The Mother
Structure
Despite being regarded as an organized religion, there are no dedicated churches, no rites or rituals. As the Mother is the living embodiment of the Universe, what point would there be in deciding that one could only worship in her navel, or that one needed to speak with a priest in order to communicate with what is literally all around one?
There are, however, Oracles. These individuals are drawn to the will of the Mother more strongly than others and are able to impart to others prophecies and divinations to help them through trying times or prepare them for coming events.
The most famous Oracle of the Mother is Leviathan, the Deep Lord of the Pearl Dragons. His claim to fame is two-fold. One, he's male. Most Oracles of note are female. And two, he has never been wrong. While some divinations are subject to interpretation normally, Levi's prophecies are colored with flowery imagery, but rarely hide what they are about, what they portent, and who is involved. In his estimated half million years of life, he has never been found to have been wrong about a single prediction.
Public Agenda
Those who worship the Mother strive to fend off the forces of "the Darkness". The belief that this entity that hates life is trying to enter the universe and destroy all life everywhere and everywhen drives Her worshipers to be the best they can, to support one another, and to never let another give in to suicidal thoughts or actions wantonly. Life is to be cherished. Agents of the Darkness are to be reclaimed to Her love if possible.
Assets
Being the Empire's defacto and default religion, particularly supported by the Emperor, means those who follow it's tenants and doctrine are given latitude to act, but are required to provide proof of their discoveries when requested. Aid is rendered as often and in as much as is required.
History
The Mother has always been revered in the Empire. Worship of her has become more widespread among non-dragons and non-Zanth under Grallax XIV, who's miraculous appearance and general prosperity have lead many to reconsider the faith as more than just a system of control.
Cosmological Views
The Mother is the Universe. In many ways, the concept of a cosmology in regards to the faith is also the same as in regards to Physics.
According to the scholars of Her teachings, She is One Among Many, a glassy pearl in a non-dimensional sea of infinite pearls. She is immortal, infinite, unaging, fragile, transient, finite and ethereal.
Tenets of Faith
Life is sacred. It should never be taken without reason or cause. When possible, restraint is preferred.
All paths exist. All paths are equally valid. Not all paths continue on.
When life must be taken, one must apologize to the dead for not being able to find a better path forward.
There is always a better path forward, but you cannot force another to walk it. Free will is also sacred.
Worship
There are no churches and no gatherings. Oracles have places of stillness where they can focus on the paths that surround the supplicants who come to them, but these are not the same thing.
Instead, the faithful speak of the Mother and keep her in their thoughts as they go through their day. Greeting someone by saying "Mother guide you" is considered a very friendly salutation. When parting, the phrase "May the Mother grace your path" is considered polite. Variations on these themes weave their way through daily conversations.
Maledicta are also possible, but uttering such is considered profanity, and shouldn't be done in polite society. Examples include "dead end path" "wandering vagrant" and "broken shell".
The last one is an insult of such magnitude that it is grounds for justifiable homicide by the one it is used on against the one speaking it, if the target is a dragon. It typically describes an orphan, or someone whose path is so ruined that there is no hope for them. As dragons are hatched from eggs, a broken shell is a life-threatening situation for the unhatched. In such literal cases, the dragon is usually deformed in some way, and such hatchings, if the dragon survives to hatch, are universally fatal over the first day.
As life is sacred, the act of creating new life is considered a sacred experience, particularly pregnancy, which Obsidian dragons refer to as "Becoming One with the Mother". This is particularly true in cases where only one of the partners is to be impregnated, such as when the other is not female as well, or is a male Zanth. Dragons believe the entire process from impregnation to clutching is an act of devotion, and when intentionally attempting to become pregnant, there is a bit of reverence on the part of those involved leading up to and including the male's release in to the female. Failing to induce an orgasm in the female partner is seen as an ill omen for the clutch. It is not uncommon for the male to orally pleasure his mate before he mounts to make sure that she has as many orgasms as he can induce before he experiences his one or two release events.
Priesthood
The closest thing to priests that exist for those who worship the Mother are her Oracles, psychics blessed with the ability to see the paths of fate and who can offer guidance to navigate them forward to the best path once can still arrive on. Many of them come from the House of Pearl, and the greatest Oracle is it's ruler, Lord Leviathan.
Sects
There are no sects, per se. There are, however groups with differing understandings of Her nature. There are those who have seen her from the outside, called Skindancers. There are those who have interacted with her angels, called Blessed. And then there are those who believe, but do not understand what they believe, called the Lost. Once can be both Blessed and a Skindancer, but once one has been Blessed or lived to dance on Her skin, one cannot go back to being Lost. So profound is the experience that it transforms the supplicant.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
She Who is Mother to Us All is also often referred to as "the Mother".
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Notable Members
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