"Antagonisms" ((Inuyoko Mass #47))

"Antagonisms"

by Inuyoko

Originally read in deoch 219 on the 15th sun of the 12th moon.

((05/14/2026))

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 Mass, I talked a bit about change. Today, I want to speak a bit more generally about the Octave, sectarianism, and the relationship of the faiths.

There is a common question held by folks who are trying to learn about and understand the various faiths in Temuair. That question is about the significance of the allyships and antagonisms between them. Many Clergyfolk will emphasize, or at least ask for a basic knowledge of these relationships when initiating new worshippers. It’s an understandable task. To understand the ‘what’ of who allies themselves with Deoch is important. I consider the relationship between Deoch, Glioca, and Sgrios to be a significant one for many reasons, even though I don’t often test prospective Deochans on that matter personally for initiation. What’s really significant in that, though, is the ‘why’ of it all, and that is a difficult thing to pin down sometimes.

One problem is that it is not a universal consensus. The reality of sectarianism and liturgical disagreement both between faiths and within them is real and valid. It’s part of what makes theological discussion so vibrant and interesting. The view I like to maintain is that the antagonisms between faiths are really more between the gods than ourselves. And I like to emphasize that the actual extent to which that is even an important thing is unknown to us. Take Deoch and Luathas, for example. If you reflect on the histories as they’re understood, it’s easy to imagine why these gods could be considered enemies. Luathas is a god known for His commitment to methodological reasoning. The ‘affronts’ relate to His desire to prevent humans from succumbing to the corrupting forces of magic, and the element of darkness in particular. Deoch, on the other hand, is by most accounting a being of darkness, or at least one who was finely attuned to it. An accomplice of Chadul at one point. An advocate for an impassioned and at times wild freedom. Taking these things into consideration, why wouldn’t there be a lingering antagonism between them? Yet on the other hand, I believe there is a shared dedication to craftsmanship. To the pursuit of the betterment of ourselves and our world. And on a broader scale, all the gods of the Octave are connected the way they are because they all came together for the common cause of Danaan’s light, and the sealing of Chadul. 

When categorizing the gods, we could speak of chaos vs. order, the divine vs. the natural, the individual vs. the societal, and so on. But these distinctions often say more of us than they do the gods themselves, or our faiths generally. A ‘Creativity’ Deochan and a ‘Passion’ Deochan (as described by Aphrodite) may view the world very differently, with an entirely different focus on what they take from Deoch’s lessons and gifts. All of this is to say that our grievances are often just that. Our own. Some folks may take issue with my unitarian approach to faith. To them, the differences between Deoch and Gramail may be so stark that to imply otherwise is insulting. I’m not here to criticize that, or say that they’re wrong. I think it’s part of what makes theology such an interesting subject in our world. And I encourage anyone who is exploring the subject themselves to consider things through these many lenses. Are Gramail and Deoch “opposites” because their ideals are irreconcilable? Gramail is perhaps the oldest of the gods in our Octave, while Deoch is the youngest. How much does that matter? Is it not true to say that seeking egalitarianism and fairness through justice allows us to pursue our more individualistic and creative passions while minimizing the harm to others? Gramail and Glioca are ostensibly enemies, but one can argue that the pursuit of rigid law without a place for compassion is simply a form of tyranny. 

What I am getting at here is a fairly obvious point, which is that much like the relationships between ourselves, those between the gods and the faiths are complex. The Octave is a reflection of the cyclical nature of our world; our own lives a reflection of the gods. There are myriad ways in which our beliefs and ideals overlap within every piece of it, and it is not my place to dictate to my fellow Deochans or anyone else how they should interpret these things or feel about them. 

If you are one of those folks who are early on in your journey exploring these subjects, I recommend starting from the roots. Speak with the attendant Mundane acolytes and see what they have to say. Read what others have written in the Library of Loures about the gods. Talk to members of the Clergy from several different faiths and ask them what they think about the relationship between one god and another. In my opinion, the discussion is what really lies at the heart of it all.