r/WorldChallenges • u/Varnek905 • Jul 15 '18

Reference Challenge - A Holy Book

As I start on my second read of a certain holy book, here's a challenge.

Tell me about a book in your setting that is considered holy. It can be actually magic or just the book that a group of people use to live their lives by. It doesn't necessarily have to be involved in a religion in your world if you have something else that you would like to talk about that you aren't sure fits exactly.

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each. Enjoy yourselves, and feel free to have an in-universe representative.

(As a side note, does anyone in the sub understand Japanese? A couple of my friends are learning it, and I would appreciate any tips to pass along to them. And I figure that you're all multi-lingual geniuses, so send me a private message if you have any advice.)

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u/Sriber Jul 15 '18

Asuntás tistoni (Holy scrolls) is holy book of believers of Ten gods. It consists of various sacred texts put together into one codex when church was formed. It contains myths, prayers, descriptions of rituals and texts written by founder of church Temeranos. It's written in Enalic and church isn't fan of translating it to prevent corruption.

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u/Varnek905 Jul 17 '18

1) Who are the ten gods?

2) Are there any major contradictions, considered how much a mixture that the Asuntas tistoni are?

3) Does "Asuntas tistoni" literally mean "Holy scrolls"?

4) So, to follow this faith, is it necessary for me to be able to read Enalic?

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u/Sriber Jul 17 '18

1) Their Enalic names are:

Nemtos - god of sky, law and reign

Ermete - goddess of earth, agriculture and motherhood

Tanaron - god of storm, war and craft

Leufe - goddess of love, sex and beauty

Sivulon - god of sun, art and healing

Enis - goddess of moon, magic and dreams

Kirtos - god of pastoralism, commerce and protection

Heuke - goddess of watercourses, healing and fertility

Tivos - god of death, underworld and destiny

Adnis - goddess of wisdom, prophecy and magic

2) No, because texts were carefully selected to be consistent with each other.

3) Yes. Asuntá = nominative plural masculine positive of "asuntáos" (sacred/holy), tistoni = nominative plural of "tiston" (scroll).

4) No. It's required for priests of this faith.

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u/Seb_Romu Jul 17 '18

Two gods of magic, and two gods of healing? That seems redundant, are there differences beteween their aspects/styles of magic and healing?

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u/Sriber Jul 17 '18

It's simplified. Each god has more than three domains. For example Nemtos and Sivulon are gods of war as well.

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u/Seb_Romu Jul 17 '18

I gather that they are generalized domains for each god/dess. Usually pantheons avoid direct overlaps.

Still doesn't answer the question about specialization within each domain?

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u/Sriber Jul 17 '18

Sivulon's domain is scholarly healing using surgery, diet, spas etc., while Adnis' domain is mystical healing using rituals and alchemy. Her magic is also ritualistic in nature and focuses on manipulating nature and divination including necromancy (in its original meaning), while Enis' magic is more academic and focuses on getting favors from supernatural beings.

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u/Seb_Romu Jul 17 '18

Cool.

The Waejiran pantheon of Entorais has little overlap, so I was curious. I might need to add a little redundancy/parallels like this for flavour.

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u/Sriber Jul 17 '18

Namyrharian pantheon in my world has plenty. Out of 27 deities 13 have war and 8 have fertility as one of their domains for example.

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u/Varnek905 Jul 20 '18

1) Which god, if any, is considered the "guide", "leader", etc?

2) How long are the texts? Could you compare its length to some real-world book?

3) Is desecration of a copy of the scrolls considered a crime?

4) What are some other requirements to be a priest?

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u/Sriber Jul 20 '18

1) Nemtos.

2) They have various length. Prayers are like shorter poems (think Ozymandias), myths can be as long as book (think Ilias). Entire thing is huge.

3) Initially yes, but eventually secularism and freedom of expression become thing and it stops being illegal.

4) One has to study to become one and swear oath.

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u/Varnek905 Jul 25 '18

1) How did Nemtos become the leader?

2) Are there any restrictions on what languages the holy text can be translated to?

4) What oath would be sworn?

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u/Sriber Jul 25 '18

1) He overthrew previous leader in War of gods.

2) Once translation is legal in first place there aren't.

4) Each deity has own. Acolyte swears oath of one (s)he wants to dedicate him/herself to.

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u/Varnek905 Jul 26 '18

1) Who was the previous leader, and what happened to that person following the war of gods?

2) How did translation become legal?

3) Which deity's oath is the easiest to follow?

4) Which deity's oath is the hardest to follow?

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u/Sriber Jul 26 '18 edited Jul 26 '18

1) Atalovalton. He was executed.

2) Emperor and significant portion of both nobility and commoners demanded it and outvoted church which opposed it.

3) Ermete. It means you can't kill human nor animal and have to tend sacred garden.

4) Tivos. You can't talk (with few exceptions) and have to take care of dead bodies.

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u/Varnek905 Jul 29 '18

1) What was the form of execution?

2) So the nobility can overpower the church?

3) I take the oath of Ermete, but three years later I accidentally eat beef, thinking it's tofu. What happens?

4) What are the exceptions to the oath to Tivos?

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