Ivan religion "He who must be named"
Jul 5, 2022 20:00:03 GMT
Dominikk, olloyd, and 12 more like this
Post by Wreck on Jul 5, 2022 20:00:03 GMT
Ivan was always the "Misunderstood One" growing up. Most of the village thought him to be bad luck such that people would rather have broken a mirror while walking under a ladder while a black cat crossed their path than to have anything to do with him. Such an upbringing would devastate any normal person, but not Ivan.
As he aged into adulthood, the constant stream of blame never once abated. The last straw was when a farmer was milking his prize heifer. Ivan walked into the stable to fetch his saddle when the heifer was struck down by a shooting star that struck in the center of her head! Luckily, the farmer was unharmed, but the poor heifer was not so fortunate. He went to the Mayor and spoke with the Council, which cried out in a single voice, "WE BLAME IVAN!" Ivan was brought before the Council, and was exiled. The village expected him to perish...
Instead, he flourished.
Survival was not easy for him, at first. He learned all that he could, and prayed regularly to Vynora, his Matron. One day while he was just working with wood to make toys for an orphanage filled with children, a passing merchant stopped by his simple hovel and knocked upon his door. He answered the door, and to his dismay, the merchant recognized him. "It's all your fault," the merchant sneered at Ivan. Ivan heaved a heavy sigh and slowly closed the door, and turned towards the altar to Vynora that he carved with his own hands. He looked to the pile of toys that he'd been carving and just piled them all onto the altar, beginning to pray to Vynora to deliver him from this anguish. His eyes closed, his concentration deep, he did not notice the toys start to vanish one by one. Before his prayer was finished, he fell into a deep sleep, caused by Vynora Herself.
"Just as you have been loyal to me, so shall I be with you," the disembodied female voice said to him from across still waters. "You have endured the Storms of your life, braved the treacherous Tides of their scorn, and absorbed their blame with acceptance...never once turning angry or bitter towards those who blame you. So, I grant you this, Ivan...their blame shall be your strength. The more they try to harrass you, the stronger shall you become. In time...you will Rise."
Ivan lept to his feet with alarm! What was this voice speaking of? Who was she? It couldn't have been Vynora...could it?
He cleared his vision and took note that all of the toys were gone...but within the bowl of the altar rested a dull key that appeared to be made of some sort of crystal. He took this as a sign, and a gift, from Vynora. He fashioned it into a bangle and wore it about his neck. He left his small hovel behind and went to one of the larger settlements to try and start life anew.
Time passed, and he was once again blamed for many things that were not his fault. Each time he was blamed or ridiculed, the key that he wore slowly grew brighter, and brighter, until it became so bright it nearly blinded him...even though no one else could see it.
He took the key into his hand and the light began to shift from the key into his own flesh, and a voice boomed into his ears, "RISE, IVAN! TO VALREI YOU MUST COME! THEIR BLAME IS YOUR POWER! GATHER YOUR FOLLOWERS AND ASCEND!!"
Ivan will be fully charged at the next server restart.
As he aged into adulthood, the constant stream of blame never once abated. The last straw was when a farmer was milking his prize heifer. Ivan walked into the stable to fetch his saddle when the heifer was struck down by a shooting star that struck in the center of her head! Luckily, the farmer was unharmed, but the poor heifer was not so fortunate. He went to the Mayor and spoke with the Council, which cried out in a single voice, "WE BLAME IVAN!" Ivan was brought before the Council, and was exiled. The village expected him to perish...
Instead, he flourished.
Survival was not easy for him, at first. He learned all that he could, and prayed regularly to Vynora, his Matron. One day while he was just working with wood to make toys for an orphanage filled with children, a passing merchant stopped by his simple hovel and knocked upon his door. He answered the door, and to his dismay, the merchant recognized him. "It's all your fault," the merchant sneered at Ivan. Ivan heaved a heavy sigh and slowly closed the door, and turned towards the altar to Vynora that he carved with his own hands. He looked to the pile of toys that he'd been carving and just piled them all onto the altar, beginning to pray to Vynora to deliver him from this anguish. His eyes closed, his concentration deep, he did not notice the toys start to vanish one by one. Before his prayer was finished, he fell into a deep sleep, caused by Vynora Herself.
"Just as you have been loyal to me, so shall I be with you," the disembodied female voice said to him from across still waters. "You have endured the Storms of your life, braved the treacherous Tides of their scorn, and absorbed their blame with acceptance...never once turning angry or bitter towards those who blame you. So, I grant you this, Ivan...their blame shall be your strength. The more they try to harrass you, the stronger shall you become. In time...you will Rise."
Ivan lept to his feet with alarm! What was this voice speaking of? Who was she? It couldn't have been Vynora...could it?
He cleared his vision and took note that all of the toys were gone...but within the bowl of the altar rested a dull key that appeared to be made of some sort of crystal. He took this as a sign, and a gift, from Vynora. He fashioned it into a bangle and wore it about his neck. He left his small hovel behind and went to one of the larger settlements to try and start life anew.
Time passed, and he was once again blamed for many things that were not his fault. Each time he was blamed or ridiculed, the key that he wore slowly grew brighter, and brighter, until it became so bright it nearly blinded him...even though no one else could see it.
He took the key into his hand and the light began to shift from the key into his own flesh, and a voice boomed into his ears, "RISE, IVAN! TO VALREI YOU MUST COME! THEIR BLAME IS YOUR POWER! GATHER YOUR FOLLOWERS AND ASCEND!!"
Ivan will be fully charged at the next server restart.
