(12-14-2016, 12:23 PM)dysnomia Wrote: I'm designing this dunesfolk lalafell character and within their lore found on wikis and whatnot, it says they wear a forehead gem that represents their zodiac. When it says zodiac, it is talking about the patron deity? or the name day?
This has been a talking topic for many many years, actually. But the Encyclopedia Eorzea may have finally given us some much needed clarification on the Dunesfolk jewels.
1.0 Character Creation Wrote:Many [Dunesfolk] wear a small, traditional gemstone on their forehead, a symbol of their zodiacal sign.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:While many are familiar with the Dunesfolk custom of attaching a small orb to the forehead as a symbol of their guardian deity, it is less well-known that this practice dates back to - and serves to honor - their ancestors, the sorcerers of Mhach. Another unique Dunesfolk practice is that of feeding their children cups of herb tea infused with minuscule portions of diluted snake and scorpion venom. As such, Dunesfolk raised in traditional households often display a remarkable resistance to certain poisons.
The complication now arises when deciding if Dunesfolk choose a gemstone representing their chosen guardian deity or if they choose the gemstone they were born under. This decision may ultimately be entirely up to the individual Lalafell! It almost sounds like a coming of age milestone for a traditional Dunesfolk family, though whether that's true or not is theorycrafting at best.
What we do know is that the people of Eorzea choose their guardian deities for a wealth of reasons. Some follow their birth moon, others follow the doctrine of their city state, some races are more predisposed to worshiping one of the Twelve over another, while others make the choice simply for their lifestyle or chosen profession. Many worship more than one, and many more all Twelve. So when making the decision for your Dunesfolk, I would try to figure out which deity your character finds most central to their core beliefs, or stick to their birth guardian.
Fernehalwes Wrote:The same can be said regarding religion. Each city-state has a patron (matron) deity, and most people in that city-state will follow the teachings of that god or goddess. There are, for the most part, however, no strict religious codes that must be followed. Some Eorzeans will choose to worship a deity connected to their profession (for example, weavers often follow Nymeia the Spinner). Some follow the deity associated with their nameday. There are even some Eorzeans who choose not to follow the teachings of the Twelve, but they are few and far between...and often will not admit it.
The exception to this rule can be seen in Ishgard, where they take the teachings of Halone very seriously...to the point that the church and state have become inseparable. They go as far as calling those who do not follow the Fury 'unbelievers,' and those who are found to have communicated with the dragons of Dravania (the mortal enemies of Ishgard), are branded as heretics and in some cases executed.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Belief in the Twelve, a pantheon of gods and goddesses each represented by one of the six elements upon which all creation is founded, has served as a cornerstone for civilization in Eorzea for millennia. Though theologians remain unsure of the exact origins of Twelve worship in Eorzea, studies of relics from the Allagan civilization tell us that even five thousand years ago at the peak of the Third Astral Era, the six and six deities were already engrained in society - as they are today. Not only is the year divided into twelve, and twelve-year cycles used in modern astrology, city-states still choose a patron deity to serve as a guardian over their lands, with that deity becoming a focal point of cultural development, such as the case with Nald'thal and the economically inclined Ul'dahns.
Sometimes, people from certain races or professions will choose to focus their worship on a single deity. Many Miqo'te Seekers of the Sun clan will follow the teachings of Azeyma, the Warden and goddess of the sun. Sailors will often pray to Llymlaen, watcher of seas and goddess of navigation to see their ships safely to port, and artisans will pray to Byregot to guide their hands.
From this past Valentione's Day celebration, I dug up some old text on Sounsyy's reading. Sounsyy's chosen Guardian Deity is Llymlaen, the Navigator. However, her birthday is during the Sixth Astral Moon, or November, the moon of Nophica. So while Sounsyy has chosen to follow the path laid out by the Navigator, her fate ultimately lies with the Matron.
The birth day and month, as well as your name, race, and gender are indicated to be crucial to an accurate reading.
Frank Fortune-teller Wrote:Hmmm... Let's see here. You were born in the Sixth Astral Moon, and thus your fate is guided by Nophica.
House Valentione Emissary Wrote:On these cards is written your name, race, gender, and much more─information that is essential for an accurate reading.
Unfortunately, what specific gemstone belongs to which specific deity is unknown, if there are even twelve gemstones. There might only be six (half of twelve), following what many numerologists call "Factors of Twelve" or "traces of the gods." As Kilieit illustrated, gemstones may reflect the elemental color or property of the associated Twelve. It's possible also that they might reflect the gemstones of the Near Eastern zodiac of the Atma, which is curiously shared by the ranger units of the Gods' Quiver, which are Lapis, Peridot, Ruby, and Topaz looking gemstones.
