This variant goes further than my Jasidan Guild notes. Not sure if it qualifies for ''heresy."
Wee Jas: Patroness of the Pale
The cult of Wee Jas rules the Theocracy of the Pale.
The national heraldry depicts a golden star and a golden crescent, symbols associated with the Palish stories of Wee Jas. The legend tells that Lendor gave his daughter, Wee Jas, a magical star and horned moon as lamps when she moved into the dark lands of Acheron. The goddess may send one or the other of these radiant objects to guide the souls of the dead through the ethereal veil and into their proper destinations in the afterlife. When both appear together over a battlefield, a village, or other site, the signs indicate the swift approach of some great doom (hence the coat of arms separates the two symbols, to avoid inviting ill-fortune).
The cult requires sacrifices and homage from all inhabitants of the land. It proscribes a number of other cults, including most of those honoring the powers of chaos. Nerull’s cult is strictly prohibited and subject to persecution. No other cults may lawfully build its temples taller or larger than the nearest shrine of Wee Jas. All burials, cremations, and so on must be performed under the auspices of the Wee Jas clergy, or else the offending parties must pay a large fine.
I think Wintershiven in this version of the Pale will comprise two cities: the living city and the necropolis.
Wee Jas hates chaotic undead, so I may include Wee Jas clerics fighting vampires (CE).
And maybe the clerics will have some help from certain lawful undead, like mummies.
That sounds like a good way to represent the idea that the Pale is 'not noted for religious tolerance' and establish Wee Jas as dominant while still leaving the culture polytheistic. Another possibility is to tax the temples of other gods, or to tax magical services performed by them.
Giving Wintershiven an extensive necropolis helps represent her death aspect, but I'm also interested in her magic aspect. Do mages have special status in this society?
The 1e DMG defines a theocracy as "rule by the direct representative of a god," which has interesting implications.
That sounds like a good way to represent the idea that the Pale is 'not noted for religious tolerance' and establish Wee Jas as dominant while still leaving the culture polytheistic. Another possibility is to tax the temples of other gods, or to tax magical services performed by them.
Giving Wintershiven an extensive necropolis helps represent her death aspect, but I'm also interested in her magic aspect. Do mages have special status in this society?
The 1e DMG defines a theocracy as "rule by the direct representative of a god," which has interesting implications.
Magic doesn't have to be magic-user (wizard in later editions) magic. But I do assume it includes that type of magic, certainly so in the case of Wee Jas.
I'd say that spell casters enjoy a boosted social status in this version of the Pale, provided they at least pay lip service to Wee Jas's cult.
But spell casters who use magic to disrupt social order, create chaotic undead, and other such things may face a stern response from the authorities.
"You have been given the gift of magic and have abused it."
RE: "rule by the direct representative of a god"
Maybe the Theocrat is not only a high ranking clergyman, he's the prophet of Wee Jas. She speaks to him. Of course, he has to interpret what she shows him or says to him, and other fallible human beings down the line must attempt to implement policy. Wee Jas is not concerned with the details of earthly governmental administration (in keeping with the distance most greater powers keep from mortal affairs, following a note in the 1983 Guide).
Communing with a greater goddess may have left the Theocrat crazy by normal person standards.
Past theocrats might have keeled over dead after receiving a terrible vision, or been stricken blind for failing in their duties. It's not a safe or easy job.
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