Religion and the Gods

The initial founding of the city was led by what would become the Order of Faith and they set up a series of Faith districts in the largest cave. These twelve districts largely group people who follow the same God but people are free to move and change, especially during their early life. Syradonia openly worships all twelve of the Gods and each is very well represented across the city, with a district devoted to each of them and a central temple to that God at their centre.

If the faith to a certain God falls below a perceived level, the Order of Faith has, on occasion, required a proportion of the city’s priests to switch patron God – from the most worshipped to the least – to ensure that balance is maintained in the nation. Broadly this balance is culturally maintained by, for example, all the inhabitants of the district of The-Reaper-Below-The-Mountain putting at least some of their faith in The Reaper, and the same in all the other districts with the patron God of that part of the city.

Over time this has created pockets of community around the patronage of particular Gods, with more priests of shared outlook to a God in each district, surrounded by those who appreciate the gifts that God provides. The district of the Celebrant-Under-The-Mountain has a higher number of coffeeshops, cafeterias and taverns than other districts, whereas the district of the Justicar-Under-The-Mountain is home to a lot of the bureaucratic Domii who maintain administration under the Order of Stewardship, as well as Domii of devoted Apostles to the Order of War. The district of the Shadow-Under-The-Mountain is host to a large population of Hewers who do their work in the dark. There is also rumour of pockets of Shadow Apostles there whose work is more subtle than that of the paladins they work alongside.

Although everyone in the nation has a strong push to have a connection with their faith, some feel this particularly hard and choose the life of professional priesthood. These citizens are usually known as Beacons, and expected to study the ways of their patron God in order to guide their Domus, neighbours and district when called upon to do so. Beacons are often filled with enthusiasm for their patron God, and are encouraged to bring that God’s message and story to those as yet undecided, to increase the faith given to them. Some accompany military units into battle, exalting their skills for the glory of their patron, others prefer a contemplative life of pastoral care in their community.

For those feeling a more pastoral connection to the Gods the role of Sacrist is common. These priests are often also community healers and focus on the health of the person across mind, body and soul. Attending to a collection of nearby Domus these priests ensure the wellbeing of everyone and often finding problems before they happen, a Sacrist is a trusted advisor to many.

The Order of Faith itself outwardly says they do not favour any God over another but there are occasional power struggles and leaders who will try to refocus towards their own. Until now this has not presented a major threat to the nation but has caused some violent struggles in times past. These have generally been short-sighted, ending with people remembering why the Orders began in the first place: to make sure people were happy and safe even in this harsh place.

Nearly everyone in Syradonia is actively faithful, praying as groups lead by the Order of Faith, or at home with shrines to their district’s Patron God and any others that are important to the household. While attendance is not mandatory and the orders understand some devotees prefer privacy it is highly encouraged that religion is a community exercise and that people discuss their faith. A place of high challenges often causes tests of faith and the best way to notice when people are struggling is to keep things out in the open.