Hey there Inter-neighbors! Rose here, with a little story from the earliest days of this project’s life.
Once upon a time two sisters decided to write a science fiction story inspired by classic adventurers. The elder sister picked a few stories she liked best to work off of while the younger sister went around collecting notes from scientific journals about the different kinds of planets currently known to exist and what it might be like to live on those strange worlds.
Then, one day, the elder sister said something to the younger sister along the lines of:
invent a couple of religions
The elder sister did in fact say quite a bit more than that, but - regardless - the idea of inventing wholly new religions for the wholly new galaxy put the younger sister into a bit of a mood. Have I mentioned the sisters live a good many miles and state borders apart? Well, they do, and a good thing or else the younger sister may have pitched a fit and smothered her elder sister in her sleep.
After this hyperbolic mood had subsided, the younger sister recalled that she had a few years prior been inspired by the formal technique of variation - in music - to start writing a handful of "holy books" as the basis of religious beliefs for any number of stories she may care to write for any number of worlds she may care to build.
I think you know which sister is which, but - just in case - you should know that I did not "invent a couple of religions" from my old variation notes for The Janitors; I invented four (each with various subsects) which - although all founded upon the same books - each have their own ideas as to who’s in charge.
Remember how, in Chapter One, Duke recited to himself the Virtuous Chants while rubbing a feather-shaped pendant and then later spouted poetry over a dead plant? This is all to introduce by illustration the fact that he is a creature of faith.
The Virtuous Chants come from a book called The Songs of Fire believed to be written by Vesta the Flame of Consumption. Those who create elaborate rituals from this text in honor of Vesta and for the glory of Veritas (the Seed of All) are known as the Vestales. Theirs is a very formal faith.
The poem for the Posea-herb (only partially recited in the first chapter) comes from a book called The Songs of Clay believed to be written by Hestia the Flame of Provision. Followers of Hestia’s example are called Hestians and each of their songs is a bundle of agricultural wisdom. There is some cross-over in who recites what with regards to the two books of songs, but is mostly limited to those songs which are sung in praise of Veritas.
The feather is a symbol of Bennu the Tongue of Fire, the Living Flame, the Life Fire, the Great Blaze, whose Book of Sebayt was faithfully recorded in partnership by Vesta and Hestia as Bennu spoke her wisdom in the form of
fables. Parlens and Talents each have their view as to the exact nature of Bennu. Though most agree she is blue with arms and wings, she is often illustrated in profile and kneeling with her winged arms stretched before her as a mother waiting for the child who is rushing toward her embrace (though this is based on a little thing called the Bennic Vision).
Sorry, not sorry. I get more than a little excited just writing notes about the religion-building because of all the worlds-building that goes along with it. Carrying on:
Duke was raised in the traditions of the Vestales and found himself feeling an affinity for all faiths. He is in a way a Vestale and a Hestian and a Parlen and a Talent. He truly believes each faith is his own whenever he turns his attention to it and considers its teachings, and he spends a lot of time considering those teachings. It’s kind of his thing.
Hey! Look at that, some behind-the-scenes religion-building and character development stuff. You’re welcome, haha.
As thanks, you should totally recommend and share our project (and my whackadoo updates) with folks who know just love science fiction ... and adventure ... and fun. We’d be all the thankful for that!
