Irori (E-ro-re)
LN god of History, Knowlege, and Self-Perfection
The Master of Masters
To transcend your flaws, you must know your inner self. Gaining this knowledge is a journey and the path may be straight of twisted.Irori exemplifies the concepts of self-perfection. His dogma states that he was a mortal who gained godhood through achieving a physical and mental state that surpassed mortal limitations. His followers seek to emulate their god’s divine state by perfecting themselves using the words of the Unbinding of Fetters, Irori’s sacred text. The illuminated pages of the tome detail numerous physical, spiritual, and mental exercises, as well as methods of learning and remembering.-Unbinding the Fetters
In addition to self-perfection, Irori is the god of history and knowledge, perfectly knowing the universe around him. He encourages his followers to follow suit and learn all they can about the world and what lies beyond. Even though Irori perfected himself, he is also a patient and kind teacher. He and his clergy allow each student to learn in a way that fits them by offering a multitude of practices and methods.
As the Master of Masters, Irori teaches that a person is composed of a unified body, mind, and spirit. When one masters all three aspects of themselves as one, they see the Triune Self. To most mortals, the body and mind are more easily known than the spirit, so study begins there. Success gained from mastering the body and mind is then used to penetrate the secrets of the spirit and attain enlightenment. The search for perfection leads many followers to the priesthood, where they wander as solitary monks or dwell in secluded monasteries in endless practice. Many of these monasteries are sprawling complexes closed to the general public. The faithful pray, sleep, exercise, and study in their seemingly endless quest of perfection and purity, often taking vows of poverty and silence. Other temple complexes provide guidance and training to visitors in exchange for tithes and donations. Some of Irori’s worshippers instead wander alone, strengthening their connection to Irori by giving up the distraction of material goods and living in caves, forests, or even graveyards. These ascetics may go naked or wear rags, and locals often believe they have mystical abilities. Despite their appearance,these worshippers are well respected among Iroran faithful.
It is said that enlightened members of Irori’s clergy are so self-aware they know when the hour of their death approaches. In preparation for this moment, some faithful ingest a diet of poisonous teas and nuts to perform self-mummification. This ritual allows them to watch over their monasteries after death and come to the aid of the faithful if necessary. Others, particularly those considered the most devout, seemingly disappear from the mortal world. These supposedly handpicked individuals are said to “walk with the Master,” becoming divine servants of Irori.
In addition to a priest’s search for self-perfection, the clergy of Irori still live and participate in worldly cycles. Monk-priests often act as historians and chroniclers for a region, and the libraries of Iroran monasteries house ancient and occult knowledge, making them popular among bards and sages. Elder clergy take this role to heart, gathering and storing knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Irori espouses that all knowledge is worth knowing and cares not for how it is used, except when it would create a loss of self-control. This seeming indifference to good or evil can put Irori’s faithful at odds with more dogmatic churches.
When ministering to layfolk, priests of Irori act as guides and shepherds, nudging worshippers to improve themselves. Some worshippers focus on one or two aspects of Irori’s teachings and methods to become great unarmed warriors and gladiators, while others study medicine and philosophy exclusively. Even others study the history of the world or a given kingdom or region.
of Irori’s perfect nature, his followers tend not to depict him in art, believing that any depiction of the Master of Masters would pale in comparison to his actual appearance. Instead they use song and poetry to praise the indescribable flawlessness of their god. They describe him as an Alfurian elf male with dark skin, clad in simple robes and wooden shoes. Long hair worn in a simple braid sprouts from his otherwise bald head, the braid often wrapped around his neck as a necklace.
Relations With Other Religons
Irori seeks to avoid interfering with other divine beings unless they threaten his work or his people, as he respects other deities and recognizes what is correct for him may not be so for them. He frowns on those who tear down or corrupt the accomplishments of others, and has an ongoing feud with Asmodeus because the Prince of Darkness likes to taunt his followers with false shortcuts to perfection.While Irori respects the other ascended gods as peers who found their own way to divinity, mild rivalry between his faith and those of the Ascended does exist, a tension that takes the form of an ongoing feud with Norgorber-Irori seeks to share knowledge, while the god of secrets tries to hide it away and often endangers his followers. This has led to many bloody encounters between Irori's followers and secret hoarding Norgorberites like the Anaphexia. Irori views the dispute as one more challenge to overcome.
Irori's followers largely respect other religions, even if they disagree with their teachings. Their objectivity and devotion to perfection and balance often cause other churches to call upon them to mediate interfaith disputes, especially when temples are built in areas new to a particular faith and there are clashes with religions already long established in those locales. Irorans oblige such requests if they believe they may help lead members of those faiths closer to enlightenment, but may regret the time and focus taken away from their own pursuits if the disputants are too petty or bureaucratic to see reason.
Holy Books & Codes
Irori's sacred book is Unbinding the Fetters, a lengthy tome describing meditation, physical exercises, diet, and other methods to cleanse the body, free the mind, purify the senses, and eventually transcend the limitations of the mortal form. The book is long and difficult, filled with aphorisms, metaphors, and riddles designed to challenge the reader's preconceptions. Each sect tends to use its own version of the book, adding chapters that clarify and expand upon its preferred path to enlightenment. Though one sect may not agree with another sect's amendments, the main sections of the book are used by the entire religion, and some scholars of the church collect different versions to compare and contrast the various practices.
Holidays
Irori recognizes many paths to enlightenment, and his diverse followers celebrate countless holidays, which vary from sect to sect. A temple espousing the invigorating power of sunlight might celebrate the summer solstice, while one promoting the health aspects of raw grains might observe the Harvest Feast; some scholars claim that any particular day of the year is a holy day for at least one sect of Irori's faith.
Aphorisms
Irori is attributed with countless adages. Most of these aphorisms have to do with self-betterment and pushing on through adversity.May Irori forget you: As the god of history, it’s accepted that Irori knows all that has transpired. Cursing someone so that Irori forgets them implies a wish that they did not exist and is particularly hurtful among friends or family. A variant, “May Irori forget this,” is commonly uttered after an uncommonly embarrassing or farcical event.
Remember, so you may light the way: When a follower of Irori has knowledge of the past they are better prepared for the future. This is often said as a send-off when starting a journey or as a prompt to delve into history to solve a current problem.
There is no perfection without change: Irori teaches that the way to perfection is through change. Followers of the Master of Masters say this when times are difficult as encouragement to continue despite adversity.
Religions
Children
Comments