the bounty it provides is the source of profit. A craftsman without something to shape cannot produce anything and for this reason the craftsmen respect Eresu who provides the materials that craftsmen turn into profits.
Along with their talent it is the spark of creativity that separates the craftsman from the other folk. While some out of jealousy would shame the creative mind it is those creative minds that make the comforts of the world possible.
The forge is sacred to Vuori, and not just the forge but anywhere a craftsman puts tools to use creating something of value from raw materials. Those who violate the sanctity of that space will face the wrath of Vuori.
When it comes to crafting, every craftsman has his tools, whether the hammer and anvil of the forge or the hammer and chisels of a stonemason. A craftsman always keeps his tools in good shape as pride in one’s tools is pride in one’s craft.
Worship
The church of Vuori doesn’t have regular worship services as such, the faithful claim that the act of taking raw materials and shaping them into something is an act of worship towards Vuori. Though once a month when the moon is full, worshippers of Vuori usually gather at the local shrine or temple to display their latest most impressive creations. This is usually opened and closed with songs of praise to Vuori and may or may not include readings from The Book Aux Daskalos Sideras. While some might expect these gatherings, or versamm as the faithful call them, to be full of boasting and displays of pride, they are actually events of friendly rivalry where the more skilled share tips with the less skilled. Also despite the church’s emphasis on profits, sales are forbidden at versamm, and while outsiders are permitted they are not permitted to purchase, though agreeing to meet afterwards to purchase something is permitted.
Priesthood
The faithful of Vuori do not hold with the pomp and ceremony of other faiths, and do not wear long flowing robes or other garments. They prefer the simple practical clothes of a craftsman, over which they wear an apron of red trimmed in black with Vuori’s volcano depicted in gold or silver thread. Clergy of Vuori are always craftsmen themselves, for only another craftsman is fit to judge the work of a craftsman. While most smiths wear aprons of leather or heavy canvas, the faithful will usually have Vuori’s volcano depicted on it somewhere. They also like to have his symbol depicted on their tools such as etched into the side of an anvil, to remind them who they serve.
While there is no strict pattern to the layout of Vuori’s shrines and temples at the center is always a forge which remains always lit except during versamm during which they are ritually cleaned by several mathiteyomenos, supervised by a technite. While some might consider this a chore, to those chosen it is considered a great honor, and the soot from the forge is often mixed with holy water or anointing oil for use on a faithful’s tools.
While there is no strict pattern to the layout of Vuori’s shrines and temples at the center is always a forge which remains always lit except during versamm during which they are ritually cleaned by several mathiteyomenos, supervised by a technite. While some might consider this a chore, to those chosen it is considered a great honor, and the soot from the forge is often mixed with holy water or anointing oil for use on a faithful’s tools.
Keep the rhythm of the bellows; Keep the fire glowing red; Never forget your place, good fellow; Never you let the coals go dead.
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