Cult of Talia
'You taint what the Wylde is meant to be, you filthy heretic. For that I will ensure this forest consumes you."
Seat of Power: Oakenvahl Heart, Kelethan, Depenwood
Head of Cult: Sylvalian Tree-voice
Primary Orders: Ordiea of Wyldemasters, Ordos of Wyrd
Major Festivals: 14th of Agun, Ostara, Month of Agun, Festival of Birth.
Popular Holy Books: Cycles of Fertility, Herbalism of the Soul, Hymns of World-pulse.
Popular Holy Symbols: The Heart-oak, Sun and Moon, the Tree of Cycles
Seat of Power: Oakenvahl Heart, Kelethan, Depenwood
Head of Cult: Sylvalian Tree-voice
Primary Orders: Ordiea of Wyldemasters, Ordos of Wyrd
Major Festivals: 14th of Agun, Ostara, Month of Agun, Festival of Birth.
Popular Holy Books: Cycles of Fertility, Herbalism of the Soul, Hymns of World-pulse.
Popular Holy Symbols: The Heart-oak, Sun and Moon, the Tree of Cycles
Structure
WORSHIPERS
Talia of the Ascended, rose to stand because the very wylde of the world she loved was threatened. This is very much their cult today, protectors of the sacred cycle. Midwives, mothers, farmers, villagers of all kind see her as very important, as she controls the natural flow of weather, which determines the success of farming yearly. Doctors oft find themselves muttering a small prayer to her as well especially if attempting a dangerous procedure to try save someone. Her more militant orders, the largest of which are the Wyldemasters whom are sworn to the nation of Depenhold as well as their faith, are seen as odd, favoring the dangerous wildlands, doing their best to spend as little time as possible among society. Of the more monastic, the Ordos of the Wyrd stand out as the largest and most comprehensive. Those of the clothe of this faith dress in simple clothes, of woven plant fibers, and in colder climates, layers of fur and hide.
HOLY SITES
Oakenvahl Cathedral in Kelethan stands as the center of this faith and any town or city in Depenwood has a temple or church to Talia. Her shrines and chapels however, built in small villages, at cross roads, or beautiful and spiritually powerful wild places, likely number the most on the continent, for counting them is an impossible task, as such shrines often pop up for a few years then disappear as the person whom maintained it dies or moves on.
PENANCES
Penances for Talia oft include punishing those whom pillage and burn the wild places with no dignity or humility or gratitude for Talia's bounty, or protecting agricultural lands, or hunting that which is most heinous, the Restless Dead.
Talia of the Ascended, rose to stand because the very wylde of the world she loved was threatened. This is very much their cult today, protectors of the sacred cycle. Midwives, mothers, farmers, villagers of all kind see her as very important, as she controls the natural flow of weather, which determines the success of farming yearly. Doctors oft find themselves muttering a small prayer to her as well especially if attempting a dangerous procedure to try save someone. Her more militant orders, the largest of which are the Wyldemasters whom are sworn to the nation of Depenhold as well as their faith, are seen as odd, favoring the dangerous wildlands, doing their best to spend as little time as possible among society. Of the more monastic, the Ordos of the Wyrd stand out as the largest and most comprehensive. Those of the clothe of this faith dress in simple clothes, of woven plant fibers, and in colder climates, layers of fur and hide.
HOLY SITES
Oakenvahl Cathedral in Kelethan stands as the center of this faith and any town or city in Depenwood has a temple or church to Talia. Her shrines and chapels however, built in small villages, at cross roads, or beautiful and spiritually powerful wild places, likely number the most on the continent, for counting them is an impossible task, as such shrines often pop up for a few years then disappear as the person whom maintained it dies or moves on.
PENANCES
Penances for Talia oft include punishing those whom pillage and burn the wild places with no dignity or humility or gratitude for Talia's bounty, or protecting agricultural lands, or hunting that which is most heinous, the Restless Dead.
Mythology & Lore
The forging of the world, by the Elemental Children. And the Draconic Wars.
Divine Origins
This faith, as with all the worship of the Ascended, comes from the Draconic Wars, the nine heroes whom united and pulled the seven races together to stand against the Dragons, both sides. By sheer numbers, eventually the dragons fell. But the cost. We know not much of the time. But we do know that none of the nine legends survived the war. Nor did any of dragonkind. Our nine champions ascended into godhood. They were welcomed home by Mother and Father and the seven Children of Creation, the first of each race, the Elemental Children
After the Draconic wars came an age of happiness and enlightenment. Our heroes became gods. So we worshiped, we sang, we prayed. But though it was a boon of an era, a time of great discovery and invention and regrowth.....darkness was to return. Some discovered things that should have been left lost. The darkness and temptation of the Abyss. The Black Mists. Daemons, the worst embodiment of our own desires, talents, dreams, twisted into nightmares, dark twisting abilities and our desires turned to horrifying dark obsessions. The eldest of the beings of creation, the things the Mother of Creation and the Father of Time, blessed unto them, locked away when they birthed the first of each race, the elemental beings, our ancestors. But some discovered lost knowledge and magical rituals....and cults began to form until things reached a boiling point. That is when the Sundering occurred. That is when the Twisted Forms, the Ruinous Powers, The Daemon Lords, once again began storming the gap between our plane and the Abyss. And they've closed the distance. We are entering a new age, an age where faith and strength are our only hope. Chaos, the Abyss has returned to Valerick. We pushed back and recovered, indeed we continue to attempt to advance.....but they will not stop. The Black Mists will not stop. And we must stand fast.
Cosmological Views
As with all followers of the Ascended, they believe that Mother of Creation and Father of Time gave birth to seven children, the Elemental Creators, the first of what would eventually become Valerick's seven 'civilized' races, though none know what the Tieflings used to be before the Abyssal taint crippled and twisted the very fabric of their race. But it is believed the world was forged by these seven. They used their own energy and elemental power to forge a companion being. Their other half. And so our species began, each of our species.....However, the twisting began at that moment. long forgotten powers, ancient, thought dead beings of chaos and blood and slaughter, they followed the trail of energy, and at the moment of forging, insured they tainted the world, and these partners the Children of Creation built for themselves. These tainted mirrors slowly lost control to long forgotten beings, monsters, nightmares. And they twisted and twisted, and brought that infection with them. It manifested in goblins, kobolds, giantkin, mind flayers, all manner of other monster and beast.
But this is our world, and we are here. We cannot falter, for where can we turn. So we will stand strong against the madness. We will not falter. We will take our world back. We will stand against the darkness, the insanity, the madness, the sin, the excess. So stand strong!!! Take heart!!! Our ancestors care for us and shield us from on high!!!
But this is our world, and we are here. We cannot falter, for where can we turn. So we will stand strong against the madness. We will not falter. We will take our world back. We will stand against the darkness, the insanity, the madness, the sin, the excess. So stand strong!!! Take heart!!! Our ancestors care for us and shield us from on high!!!
Tenets of Faith
The Natural Order:
1. The cycle of natural life and death must be preserved. Undead must be purged. Necromancy is heresy.
2. Return what you use, energy must be given as it is taken away. Live in Valerick, not on her.
3. Honor that which you take, be gracious and thankful for Talia's bounty.
1. The cycle of natural life and death must be preserved. Undead must be purged. Necromancy is heresy.
2. Return what you use, energy must be given as it is taken away. Live in Valerick, not on her.
3. Honor that which you take, be gracious and thankful for Talia's bounty.
Ethics
Their code is so simple because they believe in letting nature lead the way. They will move through this life as a part of the grand cycle, never thinking to much about the next step until that moment of decision is upon them. Embracing a more animal like existence, living moment to moment.
Worship
One reveres in nature, taking time to appreciate the majesty of it all. An hour of silent contemplation, alone, surrounded by nature, is a common daily ritual. Also follow the Natural Order.
The Natural Order:
1. The cycle of natural life and death must be preserved. Undead must be purged. Necromancy is heresy.
2. Return what you use, energy must be given as it is taken away. Live in Valerick, not on her.
3. Honor that which you take, be gracious and thankful for Talia's bounty.
1. The cycle of natural life and death must be preserved. Undead must be purged. Necromancy is heresy.
2. Return what you use, energy must be given as it is taken away. Live in Valerick, not on her.
3. Honor that which you take, be gracious and thankful for Talia's bounty.
Priesthood
The priests of Talia are very much druidic in nature and behavior. They prefer the company of nature, they avoid metal works, preferring to use that which nature offers. Simple wooden staves, hide clothing and armors.
Granted Divine Powers
Blessings are minor manifestations of divine will, not even discernible from good fortune without the Holy Visions talent. If you are a priest following this lore you gain full access to all six of his blessings listed below.
Blessing of Death
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
If target creature has 2 wounds they must make a Challenging (+0) Endurance test or immediately drop to 0 wounds and enter the dying state. Otherwise they just immediately take 2 wounds.
Blessing of Earth
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
The target's skin suddenly develops a stone like consistency as the energies of earth embrace them. They gain +1 AP to all areas.
Blessing of Life
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
If target creature has 2 wounds or less, they immediately heal wounds=to your WPB. Otherwise they recover 2 wounds.
Blessing of Nature
Range: 6 meters
Target: Self
Duration: Instant
You briefly gain a wider understanding of your surroundings. Any plants, you know what they are and what they do. Any animals hiding you smell and can identify them.
Blessing of Water
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target ignores need to breath underwater, temporarily gaining gill like filters. They no longer risk drowning.
Blessing of Wind
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
You and the target can communicate over whispers on an unnatural breeze. These are undetectable.
Along with the basic blessings, each deity offers true divine powers to their faithful. These are called miracles by most, and that term is actually fairly accurate. These powers require a Pray skill test to manifest.
Miracles of Talia
Tanglefoot "In the burden of distress, there is an urging call! In the unexpected chance, a beckon from Talia's Hall! In the bliss of true love, there is foreboding! And in suffering, intention revealed! The endless knot, at twilight's call! Pervading the vastness of being!
Range: Fellowship meters
Target: AOE
Duration: Instant
You call upon the Talia, begging her aid in protecting this natural haven. Vines, roots, and creepers erupt to life, grasping and wrapping around your foes. Everyone within Fellowship Bonus Meters of your target area gain Entangled condition. For every +2 Success Levels, you may increase the AOE by your Fellowship Bonus meters, or inflict an extra Entangled. Tanglefoot has a Strength=to your Willpower for purposes of breaking free.
Monarch of the Wild "Distant echoes ring out, exalting the unseen. Ancient mountains serenely bode the vast, all deriding the pompous futile. That will be burnt to ashes, and washed away. Is it sempiternal, yet sanctifying. Wylde and fury are to come!"
Range: Fellowship Meters
Target: 1
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
You chant a low prayer, requesting aid from the Queen of the Wylde. She answers with haste, a beast in the area coming to your aid. Said creature will act according to your wishes for duration of this miracle.
Tooth and Claw "Animal noises"
Range: You
Target: You
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
Muttering a guttural prayer, you request the gift of beasts. You gain Bite (Strength Bonus+3) and Weapon (Strength Bonus+4) Creature Traits. These attacks are magical
Talia's Bounty "All smiles and sunshine, a perfect world on a perfect day. Everything always works out, I have never felt so fucking great. All smiles and sunshine, a perfect world on a perfect day! Everything always works out, I have never felt so great!"
Range: Touch
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You chant praises to Talia, and at the point your touching, edible food begins to grow. Enough for 1 person, +1 more person for each round the miracle is maintained. The type of food will always be vegetation, but kind will depend on geography. In caves, mushrooms, outside, perhaps berries or vegetables, for example.
Talia's Home "These storms are getting stronger now. Trees all bend and sway. Lightning hits, the sky lights up in the fray. As the waves crash high, and the shoreline disappears. I will scream to the sky, Hey people live here!"
Range: You
Target: You
Duration: Special
You sing one of Talia's hymns concerning shelter and safety. You may only use this miracle outdoors and outside settlements. You discover a perfect natural shelter, a cave, a grove of thick pines, some combination of earth and foliage has occurred in such a way to provide a perfect location to camp for the night. The spot is protected from all naturally occurring weather, and lasts as long as you are camped there. It can fit 1 person, +1 for every +2 Success Levels. When you break camp the shelter cannot be rediscovered, its as if it existed by the will of your goddess alone.
Talia's Touch "Life for you, has been less than kind. So take a number, stand in line. We've all been sorry, we've all been hurt. But how we survive is what makes us who we are!"
Range: Touch
Target: 1
Duration: Special
You lay hands upon an injured or diseased target and sing your prayers. You may choose one of the following effects;
-Heal Fellowship Bonus Wounds
-Cure one naturally occurring disease
For every +2 success levels, you can select another effect and the same effect can be chosen more than once. This Miracle is slow, taking about 10 minutes to manifest. If interrupted it must be attempted again.
Special Rule: Will of the Gods. This is the opposite of Wrath of the Gods. If on your Pray roll or other cast check, roll 01-05% you not only get the obvious massive degrees of success, but your god smiles their favor upon you. In Talia's case, as with them all, this manifests in one of two ways.
Flora: Talia's smile lands upon you all, the trees and plants lending their hardiness and strength to you and your allies. You all get +10 on your next Toughness test, should you have to make one this day, and gain a bonus to AP=to your WPB, to all areas as your skin toughens and thickens like the bark of a mighty oak tree. This lasts for WPB hours
Fauna: Talia's smile lands on you all, granting you the benefits of the most magnificent beasts. You all gain +1 meters of movement, and +10 to Agility, Toughness and Strength for WPB hours
If this event comes to pass however, you are magically shredded temporarily from being a conduit of direct magical influence and energy of your deity. You are at -10 to your next attempt to manifest a Miracle.
Blessing of Death
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
If target creature has 2 wounds they must make a Challenging (+0) Endurance test or immediately drop to 0 wounds and enter the dying state. Otherwise they just immediately take 2 wounds.
Blessing of Earth
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
The target's skin suddenly develops a stone like consistency as the energies of earth embrace them. They gain +1 AP to all areas.
Blessing of Life
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
If target creature has 2 wounds or less, they immediately heal wounds=to your WPB. Otherwise they recover 2 wounds.
Blessing of Nature
Range: 6 meters
Target: Self
Duration: Instant
You briefly gain a wider understanding of your surroundings. Any plants, you know what they are and what they do. Any animals hiding you smell and can identify them.
Blessing of Water
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target ignores need to breath underwater, temporarily gaining gill like filters. They no longer risk drowning.
Blessing of Wind
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
You and the target can communicate over whispers on an unnatural breeze. These are undetectable.
Along with the basic blessings, each deity offers true divine powers to their faithful. These are called miracles by most, and that term is actually fairly accurate. These powers require a Pray skill test to manifest.
Miracles of Talia
Tanglefoot "In the burden of distress, there is an urging call! In the unexpected chance, a beckon from Talia's Hall! In the bliss of true love, there is foreboding! And in suffering, intention revealed! The endless knot, at twilight's call! Pervading the vastness of being!
Range: Fellowship meters
Target: AOE
Duration: Instant
You call upon the Talia, begging her aid in protecting this natural haven. Vines, roots, and creepers erupt to life, grasping and wrapping around your foes. Everyone within Fellowship Bonus Meters of your target area gain Entangled condition. For every +2 Success Levels, you may increase the AOE by your Fellowship Bonus meters, or inflict an extra Entangled. Tanglefoot has a Strength=to your Willpower for purposes of breaking free.
Monarch of the Wild "Distant echoes ring out, exalting the unseen. Ancient mountains serenely bode the vast, all deriding the pompous futile. That will be burnt to ashes, and washed away. Is it sempiternal, yet sanctifying. Wylde and fury are to come!"
Range: Fellowship Meters
Target: 1
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
You chant a low prayer, requesting aid from the Queen of the Wylde. She answers with haste, a beast in the area coming to your aid. Said creature will act according to your wishes for duration of this miracle.
Tooth and Claw "Animal noises"
Range: You
Target: You
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
Muttering a guttural prayer, you request the gift of beasts. You gain Bite (Strength Bonus+3) and Weapon (Strength Bonus+4) Creature Traits. These attacks are magical
Talia's Bounty "All smiles and sunshine, a perfect world on a perfect day. Everything always works out, I have never felt so fucking great. All smiles and sunshine, a perfect world on a perfect day! Everything always works out, I have never felt so great!"
Range: Touch
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You chant praises to Talia, and at the point your touching, edible food begins to grow. Enough for 1 person, +1 more person for each round the miracle is maintained. The type of food will always be vegetation, but kind will depend on geography. In caves, mushrooms, outside, perhaps berries or vegetables, for example.
Talia's Home "These storms are getting stronger now. Trees all bend and sway. Lightning hits, the sky lights up in the fray. As the waves crash high, and the shoreline disappears. I will scream to the sky, Hey people live here!"
Range: You
Target: You
Duration: Special
You sing one of Talia's hymns concerning shelter and safety. You may only use this miracle outdoors and outside settlements. You discover a perfect natural shelter, a cave, a grove of thick pines, some combination of earth and foliage has occurred in such a way to provide a perfect location to camp for the night. The spot is protected from all naturally occurring weather, and lasts as long as you are camped there. It can fit 1 person, +1 for every +2 Success Levels. When you break camp the shelter cannot be rediscovered, its as if it existed by the will of your goddess alone.
Talia's Touch "Life for you, has been less than kind. So take a number, stand in line. We've all been sorry, we've all been hurt. But how we survive is what makes us who we are!"
Range: Touch
Target: 1
Duration: Special
You lay hands upon an injured or diseased target and sing your prayers. You may choose one of the following effects;
-Heal Fellowship Bonus Wounds
-Cure one naturally occurring disease
For every +2 success levels, you can select another effect and the same effect can be chosen more than once. This Miracle is slow, taking about 10 minutes to manifest. If interrupted it must be attempted again.
Special Rule: Will of the Gods. This is the opposite of Wrath of the Gods. If on your Pray roll or other cast check, roll 01-05% you not only get the obvious massive degrees of success, but your god smiles their favor upon you. In Talia's case, as with them all, this manifests in one of two ways.
Flora: Talia's smile lands upon you all, the trees and plants lending their hardiness and strength to you and your allies. You all get +10 on your next Toughness test, should you have to make one this day, and gain a bonus to AP=to your WPB, to all areas as your skin toughens and thickens like the bark of a mighty oak tree. This lasts for WPB hours
Fauna: Talia's smile lands on you all, granting you the benefits of the most magnificent beasts. You all gain +1 meters of movement, and +10 to Agility, Toughness and Strength for WPB hours
If this event comes to pass however, you are magically shredded temporarily from being a conduit of direct magical influence and energy of your deity. You are at -10 to your next attempt to manifest a Miracle.
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