"The Core of Our Faith" ((Inuyoko Mass #22))

"The Core of Our Faith"

by Inuyoko

Originally read in deoch 215 on the 21st sun of the 12th moon.

((12/13/2025))

Hello, everyone. My name is Inuyoko T’Alveni. I am a Priestess of this Shrine, and a member of its clergy since deoch 53. Last double-moon, we held a special little event at the Loures Soccer Field, playing a game of religious trivia. It was an interesting event, and went on much longer than I anticipated, so thank you to everyone who came and for your patience and grace. Today, I’d like to talk about the unifying forces of chaos, creativity, and passion that form part of the core of our faith. We call Deoch the patron god of Aislings, and of the spark, not only because it is He who has gifted it to us, but also because these virtues permeate all aspects of our lives, including the other faiths.

For Glioca, the goddess of compassion, the word ‘passion’ is already there for us to see. Though some of us may be more or less inclined to be kind to others, true compassion is not something that is necessarily just a part of us. To show compassion to others is to work to see beyond the surface level, and see the whole person. It is to love and support people in spite of their imperfections. And indeed, sometimes it is to know when fighting against bad actions and intentions is the truest form. None of this is easy, or always obvious. It takes deeper thinking and indeed, passion, to dedicate oneself to such an endeavor, and it takes attention to our own spark to know when we have reached our limits.

For Cail, the god of nature and balance, we can consider the challenges that people have faced over the millenia with regards to the use of magic and the stewardship of the environment. Knowledge alone does not automatically award us the answer to how to hold the immense power of the elements in balance, as the stories of Hy-Brasyl can attest. It takes knowledge and discipline, yes, but it also requires creative thinking. How do we use the great forces of nature and its creations to aid us without causing harm to the very thing which sustains us? And from where do we find the inspiration to care?

For Luathas, the god of divine knowledge and wisdom we see a similar lesson. Who was the first to look at common mold, or a hydele flower, and see the potential for a healing concoction? Did that sort of discovery come simply from cold observation, or was it born from a tenacious, consuming passion? Without the ability to imagine connections that aren’t immediately obvious, how could we hope for knowledge to advance in anything resembling an efficient manner? These intellectual pursuits may give us the framework to find answers, but it takes a creative force to know how best to apply them.

In Gramail, the god of law and justice, one may find it difficult to see where the chaotic elements of creativity and passion come into play. But as the Gramailians themselves might say, law without justice and caring can just as well become dictatorship and cruelty. As the Aislings of the early Deochs have echoed to us, many heavy-handed measures to do things like curb heresy or mandate certain undesirable behaviors have ended in failure. Is the solution in this case to simply give up? If the goal of my implementation of the law is to stop people from stealing bread, is my solution to state it and enforce it simply, or to aim my eyes towards other reasons for the hunger? In the mortal realm of law, no matter how much we try, the chaotic forces of humanity will always play a part, and creativity will always be demanded in response. Even in the laws of the natural world, where a person of enough insight may be able to track the smallest minutiae of the nature of the stars, or the movement of the oceans, the totality of the system is itself a chaotic force. And if nothing else, it is a never-ending font of inspiration for us in its majesty.

Fiosachd, the god of luck and wealth and adventure. Depending on your view of His domain, the concept of luck can certainly be seen as a chaotic one. Or it can be seen as a very ordered set of events born from the weight of the circumstances which preceded it. But regardless of what is true, it is a concept which fascinates our minds and excites our passion unlike many others. Wealth, too, whether the type of collective and well-distributed wealth our society should aspire to, or the more often seen hoarding of it, is one of the most passion-inspiring things I can think of. For good or ill, it drives people to action. And finally, adventure. What more do I need to say? A great adventure comes with it exposure to the unknown, potential danger and intrigue, and challenge which requires us to approach novel situations with creativity. Even the very idea of adventure – leaving one’s comforts behind to pursue something great – is to me the very embodiment of passion.

For Ceannlaidir, the god of war, conquest, and honor, there are many places where you can see the throes of passion. To go into battle in and of itself requires one to have an intense, burning belief. Whether it be in one’s own selfish desire, or in the defense of others, it doesn’t matter. In the realm of the coliseum, to engage in combat against another requires tactical thinking. And the competition and honor won in sport can feed the flames of camaraderie, and strengthen many sparks at once.

Finally, in Sgrios, the god of destruction, rot, and death, we find perhaps the strongest kindling for the flame of passion there is. The end – of our journeys, our projects, ourselves, or even this world itself…within the limitations of life, we find reason. Whether it is to make the most of it, or as an act of rebellion against it, our finality makes us want to *do* things. And it gives a purpose to our actions that is lost with infinite time to do anything and everything we could ever want. Not only that, but there is an inspiring beauty in the way this step in the cycle is just that: a step towards the next. The next phase of life for those left after a loss. The next rebirth after a fire burns away the old growth of the forest. The life-sustaining nourishment of a mushroom that has itself feasted upon death.

And then the cycle returns to Deoch. To us. To the beginning of life and all of the potential that we have seen and known. As the bringer of light, He casts upon us that which is needed to see all of the possibilities, and as the giver of the spark, he enables us to act upon them. No matter what path you find yourself on, or what faith you are part of, you are part of this magnificent tapestry. Your unique contributions to this world are important, so make a point to let your spark shine. And as Deochans, I feel there is little greater we can do than support one another in that goal. A flame in the wind. Resisting, persevering. In Deoch’s name, we join together.