Lessons From the Grand Sage II: On the Gods (Boucassan)
Celdos reveal, your grace.
Welcome back. Now, a noble must know more than mortal affairs. Statecraft is the core of your duties, but not the total of them. Today we turn our attentions higher, to the gods themselves.
Many are the deities and spirits worshiped across the continent. But we shall limit ourselves simply to the Five Who Are Ten. These are the closest to our hearts, and our staunchest of allies. As a leader of your people, you will be expected to lead rituals to beseech and appease them.
Each of these gods are a bonded pair, with each tied to an element of the Cycle. One is linked to the positive, and the other the negative. Hence, five gods turn to ten.
First to discuss shall be the ones most closely intertwined with your role as noble. The gods of law and justice, Boucassan.
(art by @botherkupo)
Boucassan are tied to elemental Spirit. They are unbreaking and unyielding – all the better to stand firm against the evils of the world. They are Boudicca and Cassan.
Cassan, the Fair, the Inevitable, the Lord of the Even Scales - God of Justice From Above. He is bonded to the negative Spirit – protective and cold.
Cassan is said to be a judge beyond corruption. Only words and deeds sway his verdicts. Though stern, he is merciful and wise. He is the will behind honor and the force behind justice.
He is the one that guarantees oaths, especially those of fealty. His laws govern the rules of war and the conduct of the great lords. Rule with honor and mercy, and you may count him among your friends. He loathes those that abuse the power of their station – be judicious, be safe. Cassan-blessed are gifted with long and prosperous rule.
Boudicca, the Chainbreaker, the Heroic Spirit, the Lady of Valor - Goddess of Justice From Below. She is bonded to the positive Spirit – aggressive and burning.
Boudicca is the fury of the mistreated. Where cruelty and malice waxes strong, she appears. In hearts, in minds… at times, even physically. More than any other deity, she is fond of manifesting her power in the world. It is said that no one who fights evil ever fights alone, for even if no one else stands with them, Boudicca shall.
More so than Cassan, Boudicca is a goddess that must be actively appeased through diligent ritual and sacrifice. She is eager to aid the lesser against the greater. The surest tonic against her fury is the love of your people.
It is wise not to speak at length upon the gods; too much in one setting may draw their eyes upon you. And it is unworthy to waste their time with idle musing upon their nature. We will return to these lessons at a later date.
“Beware, Nephilim. As you slay others, so shall you be slain. Your angel cannot protect you against that which neither God nor the Devil has made, an army born neither of heaven nor hell. Beware the hand of man. Beware.”
This is one of my favourite female characters of the TID series, Cecily is determined to save her brother who left without a word. Most people would try to forget him and move on she never did, she chose the harder road saving her brother to save her now broken family, It’s one of the noblest acts I’ve seen so far. She truly loves her family, which tells a lot about who she is.
