The Order of the Quartet
The Divine Quartet
The Creation Myth
Before all, ere the cosmos expanded hitherto, were four Matrons. The Mother of Time, the Mother of Creation, the Mother of Knowledge, and the Mother of Power. These Matrons, called the Divine Quartet, were kin to each other - sisters intertwined in an endless dance. Alike were The Mothers of Time and of Knowledge in their character, as were the Mother of Creation and the Mother of Power alike. Their similar natures allowed them to traverse the cosmos in harmony. But, just as each mother had a bond with whom they shared value, each too did they have a struggle with whom they did not share in any will or attribute. There was turmoil between the Mother of Time and of Creation. Also too the Mother of Knowledge clashed with the Mother of Power. And as a result of this inevitable tapestry of harmony and discord, the Matrons called for another- an arbiter to exist in the gap between them all.
Therefore, the Matrons began to spin the threads of the cosmos into a new being of divinity. The Mother of Creation began sculpting this new form as the Mother of Time infused it with motion and memory. The Mother of Knowledge imparted wisdom and communication and the Mother of Power gave the form will and desire. Hence was born the combined essence of all the matrons wrapped into one, who would be called the Daughter of Balance. Therefore, time began to pass. The passing of time allowed for creation. The act of creation brought knowledge. As knowledge grew, so did power. And all these things came to pass in perfect balance, one not greater than the other.
The Prime Deities
The Mother of Time
The Mother of Time is one fourth of the Divine Quartet, the Four Matrons that existed before the beginning. She controls the flow and the passing of time and the effects of cause in the universe. Nothing exists before nor after Her. Nothing can be gained or lost, nor planned, remembered, or forgotten without Her. She is the beginning and the end, the motion of all things, and the memory of the cosmos. Of the Four Matrons, she is the most beautiful and radiant. Her figure is tall and imposing, her hair is bright blonde, straight and tidy, and her eyes shine a brilliant gold. She is said to don flowing white robes and is often depicted holding thin threads meant to represent time itself. She is a loving Mother, and clings tightly to that which is in line with her nature. She values that which is woven together with time - Fertility, birth, life, maturity, progress, reverence, and memory, but also death, loss, and regret. She detests all forms of undeath and necromancy, as it directly undermines the natural passing of time.
The Mother of Creation
The Mother of Creation is one fourth of the Divine Quartet, the Four Matrons that existed before the beginning. She controls the creation and destruction of all things material. Nothing is made or fabricated apart from Her and no material exists before Her. She is the clay and the pot, the progress made upon a work of art, and the paint that dries and hardens onto the canvas. Of the Four Matrons, she is the most active and motivated. She is restless with Her hands and Her eyes flash with visions of ingenuity. It is said that she changes Her attire constantly and builds Her home greater and grander every day. She is an enthusiastic Mother, and clings tightly to that which is in line with her nature. She values that which is woven together with creation - Growth, forge, making, fabrication, art, weaving, distilling, manufacture, and construction, but also destruction, breaking, and reformation. She detests all forms of stagnation, laziness, and waste, as it exchanges the creation of things for the ease of discarding them.
The Mother of Knowledge
The Mother of Knowledge is one fourth of the Divine Quartet, the Four Matrons that existed before the beginning. She controls all things that are known or unknown, hidden or shared. She is the student's growth and the teacher's mind. She knows all things past, present, and future and every possibility between. Of the Four Matrons, she is the most quiet and focused. She sits silent for large swaths of time, thinking upon all that she contains. Her mind is always sharp, always active. To contain the collective knowledge of everything that was, is, and is to come takes a tremendous amount of fortitude and determination. She is an empathetic Mother, and clings tightly to that which is in line with her nature. She values that which is woven together with knowledge - Learning, history, theory, philosophy, analysis, education, arcana, study, reason and logic, but also trickery, illusion, and secrets. She detests all forms of ignorance, and hates liars and false prophets.
The Mother of Power
The Mother of Power is one fourth of the Divine Quartet, the Four Matrons that existed before the beginning. She controls all types of strength and power, force of will, and rule of law. She is the ultimate judge and the undeniable executioner. She carries Herself with the utmost confidence and bows to no one. She is a large, muscle-bound woman, with long legs and a broad chest. She has short curled brown hair that falls to a strong jawline. Her face is tight and imposing. Of the Four Matrons, she is the largest and most fearsome. It seems as though her size alone could force you to bow on your knees. She is a stern Mother, and holds tightly to that which is in line with her nature. She values that which is woven together with power - War, leadership, might, willpower, resolve, strength, and constitution, but also devastation, abuse, and hatred. She detests all things weak, small, and easily controlled.
The Daughter of Balance
The Daughter of Balance is the first soul to exist outside of the Divine Quartet and is their first creation. She represents all the best and worst tendencies of the Mothers' natures and as such can bring them to parlay with each other. Without the Daughter of Balance, there would be no world and no humanity within. She holds her Mothers in high reverence and shares with them a deep empathy. For she is of Them, and they are in Her.
The Archangels
Then, the Matrons weaved and created angels, imbuing them with divine power to carry out their wills upon this new world. To the Mother of Time was born Resphira and Syltha, to the Mother of Creation was born Faetasun and Kymos, to the Mother of Knowledge was born Zaphine and Veresoth, and to the Mother of Power was born Garthok and Reshkar.
Resphira(F), The River Maiden
Resphira is an archangel of the Mother of Time and is said to reside in the rivers of Exerahn. She is the angel of life, and fertility. She is often portrayed as young and nubile, often nude, with a stunningly beautiful physique colored bright blue and teal. Her symbol is a river delta loosely resembling the female anatomy.
Syltha(F), The Grave Keeper
Sythla is an archangel of the Mother of Time and guides the passing on of all beings. In the moment of death, Sythla steps in to guide those departed souls into the afterlife. She is often considered to be an incorporeal spirit, devoid of form and substance, yet her aura is said to be compassionate, gentle, and soft. She is commonly depicted as a floating collection of wisps of grey cloud and blue ribbon, her face constantly ebbing with the flows of the wind. Her symbol is a broken length of string shrouded in white smoke.
Faetasun(M), The Clay Author
Faetasun is an archangel of the Mother of Creation and rules over agriculture and the harvest. He is depicted as a quadrupedal beast, with the body of a bison, rippling panther-like legs, and the head of an ox. He is wise and old, and speaks telepathically. He celebrates that which comes from the ground and gives life. His symbol is a golden stalk of wheat surrounded by grass.
Kymos(NB), The Shining One
Kymos is an archangel of the Mother of Creation and is said to be in all things the give light. The sun and moon, stars, and fire. They are depicted as a joy-filled knight, clad in gleaming gold and bronze armor, with a head of pure light, and eyes like crystalline suns. Their smile is as bright as their armor and their soul shines through their eyes with equal brilliance. They enjoy laughter and music, and joy fills their heart. Their symbol is a 7-pointed sun.
Zaphine(NB), The Myth Weaver
Zaphine is an archangel of the Mother of Knowledge and delights in images, myths, and illusions. They are is depicted as a young fiery-haired, freckled rascal with an endlessly enchanting smile. They are one of the freer angels, seeking fun and whimsy wherever they go. Their symbol is an uncanny mask.
Veresoth(F), The Jubilant Teacher
Veresoth is an archangel of the Mother of Knowledge and controls all that can be known or discovered. She is often depicted as a book-keeper, clad in a robe of deep blues and pure whites, with wire-framed glasses. She smiles upon those who seek truth and knowledge and finds joy in guiding them along their path. He symbol is an open book with the symbols for "Seek" and "Truth" on the pages.
Garnok(NB), The Beast Master
Garnok is an archangel of the Mother of Power and is the animals and monsters of Milios. They are often depicted as a Manticore or a Chimera, but their true form is unknown. They are said to live, in part, within all beast-like creatures as their ever-present guide. They are the flesh of a young fawn and the wolf that devours it. Their symbol is a coiled whip.
Reshkar(M), The Sky Shaper
Reshkar is an archangel of the Mother of Power and rules over the skies and storms. Whenever depicted, he appears as a hulking figure, towering over his foes, yet always shrouded in clouds and thunder. He is a strong and stern ruler of the skies. He forces his will upon those who oppose him and causes chaos when necessary. His symbol is a bolt of lightning.
Beliefs
Afterlife
After one dies, they are escorted across the folds of reality by Syltha, the Grave Keeper, and into the presence of the Divine Quartet. The Mothers spend time decerning the character of the one brought before them, examine their mortal deeds, and consider their possible commitment to a given Mother. After deliberation, the Daughter of Balance comes forward to deliver the judgement. The individual is then either invited to live with the Mother with whom they most closely align, or they are sent back to the mortal plane to begin a new life again. There is no certainty how accepting the Mothers are.
Morality & Practices
The Primary commandment of The Order is to commit one's life to the Mothers and act in accordance with their character. Follow their commandments and live to worship the Mother.
- To the children of Time: Seek not to bend and break the path laid out in front of you, nor to cut short the paths of others, for they have their own path and you yours. It is so that you might all walk this life in harmony with one another.
- To the children of Creation: Continue to grow whilst bringing new and novel things into this world, and stray from destruction. For all that is, has been, and ever will be was made so by our Mothers, therefore it should not be tarnished.
- To the children of Knowledge: Never refrain from asking a question, and do not reject a chance to understand. The mind was shaped to be a vessel for all things, not one piece of it should be wasted. Commit to your studies and share amongst yourselves the fruits of that study.
- To the children of Power: Do not abuse what has been given to you and allow no abuse to befall those beneath you, for this is not true power. Seek to govern those in chaos, provide for those in need, and comfort those in turmoil. For soon, you may be receiving from them what you have given.
Female identity - including any representations, depictions, or expressions of the female form or feminine characteristics - are considered to be the highest of sanctity. All followers of the Matrons are called to be honoring to any women or feminine-presenting people in their lives.
While commitment of one's life to one of the Mother's, true followers often seek to honor and serve all four Mothers. This true devotion is highly coveted and sought-after.
Destruction of all kinds - be that physical, mental, emotional, or otherwise - is the most unholy act one can exercise. More specifically, disrespect to female authority, desecration of the female form, or unholy representations of the feminine are all considered sacrilegious.
Everyday practices include prayers to the Mother's, adherence to the commandments, and the celebration and sharing of the Mothers' love.
Comments