"An Introduction to Deoch" ((Inuyoko Mass #14))
Hello, everyone. My name is Inuyoko T’Alveni. I am a Cleric of the Shrine of Deoch, and a member of its clergy since deoch 52. It is with joy in my heart that I return to you this sun after a double-moon away. I thank you for not forgetting about me. *laughs* I’d like to thank the Mileth Burgesses and Fair Committee members for opening up this unique venue to hold Mass and discuss our faiths. When last I spoke, I discussed our Trinity of Deoch, Glioca, and Sgrios. Its strength, and some of where it comes from. Why this is our Trinity in the first place. Today, since it was suggested, I am going to lean into simple and straightforward: who Deoch is, and what our faith represents. I hope that for those of you who are interested in learning about the gods of Temuair, this will be a decent primer for you on what we believe.
If you’ve spoken to the mundanes, or done a bit of reading, you may already be familiar with some of the common descriptions of Deoch’s domain. He is the patron god of all Aislings, having perfected Danaan’s spark and gifted it to us. He represents creativity, inspiration, passion, debauchery, transformation, freedom, warmth, and rapture. One thing that I feel is important to explain up front is that our faith is not a dogmatic one. When I stand before you and speak about Deoch, my words are not prescriptions. There is no one true way to understand Him, His gift, or what it means to worship Him. With that said, I will do my best to help you leave here feeling more comfortable with what being Deochan means.
Firstly, who is Deoch? Or more accurately, who *was* He? This is a question that has often been debated in historical texts and theological discussion. To some, Deoch was a Dubhaimid. To others, he was once a mortal man who ascended to godhood, either through His service to Chadul, or from His relationship to Danaan. …I can already hear the whisperings, and yes, you heard correctly – I did say Chadul. Regardless of who Deoch originally was, we know that he served Chadul for much of the Shadows War. For some, this fact is unforgivable. But for me, Deoch’s change of heart, and the sacrifices He made to finish Danaan’s work, are an endearing part of him. It speaks to another aspect of His domain: duality, and rehabilitation. But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, I think. For those of you who don’t know the rest of the story, Deoch bore witness to Danaan sometime near the last years of the Shadows War. He became enamored of her, and fell in love. Deoch may have served Chadul, but He was not a slave to his will. When Chadul called Him, Deoch ignored it. Then, when Danaan made the ultimate sacrifice to seal Chadul away, Deoch was left at a crossroads. Some believe that it was part of Danaan’s ultimate plan for Deoch to finish her work and become the final god of the Octave, but it could not have been a foregone conclusion. As Landon wrote in his work “The Dreamers”: “The combination of Her initial weaving and His subsequent work could not have been immediately compatible.” But ultimately, He decided to try, and the result was us.
Like the architects of the spark itself, we Aislings are creatures of duality. Capable of great good, as well as great wickedness. Capable of beautiful creation or terrible destruction. But who and what we are is no longer determined solely by our birth, or our heritage. We are harbingers of change, and we have the awesome power to transform the world, in big ways and small, through our choices and our actions. This, my friends, is Deoch’s gift to us, and why we hold Him in such high regard. In my eyes, protecting the spark within ourselves, and helping to keep it kindled in others is the highest calling we have as Deochans.
How does one do that? Well, therein lies yet another beautiful part of our faith. There are innumerable ways that one can. By simply being here, taking care of ourselves, and sharing this dream with each other, we succeed. When we hunt together, we succeed. When you decorate the halls of your shrine or a church in preparation for a wedding, you succeed. Every letter you write, song you sing, or poem you recite is a success. Every meal we share together in camaraderie is *speaks with emphasis* Yet. Another. Success. To some, this may seem aimless, or vague, *waves her hand to the side in a dismissive gesture* but it is a calling that is part of who we are whether we realize it or not, and that is what we celebrate. When you are seeking answers, and merely speaking your questions aloud to a friend calls the solution to your mind, that power too is part of the spark. It leads us to work together, to build, and to empower each other.
And that is what drives me to stand before you all every double-moon and speak about our faith. My hope is that somewhere in my words, you all will find some inspiration. That the inspiration I gain from Deoch can be channeled through me to you.
That is how I see my faith. But as I said in the beginning, my words are not the law of the shrine, for we do not *do* “laws of the shrine”. For some, Deoch is appealing as a patron of the arts. For others, His fiery passion is what calls them to Him. And sometimes it is simply a solemn gratitude for the spark He has given us. If you attend our Masses regularly, you will have a wide variety of experiences. Where I tend to be long-winded and speak on concepts, others might tell stories, or invite everyone to join together in drink and merriment. I’ve even heard Masses that take the form of group games. In short: we love to see our fellow Deochans expressing their unique spark.
I feel I am at risk of getting a bit repetitive now, so I will begin to wrap things up. But, before Mass is cast, I’d like to open up for questions if anyone has any.
Mass is cast.
Thank you all for joining me today, friends. If anyone is interested in being initiated into the faith, that process will have to be done at the Shrine in Suomi. Please whisper to me if you are interested, and I am happy to head that way and meet with everyone who is.
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