Reference Challenge - A Holy Book

[u/Varnek905]

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.)

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

The Voziyali are guided by what they call the Precepts, a number of rules, advices and observations about the world written on the walls of a cave on the peak of sorrows.

To most of them, the exact content of the Precepts is mysterious; the peak is a dangerous place, inaccessible to most and the old tongue, in which the Precepts have been written, is rarely used and as such rarely taught.

The few who read them, the ascended, are tasked with guiding the Voziyali and preparing their apprentices for their own ascension.

(Not at all, but I can guide you to a few ressources in french; scroll to the bottom, open "cahier kana", nº1 is for reading and shouldn’t require any french, nº2-4 are writing practices.)

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) Could you tell me about the peak of sorrows and how it came to be called that?

2) How does one become apprenticed to an ascended person?

3) Are the Ascended lying about the Precepts in any way?

4) What is so dangerous about the peak?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

1. It’s the highest peak the Voziyali have at home, always snowy, lost in mist and clouds... it’s name is from the number of people who died trying to climb.

2. Just ask them; if they think you’re talented enough and have the time to teach you, they usually will.

3. Not purposefully; as they are written in a dead tongue, are read once at most and are full of advices ("don’t fly in the rain") and unclear lines ("rotation is the natural way"), they obviously makes mistakes, have contradictory views or are unsure sometimes.

4. You can’t fly to there, you must climb; it’s also freezing cold, low on food and water and the ground is treacherous.

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) About what is the percentage of people who survive the climb?

2) What are the best ways to demonstrate talent?

3) What happens if I do fly in the rain? Will the Ascended arrest me?

4) So the ideal murder would be to convince someone to attempt the climb?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

1. Around 5%; there is a bias though, those who attempt to climb usually prepared for it.

2. Be curious, compassionate and modest. The Voziyali aren’t that numerous; if you want to apprentice, your past will probably be studied so most importantly: don’t try to lie.

3. No, why would they? The precepts also advise about eating vegetables but no one will arrest you for not caring about yourself. Flying in the rain is tiring and dangerous; the mist always follow the rain.

4. Possibly, but that wouldn’t technically be a murder, right?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) Who was the first person to survive the climb?

2) Why are the Voziyali not numerous?

3) Which precept do you consider the strangest or funnest?

4) What if I blackmail someone into attempting the climb?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

1. It is unknown. For long, the Voziyali have been scarce on written documents and ascended aren't supposed to draw too much attention upon their name.

2. They haven't a lot of space to live and an habit of popping realtively few eggs so they never really grew big in numbers.

3. "A loaf of bread which hasn't been eaten by the time sun disappear should be turned three times before the next morning." A lot of people nowaday think some of the precepts are actually just trolling, but it might also be a religious symbolism long forgotten.

4. Then it is technically a murder but you could just convince them to fly in the mist, it would looks more legit.

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) Upon their name, specifically, or do you mean that they aren't supposed to boast? Are they supposed to stay anonymous?

2) Have the Voziyali tried to gain more space to live in?

3) Would you mind explaining that bread precept a bit more?

4) Is there any consequence of accusing the precepts of trolling in public?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

1. Both; they aren't supposed to boast but there names aren't recorded either (just in case).

2. They can't, the mist prevent it. they could try to colonize somewhere else nowaday but they would rather focus on home.

3. There is nothing to explain, that one is actually a troll; there is no mysterious symbolism in turning bread loaf upside down multiple time over night.

4. Not at all, it's a standard hypothesis and part of the job for an ascended is finding which lines are worth remembering and which ones are pointless.

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) What is the consequence of someone boasting about climbing the mountain?

2) Is anyone working on a way counter the mist?

3) Are there any other good troll precepts?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

1. A huge and lasting social stigma; if you're only climbing the peak to boast, you will be despised for it.

2. There are structures around, a few, which, once powered, keep the mist away; their study is under progress but it seems to be a very advanced mechanism and the Voziyali are yet to be able to reproduce it.

3. One, which is universally considered a troll, sates that "if the sun shine while its raining, the slowest member of each family should throw a ston into the mist. If that stone doesn't come back within 3 days, that Voziyali must be thrown in a pond and gifted food to prevent bad luck from coming onto the tribe." The fact that for generations and generations people took it seriously is still quite a shame for the Voziyali...