Prayer Fields
Purpose
Tieresi farmers do not plant their crops haphazardly, nor in measured rows in open fields. Instead, they use the crops to spell prayers to the gods that look down from the skies. They hope that the praise will entreat the gods to look favorably upon their requests and prayers for the coming seasons, perhaps even during the winters when nothing can be grown.If the prayer is to the god of Life, they are written with the crop itself on bare ground; while Death sees their prayers as breaks in an otherwise unbroken crop, highlighted by shadows cast by moonlight. War does not see crop runes, and instead must be appeased in other ways.
Execution
As the planting season approaches, farmers and able-bodied assistants and farm beasts will carefully clear out the fields, as well as turning the soil with plows. Once the ground is suitably broken up, stones are gathered and placed in areas specified by an overseeing priest. The field is given a hefty drink of water, before being left to soak until the proper time to plant.
Planting seeds does not require the priest, but all the same many farmers will insist upon them being there to be absolutely certain nothing is amiss. One does not want to accidentally write runes that would offend the watching gods.
In the coming weeks, the field will grow, with the stones keeping the crops from growing or spreading out of line.
Planting seeds does not require the priest, but all the same many farmers will insist upon them being there to be absolutely certain nothing is amiss. One does not want to accidentally write runes that would offend the watching gods.
In the coming weeks, the field will grow, with the stones keeping the crops from growing or spreading out of line.
Participants
The farmers are the most present role in these planting rituals, but their efforts are almost entirely dependent on the priests they call out to oversee the efforts. The priest will hear the prayers the farmers wish to make and translate them into the appropriate runes, before instructing the farmer on how to form them with their stone placements.
Since priests do not accept payment in coins, once the harvest is ready, farmers will repay the priests by donating a small percentage of their crop to the temple’s granaries, above what is required by law.
Since priests do not accept payment in coins, once the harvest is ready, farmers will repay the priests by donating a small percentage of their crop to the temple’s granaries, above what is required by law.
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