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Exquaestio has no "official" language (although Trade Talk is denigrated), and anradan are expected to master the local venacular. Orasareni is the most common language for official documents because Exquaestio's major strength lies in areas where it is spoken although growth in Tanimbar has led to records in the Tanimbari dialects. Balpuri is also spoken by the educated, and traveling mage licences are inscribed in both the local vernacular and Balpuri.
Magical LicensesProvisional: {Name} was inspected on {date} by the Exquaestio community of {area} without discovery of immoral action or intent in his{/er} performance of magic. {S/}He has agreed to limit his{/er} practice of magic to that of a moral nature as determined by Exquaestio and local law and custom and accept regular inspection by the Exquaestio community of {area}. Local: {Name} was determined on {date} to be a moral practitioner of the magical arts by the Exquaestio community of {area} according to Exquaestio and local law and custom. Traveling: {Name} is a member in good standing of the Exquaestio magical community. {S/}He has been subjected to the most thorough examination of character and ability available and determined worthy to provide magical services to all members of Exquaestio, wherever located or however situated as of {date}. (The licensed magic-user keeps a parchment copy of the license, while a record is kept by the anradan. Licenses are signed by the highest available church authority (only the espiri eldest and the primate may sign traveling licenses) with two witnesses (one of whom should be an espiri). |
Exquaestio is an activist religion. Each of Exquaestio's three branches offer services to the general membership and there are expectations on that membership as well. Though there may be difficulties between specific individuals, the different branches are unified, knowing their duties and working well together.
Rohain supply physical force and protection from those supernatural threats which are difficult or impossible for the ordinary person to defend against. They teach weapon use and organize local militia to meet more ordinary threats.
Espiri give magic to support and protect the general membership and other branches of the church. They teach about different forms of magic, and are often wanderers who bring new information to Exquaestio ecclesia.
Anradan offer teaching in a variety of basic subjects including animal husbandry, doctrine, gardening, literacy, mathematics, rhetoric, and weaponry; and try to provide background and resources for subjects like art, geography, history, and literature. They also lead ceremonies like namings, comings of age, marriages, and funerals.
As a whole, Exquaestio families and communities are connected to each other by travelers and church mail. Though materials are expensive and delivery is often slow, mail services are available to all members. Communities are often quite independent, and set their own standards for local restrictions on dangerous activities (such as Magic). Those who meet Exquaestio's requirements are granted licenses (confirmations). In exchange for the licensing fees Exquaestio supplies information about the local laws and customs and agrees to defend licensed individuals from unjustified accusations.
Exquaestio adapts to existing beliefs and welcomes questions about its own. They have no government authority, and can do little to correct those who abuse their services. Magical rites of the obscurus gleam can mark abusers (such marks can be removed by other priesthoods) and destroy documents provided by the ecclesia, but that is the limit of Exquaestio's ability.
Equaestio teaches the existence of a single and personal Ultimate (God). The Ultimate is infinite in both measure and kind, and thus difficult for mortals to relate to. The entities mortals call gods are but slightly closer to The Ultimate than mortals, but are easier to relate to, and their worship draws no objections from The Ultimate. Being "closer" to The Ultimate, deities manifest his will more readily. However, not being The Ultimate, a deity's manifestation of that will may not be properly applied.
The basic principle of Exquaestio is simple: Every person is entitled to become, and should become, the best that they can be. The organization of Exquastio exists simply as an aide to this purpose. It human nature to worship, and it is the purpose of religion to properly direct that worship which the gods accept but not require. Feroze and the other gods are not worshipped because they are deserving, but because their worship is superior to other things that might be worshipped.
Worship of The Ultimate is acceptable within Exquaestio, but only so long as it respects The Ultimate's infinite nature. To ascribe specific traits to The Ultimate is blasphemous and the worshipper should seek a god with those traits instead.
It is unacceptable or sinful for the greater to "force" the lesser. The lesser may be "taught" or "prevented" but his choices are his to make and should not be prevented. The lesser, however, are under no such constraint regarding the greater. Boundaries, whether mortal or divine, are simply a precaution and cannot be sacred. Indeed, much of Equaestio's magic is concerned with crossing boundaries and upsetting limits. This limits the authority of the church. Exquaestio may advise, but the decisions of a farmer or a ruler are that person's to make. On the other hand, no person can deny responsibility for his actions and should accept whatever consequenses that come.
Exquaestio teaches that the creation of souls is a natural part of existence. Though some gods may aide in this creation, if those gods did not exist souls would continue to come into being.
Many different types of spirits are mentioned in The Book of Travels. Fvalrie appear when a person's soul is in danger at death. Lugan correspond the the Cedonian corriel and guide souls to their ultimate destination. Ashtra take souls involuntarily from the living (but may have all been destroyed the gods). Semrithe can force a disembodied soul or spirit into the Dreaming. (It's a bit unclear whether Semrithe are extremely rare, whether Feroze is reluctant to send them, or whether their actions are mostly unnoticed.) Dvasi gather the prayers of the living so that they may be answered by the divine hierarchy. Supposedly every community of Questae has a Dvas associated with it, paralleling, but not dependent on, the anradan.
In Exquaestio's belief a newly deceased soul enters the Dreaming. There it encounters tests and trials which determine its final destination. These tests and trials are necessary because the soul, unaffected by a physical body, is significantly different from the soul+body combination. In the Dreaming it will meet the various gods it worshiped or whose actions or aspects it aided. Final destinations include existence in a god's realm, continuing travel through the Dreaming, reincarnation, or even return to the physical world as undead.
Feroze prefers that souls travel to his realm or that of another deity. He accepts that some souls may continue to travel the Dreaming. Exquaestio teaches that reincarnation occurs when the gods aren't doing their jobs properly, and that undead are a perversion of the natural order. He is reputed to fight other gods on occasion for possession of certain souls.
"That those born in poor circumstances are there because of actions in previous lives should not be simply accepted, even if true." (direct quote from The Book of Travels; additionally, several stories touch on the pernicious influence of this belief.)
In one of the stories in The Book of Travels Feroze is called upon by the Lord of the Dead (obviously Coron) to help judge a mortal who claims to follow Feroze. While the story could be read as simply giving guidelines to the proper behavior desired by Feroze, Exquaestio prefers a more literal view.
In this judgement Feroze brings up ten virtues (Dream, Exploration, Otherness, Fiction, Learning, Research, Space, Thought, Time, and Truth) and uses them as measures against the man's life. He dismisses some actions as being the result of the four limitations (Capability, Communication, Assumption, and Perception) for which the soul is not responsible. He also states that the soul can continue to grow and learn even though it is now dead.
The story ends just before judgement is passed, and the questor is left to decide what judgement would be appropriate.
According to The Book of Travels the gods cannot percieve everything, so prayers are gathered by spirits called dvasi (or prayer gatherers) and then distributed to those who can answer them. While dvasi will carry prayers for anyone, it is believed that prayers are less likely to be overlooked when delivered by a large group led by an anradan. Custom hallows prayers upon rising from sleep and before beginning a labor.
Exquaestio ceremonies have not been codified, and are often improvised by the leading anradan. The most common basic structure begins with a display, followed by an oath, purification, and recitation. Then come special elements like Contrition, Communication, Marriage, Memorial, Naming, Offering, Recognition, and Rites. The ceremony ends with a blessing.
The display begins a ceremony. It should bring to mind the mysteries of the gods and draw the attention of the worshipers. It may be anything from a moment of silence to a drawn out procession displaying a variety of consecrated items.
The oath separates quaestae from the curious. Many areas separate the two groups into different parts of the worship area.
The purification is typically done by scattering salt, but may use incense or other smoke.
The recitation is taken from the The Book of Travels.
With the blessing an anradan or espiri calls the gods' grace on the worshipers and the ceremony's purpose.
Special elements are not used at every ceremony, and having multiple isn't unusual. Often a full ceremony is designed around particular special element.
Contrition is a voluntary ceremony used when a person or group feels they have given offense. This offense may have been given to anyone, but if the one offended against is available the ceremony must include them.
Naming is typically performed shortly after birth, but a person may be "named to Exquaestio" at any point.
Recognition includes Coming of Age and being invested with a particular rank or honor.
Marriage is self-explanatory.
Memorial ceremonies mourn and honor the dead. Most ecclesia prefer to cremate their dead so that the bodies may not be used for necromancy. However, these ceremonies can easily adapt to other customs, such as burial, the sea burial of Orasaren, and giving the body to animals as is practiced by some southern barbarian tribes.
Offering: names are not mentioned when a ceremony mentions gifts to Exquaestio.
Rites are magical ceremonies performed or led by espiri. On occasion, the gods have performed the magic themselves, without an espiri being present.
The Festival of Becoming occurs in the spring shortly after planting and lasts from dawn to dawn. The Festival is supposed to remind people of goals, destinations, and things rarely seen. Cheaply built items, often of paper, are sent traveling inscribed with requests for the coming year. Kites are flown during the day and toy boats carrying candles are sent down the rivers or floated in ponds at night.
The Feast of Strangers, celebrated on 28 Astroth, marks the day in mid-spring that Feroze came to Lowfells. Each Exquaestio community gathers together and prepares as large a feast as they can afford. Any stranger met during the day is invited to the feast, and all comers are welcome. It is a day of magical strength
The Feast of Thanks is a post-harvest festival taking place after the harvest has come in and preparations have been made for winter. The Feast lasts from dawn to dusk, and is a day for recognizing one's blessings and the efforts of people throughout the previous year. The center of the event is a day long feast for the entire community. During the feast people and groups are recognized for their actions during the previous years.
The Festival of Departure marks the last day for travelers to set out or messages to be sent before winter closes the roads for the coming year. It marks the day that Feroze departed from Lowfells. It is a day of magical strength
The Winter Memorial is the most solemn holiday of the Ministry's year. Taking place in the depths of winter, it begins at dusk and ends at dawn. It is a day for people to remember their ancestors and other departed who affected their lives. Fires are put out and a special fire is lit at the community center from which all other fires in the community are lit in turn. (The ill and the like will not have their fires put out, but they will still recieve a special fire lit from the community fire and extinguish the fire from the previous year.)