Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1993 13:32:37 -0400 From: "Mike \"Kurgan\" Phillips" <[m s phil] at [BIRDS.WM.EDU]> Subject: mythus-l: Mariners of Neptune (The next couple are going to be slow, I'm in a crunch period and only able to type a little at a time -- these may be a little rough, but I didn't have a lot immediately at hand to work with while writing -- comments/criticism/corrections are welcomed!) The ever-dutiful scribe, who has so far touched upon relatively minor deities, now turns his pen to one of the major deities: Neptune, known to Greeks as Poseidon. When they were dividing the realms amongst the three sons of Saturn (Kronus), Jupiter chose the sky, Neptune took the sea, and Pluto took the under-earth. The worship of Neptune (or at least his appeasement!) would be of high priority to sailors and sea-going merchants, and fishermen would probably be holding services to him to enhance their harvest of the sea. Neptune's priests are required to be able to swim, boat in some form or another, and they are permitted to ride horses (the horse is an animal sacred to Neptune). Most will use either nets or tridents. In some areas, his priests are known as Mariners. Grade I: BRING FISH FORMULA Time: Instantaneous Other Heka Costs: Area: One object R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: This Casting grants the priest casting it great success in fishing endeavours, causing a greater harvest than would ordinarily be possible. It requires that a net be specially consecrated to Neptune, and, of course, that there actually be fish in the water. It is intended for use as emergency sustenance, or as a demonstration of Neptune's power (in which case, the fish should be freed afterwards). Repeated use of this in too short a time period will result in the fish no longer coming. FISHFOLLOW RITUAL Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One object R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: This Casting is most useful for those priests who assist the fishermen, for it allows the priest to "sense" where the fish schools are. Although the range is fairly long, realize that, like most such sensation Castings, as the priest approaches a school, it becomes more obvious to him exactly where it is. Thus, at the extreme range, the priest will be aware that there is a school of fish "in that direction", but as he approaches, it will become more of a "about 20 yards off the starboard bow". This Casting does require a small sacrifice to be made to Neptune before reaping the benefits of his blessing. Grade II: SEALOVE CHARM Time: 1 AT per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One subject R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: Like most priests, Mariners are able to encourage the traits of Neptune in others, and this is their primary means of doing so. Most personas, somewhere at the base of their being, have an appreciation for the beauty and savagry of the sea, and this little charm will bring it forth. It will often (but not always, in the case of hydrophobics) bring forth fond memories of the water, and raise a slight to strong desire to see the water again. As the Casting wears off, the desire decreases, but it can still be brought forth with but a small reminder until such a time as the sea (or other appropriate body of water) is sought out and viewed for a while. UNDERSEA BREATHING FORMULA Time: 1 hour Other Heka Costs: Area: One subject R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: 20:1 additional hour E/F/M: This Casting allows the subject of the Casting to breath underwater if water is not already the natural environment of the subject. That is to say, it cannot be used to "drown" a fish or other water-breathing creature by altering its respiration. The Casting does not otherwise provide any sort of protection or movement, just the capability to "breathe" water as if it were air. It may be extended an additional hour for every additional 20 Heka spent, up to a maximum of one hour per 10 STEEP. WAVERIDER FORMULA Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One subject R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: 20:1 additional hour E/F/M: This Casting is intended to keep the subject afloat for a while. Although it does not provide any sort of motion, it will keep a body afloat for a while, which can certainly be useful at times! The time may be extended one hour for every additional 20 Heka spent, to a maximum of 2 hours per 10 STEEP. Grade III: WAVESTRIDER SPELL Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One subject R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: 20:1 additional hour E/F/M: This Casting will allow the priest to walk through and with the waves. Often, people think it will allow walking on water, but this is not a good assessment of the effects, for a more proper description would be that the priest walks *with* the waves. The hand of Neptune buoys the persona, and though he may get a little wet, he is carried on the foam and through the waves, his head never dipping below the surface. He may walk at his normal rate, and the Casting may be extended one hour for every additional 20 Heka spent, to a maximum of two hours per 10 STEEP. Grade IV: WATERSTEED RITUAL Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One steed R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: By means of this Casting, the Mariner is able to summon a watter-based steed which will serve the Mariner for the duration indicated above. The steed will be waterborne, so that the priest may travel across water at a rate greater than all but the fastest of ships. What kind of steed is available will be partially dependent on the area, but it will always be of a suitable size to carry the priest. The steed will not engage in combat for the priest, nor can it be forced into combat. Grade V: SPRINGWATER RITUAL Time: 1 day per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One rock R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: When this Casting is woven, the priest has called upon Neptune to succor him and possible others through a harsh, dry time, and the rock touched (it must be of a reasonable size, as in no less than a small boulder) will crack, and water will flow from the rock for one day per 10 STEEP possessed by the caster. Note that the same rock cannot be used more than once, and attempting to sustain the life of a community, while noble, will eventually result in the withdrawal of this Casting (as Neptune was never one to coddle humanity, especially away from the water). As mentioned before, I am consolidating all of these posts into one rather large file, which will also include some details on the priesthoods (as soon as I have time to do some more research ;-) ) and some suggestions on which areas a particular priesthood would probably be prominent in. Feedback is always welcome! Mike Phillips [m s phil] at [birds.wm.edu] Guess I ought to work up the other two of the Three Big Brothers.....