Last Call! (text, un: litanytime)

[mace_pray_love]

[Jessica has attempted to filter this message so that it doesn't go out to Ereshkigal, Tezcatlipoca, and Yato, but that doesn't mean she succeeded, either because someone else showed them, or because she failed at technology.]

Hello Outsiders! Got a deity or spirit or kami from home you'd like to honor? Or know of any gods here that could use a shrine? (I've already got Yato, Tezcatlipoca, and Ereshkigal covered.) Then the Shrine of Outsider Gods is here for you (or will be really soon)! I'm setting up a space for worship, and I'd be glad to help create an altar for anyone who wants one.

Just because we're far from home, it doesn't mean we should forget the things that are important to us. Everyone is welcome.

-Jessica

[[Jessica's shrine itself will be opening later this week (hopefully), so she's trying to make sure anyone who wants to be represented, is.]

Comments

un: forgery

[misclassed]

Yeah, better do something to balance out that stack of afterlife gods.

[mace_pray_love]

there's nothing wrong with afterlife gods! they're working hard to take care of the dead.

but i want to make sure i'm not leaving anyone else out.

[misclassed]

I didn't say there was anything wrong with them. [ at least, not out loud... but the casual antagonism with tezcatlipoca and his inability to have a civil conversation with ereshkigal without things going off the rails might account for that.

and also maybe that whole "godslayer" thing he's got going on. (but that's his old job, it's not relevant!) ]

What are you making your shrines outta? You good on materials? There's plenty fresh timber here in the capital.

[mace_pray_love]

i have metal tables to set the altars up on right now. i think they're made of recycled scrap metal? it was what i could find in the city, and it'll hopefully be durable just in case. but if you have wood we could cover them with, that would look nicer.

[She was just going to have to toss tablecloths over them to cover them up.

...it's a very DIY effort, and she's working with what she can get on one relatively new-arrival's budget.]

[misclassed]

Well, that won't do. None of 'em are smith gods, so lumber would be best, and it needn't be salvage.

If you let me have the scrap when it's done, I'll make you something proper and befitting of a shrine.

[ Nobody said a blacksmith can't also be a carpenter. ]

[mace_pray_love]

...i've been doing my best...

do i have to bring them through the portal to your workshop?

[Maybe she'll be less motion-sick than last time, but she's not looking forward to the trip all the same.]

[misclassed]

Tsk. You're a shrine maiden, ain't you? Since when do they do carpentry?

[ but she's working hard and... well. that deserves credit! ]

You can if you want, but you don't gotta. I'll have one of the boys bring them to you once they're ready. There's more gods across all worlds than there are stars in the sky, so something like a butsudan for each is a good size, right? Tell me what you want, and I'll make sure it's done.

[mace_pray_love]

we don't. or, there might be some priestesses who also do carpentry, but we're not trained on it.

[Jessica's mostly been buying or scavaging beat-up, second-hand tables and hammering them back into shape, because a hammer is basically a little mace.]

well, i don't need as many as the stars, but the size you said should be ok. i think i'm up to needing 8 altars (but one of those might be a prank?) and megumi mentioned something for dead people too. i don't know if those kinds of things have the same setup as a god's shrine or not. i'll try to find out more.

@kijyo | private

[saudadist]

Godzilla is a kami
he'd be happy if he got one

private

[mace_pray_love]

i asked him if he wanted a shrine, and he said he didn't need one, so i was going to have a plaque for him there instead. was he just being modest? i can make him a shrine if you think he'd like it.

[saudadist]

yeah
he doesn't want to seem arrogant

he used to be much bigger and more of a force of nature
being here changed that since he's had a more human perspective

I want him to feel appreciated

[mace_pray_love]

then we'll make it happen! what are his symbols? is there a special way people should worship at his shrine?

[saudadist]

[ Jessica gets a ping and a symbol is sent to her inbox. ]

offerings are simple
homecooked food, like rice or fish
something people would be able to make with their own hands

for more complicated offerings...
seeds left over from planting something
egg shells from hatchlings they've raised
some kind of proof they've been taking care of plants or wildlife

as for a prayer...

"Godzilla, King of Titans, please accept this offering and give your protection for-"

well, whatever they want protected
whether it's a person or place or even if they just want to borrow his courage

I can get you some scales too if they would be good decoration for an altar


...also, kindly keep me anonymous if asked who wanted this set up
I don't need any acknowledgement

[ She'd be absolutely embarrassed if he found out she came up with this, after all. ]

[mace_pray_love]

[Scales? Is it to measure something? Jessica still hasn't figured out that Godzilla is a giant lizard.]

that all sounds great! if you think scales would be good decoration, then bring them by the shrine location [she'll send a ping of the coordinates] or by my room.

and don't worry, i'll keep it a secret if you want. although i bet he'd be really happy to know someone is watching out for him like you are.

[saudadist]

I'm just glad to see him happy
that's all the thanks I need

ah, got the location
I'll bring the scales soon
he sheds them like crazy sometimes so there'll be plenty to use

[ Put his scales on a scale. If your soul is heavier than his scale, he'll eat your heart or something. ]

[mace_pray_love]

[Wow, he must be really serious about the fish offerings if he sheds scales.]

ok, if you're sure. i'll get to work on setting things up.

[saudadist]

I'm sure

this means more to me than I can put into words

so

thank you

[mace_pray_love]

you're welcome! i think it's important, for both the gods and mortals, so i'm glad to help.

[saudadist]

[ This lady's so nice. Like genuinely nice. Even now this kinda stuff takes her aback. ]

if you need any help keeping the shrines clean I'll help too
least I can do

[mace_pray_love]

thanks. a devoted follower helping keep it tidy will definitely make any god or titan happy!

does this sound ok for the plaque for the altar? i tried to write it the way he writes.

“Godzilla, the King of Titans 👑 🦖. Pray to him 🙏 for protection from danger. Make an offering of rice 🍚 or fish 🐟 prepared by your own hands 👐, or seeds 🌰, eggshells 🐣, or other representations of your care for the natural world 🍃🌏. Live in harmony with nature, and he will lend you his courage and protection 💪 in your times of need.”

let me know if you think i should change anything.

[saudadist]

looks good to me

I'll bring all the physical decor you need and it'll be perfect

@gisei, private

[harboredfeelings]

If you're going through all the effort, would you mind adding space for Yzak Jule?

The poor thing doesn't like to talk about it, but really he's a very underappreciated deity of judgement.

[ Kaga. Kaga, no... ]

private

[mace_pray_love]

...is that really a thing, or are you trying to pull me in to some spat between the two of you?

[She's met Yzak, and while he was a little judgy, he didn't come across as divine.]

[harboredfeelings]

[ Damn, a smart one. She'll have to play this one carefully. ]

Please, I'm not that petty. I'm a follower of his myself.

[ UGH SHE FEELS SO GROSS TYPING THAT. This better pay off... ]

He doesn't like to bring it up since he no longer holds much power, but I assure you he's the most stringent judgmental being there is. An altar may help bring his divinity back.

[mace_pray_love]

[She rolled a 14 on an insight check so Jessica is still pretty suspicious of this request. But she did want to be open to everyone, and some people may have strange gods. So she should probably find out more.]

ok, tell me about his worship, please. does he have any special symbols or iconography? how do people pray to him or offer worship?

[harboredfeelings]

Symbolism-wise scales resting on the back of a winged whale is the main one. Other iconography is written word, mostly just declarations like "GREAT JUSTICE" "EVER SHINING". It's always larger characters.

Actual prayer is... odd. All of our benediction is done in complete silence, even ambient noise is discouraged. Offerings generally take the form of Orderly things, gray rocks, perfectly balanced pencils, but also things that break order and silence so they may be destroyed by him or at least removed from mortal hands. In this world those screaming chicken toys are particularly decent offerings.

[ Thanks for that last idea, Gigan. She misses you something fierce buddy. ]

[mace_pray_love]

[Wow, that's a lot of thought put into it if it's for a joke.]

i'm not familiar with those toys. as a worshipper of Yzak, do you have an extra you could donate?

[harboredfeelings]

[ Good thing Kaga isn't on base often anymore otherwise her sudden outburst of delighted fox laughter might he over heard and give her away. ]

Of course, I can have some delivered in the next few days.

[mace_pray_love]

perfect.

[For better or for worse, she's gonna make a shrine. And Kaga, though private messaging, used her network ID, so Jessica knows who requested it ;) Congrats on your surprise promotion to Head Priestess of Yzak.]

@kon, text.

[shadowban]

what about dead people? will there be a section for such prayers?

[mace_pray_love]

i'm working on altars to two gods of death, but i don't have a memorial for dead people. if that's something the people of your world do, we can add it to the shrine. what sort of offerings do people usually offer? is there any special way it needs to be set up?

[shadowban]

usually it's just lighting incense or candles and then praying, but the act itself is the offering. taking time out of one's day, giving sincere intentions for their eternal rest.

do you do something like that back home?

[mace_pray_love]

we have memorials to some of our famous heroes, but it's not a part of our worship rituals. i like the thought, though. are yours called something special, or should i call it something like a 'memorial shrine'?

[shadowban]

it doesn't have to be incorporated into the shrine itself, i think. just a small space for prayers, or posting names and photos. like a memorial wall, or a post.

i don't think it's about worship but about recalling people who've sacrificed for our sakes. they honor the gods that way, whichever ones they believe in.

if gods exist, they'll either love or hate heroes for that reason.

[mace_pray_love]

we could add something like that on the wall behind the shrine. or there's the photo wall in lilith's headquarters if people want something closer to home.

my goddess Althena exists, and she loves heroes. i bet the other gods do too.

[If Megumi wants, he can add the idea for a memorial photo wall here.]

un: Goldilocks

[likemybooks]

I suppose an alter to Exandrian gods wouldn't hurt. Perhaps Bahamut or Saranrae or the Raven Queen, but if any of my friends ever show up, one of the latter two. Are we in need of a goddess of redemption or death?

[mace_pray_love]

...would they mind sharing an altar? if not, and you need three altars, you'd better come out and help me set them up!

we have two gods of death, and one goddess of creation so far, but i don't want to bar anyone based on their domain or make a shrine just to fill out a roster. i'll help build and maintain the altars for the gods that you want to come and pray to.

[likemybooks]

I don't think they would mind. I guess I could do the god of justice and the goddess of redemption well enough. The thing is that I must prepare a statue that's worthy for a serious altar.


Bahamut's symbold is a shield, and Saranrae's is winged woman. I can sketch it for you if you want to commission someone for it.

[mace_pray_love]

ok, show me what they look like. i also need to know how people usually honor them or what sort of offerings they like. each altar has a plaque to explain to people who the god is and how to worship them.

[likemybooks]

So, Bahamut is a platinum dragon. If you can draw one, he should be okay with it.

Here's Saranrae.

[Good thing he has an automaton who knows how Pike's goddess looks like, and he sketches a black and white outline of the simplified holy symbol his team's cleric wears.]

If you carve this, it should work.

[mace_pray_love]

got it. do people just say prayers to them for justice and redemption, or are there other aspects to their worship? or would it be easier to leave you in charge of that?

[likemybooks]

More than that? It's about protecting people and second chances, but I'm not a priest. It ties into how my world works but without the same continents, the legends don't make that much sense.

Both of them have some tough fighters serving them, but I'd say that warriors pray to Bahamut more often. It all depends on who you feel like you can rely on more

[mace_pray_love]

oh, so they like having champions? do you think they'd want warriors here?

[likemybooks]

What god doesn't like having a champion?

[mace_pray_love]

well, i've only met a few gods, so i can't say for sure what every god likes. but Althena chooses champions too, so it does seem like the going trend.

@/shiro

[cranekin]

You're really making a shrine?

[mace_pray_love]

yes, of course i am.

[She wouldn't have made a post like this if she wasn't serious about it.]

[cranekin]

Wow! I'm really surprised.
I'm sure Erechan, Yato-san, and Tezcatlipoca-san will be pleased.
Have you told them what you're doing?

[mace_pray_love]

well...

i mentioned to them that i was setting up shrines

but i haven't told them they're opening up soon.

i don't know if they'll be mad that i'm running shrines for other gods, too.

[But what they don't know won't hurt them, right?]