Post by Head Moderator on Jan 25, 2013 15:49:06 GMT -5
Our Lady of Silence
The followers of Our Lady of Silence revere a saint named Ruth. Due to the Blessed Ruth’s deafness, her adherents venerate silence. Ruth lived permanently in a holy silence, and so do they aim to. Though blind, Ruth could still perceive the world and, perhaps due to this, the Order venerates knowledge and scholarship. Furthermore, many are mystics, pursuing the arts of prophesy and divination - it is not unknown for a particularly devout monk or priest of Silence to blind themselves to devote himself more fully to the “other sight”.
The Blessed Ruth herself is considered to be both immortal and divine. She wanders the world, ageless and undying. Her appearance is that of a woman in her fifties, yet one who carries her years lightly and who is still beautiful. Her hair is as black as night; her skin pale as moonlight, her carriage and figure stately and elegant.
Though blind and deaf she has no difficulty finding her way; however, she is not omnipresent and can travel from one place to another no faster than a normal human could. However, by foresight she knows where she will be needed. Ruth is said to often test mortals; those who aid her - a blind and deaf woman - freely and unstintingly (particularly if they do so despite having some other pressing purpose driving them) will receive her aid, either by wise council or by direct blessing or intervention.
Churches of Silence are designed to be unobtrusive and to blend in with the surroundings. The architecture is cunningly designed to cut off the noise of the outside world and to muffle any sounds made within. Most Silence churches are found in cities or large towns – the denomination is not large enough to have churches in small villages. The majority of people drawn to silence worship fall in to three categories: reclusive and solitary individuals who are at home with silence; certain people, often wealthy or scholars, who are slightly withdrawn from the world and who have come to find great spiritual meaning in Silence and the underclasses: thieves and assassins who live by stealth and silence and who thus see it as the natural power to worship. Naturally, the priests of Silence do not condone such actions; however, the ability to move with true silence is greatly admired and, as such, many great assassins believe that Ruth is served by their work. Maybe she is.
The followers of Our Lady of Silence revere a saint named Ruth. Due to the Blessed Ruth’s deafness, her adherents venerate silence. Ruth lived permanently in a holy silence, and so do they aim to. Though blind, Ruth could still perceive the world and, perhaps due to this, the Order venerates knowledge and scholarship. Furthermore, many are mystics, pursuing the arts of prophesy and divination - it is not unknown for a particularly devout monk or priest of Silence to blind themselves to devote himself more fully to the “other sight”.
The Blessed Ruth herself is considered to be both immortal and divine. She wanders the world, ageless and undying. Her appearance is that of a woman in her fifties, yet one who carries her years lightly and who is still beautiful. Her hair is as black as night; her skin pale as moonlight, her carriage and figure stately and elegant.
Though blind and deaf she has no difficulty finding her way; however, she is not omnipresent and can travel from one place to another no faster than a normal human could. However, by foresight she knows where she will be needed. Ruth is said to often test mortals; those who aid her - a blind and deaf woman - freely and unstintingly (particularly if they do so despite having some other pressing purpose driving them) will receive her aid, either by wise council or by direct blessing or intervention.
Churches of Silence are designed to be unobtrusive and to blend in with the surroundings. The architecture is cunningly designed to cut off the noise of the outside world and to muffle any sounds made within. Most Silence churches are found in cities or large towns – the denomination is not large enough to have churches in small villages. The majority of people drawn to silence worship fall in to three categories: reclusive and solitary individuals who are at home with silence; certain people, often wealthy or scholars, who are slightly withdrawn from the world and who have come to find great spiritual meaning in Silence and the underclasses: thieves and assassins who live by stealth and silence and who thus see it as the natural power to worship. Naturally, the priests of Silence do not condone such actions; however, the ability to move with true silence is greatly admired and, as such, many great assassins believe that Ruth is served by their work. Maybe she is.