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.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.
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.
Joining the Aesthetes
A prospective aesthete simply receives the call from Aymara. Once she hears the goddess summoning her to service, the initiate must find another aesthete for training. This process takes one year of traveling together, doing great deeds in the name of beauty and love. At the end of this time, the aesthete becomes a paladin. Most aesthetes are chaotic good, and when it is time to take their oaths, they typically swear the Oath of Perfection.
Parent Organization
Related Myths
