The Eight Heralds
The “Eight Heralds” is the most prominent religion of Breitia.
It is based/an off shoot of the Proclaimers of the Self which is Hertia’s main religion.
Most of the prominent leading figures within “The Eight Heralds” clergy are part of the Gloria household. Followers of "The Eight Heralds" will generally try to live their lives with respect to & in the name of all 8 heralds. This said, all they do is in the name & is thought to reflect the individual Herald the devotee chose during “The Right of Age” ritual. The “Heralds” themselves comprise of eight gods which represent/oversee aspects of life. The general principles of this religion is to live life in support of others & yourself. This is shown by the Heralds as each are aspects of life, together making a balanced whole. The Eight Heralds religion as a whole is represented by an octagon with a circle at each point. "The Mother"
Represents:
• Ecstasy, joy & serenity.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as a large women wearing full robes ordained in chrysanthemum flowers carrying a sceptre.
Holy symbol:
• Sceptre or a Chrysanthemum flower.
"The Father"
Represents:
• Admiration, trust & acceptance.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a solidly built man wearing full robes carrying a staff.
Holy symbol:
• Staff or an anvil.
"The Judge"
Represents:
• Terror, fear & apprehension.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as a woman dressed in judge robes with her eyes blinded by wrappings. Her arms are folded holding a gavel in one hand.
Holy symbol:
• Hammer/Gavel or a scale.
"The Magician"
Represents:
• Amazement, surprise & distraction.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a tall thin man dressed in lavish cloths holding an gilded orb.
Holy symbol:
• A gilded orb or hour glass.
"The Widow"
Represents:
• Grief, sadness & pensiveness.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted by a woman in what seems to be a night gown. Her face is in her hands.
Holy symbol:
• Scythe or a tear drop.
"The Begger"
Represents:
• Loathing, disgust & boredom.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as an extremely thin & emaciated man in ripped cloths. His two hands are held forward in the begging motion.
Holy symbol:
• An open hand or an empty bowl.
"The Witch"
Represents:
• Rage, anger & annoyance.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as an old crow woman in scruffy cloths hunched over a walking stick.
Holy symbol:
• A walking stick/cane or a flame.
"The Guard"
Represents:
• Vigilance, anticipation & interest.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a solid man standing at attention still & at attention in full armour. He holds a Shield in front of him leaning on the ground.
Holy symbol:
• A shield or helmet.
It is based/an off shoot of the Proclaimers of the Self which is Hertia’s main religion.
Most of the prominent leading figures within “The Eight Heralds” clergy are part of the Gloria household. Followers of "The Eight Heralds" will generally try to live their lives with respect to & in the name of all 8 heralds. This said, all they do is in the name & is thought to reflect the individual Herald the devotee chose during “The Right of Age” ritual. The “Heralds” themselves comprise of eight gods which represent/oversee aspects of life. The general principles of this religion is to live life in support of others & yourself. This is shown by the Heralds as each are aspects of life, together making a balanced whole. The Eight Heralds religion as a whole is represented by an octagon with a circle at each point. "The Mother"
Represents:
• Ecstasy, joy & serenity.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as a large women wearing full robes ordained in chrysanthemum flowers carrying a sceptre.
Holy symbol:
• Sceptre or a Chrysanthemum flower.
"The Father"
Represents:
• Admiration, trust & acceptance.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a solidly built man wearing full robes carrying a staff.
Holy symbol:
• Staff or an anvil.
"The Judge"
Represents:
• Terror, fear & apprehension.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as a woman dressed in judge robes with her eyes blinded by wrappings. Her arms are folded holding a gavel in one hand.
Holy symbol:
• Hammer/Gavel or a scale.
"The Magician"
Represents:
• Amazement, surprise & distraction.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a tall thin man dressed in lavish cloths holding an gilded orb.
Holy symbol:
• A gilded orb or hour glass.
"The Widow"
Represents:
• Grief, sadness & pensiveness.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted by a woman in what seems to be a night gown. Her face is in her hands.
Holy symbol:
• Scythe or a tear drop.
"The Begger"
Represents:
• Loathing, disgust & boredom.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as an extremely thin & emaciated man in ripped cloths. His two hands are held forward in the begging motion.
Holy symbol:
• An open hand or an empty bowl.
"The Witch"
Represents:
• Rage, anger & annoyance.
Statue depictions:
• She is depicted as an old crow woman in scruffy cloths hunched over a walking stick.
Holy symbol:
• A walking stick/cane or a flame.
"The Guard"
Represents:
• Vigilance, anticipation & interest.
Statue depictions:
• He is depicted as a solid man standing at attention still & at attention in full armour. He holds a Shield in front of him leaning on the ground.
Holy symbol:
• A shield or helmet.
Ethics
Birth:
• When a child is born & reaches the age of 3 months old they are taken to the local church to be baptised by the family.
• At the start of the baptism, guests & the parents make an offering (monetary & goods) to the church.
• During baptism a child is devoted to one of the Heralds, this will be their patron during their childhood until they their reach 16 years old & perform “The Right of Age”.
• To performed a baptism a child is placed on an alter & wrapped in a silken blanket depicting the chosen Herald symbol. There they are sprinkled with wine while the priest recites a blessing.
Adolescents:
• At the age of 16 years a child is believed to start the move from childhood to adulthood.
• At this time a child will preform “The Right of Age”.
• “The Right of Age” is as follows:
This is performed during the 16th year of life.
In front of an alter with a priest (including any others performing the rite as well)
On the alter will be a cup & candle for each rite taker & a bottle of wine.
During the rite the taker will recite a blessing as it is said by the priest:
Marriage:
• It is a sacred union between two individuals declared in front of the Heralds.
• Marriage is allowed between all races & sex’s.
• When people wish to get married a priest will perform the spell Ceremony to join the two in “The Ceremony of Joining Souls”. This is normally held in a church or a place of the twos choosing.
• Some marriages are arranged by two family’s who are looking to merge family or further both family’s status/assets.
• Marriage is to be announced. “The Ceremony of Joining Souls” will not be performed until at least a month has passed. This allows any individuals to protest the marriage in confidence to a member of the clergy.
• “The Ceremony of Joining Souls” is as follows:
• When an individual dies the body is taken to a church (each church has a specially build morgue).
• Each body is wrapped in a silken blanket embroidered with the holy symbol of the individuals chosen Herald.
• In the morgue a lite candle & empty bottle of wine is sent down with each body.
• While in the morgue friends & family have 5 days to visit the body.
• Upon the 6th day the candle is extinguished by placing the empty bottle over it. Then each body is taken to a large pit which is encircled by the Harold’s statues. The pit is constantly burning all day & all night.
• The body’s are tossed into the pit (the priests that do this are referred to as "Dead Bearer"
• When a child is born & reaches the age of 3 months old they are taken to the local church to be baptised by the family.
• At the start of the baptism, guests & the parents make an offering (monetary & goods) to the church.
• During baptism a child is devoted to one of the Heralds, this will be their patron during their childhood until they their reach 16 years old & perform “The Right of Age”.
• To performed a baptism a child is placed on an alter & wrapped in a silken blanket depicting the chosen Herald symbol. There they are sprinkled with wine while the priest recites a blessing.
Adolescents:
• At the age of 16 years a child is believed to start the move from childhood to adulthood.
• At this time a child will preform “The Right of Age”.
• “The Right of Age” is as follows:
- "With this heart I will live a life. My cup will seldom be empty, for the Heralds will give me guidance. With this candle, I will have a beacon to follow. With this blessing, I will walk the world for ....”
- The final passage of the rite is where the taker chooses a Herald to follow in their adulthood.
- Following this, the taker is branded on the left breast with the chosen Heralds symbol.
Marriage:
• It is a sacred union between two individuals declared in front of the Heralds.
• Marriage is allowed between all races & sex’s.
• When people wish to get married a priest will perform the spell Ceremony to join the two in “The Ceremony of Joining Souls”. This is normally held in a church or a place of the twos choosing.
• Some marriages are arranged by two family’s who are looking to merge family or further both family’s status/assets.
• Marriage is to be announced. “The Ceremony of Joining Souls” will not be performed until at least a month has passed. This allows any individuals to protest the marriage in confidence to a member of the clergy.
- When a protest is brought forward the clergy member is required to bring this to the churches seniors. This could result in a declined marriage (it is rare as generally family’s are consulted & issues can be rectified)
• “The Ceremony of Joining Souls” is as follows:
- This ceremony in normally held in front of both to be weds friends & family.
- At the start of the ceremony guessed & the to be weds make an offering (monetary & goods) to the church.
- Both to be weds stand before an octagon alter, each side depicts one of the Heralds.
- A priest stands with the to be weds.
- On the alter is two goblets cup, a bottle of wine, two candles and a candle on a candlestick & two rings in a silk padded small jewellery chest.
- During the ceremony both repeat the following lines as the priest cites them, while performing actions at the alter:
- "With this hand I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way into darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine”
• When an individual dies the body is taken to a church (each church has a specially build morgue).
• Each body is wrapped in a silken blanket embroidered with the holy symbol of the individuals chosen Herald.
• In the morgue a lite candle & empty bottle of wine is sent down with each body.
• While in the morgue friends & family have 5 days to visit the body.
• Upon the 6th day the candle is extinguished by placing the empty bottle over it. Then each body is taken to a large pit which is encircled by the Harold’s statues. The pit is constantly burning all day & all night.
• The body’s are tossed into the pit (the priests that do this are referred to as "Dead Bearer"
Alternative Names
Heralds, The Eight.
Predecessor Organization
Parent Organization
Related Ranks & Titles
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
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