Taltos - Revision history

Noctifer at 05:24, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T05:24:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:24, 8 May 2026
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	\|epithet = the Deepdweller		\|epithet = the Deepdweller
	\|title = God of Water		\|title = God of Water
	\|symbolpic =		\|symbolpic = Holy_symbol_of_Taltos_the_Deepdweller.png
	\|gender = Male		\|gender = Male
	\|avatar = Elagarath the Beast; the Deepdweller		\|avatar = Elagarath the Beast; the Deepdweller

Noctifer at 05:15, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T05:15:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:15, 8 May 2026
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	\|central_authority = The highest authority within the Church of Taltos is the ''' ''Conclave of the Seventh Descent,'' ''' a shadowed body of high priests, savants, and cult-lords who claim to interpret the will of Taltos through study of the ''Unfathomed Depths'' and communion with the ''Courtiers''. Membership in the Conclave is neither fixed nor publicly declared. Those who sit within it are known only by title and reputation, and even these may be misdirection. The Conclave does not rule through decree, but through influence, coordination, and the controlled flow of knowledge. When it acts, it does so subtly, aligning distant cults toward shared ventures, suppressing wasteful conflict, and directing major undertakings such as coordinated piracy, the unleashing or containment of great sea-beasts, or the manipulation of trade routes. Its authority is recognized not because it is enforced, but because it consistently proves correct, profitable, and inevitable.		\|central_authority = The highest authority within the Church of Taltos is the ''' ''Conclave of the Seventh Descent,'' ''' a shadowed body of high priests, savants, and cult-lords who claim to interpret the will of Taltos through study of the ''Unfathomed Depths'' and communion with the ''Courtiers''. Membership in the Conclave is neither fixed nor publicly declared. Those who sit within it are known only by title and reputation, and even these may be misdirection. The Conclave does not rule through decree, but through influence, coordination, and the controlled flow of knowledge. When it acts, it does so subtly, aligning distant cults toward shared ventures, suppressing wasteful conflict, and directing major undertakings such as coordinated piracy, the unleashing or containment of great sea-beasts, or the manipulation of trade routes. Its authority is recognized not because it is enforced, but because it consistently proves correct, profitable, and inevitable.
	\|regional_authority = Regional authority within the Church is held by figures known as ''Depthwardens'' or ''Sounding Lords'', individuals who control the flow of Taltan influence within a defined stretch of coast, island chain, or maritime network. These leaders are often powerful pirate captains, hidden scholars, or cult magnates who have demonstrated mastery of both knowledge and coordination. A Depthwarden does not govern openly; instead, they maintain networks of shrines, informants, and allied crews, ensuring that information, opportunity, and resources move efficiently within their sphere. They are responsible for fostering unity where it benefits the whole, resolving disputes that threaten profit, and sanctioning major ventures. Failure to maintain advantage or control results in swift replacement, often orchestrated by rivals or quietly encouraged by the Conclave. Regional authority is therefore earned continuously, not granted permanently.		\|regional_authority = Regional authority within the Church is held by figures known as ''Depthwardens'' or ''Sounding Lords'', individuals who control the flow of Taltan influence within a defined stretch of coast, island chain, or maritime network. These leaders are often powerful pirate captains, hidden scholars, or cult magnates who have demonstrated mastery of both knowledge and coordination. A Depthwarden does not govern openly; instead, they maintain networks of shrines, informants, and allied crews, ensuring that information, opportunity, and resources move efficiently within their sphere. They are responsible for fostering unity where it benefits the whole, resolving disputes that threaten profit, and sanctioning major ventures. Failure to maintain advantage or control results in swift replacement, often orchestrated by rivals or quietly encouraged by the Conclave. Regional authority is therefore earned continuously, not granted permanently.
	\|temple_heirarchy = [[Image:~~Grotto Temple of Taltos the Deepdweller~~.png\|right\|400px\|Grotto Temple of Taltos the Deepdweller]]Temples of Taltos are rarely formal structures. More often they take the form of sea-caves, hidden grottos, submerged chambers, or concealed holds within ships, places where the boundary between surface and depth feels thin. Within these spaces, hierarchy exists but remains fluid, shaped by usefulness and demonstrated insight.		\|temple_heirarchy = [[Image:Grotto_Temple_of_Taltos_the_Deepdweller.png\|right\|400px\|Grotto Temple of Taltos the Deepdweller]]Temples of Taltos are rarely formal structures. More often they take the form of sea-caves, hidden grottos, submerged chambers, or concealed holds within ships, places where the boundary between surface and depth feels thin. Within these spaces, hierarchy exists but remains fluid, shaped by usefulness and demonstrated insight.

	The typical leader of such a temple is called a ''Sounding Priest'' or ''Reader of the Descent'', a figure responsible for interpreting doctrine, advising on ventures, and conducting rites that align followers with the deeper currents of power. Beneath them are ''Depth Acolytes'', initiates who study the ''Unfathomed Depths'', observe operations, and learn to read patterns in trade, behavior, and the sea itself. More experienced members may take on specialized roles such as ''Keepers of the Maw'', who oversee offerings and sacrifices, or ''Binders of the Pact'', who formalize alliances and oaths before raids or expeditions.		The typical leader of such a temple is called a ''Sounding Priest'' or ''Reader of the Descent'', a figure responsible for interpreting doctrine, advising on ventures, and conducting rites that align followers with the deeper currents of power. Beneath them are ''Depth Acolytes'', initiates who study the ''Unfathomed Depths'', observe operations, and learn to read patterns in trade, behavior, and the sea itself. More experienced members may take on specialized roles such as ''Keepers of the Maw'', who oversee offerings and sacrifices, or ''Binders of the Pact'', who formalize alliances and oaths before raids or expeditions.

Noctifer at 05:14, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T05:14:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:14, 8 May 2026
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	\|central_authority = The highest authority within the Church of Taltos is the ''' ''Conclave of the Seventh Descent,'' ''' a shadowed body of high priests, savants, and cult-lords who claim to interpret the will of Taltos through study of the ''Unfathomed Depths'' and communion with the ''Courtiers''. Membership in the Conclave is neither fixed nor publicly declared. Those who sit within it are known only by title and reputation, and even these may be misdirection. The Conclave does not rule through decree, but through influence, coordination, and the controlled flow of knowledge. When it acts, it does so subtly, aligning distant cults toward shared ventures, suppressing wasteful conflict, and directing major undertakings such as coordinated piracy, the unleashing or containment of great sea-beasts, or the manipulation of trade routes. Its authority is recognized not because it is enforced, but because it consistently proves correct, profitable, and inevitable.		\|central_authority = The highest authority within the Church of Taltos is the ''' ''Conclave of the Seventh Descent,'' ''' a shadowed body of high priests, savants, and cult-lords who claim to interpret the will of Taltos through study of the ''Unfathomed Depths'' and communion with the ''Courtiers''. Membership in the Conclave is neither fixed nor publicly declared. Those who sit within it are known only by title and reputation, and even these may be misdirection. The Conclave does not rule through decree, but through influence, coordination, and the controlled flow of knowledge. When it acts, it does so subtly, aligning distant cults toward shared ventures, suppressing wasteful conflict, and directing major undertakings such as coordinated piracy, the unleashing or containment of great sea-beasts, or the manipulation of trade routes. Its authority is recognized not because it is enforced, but because it consistently proves correct, profitable, and inevitable.
	\|regional_authority = Regional authority within the Church is held by figures known as ''Depthwardens'' or ''Sounding Lords'', individuals who control the flow of Taltan influence within a defined stretch of coast, island chain, or maritime network. These leaders are often powerful pirate captains, hidden scholars, or cult magnates who have demonstrated mastery of both knowledge and coordination. A Depthwarden does not govern openly; instead, they maintain networks of shrines, informants, and allied crews, ensuring that information, opportunity, and resources move efficiently within their sphere. They are responsible for fostering unity where it benefits the whole, resolving disputes that threaten profit, and sanctioning major ventures. Failure to maintain advantage or control results in swift replacement, often orchestrated by rivals or quietly encouraged by the Conclave. Regional authority is therefore earned continuously, not granted permanently.		\|regional_authority = Regional authority within the Church is held by figures known as ''Depthwardens'' or ''Sounding Lords'', individuals who control the flow of Taltan influence within a defined stretch of coast, island chain, or maritime network. These leaders are often powerful pirate captains, hidden scholars, or cult magnates who have demonstrated mastery of both knowledge and coordination. A Depthwarden does not govern openly; instead, they maintain networks of shrines, informants, and allied crews, ensuring that information, opportunity, and resources move efficiently within their sphere. They are responsible for fostering unity where it benefits the whole, resolving disputes that threaten profit, and sanctioning major ventures. Failure to maintain advantage or control results in swift replacement, often orchestrated by rivals or quietly encouraged by the Conclave. Regional authority is therefore earned continuously, not granted permanently.
	\|temple_heirarchy = Temples of Taltos are rarely formal structures. More often they take the form of sea-caves, hidden grottos, submerged chambers, or concealed holds within ships, places where the boundary between surface and depth feels thin. Within these spaces, hierarchy exists but remains fluid, shaped by usefulness and demonstrated insight.		\|temple_heirarchy = [[Image:Grotto Temple of Taltos the Deepdweller.png\|right\|400px\|Grotto Temple of Taltos the Deepdweller]]Temples of Taltos are rarely formal structures. More often they take the form of sea-caves, hidden grottos, submerged chambers, or concealed holds within ships, places where the boundary between surface and depth feels thin. Within these spaces, hierarchy exists but remains fluid, shaped by usefulness and demonstrated insight.

	The typical leader of such a temple is called a ''Sounding Priest'' or ''Reader of the Descent'', a figure responsible for interpreting doctrine, advising on ventures, and conducting rites that align followers with the deeper currents of power. Beneath them are ''Depth Acolytes'', initiates who study the ''Unfathomed Depths'', observe operations, and learn to read patterns in trade, behavior, and the sea itself. More experienced members may take on specialized roles such as ''Keepers of the Maw'', who oversee offerings and sacrifices, or ''Binders of the Pact'', who formalize alliances and oaths before raids or expeditions.		The typical leader of such a temple is called a ''Sounding Priest'' or ''Reader of the Descent'', a figure responsible for interpreting doctrine, advising on ventures, and conducting rites that align followers with the deeper currents of power. Beneath them are ''Depth Acolytes'', initiates who study the ''Unfathomed Depths'', observe operations, and learn to read patterns in trade, behavior, and the sea itself. More experienced members may take on specialized roles such as ''Keepers of the Maw'', who oversee offerings and sacrifices, or ''Binders of the Pact'', who formalize alliances and oaths before raids or expeditions.

Noctifer: Updating taboos of worshipers of Taltos

2026-05-08T04:58:09Z

Updating taboos of worshipers of Taltos

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:58, 8 May 2026
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	Unlike other faiths, open display of worship is discouraged. Symbols are hidden, rituals are private, and affiliations are rarely declared. This custom ensures that the faithful remain unseen until it benefits them to be known.		Unlike other faiths, open display of worship is discouraged. Symbols are hidden, rituals are private, and affiliations are rarely declared. This custom ensures that the faithful remain unseen until it benefits them to be known.
	\|taboos =		\|taboos = The taboos of Taltos define what his followers must never become: impulsive, wasteful, exposed, or blindly obedient. Each prohibition reinforces the same truth:

			''"Only those who think, wait, and act with purpose are worthy. All others sink to feed the Maw."''

			To act on impulse, emotion, or pride without assessing risk and outcome is a grave failing. Such behavior is seen as ''Folly'', the mark of those unfit for the Deep, and repeated offenses often lead to quiet removal from the group. When insight has been earned or given, to disregard it without reason is taboo. Knowledge is the foundation of dominion, and willful ignorance is treated as a deliberate step toward failure.

			Betrayal itself is not forbidden, but premature betrayal that weakens a venture is strictly taboo. To fracture a crew or alliance before its usefulness is exhausted is considered a fundamental misunderstanding of Taltos’ teachings. Allowing wealth, information, or advantage to slip away through neglect or ignorance is deeply condemned. The faithful are expected to recognize value in all things; failure to do so is treated as incompetence bordering on heresy. To yield completely to another power, whether ruler, god, or authority, without gaining advantage in return is considered a betrayal of Taltos’ doctrine. Even obedience must be calculated and temporary, never absolute.

			Certain depths, creatures, or currents are not to be disturbed without purpose. Reckless provocation of the unknown is forbidden, not out of fear, but because it represents unnecessary risk without gain.
	}}		}}
	{{Fey_Source\|chapter=Religion\|section=Deities}}</noinclude>		{{Fey_Source\|chapter=Religion\|section=Deities}}</noinclude>

Noctifer: Updating customs of the worshipers of Taltos

2026-05-08T04:54:45Z

Updating customs of the worshipers of Taltos

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:54, 8 May 2026
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	====The Unmooring====		====The Unmooring====
	{{:The Unmooring}}		{{:The Unmooring}}
	\|customs =		\|customs =The customs of Taltos’ worshipers are not moral guidelines, but tools for navigating a dangerous and opportunistic world. They teach patience, concealment, calculation, and the disciplined pursuit of advantage, ensuring that the faithful move through life as the deep itself does: quietly, deliberately, and with purpose.

			During moments of uncertainty, negotiation, or observation, the faithful maintain deliberate silence, allowing others to reveal themselves first. Often called ''the Measured Silence'', this custom reflects the belief that the one who speaks last controls the current, and that knowledge is gained more often by listening than by acting.

			It is common to inscribe small spirals, descending lines, or coded symbols onto gear, skin, or ship surfaces. These marks serve as personal records of insight, ventures, or lessons learned, often only understood by the one who made them.

			Among Taltan-aligned crews, spoils are divided according to pre-agreed structures, with little tolerance for open dispute. This is born of efficiency and stability: conflict is deferred until it serves a greater purpose, not allowed to disrupt immediate gain.

			Followers frequently study the sea in stillness, observing tides, currents, and subtle shifts in behavior. This practice, called ''the Watching of Waters'', extends metaphorically to people and systems. It reinforces the core belief that nothing moves without pattern, and that those patterns can be learned.

			Unlike other faiths, open display of worship is discouraged. Symbols are hidden, rituals are private, and affiliations are rarely declared. This custom ensures that the faithful remain unseen until it benefits them to be known.
	\|taboos =		\|taboos =
	}}		}}
	{{Fey_Source\|chapter=Religion\|section=Deities}}</noinclude>		{{Fey_Source\|chapter=Religion\|section=Deities}}</noinclude>

Noctifer at 04:17, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T04:17:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 8 May 2026
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	\|taboos =		\|taboos =
	}}		}}
	{{Fey_Source\|chapter= Religion}}</noinclude>		{{Fey_Source\|chapter=Religion\|section=Deities}}</noinclude>

Noctifer at 03:49, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T03:49:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 8 May 2026
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	A spiraled shell of unnatural size, dark as stormwater and lined with jagged inner ridges. When pressed to the ear, it does not echo the sea, but instead carries layered voices speaking in low, measured tones. These whispers offer counsel, warnings, or opportunities, often revealing secrets or vulnerabilities of others. It is said that the voices belong to the Courtiers themselves, and that listening too long risks being noticed in return.		A spiraled shell of unnatural size, dark as stormwater and lined with jagged inner ridges. When pressed to the ear, it does not echo the sea, but instead carries layered voices speaking in low, measured tones. These whispers offer counsel, warnings, or opportunities, often revealing secrets or vulnerabilities of others. It is said that the voices belong to the Courtiers themselves, and that listening too long risks being noticed in return.
	\|dwelling = The ''Abyssal Court of Taltos'' is an immeasurable, lightless deep where pressure, silence, and hidden currents define reality, a realm ordered not by beauty or chaos but by cold, calculated structure. At its center rises the ''Palace of the Seventh Descent'', a vast, jagged throne of black coral, leviathan bone, and sunken wreckage, within which shifting halls defy direction and purpose. Here dwell his ''Courtiers'', contending in an endless hierarchy of knowledge and power, while Taltos himself broods within the ''Throne of the Unfathomed'', a convergence of all depths where his presence is felt more than seen. The surrounding Seven Descents grow ever more alien and oppressive, dissolving form into thought and pressure, and entry into the Court is not a passage but a sinking, a descent into a realm where all things are measured, stripped of illusion, and either remade or lost to the deep.		\|dwelling = The ''Abyssal Court of Taltos'' is an immeasurable, lightless deep where pressure, silence, and hidden currents define reality, a realm ordered not by beauty or chaos but by cold, calculated structure. At its center rises the ''Palace of the Seventh Descent'', a vast, jagged throne of black coral, leviathan bone, and sunken wreckage, within which shifting halls defy direction and purpose. Here dwell his ''Courtiers'', contending in an endless hierarchy of knowledge and power, while Taltos himself broods within the ''Throne of the Unfathomed'', a convergence of all depths where his presence is felt more than seen. The surrounding Seven Descents grow ever more alien and oppressive, dissolving form into thought and pressure, and entry into the Court is not a passage but a sinking, a descent into a realm where all things are measured, stripped of illusion, and either remade or lost to the deep.
	\|servants = Taltos' chief divine servitors are known as Courtiers, monstrous entities each representing one of the seven layers of the Deep. They are (from least to greatest) [[Ashkaru-Namtar]], [[Belshunu Eraesh]], [[Kalammat]], [[Zullatu]], [[Kurra Ithburu]], [[Shadue Urgulu]] and [[Etemmu-Zu]].		\|servants = Taltos' chief divine servitors are known as [[Abyssal Courtiers\|Courtiers]], monstrous entities each representing one of the seven layers of the Deep. They are (from least to greatest) [[Ashkaru-Namtar]], [[Belshunu Eraesh]], [[Kalammat]], [[Zullatu]], [[Kurra Ithburu]], [[Shadue Urgulu]] and [[Etemmu-Zu]].
	\|doctrine = Taltos teaches that the sea is not sacred in the sense of purity or divine balance, but as the ultimate proving ground of will, intellect, and dominion. Where others see mystery or holiness, Taltos reveals structure beneath chaos: currents that can be studied, exploited, and ultimately mastered. To his faithful, water is not memory, as Betshaba proclaims, but opportunity: a shifting, living domain in which only the cunning endure and the weak are erased without trace. The Deepdweller does not demand worship born of love or reverence, but rather recognition of truth... that all things sink, and those who understand the depths may choose what rises again.		\|doctrine = Taltos teaches that the sea is not sacred in the sense of purity or divine balance, but as the ultimate proving ground of will, intellect, and dominion. Where others see mystery or holiness, Taltos reveals structure beneath chaos: currents that can be studied, exploited, and ultimately mastered. To his faithful, water is not memory, as Betshaba proclaims, but opportunity: a shifting, living domain in which only the cunning endure and the weak are erased without trace. The Deepdweller does not demand worship born of love or reverence, but rather recognition of truth... that all things sink, and those who understand the depths may choose what rises again.

Noctifer at 03:44, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T03:44:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 8 May 2026
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	\|worship = Worship of Taltos is not a public rite nor an act of reverence, but a measured alignment with the currents of power he represents. It takes place in hidden sea-caves, submerged grottos, or the shadowed holds of ships, where participants gather to exchange knowledge, test one another’s insight, and bind themselves to ventures of shared gain. Rituals are deliberate and quiet, often involving the casting of weighted offerings into deep water, the marking of spirals or descent-lines in salt or ink, and the recitation of passages from the Unfathomed Depths that frame the undertaking at hand. Prayer is rare and direct supplication rarer still; instead, the faithful demonstrate devotion through successful action, proving their understanding of the deeper structures that govern fate, trade, and survival. To worship Taltos is to show that one can read the unseen, act with precision, and claim what others fail to grasp, for in his faith, belief without result is meaningless, and only those who rise through calculated mastery are acknowledged by the Deepdweller.		\|worship = Worship of Taltos is not a public rite nor an act of reverence, but a measured alignment with the currents of power he represents. It takes place in hidden sea-caves, submerged grottos, or the shadowed holds of ships, where participants gather to exchange knowledge, test one another’s insight, and bind themselves to ventures of shared gain. Rituals are deliberate and quiet, often involving the casting of weighted offerings into deep water, the marking of spirals or descent-lines in salt or ink, and the recitation of passages from the Unfathomed Depths that frame the undertaking at hand. Prayer is rare and direct supplication rarer still; instead, the faithful demonstrate devotion through successful action, proving their understanding of the deeper structures that govern fate, trade, and survival. To worship Taltos is to show that one can read the unseen, act with precision, and claim what others fail to grasp, for in his faith, belief without result is meaningless, and only those who rise through calculated mastery are acknowledged by the Deepdweller.
	\|calendar =		\|calendar =
	===First Sounding===		====First Sounding====
	{{:First Sounding}}		{{:First Sounding}}
			====The Descent of Seven Nights====
			{{:The Descent of Seven Nights}}
			====The Taking Tide====
			{{:The Taking Tide}}
			====Night of the Still Waters====
			{{:Night of the Still Waters}}
			====The Unmooring====
			{{:The Unmooring}}
	\|customs =		\|customs =
	\|taboos =		\|taboos =
	}}		}}
	{{Fey_Source\|chapter= Religion}}</noinclude>		{{Fey_Source\|chapter= Religion}}</noinclude>

Noctifer at 03:40, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T03:40:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:40, 8 May 2026
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	\|worship = Worship of Taltos is not a public rite nor an act of reverence, but a measured alignment with the currents of power he represents. It takes place in hidden sea-caves, submerged grottos, or the shadowed holds of ships, where participants gather to exchange knowledge, test one another’s insight, and bind themselves to ventures of shared gain. Rituals are deliberate and quiet, often involving the casting of weighted offerings into deep water, the marking of spirals or descent-lines in salt or ink, and the recitation of passages from the Unfathomed Depths that frame the undertaking at hand. Prayer is rare and direct supplication rarer still; instead, the faithful demonstrate devotion through successful action, proving their understanding of the deeper structures that govern fate, trade, and survival. To worship Taltos is to show that one can read the unseen, act with precision, and claim what others fail to grasp, for in his faith, belief without result is meaningless, and only those who rise through calculated mastery are acknowledged by the Deepdweller.		\|worship = Worship of Taltos is not a public rite nor an act of reverence, but a measured alignment with the currents of power he represents. It takes place in hidden sea-caves, submerged grottos, or the shadowed holds of ships, where participants gather to exchange knowledge, test one another’s insight, and bind themselves to ventures of shared gain. Rituals are deliberate and quiet, often involving the casting of weighted offerings into deep water, the marking of spirals or descent-lines in salt or ink, and the recitation of passages from the Unfathomed Depths that frame the undertaking at hand. Prayer is rare and direct supplication rarer still; instead, the faithful demonstrate devotion through successful action, proving their understanding of the deeper structures that govern fate, trade, and survival. To worship Taltos is to show that one can read the unseen, act with precision, and claim what others fail to grasp, for in his faith, belief without result is meaningless, and only those who rise through calculated mastery are acknowledged by the Deepdweller.
	\|calendar =		\|calendar =
			===First Sounding===
			{{:First Sounding}}
	\|customs =		\|customs =
	\|taboos =		\|taboos =
	}}		}}
	~~{{Thumb}}~~
	{{Fey_Source\|chapter= Religion}}</noinclude>		{{Fey_Source\|chapter= Religion}}</noinclude>

Noctifer: Update of the Worship of Taltos

2026-05-08T03:32:04Z

Update of the Worship of Taltos

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 8 May 2026
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	Lay worshipers are not passive congregants but active participants, often sailors, pirates, smugglers, or merchants who seek advantage through Taltan insight. They are sometimes referred to collectively as ''the Sounded'', those who have begun to understand the deeper currents. Advancement within a temple is not based on devotion, but on proven effectiveness, whether through successful ventures, valuable knowledge, or the ability to influence others.		Lay worshipers are not passive congregants but active participants, often sailors, pirates, smugglers, or merchants who seek advantage through Taltan insight. They are sometimes referred to collectively as ''the Sounded'', those who have begun to understand the deeper currents. Advancement within a temple is not based on devotion, but on proven effectiveness, whether through successful ventures, valuable knowledge, or the ability to influence others.
	\|priesthood =		\|priesthood = The priesthood of Taltos is not a public institution, but a quiet, deliberate order of thinkers, manipulators, and sea-bound opportunists who rise by proving their usefulness. Unlike the rigid hierarchies of coastal faiths, entry into the priesthood is neither announced nor formally offered. Recruitment occurs through observation and testing. Promising individuals are identified among pirates, navigators, smugglers, scholars, and even merchants, those who show a talent for pattern, patience, and calculated risk. They are drawn into the faith through subtle contact: a whispered warning that proves true, a chart that reveals a hidden current, or a successful venture guided by unseen hands. Those who recognize the pattern and seek it out are given the opportunity to descend further.
	\|garments =
	\|worship =		Initiates into the priesthood are known as ''the Descending'' (and therefore, may be formally called "Descendant" as a title... i.e. "Descendant Julius"), marking them as those who have begun the journey beneath the surface but have not yet grasped its full truth. Their training is not centered on devotion, but on perception and interpretation. They study ''the Unfathomed Depths'', learn to read currents, trade flows, fear, and opportunity, and are tested through real ventures where failure carries real cost. Many are culled or cast aside, while those who demonstrate true insight rise to become ''Sounding Priests'', interpreters of doctrine and guides of Taltan operations.

			Within the priesthood exists a contemplative branch known as the ''Keepers of the Seventh Descent'', often described as monks by outsiders, though they reject the term. These individuals withdraw from direct action to dwell in submerged sanctuaries, hidden caverns, or isolated vessels, dedicating themselves to the study and expansion of ''the Unfathomed Depths''. They catalogue patterns, refine doctrine, and record the outcomes of ventures across the seas. Though outwardly passive, their influence is profound, shaping the decisions of priests and Depthwardens alike. Some are said to descend so deeply into understanding that they cease to think as mortals do.

			The militant arm of the Church is composed of ''the Mawbound'', warrior-priests who embody Taltos’ aspect of dominion and claim. They are not holy knights in the traditional sense, but disciplined enforcers of calculated violence, trained to strike only when success is assured. Mawbound champions lead boarding actions, enforce pacts, and eliminate threats to Taltan interests. They often bear ritual scarring, tooth-adorned armor, and barbed weapons that reflect their role as agents of the Deep’s final claim. Unlike the zealous champions of other faiths, they are taught restraint above all. To act too soon is failure, to hesitate is weakness. Their purpose is to ensure that when the strike comes, it is decisive, inevitable, and absolute.

			Together, the priesthood of Taltos functions as a distributed intelligence and action network, where scholars, seers, and killers alike serve a single principle: to understand the currents of the world deeply enough to control them.
			\|garments = The garments of Taltos’ priesthood are designed not to inspire awe, but to conceal, endure, and reflect the nature of the deep. Fabrics are heavy, layered, and often damp, favoring dark tones such as black, deep green, and storm-blue... colors that swallow light rather than reflect it. Cloaks are common, cut long and weighted at the hem so they hang straight even in strong wind or when partially submerged, and many are treated with oils or brine to resist rot and retain a slick, water-darkened sheen. Textures matter more than ornamentation; scales, rough stitching, and corded bindings evoke the feel of kelp, hide, or netting, reinforcing the sense that the wearer is part of the sea’s unseen machinery rather than a figure set apart from it. Faces are often obscured by deep hoods, veils of coarse fiber, or masks carved from bone or shell, not as symbols of humility, but to deny easy recognition and maintain the priest’s role as an observer rather than a presence.

			Adornment is sparse and purposeful. Priests may wear cords of braided black kelp, tokens of shark tooth or coral, or small, sealed vials of seawater taken from places of significance. Jewelry is typically worn close to the body and hidden beneath layers, serving as personal anchors to knowledge or past ventures rather than public displays of devotion. Hands are often wrapped in dark cloth or left bare and stained with salt, pitch, or ink from study, reflecting their dual role as both scholars and actors in the world. Unlike the flowing ritual garments of other faiths, Taltan vestments are meant to withstand salt, pressure, and use, suggesting that the priest is always prepared to descend, act, or disappear.

			''The Keepers of the Seventh Descent'' wear simple, close-fitting robes of dark, waterlogged fabric, often stitched from salvaged sailcloth or netting, with layered wrappings around the arms and head to dull the senses and focus the mind inward toward study. ''The Mawbound'' wear reinforced leathers or scale, darkened and encrusted with salt, fitted with hooks, chains, and barbs, their attire built for boarding and close violence, reflecting their role as the moment when Taltos’ will becomes action.
			\|worship = Worship of Taltos is not a public rite nor an act of reverence, but a measured alignment with the currents of power he represents. It takes place in hidden sea-caves, submerged grottos, or the shadowed holds of ships, where participants gather to exchange knowledge, test one another’s insight, and bind themselves to ventures of shared gain. Rituals are deliberate and quiet, often involving the casting of weighted offerings into deep water, the marking of spirals or descent-lines in salt or ink, and the recitation of passages from the Unfathomed Depths that frame the undertaking at hand. Prayer is rare and direct supplication rarer still; instead, the faithful demonstrate devotion through successful action, proving their understanding of the deeper structures that govern fate, trade, and survival. To worship Taltos is to show that one can read the unseen, act with precision, and claim what others fail to grasp, for in his faith, belief without result is meaningless, and only those who rise through calculated mastery are acknowledged by the Deepdweller.
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