Faith of Vektiss
Mythology & Lore
The faith of Vektiss varies massively across Torthe. In some realms, he is barely known, particularly in the South, where if he is known at all, he is seen as a fourth aspect of Triodar – the Wayward Child. In Tarsis, Suden, Esk, all the realms of Arden, and Ravanna, he is venerated highly as the guardian of Children and Saplings.
Those called to this faith tend to be precocious children, who live as children for years, sometimes decades, before suddenly and rapidly aging. Some say this is the Blessing of Vektiss, to give children the years of peace and happiness that they are too often denied in this world. There are no child priests, only novices and initiates, who are given little discipline or control at all, and learn what they wish. Those who reach the age where the Blessing is ended, then become priests and clerics. Some may age to be old men or women, others begin aging normally, but any priest of Vektiss has known at minimum, several decades of childhood.
The Faith of Vektiss enjoys comedy, crude woodcutting, practical jokes, rude theatre – yet it also delights in the serious side of childhood, the all-encompassing romances that seem like the end of the world, the childhood friendships whose ending is the worst thing that can happen. They are places where any child is welcome, is loved and supported. Even adults are welcome (though the children are always kept safe), and many adults find that when the world gets too much, they can enter a temple of Vektiss, and ask for hot chocolate, frozen cream of different flavours, or just freshly baked biscuits. Vektiss’ priests are never that serious, except in the face of real horror, and they are excellent entertainers because they are called on to always stay close to their inner child.
Tenets of Faith
- Treat evil lightly in your heart, and laugh loud at its terror;
- Evil hates being seen as a fool, so trick it and trick it again;
- Love your inner child, even as you age, because that is your soul;
- Be kind to yourself, and when you turn against yourself, remember that there is a child there who wishes to be seen, heard, and listened to;
- Play early, play often, play tricks, play games, play music, play anything and everything, because life must be enjoyed;
- Your place of safety must be open to those who need a warm embrace, a cup of hot cocoa, and freshly baked cakes;
- People will look down on you, and see you as worthless. When they do, kick them in the shin.
Priesthood
There are few ranks in the faith, only the Children, the Minders, and the Wanderers. The Children are those who are chosen by the calling of joy in their heart, to be clerics; the Minders are those oldest of clerics who have stopped adventuring, and now act as grandparents to the masses and throngs of children, and the Wanderers are those who seek to bring the joy of light-hearted Vektiss to the world.
Clerics of Vektiss will guard each other against any threat, and of almost all faiths, they are the ones who take religion above nationality at all times. They treat each other with the same closeness and trust as children who set up a secret club. Only this club has thousands of members, and some are incredibly powerful divine spellcasters.
Each child-cleric of Vektiss carries a toybox with them. Each Minder carries a bag of holding filled with food and snacks, and toys. Wanderers tend to carry staffs or symbols with silly shapes, or their oldest toy.
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