The decay of sgrios:
Compassion, reimagined
Glioca's Love, Life, and Compassion are often contrasted with Sgrios's Decay, Death and Destruction. Often misconstrued by both Aislings - and one prominent scholar - to be an Enemy or Opposite of Glioca, the relationship between these two faiths have historically been acrimonious (to the extent of barring one another from temples).
Indeed, I have heard many a tale from various Sgrian and Gliocan Priests and Priestesses, who have told me wondrous tales of the "Scar Wars" between the temples, where the High Priests of the Temples could never seem to agree with one another. Something that is very different in tenor from the relationship between the temples today.
It is no surprise, for Glioca embodies what feels like the exact antithesis of Sgrios. One may think, How can Life and Death Coexist?
For the sake of interfaith harmony, I choose to take a different path here, and make the point that Sgrios and Glioca shares quite a bit in common with one another. I make the argument that Sgrios in contemporary Temuair is, in fact, as the title suggests, the other Compassionate God of Temuair.
Indeed, I have heard many a tale from various Sgrian and Gliocan Priests and Priestesses, who have told me wondrous tales of the "Scar Wars" between the temples, where the High Priests of the Temples could never seem to agree with one another. Something that is very different in tenor from the relationship between the temples today.
It is no surprise, for Glioca embodies what feels like the exact antithesis of Sgrios. One may think, How can Life and Death Coexist?
For the sake of interfaith harmony, I choose to take a different path here, and make the point that Sgrios and Glioca shares quite a bit in common with one another. I make the argument that Sgrios in contemporary Temuair is, in fact, as the title suggests, the other Compassionate God of Temuair.
Landon's memory of a heated argument between High Priestess Angelic of Glioca, and Priest Oxide of Sgrios.
Sgrios: God of Death, Decay and Destruction
Sgrios, the god of Death and Decay, represents a phenomena that is easy to encounter, but also difficult to comprehend in its entirety and depth.
Put simply: All things must end.
According to the temple acolyte, Sgrios is kin of the dubhaimid, an abomination, and the being who scars our souls and bodies each time we visit him. Representing perhaps a classical view of Sgrios, the acolytes state that Sgrios represents a plague to all that is great and good in the world. And they are not wholy incorrect: the great bulk of Sgrians whom I have encountered, including High Clergy Paramour and VanMorgan, worship the aspect of Decay in Sgrios. By that, they believe that all things will one day decay and fade through Degeneration, and that through those beliefs, they will become one with Death and Decay.
This is perhaps best encapsulated in Paramour's own words:
"When I see a felled tree pitted by worms, when I see the dead of yesterday’s hunt nurture the land with their festering bodies, when those I love fail to take another breath I know he lives, and when I am spared from such a grisly fate, my faith in Him is rewarded. His presence is strong and pervasive in our world, and rarely am I ever far from a reminder of His great gifts. "
- Paramour Runda, High Priestess of Sgrios, in her Mass, "Crisis of Faith", Deoch 169
Sgrios, the god of Death and Decay, represents a phenomena that is easy to encounter, but also difficult to comprehend in its entirety and depth.
Put simply: All things must end.
According to the temple acolyte, Sgrios is kin of the dubhaimid, an abomination, and the being who scars our souls and bodies each time we visit him. Representing perhaps a classical view of Sgrios, the acolytes state that Sgrios represents a plague to all that is great and good in the world. And they are not wholy incorrect: the great bulk of Sgrians whom I have encountered, including High Clergy Paramour and VanMorgan, worship the aspect of Decay in Sgrios. By that, they believe that all things will one day decay and fade through Degeneration, and that through those beliefs, they will become one with Death and Decay.
This is perhaps best encapsulated in Paramour's own words:
"When I see a felled tree pitted by worms, when I see the dead of yesterday’s hunt nurture the land with their festering bodies, when those I love fail to take another breath I know he lives, and when I am spared from such a grisly fate, my faith in Him is rewarded. His presence is strong and pervasive in our world, and rarely am I ever far from a reminder of His great gifts. "
- Paramour Runda, High Priestess of Sgrios, in her Mass, "Crisis of Faith", Deoch 169
Sgrios, God of Compassion?
However, upon closer examination, I have discovered that while the methods of Sgrios and Gliocans may be in fact different, the two faiths might very well be united in their goal: to teach Compassion. The perspectives of Sgrios and Glioca are akin to viewing two sides of the multifaceted nature of Compassion.
Through appreciating different sides of Compassion, through Sgrios and Glioca, one may be able to understand Compassion better.
This is perhaps best encapsulated by the following poem that I wrote in the winter of the 166th Deoch, on the Sgrian Temple Board. I have transferred my memories onto enchanted parchment, and transcribed the memory below by hand:
However, upon closer examination, I have discovered that while the methods of Sgrios and Gliocans may be in fact different, the two faiths might very well be united in their goal: to teach Compassion. The perspectives of Sgrios and Glioca are akin to viewing two sides of the multifaceted nature of Compassion.
Through appreciating different sides of Compassion, through Sgrios and Glioca, one may be able to understand Compassion better.
This is perhaps best encapsulated by the following poem that I wrote in the winter of the 166th Deoch, on the Sgrian Temple Board. I have transferred my memories onto enchanted parchment, and transcribed the memory below by hand:
|
|
Merisa's pinned board post on the Sgrios Fellowship Board. Written in Deoch 166, Winter.
An Ode To Sgrios:
The Other Compassionate One
By Merisa Lightbelle
To dear Sgrios, one who never fails to take action,
This is a brief poem to celebrate your Compassion.
With this, I pray Sgrians will excuse a Gliocan's attempt at traction.
Aislings far and wide curse you for etching your mark on their bodies,
Not knowing that you work your hardest to save their souls.
They surely must know that it was their actions that were shoddy,
Resulting in them losing consciousness, and finally taking its tolls.
Was it Sgrios who directly caused your death?
Did Nyrlathotep execute the deed?
Nay, it was a goblin, Kraken, or any minion, who acted in theft.
Aye, the scar is a reminder of folly; as a nod to one's naughty greed.
Compassion works in many ways, some through happiness, and others through Gloom.
While Glioca shows mercy by removing scars, through beothaich deum,
Sgrios empathizes by gifting physical scars, helping us learn by memorializing one's Doom.
This is a brief poem, to celebrate Sgrios's Compassion.
With love, by a Gliocan, who in her overt manner, takes her own action.
The Other Compassionate One
By Merisa Lightbelle
To dear Sgrios, one who never fails to take action,
This is a brief poem to celebrate your Compassion.
With this, I pray Sgrians will excuse a Gliocan's attempt at traction.
Aislings far and wide curse you for etching your mark on their bodies,
Not knowing that you work your hardest to save their souls.
They surely must know that it was their actions that were shoddy,
Resulting in them losing consciousness, and finally taking its tolls.
Was it Sgrios who directly caused your death?
Did Nyrlathotep execute the deed?
Nay, it was a goblin, Kraken, or any minion, who acted in theft.
Aye, the scar is a reminder of folly; as a nod to one's naughty greed.
Compassion works in many ways, some through happiness, and others through Gloom.
While Glioca shows mercy by removing scars, through beothaich deum,
Sgrios empathizes by gifting physical scars, helping us learn by memorializing one's Doom.
This is a brief poem, to celebrate Sgrios's Compassion.
With love, by a Gliocan, who in her overt manner, takes her own action.
How Sgrios and Glioca Embody Compassion
Below, I illustrate how the two religions connect on Compassion. The examples below are not exhaustive by any means; and you may learn more by speaking to a Priest of Glioca or Sgrios:
Below, I illustrate how the two religions connect on Compassion. The examples below are not exhaustive by any means; and you may learn more by speaking to a Priest of Glioca or Sgrios:
Glioca's and Sgrios's alternate ways of displaying Compassion
Example |
Religions' Perspectives and Connection to Compassion |
Sgrios's Scars |
Glioca and Love Love is all-encompassing and forgives all. Gliocans choose to remove scars of others, as this signifies the forgiveness of all mistakes, and the returning to being whole and unblemished again. Sgrios and Decay Decay is inevitable, and all will fade in time due to entropy. Sgrians choose to keep their scars and inflict them on others. Because, while scars are also bound to Decay, they memorialize mistakes in battle and life, and help connect with others who may have suffered the same fate. |
Divine supplications |
Glioca and Life Gliocans celebrate the granting and preservation of Life as the ultimate form of Compassion towards fellow Aislings. Through blessing Life and granting invincibility, we gain wisdom into how Life and Compassion are connected. This is done through granting beothaich deum, Fae potion of life; io dia aeseirigh, the Rusurrection spell, and io dia dion, granting Invulnerability. Sgrios and Death Sgrians celebrate Death and Pain to ourselves and others as a conduit for motivation to live a fruitful life, for Life is limited. Through understanding our mortality, we work towards metamorphosing our finite lives into something productive, one that is eternal. This is done through io puinsein ionad, poisoning everyone in sight; io ard dubh ionad, forcing hemloch into Aislings' throats, and io ard cradh ionad, cursing everyone in sight. |
Merisa's Notes: I do not include Necromancy - the art of raising the undead - as I do not view the feeble imitation of life as aligning with Sgrios' vision of alternate Compassion. Causing Destruction via a pretentious form of Life is hard for me to stomach. That said, I am open to being convinced.
Sgrios and Glioca, United by Passion and Inspiration, Divided by Destruction
Throughout the ages, if there is one thing that unite Sgrians and Gliocans: it is that worshippers of these two faiths happen to often be the most passionate ones. It is perhaps not a surprise, especially since they share Deoch, God of Passion and Inspiration, as their ally. It is perhaps no surprise that the Trinity of Chaos, of Deoch, Glioca and Sgrios - symbolizing Creativity, Passion and Rebirth respectively - continue to be the most active. Life and Death are immutable processes afterall.
Sgrians, through their own inscrutable ways, do display an alternate form of compassion that may be unfamiliar to many of us Gliocans. However, in spite of the similarities, it is also natural for both faiths to be somewhat wary of one another. Especially since Sgrios and Glioca have had a fraught past, and it is also undeniably true that Sgrios used to be one of Chadul's.
As such, it is up to us Gliocans and Aislings of the day to understand the intentions of the Sgrian worshippers of the day. As described above, if Sgrians are within the sects of Decay and Death, we are in alignment with them. However, if their intentions are one of alignment with Chadul - that of mindless Destruction - then we must find it within ourselves to reflect the Light and shine it into their Darkness, much like how Danaan did it over many eons with Deoch.
Goddess bless.
Throughout the ages, if there is one thing that unite Sgrians and Gliocans: it is that worshippers of these two faiths happen to often be the most passionate ones. It is perhaps not a surprise, especially since they share Deoch, God of Passion and Inspiration, as their ally. It is perhaps no surprise that the Trinity of Chaos, of Deoch, Glioca and Sgrios - symbolizing Creativity, Passion and Rebirth respectively - continue to be the most active. Life and Death are immutable processes afterall.
Sgrians, through their own inscrutable ways, do display an alternate form of compassion that may be unfamiliar to many of us Gliocans. However, in spite of the similarities, it is also natural for both faiths to be somewhat wary of one another. Especially since Sgrios and Glioca have had a fraught past, and it is also undeniably true that Sgrios used to be one of Chadul's.
As such, it is up to us Gliocans and Aislings of the day to understand the intentions of the Sgrian worshippers of the day. As described above, if Sgrians are within the sects of Decay and Death, we are in alignment with them. However, if their intentions are one of alignment with Chadul - that of mindless Destruction - then we must find it within ourselves to reflect the Light and shine it into their Darkness, much like how Danaan did it over many eons with Deoch.
Goddess bless.
Finally, I turn to Luathas, the God of Gnosis and Arcana. His focus on Knowledge serves as a potentially powerful boon to Glioca's Compassion.
((P.S. Rest in peace, PeneAnn. You are missed and loved by all of us. We continue to celebrate your roleplaying spirit in Temuair.))
((P.S. Rest in peace, PeneAnn. You are missed and loved by all of us. We continue to celebrate your roleplaying spirit in Temuair.))
