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Mythology of Uleria

By Sandy Petersen and Greg Stafford

I. MYTHOS AND HISTORY

Uleria winds in and out of the other gods' lives, sometimes appearing in person as a mother or wife, or simply as the central figure of a vast orgiastic frenzy.

Wherever Uleria went, plenitude followed. All she touched increased, and wherever she rested a great gathering came around her. So boundless was her ability to generate that she created a whole race like herself, called Tilntae or love demons. They are often the mothers or fathers of races, nations, or demigods, and are often nameless, or their name is simply a feminized form of a husband's name.

Most stories about the goddess are sensual and chotic. Some are lewd and questionable, and a few are gross and perverted. All fall within the compass of the Goddess of Love.

Her other aspects, social and fertile, receive their share of storytelling as well. The attraction of Uleria brought the founders of the Theyalan Council together, as well as earlier alliances.

Some Uleria worshipers believe that their souls are carried forward in their children, resulting in a sort of descendant worship (as compared to ancestor worship). Most, however, place faith in the afterlife beliefs promulgated by their local community.

Uleria is the source of the Life Rune, and this is her only Rune.

Here is a quote from the "Common Talk of Lay Membership", which is found in every temple in some version or another (often abreviated). THE WAYS OF LOVE We recommend three ways to know love: Through the Body: This is courtship and carnal sex, both of which communicate the Life Forces of Love through participants. Through Company: Social integrity comes from the brotherly love of people for their community. Sharing and caring are routes to experience love. Through Propagation: Incarnation of the Life Force can be accomplished by everything which seeks to reproduce itself. Responsible child rearing increases the Love and lovers in the world. Aiding orphans, mothers, herds, and gardens increases the Life Force. All three methods seek the same end: To experience the Oneness of Love, the Eternal Moment of Allness which lies beyond harmony.

II. CULT ECOLOGY

Bringing together is apparent in all of nature. When two bubbles of mercury spring together, that is caused by Love. When leaves fall to the ground, or anything at all falls to earth, that is because the Earth Mother's Love pulls us there. Water flows downhill to the sea because it seeks to come together with the ocean. Societies meet out o of brotherly love, and everyone knows of how genders arc attracted to each other. All these activities are motions of Love through the Life Force.

Reproduction can mean either propagation of the species, or the generation of something completely new. Alchemists know of several processes which create new substances with no trace of the original ingredients. Ancient gods, powerful with the Life Forces, often begat or bore children unlike themselves.

To the Uleria philosophers, even the rote reproduction of the cheapest clay pot is a manifestation of Love, where water, clay, heat, and the hands of itinerant potters come together for a moment of creation.

Uleria is worshiped every day, in some temple somewhere in the world. Her special festivals fall on the second week of each season, and last all week long.

III. THE CULT IN THE WORLD

There are a few Uleria worshipers in nearly every culture in the world. It is likeliest to be an outright cult with formal temples in civilized areas. It is nowhere the dominant religion of the and, except in the four cities named Zoria.

The three aspects of Uleria are often worshiped separately, sometimes at neighboring shrines whose worshipers have no knowledge that the two shrines are for one deity. Thus each of the three cult spells can appear at different shrines. Shrines are often enclosed buildings larger than the number of initiates might warrant-the itincrant nature of the lay membership makes the size useful. Though all three aspects of the goddess may be worshiped at a shrine, only one of the specialty spells is renewable. Minor temples are hard to find. Only regions of dense population and indolent peace can afford the number of initiates willing to put their primary belief into the Love Goddess. All in existence are in large cities or similar enters of population.

Many minor temples of Uleria are constructed similarly, even in different parts of the world. They are square or rectangular, with a different ornately carved door in each side. One entry ; restricted to use by the priestesses and their servants, and is covered with warnings to stay away. Each other entry is devoted to one of the goddess' aspects, so that the priestess there will now what duty to perform for each person who enters. One entry opens on a sacred brothel, whose setting and variety of on-duty initiates varies with the wealth and popularity of the temple. The second door opens on a comfortable meeting room where strangers can engage in social conversation, play games, and eat together, stimulated by the temple Personnel. The last door leads into a quiet and still region, where spells and rites to guarantee fertility are performed.

IV. INITIATE MEMBERSHIP

Initiates of Uleria's cult can sacrifice for Uleria's divine magic, and receive priority over non-members when Rune spells are cast by the priestesses.

V. ACOLYTE MEMBERSHIP

Acolytes work at the Uleria temples, performing fertility rituals, providing convivial company. and administering the arts of love as needed. They are in turn supported by the temple. They are given room and board and, when possible, clothing and luxuries.

Acolytes must give at least 50% of their income and 50% of their time to the temple. The temple will take care of the initiate's needs during the weeks she works for the cult. At other times, she is on her own. An initiate can spend more than half her time at the temple, and most do.

Acolytes can preside over worship ceremonies when a priestess is not present. They are also able to sacrifice for Uleria's Rune spells reusably, just like a priestess.

Finally, acolytes will be taught a new skill:

Craft (Courtesan):

VI. RUNE PRIESTESS MEMBERSHIP

A candidate for priestesshood must have been an acolyte in good standing for at least two years. She must succeed in a APP x 1% roll. There must also be a need for a new priestess. If the candidate fails, she can try again in a year.

Uleria priestesses must give 90% of their income to the cult, and devote 90% of their time to serving their goddess and their goddess' devotees. A priestess of Uleria checks for Divine Intervention on ID10, rather than ID100.

Uleria provides only four Rune spells to her priestesses: Community, Erotocomatose Lucidity, Reproduce, and Worship Uleria. The priestesses cast these spells for hire for anybody except creatures or worshipers of chaos. Spellcasting is an important source of cult income.

Community

The spell affects every individual within the spell's range. All attempts at communication skill rolls are automatically effective when made to other individuals under the effect of the spell.

Erotocornatose Lucidity

Reproduce

VII. SUBCULTS