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 Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:01 pm
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╧ Theia-dexia ╧under divine right we will flourish┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ ∘ ┄ The Theia-dexia is an oracle, sacred king, and sacrifice based I/T pride. This thread will be undergoing pretty much continuous construction, so pardon the mess!
Species: All, including familiars.
OOC Owner(s): oo DeD,
IC Leader(s):
Icon Image: [X] [X]
BG Image: [X]
Contact: Quote, PM, or Discord (DeD #6666)
DISCLAIMER: This pride's culture deals with 'visions' and 'reincarnation.' Except for rare exceptions, these are figments of the pride's belief and do not actually deal with IC seers and reincarnations.
Additionally, this pride deals with sacrifice/IC death. Characters will never be killed against their player's wishes, and will only be sacrificed/killed if the character's owner gives consent. |
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:01 pm
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History
Long ago...
Beyond the boundaries of this world resides the realm of The Divine who, long before anything resembling life walked the earth, touched this universe and created the foundations that would become all we know as reality today. The Divine left, then, watching life blossom in this world that they had created from their higher plane of existence. Watching their will be done. The Divine were distant, not walking among their creations, and it was only a matter of time that they believed the world they created had moved away from their initial influence. So The Divine reached out and touched a land and those that resided there, giving the mortals living their a closer link to The Divine Realm. They gave some the ability to commune with The Divine, and some even the ability to enter their realm upon their death.
This is the believed origin of the Theia-dexia. The lands that had been god-touched.
And now...
For generations affairs in the pride progressed as normal. Sacrifices were performed at the word of the oracles and the mantle of Riga was passed relatively smoothly through the royal line. Then recent history threw it all for a loop.
It was said that Riga Sofos had always butt heads with the forces of the oracles, even since her youth, and that she took the role of Riga only because the single litter her father had before his death left her as the only possible heir. Throughout her reign Riga Sofos challenged the authority of the Oracles, spreading subtle rumors that some of their decisions were made while interpreting the word of The Divine to their own personal gain. In this way, she made a great enemy of Oracle Tamia who was, though not the eldest, the most traditional and influential of the oracles.
The quiet feud came to a head when Riga Sofos chose a consort, a lion named Achlius. Achlius was a handsome Thias who had been rumored to have ben courting Oracle Tamia before he had caught Sofos's eye. When Achlius accepted Sofos's proposal, Tamia became furious. Not long after the royal couple was wed Tamia, backed by two other oracles, proclaimed Achlius to be god-touched and called for his sacrifice.
Hellbent after the death of her love, Riga Sofos called out the tyranny of the oracles' decision, sparking a feud within the pride and a power struggle between the forces of the Riga and those of the Oracles that ultimately ended with the execution of Oracle Tamia and the two oracles that backed her. Their deaths would come by word of the Riga and was an execution as opposed to a sacrifice and thusly their souls would be reincarnated instead of being passed to the divine realm. Shortly after the dust had settled Riga Sofos died of a broken heart, yet another death that was not a sacrifice.
That is where we are today. The mantle of Riga has been passed to Sofos's cousin Kyros and three of the Matia have been chosen to take the empty positions of Oracle. Things seemed to have settled, though strange occurrences around the lands (Shop Meta) seem to suggest that The Divine are not pleased with the way recent history has played out…
(Kyros is one of the last members of the royal line and is THE last member to be named a potential heir. What is to happen if he passes away before an heir is produced? What is the state of the pride mentality after the feud between the Riga and the Oracles? Is there still tension between the forces of the Cheria and the Matia?  )
Religion
The core belief of the Theia-dexia revolves around the existence of divine gods that reside on an alternate realm of existence. It is these divine creatures that made possible all existence in this universe, quietly pulling the strings to ensure that their will is done.
The Divine touched the Theia lands and allowed for oracles to commune with them in a sacred area. Among mortals, it is only the oracles that are able to hear the will of the divine. As such, it is the word of the oracles that is the ultimate law in Theia-dexia lands. It is through the oracles that the will of The Divine is known to mortals. They will inform the oracles on who is fit to rule, who among them have been chosen to reside in the realm of The Divine upon their death, and even those who have in this life been forsaken by The Divine.
Reincarnation is an important facet of Theia-dexia religion. It is believed that if you are not god-touched, you are reincarnated upon your death. If you have lived in service of the will of The Divine, you will be reincarnated to a life where you may be chosen as god-touched. The goal, then, is to eventually live a life where you are god-touched and, upon your death, reside in the realm of The Divine.
Lands
Pridal Lands
The Theia-dexia is located at the base of a mountainside. Dens can be an assortment of caves or wooded areas, and are passed down in a family. Rivers run from mountain springs through the lands, which are a combination of wooded areas and grassy areas where prey can be found.
Temple of the Oracles
This area is sacred and generally only used by oracles, matia, and those invited to communicate with them. This area is a clearing that is somewhat difficult to access and is tucked away within the mountain's crevices. A natural spring of unknown origins emerges into pools around the temple, and the area is generally fogged with vapors from these springs. The springs are hallucinogenic and are the source of the visions of the oracles.
The Royal Residence
Also tucked away within mountain crevices is where the royal family resides. This is generally where the Riga will meet with the cheria, and is not usually open to the public. |
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:01 pm
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Customs, Practices, and Beliefs
Leadership
The true 'leaders' of the pride are the oracles, who are the only ones able to communicate with The Divine. As such, they are the highest authority.
Alongside the oracles, The Divine chose a bloodline fit to rule over the mortal Theia-dexia followers. These are the God-King/Queens, or Rigas. It is believed that the original Riga was chosen by The Divine to rule and, upon the death of the Riga, their soul goes on to the realm of The Divine not only as one of the followers, but on the same authority as The Divine themselves. The Rigas act as the most obvious rulers of the pride, as the oracles only speak on matters that concern the word of The Divine.
The Riga is a singular role. The mate of a God-King/Queen is referred to as a Consort.
Oracles
As said above, the oracles are the only ones who are able to communicate with the gods. These members are not necessarily seers, though. In reality, the sacred lands of the oracles are located above spring waters that release hallucinogenic vapors that are the source of the oracular powers. This is important to note, as it means that an oracle's 'visions' are usually nonsensical and any truth in them is coincidental. It's believed that this is just the way that The Divine communicate.
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a well-known occurrence in the pride, for it is only through sacrificial rituals that a soul can be taken to the divine realm. Oracles will deem when the gods say it is time for a sacrifice to be performed. The sacrifice of god-touched individuals will result in their soul leaving to the realm of the divine.
While the sacrifice of god-touched individuals might be done during times of need or celebration or whenever the oracles may deem fit, the sacrifice of a God-King/Queen is a much bigger event. It is well-known that the reign of all RIgas end in sacrifice, which is done by the oracles in a ritual in which The Divine take to soul of the Riga and bring them up to the level of The Divine themselves.
Individuals who are not god-touched are never sacrificed. Any individual that fails to be sacrificed (including rulers, oracles, and god-touched) is believed to be reincarnated.
Heirs
The role of Riga is hereditary and when a litter is born of the Riga the oracles perform a ritual to see which of them can accept the mantle of true divinity and is thus fit to become the God-King/Queen. Multiple individuals of a litter may have the possibility of taking the position of heir, including illegitimate children (a male Riga would have to acknowledge that any illegitimate children are his). Upon the sacrifice of a God-King/Queen, the oracles will decide which of the heirs is the most capable, but it isn't uncommon for siblings to fight to become the ruler (or fight to not become the ruler). If a Riga is sacrificed before a proper heir is produced, extended family will be looked at for possible heirs.
Real Gods
Theia-dexia members acknowledge that god-like creatures can be found walking on the mortal realm, but do not believe these creatures to be true gods. They have powers, yes, and maybe they are closer to what they might consider true divinity, but the truly divine would not lower themselves to be among the mortals. Proper sacrifice is the only way to join the truly divine.
Species
The Theia-dexia is open to all species including familiars, and all species may take any rank. That being said, this isn't necessarily a land of peace and prosperity, so prey-species might not be safe. Additionally, as the royal family are historically lions, some members may have a prejudice towards non-lions.
Breeding and Marriage
As their religion says nothing of it, the Theia-dexia are very open when it comes to mating and breeding. All sexualities and gender identities are welcome. Marriages are overseen by the Riga and the Oracles in a wedding, though breeding outside of marriage is fine (in the eyes of the law. It's up to the individual how they feel about it). Only legitimate children, however, may inherit anything from their parents. The only exception to open and free marriage is that a Thias or God-Touched might get funny looks if they mate with or marry an Afino, as they are inherently considered lesser. Marriages take place at The Temple of the Oracles, where the audience is exposed to the hallucinogenic fumes. This results in a fun party for all involved and the effect is interpreted as the divine blessing the union.
Laws
The pride's laws are placed by the Riga, as it is they who rule over mortal matters. As the role is frequently changing, laws and punishments are often in flux. As it stands, crimes such as murder, rape, and other such forms of harm are punishable by death without sacrifice. The punishments of other, lesser crimes are at the will of the Riga and can include banishment or, if decreed by the Oracles, demotion in social rank to Afino.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:01 pm
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Ranks
Oracles
As the only individuals that can communicate with The Divine, oracles are a sacred part of the pride and are the ruling voice with the most authority. The position is not hereditary and is open to all species and genders. These individuals make the biggest decisions in the pride, such as choosing the next Riga, interpreting when it is a time for sacrifice and who is to be sacrificed, what individuals are God-Touched or Forsaken, etc. Oracles chose their own heirs, often from the Matia, and are also sacrificed at a time of their choosing.
Riga
The king/queen of mortal members of the pride, the Riga is a hereditary position that is decided upon by the oracles. They have the ruling word over the pride, and can only be overruled by the oracles. Upon their death, they are referred to as Devarigas, and are believed to rule over the realm of The Divine. While all roles in the pride are open for any species, the members of the royal line have generally been lions. It's possible for a lion Riga to produce hybrid heirs, but the possibility of infertile children and a potential end to the royal lineage might dissuade this.
Consort
The mate of the Riga, this individual may share in their authority. The only difference is that this individual does not move on to a seat of power in the realm of The Divine upon their death though, if they are God-Touched, they may join their mate after their death.
Rigiama
These are all members of the royal bloodline.
Cheria
The Hand of the Riga, these individuals are ensure the will of the Riga is being followed in the pride. They are generally warrior-like and can be seen as a sort of military or police force. They guard the borders, take note of anyone going against the Riga's word (and dole out punishments, if necessary), and are known to guard unwilling God-touched and prevent their escape. These individuals are chosen by the Riga and are of the Thias social class (and God-Touched, if the individual wishes to retain a 'profession after they are chosen as God-Touched).
Cheriama
These are the leaders of the Cheria, chosen from their ranks by the Riga. There is one for every 5 Cheria.
Matia
Where the Cheria act as the hand of the Riga, the Matia act as the extended arm of the Oracles. They ensure their will is done and are often a bit mysterious. This is the most common rank for actual seers, as they will communicate with the oracles on their visions (though the rank is not restricted to seers). These members may often leave the pride following a suggestion from the oracles to seek out god-touched individuals or powerful seers to add to their ranks. Oracles often choose their heirs from this rank. Matia are appointed by the Oracles and are of the Thias social rank (and the God-Touched rank, if the individual wishes to retain a profession after they are chosen as God-Touched).
Matiama
The leaders of the Matia, these individuals are chosen by the oracles. More often than not, these are powerful seers. There is one for every 5 Matia.
God-Touched
These individuals are spotted by the oracles as being mortals touched by the gods who, upon their sacrifice, will enter the realm of the divine, though they are not on the same level as God-King/Queens. Think of it as being a sort of citizen in the realm of The Divine, where there is no hunger or pain, etc. These individuals are the ones that are sacrificed at a time chosen by the oracles. How exactly they feel about this is up to them. These individuals lead pretty good, pampered lives. They can do civilian duties if they wish, but they don’t have to. Unlike royalty, oracles, and seers, however, they do not have any authority, though they certainly can flaunt the fact that they were chosen by the gods and can boss around Thiasos or Afinos. This all comes with the stipulation, of course, that one day they will be sacrificed.
(OOCly, these are characters that can be randomized into this roll (if you want), or just put here on your choosing. They can be any species, seer, or not)
Thias
Non god-touched individuals. They perform civilian duties such as cub-sitting, hunting, etc. It is believed that a Thias who gains the favor of The Divine may become god-touched. Otherwise, they are not sacrificed and live a normal life where, upon their death, they are reincarnated. Leading a good life may lead to being reincarnated as god-touched, leading a poor life may lead to being reincarnated as forsaken.
Afino
The Forsaken. For whatever reason, The Divine have turned their backs completely on these individuals.They have normal duties, though there is no way they may be chosen to become god-touched and they will die a normal death. An Afino who acts exceptionally in their life may be reincarnated as a Thias. Oracles will identify when an individual is Afino (OOCly this can be randomized, or you can choose for your character to be Afino). These individual are on the bottom of the social ladder and are looked down upon and can be bossed around by nearly anyone.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:01 pm
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Ranks
Oracles (5)
Ikhanyayo (oo DeD), Umoya'igazi (Krysin)
Riga (1)
Consort (1)
Rigiama (Unlimited)
Cheria (Unlimited, but uncommon)
Cheriama (1 per 5 Cheria)
Matia (Unlimited, but uncommon)
Matiama (1 per 5 Matia)
God-Touched (Unlimited)
Tulivu (SilverLutz), Cian (oo DeD)
Thias (Unlimited)
Afino (Unlimited)
Notable Member Profiles
Oracle Inkhanyayo, played by oo DeD
Ikhanyayo is the eldest and perhaps most reserved of the oracles and is not often found outside the temple grounds. She is deeply devout and committed to the religion and spends a great deal of care in interpreting the communication of the divine. She personally mentored Tamia, before she even rose to the rank of Oracle. When Tamia became corrupt, Inkhanyayo became reclusive and has refused to play a part in the feud between Tamia and Sofos. She has since declined to mentor any further oracles.
Oracle Umoya'igazi, played by Krysin
She was a Haruspex in the Mizimu'tungika before it disbanded - her beliefs are already well aligned with sacrificial acts. Once it disbanded, she mostly kept to herself and tested out joining a few other prides. But nothing seemed to align with her own beliefs (no one thought it was cute how she read the future in the entrails of others). (Note: She and Oracle Inkhanyayo are known to often butt heads)
Joining
At this time, the ranks of Thias, Afino, God-Touched, Matia, and Cheria are open for applications. If you have someone that you think would be a really good fit for other roles, hit me up with a PM/DM
[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Character Name and Image:[/b]
[b]Desired Rank:[/b]
[b]Brief Personality:[/b]
[b]Brief History:[/b]
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:02 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 5:15 pm
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AstoriaFallen
AstoriaFallen
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 5:43 pm
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:58 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 6:32 pm
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 3:00 pm
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