From 3eb2f9b6dead8cf7bc393cdf611853b3f3e61796 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: MortenGM Date: Tue, 7 May 2024 17:03:48 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] docs: update HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers --- HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers.html | 15 +++++---------- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) diff --git a/HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers.html b/HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers.html index a8f55f7..72583ea 100644 --- a/HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers.html +++ b/HBW/Eirus/Marcandria/Factions/Joybringers.html @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ title: Joybringers description: published: true -date: 2024-05-06T21:43:39.858Z +date: 2024-05-07T17:03:46.690Z tags: game-master, callera, clergy of callera, joybringer, joybringers editor: ckeditor dateCreated: 2023-01-06T16:54:34.558Z @@ -12,14 +12,9 @@ dateCreated: 2023-01-06T16:54:34.558Z
Holy Symbol of Callera, in the form of a Pendant. (Generated by Dall-E. Prompt: “Cinematic oil painting of a golden pendant. The pendant features the face of a beautiful goddess with a serene expression, smooth skin, and hair made out of fire. The background is a soft, dark velvet to highlight the pendant's luster and the fiery hair's glow.”)
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The Joybringers act as the official Marcandrian clergy for Callera. Often referred to as The Lady of Love, The Princess of Passion, or simply Lady Firehair, she is the Marcandrian goddess of art, beauty, love, joy, passion, and revelry, with the message that one should seek a fulfilling life, and to find a joyous life through ones passions and through artistry. The Joybringers seek to spread and nurture the worship of Callera and her values.

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The Joybringers are a loose organization, one in which each temple act independently, keeping only the minimum organizational hierarchy necessary to function. The Joybringers tend to be heavily involved in Marcandrian festivities and revelry, and are often the ones who both plan, organize, and run public events in Marcandria; be that on their own accord or on behalf of either nobles or other influential entities. The Joybringers are passionate and free spirited individuals, all deeply engulfed in artistry, who seek to both teach and show the people how to achieve a fulfilling life, filled with ones joys and passions. While the Meranzeum aids people's financial wellbeing, and the Greenwardens see to their physical health, the Joybringers seek to heal people's souls and to elevate what it should mean and feel to be Marcandrian.

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The Joybringers are most present in the larger population centers in Marcandria, tending to stay in areas with a lot of culture and opportunities to engage with the people. Their massive temples often stand among the most exquisite and luxurious buildings in the cities they're in. The Joybringers do have some presence in the more rural regions of Marcandria as well, though this tends to only consist of one or a few individuals whose decided to put the inhabitants there “under their wings”.

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The Joybringers tend to avoid bickering or politics between nobles or other factions. So long as neither side seeks to hamper the Joybringers endeavors, they see little reason to get involved. Rather, they see staying out of such conflict as a way to avoid alienating either side, and as a way to potentially act as a bridge between the opposing sides. They tend to have little they can offer by themselves if drawn into conflict. However, due to their charismatic nature and deep involvement in both the populace and leadership, they can have a lot of influence when it comes to swaying public opinion.

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The Joybringers are the official Marcandrian clergy dedicated to Callera, affectionately known as The Lady of Love, The Princess of Passion, or simply Lady Firehair. This vibrant and expressive clergy venerates the goddess of art, beauty, love, joy, passion, and revelry, embodying these tenets in every aspect of their communal and individual lives.

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The Joybringers are the official Marcandrian clergy dedicated to Callera, known by many affectionate titles such as The Lady of Love, The Princess of Passion, or simply Lady Firehair. This vibrant and expressive clergy venerates the goddess of art, beauty, love, joy, passion, and revelry, embodying these tenets in every aspect of their communal and individual lives.

Operating from ornate temples located primarily in affluent urban areas, the Joybringers engage deeply in the artistic and celebratory practices that honor Lady Firehair. These temples serve as hubs of artistic expression and luxurious indulgence, with facilities ranging from elaborate bathhouses to theaters and halls adorned with exquisite art. Each temple functions as an independent entity, though they share common goals and values.

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The Joybringers commune with Lady Firehair through the reflections in shallow pools and mirrors. Their sacred rites involve dancing barefoot and singing prayers in these pools, hoping that Lady Firehair will answer them by animating their reflections to dance independently, crafting visions in the water. Experiencing one's reflection dancing in tandem under Lady Firehair’s influence is considered one of the most divine and wondrous experiences by the Joybringers.

Members of the Joybringers are as eclectic and expressive as the deity they worship. They are typically drawn from the middle and upper echelons of society, including artists, musicians, and performers who find a spiritual and creative haven within the clergy. Joybringers are known for their dramatic and whimsical mannerisms, often dressing in colorful, personalized attire that features the symbol of Lady Firehair. While they are inclusive and open to individuals from all walks of life, their activities often cater to those who can afford to partake in the luxuries of artistic and hedonistic pursuits.

The Joybringers play a central role in Marcandrian society, not only as celebrants of major life events like weddings and naming ceremonies but also as cultural leaders who regularly organize public festivals and artistic workshops. Their influence extends into the social fabric of the city, where they often act as mediators and advisors, leveraging their popularity and moral authority to foster peace and joy.

Despite their somewhat detached stance from political affairs, the Joybringers are adept at navigating the complexities of Marcandrian society, often using their charismatic influence to sway public opinion and guide communal values towards greater appreciation of beauty and art.

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Central to their belief is the concept of self-love and self-expression. You should always seek to become who you want to be—to become your true self. This is why the Joybringers teach the arts of personal presentation and self-styling, helping individuals to discover and express their inner beauty. This focus on appearance and presentation can sometimes be misinterpreted as vanity, and they often struggle to understand those who do not place similar value on outward expression. This is also partly due to their belief that understanding and showcasing one's true self is crucial to personal fulfillment. They may, however, end up showing displeasure towards those they perceive as neglecting self-care or harboring negative views on art.

All Joybringers are artists in their own right, viewing art as a powerful medium for overcoming life's challenges. No matter how lost you may feel or how much hardship you're experiencing, you can find your true path forward through the wonders of artistry. They believe that engaging with art—whether creating it or experiencing it—can free the soul and provide profound insights into life’s complexities. Art, in any form, is seen as a sanctuary for those burdened by life’s hardships, a path for experiencing the greatness and wonders of life, and as a medium from which to find your true self.

However, the exalted pursuit of these tenets can sometimes veer into the realm of luxury, with followers indulging in extravagance under the guise of fulfilling Lady Firehair's commandments. This misinterpretation can blur the lines between genuine spiritual fulfillment and mere material indulgence, challenging the Joybringers to continually clarify and exemplify the true essence of their faith.

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The Joybringers commune with Lady Firehair in specially designed rooms adorned with mirrors and filled with shallow pools. They perform ritual dances barefoot in these pools while singing prayers. They believe that Lady Firehair responds to their prayers by altering their reflections in the water and mirrors, causing them to move independently of the dancers. These altered reflections form visions that the Joybringers then interpret, seeking divine guidance.

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The Joybringers commune with Lady Firehair in specially designed rooms adorned with mirrors and filled with shallow pools. They perform ritual dances barefoot in these pools while singing prayers. They believe that Lady Firehair responds to their prayers by altering their reflections in the water and mirrors, causing them to move independently of the dancers. These altered reflections form visions that envelop the dancers, initiating a divine dialogue. The Joybringers respond through their dance, adjusting their movements to pose questions or express thoughts, to which their reflections and the surrounding visions may react, creating a dynamic and interactive exchange that they interpret as divine guidance.

 

Callera's Tenants:

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    Beyond large festivals, the Joybringers continuously initiate smaller events to maintain a vibrant community spirit. These range from street performances by musicians to interactive art sessions in local parks, and open days offering free access to their services. Members frequently practice artistic skills near their temples, inviting passersby to join and try their hand at various arts. The Joybringers also manage and sponsor numerous theaters in Marcandria, often operating venues constructed by the nobility specifically for their use, showcasing performances by both their own members and independent troupes.

    Larger Joybringer temples typically operate bathhouses, providing a range of bathing experiences from communal to private, along with specialized mineral and herbal baths. Independently of these bathhouses, all temples offer a comprehensive suite of styling and beauty services, which include hair styling, barber services, clothes styling and tailoring, makeup application, and skincare treatments. They also develop and sell perfumes and provide mentoring in proper etiquette and manners. These beauty services are available for a fee, although the temples occasionally host open days where services are offered for free. Each of these offerings is designed to help individuals discover and enhance their personal aesthetics, rooted in the belief that true happiness stems from self-appreciation and acceptance.

    Artistry is a cornerstone of every Joybringer's life, with each member deeply engaged in at least one artistic discipline, including painting, sculpting, poetry, dancing, singing, theatre, and music. The temples offer mentoring and workshops to encourage public engagement with the arts. Nobility and other affluent individuals often enlist Joybringers to instruct their children in etiquette, arts, and personal grooming, ensuring they present themselves attractively and confidently as they mature. Additionally, the Joybringers actively support the arts by frequently sponsoring and purchasing art, ornaments, and other beautiful wares. They often willingly overpay to drive up market prices, thereby increasing demand and encouraging a greater supply of beautiful objects. Consequently, their temples are adorned with an extensive collection of exquisite items amassed since their founding.

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    The Joybringers also perform a range of ceremonial services, most notably weddings, coming of age ceremonies, and naming ceremonies. Although they often collaborate with the Meranzeum and the Greenwardens—the clergies for Marcandria's other goddesses—the Joybringers typically orchestrate the festivities that accompany these ceremonies, ensuring each event is a memorable celebration of life's significant milestones. In addition to these public ceremonies, they conduct regular rites within their temples to commune with and make offerings to Lady Firehair. Offerings usually include the performance itself, though they also use flower petals, perfume, and fine wine, which are sometimes added to the pools as additional offerings. Art pieces given as offerings are displayed throughout the temple. During these rites, the Joybringers seek guidance from Lady Firehair through their ritual dances and songs, watching for their reflections to transform into independently moving visions, which they interpret as responses from their deity.

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    The Joybringers also perform a range of ceremonial services, most notably weddings, coming of age ceremonies, and naming ceremonies. Although they often collaborate with the Meranzeum and the Greenwardens—the clergies for Marcandria's other goddesses—the Joybringers typically orchestrate the festivities that accompany these ceremonies, ensuring each event is a memorable celebration of life's significant milestones. In addition to these public ceremonies, they conduct regular rites within their temples to commune with and make offerings to Lady Firehair. Offerings usually include the performance itself, though they also use flower petals, perfume, and fine wine, which are sometimes added to the pools as additional offerings. Art pieces given as offerings are displayed throughout the temple. During these rites, the Joybringers engage in a ceremonial dance, watching as Lady Firehair alters their reflections to dance independently, forming visions. This transformation initiates a conversation through dance, where the Joybringers adapt their movements in dialogue with the changing visions and reflections, interpreting these interactions as responses from their deity.

    Locations

    Joybringer temples are expansive and ornate, standing out prominently within the cityscape. They are usually situated in the bustling, affluent areas of settlements to facilitate easy engagement with the local populace. The considerable size of these temples accommodates a variety of functions: residential quarters, administrative offices, spaces for artistic practices and services, potentially expansive bathhouse complexes, and areas designated for religious rites and ceremonies. The scope and variety of these services can differ significantly from one temple to another.

    The architecture of Joybringer temples is designed to inspire awe and beauty. Every surface is meticulously crafted to be visually stunning, with walls that are intricately adorned and often painted to complement the art displayed throughout the premises. The furniture is both lavish and luxurious, ensuring utmost comfort. Rooms and corridors are thematically designed, each aiming to evoke specific feelings of awe and joy in those who enter. Reflective surfaces, such as mirrors, are frequently incorporated into the design, aligning with the belief that Lady Firehair communicates through altered reflections.