Dimiendra
Quote
I am a mother. I know the pain and the joy of motherhood. I will give my life a hundred times over to protect the young.
The dead will be the judge of your deeds.
Introduction
Before the end of the world, Dimiendra was a seer and warrior of the Jaguar Tribe. Her tribe, along with other similar tribes, were considered savages and wild by many of the "civilized" societies. However, Dimi, along with her sisters and brothers of the tribe, kept a vigil over the traditions that had been passed down through the ages from their ancestors.
When the old warrior, Rustian arrived at her tribe, seeking heroes to save the world, Dimiendra was reluctant to leave. She was a woman with deep wounds and a great sorrow. She had just lost her husband and second child to a wasting disease, that even her magic couldn't cure. Dimi wanted to stay with her tribe to take care of her youngest and eldest children. However, at the same time, she felt a calling to go with this old man clad in metal. His words and devotion beckoned her.
Together with the other heroes they found the Phoenix hearted girl. And Dimiendra, couldn't help taking the young and defenseless girl under her personal protection. She tried to be the closest thing to a mother a girl in her circumstance could want for.
Now the world has ended but still it hasn't. Dimiendra's two children still lives with her tribe, but they never knew their mother. The phoenix girl sacrificed herself and became a goddess, and Dimi is plagued by the pains of losing her children while being happy that they all live still.
Your Church
The goals of the church of Dimiendra are to ensure the balance of the cycle of life and death. To venerate the dead ancestors and to prepare their spirits to reincarnate into the next generations. Reincarnations doesn't always happen at birth, but can happen at several crucial ceremonial points during the child's first ten years.
Paladin & Antipaladin
There are none. There is however an order of Warpriests called the Sisterhood of Dawn. They often serves as temple guardians, but every sister spends at least one year adventuring early in their career.
Temples & Shrines
The main temple to Dimiendra is located in the city of Citlati. Citlati is a large city on the edge of the large forests in the south. The tribes of the plains and the tribes of the forests see the city as their combined capital. Each of the twelve tribes have three representative in the city at all time, forming the council. Twelve members of the council must always be present at the Trivita in the center of the city. The Trivita is the council building. The council is elected for one year at the time and the tribes can never send the same perosn twice.
The temple to Dimiendra is located in the center of the town just opposite the Trivita council building. Like all the temples to Dimiendra it is not a place build to look grand and impressing. It is build with practicality in mind. In addition to being a church, it is used as a hospital and one of the wings of the church houses the orphanage of the city.
Shrines are found in most settlements, serving among other things as a gathering place for the spirits. Gifts in the form of small trinkets, flowers and food are often donated to the shrine and the spirits of the ancestors.
In addition to that, many homes have a small place dedicated to Dimiendra. It's often situated right at the entrance to make sure the spirits of the ancestors know that they are welcome in the home.
Priests
The most important role of the Priests of Dimiendra is that of midwifes. They deliver the newborn into this world.
They also perform the last rites for the departing spirits to preserve the spirits and secure their help for the good of the tribe.
The priests also take care of the orphans. Just like Dimiendra took care of the girl with the phoenix heart, her priests will take care of any child that is unfortunate to have lost their parents.
Among the other duties that the priest have is that of healers.
Adventurers
Few are the adventurers that dedicate their lives to Dimiendra early in their career. She is after all a mother and protector of the home. There are of course the odd adventuring cleric, warpriest and inquisitor, focussed on hunting down evil and malevolent spirits. More than a few oracles have been called to her cause, likewise are quite a few shamans, spiritualists and summoners paying homage to her church each in their unique way. Necromancy is very frowned upon and creating undead is downright taboo in the religion.
Clothing
The clothing of the priests of Dimendra are practical. The climate where her Jaguar Tribe lives is pleasantly warm and thus not much clothing is needed. That is reflected in the clothes of the priesthood. In addition it is wise not to hide one's holy markings from the spirits. So body art is commonplace, both on arms, legs, torso, neck and face.
Holy Texts
To avoid dogmatism, there are no holy texts. And really none are needed. After all, the spirits needs and provide guidance and the young needs to be born.
Holiday
The autumn equinox is the most holy day of all in the religion. The day when the dead ancestors are remembered and invited to sit around the table. The day begins with celebrating those that have been born during the year. Then in the evening after the feast, the dead are bid farewell and they leave the heart and go into the night to watch over the family in the months when the darkness rules the land.
When spring equinox arrives another feast is held where the spirits of the ancestors are invited back into the homes to rest in the months when the light rules the lands.
Aphorisms
"Remember your ancestors, they are tomorrow's leaders."
Holy Symbol
The holy symbol of Dimiendra is a stylized depiction of a star. More specifically the main star in the constellation known as the mother on the night sky.
Weapon
Dimiendra's weapon is the axe. She uses it in tandem with a shield.
fifteen. Sacred Animal - The sacred animal of Dimiendra is the
Sacred Animal
The sacred animals of Dimiendra are the cats.
Relations with Other Religion