Abaris
The mysterious and aloof goddess of magic, Abaris is revered and sometimes feared throughout the three continents. Worship of Abaris is strongest in the Magocracy of Lun Dorak, where the Grand Mysteriorum of the Seventh Carnation lies as the central temple of worship and library of Abaris. Unlike most churches, priests of Abaris are not divided by major schisms or different views of orthodoxy. That said, the church hierarchy is also substantially less controlling than most ordered deities, existing more as a means for exchange of mystical information than a means for controlling its priesthood or laypeople.
| Abaris |
| Goddess of Magic |
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| Descriptive Info |
| Gender: Female |
| Avatar: Dorais the Steelcaster |
| Consort(s): None |
| Allies: Cebren the Piper; Faunaros the Mongrel; Luna, Goddess of the Moon; Melpomene, Goddess of Clouds; Mormo, God of Deception; Mulciber, God of the Forge; Paelemona, Goddess of Fate; Pavor, God of Travel; Sarpedon, God of Guardians; Selene, Goddess of Beauty; Terpsichore, Goddess of Language (mother); Tethys, Goddess of Undeath; Thea, Goddess of Art; and Vitulus, God of Cities (half brother). |
| Foes: Cthos, God of the Dead (half brother); Mania, Goddess of Madness; Stheno, God of Decay; Themis, God of Deception; and Thryope, God of Age. |
| Spiritual Info |
| Rank: Intermediate |
| Nature: Ordered |
| Ethos: Agathocacological |
| Major Influence: Wizardry |
| Minor Influence(s): Research, learning, protection versus insects; as Dorais, magic-item creation. |
Symbols
The number five is sacred to the Order, and depictions of plants and animals usually are shown in groups of five. The most powerful symbol of the Order is the carnation (red being the most often depicted), especially when surrounded by a pentacle, circle and square. The holly tree is also favored by the order, usually in the form of a crown (usually depicted in art as having five visible leaves and five visible berries). The symbol of the Order of St. Libriacus is a crossed sword and quill.
Dwelling Place
The Crystal Tower, in the Pan-Probable plane.
Servants
Saint Libriacus the Wanderer, Saint Michaelanus, Saint Majestros, Saint Octavius Coriolanus the Wise, Saint Xorasar the Dark, Saint Alabariachus the Elven.
Doctrine
No information available on the doctrine of Abaris
Mission
No information available on the mission of Abaris
Geography
No geographic information available on Abaris
History of the Church
No historic information available on Abaris
Organization
No information available on the Organization of the Church of Abaris
Garments
An acolyte is required to wear only a medium brown linen garment, which is extremely uncomfortable next to the skin. The garment is hooded, and the hood must cover the head at all times, so as to obscure the face. Hands must be kept within the large sleeves of the garment whenever they are not in use. The garments are made in one size only, and those individuals too large to fit into the garments are given a dangerously restrictive girdle and forced to fast until they have lost enough weight to fit into the robe.
The Legens typically wear a gray robe similar to that of the acolytes, but made of a finer grade of flax. The robe usually is held in place by a rope belt, as the acolyte's robe is, but it also has rope suspenders, meant to keep the belt, which is usually heavily weighted with a couple of books and the Legens' writing tablet, in place. The Legens usually wear thin leather gloves, which are always stained with the colors of their work.
Custos wear a combination of black and midnight blue robes, the choice of design is usually up to the wearer. The Investigatos are known for wearing armless robes, held tightly in place by a thick leather apron even when not in the laboratory. Episcopai have the right to wear steel skullcaps, though iron and other metal skullcaps are permitted to the members of the Legatus. The Potens Maximus typically wears a steel skullcap, a black cape with a red lining and extremely high collar, and a midnight blue robe. He carries with him a golden Zshadusceus, the crystal ball upon which has strong divinatory powers, and a six-inch sphere of pure bloodstone, which is apotropaic in nature.
Members of the Order of St. Libriacus do not have any regularized code of dress, though they do usually carry on any shield or emblem the carnation and pentacle symbol of Abaris and the crossed sword and quill symbol of St. Libriacus. Quartermasters and Field Commanders of the Order are usually awarded a gold lined midnight blue cape and bronze skullcap with the symbol of St. Libriacus etched into it.
Religious Practices
No information available on the religous practices of the Church of Abaris
Customs
Religious ceremonies dedicated to Abaris are rare, and public ceremonies wholly dedicated to Abaris are almost non-existent. Private prayer is expected at noon during summer solstice and spring equinox, and at midnight during winter solstice and the autumnal equinox. It is customary for all wizards of the Order to wear a carnation, or to include one as a part of their blazon. Priests must utilize a whole carnation as a divine focus in their spellcasting, and it is consumed in the casting only for fifth level spells and higher . If the carnation is dried, it is consumed in casting regardless of the spell’s level. Five holly leaves may be substituted, but the caster receives a –1 level penalty for the effects and saving throw of the spell . The usage of any other form of magic other than Hermetic, Divine and Songweaving is forbidden. The church often sponsors hunts for witches and sorcerors who have pacted themselves to dark forces. The order is known for brewing a weak wine, which is flavored with carnations. It is a flavorful wine, but it does not easily cause drunkenness.
Followers of Abaris promote clarity of thinking and logic above all other things, and excessive emotional behavior is frowned upon. This follows the tenants of one of the early church fathers, St. Michaelanus, who wrote about and expanded upon the stoic way of philosophy.
The Monacchus of the Order of Saint Libriacus must send their diaries, or copies thereof, to the order at least once per year, and must personally visit a chapterhouse at least once a decade to report any findings and serve as part of the administration for one year. These duties can be postponed in advance by an Episcopus or Legatus, and transgression can be forgiven only in the case of extreme circumstance (temporary death, imprisonment, etc.) only by an Episcopus, with the permission of the Potens Maximus.
Each year, the most important or insightful reports by Investigatos, Monacchus or other Custos are published in the Codex Annuus Abaris, which is copied and sent to each Mysteriorum (church) and Quarterhouses of St. Libriacus.
The church uses a dating system within that is based on the founding of the order itself by Saint Alabariachus the Elven. The current Abarisian year is 8348.
Taboos
It is against the tenants of the order to associate in any way, form, or manner with followers of Thryope and Mormo. The usage of mandrake in spellcasting is strictly forbidden as well, as are spells which require the usage of insects (not as materia, but those which end result involves insects, such as those which summon or create insects). Disobeying the command of a superior is considered sacrilege, and the offender must either appeal to a higher authority or publicly apologize for the offense. Failure to do so results in excommunication, which usually results in the loss of spellcasting capacity in some way. Drunkenness is usually frowned upon as well, as is any practice which clouds the mind, though some leeway is given to traveling members of the Order of Saint Libriacus, as drinking anything but alcohol can make one extremely ill in unsanitary conditions.
