Cult of Life
Public Agenda
The cult's primary purpose is the preservation and protection of life no matter the cost. As with their patron god, their purpose is not about preserving any particular form of life, but ensuring that no matter what happens, some type of it will remain. Fortunately, whatever safeguards they have in place to ensure such have never needed to be called upon as far as is known, and instead the cult lends much of its power to the study and preservation of struggling species and peoples, though they are quick to remind that this can change if needed.
Assets
As their nature is in the preservation of life, the cult has strong connections to those in relevant fields who oftentimes lend their expertise, equipment, funding, and other resources. Biologists, ecologists, and veternarians are common associates of the group if not members of it directly themselves.
Territories
The whole of the Land of Gods is considered to be explicitly within Mora's territory, shared both with Shia, the God of Death and the other gods. There is no explicit rule preventing other gods from building temples, shrines, or dwellings on Mora's sacred grounds, though it has become a tradition among the pantheon to only do so after making a significant offering to Mora themself and asking permission. Through all of recorded history, there has not been a single recorded instance of Mora refusing such a request.
Tenets of Faith
Described by many as fickle as life itself, cult members are often detached from emotional connections to their charges and see their intervention itself as an act against nature. Such interventions must be heavily weighed on their worth, meditated on, and repented for. Changing the flow of life for one's own gain rather than survival, to end unneeded suffering, or allow life to prosper is seen as one of the deepest sins and a betrayal to all the cult stands for.
The cult stands in opposition to Shia, the God of Death and shi's own cult, especially their belief that life itself is fleeting. While individual lives are seen as a mere flash, life as a whole is seen as strong, unending, and perpetual part of the cosmos itself. Something that once started, cannot be stopped. It will always find a way to bounce back from even the worst disasters, calamities, and destruction eventually. This fundamental juxtaposition to the death cult has led to much strife between the two groups, with little middle ground, though some smaller sects led by other gods do find the two as a matched pair- two faces of the same coin.
Worship
A widely regarded symbol of Mora's cult is the aspen due to it representing perseverance, longevity, and the resilience of life especially in colder regions of the world where it is the cult's most dominant symbol. As such, aspen groves are often maintained near Mora's shrines and temples and saplings are commonly gifted to allies. Although not confirmed, it is rumored that part of the process in becoming one of Mora's high priests is successfully raising an aspen seedling to maturity. Aspen bark is also commonly used to make paper for the group's scripture, becoming a widely recognized symbol in of itself.
Priesthood
The selection of priests for Mora's cult is an incredibly strict process that very few are accepted into. While the exact requirements are not known, certain qualities, traits, and acts in life are known to meet instant rejection from priesthood, including but not limited to participating in abject cruelty, warmongering, deliberate destruction of the natural world, or chasing fame and fortune for one's own personal gain. Selfish individuals who cannot let go of lavish lifestyles may be initially accepted into early apprenticeship under Mora's priests, but if they cannot change their ways, are oftentimes encouraged to meditate on their lives and ousted from training programs.
Unlike those of the elemental gods, priests for Mora's cult are also not commonly recruited from the general population, at least not in the same way. While the cult may suggest that persons who have not shown interest in joining the priesthood join the order, each individual must make that choice for themselves.
Once accepted into priesthood, priests of Mora's order are under strict regulations and vows to uphold their duty, and must undergo several trials throughout their training which can last for many years. In early priesthood, members must undertake vows of silence in Mora's name, ensuring that they cannot spread the cult's secrets, but also are unable to amass power for themselves through preaching or prophesying. During this time, priests will learn incredibly powerful spells and rituals that can change the flow of life and death itself, meant as last resorts for defending themselves and Mora's temples. These spells are not available to the wider public, and often rumored that Mora themself will take them away from any who misuse them by way of reducing said priests to a state where they are not dead, but also are not living. Generally, this training period lasts for 2-4 years, after which members of the priesthood can dissolve their vows of silence.
Granted Divine Powers
Under Mora, priests of the cult are granted access and training with extremely powerful forms of life magic generally not allowed by the public, as well as opportunities for extensive training with them. While many of their spells can be learned elsewhere through other means or directly asked for of the Minor Gods, under Mora's cult they can be used to a much higher degree especially for if work within the cult.
Type
Religious, Cult
Capital
Alternative Names
Cult of Mora, Order of Mora, The Moundtenders
Leader
Subsidiary Organizations
Divines
Location
Related Traditions
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Myths
Comments