Lenshi Tradition
When the Great Winter struck the land and gods died and abandoned their people, the Karasali were forced to band together for mere survival. As the Great Winter progressed, bands of other peoples joined the Karasali, bringing their own Spirits or Essences with them. No being was "great" in any way, all the Great Gods, Spirits and Essences had died or fled, leaving scattered beings to find theior own way in the Winter. Bull-King Lenshi gathered these scattered beings to his hearth, and through the efforts of all, all survived.
The Lenshi traditions are the rites necessary to worship the mixed pantheon of the Karasali. There are four "families" of being in the Lenshi tradition. The "Three Good Families" consist of the Hektof (Gods), Del (Spirits), and Gwiffar (Essences). The Enemy Gods are beings of Cold, Winter, Storm, Dark and Chaos.
Lunar worship among the Karasali is minimal, as they are wary of attachment to any one being or system. Very few Karasali worship a single being exclusively, because of their history of abandonment by the gods. They do, however, usually choose one being as a "Godparent" - this is a Relationship less than that of Initiate, and is not so much worship as an claim of spiritual descent from that being. Minor magic is sometimes received from one’s Godparent, usually in the form of Talent common magic.
Concentration is extremely rare.
Lenshi Tradition keyword
Abilities:
Know Myths of Lenshi, Resist Cold, Worship Lenshi TraditionsVirtues:
Close-knit, Wary of Foreign Religion, Welcome Stranger, +2 to all positive RelationshipsMagic:
Divine Aid, Charms, BlessingsOther Side:
Houses of the Three Good Families dot the fields and plains of the Lands of Summer, where it is always warm.Sample Beings of the Lenshi Tradition:
Any: Bull-King Lenshi
Lenshi the Bull-King led the people during the time of the great Winter.
He is portrayed as a man with the hotns of a bull. He taught the rites
to identify the four families of the traditions, and is the father of the
great cattle herds of the Karasal plains. Through the Bull-king, one learns
how to contact the members of Our Extended Family to gain Common Magic.
Regular Cavalry Soldier: Sembas of the Lashing Hooves
Sembas is a member of the Dwiffar family, an Essence Horse of fierce
demeanor and wild aspect. Followers of Sembas wear their hair in a roached
crest, like a horse’s mane. He provides both a formulary and some blessings.
Formulary: Acts of Sembas
Blessings: Armor Horse, Fast Hooves, Sidestep
Skirmish Cavalry Soldier: Galdano the Golden
He tamed the great horse Steps Lightly and wields the Sky Bow.
Spirits - Shining Face, Spirits of the bow, Steps Lightly
Entertainer (Dancer): Leptero the Graceful
The goddess of Dance and Movement.
Affinities: Dance Troupe, Rythmic Movement
Entertainer (Musician): Premtes of the Leather Lungs
Premtes is portrayed as a man with his cheeks bulging as he blows his
horn-pipe.
Spirits - Cyclical breathing, Frenetic fingering, Increase volume
Entertainer: (Balladeer): Fiola Silver-voice
Sister of Leptro, Fiola often sings to accompany Leptro’s dance.
Affinities: Repertoire, Voice
Fisherman: Helvath of the Deep
Helvath takes the form of a great porpoise.
Spirits - Deep diver, Fish herd, Playful porpoise
Foot Soldier (Archer): Akrys Hellbow
Akrys wrested the hellbow from the hands of the dead Sun.
Affinities: Bow, Hell, Rekindle Light
Foot Soldier (Marine): Brestumn Festumn
A waterspout that can swamp ships.
Grimoire: Death in the Deeps
Blessings: Shed Armor, Take a deep breath
Foot Soldier (Regular): Haltul Shieldman
When the Sun died, Haltul stayed behind to guard the corpse. His faithful
service ensured that the Sun had a body to return to.
Affinities: Shield, Steady, Vigilence
Healer: Praqkel
Praqkel is the main protagonist against the Bad Gods.
Formulary: Seventeen Herbs
Grimoire: Warmth of Summer
Blessings: Heal [illness] , Resist Drowning, Resist Frostbite,
Warming broth
Herder: Pei-kos Byl
Pei-kos Byl is the roughest, toughest offspring of a rattlesnake and
a coyote. He can rope the wind and ride anything with four feet.
Affinities: Cattle herding, Fight Winter, Ride
Merchant: Moneybags
No-one remembers what this being’s true name is or was, as it was stolen
from him by one of the Bad Gods. He also serves as the Trickster figure
in the Lenshi tradition.
Spirits - Bedazzle, Enhance Merchandise, Seeming Innocence
Petty Noble: Bull-king Lenshi
The Bull King only provides Common Magic, but Petty Nobles are expected
to take the role of Paragon.
Sailor: Je-karan Wave-walker
The not-so innocent daughter of the Sea and the Wind, Je-Karan’s white
dress allows her to walk on the waves.
Spirits - Good wind, Move water, Seal leak