Kalande
"All roads lead somewhere, and there is always something on the other side of the hill - or past the horizon. It is a shame to live in a way where those questions never even occur to you. That uncertainty, the mystery of what's out there, that is where he dwells. The journey is what is important, not whether you arrive."Civilization often creates people who find themselves unable to fit in a neat place for very long, people who grow restless when things become routine. For these people, Kalande exists to inspire them to embrace the life of a traveler and still make the world a better place for being within it. He has the title of "Fortunate Son" due to stories of him always managing to get out of a situation without being worse for it. The title of "Carefree Wanderer" was also bestowed upon Kalande for their ideal of lacking a single place to call 'home'. Rather, his teachings claim everywhere is home, because home is a feeling and not a place. Once this is understood, then so too can someone be carefree and wander abroad in the world. Kalande represents those who are taken to wanderlust, and often is depicted in stories or art as traveling along the road with no clear destination.
Divine Domains
Freedom. As befits the Carefree Wanderer, Kalande passes down the idea of freedom being more important than settling in a place. Most followers treat the whole idea of 'freedom over all other things' as the point, but this tends to fall short of what Kalande left in the book of Lessons. The ideal represented by Freedom is the right to leave a situation when it is no longer good, and to find the next one which may be better.
Luck. Kalande's other epithet is "The Fortunate Son", and as long as his devout followers remain honest and true there will be moments when luck helps weigh things more in their favor. There are many times when those bound to Kalande are seemingly able to beat the odds, even when it should seem impossible to do so.
Trickery. As much as luck can cause things to turn for the better, sometimes a little help is needed. Kalande isn't above inspiring mischief when the situation calls for it, though most instances of such is reserved for disarming or distracting instead of directly harming another.
Luck. Kalande's other epithet is "The Fortunate Son", and as long as his devout followers remain honest and true there will be moments when luck helps weigh things more in their favor. There are many times when those bound to Kalande are seemingly able to beat the odds, even when it should seem impossible to do so.
Trickery. As much as luck can cause things to turn for the better, sometimes a little help is needed. Kalande isn't above inspiring mischief when the situation calls for it, though most instances of such is reserved for disarming or distracting instead of directly harming another.
Holy Books & Codes
It might be considered an unexpected thing for the followers of Kalande to keep a book describing their faith, but once they learn which book the most common comment is "that makes sense". The book 'Lessons' is less of a manual of instructions on how to live, and more a loose collection of morality tales which are framed as situations Kalande found himself involved in. The book is popular outside of those who follow the Fortunate Son as a gift to young adults who are leaving home, partly for luck, and partly as something to help anchor their morality. Most copies are incomplete, with various editions omitting tales based on what the currently living generations value most. Despite these, the Order of Letters does produce "complete editions" which are available through temples dedicated to the Carefree Wanderer. Finding them for sale elsewhere is rare, as most sellers aren't aware of the differences between editions.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Kalande's symbol is that of a simple walking stick slanted in one direction or another, usually with a bend or other warping to it. The direction of the staff is said to have a specific meaning; the staff can be pointing with the top to the left or the right. If it points to the left of the viewer then it is a warning there is something dire ahead on the road. If it points the other direction, then there is good reason to follow that road. In some rare instances this code is extended to have the staff broken in the middle, indicating potentially fatal hazards are in the direction the staff is pointing. Most temples add a winding road into the symbol, with the bottom tip of the staff being where the road starts.
Offerings to Kalande are rare at temples, but they are always available for those who seek the attention of the Fortunate Son. Emeralds are a popular choice, as the green gemstones represent fields and forests depending on the exact shade of the stone. Sapphires are said to represent the blue of the clear sky (a good omen for wanderers) or a calm ocean. Cloudy quartz crystals shaped into spheres are also used as offerings, for those who cannot afford the gemstones and wish to make their offering "official". These offerings are usually accompanied by burning sticks of a fragrant wood, or similarly pungent leaves, in a brass bowl placed upon the altar. Travelers who have a desire to do these offerings on the road usually carry a brass bowl which can serve as a meal dish, and will carry spheres of quartz so as not to be caught with more valuable assets.
It should be noted any offering which is made with a gem or crystal acquired through bloody means, whether directly or indirectly, incurrs the wrath of Kalande. This takes the form of incredible misfortune visited upon the individual until proper penance is sought. The strength of the misfortunes, and the chosen act of penance, is dependent on how badly the petitioner had harmed those the offering was taken from. This is not a quantitive measure of harm, but a qualitative measure - it doesn't matter how much was stolen or how much harm was done. What matters more is the severity of harm caused, and how easily it is recovered from.
Offerings to Kalande are rare at temples, but they are always available for those who seek the attention of the Fortunate Son. Emeralds are a popular choice, as the green gemstones represent fields and forests depending on the exact shade of the stone. Sapphires are said to represent the blue of the clear sky (a good omen for wanderers) or a calm ocean. Cloudy quartz crystals shaped into spheres are also used as offerings, for those who cannot afford the gemstones and wish to make their offering "official". These offerings are usually accompanied by burning sticks of a fragrant wood, or similarly pungent leaves, in a brass bowl placed upon the altar. Travelers who have a desire to do these offerings on the road usually carry a brass bowl which can serve as a meal dish, and will carry spheres of quartz so as not to be caught with more valuable assets.
It should be noted any offering which is made with a gem or crystal acquired through bloody means, whether directly or indirectly, incurrs the wrath of Kalande. This takes the form of incredible misfortune visited upon the individual until proper penance is sought. The strength of the misfortunes, and the chosen act of penance, is dependent on how badly the petitioner had harmed those the offering was taken from. This is not a quantitive measure of harm, but a qualitative measure - it doesn't matter how much was stolen or how much harm was done. What matters more is the severity of harm caused, and how easily it is recovered from.
Tenets of Faith
"Life is never a straight path."
The more popular stories of Kalande tend to center around this idea, and variations on its theme. For starters, the idea one can evade responsibility by leaving it behind is seen as a folly, a weakness which must be fixed to become a proper person. Similarly, one can never quite predict how they need to reach their goals from where they start. All that is certain is whether someone will find their goal if they're willing to work to make it happen and not simply wait for it to be given.
"Taking chances does not mean being reckless."
As much as tales of Kalande in the book of Lessons focus on how lucky he is, the fables never quite stop there. Relying on luck to save you is not a viable option to live, and there should always be forethought put into what might happen if a decision turns out to be a mistake. Many have reinterpreted this tenet to mean "chance favors the prepared", but Kalande's lessons focus on this being a flawed ideal. Every possible chance cannot be planned for, so it is better to enter a situation with as few chances for a bad end as possible.
"Give your heart to nothing lightly, but give it to something."
The Fortunate Son believes it is important to avoid being fickle, and to truly take anything to heart - though to do so only if it means something to you. There are tales in the book of Lessons where Kalande especially makes oaths without fully understanding what he is swearing to, and thus must figure a way to keep his word and get what he wants. In the later stories of the book, he is now the Carefree Wanderer and often avoids making promises - which in turn keeps people from trusting him. Those who follow Kalande and are warriors at heart have described this tenet as "hesitate to act if you must, but when you act - act with all you are".
The more popular stories of Kalande tend to center around this idea, and variations on its theme. For starters, the idea one can evade responsibility by leaving it behind is seen as a folly, a weakness which must be fixed to become a proper person. Similarly, one can never quite predict how they need to reach their goals from where they start. All that is certain is whether someone will find their goal if they're willing to work to make it happen and not simply wait for it to be given.
"Taking chances does not mean being reckless."
As much as tales of Kalande in the book of Lessons focus on how lucky he is, the fables never quite stop there. Relying on luck to save you is not a viable option to live, and there should always be forethought put into what might happen if a decision turns out to be a mistake. Many have reinterpreted this tenet to mean "chance favors the prepared", but Kalande's lessons focus on this being a flawed ideal. Every possible chance cannot be planned for, so it is better to enter a situation with as few chances for a bad end as possible.
"Give your heart to nothing lightly, but give it to something."
The Fortunate Son believes it is important to avoid being fickle, and to truly take anything to heart - though to do so only if it means something to you. There are tales in the book of Lessons where Kalande especially makes oaths without fully understanding what he is swearing to, and thus must figure a way to keep his word and get what he wants. In the later stories of the book, he is now the Carefree Wanderer and often avoids making promises - which in turn keeps people from trusting him. Those who follow Kalande and are warriors at heart have described this tenet as "hesitate to act if you must, but when you act - act with all you are".
Divine Classification
God of Rhyliss
Church/Cult
Children
Aligned Organization
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