Faith of Aesa
The Faith of Aesa Unbound
Aesa’s faith is made up of cults and sects, each one operating independently. There are some temples in some nations, where potential priests are trained and taught, but generally they then seek out existing, or form their own cults and sects. In the past, it was said that with Aesa, you would cut the head off a snake and destroy one of her cults. Now, her faith adopts the model of an infestation, or a plague. Every single cell or individual can spread and bring more to her cause.
Almost all priests of Aesa now worship a common set of doctrines though, and most cells unless they are very new, have the blessing of snakes and yuan-ti, to protect them and enable them to commune with the goddess. Depending on the cult, these snakes are either advisors, or leaders.
Some cells still consider themselves champions of nature as well, following the old doctrines of the Queen of Autumn and Winter. Aesa herself, and the faith as a whole, surprisingly treat these cells with the utmost respect. They consider them nostalgia, and although they may sometimes oppose a plan, it is forbidden for a cleric of Aesa Unbound, to kill a cleric of the Queen (imprisonment, torture, conversion, in the extreme cases, is not forbidden – nor is it forbidden for a non-cleric to kill).
The Faith of Aesa the Queen of Autumn and Winter
Though the faith of Aesa Unbound also name her the Queen of Autumn and Winter, this much smaller group of faithful worship the old path in the ways that Aesa once ordained. Those very few yuan-ti or other snakes or serpents that managed to hold true can be found in forgotten temples, and every year only one or two clerics are brought into the fold. Theirs is a tragic duty, knowing they are fighting a losing cause, but wishing to be there if their Goddess ever returns. For her part, Aesa needs them, a reminder of why she is fighting.
Tenets of Faith
- Civilisation is a fool’s game, and it destroys all that is magical about Torthe;
- Destroy all that harms the forest, by any means necessary;
- The Calculix will destroy us all, if we do not destroy it;
- Alliances and strange unions are permitted when stopping the Metal Lord;
- Brew delightful poisons, breed exquisite disease, and release my many children on the world – the strong survive, the weak will distract.
- Remember who I used to be, protect my memories, but use it to harden your heart.
- No plague must kill more than six in ten people;
- No poison must use a metal;
- Guard against the Blight, fight if you must, and always, always seek a cure for him.
- NB: Some cults or sects may have slightly different emphases on this doctrine.
Priesthood
Temples of Aesa often if not always, have imagery of snakes, are often found in marshy land, where fungus or specific herbs can be grown. Or they are found underground, away from prying eyes. Aesa’s servants often form cults, united with specific runes of Aesa, that allow communication, scrying or the creation of traps. Often, these traps bind the forces of aberrations, because whilst Aesa does not seek the release of the Enemy, she knows their servants can be tempted across to this plane safely to so her bidding.
There are no ranks within the faith of Aesa, except in individual temples.
NB: Clerics of Aesa cannot kill another cleric of Aesa. The rule is very definitive, but also loose enough to allow for almost anything else.
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