JJosey 1204 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2021 Anuh’wysae Tennallar “O’ great mother! Great Lady of the Waves, Mistress of Storm and Empress of the Deep! Thine favor we call, amid this place of salt and stone!” -From the Rite of Pacification. The Sea Sisters serve as the priesthood of the hands of the ocean, known in the Ancient Tongue as Anuh'wysae Tennallar. They perform rites, render blessings and elsewise work to restore the long-lost ceremonies of the seaborn religion, a cultural staple of the Almenodrim and essential aspect of life to many people in Elvenesse. Their work is of particular import to all Elves who do not wish to spark the ire of the Sea around them, and shrines to the Goddess can be commonly found in all Elven port-cities. History In the ancient days when the world was not so grey, and the mountains as yet unburdened by the weight of centuries, the Elves made their way for the first time across the Interminable Sea, and began to explore its deep waters in their vast breadth. These Elves were known as the Almenodrim, and though the circumstances of their departure are not important to this tract, it is sufficient to say that they became ever-after a sea-faring People, and seldom tarried long in the inland regions preferred by many of their fellow Elderfolk. In those earliest ages the waters had yet to settle from the cataclysmic events of the Iblaesian War, and as such the seaward citadels of the Elves were often bereaved of sons and fathers who lost their lives upon the Sea. Seldom were the days when the bells did not toll for the drowned mariner, and few were the families of those early cities who had not been touched by this harsh reality. So all-consuming was this grief to the early Almenodrim, that the earliest known vernacular poem of the Almenodrim, the “Fate of the Mariner”, refers to it directly: This noble seafarer of old, Of silver locks, and manner bold, Was loved in turn by fairest maid, For whom his noble heart had sway’d. “I will return upon the Dawn,” He vowed to her, “and then,” “together we will ply the shore, and venture seaward nevermore.” The sea is fickle, grudging, vain, and her dark passion did disdain The sailor’s word, and took his life, to spite his earnest, loving wife. Her heart thus broken, fairest maid Fled, leaping, from that promenade And broke upon the crags of stone, Her mortal coil, flesh and bone. And so it is, my friends, and so, Unto the stars they did bestow the image of their tragic love. Their form can oft be seen above, the Mariner, and very near the Maiden, lantern raised austere to guide all sailors in their quest, To return safely to their rest. -Excerpt from The Fate of the Mariner It is said that the first Sea-Sisters were the widows and orphaned daughters of the Almenodrim sailors who perished upon the vastness of this untamed Sea, taken from them by the unforgiving deeps. Their moral anguish gave rise to a personification of the Sea; she was all-powerful, vain, grudging and discerning to a fault, and needed to be pacified, by way of rite and sacrifice, or else by simple worship and respect. In the eyes of the Almenodrim, the Sea Goddess was paramount mistress of her domain- its currents and tides, the storms which rolled across it and the winds which drove them, as well as the great primordial beasts which dwelt beneath. Her fury was unstoppable, her retribution for slights even more so, and only by securing her favor could the Elves hope to sail unhindered across a peaceful ocean. The Anuh'wysae Tennallar therefore rose to prominence during the latter years of the reign of Aegnor Elpharon, when the first citadel of Aegrothond was established; a time when the Elves were pushing ever further to discover and colonize new lands, and needed the favor of the Sea more than ever. Due to the associated dangers, it spread among the people like wildfire, and ere long the Prince Aegnor’s own wife took up the worship. In this fashion the rites became commonplace- the worship became established officially as the faith of the Sea Elves, and specifically of the Houses of Everflame such as Sylvaeri and Telemnar. During the Great Collapse of the seafaring empire of the Elves, as the ports were abandoned one by one, the Anuh'wysae Tennallar fell alongside its great bastions. Those who remained, returned to the cities of the Wood Elves, and year by year they forgot the traditions of their forebears, such that by the end of the First Age few remained who could even recall the old ways. Most became acquainted with the religions of the Woodland, and followed the Wild Faith alongside their Mali’ame kin. Despite the resurgence of the Almenodrim in the Dominion of Malin and the later second founding of Aegrothond, information regarding the Anuh'wysae Tennallar was limited to a few dusty tomes in the personal collections of the Princess Sylvaeri. Now, a new enthusiasm for history has caused the Elves to dig deep in the remaining chronicles of their ancestors; a fresh generation of Sister-Priests takes up the mantle, and renders honours once more upon the mighty Goddess of the Great Sea. Customs and Trials The central purpose of the Anuh'wysae Tennallar is to venerate the Goddess of the Sea, who has many names and represents her domain in its entirety. They perform ceremonies and rites with the express purpose of calming an uneven ocean, blessing a voyage or an expedition, or rendering an elf into the favor of their patron. They administer baptisms and perform weddings in the Almenodrim fashion, and discern the future based on ancient rites of divination. A unique aspect of the Anuh'wysae Tennallar is that they do not permit male devouts to perform rites or lead ceremonies, by which fact their priesthood is in all effects a sorority. This is of particular import and significance in the male-dominated Almenodrim culture, and hearkens back to a time when the sisterhood consisted primarily of mourning widows, bereaved mothers and orphaned daughters. This does not, of course, mean that one cannot be a male follower of the religion. The process of becoming a Priestess of the is bound to a series of trials which aim to reinforce the Almenodrim ideals of honour, duty and family, as well as a respect for the endless power of the Sea. They are set to aspirant Priests by the Sea Mother, and are as follows: The Trial of the Shallows During which the neophyte is required to gather seaglass, and render a mosaic which represents some aspect of the Sea Goddess. They must not return to their handler until completed with their piece. Their depiction of an aspect of Thalassa must come from within, one should not ask for assistance with this task. The Trial of the Wave During the darkest part of the night, the neophyte must leap off a cliff side and into the ocean when the tides are high. They must then swim out to a predetermined point, against the waves or perhaps even with a riptide. One must then return to shore against all odds that may face them. Failure may result in being swept out to sea or dragged beneath the waves. The Trial of the Deep In which the neophyte must dive beyond the Amaethean Bank, into the darkest parts of the ocean where the Deep’s Gleam grows. Sap is harvested from the unique plants, and brought up to the surface; this trial is fraught with dangers, and neophytes often elect to practice deep-sea diving in order to ensure safety. The Mark of Thalassa After each task, the neophyte shall receive a portion of the Mark of Thalassa depicted below in a temporary inking. First, for the Shallows, the diagonal triangles. Second, for the Waves, the inner and outer markings of the waves. Finally, the center diamond will be marked on one’s torso upon completion of the Trial of the Deep. Once the Mark of Thalassa has been filled out entirely, it will be redone. This time marked in the ink from a Deep’s Gleam plant found within the depths. This final marking shall remain, tattooed permanently upon the recipient. The tattoo will, as one of three colors, glow gently. The Mark of Thalassa’s colors varies from gold, green and blue Rites A central duty of the Sea Sisters is to render ceremony and ritual to exalt Thalassa in all her aspects, and request her favour in various ways. These rites often require complex incantations and the burning of certain incenses and wood, as well as certain phases of the moon and favourable tides. The Rite of Pacification is a ceremony performed during the vernal equinox, which attempts the taming of the Sea for the coming storm-season. This ceremony is often performed, being one of the central rites of the Anuh'wysae Tennallar. The Rite of Tumult is a ritual far more rarely done, which aims to exacerbate the stormy nature of the Sea and call forth Thalassa’s fury upon the enemies of the people. The Parting of the Maiden is a ceremony performed before an Almenodrim wedding, with the participation of the bride-to-be. During this process a ‘second baptism’ is done, and the bride receives the blessing of the Sea Goddess, as well as good omens for the matrimonial future to come. The rite takes its name from the first traditional appearance of the Sea Goddess, that of a young maiden setting foot upon dry land, with a wreath of sea-grass in her hair. The Blessing of the Mother is a baptismal ceremony which bestows a protective charm upon the child in question and brings them into the culture proper. This ritual is rarely overlooked by Almenodrim parents, for the historical and cultural significance it bears. It takes its name from the second of the traditional appearances of Thalassa, which is as a nurturing Mother, raising her children from the deeps so that they may see the surface-world. The Veneration of the Crone is a divination ceremony which may be performed during the solstice, with seawater drawn from high tide. This water is rendered into a basin and lit with a lantern specially-made for the ritual, at which point the venerator will divine certain omens of the coming year; the rite takes its name from the last appearance of the Sea Goddess, as a wise Crone bearing wisdom of the future with a silver lantern. The Blessing of the Mariner is a ceremony performed during the initial stages of any important voyage, during which the Sea Sisters will bestow a protective ward upon the traveling vessel and ensure that it bears the grace of Thalassa in its way. Spoiler Approach either Idril Sylvaeri [JJosey] or Medli Amaeden [RainbowRoad1234], if you wish to join the priesthood. Discords: Josey#5073 RainbowRoad1234#6413 40 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andustar 2097 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Olórin Telemnar looked fondly upon the scholarly work of his kinsmen."Let us Almenodrim take pride in our heritage. Praise be to the Great Sea!" 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generi 558 Share Posted April 29, 2023 An 'ame pirate stood at the helm of her ship as she read about the priesthood, a glance being given down to her own religious tattoo, a symbol differing from this church's. "Eh... s'nice t'see people respectin' t'sea again, at least." She murmured before deciding to pay a visit to the other mali! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orphvius 412 Share Posted April 29, 2023 A small girl of House Tennallar stirs the tips of her bare feet against the rhythmic waves of the tide, perched upon the docks of the Ember City she hummed a noturn tune; flaxen eyes growing heavy with the sullen warmth of the sun’s rays.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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