The Lyceums of Aymara
The lyceums of Aymara, where the Aymarans worship, are sacred and lovely places. Popular among those dedicated to Aymara and others, the lyceums host concerts, plays, dances, and other performances. In major cities, there are events in the lyceums almost nightly. There are few performance halls finer than these. The worship of Aymara is enormously popular, though few dedicate themselves to her wholly. As the goddess of love as well as the arts, people come to her lyceums at least once in their lives to pray to her when they believe they have found love. The lyceums play host to most marriages as well. While those sworn to only one of the gods in the pantheon or members of the Great Church are likely to get married in those other churches, most people get married at either a lyceum or a Rontran foundation. After all, Aymara is the goddess of love, and can bless a union’s romantic heart, while Grandmother Earth is the wellspring of fertility. At either church, the other church’s goddess is invoked during the ceremony.
On the surface, the Aymaran faith exists to promote love and the arts. It gives money to artists who are worthy of regard, holds festivals in its halls, praises love, and unites couples under its roof. However, the Aymarans are not content to merely celebrate beauty—they know efforts must be made to make and keep the world safe for beauty. This ethos lies at the heart of the Aymaran agenda. While the lyceums promote love and art, the holy orders of the faith work abroad, opposing the enemies of love and beauty, just as Aymara did in legend. Much of this effort is focused on opposing the work of Asmodeus. That is the deeper, more abiding purpose of the Aymaran faith: to oppose Hell and all its works. For if there is one being in all the planes who Aymara hates, it is him. Aymara takes pride in her church, though she seems to have more interest in its public face than in the secret order of the watchful eye. While she does hate Asmodeus and comes to the aid of the members of this secret order, she believes her church is at its best when it is promoting beauty, not combat. Aymara has difficulty understanding the mortal need to attack what offends them. Hell is evil and Asmodeus is the greatest evil of all, but why can’t her faithful be content with the joys of art? She gives them great power to protect those who pursue lives of beauty, and they make her proud, keeping artists and their works safe, yet her faithful don’t just rest then, and make art themselves. They remain vigilant, questing against evil even when it’s a distant threat. She admires their courage, persistence, and faith, but also knows their struggle, waged in secret, might take them closer to the darkness than is healthy. Spend too long studying the ways of the beast to destroy it, and you might become it. While Aymara would prefer her church to pursue only love and beauty, this does not mean she tries to move them away from their vigilance and zeal. She simply worries over them, like a mother over her children.
On the surface, the Aymaran faith exists to promote love and the arts. It gives money to artists who are worthy of regard, holds festivals in its halls, praises love, and unites couples under its roof. However, the Aymarans are not content to merely celebrate beauty—they know efforts must be made to make and keep the world safe for beauty. This ethos lies at the heart of the Aymaran agenda. While the lyceums promote love and art, the holy orders of the faith work abroad, opposing the enemies of love and beauty, just as Aymara did in legend. Much of this effort is focused on opposing the work of Asmodeus. That is the deeper, more abiding purpose of the Aymaran faith: to oppose Hell and all its works. For if there is one being in all the planes who Aymara hates, it is him. Aymara takes pride in her church, though she seems to have more interest in its public face than in the secret order of the watchful eye. While she does hate Asmodeus and comes to the aid of the members of this secret order, she believes her church is at its best when it is promoting beauty, not combat. Aymara has difficulty understanding the mortal need to attack what offends them. Hell is evil and Asmodeus is the greatest evil of all, but why can’t her faithful be content with the joys of art? She gives them great power to protect those who pursue lives of beauty, and they make her proud, keeping artists and their works safe, yet her faithful don’t just rest then, and make art themselves. They remain vigilant, questing against evil even when it’s a distant threat. She admires their courage, persistence, and faith, but also knows their struggle, waged in secret, might take them closer to the darkness than is healthy. Spend too long studying the ways of the beast to destroy it, and you might become it. While Aymara would prefer her church to pursue only love and beauty, this does not mean she tries to move them away from their vigilance and zeal. She simply worries over them, like a mother over her children.
Tenets of Faith
“In all the history of the world, hatred and ugliness have never held sway for long. Not once. Though for generations some vile tyrant may seem unassailable, in the end, love and beauty have always prevailed. We must simply hold our faith in beauty deep in our hearts, and its victory is assured, in the end.”
—Celebrant Andivae Corallyn, on her 230th birthday
While Andivae’s statement might not have been true for the entire world—indeed, there might be evil empires that have stood the test of time—her statement holds the essence of Aymaran philosophy. These are not people who rage against the ugliness of the world, but preserve beauty. Aymaran churches are places of celebration, joy, art and creation. Spending time within their confines, one might never suspect there is misery and ugliness in the world. The faithful do not dwell on such things, seeking instead to keep the lights of delight, love, and art burning brightly against the outside darkness. Each person, in exploring the greatest expressions of beauty she can make, serves to make the world better. The works of most will be forgotten as soon as they are made, but the mere act of making something beautiful, expressing your inner light, makes the world better. The Aymarans believe there is no higher or better force in the world than an individual striving for love and beauty. Most Aymarans sees themselves as a part of a historical struggle against evil, where their part of the battle is to create beauty and appreciate it; and to love, and be loved. Their faith is focused inward, and is based on self-exploration and creation. By being people who bask in beauty, they oppose those who would cover the world with hate and ugliness. “You’re a soldier of love,” is something often said to criticize people for their lack of militancy against wickedness. Indeed, most Aymarans practice a docile faith and meditate on fair things, not the threat of darkness. Yet beneath this seemingly passive outlook, some Aymarans have a militant side. In deep places below the lyceums, in secret conclaves, they plan their unending war on Hell. Long ago, the elders of the Aymaran faith determined they could do the most harm to Asmodeus and his machinations if they moved against him in secret. Let the more lawful churches march out to war in their shining armor. The Aymarans would use the shadows to their advantage against evil. If the forces of Hell believe the Aymaran faith produces nothing more than meek, happy romantic artists, agents for joy and goodness can move freely, and strike where least expected. Beyond simple alignment concerns, the Aymaran faith opposes Hell for two reasons. First, Aymara never forgot the damage done by Kador to her family, and hates him with perfect spite. Second, Hell would give the narrow-minded and spiritually ugly power; they’d ban beauty and crush delight.
—Celebrant Andivae Corallyn, on her 230th birthday
While Andivae’s statement might not have been true for the entire world—indeed, there might be evil empires that have stood the test of time—her statement holds the essence of Aymaran philosophy. These are not people who rage against the ugliness of the world, but preserve beauty. Aymaran churches are places of celebration, joy, art and creation. Spending time within their confines, one might never suspect there is misery and ugliness in the world. The faithful do not dwell on such things, seeking instead to keep the lights of delight, love, and art burning brightly against the outside darkness. Each person, in exploring the greatest expressions of beauty she can make, serves to make the world better. The works of most will be forgotten as soon as they are made, but the mere act of making something beautiful, expressing your inner light, makes the world better. The Aymarans believe there is no higher or better force in the world than an individual striving for love and beauty. Most Aymarans sees themselves as a part of a historical struggle against evil, where their part of the battle is to create beauty and appreciate it; and to love, and be loved. Their faith is focused inward, and is based on self-exploration and creation. By being people who bask in beauty, they oppose those who would cover the world with hate and ugliness. “You’re a soldier of love,” is something often said to criticize people for their lack of militancy against wickedness. Indeed, most Aymarans practice a docile faith and meditate on fair things, not the threat of darkness. Yet beneath this seemingly passive outlook, some Aymarans have a militant side. In deep places below the lyceums, in secret conclaves, they plan their unending war on Hell. Long ago, the elders of the Aymaran faith determined they could do the most harm to Asmodeus and his machinations if they moved against him in secret. Let the more lawful churches march out to war in their shining armor. The Aymarans would use the shadows to their advantage against evil. If the forces of Hell believe the Aymaran faith produces nothing more than meek, happy romantic artists, agents for joy and goodness can move freely, and strike where least expected. Beyond simple alignment concerns, the Aymaran faith opposes Hell for two reasons. First, Aymara never forgot the damage done by Kador to her family, and hates him with perfect spite. Second, Hell would give the narrow-minded and spiritually ugly power; they’d ban beauty and crush delight.
Worship
The daily prayer of the Aymaran faith says a great deal about their outlook. Each Aymaran strives to accomplish the points enumerated in this prayer each day, every day. It is typically sung or chanted in the morning, upon waking.
“Sister of Song, guide me this day. I seek the glory in my heart, I seek the beauty in my soul, I seek the love never ending; Help me to find what I seek. “There is a song in all things: I will hear it, I will hear it. There is love in all things: I will find it, I will find it. “Fairest Aymara, grace unending, Show me the perfection that eludes me, Lead me to the pure places of the earth, Bring me to the unity of all that is best.”
“Sister of Song, guide me this day. I seek the glory in my heart, I seek the beauty in my soul, I seek the love never ending; Help me to find what I seek. “There is a song in all things: I will hear it, I will hear it. There is love in all things: I will find it, I will find it. “Fairest Aymara, grace unending, Show me the perfection that eludes me, Lead me to the pure places of the earth, Bring me to the unity of all that is best.”
Priesthood
Fair Fellowship of Aymara
A beautiful order, the fair fellowship focuses on love, song, and celebration. The amount of song and celebration varies by culture. Dwarven lyceums might stand out among their people because their clergy smile on occasion. Elven lyceums are even more filled with song and delight than the average elven household—and that’s quite an achievement. A member of the fair fellowship who is hit with tragedy tries to rally against the darkness with delight. However, some lose the mirth necessary to be a member, and might wander away to pursue other interests until they find their hearts lifted once more. The fair fellowship has no place for the grim, conniving, heavy hearted, ponderous, and sad. Of course, there is room for seriousness among the fair fellowship.Tragedians, dramatists, balladeers, and epic poets who deal with very serious topics are all welcome in the order. There is only difficulty when sorrow infects the person to the point where work becomes impossible. Most fair fellows do not think much of elaborate systems of governance. Most authority is threatened by the raw honesty of real art, and fair fellows test their limits. If a line is drawn, they cross it artistically, and they strongly believe the lyceums are places for such expressions. They dedicate themselves to good, though, and never promote evil in their art. They desire all to be free and happy, and to live in abounding love. Since societies fail to fulfill these desires, the fair fellowship works to uplift people toward these goals with its art. The lyceums are thus places of freedom and goodness, where each person can explore what they need to find love. Outside the lyceums, they promote art and love in all the people they meet, convincing peasants to sing and dance, or nobles to recite poetry.
Some fair fellows do not have the same rebellious streak common among Aymarans. Nor are they focused on each person’s individual quest for joy. Instead, the ideals of art and love interest them. These fair fellows want great art to fill the world, so they go to great artists and help them. They want love to fill the world, so they find people consumed by hate, and free them of its bondage. While most fair fellows believe it sensible to wander the countryside teaching farmers to dance, these members of the order focus on their pursuits, finding the places in need of beauty and love, and dedicating themselves to working there.
A vocal minority of the order focus on revelries of art and of love. They perform bawdy comedies, drink heavily, sing ribald songs, and proposition anyone they find appealing. They believe Aymara is best represented by lives free of modesty and convention, and that all people should experience physical love, song, and dance on a regular basis.
Singer
Most members of the fair fellowship are called singers, and addressed as “kindly brother,” or “kindly sister.” They are introduced by full title. Upon induction into the order, singers are usually charged with spreading delight, love, and beauty in the world. They go abroad, learning the songs of distant cultures, and performing dramas for people in remote lands. Singers who remain at their lyceums assist the celebrants with day-to-day ceremonies and tasks.Celebrant
Time and experience allow singers to become celebrants in a splendid ceremony of song and comedy. The ceremony culminates in a performance by the celebrants or a display of their work, after which the faithful lift them on their shoulders and carry them around the lyceum three times. Finally, they’re bathed in a fountain, or a great cauldron of cool water. This ceremony represents the legendary return of Aymara to Heaven after she converted one of the forefathers of the dragons to the path of good. She rode around Heaven three times on Arathelle’s back and then bathed in the river divine, at the foot of the Heavenly mount. After the bathing, all proclaim the fair fellow to be a celebrant, at which time he rises from the water and takes on a new name. The name may come from a famous song, play, or poem, or might even be a musical instrument, a type of music, or a dramatic device. Celebrants take names based on the area of the arts that most interest them. The new name is placed before the celebrant’s birth name, and she is henceforth referred to with both names (such as Andivae Corallyn above, named after the famous comedic rascal, Andivae, but maintaining her birth name, Corallyn). Celebrants are world-renowned artists, and critics of art. In them, bards have loving patrons, and those with a tale to tell find a ready audience among them. They are addressed as “fairest brother” or “fairest sister,” and are introduced by full title. To the eyes of the world, there is no higher authority in the Aymaran faith than the celebrants. All celebrants are equal and decide matters by unanimous consent, or majority rule when unanimity is impossible. Most celebrants stay within a lyceum, which is nominally controlled by a council of all its resident celebrants.Joining the Fair Fellowship
Becoming a singer does not take much time; it only requires the proper mental attitude and devotion to Aymara. A prospective member of the order is taught all the traditional Aymaran songs of reverence and worship. This takes a few months, but is not taxing. At the end of the time the new singer becomes a cleric.Sects
Aesthetes of Aymara
The aesthetes are the fairest of all holy orders in the churches of the pantheon. Always attired in shining mail or fine cloth, wearing garland wreathes of roses and lilacs, the aesthetes are shining champions of love and beauty. They compose poetry, play lyres and harps, sing as they ride across the lands, laugh loudly, and delight in the company of all good people. Their horses are often covered in gaily ringing bells, and their shields bear the blazon of a golden harp, or some other happy image. The aesthetes seek out places in the world where beauty is threatened, or has been lost, and they fight to make sure beauty prevails. Aesthetes must stay true to their selves and their love of art and beauty. Their credo is simple:If you can make the world more beautiful, do so.
If your life and your toil can protect or recover a work of beauty, give it freely.
If love is opposed or stymied, do all you can to be its champion.
Aesthetes prefer the company of bards, with some becoming their personal champions and bodyguards. Aesthetes, like most Aymarans, are fond of the faithful of all the gods of the tree, since the Aymaran faith has universally positive relations with the other churches. For this reason, aesthetes travel with members of other churches. Aesthetes avoid keeping company with uncouth or hateful people, and certainly won’t accompany petty thieves who steal and hoard works of beauty, but oppose them instead. The order has absolutely no power structure; aesthetes report to no one, though most accept direction from the watchful eyes when necessary. Members rarely gather, and the only time one might see more than one aesthete, is when one trains another. Upon joining the order, candidates receive the title of aesthete, which they maintain for the rest of their days, unless, of course, they fall from grace. They are addressed as “fair sir” or “fair dame” and introduced by full title. Newly made aesthetes each receive a token either from the aesthete who trained them, or from a celebrant who observes their induction to the order. The token is an instrument, a poem, a song, a play, or another symbol of artistic endeavor, and is hers to protect for all her days. This is purely symbolic, but the aesthetes carry the token always, so its beauty remains close and serves as a reminder of their duty.
