The Gods and Worship
Note: While this info dump will be up for the course of the April 2014 event, the information found within has been divided up to the appropriate God/Goddess entries on ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
collaring and amatnpcs and will be kept up to date on those posts as information changes or is added to.
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First and foremost, the Natives live in a Theocracy. Atia and Atia's priests rule their lives directly and they are happy for it. She is almost a mother figure for them, but not quite. She almost always female when she appears to them - though there have been rare occasions where she has appeared to a single follower as male because it suited the interaction she was to have better than anything else. Atia is worshiped above all other gods - but not in lieu of all other gods. While she does not act as a ruler of the gods, she is considered more important to the Natives of the Island than any of the others. This rule holds true for the people of the other gods (who do not reside on Atia): their god is more important to them the the others, but the others are still respected and worshiped.
Each god is associated with animals, rituals, objects, and domains they hold power over. As they are known to the natives:
Atia
The goddess herself. She is the patron deity of the island as well as sex and, due to the circumstances of her attaining godhood, she is looked to for guidance specifically in relationships between a Father and a Daughter. Her personality is constantly fluctuating, but for the most part, she is a mischievous goddess with the occasional kind and tender streak. It's hard to understand her, because just when she seems like she couldn't get any crueler, she'll say something kind and understanding. She is rather like a young adult who is striking out on her own for the first time, what many Collared might recognize as the 'College Spring Break Girl Gone Wild' type of young woman.
As the Natives Know Her
She is not a mean goddess, but is generally very good to them so long as they keep up their worship and is well loved. She has been known to lose her temper only very rarely, and no one has ever found out why, but under great duress she either resorts to sarcasm or stays calm, depending on the type. When she appears in front of her people, it is most often in the form of a female loved one, more rarely a male loved one. No one really knows what her true form looks like yet. She does her duty to her people and she treats them very much as her possessions to do as she wishes with, but they do not see this as a bad thing. They see this as her taking ownership of her responsibilities to them and, in turn, they bow their heads to her will for she was given to them as much as they were given to her by the God that Came Before.
Symbol
A gold locket in the shape of a lotus blossom - either filled with a lock of hair or empty.
Every native worshiper of Atia - even the poorest - has a locket of gold, though they may not wear it at all times. Many keep the locket hanging near or on their personal altars, or over the door to their homes. Some wear them as charms on a bracelet or attach them to commonly worn belts; a few have made theirs into scarf pins. The hair inside can be kept there, or kept separately so long as it is someplace it can easily be found when needed. Most of the time if it is out of the locket, it is kept on the personal altar.
Significance of the Locket
Atia's human father once carried a locket with a stolen lock of Atia's hair within it. When Atia lost the island of her father, the god, she put the handfuls of dirt - all she could save of it - within a locket to hold close to her heart (before the island was raised again sometime much later). As such, Lockets have a strong mystical tie to Atia's core self and power base due to the emotions tied to two that played such a powerful role in her life.
Animals and Other Things Associated with Aita
Horses - Atia publically claimed these as her sacred animal in November 2012 and as far as the Natives know, they have always been hers.
Titan Arum - The Titan Arum was given out ICly as a flower that is the closest thing that Atia has to a sacred flower sometime in 2011 or 2012 to Ishida (shiro_megane_kun).
Orchids, Ash Trees, Strawberries, Grapes - these are not commonly known among the collared but could be guessed at with a few weeks study of Atia’s temple decor.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
The Blessing of Birth - When a child is born, hair from their parents is wrapped with different color ribbons and then braided together and placed in a locket which is then hung over the door or window closest to the child’s bed. When the child goes to Gyrta at the age of three, the locket is given to them to wear. It is thought that the locket will hold all the love of Atia and the Child’s parents close to their heart while they grow and are educated.
The Blessing of Intent to Marry - When a follower of Atia proposes, they offer a lock of their hair to be placed inside their beloved’s locket and accepts a lock of their beloved’s hair in return if the proposal is accepted. Usually this replaces their parent’s braided lock, if they still have it. If the proposal is refused, the hair offered must be burned so that the bad luck it now carries does not stay with the one who proposed. There is no other stigma attached to a refused proposal and many who refuse or are refused continue their relationship with the other. The refusal is seen only as a sign the other is not ready for the responsibilities of beginning a new family, which is perfectly acceptable as starting a new family before one is ready to do so is seen as very foolish. (This foolishness is often the theme or moral of comedic plays and other common jokes. Someone can be offered insult by being told they ‘should never have removed’ their parent’s braid, while being told they ‘don’t need to keep’ their parent’s braid is considered one of the highest compliments.)
The Ritual of Cutting Ties - When someone wishes to leave their family and past completely behind - a rare occurrence, but one that is honored as legally binding should they undergo the full ritual - they go to Atia’s Temple and attend worship there for nine days, each day enacting a very secret, somber ritual that reflects on the life they are giving up, as guided by the Priests of Atia. At any time during those rituals the petitioner may change their mind and recant, but should it be completed, their locket with their parent’s braid is delivered to their family to be treated in the same manner of a dead child and a new locket - filled with ash - is given to the petitioner to wear. After that, they go about their lives as if their previous family were complete strangers to them.
The Mourning of Father - When a native's father passes away, they immediately take out the braided lock of their parent’s hair and burn it in effigy. This happens regardless of where and when they find out the news and if their mother still lives, occasionally resulting in the burning of both parent’s hair.
The Mourning of Mother - If their mother passes away before their father, the lock of hair is taken out and unbraided, separating the two. The father’s is put back in the locket and the mother’s is taken to the family ‘plot’ (usually a place in the home’s garden, or a place in one of the larger neighborhood gardens that are strictly for flowers and looking beautiful) and is buried in a metal or glass ‘coffin’ next to the other such ‘coffins’ of the previous generations of women in the family. A coffin is buried for each woman, regardless if there is hair or not inside, in the cases where there is no lock to be buried.
The Mourning of the Child - If a child passes away before they marry or start a family of their own, their locket is buried in the family ‘plot’, the braided lock (should it still remain) inside and untouched.
Losing a Locket - if a locket is lost for any reason, the person who lost it is thought to have gained Atia’s ire and they are excused from their normal routines (including work) to attend worship at her temple each day to repent whatever actions brought such ill luck upon them until they find it or it is returned to them by Atia herself (usually they find it). Lockets which are lost and the reason known - such as it dropping somewhere irretrievable - are usually replaced by the priests of the temple if it is requested. The priests do not usually ask questions about this and generally a native losing a locket is not something Atia herself cares one way or the other about. Things happen. The loss of one and reaction to it are creations of her followers which have become the social norm and to the natives the lockets are very important.
Island Domain
Atia’s domain upon the island is the island as a whole sans the limited regions belonging to the other gods. While she has influence within them, she does not have total control and can be overruled by the owners of the particular domain if they so wish. The natives understand this as the 'way' of things. Every god has their domains and areas over which they have the most influence. The main place of worship is Atia’s Temple at the center of the island. Methods of gaining her attention are already well known.
Worship of Atia/General Religious Worship
Atia is not all sex, sex, sex. That's just the core of her power.
Worship takes place every day at Sunrise, Noon, and Sunset, lasting anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. It is run by one of the Scholar Priests. A sermon on the lessons Atia has for her people in living and loving is given. It is often verbally illustrated with parables and stories that feature young or old followers of Atia who let their faith slip for a moment but remembered themselves in the end. Few of these sermons feature Atia taking a direct role and the ones that do are most often given on the days holy to Atia during special sermons (also usually followed by an orgy). Natives are encouraged to come to at least one Worship service a week, with a preference on everyone attending at least once a day if they are able.
At any time a 'counseling' session may be arranged with a priest to work through issues ranging from confessing about a white lie to suicide counseling. Most sessions take place during daylight hours, but the priests work with the people to serve their needs.
Orgies happen regularly during the New Moon but are not advertised as happening because they're 'known' the to the native population.
Weddings, blessings of newborns, or any other special ceremonies may take place by arrangement.
People believe that Atia will bring them prosperity and in general, this is true. Those who have sex more often tend to be healthier, happier, and are seen to be luckier than those that don't. Typically though, natives have sex about once a day. They pray for Atia for help with anything they need, even if it's not strictly sex related, but sex almost always accompanies private prayers - particularly about issues that really concern the native in question.
Holy Days
Atia has three strict holy days that see observes each year. Two are relatively somber affairs, but all three are usually celebrated with a special Worship Service followed by an Orgy and then time spent at home with the family or out with close friends.
Atia's Ascension Day - The supposed anniversary of the day when Atia rose from her mortal life and became a god with a Sexual Ritual that lasted an entire day and was watched by almost the entirety of her then-kingdom's peoples. Aka Atia's Birthday.
Every Native who grows up on Gryta undergoes a similar sexual ritual as their rite of passage into adulthood at age 18. Atia's is celebrated with a special Worship Service at Noon, followed by an Orgy which the Natives are encouraged to watch more than they are to participate. The Orgy is participated in by the eight most senior priests and priestesses of Atia's temple as well as anyone who has a strong enough exhibitionist desire to be seen joining in. Those who join in are often thought blessed by Atia herself to have the courage (or gall) to take part in such a sacred rite.
Atia's Ascension Day marks the first day of the Native's New Year. It takes place on the 1st of Windful - what the Collared recognize as 'April 1st'.
Anteros' Day - The anniversary of the death of Atia's Father among the gods. 'Anteros' is the name given him in the histories by Atia, but it is known not to be his 'true' name. Anteros is not well remembered, only Atia seems to remember him enough to enforce the honoring of his passing. He was the one that left the island to her as part of her godly inheritance and she keeps him in her heart.
The Worship Service is shorter than normal, and more somber, but an orgy follows that everyone in attendance is encouraged to join. Anteros was as much a god of sex and passion as Atia is and as such, sex and passion should be given in his honor.
(Another deity once called Anteros existed at some point, but his life and exploits are not known to the natives beyond the fact that Atia gave her Father among the gods that same name as a loving title due to some long-lost legend shared by the gods.)
Anteros' Day occurs on the last day of Windwan, what the collared are familiar with as May 31st.
Father's Day - While using the same name as the holiday familiar to many collared, Father's Day to the Natives is in honor of Atia's Father among men: her mortal father who raised her for 18 years before she became a god and though not related by blood, loved her as truly as any other father would. Atia cannot bear to speak his name, as much as she cannot bear to speak the true name of her other father, for the fear of the pain that would spill forth again.
The Worship Service lasts from Sunrise to Sunset and several plays by father-daughter groups are put on throughout the service. After the service, a feast is provided for those who attend and two co-current orgies are offered: one for fathers, one for daughters. Only those men that have fathered a child may attend the Orgy for Fathers and only women who have not yet had children of their own may attend the Orgy for Daughters.
Father's Day takes place on the 7th of Firewan - what the collared know as August 7th.
Eris
As the Goddess of Strife, Eris is outwardly rather mean and enjoys causing trouble wherever she can. However, despite how mean and nasty she might seem, she is surprisingly reasonable if treated in a respectful light, and some might say that there's actually a soft spot to her deep down that no one has yet to really find, save for a select few who aren't really saying anything. When she appears to people, she comes as a pale, toga-clad woman with long, tousled black hair, often carrying around and toying with a golden apple, the same golden apple of legend.
Symbol
An incredibly detailed and complex maze with no exit carved onto an apple seed. No two mazes are the same. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Eris
Apples - While never outright stated, this is easy to guess considering all the apple symbolism associated with her.
Cats - Eris does not claim the cat as her sacred animal, but due to one particular urban legend the island's abundant cat population is attributed to Eris. Cats are considered omens of chaos, but not ones that should necessarily be avoided.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Eris has no common rituals, but it is fairly often that people on the island claim to have been told to do some strange, odd ritual by Eris in their dreams and it is considered bad luck to not do them if someone claims this. Obviously many of these claims are just as likely to be lies by mischief-makers as they are actual visitations by the Goddess of Chaos. Assuming they are not, however, can lead to events like the infamous cat urban legend: A girl who claimed to have been ordered to do some very unsavory things with a bag of maggots was thought to be making a joke in poor taste and when the ritual wasn't done on time, Eris appeared to rain her wrath upon the island. Fortunately, at the time, her wrath consisted of "Cats! Cats everywhere!". The next time one such is ignored, there could be worse consequences.
Eris is known to occasionally kidnap people into the mists of her forest for whatever amusement she gets from it. More than a few young lovers use this excuse to get 'lost' on the south-eastern shore for however long they think they can get away with it. Though it is a common practice, it is not a regular one - doing so more than once a month is thought to bring Eris' attention to those that do and make it more likely that Eris will actually pull them away to toy with them.
Island Domain
The Forest of Mirrors is Eris’ playground. It is her power which entraps the collared within it’s bounds and offers them tormenting visions. After all, nothing is more chaotic than our own repressed fears and desires. Her shrine is in the heart of the Forest but what it appears as and how to gain her attention are not public knowledge.
Eris does have an island of her own like several of the other gods in the pantheon do. She generally doesn't visit it often and the people who live there are very thankful for this. They'd really like it if her attention didn't settle on them for long, or at all. There's only so many days they can take where the weather goes from sandstorm to sunny to sharknado to who-knows-what in the span of minutes. They are very dedicated to her, of course, but they're mortals. They need more order in their life than chaos simply to survive and procreate. So if everyone could do them the favor and not remind Eris that they exist, they'd really appreciate it.
Worship of Eris/General Religious Worship
There are no active worshipers of Eris on the island. She is not petitioned regularly as most of the natives prefer their lives not to be in chaos. She is appeased occasionally, when a native believes their fortunes have been too chaotic to be just chance.
Holy Days
Eris has no formal holy days - at least not any that last year to year. She gets bored with any kind of permanency that tracking the days year in and year out relies upon. If she wants a day to be her holy day she'll find a way to announce it sometime before hand, or maybe the day of. Avoiding the actual holy days of her fellow gods, of course. That's one line she knows not to cross unless she wants a fight on her hands.
Eros
As a God of Love and Sexual Desire, it's no wonder that he's very close to Atia. He enjoys the work she incurs on the island and helps to see to it that the natives have everything they need in the way of blessings to—to put it simply—get their groove on. Outwardly, he's charming and cheerful, if not a little flamboyant,but in secrecy he can be a little cruel to those he hits with his arrows, although there is word that he was once considerably worse. He appears as a youthful, tan-skinned male with short, wavy, and brilliantly blond hair and a pair of light,white, feathery wings. If he decides to wear anything, it's usually thin,silken fabric draped around his lower body. He is usually seen carrying his bow and quiver, full of two arrows—golden arrows topped by doves feathers to incite attraction, and lead arrows topped by owls feathers to incite indifference. He and Ares (when one is able to see the God of War’s face) seem so similar as to be twins.
Symbol
An overflowing cup (most often depicted as a goblet) filled with water and carved into a cleanly cut piece of Hawthorne wood. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Eros
Eros has nothing sacred associated with him.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Eros has nothing associated with him.
Island Domain
He shares the Forest of Passions with Demeter. The water and it’s effects are a result of his influence. His shrine is at the largest fountainhead of the various rivers running through the forest, which is located on the north side of the Volcano and about half-way up the cone, just before the forests on that side thin out. His shrine is not obvious, marked only by two arrows stuck into the rock on the right side of the pool, where a shelf of stone exists just below the waterline for petitioners to stand on. Getting his attention involves bathing naked in the pool and not much else.
Worship of Eros/General Religious Worship
Eros isn't really worshiped by the natives. Atia already covers everything he claims his domains oversee so most of them don't bother with him anymore.
Holy Days
Valentine's Day - The 14th of Waterwan, known as February 14th to the Collared, is a holy day attributed to Eros that is wholly of the Collared's creation. The natives have embraced it because Atia seems to like it, but they do wonder why Atia isn't focused on as much as Eros is.
Thanatos
As a God of Death, Thanatos is not necessarily cruel, but he is not nice either. He expects that there is a price for everything and that it must be paid in full before anything can come of it. A realist, he dislikes the squabbling between the other gods and takes a neutral stance in their arguments. He is cold but not unforgiving and generally what he asks of mortals is fair, or within their reach, unless they are asking for something outrageous. When he appears, he looks to be a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and dark hair. His robes, made of dark fabrics, cover most of his body, and he wears a black mask. He is often seen holding a sword. Thanatos tends to talk in a ‘flowery’ manner.
Symbol
A half-face mask (most often the bandit-style eye mask, but more elaborate depictions are out there) turned sideways to hang down with a short feather hanging off the bottom. Usually, it is carved into the surface of palm sized river stones - the kind that are worn smooth and round by the water. When worn it is always made of silver - both the mask and the feather. The feather can be sharpened to a razor’s edge if the wearer so chooses. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Thanatos
Ravens, Seagulls, and Other Carrion Birds - There are no animals sacred to Thanatos (everything must die so he does not claim something as sacred enough to protect from death should it come to them), but a handful of different birds are associated with him for different reasons. Common varieties of carrion birds are the most obvious as they come to prey on the rotting remains of whatever has just died. Ravens, thought not strictly carrion, are omnivorous enough to be thought of in the common consciousness as a "eater of souls" if they get to a body fast enough. This is supposedly a blessing as it is believed that a Raven takes a soul directly to Thanatos' throne when they die instead of forcing the soul to walk the afterlife until they find it on their own. Seagulls are also carrion birds, eating dead fish that have washed up on shore or picking at other dead animals if they're hungry enough. Though these birds give sailors long at sea hope for dry land, they also play the role of heralding death via over-population or gluttony.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
The Stigma Against Suicide - It is Thanatos’ influence that has created the stigma against suicide that the people of Atia hold fast to. For all that he is a god of death, he does not want to see a soul enter his realm before it's time. It takes more work to settle them than those that have already lived out as much as they ever will.
The Ritual at the Volcano - There is a ritual that takes place at the top of the Volcano which is associated with Thanatos and carried out by the priests of Atia’s Temple. What it is for and what exactly occurs during it is not known to anyone outside the priesthood, though the ritual itself is known among the natives to occur regularly each year in the late winter/early spring. Due to it occurring at the top of the Volcano, it is likely that it involves Harmonia’s cooperation as well.
Cremation and Burial - Because it's an island, and been around for a long time, natives no longer bury their dead in the traditional senses. There *are* corpses in the catacombs from over a dozen generations ago, but in the most recent history, most of the bodies are cremated within 24 hours of a known death and the urn given to the cult of Thanatos to be buried instead - to save space for further burials.
When the decision to stop straight out burial came, the natives had to change how they did things, but didn't want to change the rituals that they'd been so accustomed to. There's a lot of cosmetic preparation for the burial that includes the trimming of hair and how to remove clothes and what to do with it.
Cremation prep is more gruesome. The body is wash, skinned, bones cut out and smashed/ground into a fine powder so they can join the ashes of the burned flesh in the urn. And it all has to be done in a specific order so as not to disrespect the dead. Depending on the occupation of the dead, superstitions come in and certain bones are sent off to be carved into useful implements that are then given to the family to decorate their personal shrines to Atia (fishhooks, nails, and chisels are common).
As the body is dead and the soul passed on, there's very little emphasis on the spiritual purity of those handling the soulless husks of those that are gone. Which is why there aren't any real religious connotations associated with the cremation. It is almost literally the respectful removal of refuse. All the religious stuff happens after the urn/body has been given to the cult of Thanatos.
Island Domain
Thanatos’ Temple is his only hold upon the living world. Getting his attention involves being dead or having died.
Thanatos technically has an island of his own. No one goes there because to go there is to walk in death.
Worship of Thanatos/General Religious Worship
The cult of Thanatos is a group of natives that worship Atia first and Thanatos second. Until the request from the Collared known as Chloe came in to worship Thanatos as her primary god, no one on the island had focused on him in such a manner.
Among the Natives, Thanatos is prayed to when someone dies so that their soul may find peace quickly and move on to either a peaceful afterlife or to be reborn in a new life. As the Natives to believe in rebirth, they are accepting of the idea of reincarnation in a literal sense. They do not expect anyone to remember their past lives - and, in fact, seeking to find out about it is taboo - because the life is in the past. It does not matter to the current one. A soul is believed to be reborn only when they have found peace in death and can move on without a weight to hold them to the past.
Thanatos is also prayed to when someone is actively dying from an illness. Usually to ask the god to ease their suffering and take them quietly if it is their time, or if it is not, to ease their suffering so they can continue to live as long as they're supposed to.
If someone is suspected of harboring suicidal thoughts, Thanatos is prayed to and asked to guide their soul away from such acts and to send them to the arms of Atia's priests for help.
Holy Days
The Festival of Death and Rebirth - a five day festival thrown at the beginning of the harvest to give honor to Thanatos and remember the beloved dead. There is an abundance of simple sweet cakes and wine and the services given are somber ones that alternate between public and private depending on the day and the rituals performed. On the fourth day, lanterns and candles are lit and set out on boats that float down-river from Thanatos’ temple toward the shipyard as a symbolic remembrance of all those who have left the island - for the collared, this includes those who actually left, not just the dead the Natives remember.
This festival starts on the 5th of Earthful and goes through the end of the 9th. The days known most commonly to the Collared as the 5th-9th of October.
Demeter
As a Goddess of the Earth and Fertility, she does not take well to the farce Atia makes of sex and does not make any effort to hide it, nor does she trust Poseidon given their history that neither seems keen on talking about. She is a kind, motherly type goddess, who is not cruel to Atia's subjects even though they follow her; if anything, she feels pity for them. She is reasonable and will hear prayers from anyone. When she appears, she is most often wearing flowing dresses of earthen tones and wears a wreath upon her head. She is often seen carrying a pair of scales.
The Collared have seen more of her wrathful face than the Natives ever have and know her to be quite callous and cruel towards those who would bring harm to the island. While it is technically Atia's domain, Demeter still holds a deep connection to the stone, earth, plants, and living creatures that make up it's circle of life. The destruction and careless acts of violence several of the Collared have conducted in the past (notably: powered events and the destruction of Thanatos' Temple) have made her distrustful of them as a whole and she does not care to play 'nice' and hide this. She is more forgiving and trusting of women in general and seems to have a particular and petty desire to lash out at men, particularly those who can claim the title of 'husband'.
Symbol
A twisting vine carved into a piece of Pine bark. The vine has four ‘flowers’ upon it placed along it’s length in order: a flower in bud, a flower in bloom, a flower wilting with petals falling away, another flower in bud. The vine is only carved to make the outline of a scale (with two of the flowers on each side) when being carved to invoke fair judgement upon an outcome.(This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Demeter
Wild flowers, Scales for Judgement, Pine Trees, Cows
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Due to her influence over the growth of plants on the island and the health of the animals, Demeter is often given a quick prayer when someone starts a new garden or an animal has babies. Something asking for them to be strong and healthy, and in the case of livestock or fruits/vegetables, a request for them to be fulfilling when the time to harvest eventually comes.
Jilted lovers - women specifically - will sometimes secretly attempt to invoke her wrath upon the men and women who have 'wronged' them. Demeter is more likely to answer requests that target men, particularly husbands, if she answers them at all.
Island Domain
Demeter shares the Forest of Passions with Eros. Her influence rests over the many plants and beasts within it’s borders. She is careful to remove Eros’s influence from the water when the creatures she watches over drink from it so they do not suffer the same fate as the humans foolish enough to do so. Her shrine is at the heart of the forest, where a small cave - seemingly one of many like it - leads down into the ruins under the island and directly into her shrine which is overgrown with flowering vines.
Getting her attention involves showing respect to the wilderness on the way to the shrine as well as to her and bringing a proper offering.
She also holds complete sway over the island of Dei, where it is now known that the island of Atia imports the majority of their food from. The island is completely devoted to agriculture and produces crops year round. As of May 2013, ‘Monster Island’, which sits just off shore of the northeastern part of Aita, and the Kraken’s Lair, which sits just off shore of the southeastern part of Atia, are now part of her domain.
Worship of Demeter/General Religious Worship
As the agricultural goddess, what few dedicated farms Atia has usually have a small shrine set up in dedication to her. Atia is prayed too first for prosperity and then Demeter is invoked asking for blessings over their harvests.
On Dei, Demeter is worshiped as the primary goddess and all other gods are secondary to her.
Holy Days
Demeter has no holy days on the Atian calendar. She has several on her own calendar that Dei uses for tracking the passage of time. This is not to say that Demeter hasn't been trying to get a few of her own holy days to be held fast to by the Atians the same way Atia and Thantos have managed to, she simply has not been successful.
Poseidon
True to his nature, the God of the Sea cares not at all for the island, its land-dwelling inhabitants, or its Goddess. Though he has an uneasy truce of sorts with Atia, he makes no effort to hide his resentment, both over the islands jutting out of what is otherwise his domain, as well as a much more personal enmity over the murder of his mermaid by collared on the beach, which he blames Atia for and has never forgiven. Despite this, he is no more willing to lash out directly against her than Atia is against him, being perfectly aware that making such a move would immediately tip support in her favor due to his being the aggressor. Instead, he strikes against their other siblings, such as the war he waged with Demeter in April 2013. He's also fiercely territorial, a fact which is displayed in the very design of his temple and the way one must approach him for an audience.
Despite his gruff manner and disdain for the goddesses, towards his own people he's kind and fatherly, albeit with a bit of a temper, and a tendency to look down on women as lesser than men. His appearance, when he cares to show himself, is that of an old man with a large white beard, and robes in hues reminiscent of a sparkling ocean or fish's tail. He looks considerably older than the other gods.
Poseidon has no interest in the Collared population. He has no sympathy for those who fear or hate them, not caring whether or not they have rational reasons to feel that way. As the Collared are Atia's subjects as far as he's concerned, he holds them responsible for her choices. He's disdainful of weakness and has no interest in hearing others complain about Atia.
However, he does respect strength, whether in the form of overwhelming force like that of a tidal wave, or endless perseverance like that of the tide washing steadily away against the shore. Showing respect and care for the sea may earn Poseidon's respect, such as using empty shells or driftwood and such things produced by the sea to make lasting art, or maintaining and protecting the shoreline and waters there from damage or pollution. Taking genuine action against Atia might also stand a chance of winning favor, but of course that's an endeavor full of risks.
Symbol
Three octopus tentacles holding a trident carved into a seashell.(This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Poseidon
Most sea-creatures, but particularly the Octopus and Shark - while never stated outright, this is easy enough to figure out from the make-up of his army during the war in May 2013 and the monsters that still stand guard over his temple.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Segregation of Fishing Boats - Poseidon is well known for his disdain for women, but more than that, he is thought to be jealous of any men on a fishing boat that may draw the attention of a woman fisherman who serves next to them. This is a long held superstition and is supposedly traced back centuries to when fishermen used to mix the genders on the boats only to have several be capsized or dragged below by Poseidon over the women on board showing more affection toward a man that wasn't him. Because of this, fishing boats - and strictly fishing boats - are manned by either all male or all female crews.
The stigma of mixing genders on crews is only applied to fishing boats because it's believed Poseidon pays more attention to the boats that actively invade his waters to take his fish than he does boats that simply travel across the top of it - in the case of shipping or pleasure vessels.
Island Domain
Poseidon's domain is the sea, and the heart of it is his ocean temple. Once submerged underwater off the shore of the island, after losing his war with Demeter it has been raised well above sea level, high enough to leave it untouched by waves even during the highest tides or fiercest storms. The base of the structure is round, and surrounded by columns two thirds of the way around, leaving an opening facing the bay towards the Kraken's lair. Despite the fact that the temple has been underwater for countless years, the stone is clean and clear, completely free of barnacles, weeds, or other such life forms, as new in appearance as if it had been built yesterday.
The walk up to the temple is in the form of rough stairs cut into the rock, and all throughout can be found Poseidon's guards, typically either monstrous crabs or some sort of bipedal tentacled horror. The guards will let visitors pass unchallenged unless that person shows weakness or ill intent towards their master. Inside the temple is a raised platform with an ornate statue, not of Poseidon himself, but of the symbols of his realm. Created part by part over time, each component is an independent piece, but works together as a whole. The most notable parts include an immense trident held by what is obviously a Kraken tentacle, a fish with ornate scales made of shining mother of pearl, and a tall stand of kelp. In the middle of the platform is room for Poseidon himself to stand, should he choose to.
If a visitor has succeeded in gaining entrance to the interior of the temple without fleeing at the sight of or drawing the ire of his guards, gaining Poseidon's attention when he is present at the temple is as simple as having strong feelings for or against something or someone he has an interest in. Those who support his enemies will most likely be met with hostility, unless they manage to mitigate his wrath with a suitable offering or strong connection with the ocean. Those who oppose his enemies will likely be met with a gruff indifference, and in either case he will be even more ill-disposed towards women than men.
Worship of Poseidon/General Religious Worship
Poseidon is not worshiped by the natives so much as he is appeased by them. Due to his influence over the seas and, thus, most of the island's livelihoods, he is treated with respect and is more than a little feared. Offerings are regularly sent into the waters beneath his temple (and when it's not raised, the waters over his temple) by sailors and fishermen. This happens at least once a week per boat.
Holy Days
Day of Typhoons - 1st of Waterwax (December 1st). Marking the start of the Water months, the Day of Typhoons doesn't usually see a Typhoon. It is named such because that is when the Typhoon season starts for the rest of the ocean and it is only through successful petitioning and appeasement of Poseidon by the natives that the island of Atia is spared such ill weather. There are ritual banquets prepared in offering to the God as well as music played on instruments made of seashells. Things to remind him of the joy that the ocean in peace brings to him.
Mid-Season's Sorrow - 1st of Waterful (January 1st). While the collared know this day as the 1st of their New Year, the Natives know this day as one of somber remembrance. Legends say that a very long time ago, when Poseidon was very, very young, he sought to court a mortal woman who claimed to be in love with the sea. He brought her gifts and the finest things from the very oceans she longed to be a part of, but he could not win her heart. On the 1st of Waterful, he offered to give her fins and make her a part of the water if only she would marry him. She refused him. She said that to marry him would be to betray her heart, for marriage is done between those who love each other and she had no love for him. Only the waters he ruled over could move her. He lashed out, of course, and in doing so, he swept her into the ocean and drowned her. It was only after she was dead did he look upon her body and find her smiling as she had never done in life. He had given her what she wanted: she had become one with the sea, if only for a moment.
Mid-Season's Sorrow is a day when the waters are always calm and Poseidon remembers the follow of a youthful heart. It is thought that much of his dislike of women comes from this incident, but none have asked for fear of drawing his anger. On this day, natives of Atia set out small offerings of seashells carved with hearts and the faces of smiling women to line the beach nearest to Poseidon's temple. Should he step out from those walls, it is thought that seeing the reminder will send him back inside to nurse an aching heart and keep the sorrowful calm that grips the ocean for another week.
Harmonia
Despite the differences in hair and skin color, the Goddess of Harmony is Eris' twin sister. She appears to be a sweet woman, who loves for and cares for everyone, and only wants to see everyone getting along. She is the 'Mother' Goddess within the Pantheon and claims all children of the Gods as hers. Weather or not they are hers in actuality is an open question. Contracts and the keeping of promises are of utmost importance to her, as is the maintaining of the Natural Balance. She is the most forthcoming of the Gods in conversation and will occasionally give information that the other Gods are reluctant to simply because she does not see any reason to hide it. She does not lie, but will refrain from speaking on some subjects by avoiding answering, or outright refusing to answer, certain questions directed at her. When she appears, she comes as a woman with long red hair and bright green eyes. Her dresses are made of silvery, unnatural material, and her movements are markedly more graceful and less human than the other gods. She almost always speaks in a near emotionless neutral voice.
Symbol
A two-sided ‘coin’ carved out of lava rock. On one side is a volcano at rest, on the other a volcano in mid-eruption. While lava rock is normally pitted and hollow and fairly brittle, once her symbol has been carved onto it, it becomes blessed and cannot be broken unless done so intentionally. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Harmonia
Butterflies, Moths, Twins, Mirrors, Contracts
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
A Ritual to Influence Luck - if someone wants another person to have bad luck, they take a symbol of Harmonia in peace and break it in two, then take a symbol of her in fury, place it over the broken peace and pray for the broken harmony to come about. The opposite - taking a symbol of Harmonia in fury and breaking it and then placing a symbol of peace over it and praying for perfect harmony to come about - is done to wish others good luck and is commonly done at weddings after blessings from Atia are prayed for. The ritual for good luck is also done when a person wishes good luck for themselves.
Harmonia is not associated with medicine, but she is associated with the natural process of healing. As such, her name is often invoked in pleas to speed up the recovery process following an injury or surgery or some other illness or condition.
Harmonia's name is often invoked before formal contracts are signed asking for her blessing and that it be fair in her eyes.
Island Domain
Harmonia’s domain is the volcano. Her shrine is an altar on the inside of the bowl that sits about a quarter of the way down from the top of the cone. It can be accessed from above with a rope or from the outside via a small cleft that opens into a passage that fits no more than two people across.
Gaining her attention requires a display of ‘harmony’: opposites or enemies working together, enemies making peace, twins, a symmetrical appearance, etc.
Harmonia is the patron goddess of the island of Gryta. Also known as 'child island' - where the various children of the island chain Atia is a part of go when they reach 3 years of age for their continued education and to be raised until they are 18.
While Harmonia is the goddess of Gryta, her followers are very strict about raising the children of the other islands to worship their patron gods before all others. This means that children of Dei are taught to worship Demeter before all others while those from Atia are taught to worship Atia. Children born of parents not native to the island they were born on can be taught in the religious ways the parents desire if Harmonia is approached and a successful petition made for it.
Worship of Harmonia/General Religious Worship
Harmonia is the keeper of the children of the islands and as such she is worshiped most often by those who are parents of children who are still on Atia. When some calamity happens that threatens the peace of the young, parents are quick to line up to visit her shrine and offer prayers for the safety of their children. Harmonia is sought out regularly just after a birth, for her blessings to be given to newborns, particularly if the are twins or triplets (or even more!).
Holy Days
Harmonia claims no holy days on Atia's Calendar. The calendars of Gryta, Dei, and Lethia all hold a day or two in her honor.
Ares
An angry and violent god, Ares is the God of War. There is not much more to say about him than he is gruff and unpleasant, although if it's a fight you're looking for, or you're a warrior, you're more likely to earn his respect and blessings. There is some speculation among his followers that he has some connection to the goddess Eris, but what that is or why they are opposed to each other is questionable. He appears in full battle gear and his face is rarely seen outside of his helmet. Though when it is, it's notable that he seems to be Eros' twin.
Symbol
A simple, utilitarian, sword and shield carved into the heel of a sandal. The sword points up and the shield is square, when viewed as a standalone picture. When carved into the heel, the sword points toward the toes so that the blade is always facing the coming foe. Devout followers carve this into the heels of their feet instead of their sandals. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Ares
Hippopotamuses - while this has never been stated outright, it's easy enough to figure out from the frequency of their appearances in the frescos that adorn the halls of the Colosseum.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Ares is called on by the natives right before they expect to get into a physical fight. Usually to help guide them to victory.
Island Domain
The Colosseum remains Ares’ domain, though he is not often there and it is speculated among the natives that other wars in the world outside of the island interest him more. Quite a few even pray this is true so that what peace they have continues, particularly after facing the harsh realities of a true battle during the war between Poseidon and Demeter in May 2013.
Gaining his attention involves fighting up the ranks of the Colosseum fighters and proving one’s mettle in battle.
Ares is the patron god of Lethia.
Worship of Ares/General Religious Worship
Ares is not actively prayed to on a regular basis outside of Lethia, but his might is respected and feared. Most natives that take part in the battles in the Colosseum are not dedicated enough to war to worship him outside of that venue. There are, however, a very small handful of Atia's temple guard that have dedicated themselves to Ares' teachings (second to Atia's, of course).
Holy Days
Chariot Day - 15th of Fireful (July 15th). This is a relatively simple holy day and the only one that Ares himself actively seems to care about. It is a day when the art of the Chariot Race is celebrated and whatever Colosseum he happens to be making his home in at the time spends the whole of day with increasingly more competitive Chariot Races. This does mean that some years, when Ares is not in and the Colosseum closed, Chariot Day is not celebrated by the natives of Atia.
collaring and amatnpcs and will be kept up to date on those posts as information changes or is added to.First and foremost, the Natives live in a Theocracy. Atia and Atia's priests rule their lives directly and they are happy for it. She is almost a mother figure for them, but not quite. She almost always female when she appears to them - though there have been rare occasions where she has appeared to a single follower as male because it suited the interaction she was to have better than anything else. Atia is worshiped above all other gods - but not in lieu of all other gods. While she does not act as a ruler of the gods, she is considered more important to the Natives of the Island than any of the others. This rule holds true for the people of the other gods (who do not reside on Atia): their god is more important to them the the others, but the others are still respected and worshiped.
Each god is associated with animals, rituals, objects, and domains they hold power over. As they are known to the natives:
Atia
The goddess herself. She is the patron deity of the island as well as sex and, due to the circumstances of her attaining godhood, she is looked to for guidance specifically in relationships between a Father and a Daughter. Her personality is constantly fluctuating, but for the most part, she is a mischievous goddess with the occasional kind and tender streak. It's hard to understand her, because just when she seems like she couldn't get any crueler, she'll say something kind and understanding. She is rather like a young adult who is striking out on her own for the first time, what many Collared might recognize as the 'College Spring Break Girl Gone Wild' type of young woman.
As the Natives Know Her
She is not a mean goddess, but is generally very good to them so long as they keep up their worship and is well loved. She has been known to lose her temper only very rarely, and no one has ever found out why, but under great duress she either resorts to sarcasm or stays calm, depending on the type. When she appears in front of her people, it is most often in the form of a female loved one, more rarely a male loved one. No one really knows what her true form looks like yet. She does her duty to her people and she treats them very much as her possessions to do as she wishes with, but they do not see this as a bad thing. They see this as her taking ownership of her responsibilities to them and, in turn, they bow their heads to her will for she was given to them as much as they were given to her by the God that Came Before.
Symbol
A gold locket in the shape of a lotus blossom - either filled with a lock of hair or empty.
Every native worshiper of Atia - even the poorest - has a locket of gold, though they may not wear it at all times. Many keep the locket hanging near or on their personal altars, or over the door to their homes. Some wear them as charms on a bracelet or attach them to commonly worn belts; a few have made theirs into scarf pins. The hair inside can be kept there, or kept separately so long as it is someplace it can easily be found when needed. Most of the time if it is out of the locket, it is kept on the personal altar.
Significance of the Locket
Atia's human father once carried a locket with a stolen lock of Atia's hair within it. When Atia lost the island of her father, the god, she put the handfuls of dirt - all she could save of it - within a locket to hold close to her heart (before the island was raised again sometime much later). As such, Lockets have a strong mystical tie to Atia's core self and power base due to the emotions tied to two that played such a powerful role in her life.
Animals and Other Things Associated with Aita
Horses - Atia publically claimed these as her sacred animal in November 2012 and as far as the Natives know, they have always been hers.
Titan Arum - The Titan Arum was given out ICly as a flower that is the closest thing that Atia has to a sacred flower sometime in 2011 or 2012 to Ishida (shiro_megane_kun).
Orchids, Ash Trees, Strawberries, Grapes - these are not commonly known among the collared but could be guessed at with a few weeks study of Atia’s temple decor.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
The Blessing of Birth - When a child is born, hair from their parents is wrapped with different color ribbons and then braided together and placed in a locket which is then hung over the door or window closest to the child’s bed. When the child goes to Gyrta at the age of three, the locket is given to them to wear. It is thought that the locket will hold all the love of Atia and the Child’s parents close to their heart while they grow and are educated.
The Blessing of Intent to Marry - When a follower of Atia proposes, they offer a lock of their hair to be placed inside their beloved’s locket and accepts a lock of their beloved’s hair in return if the proposal is accepted. Usually this replaces their parent’s braided lock, if they still have it. If the proposal is refused, the hair offered must be burned so that the bad luck it now carries does not stay with the one who proposed. There is no other stigma attached to a refused proposal and many who refuse or are refused continue their relationship with the other. The refusal is seen only as a sign the other is not ready for the responsibilities of beginning a new family, which is perfectly acceptable as starting a new family before one is ready to do so is seen as very foolish. (This foolishness is often the theme or moral of comedic plays and other common jokes. Someone can be offered insult by being told they ‘should never have removed’ their parent’s braid, while being told they ‘don’t need to keep’ their parent’s braid is considered one of the highest compliments.)
The Ritual of Cutting Ties - When someone wishes to leave their family and past completely behind - a rare occurrence, but one that is honored as legally binding should they undergo the full ritual - they go to Atia’s Temple and attend worship there for nine days, each day enacting a very secret, somber ritual that reflects on the life they are giving up, as guided by the Priests of Atia. At any time during those rituals the petitioner may change their mind and recant, but should it be completed, their locket with their parent’s braid is delivered to their family to be treated in the same manner of a dead child and a new locket - filled with ash - is given to the petitioner to wear. After that, they go about their lives as if their previous family were complete strangers to them.
The Mourning of Father - When a native's father passes away, they immediately take out the braided lock of their parent’s hair and burn it in effigy. This happens regardless of where and when they find out the news and if their mother still lives, occasionally resulting in the burning of both parent’s hair.
The Mourning of Mother - If their mother passes away before their father, the lock of hair is taken out and unbraided, separating the two. The father’s is put back in the locket and the mother’s is taken to the family ‘plot’ (usually a place in the home’s garden, or a place in one of the larger neighborhood gardens that are strictly for flowers and looking beautiful) and is buried in a metal or glass ‘coffin’ next to the other such ‘coffins’ of the previous generations of women in the family. A coffin is buried for each woman, regardless if there is hair or not inside, in the cases where there is no lock to be buried.
The Mourning of the Child - If a child passes away before they marry or start a family of their own, their locket is buried in the family ‘plot’, the braided lock (should it still remain) inside and untouched.
Losing a Locket - if a locket is lost for any reason, the person who lost it is thought to have gained Atia’s ire and they are excused from their normal routines (including work) to attend worship at her temple each day to repent whatever actions brought such ill luck upon them until they find it or it is returned to them by Atia herself (usually they find it). Lockets which are lost and the reason known - such as it dropping somewhere irretrievable - are usually replaced by the priests of the temple if it is requested. The priests do not usually ask questions about this and generally a native losing a locket is not something Atia herself cares one way or the other about. Things happen. The loss of one and reaction to it are creations of her followers which have become the social norm and to the natives the lockets are very important.
Island Domain
Atia’s domain upon the island is the island as a whole sans the limited regions belonging to the other gods. While she has influence within them, she does not have total control and can be overruled by the owners of the particular domain if they so wish. The natives understand this as the 'way' of things. Every god has their domains and areas over which they have the most influence. The main place of worship is Atia’s Temple at the center of the island. Methods of gaining her attention are already well known.
Worship of Atia/General Religious Worship
Atia is not all sex, sex, sex. That's just the core of her power.
Worship takes place every day at Sunrise, Noon, and Sunset, lasting anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. It is run by one of the Scholar Priests. A sermon on the lessons Atia has for her people in living and loving is given. It is often verbally illustrated with parables and stories that feature young or old followers of Atia who let their faith slip for a moment but remembered themselves in the end. Few of these sermons feature Atia taking a direct role and the ones that do are most often given on the days holy to Atia during special sermons (also usually followed by an orgy). Natives are encouraged to come to at least one Worship service a week, with a preference on everyone attending at least once a day if they are able.
At any time a 'counseling' session may be arranged with a priest to work through issues ranging from confessing about a white lie to suicide counseling. Most sessions take place during daylight hours, but the priests work with the people to serve their needs.
Orgies happen regularly during the New Moon but are not advertised as happening because they're 'known' the to the native population.
Weddings, blessings of newborns, or any other special ceremonies may take place by arrangement.
People believe that Atia will bring them prosperity and in general, this is true. Those who have sex more often tend to be healthier, happier, and are seen to be luckier than those that don't. Typically though, natives have sex about once a day. They pray for Atia for help with anything they need, even if it's not strictly sex related, but sex almost always accompanies private prayers - particularly about issues that really concern the native in question.
Holy Days
Atia has three strict holy days that see observes each year. Two are relatively somber affairs, but all three are usually celebrated with a special Worship Service followed by an Orgy and then time spent at home with the family or out with close friends.
Atia's Ascension Day - The supposed anniversary of the day when Atia rose from her mortal life and became a god with a Sexual Ritual that lasted an entire day and was watched by almost the entirety of her then-kingdom's peoples. Aka Atia's Birthday.
Every Native who grows up on Gryta undergoes a similar sexual ritual as their rite of passage into adulthood at age 18. Atia's is celebrated with a special Worship Service at Noon, followed by an Orgy which the Natives are encouraged to watch more than they are to participate. The Orgy is participated in by the eight most senior priests and priestesses of Atia's temple as well as anyone who has a strong enough exhibitionist desire to be seen joining in. Those who join in are often thought blessed by Atia herself to have the courage (or gall) to take part in such a sacred rite.
Atia's Ascension Day marks the first day of the Native's New Year. It takes place on the 1st of Windful - what the Collared recognize as 'April 1st'.
Anteros' Day - The anniversary of the death of Atia's Father among the gods. 'Anteros' is the name given him in the histories by Atia, but it is known not to be his 'true' name. Anteros is not well remembered, only Atia seems to remember him enough to enforce the honoring of his passing. He was the one that left the island to her as part of her godly inheritance and she keeps him in her heart.
The Worship Service is shorter than normal, and more somber, but an orgy follows that everyone in attendance is encouraged to join. Anteros was as much a god of sex and passion as Atia is and as such, sex and passion should be given in his honor.
(Another deity once called Anteros existed at some point, but his life and exploits are not known to the natives beyond the fact that Atia gave her Father among the gods that same name as a loving title due to some long-lost legend shared by the gods.)
Anteros' Day occurs on the last day of Windwan, what the collared are familiar with as May 31st.
Father's Day - While using the same name as the holiday familiar to many collared, Father's Day to the Natives is in honor of Atia's Father among men: her mortal father who raised her for 18 years before she became a god and though not related by blood, loved her as truly as any other father would. Atia cannot bear to speak his name, as much as she cannot bear to speak the true name of her other father, for the fear of the pain that would spill forth again.
The Worship Service lasts from Sunrise to Sunset and several plays by father-daughter groups are put on throughout the service. After the service, a feast is provided for those who attend and two co-current orgies are offered: one for fathers, one for daughters. Only those men that have fathered a child may attend the Orgy for Fathers and only women who have not yet had children of their own may attend the Orgy for Daughters.
Father's Day takes place on the 7th of Firewan - what the collared know as August 7th.
Eris
As the Goddess of Strife, Eris is outwardly rather mean and enjoys causing trouble wherever she can. However, despite how mean and nasty she might seem, she is surprisingly reasonable if treated in a respectful light, and some might say that there's actually a soft spot to her deep down that no one has yet to really find, save for a select few who aren't really saying anything. When she appears to people, she comes as a pale, toga-clad woman with long, tousled black hair, often carrying around and toying with a golden apple, the same golden apple of legend.
Symbol
An incredibly detailed and complex maze with no exit carved onto an apple seed. No two mazes are the same. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Eris
Apples - While never outright stated, this is easy to guess considering all the apple symbolism associated with her.
Cats - Eris does not claim the cat as her sacred animal, but due to one particular urban legend the island's abundant cat population is attributed to Eris. Cats are considered omens of chaos, but not ones that should necessarily be avoided.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Eris has no common rituals, but it is fairly often that people on the island claim to have been told to do some strange, odd ritual by Eris in their dreams and it is considered bad luck to not do them if someone claims this. Obviously many of these claims are just as likely to be lies by mischief-makers as they are actual visitations by the Goddess of Chaos. Assuming they are not, however, can lead to events like the infamous cat urban legend: A girl who claimed to have been ordered to do some very unsavory things with a bag of maggots was thought to be making a joke in poor taste and when the ritual wasn't done on time, Eris appeared to rain her wrath upon the island. Fortunately, at the time, her wrath consisted of "Cats! Cats everywhere!". The next time one such is ignored, there could be worse consequences.
Eris is known to occasionally kidnap people into the mists of her forest for whatever amusement she gets from it. More than a few young lovers use this excuse to get 'lost' on the south-eastern shore for however long they think they can get away with it. Though it is a common practice, it is not a regular one - doing so more than once a month is thought to bring Eris' attention to those that do and make it more likely that Eris will actually pull them away to toy with them.
Island Domain
The Forest of Mirrors is Eris’ playground. It is her power which entraps the collared within it’s bounds and offers them tormenting visions. After all, nothing is more chaotic than our own repressed fears and desires. Her shrine is in the heart of the Forest but what it appears as and how to gain her attention are not public knowledge.
Eris does have an island of her own like several of the other gods in the pantheon do. She generally doesn't visit it often and the people who live there are very thankful for this. They'd really like it if her attention didn't settle on them for long, or at all. There's only so many days they can take where the weather goes from sandstorm to sunny to sharknado to who-knows-what in the span of minutes. They are very dedicated to her, of course, but they're mortals. They need more order in their life than chaos simply to survive and procreate. So if everyone could do them the favor and not remind Eris that they exist, they'd really appreciate it.
Worship of Eris/General Religious Worship
There are no active worshipers of Eris on the island. She is not petitioned regularly as most of the natives prefer their lives not to be in chaos. She is appeased occasionally, when a native believes their fortunes have been too chaotic to be just chance.
Holy Days
Eris has no formal holy days - at least not any that last year to year. She gets bored with any kind of permanency that tracking the days year in and year out relies upon. If she wants a day to be her holy day she'll find a way to announce it sometime before hand, or maybe the day of. Avoiding the actual holy days of her fellow gods, of course. That's one line she knows not to cross unless she wants a fight on her hands.
Eros
As a God of Love and Sexual Desire, it's no wonder that he's very close to Atia. He enjoys the work she incurs on the island and helps to see to it that the natives have everything they need in the way of blessings to—to put it simply—get their groove on. Outwardly, he's charming and cheerful, if not a little flamboyant,but in secrecy he can be a little cruel to those he hits with his arrows, although there is word that he was once considerably worse. He appears as a youthful, tan-skinned male with short, wavy, and brilliantly blond hair and a pair of light,white, feathery wings. If he decides to wear anything, it's usually thin,silken fabric draped around his lower body. He is usually seen carrying his bow and quiver, full of two arrows—golden arrows topped by doves feathers to incite attraction, and lead arrows topped by owls feathers to incite indifference. He and Ares (when one is able to see the God of War’s face) seem so similar as to be twins.
Symbol
An overflowing cup (most often depicted as a goblet) filled with water and carved into a cleanly cut piece of Hawthorne wood. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Eros
Eros has nothing sacred associated with him.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Eros has nothing associated with him.
Island Domain
He shares the Forest of Passions with Demeter. The water and it’s effects are a result of his influence. His shrine is at the largest fountainhead of the various rivers running through the forest, which is located on the north side of the Volcano and about half-way up the cone, just before the forests on that side thin out. His shrine is not obvious, marked only by two arrows stuck into the rock on the right side of the pool, where a shelf of stone exists just below the waterline for petitioners to stand on. Getting his attention involves bathing naked in the pool and not much else.
Worship of Eros/General Religious Worship
Eros isn't really worshiped by the natives. Atia already covers everything he claims his domains oversee so most of them don't bother with him anymore.
Holy Days
Valentine's Day - The 14th of Waterwan, known as February 14th to the Collared, is a holy day attributed to Eros that is wholly of the Collared's creation. The natives have embraced it because Atia seems to like it, but they do wonder why Atia isn't focused on as much as Eros is.
Thanatos
As a God of Death, Thanatos is not necessarily cruel, but he is not nice either. He expects that there is a price for everything and that it must be paid in full before anything can come of it. A realist, he dislikes the squabbling between the other gods and takes a neutral stance in their arguments. He is cold but not unforgiving and generally what he asks of mortals is fair, or within their reach, unless they are asking for something outrageous. When he appears, he looks to be a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and dark hair. His robes, made of dark fabrics, cover most of his body, and he wears a black mask. He is often seen holding a sword. Thanatos tends to talk in a ‘flowery’ manner.
Symbol
A half-face mask (most often the bandit-style eye mask, but more elaborate depictions are out there) turned sideways to hang down with a short feather hanging off the bottom. Usually, it is carved into the surface of palm sized river stones - the kind that are worn smooth and round by the water. When worn it is always made of silver - both the mask and the feather. The feather can be sharpened to a razor’s edge if the wearer so chooses. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Thanatos
Ravens, Seagulls, and Other Carrion Birds - There are no animals sacred to Thanatos (everything must die so he does not claim something as sacred enough to protect from death should it come to them), but a handful of different birds are associated with him for different reasons. Common varieties of carrion birds are the most obvious as they come to prey on the rotting remains of whatever has just died. Ravens, thought not strictly carrion, are omnivorous enough to be thought of in the common consciousness as a "eater of souls" if they get to a body fast enough. This is supposedly a blessing as it is believed that a Raven takes a soul directly to Thanatos' throne when they die instead of forcing the soul to walk the afterlife until they find it on their own. Seagulls are also carrion birds, eating dead fish that have washed up on shore or picking at other dead animals if they're hungry enough. Though these birds give sailors long at sea hope for dry land, they also play the role of heralding death via over-population or gluttony.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
The Stigma Against Suicide - It is Thanatos’ influence that has created the stigma against suicide that the people of Atia hold fast to. For all that he is a god of death, he does not want to see a soul enter his realm before it's time. It takes more work to settle them than those that have already lived out as much as they ever will.
The Ritual at the Volcano - There is a ritual that takes place at the top of the Volcano which is associated with Thanatos and carried out by the priests of Atia’s Temple. What it is for and what exactly occurs during it is not known to anyone outside the priesthood, though the ritual itself is known among the natives to occur regularly each year in the late winter/early spring. Due to it occurring at the top of the Volcano, it is likely that it involves Harmonia’s cooperation as well.
Cremation and Burial - Because it's an island, and been around for a long time, natives no longer bury their dead in the traditional senses. There *are* corpses in the catacombs from over a dozen generations ago, but in the most recent history, most of the bodies are cremated within 24 hours of a known death and the urn given to the cult of Thanatos to be buried instead - to save space for further burials.
When the decision to stop straight out burial came, the natives had to change how they did things, but didn't want to change the rituals that they'd been so accustomed to. There's a lot of cosmetic preparation for the burial that includes the trimming of hair and how to remove clothes and what to do with it.
Cremation prep is more gruesome. The body is wash, skinned, bones cut out and smashed/ground into a fine powder so they can join the ashes of the burned flesh in the urn. And it all has to be done in a specific order so as not to disrespect the dead. Depending on the occupation of the dead, superstitions come in and certain bones are sent off to be carved into useful implements that are then given to the family to decorate their personal shrines to Atia (fishhooks, nails, and chisels are common).
As the body is dead and the soul passed on, there's very little emphasis on the spiritual purity of those handling the soulless husks of those that are gone. Which is why there aren't any real religious connotations associated with the cremation. It is almost literally the respectful removal of refuse. All the religious stuff happens after the urn/body has been given to the cult of Thanatos.
Island Domain
Thanatos’ Temple is his only hold upon the living world. Getting his attention involves being dead or having died.
Thanatos technically has an island of his own. No one goes there because to go there is to walk in death.
Worship of Thanatos/General Religious Worship
The cult of Thanatos is a group of natives that worship Atia first and Thanatos second. Until the request from the Collared known as Chloe came in to worship Thanatos as her primary god, no one on the island had focused on him in such a manner.
Among the Natives, Thanatos is prayed to when someone dies so that their soul may find peace quickly and move on to either a peaceful afterlife or to be reborn in a new life. As the Natives to believe in rebirth, they are accepting of the idea of reincarnation in a literal sense. They do not expect anyone to remember their past lives - and, in fact, seeking to find out about it is taboo - because the life is in the past. It does not matter to the current one. A soul is believed to be reborn only when they have found peace in death and can move on without a weight to hold them to the past.
Thanatos is also prayed to when someone is actively dying from an illness. Usually to ask the god to ease their suffering and take them quietly if it is their time, or if it is not, to ease their suffering so they can continue to live as long as they're supposed to.
If someone is suspected of harboring suicidal thoughts, Thanatos is prayed to and asked to guide their soul away from such acts and to send them to the arms of Atia's priests for help.
Holy Days
The Festival of Death and Rebirth - a five day festival thrown at the beginning of the harvest to give honor to Thanatos and remember the beloved dead. There is an abundance of simple sweet cakes and wine and the services given are somber ones that alternate between public and private depending on the day and the rituals performed. On the fourth day, lanterns and candles are lit and set out on boats that float down-river from Thanatos’ temple toward the shipyard as a symbolic remembrance of all those who have left the island - for the collared, this includes those who actually left, not just the dead the Natives remember.
This festival starts on the 5th of Earthful and goes through the end of the 9th. The days known most commonly to the Collared as the 5th-9th of October.
Demeter
As a Goddess of the Earth and Fertility, she does not take well to the farce Atia makes of sex and does not make any effort to hide it, nor does she trust Poseidon given their history that neither seems keen on talking about. She is a kind, motherly type goddess, who is not cruel to Atia's subjects even though they follow her; if anything, she feels pity for them. She is reasonable and will hear prayers from anyone. When she appears, she is most often wearing flowing dresses of earthen tones and wears a wreath upon her head. She is often seen carrying a pair of scales.
The Collared have seen more of her wrathful face than the Natives ever have and know her to be quite callous and cruel towards those who would bring harm to the island. While it is technically Atia's domain, Demeter still holds a deep connection to the stone, earth, plants, and living creatures that make up it's circle of life. The destruction and careless acts of violence several of the Collared have conducted in the past (notably: powered events and the destruction of Thanatos' Temple) have made her distrustful of them as a whole and she does not care to play 'nice' and hide this. She is more forgiving and trusting of women in general and seems to have a particular and petty desire to lash out at men, particularly those who can claim the title of 'husband'.
Symbol
A twisting vine carved into a piece of Pine bark. The vine has four ‘flowers’ upon it placed along it’s length in order: a flower in bud, a flower in bloom, a flower wilting with petals falling away, another flower in bud. The vine is only carved to make the outline of a scale (with two of the flowers on each side) when being carved to invoke fair judgement upon an outcome.(This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Demeter
Wild flowers, Scales for Judgement, Pine Trees, Cows
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Due to her influence over the growth of plants on the island and the health of the animals, Demeter is often given a quick prayer when someone starts a new garden or an animal has babies. Something asking for them to be strong and healthy, and in the case of livestock or fruits/vegetables, a request for them to be fulfilling when the time to harvest eventually comes.
Jilted lovers - women specifically - will sometimes secretly attempt to invoke her wrath upon the men and women who have 'wronged' them. Demeter is more likely to answer requests that target men, particularly husbands, if she answers them at all.
Island Domain
Demeter shares the Forest of Passions with Eros. Her influence rests over the many plants and beasts within it’s borders. She is careful to remove Eros’s influence from the water when the creatures she watches over drink from it so they do not suffer the same fate as the humans foolish enough to do so. Her shrine is at the heart of the forest, where a small cave - seemingly one of many like it - leads down into the ruins under the island and directly into her shrine which is overgrown with flowering vines.
Getting her attention involves showing respect to the wilderness on the way to the shrine as well as to her and bringing a proper offering.
She also holds complete sway over the island of Dei, where it is now known that the island of Atia imports the majority of their food from. The island is completely devoted to agriculture and produces crops year round. As of May 2013, ‘Monster Island’, which sits just off shore of the northeastern part of Aita, and the Kraken’s Lair, which sits just off shore of the southeastern part of Atia, are now part of her domain.
Worship of Demeter/General Religious Worship
As the agricultural goddess, what few dedicated farms Atia has usually have a small shrine set up in dedication to her. Atia is prayed too first for prosperity and then Demeter is invoked asking for blessings over their harvests.
On Dei, Demeter is worshiped as the primary goddess and all other gods are secondary to her.
Holy Days
Demeter has no holy days on the Atian calendar. She has several on her own calendar that Dei uses for tracking the passage of time. This is not to say that Demeter hasn't been trying to get a few of her own holy days to be held fast to by the Atians the same way Atia and Thantos have managed to, she simply has not been successful.
Poseidon
True to his nature, the God of the Sea cares not at all for the island, its land-dwelling inhabitants, or its Goddess. Though he has an uneasy truce of sorts with Atia, he makes no effort to hide his resentment, both over the islands jutting out of what is otherwise his domain, as well as a much more personal enmity over the murder of his mermaid by collared on the beach, which he blames Atia for and has never forgiven. Despite this, he is no more willing to lash out directly against her than Atia is against him, being perfectly aware that making such a move would immediately tip support in her favor due to his being the aggressor. Instead, he strikes against their other siblings, such as the war he waged with Demeter in April 2013. He's also fiercely territorial, a fact which is displayed in the very design of his temple and the way one must approach him for an audience.
Despite his gruff manner and disdain for the goddesses, towards his own people he's kind and fatherly, albeit with a bit of a temper, and a tendency to look down on women as lesser than men. His appearance, when he cares to show himself, is that of an old man with a large white beard, and robes in hues reminiscent of a sparkling ocean or fish's tail. He looks considerably older than the other gods.
Poseidon has no interest in the Collared population. He has no sympathy for those who fear or hate them, not caring whether or not they have rational reasons to feel that way. As the Collared are Atia's subjects as far as he's concerned, he holds them responsible for her choices. He's disdainful of weakness and has no interest in hearing others complain about Atia.
However, he does respect strength, whether in the form of overwhelming force like that of a tidal wave, or endless perseverance like that of the tide washing steadily away against the shore. Showing respect and care for the sea may earn Poseidon's respect, such as using empty shells or driftwood and such things produced by the sea to make lasting art, or maintaining and protecting the shoreline and waters there from damage or pollution. Taking genuine action against Atia might also stand a chance of winning favor, but of course that's an endeavor full of risks.
Symbol
Three octopus tentacles holding a trident carved into a seashell.(This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Poseidon
Most sea-creatures, but particularly the Octopus and Shark - while never stated outright, this is easy enough to figure out from the make-up of his army during the war in May 2013 and the monsters that still stand guard over his temple.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Segregation of Fishing Boats - Poseidon is well known for his disdain for women, but more than that, he is thought to be jealous of any men on a fishing boat that may draw the attention of a woman fisherman who serves next to them. This is a long held superstition and is supposedly traced back centuries to when fishermen used to mix the genders on the boats only to have several be capsized or dragged below by Poseidon over the women on board showing more affection toward a man that wasn't him. Because of this, fishing boats - and strictly fishing boats - are manned by either all male or all female crews.
The stigma of mixing genders on crews is only applied to fishing boats because it's believed Poseidon pays more attention to the boats that actively invade his waters to take his fish than he does boats that simply travel across the top of it - in the case of shipping or pleasure vessels.
Island Domain
Poseidon's domain is the sea, and the heart of it is his ocean temple. Once submerged underwater off the shore of the island, after losing his war with Demeter it has been raised well above sea level, high enough to leave it untouched by waves even during the highest tides or fiercest storms. The base of the structure is round, and surrounded by columns two thirds of the way around, leaving an opening facing the bay towards the Kraken's lair. Despite the fact that the temple has been underwater for countless years, the stone is clean and clear, completely free of barnacles, weeds, or other such life forms, as new in appearance as if it had been built yesterday.
The walk up to the temple is in the form of rough stairs cut into the rock, and all throughout can be found Poseidon's guards, typically either monstrous crabs or some sort of bipedal tentacled horror. The guards will let visitors pass unchallenged unless that person shows weakness or ill intent towards their master. Inside the temple is a raised platform with an ornate statue, not of Poseidon himself, but of the symbols of his realm. Created part by part over time, each component is an independent piece, but works together as a whole. The most notable parts include an immense trident held by what is obviously a Kraken tentacle, a fish with ornate scales made of shining mother of pearl, and a tall stand of kelp. In the middle of the platform is room for Poseidon himself to stand, should he choose to.
If a visitor has succeeded in gaining entrance to the interior of the temple without fleeing at the sight of or drawing the ire of his guards, gaining Poseidon's attention when he is present at the temple is as simple as having strong feelings for or against something or someone he has an interest in. Those who support his enemies will most likely be met with hostility, unless they manage to mitigate his wrath with a suitable offering or strong connection with the ocean. Those who oppose his enemies will likely be met with a gruff indifference, and in either case he will be even more ill-disposed towards women than men.
Worship of Poseidon/General Religious Worship
Poseidon is not worshiped by the natives so much as he is appeased by them. Due to his influence over the seas and, thus, most of the island's livelihoods, he is treated with respect and is more than a little feared. Offerings are regularly sent into the waters beneath his temple (and when it's not raised, the waters over his temple) by sailors and fishermen. This happens at least once a week per boat.
Holy Days
Day of Typhoons - 1st of Waterwax (December 1st). Marking the start of the Water months, the Day of Typhoons doesn't usually see a Typhoon. It is named such because that is when the Typhoon season starts for the rest of the ocean and it is only through successful petitioning and appeasement of Poseidon by the natives that the island of Atia is spared such ill weather. There are ritual banquets prepared in offering to the God as well as music played on instruments made of seashells. Things to remind him of the joy that the ocean in peace brings to him.
Mid-Season's Sorrow - 1st of Waterful (January 1st). While the collared know this day as the 1st of their New Year, the Natives know this day as one of somber remembrance. Legends say that a very long time ago, when Poseidon was very, very young, he sought to court a mortal woman who claimed to be in love with the sea. He brought her gifts and the finest things from the very oceans she longed to be a part of, but he could not win her heart. On the 1st of Waterful, he offered to give her fins and make her a part of the water if only she would marry him. She refused him. She said that to marry him would be to betray her heart, for marriage is done between those who love each other and she had no love for him. Only the waters he ruled over could move her. He lashed out, of course, and in doing so, he swept her into the ocean and drowned her. It was only after she was dead did he look upon her body and find her smiling as she had never done in life. He had given her what she wanted: she had become one with the sea, if only for a moment.
Mid-Season's Sorrow is a day when the waters are always calm and Poseidon remembers the follow of a youthful heart. It is thought that much of his dislike of women comes from this incident, but none have asked for fear of drawing his anger. On this day, natives of Atia set out small offerings of seashells carved with hearts and the faces of smiling women to line the beach nearest to Poseidon's temple. Should he step out from those walls, it is thought that seeing the reminder will send him back inside to nurse an aching heart and keep the sorrowful calm that grips the ocean for another week.
Harmonia
Despite the differences in hair and skin color, the Goddess of Harmony is Eris' twin sister. She appears to be a sweet woman, who loves for and cares for everyone, and only wants to see everyone getting along. She is the 'Mother' Goddess within the Pantheon and claims all children of the Gods as hers. Weather or not they are hers in actuality is an open question. Contracts and the keeping of promises are of utmost importance to her, as is the maintaining of the Natural Balance. She is the most forthcoming of the Gods in conversation and will occasionally give information that the other Gods are reluctant to simply because she does not see any reason to hide it. She does not lie, but will refrain from speaking on some subjects by avoiding answering, or outright refusing to answer, certain questions directed at her. When she appears, she comes as a woman with long red hair and bright green eyes. Her dresses are made of silvery, unnatural material, and her movements are markedly more graceful and less human than the other gods. She almost always speaks in a near emotionless neutral voice.
Symbol
A two-sided ‘coin’ carved out of lava rock. On one side is a volcano at rest, on the other a volcano in mid-eruption. While lava rock is normally pitted and hollow and fairly brittle, once her symbol has been carved onto it, it becomes blessed and cannot be broken unless done so intentionally. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan.. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Harmonia
Butterflies, Moths, Twins, Mirrors, Contracts
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
A Ritual to Influence Luck - if someone wants another person to have bad luck, they take a symbol of Harmonia in peace and break it in two, then take a symbol of her in fury, place it over the broken peace and pray for the broken harmony to come about. The opposite - taking a symbol of Harmonia in fury and breaking it and then placing a symbol of peace over it and praying for perfect harmony to come about - is done to wish others good luck and is commonly done at weddings after blessings from Atia are prayed for. The ritual for good luck is also done when a person wishes good luck for themselves.
Harmonia is not associated with medicine, but she is associated with the natural process of healing. As such, her name is often invoked in pleas to speed up the recovery process following an injury or surgery or some other illness or condition.
Harmonia's name is often invoked before formal contracts are signed asking for her blessing and that it be fair in her eyes.
Island Domain
Harmonia’s domain is the volcano. Her shrine is an altar on the inside of the bowl that sits about a quarter of the way down from the top of the cone. It can be accessed from above with a rope or from the outside via a small cleft that opens into a passage that fits no more than two people across.
Gaining her attention requires a display of ‘harmony’: opposites or enemies working together, enemies making peace, twins, a symmetrical appearance, etc.
Harmonia is the patron goddess of the island of Gryta. Also known as 'child island' - where the various children of the island chain Atia is a part of go when they reach 3 years of age for their continued education and to be raised until they are 18.
While Harmonia is the goddess of Gryta, her followers are very strict about raising the children of the other islands to worship their patron gods before all others. This means that children of Dei are taught to worship Demeter before all others while those from Atia are taught to worship Atia. Children born of parents not native to the island they were born on can be taught in the religious ways the parents desire if Harmonia is approached and a successful petition made for it.
Worship of Harmonia/General Religious Worship
Harmonia is the keeper of the children of the islands and as such she is worshiped most often by those who are parents of children who are still on Atia. When some calamity happens that threatens the peace of the young, parents are quick to line up to visit her shrine and offer prayers for the safety of their children. Harmonia is sought out regularly just after a birth, for her blessings to be given to newborns, particularly if the are twins or triplets (or even more!).
Holy Days
Harmonia claims no holy days on Atia's Calendar. The calendars of Gryta, Dei, and Lethia all hold a day or two in her honor.
Ares
An angry and violent god, Ares is the God of War. There is not much more to say about him than he is gruff and unpleasant, although if it's a fight you're looking for, or you're a warrior, you're more likely to earn his respect and blessings. There is some speculation among his followers that he has some connection to the goddess Eris, but what that is or why they are opposed to each other is questionable. He appears in full battle gear and his face is rarely seen outside of his helmet. Though when it is, it's notable that he seems to be Eros' twin.
Symbol
A simple, utilitarian, sword and shield carved into the heel of a sandal. The sword points up and the shield is square, when viewed as a standalone picture. When carved into the heel, the sword points toward the toes so that the blade is always facing the coming foe. Devout followers carve this into the heels of their feet instead of their sandals. (This is public knowledge among the Collared as of Jan. 2013)
Animals and Other Things Associated with Ares
Hippopotamuses - while this has never been stated outright, it's easy enough to figure out from the frequency of their appearances in the frescos that adorn the halls of the Colosseum.
Common Rituals, Superstitions, and Cultural Influences
Ares is called on by the natives right before they expect to get into a physical fight. Usually to help guide them to victory.
Island Domain
The Colosseum remains Ares’ domain, though he is not often there and it is speculated among the natives that other wars in the world outside of the island interest him more. Quite a few even pray this is true so that what peace they have continues, particularly after facing the harsh realities of a true battle during the war between Poseidon and Demeter in May 2013.
Gaining his attention involves fighting up the ranks of the Colosseum fighters and proving one’s mettle in battle.
Ares is the patron god of Lethia.
Worship of Ares/General Religious Worship
Ares is not actively prayed to on a regular basis outside of Lethia, but his might is respected and feared. Most natives that take part in the battles in the Colosseum are not dedicated enough to war to worship him outside of that venue. There are, however, a very small handful of Atia's temple guard that have dedicated themselves to Ares' teachings (second to Atia's, of course).
Holy Days
Chariot Day - 15th of Fireful (July 15th). This is a relatively simple holy day and the only one that Ares himself actively seems to care about. It is a day when the art of the Chariot Race is celebrated and whatever Colosseum he happens to be making his home in at the time spends the whole of day with increasingly more competitive Chariot Races. This does mean that some years, when Ares is not in and the Colosseum closed, Chariot Day is not celebrated by the natives of Atia.