lady of the lake's priesthood
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ACOLYTE
Age 7 to 10 Years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of the Mind - Knowledge -
- Learn to recite poems, eulogies, genealogies, etc. befor the high council, though cannot compose or cast them
- Cannot attend religious ceremonies
TATTOO - Triskele on the left cheek - sign of the priesthood
NAMING CEREMONY - initiated with water and accepted into the priesthood. Taught to forget life and family before the priesthood.
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BARD
10 to 16 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of the Mind - Knowledge
- Continue to study how to recite poems, eulogies, genealogies, etc. before the high council, though now learn to compose them as well.
- Also learn to compose aers (satires) and geisa, though still cannot cast them
- Cannot attend religios ceremonies
- begin to practice the art of dercad
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MINOR CLERIC
16 to 19 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind and body - discipline
- Must recite by heart a number of random poems, eulogies, genealogies etc. before the high council
- Allowed to compose and entertain with poems
- Can practice composing eulogies and casting satires, but only under the supervision of a high priest.
- Begin studies to become a seer
- Learn basic powers to control elements
- Learn discipline of mind and body, and the basics of sacrificial rites, though may only attend religious ceremonies if invited by high priest.
- Spend more time studying skills such as dercad
- Must remain celibate
TATTOO - knotted band around the upper right arm
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MAJOR CLERIC - OLLAMH
19 to 21 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind and body - discipline
- Strength, courage and endurance emphasized. Learn to control impluses such as anger and lust
- Must remain celebate and may not marry
- Prepare to enter the Filidh, the road to becoming a priest. At this point, there is no turning back
- May compose satires, poems and genealogies on own. May compose and cast satires, geisa, and aers under light supervision.
- Increase concentration, so as to improve skills as a seer and be able to master powers over the elements and read the signs within naturs.
- Begin the study of herbs and incantations
- Continue to perfect to art of dercad
- May now attend religious ceremonies without being invited, though must still be invited to participate
- Transgressions now dealt with more severly.
TATTOO - snake of knots coiled around right forearm, the head of which rests in the palm of right hand - sign of healer
Also knot tattoed at the nape of the neck, signifying the joing of mind, body and soul
GOLDEN YEAR - 19 years of age - vow loyalty
begins the stage of preparation to enter the Filidh or the priest hood. This begins the rank of ollamh or major cleric and signifies the candidates pledge to the priesthood and the goddess.
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THE FILIDH - NOVITIATE PRIEST
21 to 27 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind, body, and soul -
- Study and perfect deep dercad
- Study moral philosophy, though may not teach it
- Perfect skills as a seer such as divination, and prophesy
- Compose and cast spells, incantations, satires, and geis, when approved by high priest
- Can begin to teach acolytes and bards,
- Period of intense study, during which marriage is not allowed.
- Learn strict discipline of mind, body,
- Able to practice the basics of sacrificial rites, as well as attentd and take part in religious ceremonies
- Must remain celibate
- No turning back here. Must take test to continue onto full priesthood. If do not pass, will remain a noviate priest.
TATTOO - three small lines radiating from navel
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FILIDH - PRIESTHOOD
27 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Period of training is over, though continue to improve skills
- At this point, you may choose to marry, if you do not wish to attain the high priesthood
- May now teach moral philosophy
- Have full-time students of your own
- Skills as a seer, including prophesy and divination
- Powers over elements refined and able to be controlled
- Compose and cast spells, incantations, satires, and geis, without direct approval from high priest, except in specific cases
- Able to practice sacrificial rites, as well as attentd and take part in religious ceremonies
TATTOO - large zoomorphic design on left shoulder and down upper arm, reflecting your talents and role in priesthood
Also a large zoomorphic design on left hip and down thigh, refecting your specific duties in the priesthood
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FILIDH OLLAMH - HIGH PRIEST
Over 28 years of age - whenever deemed worthy
DEVELOPMENT - Highly skilled in all talents
- Once you accept an appointment as high priest you may not marry nor can you already have a wife
- Highly knowledgeable in moral philosophy
- Not only have students but are a mentor and master teacher
- Highly skilled as a seer, including prophesy and divination
- Powers over elements greatly increased and strengthened, easily controlled.
- Skilled at composition and casting of spells, incantations, satires, and geis, No approval needed to perform or compose them
- Head up and direct sacrificial rites, as well and other religious ceremonies.
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COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND CHIEF PRIEST
over 28 years of age - whenever deemed worthy - chosen by chief priest
- Chief Priest named by former chief priest before he dies. Usually eldest son of chief priest though not necessarily.
- To be named to the Council of Elders you must be a chosen child (see below)
DEVELOPMENT -
- Not allowed to marry
- All skills, powers, and abilities are at their height
- Oversee all sacrificial rites and other religious ceremonies
- Religious relics are in their care
- Only ones allowed to be privy to the secrets held within the Book of Carraig
- Serve as mentors and guardians to chosen children and divination
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GUARDIANS OF THE GODDESS
16 to 27 years of age
- Guardians are chosen once every 19 years from the children of the goddess.
- They are chosen from minor clerics, major clerics, and novitiate priests
- Three guardians are chosen for each natural element, plus three more to father the priesthood for a total of 15 men
- They consist of the following:
Guardian of the Air
Guardian of the Sea
Guardian of the Sky
Guardian of the Goddess
- Guardians may not marry or have carnal relations, except for the Guardian of the Goddess, who is charged with fathering the priesthood. Each Beltane one of the three Guardians of the Goddess will choose a girl from a local tuath to lay with him, as proxy for the goddess herself. Once the girl gives birth, she will be sacrificed as a reward for her service to the goddess. The child will remain with the girl's parents until the age of seven, when they will be brought into the priesthood as a chosen child, and put under the care of their fathers, though they will not be told their teacher is their father, only that the goddess is their mother.