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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Sep 2009 : 20:48:53
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The Song of Sharess.
In ancient times in far-off realms
An amber Goddess strode the sands
With emerald feline eyes Bast watched
Her people and defended them
With sharpened claws against their foes
The snakes and jackals of the night
Protecting mothers and their young
That they might see the day once more
The powers of the stones and sands
The roving spirits of the tribes
Who dwelled within the haunted wastes
She called upon to lend Her aid
She bound them to her, desert cats
Felidae and all those others
And at the side of bright Anhur
Their claws and teeth drove back the dark
The shining sun rose up again
And all the people welcomed it
So then they gathered to rejoice
And praise those who watched over them
The Goddess blessed Her faithful folk
She kissed Her priestesses with love
Embraced them all and bade farewell
Then took Her sword and walked away
Far to the north and west She roamed
And brought to those She journeyed with
A knowledge of life's greatest joys
And for its pleasures great desire
Unable to avert their eyes
Those who beheld Her were most awed
And vowed to bind themselves to Her
Giving Her their fervent worship
Once prowling in the dim Yuirwood
She came upon an elfin maid
A hostage to the dark designs
And evil lusts of Vha-e-raun
Though great with child and bound in chains
Zandilar strove to escape him
To Her the Queen of Cats she called
To sunder bonds she could not bend
Touched by the elven power's plight
Bast there lay down with Zandilar
She joined with her and gave Her strength
And offered up Herself in love
Summoning the power given
In twain they broke the eldritch chains
And threw those curs-ed links from them
To flee into the woods' embrace
Beside a flowing stream they fell
Wracked by pains birth brought upon them
And there brought forth the dark god's child
Whom they left lying on the moss
There Vha-e-raun did find his son
The one he would name Selvetarm
And seeking to escape his wrath
Further fled the conjoined Goddess
In darkling woods they travelled long
And fought for Zandilar's folk there
Each day their trials brought them close
Joined more than lovers ever could
But ever nearer pressed their foes
They saw the way their shields would fail
And 'twixt the times of clashing blades
They lost themselves in others' arms
Finally they stood no longer
One night the stars all went away
The battle lost they fled the woods
Cross plain and over crag they went
Until at last they came unto
The Land of Lions it was called
And there found refuge and succour
Though still the pain of loss burned hot
Safe for a time they gave themselves
Up to excess and revelry
Seeking ever wilder pleasures
To drown their bitter sorrows in
A night-clad woman came to them
She offered them some slight surcease
If they would serve her dark desires
So to forbidden fruits they turned
To satisfactions of the flesh
And wild dances in dark places
Their sole concerns their raging lusts
No thought for those they coupled with
Enslaved they were and lacking hope
Seeking just to fill each moment
And so forget those yet to come
The name they took - Shar-ess - told all
She wandered aimlessly in search
Of distractions ever greater
She sought out those who could bestow
Upon Her power that She might
Purchase pleasures ever rarer
With which to indulge dark desires
And so She came to Calimshan
Where She was queen of concubines
She stood behind the jewelled throne
And sought to rule the land entire
Naught but a puppet was its lord
The Pasha was Her willing slave
It seemed She gave Herself to him
He was in bondage to his lusts
No request could he deny Her
But She Herself was also trapped
What She had gained was coveted
By Her true mistress and desired
Such that the latter schemed and planned
To take the power thus amassed
And so the Dark One came to Her
Sprawled on perfumed cushions sated
Holding out to Her a promise
Of that utmost and final end
Showed Her a life in grey and black
A painting of futility
With no reason to carry on
Jaded Sharess reached out to her
And in surrender raised Her hand
One saw peace the other triumph
But none espied the red-haired girl
Who for her lady bore the wine
That golden cup was lifted high
The shining liquid glowed within
Wine of gods and source of beauty
The Evergold poured out of it
On contact with that sacred draught
Despair was banished, youth returned
The Dark One fled with curses vile
Sharess stood radiant again
Her sight restored and once more clear
She saw how far She'd gone astray
Looked about and saw Her folly
And tore it from Her then and there
She took bright Sune's offered hand
And kissed her lips in heartfelt thanks
Vowed steadfast friendship ever more
For that great gift of life renewed
Once more beautiful She guides us
To walk life's pleasures' path with Her
And gives us strength to reject pain
By teaching us that what life brings
Is to be felt for what it is
And that no matter what befalls
Sharess invites us all to share
Each part of life's great feast with Her
---
Yes, it's a bit long and tedious but I wanted to write it anyway  |
Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 05:53:49
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| Very nice. I like it a lot. It's long, but very good. |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
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Hellkeepa
Seeker
Norway
61 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2009 : 05:50:33
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HELLo!
Massive respect for the lore you've created and amassed here, xaviera, I bow before you.
I know for sure that the next cleric I'm going to play, will be a Sharessin... Or perhaps I'll make that a Paladin..? :-) Anyway, you've really made har a real and living god in my eyes with this, as well as her followers and religion. Much appreciated!
Happy playin'! |
Dealing with 3.5 only. Refusing the reality of 4.0, and substituting it for my own. |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2009 : 19:25:14
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In assembling the information for another thread, I've only just now  realized (after playing a Sharessin for 3 years) that at the time of 3.5e (~1374?) Sharess has been free from Shar's influence for a paltry 16 years, compared to a good 600 or so as one of the Maidens of the Forbidden Fruit. This means that the elements of decadence and debauchery should massively predominate in her worship, and that everything I've written here is irrelevant.
Or it can be taken as one priestess's attempt to rehabilitate Sharess (pun not intended, but appropriate  ). |
Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2009 : 07:22:52
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| Not necessarily, xaviera. We're dealing with godly magic here. We have no idea how long it took Shar to corrupt Sharess, and how strong the Evergold is as a restorative. |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 02:29:24
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How do you think Sharess would view her dead son, Selvetarm?
Perhaps she would try to resurrect him or convince others to attempt to (with no taint of Zanassu...) |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2009 : 22:44:52
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quote:
Originally posted by MrHedgehog
How do you think Sharess would view her dead son, Selvetarm?
Perhaps she would try to resurrect him or convince others to attempt to (with no taint of Zanassu...)
First, I expect it would be very difficult. Second, I expect it would be next to impossible 'with no taint of Zanassu'. Also, since I rather doubt he sent her roses and cards on Mother's Day even when he wasn't evil, I expect that she might at best think wistfully of him on rare occasions as "the son she never knew, who went bad".
Even if they actually met in person over the centuries, I can't see that they would have had a lot to talk about, given that she never really knew him. And since Sharess is rather self-centered, I honestly can't see her getting particularly excited about the idea of bringing him back.
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 29 Oct 2009 22:48:26 |
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goatunit
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2009 : 23:04:25
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If you're interested in poetry that evokes pagan, sexual imagery, you can't go wrong with looking up some of Algernon Charles Swinburne's work. His poem Dolores is the source of The Lady of Pain in Planescape, and much of his other work yearns to be mined as thoroughly!
From "Dedication":
The night shakes them round me in legions,
Dawn drives them before her like dreams;
Time sheds them like snows on strange regions,
Swept shoreward on infinite streams;
Leaves pallid and sombre and ruddy,
Dead fruits of the fugitive years;
Some stained as with wine and made bloody,
And some as with tears.
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2009 : 02:25:22
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All I can say is well done. I like the Lady of Lust and your take on her. Once again well done.
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2009 : 02:26:24
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All I can say is well done. I like the Lady of Lust and your take on her. Once again well done.
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2009 : 02:27:38
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Opps sorry about the repete. |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2009 : 06:18:59
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Replies to those of hostile faiths.
Shar
Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
And while the last your days may darken
To Sharess's words I urge you hearken
In anguish you may pull your hair
But don't give in to dark despair
For in the morn the sun will rise
Revealing beauty to your eyes
The Goddess giveth without measure
And Sorrow she defeats with Pleasure.
Loviatar
Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
That both can teach is no surprise
But too much hurt brings your demise
And though the flame-forged blade is stronger
It weakens if you hammer longer
We do not grow through pain and strife
They are the enemies of life
So if you must raise one above
Best choose the path that leads to Love.
Bane
Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
But look to joy and not to strife
To keep the hurt and fear from life
Though we must live by nature's rule
Who makes himself a slave's a fool
Bow not to those who make you kneel
With mailed fist and iron heel
But cast those fetters off and dance
Let Love the joys of life enhance.
Cyric
Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
Though it may seem that pain's a curse
There is no need to make it worse
So ruin not with base deceit
The joys that make our lives complete
And don't compound the world's sadness
By filling it with violent madness
For there can never be enough
Of beauty, pleasure, joy and love.
Lolth
Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
And there are those who in their mesh
Would snare your soul to torture flesh
But pity them their twisted needs
While each of us bows head and reads
The book of Joy and Pleasure's psalter
Our faith is true and will not falter
Whatever comes, below, above
We live in the embrace of Love.
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 12 Apr 2010 05:07:52 |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 03:46:47
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Just keep it coming......Please.
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 21 Dec 2009 : 17:35:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Hey, I just wanted to say that I really love what you've done here. There should be more threads like this for other deities, too! (Seriously thinking of putting one up myself....)
Go for it Alystra! Just whom would you make a thread for?
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2010 : 04:13:27
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2c. A Wedding Ceremony
This rite joins a couple in marriage for so long as they both shall choose to keep their vows. The first part of the ceremony covers purification and statements of intent - once the marriage has been consummated, the final rite of binding occurs.
Each party to the marriage (the ‘Offered’) approaches the Priestess individually. In large congregations, the two may be treated simultaneously in different rooms.
As usual before an important ritual, the parties must bathe in sanctified waters to wash away any taint of unholiness. The Priestess shall remove her gown and all other clothing and shall address the Goddess. "O Divine Sharess! I ask that You bless these waters that we may be cleansed and purified in Your sight. Raise us up, O my Goddess, and anoint us, that we may be fit to approach You and worship You here in this place."
She shall then invite the Offered to approach the bath, and shall say unto them these words: "As Priestess of Sharess, I invite you to participate in this ritual bath before you are married. I will bless you, purify you and dress you for your wedding to the one you have chosen. If this your wish today, then approach now." She shall aid the Offered to disrobe and enter the bath, saying "Enter this pool, then, that you may be cleansed and anointed." She shall then bathe and anoint them with holy oil on forehead, nose, lips and breast, saying "Be purified by this water, be anointed with this oil, be blessed in this Our Lady’s House." They shall then come forth from the bath and the priestess shall dry the Offered and aid them in dressing before doing so herself.
The Priestess shall then ask the following questions of the Offered and shall listen carefully to the answers given. Though it is the place of the Goddess to judge the heart of the answerer, it is nonetheless appropriate for the Priestess to insist at least that the answers be truthful. While a Sharessin should not be ashamed of anything he or she has done, if done with pure heart and in obedience to the will of the Goddess, it is always understood that there may be a need for discretion in some things.
"Tell me three things that you like most about your intended."
"What are your three greatest hopes for the future with him/her?"
"What are the three things you would like most to say to him/her?"
"What secret will you confess to your intended before I pronounce you married?"
"Have you ever been married to another at any time? And have you any children of which you are aware?"
The Priestess shall then take a strip of fine red cloth, preferably silk, about an armspan in length, and tie one end of it over the eyes of the Offered, wrapping the remaining length loosely about their arm. "Wait here," she shall say, "and think upon your intended."
Once all preparations are made and both parties are ready, the Priestesses shall lead them to the altar, standing them at the front thereof and facing it. An assistant shall lead or carry a cat as a symbol of the Goddess and shall stand by the idol itself as witness to the ceremony. The Priestess shall bow low to the idol of the Goddess, to the couple, and to the congregation, as a reminder of whom she serves, and then shall stand behind the altar and address those assembled.
"Today we meet to celebrate a festival. Today, we celebrate the binding together of this couple," and shall state the names of the Offered to the congregation to identify them, that all may know.
"There are many events in life worth celebrating. Births, birthdays, coming of age, marriages, anniversaries. Even death can be an occasion for celebration when we meet to remember those who have passed on and how they enriched our lives. The Sharessin say that life is a great feast, and the events that give us pleasure are our meat and drink, the things that sustain us through our daily lives, that give us strength and purpose to go on and keep us from the emptiness of despair."
The Priestess shall embrace each of the Offered, and kiss them upon the lips, then take their hands in hers and join them together.
"As we eat to live, so we live to eat. Food delights and sustains us, as do the many ways in which life pleases us. But this feast is best partaken of in company, with a friend, a companion, a lover, a spouse, to share those delicacies. There are many events in life, many courses in the great feast, and the two of you have now chosen to dine together."
She shall then remove the blindfold from each of their eyes, hanging the cloth over their shoulder so that it falls down the chest.
"Look now into each others eyes, and love each other for as long as you both desire. May your hands hold and strengthen each other. May your hearts beat together and may your breath sustain each other."
She ties a knot in the cords about their hands, joining them together.
"Sharess, as you know, is the Goddess of Sensual Pleasures, and by her nature does not greatly emphasize fidelity. Her concern is primarily that the two of you should enjoy your lives and, should you one day part, that you will hopefully do so as friends. Nevertheless, we do not know if such a day will ever come, and so while I encourage you to take pleasure in and with each other, I urge you also to look to the far horizon together. There is also great pleasure in daily life, and in living that life together. Keep each other company, feed, clothe and house each other. Protect, sustain, encourage and support each other. Care for each other, and for any children you may bring into this world."
Before the two parties and the assembled congregation, she says, "In token of your honest, loving and open relationship with each other, and in the hope that it will always be so, I ask each of you to tell the other of a flaw, a fault or a confession you have to make."
Each of the Offered then speaks their confession.
"Do the two of you now consent to be married to each other, for as long as you both shall choose? Do you promise to support each other, to love each other, and to share your pleasure with each other? Do you promise to be forthright with each other, to forgive each other when needful, and to aid each other in all things while honouring each other as free individuals in their own right?"
Each responds with "I do".
"I bless you both in the name of Our Lady. May She watch over you and bless you this night, and may the pleasure that you share together be just a taste of what is to come."
The Priestess raises her hands in blessing over the couple.
"Rejoice!"
The couple is then escorted to the marriage bed to consummate their bond while the feast begins. Depending on local custom, this may be private or public and may or may not involve the presence of the Priestess.
* * *
Later, each of the Offered meets with the Priestess individually to ask any questions or to discuss any concerns they may have. The other may be invited to participate if need be. Ideally, the couple should have actually had time to sleep, though it may in fact be as little as an hour or two (e.g. if they are in a hurry to get back to the party). The pair is then brought once more before the guests and the Priestess asks each if they still desire to be married to each other.
"You have lain with your intended and you have heard his/her confession. Do you still wish to be wed?"
If both respond in the affirmative, she kisses them both and blesses them again, thus confirming their marriage.
"I bless you both in the name of Sharess. May She bless you in the giving and receiving of pleasure. May She take your pain and give you joy, and may She grant you happiness in all that you do together. May you love and pleasure each other for all the days of your lives. May you dine together each and every day at the great feast that is your life. Bless you both and be welcomed into the ranks of the Accepted."
If one or both decline, she kisses them both but speaks instead the following words.
"I bless you both in the name of Sharess. May She bless you in the giving and receiving of pleasure. May She take your pain and give you joy, and may She grant you happiness in all that you do. You have held to Her commandment to explore the infinite experiences that await us as part of the Eternal Revel of Life, and in doing so you have honoured Her. Go now in peace and love and with respect for each other and for what you have shared this day, and may the memory of your time together enrich your lives and your spirits."
The party may or may not continue at this point, depending on the wishes of the Offered/Accepted and/or the guests.
There is generally little shame in backing out of the marriage unless done spitefully or callously, which generally reflects negatively upon the one behaving in such a manner. It is not unknown for a couple to go through with the ceremony simply to enjoy each other’s physical company for a night in a socially-sanctioned context. The marriage customs of the Lady of Lust’s followers have given rise to the phrase ‘Sharessan wedding’, which may be used in reference either to an elaborate seduction with the sole aim of getting someone into bed, or to a marriage (usually of short duration) between two people who have little in common save physical attraction.
(based on Ed's description of a Sharessan wedding)
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 21 Feb 2010 05:42:21 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2010 : 01:02:44
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Keep it coming Xavier. Good stuff indeed!
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2010 : 01:39:58
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The Tale of Buthaynah
It is told that many years ago, in the Festhall of Eternal Delight in Calimport, there was a fair young priestess of Sharess by the name of Buthaynah. As assistant to the High Priestess and of good family, she had a small room within the Temple itself. Each morning she would arise and go about the Festhall, dutifully cleaning, changing the rushes, setting out fresh candles, anointing the idols of Sharess, and doing many other tasks as she joyfully sang hymns to the Goddess, all for love of her Lady. She was always happy and strove ever to keep the Goddess in the forefront of her thoughts, and for her devotion she was favoured by the Goddess, though she knew it not.
Dark-eyed and raven-haired, she was beautiful and graceful and was greatly admired for her skills at dance and pleasure, and though she was a quiet girl (or perhaps because of it!) she was often sought out by many of the men who came to the Temple seeking the blessing of Sharess in the arms of a priestess. One such was Razhu Mashid, a mage of no small accomplishment, but a cold-hearted and grasping man.
It came to pass one day that as Razhu Mashid was being carried in his litter along the waterfront of Calimport, striking his slaves with his goad to speed them on their way, he spied the priestess Buthaynah while passing before the Temple. Stopping right there, he strode over to her and demanded her name. I am Buthaynah, Lord, she replied, bowing her head to him, a humble servant of the Princess of Passion. I would have you, woman, he said, meaning that in his lust and greed he coveted her for himself. As you wish, my Lord, she said, and took him by the hand and led him to her chamber, as it is often the way of the Sharessin to give themselves in honour of She whom they serve when asked, for she did not understand what dark passions she inflamed in him.
Though she found his attentions harsh and demanding, she endured them for the love of her Lady, and even more did she strive to pleasure him, using all her skills to leave him weak and exhausted. This angered him all the more, that he should be rendered so powerless by a mere woman. In his dudgeon he named her a she-eel and a whore, that he might deny his own feelings and magnify himself in his own sight, for it is written that he who makes his own mirror shall see only that which he wishes. I shall take you and I shall make you mine, he said, his face dark as the storm. You will hold me to your breast and kiss me, he said, and you will enjoy it. I shall lay my head upon your lap, you will feed me and comb my hair and you will please me with the touch of your fingers. This I vow, for I am Razhu Mashid the mage, and my power is great.
The beautiful Buthaynah bowed her head to him, attentive to each touch and word as her Goddess commanded she be, and learning therefrom, yet repulsed by the evil in this man. This may not be, O great Lord, she said, for I am bound in my heart to the Lady of Lust, and it is Her only that I serve. You may not command a Sharessin, Lord, for Her blessing is only that pleasure which is freely given. I care not for your goddess and I shall have you nonetheless, he said. Truly, he was made foolish by his lust to say such things in the temple of She to whom he had just made offering, though he thought not of it as such. As the sages say, it is evil for a man to curse the one in whose house he is a guest. And with those fateful words he belted his robe about himself and strode off.
That night his slaves knew his fury, though not the cause of it, for he was ashamed at his weakness and denied it even to himself, that he should feel such yearning for a woman he had named a hard-coin girl. I shall take her as I vowed, he said, and he set about casting many powerful magics upon himself, of protection and of invisibility and others. And summoning a djinn, he commanded it to carry him through the air, and so set out for the Festhall of Eternal Delight.
The Temple, being what it is (for those who know not), is open all hours and some days there is more activity at night than while the sun shines, and so it was that the doors stood wide before Razhu Mashid. Casting upon himself a spell of shape change, he took the form of a cat, reasoning that thus disguised he could go unnoticed in a temple where there were many such. O foolish man, blinded by greed and lust! To enter the Temple of Bast in the form of one of Her sacred creatures was the height of foolishness, but do so he did.
In this way, then, did Razhu Mashid enter into the chamber of Buthaynah where she knelt in prayer before an image of the Goddess as beautiful as she herself. O Sharess, she called, O Bast, O Mother of Cats. Protect me, I pray, from the wrath of this man who would claim me for his own. If it is Your will that I give in to his intentions should he come again, I shall do so for love of You, but do not let him take me from Your house, for this I could not abide.
At that very moment, it is said, the eyes of the idol flashed and Razhu Mashid felt upon him the touch of an unseen hand. And lo, when he sought to once again take his own form that he might carry off the priestess, he found that could not. Buthaynah, for her part, saw in her chamber a cat she did not recognize, which sat before her and regarded her with wide eyes. O my Goddess, she cried, You have truly honoured me by sending one of Your servants to watch over me! And she took the form of Razhu Mashid into her arms and held him to her breast and kissed him.
And so it was that the vows of Razhu Mashid came true, though not in the way he would have wished. For now the beautiful Buthaynah lays his head in her lap and sings hymns of her love for Sharess to him, and each day she feeds him and combs his fur and pleasures him with her petting. And he who sought to own a priestess of Bast is himself owned, for it is well and truly said that he who curses the gods shall have his curses returned upon him ten-fold. Great indeed is the power of Sharess, and all praise to Her!
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 12 Apr 2010 05:10:52 |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2010 : 23:45:54
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I like it! Have you ever work for WOTC? Are you a pro writer?
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2010 : 04:58:53
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The Blessing of Azulis
Many, many years ago (which is, of course, when all such stories are set) there lived a young woman called Aliza. Aliza was not very pretty, sad to say, and had a bit of a limp from a childhood injury. As a result she was not well-favoured and worked hard to earn a few coins for herself by washing other people's clothes. She was, however, a devotee of Sharess and lived her life faithfully according to the word of the Goddess. Though her life was difficult she still went each day to the Temple and made offering before Sharess to thank Her for her blessings.
In the course of things, as sometimes happens, she became with child, though the man was simply using her and laughed at her when she told him of her condition. Still, she bore the baby to term, savouring the experience of pregnancy as a good Sharessin should, and was rewarded with a beautiful boy with laughing eyes. When he was a tenday old, she took him to the Festhall to place him before the statue of the Goddess. Oh my Goddess, she prayed, this is my baby boy Azulis whom I bring before you today. I dedicate him to You and I promise to teach him and raise him in Your faith. I ask only that You bless him, O most glorious Sharess. She looked down at herself and prayed that her son would be well-favoured and popular as she herself had not been, wishing for him a better life than her own. And because she was faithful and her plea touched the Goddess, Sharess passed Her hand over the child and blessed him.
Azulis was a lovely boy, with dark curly hair and dark eyes, and everybody praised him. Always he was the popular one, chosen first in all the games, even though he was not the strongest or the fastest or the smartest, but simply because everyone wanted to be his friend. People gave him gifts because he was beautiful and overlooked his faults for the same reason. Aliza, for her part, remained ever faithful to her Goddess and prayed each day for Azulis; she tried to teach him the way of Sharess and how it was important to treat every event as special, but for Azulis everything came too easily and he could not be bothered to exert himself in such a manner.
As the years passed he became a handsome youth over whom all the girls (and not a few men) fawned. But he grew selfish with having everything he desired given to him and became thoughtless and greedy, considering it his due. To his friends he boasted of how well-favoured he was, claiming that he could talk anyone into giving him what he wanted or have any woman he desired. To his mother he said that he owed nothing to anybody and spurned her efforts to teach him about the Goddess. I shall give offering to Beshaba, he said, that she does not take what I have from me, but your goddess is the Lady of Harlots and I have no need to pay for a woman. When she died, saddened by his rejection but still devoted to her only child, he took what little coin she had and would not even pay for her burial.
As he stood one day upon the street with his friends, bragging of yet another girl who'd given herself to him and even paid him for it, they laughed and pointed to a young woman walking by. A slight red-haired girl she was, known to be a very shy and very much a virgin, and they dared him to prove his virility by taking her. Surely she will love it, they joked. Every girl only needs Azulis to light her fire, they said, and she will thank you for doing her this favour. Indeed she will, he replied, for it is true that no woman can resist me, and he hitched up his breeches and left his friends and crossed the road after her.
So Azulis walked up behind her and took her arm, steering her into an alley as his friends jeered and made ribald jokes. Too meek even to raise her voice in her own defence she stumbled as he pushed her behind a pile of boxes and garbage and then he raised her skirts and took her then and there, face-down in the muck. Enjoy it, wench, he sneered as she wept, for it is Azulis who blesses you with his attention. He laughed as he belted his breeches when he was done with her - how do you feel now, girl? Has the great Azulis satisfied you? At this she heaved a deep breath and turned her face to him, her green eyes blazing, and in the back of his mind he noticed that her hair was no longer straight and red but a tawny mane.
She reached out with one hand and grasped his jaw, long nails digging into his cheeks, and pulled his face close to hers, and suddenly he knew fear. I blessed you, Azulis, she growled, at the behest of your mother, who loved me and wanted better for you than she had. Yet you spurned her and you abused my gift, for while pleasure shared is pleasure doubled, you have used what I gave you to take pleasure without consent, which is the worst offence you may do to me. For this I take back all that I have given you, she said, all the pleasures of all the years, all at once, and she reached out her other hand between his thighs.
Azulis trembled in terror as nails scratched his skin. Do not cry, man child, came Her voice, here now is a different blessing. And then She laughed and he felt Her lips on his and shook with ecstacy as fire raced through his veins. His senses were overwhelmed - his eyes clouded over until he could barely see and a roaring filled his ears so that he could scarcely hear. His limbs became weak and he cried out as he felt his manhood shrivel in Her grasp. He knew then that the greatest pleasure he would ever feel after this moment would be painful in comparison and that all his offerings to Beshaba were for naught, for it was not she who had the power to take away what had been given but Sharess who is Bast who is Zandilar who is called the Succubus of Sensation. And so She left him as he had intended to leave the red-haired girl and he knew that death would be a welcome release when finally it came.
Know ye all, therefore, that there is no limit to the Goddess' blessing, but so too is there no limit to the pains of he who affronts Her. A life without pleasure is a life not lived, and a life with no pleasure is not worth living; as pain is the door to death, so the sharing of pleasure is the path of life. All praise Sharess, and let none prevent another from enjoying Her bounty.
[Note: The rather dark tone of this story suggests that it may predate the Time of Troubles and the freeing of Sharess from the grip of the Mistress of the Night. The last paragraph, in fact, is almost apologetic and may be a later addition intended to soften the overall impact of the tale.]
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 12 Apr 2010 05:16:49 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2010 : 05:27:42
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Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed it! 
Made a few other minor edits here and there while I was at it, mostly to the various poems. Also added The Indulgent's Prayer in section 2 on page 1.
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2010 : 12:04:17
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| Excellent story. I especially liked the way it was told, and the ending note, which made it seem much more authentic. |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 17:57:59
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quote:
Originally posted by xaviera
Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed it!
Made a few other minor edits here and there while I was at it, mostly to the various poems. Also added The Indulgent's Prayer in section 2 on page 1.
All I can say is ...... More please. 
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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Brix
Learned Scribe
147 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2010 : 10:13:00
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I have no problem with Sharess having cats in her portfolio. Beast Cults have a long tradition in the Realms. So you could also see Sharess as a Beast Lord with some additional duties  |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2010 : 15:28:11
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It's those 'additional duties' that have taken over most of the portfolio, though. (8D)
I'm trying to come up with other ideas for poems/tales - hopefully I'll be back with more soon!
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 05:02:04
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Wow! Such good stuff! =) |
Every beginning has an end. |
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xaviera
Learned Scribe
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 05:20:49
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[The following is not, strictly speaking, a Sharessan composition, though it was written by my character as a general exhortation to people to live life with less hostility. As such, it reflects the general concepts expounded upon in these pages.]
A New Song for the World
Come on, people! Time to listen -
Drop your plough and stop your fishin'!
Had enough of pain and strife?
Now's the time to change your life.
Come now, tell me, don't you tire
Of battle, death and war and fire?
Of Cyric's madness, fear of Bane,
Lolthite tortures, Sharran pain?
But why, you ask, are you afflicted?
I tell you, friends, you are addicted
To lust for power, coin and fame
Which draws like moths unto a flame.
It's not so much the common folk
(Who bear their burden's heavy yoke)
But history has demonstrated
Adventurers are never sated.
Know ye, 'tis the quest for power -
To slay the spider in her bower
Or subjugate the orcish tribes -
That eats away at your insides.
So ye who delve in dungeons deep
Think of those at home, asleep -
Of townsman, merchant, clerk or midwife -
Without whom you'd have no life.
Now they just want to carry on,
To rise and greet another dawn.
Believe or not, they feel no lack
Not fearing enemy attack.
You face the foes they cannot meet
But duty is a two-way street;
Don't overdo and draw the ire
Of enemies' returning fire.
For naught is wrong with self-defence
But please! don't make life so intense;
I tell you, watch what you are doin'
When you invoke that Greater Ruin!
Else tit-for-tat one-upmanship
Will find you buried to the hip
In plots of vengeance complicated
From which you can't be extricated.
Then each attack provokes another,
Pitting brother versus brother,
Each striving for the upper hand
Without regard for fellow man.
Now those who seek to be divisive
Will justly meet with jeers derisive,
For honest toil they do shirk
And seek the prize without the work.
A wall is stronger when it's mortared,
An army when it is supported,
But those who strive alone for riches
Will find that they have burned their bridges.
You take that road, you cannot stop -
There's only one guy at the top -
So you must climb with greater haste
Or find his foot upon your face.
They'll try to take what you possess
By threat or fear or by duress,
And if they fail, why then, of course,
They'll do their best to take by force.
But though it's true they have the might,
Their power stems from naught but spite.
Reject the way of those who seek
To take your joy, from greed or pique,
And turn from evil hearts so hollow
For where you go they cannot follow;
You are rich because you feel
And that is what they cannot steal.
So don't give in to threat of terror
(To do so is to live in error)
But rather try to work together -
Let loose your love, don't bind and tether!
I tell you, it's a simple plan:
Just reach out and extend a hand
And give of what you can afford -
In love you will reap your reward.
So gather 'round, my friends and neighbours
And put away those mauls and sabers!
The way of peace is no disgrace
And makes our world a better place.
Band together, stand as one -
Live life freely, join the fun!
Share the efforts and the pains -
In this way, everybody gains!
It's you who'll make the difference -
Now isn't that just common sense?
Help us create this paradise -
All you need do is just... be nice!
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts & Prayers by Xaviera ~ High Priestess of Sharess |
Edited by - xaviera on 31 Jul 2010 05:24:29 |
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Writings on Sharess: Thoughts and Prayers
