The Sixfold Path
The Sixfold Path is a religion of southern Atamara. It holds that there are six gods, three female and three male of three different ages. The religion follows a sacred calendar with holy days appointed for each god.
The religion contends that all humans have freedom of will and that humans are called to combat the evil forces of the undead and monsters loosed upon the world.
The Six were revealed in prophetic dreams to Cissa Passeri.
Contents
The Pantheon of Six
The Maid
The world’s breath, the goddess of beginnings, accord and harmony.
Element: Water
Patron of: Priests and Diplomats
Colors: Blue and Purple
Holy Day: Spring Equinox
Sacred symbols: Flowers, song birds, fish
The Fellow
The god of war. He is a figure of passion and cunning.
Element: Fire
Patron of: Warriors, Cavaliers
Colors: Red and Orange
Holy Day: Fall Equinox
Sacred symbols: The sword, lightning, fire, forest creatures such as the fox or wolf, falcons or animals found on a battlefield such as ravens
The Mother
The goddess of healing and restoration. Also the goddess of defensive war and travelers for there is no protector like a mother.
Element: Earth
Patron of: Courtiers
Colors: Green and Yellow
Holy Day: Summer Solstice
Sacred symbols: Small domestic animals, especially hens, ducks, goats and cats. Wheat, fruit and wine.
The Father
The god of logic, technology and worked goods, and craftsmen. He is the god of lordship.
Element: Metal
Patron of: Lords, Traders
Colors: Gray and Brown
Holy Day: Winter Solstice
Sacred symbols: Horses and dogs. Scales and instruments for music and calculation.
The Crone
The goddess of endings, of death and rest. She is a goddess of balance and of things come full circle.
Element: Void
Patron of: Infiltrators, Heroes
Colors: Black
Holy Day: New Year's Day
Sacred symbols: A golden, triangular sword. The perfect circle. Ash.
The Fool
The patron of all things out of season and the god of last hopes. He is often a trickster figure, but speaks the truth even to those who do not wish to hear it.
Element: Air
Patron of: Adventurers and anyone who does not neatly fit
Colors: White
Holy Day: Leap Year
Sacred symbols: Anything with sharp teeth, but especially white ferrets, rats, or scorpions.
Ranks
Acolyte
This is the lowest rank given to followers of the Sixfold path in which one may participate in the religious order. Children commended to the care of a temple are often granted this rank and perform holy tasks within their service, such as holding candles to light the scripture, cleaning the alters or tending to ceremonial robes.
Apprentice
An Apprentice is the rank designated to one seeking a higher understanding of the gods. A follower of this rank may dedicate himself or herself to a particular god to serve. Anyone of this rank is allowed extensive study in scripture and theology with the hopes that they will pursue a career in the priesthood.
Learned
This is the title reserved for all priests and persons of great piety. It describes their wide-ranging scholarship of the gods and their ability to therefore spread and teach the faith of the Six. All Learned are awarded a special braided cord to be placed upon the shoulders of their robes. Only those ranked at Learned or above may officiate at ceremonies, such as weddings or funerals.
Divine
This rank is reserved for leaders of the faith particularly touched by a god such that they understand and intuit the teachings past written scripture. They often will be masters of their crafts, such as a Divine of the Mother may have extensive skill in healing or midwifery while a Divine of the Brother exceptional knowledge of warcraft. They are not common among men or women.
Blessed
A Blessed is a Divine touched by multiple gods. They have powers of knowledge and understanding that exceeds that of commoners. Many of this rank are living saints, where the gods work directly to reach the world in the flesh of this exceptional person.
Archdivine
The highest rank achievable, this title is awarded to the chief priest of the Sixfold Path. Though they may or may not be touched by a god, this rank is the head of the practical business of the church.
Temples
All temples are laid out the same as a five sided hall decorated inside and out with symbols of the gods. Often this encompasses natural elements of plants and beasts. The lives and stories of saints, Divines or other heroes of the faith are often depicted, but very rarely are images of the gods imposed upon their temples. In larger, richer regions the temple may be made of stone with elaborate domes or lobes that are made to accentuate choirs.
Five altars are arranged inside the hall starting at the left of the entrance. First is the altar of the Maiden laid in blue and purple. There is traditionally a basin of water placed near the entrance and it is custom to anoint (or outright wash) the hands when entering the temple in a symbol of beginning. Next is the altar of The Fellow decorated with red and orange and then the Mother in yellows and greens. The largest hearth is traditionally set near or at the Mother’s altar. Next is the Father’s altar in brown and gray.
The Fool’s altar may be located to the right of the entrance or may be located in a separate, smaller building just outside. In smaller or rural areas this is often the case where a four-walled building has been converted to accommodate the six. A more elaborate altar to the Fool is also sometimes constructed outside the temple proper in a place particularly devastated by natural disaster. This act as both a shrine in the memory of those lost in the tragedy and also keeps the god of all things out of season away. In the case where the Fool is removed from the temple proper a special altar (often a trestle table) will be set up to the right of the entrance during services and ceremonies. Regardless, the Fool’s altar is always a little out of place; it is too bright, or too dull, too grand or too vulgar. The Fool’s house does not usually fit nicely anywhere.
Last is a large area left empty in the center of the temple for the Crone. Although an altar is not often constructed there is usually furniture, candles and a place for offerings left permanently in the center of the temple. However grand, it is always removable. During funerals all elements of the Crone are removed so that the body may be laid in the center of the temple. Often there will be a stone mosaic or painting of a circle laid into the floor but there is little ornamentation to the Crone’s area.
Chairs for the nobles and pews for the commoners may be arranged around the room. During a ceremony or service the Learned will stand in the center of the room and preach towards the Mother’s altar (this is largely because most commoners favor the Mother and prefer to sit closest to her altar). This may be altered on special occasions. For example, the foundation stone for a new recruitment center would be blessed in a special ritual at the Fellow's altar.
