Joyau delaLune
Sprite Healer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Natura, Has vacation home in Demios
Posts: 322
| Proclamation of Cetheron (Holy Scrolls of the Ancient Dargians) [2nd draft]
The First Scroll of Orwell - In the Beginning Before the ancient dwarven language was created, our oral scholars became our priests. The greatest of these was Orwell who created from our sounds and language an alphabet. It is the holy writings of Orwell that have been handed down for hundreds of generations.
PROLOGUE TO THE PROCLAMATION OF CETHERON
The Holy Scroll of the Ancient Dargians Ioannes, the god of gods had created from out of nothing but a void, a world upon which beings could live, the world of Telath. Upon Ioannes’ completion, his Arch Archon, Jorel looked upon the world his creator had created and declared with him, that all was good.
Ioannes, the father of all that was justice, order and law; looked at his high archon Jorel and smiled, saying “yes it is good.”
Jorel entered and walked upon the world of Telath, but he was full of pride, in his mind exploring the possibilities of how he could rule over Telath and usurp his creator Ioannes in power over Telath’s inhabitants, the Ancient Aelyrians.
Because Ioannes gave no such power to Jorel, Jorel’s jealousy knew no bounds. If Jorel could not rule over Telath, he had determined to corrupt their inhabitants. He would create his own pantheon, and they would fight with Ioannes over the right to inhabit the world of Telath. His first creation was Meephos, who confounded the emotions of Ioannes’ creations.
Now there have been chronicles of how Jorel and his pantheon and their master race the Cyraxians, were defeated by the great Queen of the Aelyrians, Diana, who then reigned over the Aelyrians until she ascended and became the benevolent goddess in the Aelyrian pantheon.
But Jorel had no intention of giving up on his dream to rule Telath. His pantheon of demons was complete. Not only did he have Meephos, and his wife Haya. He had created Jalat, the god of death. Thus each of the Aetherian pantheon’s creations were subject to death. No longer was immortality a gift from Aetheria.
Having thus interferred in the cycle of life and death in Aelyrians, he decided to interfere with the life of the Gods’ other creations. Phedos had created a race of long-lived creations called Elves. Jorel and his pantheon decided that if they could not rule the surface of Telath, they could rule the underground. Phedos had created the elven race, but in the midst of his creation, Meephos interfered and stole half his elven race to make his own creations. These elves were driven by their emotions and a desire to use might, rather than justice. This was very much unlike the elves that people knew. At Jorel’s insistence, some of the dark elves became subterranean Dark Elves, who called themselves the Vysstichi. Thus the Vysstichi would rule the underworld for Aeternia.
The Aetherian gods and goddesses created the races of Telath, yet there was no race that had been created to rule the underworld. Cetheron, a strong advocate and and supporter of the great Archon Maj, decided to counter Meephos’ perverted creations, and petitioned Ioannes to make the underground of Telath holy. Ioannes then declared that the underground of Telath was holy and told Cetheron to create a race to rule the underground. It was then that Ioannes made the underground of Telath wealthy beyond belief, so that Cetheron’s creations could rule the underground as prosperous caretakers.
Cetheron then created the dwarven race. He made his creations noble and courageous. Though unable to create an immortal race, he created a very long-lived race, which would continuously rule the underworld with honor and justice. He then made a proclamation that reads as thus:
THE PROCLAMATION OF CETHERON To my creations, the dwarven race, I hereby make this holy covenant which covenant shall never be broken between their Creator and his creation for all time immortal.
With the blessing of the all-powerful Triance of Aetheria, I hereby declare that the Dwarven Race was created for the sole purpose of ruling the underworld of Telath. Because I have created you to rule the underground, you shall be the recipients of all its wealth. By the sweat of your brow, ye shall reap the bounty of your kingdom, and shall maintain ownership of all that is below the surface of Telath. By this Proclamation I swear that all of the underground of Telath shall yield its riches only to you, and that you shall be kings of the underworld throughout all eternity. |
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The Second Scroll of Orwell - The Sons of Cetheron
Our ancestors - hundreds of generations of them - consider Cetheron and the other gods and goddesses of the Aelyrian pantheon to be as real as our own family, as real as the earth of Telath, as real as the mountains looming over our homesteads beneath the earth. The clouds blowing through the sky became known to us, as a sign that we were created by someone larger than ourselves, the kings of underTelath.
Our clans (and just about everyone else in the world of Telath) live in an environment that calls for intelligence and hard-headed practicality. Stupid people tend to make mistakes that get them killed. Impractical dreamers likewise meet untimely and tragic ends. By comparison, we live much more protected lives, insulated from the effects of the natural environment and from hostile people armed with axes and swords. Fools, self-deceivers, the gullible, and dreamers did not fare well in early society. The Ancient Aelyrians were not likely to have believed in the Gods and Goddesses unless they had some reason to do so. We on the other hand, living in an environment with much less evolutionary stress, were created by our great creator, Cetheron for one purpose only, to honor his majesty in the underTelath.
The Gods and Goddesses manifest to living beings and the might of our mighty God Cetheron has shown himself many times. When we make requests of the Holy Powers, through our patron God, Cetheron, we get dramatic results. Our prayers are answered. People get healed, children are born, difficulties are resolved, the future is foretold. Our God's work is done.
Other times, the Gods and Goddesses actually appear to our people in visions. You may call these delusions or hallucinations, but they are generally associated with real results that happen, then or later, in the real world. Finally, there are cases, admittedly rare, when our mighty Gods and Goddesses manifest to our priests under conditions that do not appear to be visions at all - when they are as real as our home, or the rock upon which we would stub our toe. |
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The 1st Scroll of Homerk, Son of Orwell - The Priesthood
Every male is a priest of our God, Cetheron, called to pray to him for our livlihood, our wisdom, and our courage. The nobility of Cetheron, is the nobility of the dwarf, who was created to represent him through the riches of the underworld. The underworld is holy, as our god, Cetheron is holy. We are the loving creations of a noble creator, who has given us his knowledge of how to reap the riches of our kingdom, the kingdom of his people, the dwarven race.
Honor the Holy Powers. In your home, raise your hands at the beginning of each brightening, in privacy or in clan worship, greeting our glorious God, Cetheron and say:
"I salute you, the Holy Power of my people! Not as a slave or servant, but as a freeborn member of the dwarven race and as your younger kin. Nor do I come to you on my knees, but standing proud and tall. Speak to my soul, that I may grow in wisdom. Be my inspiration as I strive to grow wiser, stronger, and larger of spirit. May my feet walk the way of my noble ancestors, as I continue my journey!"
Honor our ancestors. Bow your head to the artifacts of your ancestors. On an altar place their relics, the relics they used in their everyday life. A spoon for mother, an axe for father. Remember them daily, talk to them, share your life with them as a continuing priesthood of those who are today, and those who were yesterday as a continuous circle of worship to our mighty god, Cetheron, who embraces those who were and those who are his Creations. Forever they will live on in your hearts and minds.
Bless your meals.
"In the names of the Holy Powers may this food be blessed, and may it bless us who partake of it. May it connect us with the Earth and Sky from which it came, to the Holy Powers, and to each other. Let it help us to live, to grow, and to work our will in the world!" |
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2nd Scroll of Homerk, Son of Orwell - Living Holy The 10 virtues of Cetheron.
Be Industrious: Conduct yourself productively in life and work. Avoid laziness and strive to accomplish good things.
Be Just: Let fairness be your judge. Let truth be your equity. Treat others in accordance with what they deserve, and give each person a chance to show his or her best.
Courage: - Do things you fear so that fear is your triumph and not your weakness. Train yourself to do the things you fear, both physically and morally.
Generosity: - An open hand and an open heart bring happiness to you and to others. The miserly are never happy.
Community: - Cooperate with kin and friends, do your fair share, and remember your responsibilities to others.
Individuality: - Although we belong to a clan, we are also individuals with distinct personalities and clearly-defined rights. Respect the individuality of others, and insist on the same in return.
Truth: - Be honest and straightforward in all your dealings. Avoid deceit and deception.
Steadfastness: - Learn to persist, to endure in the face of adversity without discouragement. Do not be blown about by every changing wind.
Loyalty: - Be steadfast in your commitment to others and to yourself. Have a true heart.
Wisdom: - Learn from your experiences. Grow in the understanding of the world, and of the dwarven heart. Comprehend as much of the universe as you can in the years available to you.
Additional Virtues of Sainthood. Hospitality: - In ancient times, travelers were greeted with food, drink, and a warm place by the fire. See that your guests never want.
Moderation: - Enjoy all good things, but do not overindulge; control your appetites.
There is nothing complicated about these twelve traits, yet they provide material for a lifetime of growth. To the extent you develop them in yourself, you will stand high above the crowd! |
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1st Scroll of Austell, Prophet of Cetheron |
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The secrets of the priesthood of Cetheron revealed by Austell, Prophet of Cetheron will only be revealed to those who earn the right to receive their secrets. They are not published. They are manifested in old dwarven and oral. The high Priests of the temple of Cetheron are the only ones who can teach these books. They must be taught in the old dwarven language.
Lokeisam (the path of love and devotion)
Jetisam (the path of right action)
Ragasam (the path of meditation)
Studisam (the path of wisdom) |
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Last edited by Joyau delaLune; September 29, 2008 at 08:04 PM. |
