Often difficult to perceive against the backdrop of the darkness between the Spheres, Stallia is a nearly perfectly dark sphere that reflects and absorbs the pinpricks of light that channel out from the darkness. While first thought to be reflecting the light of these spirit stars, closer inspection reveals that Stallia is a deep orb of a thousand lights of its own, a second starscape played out in a sphere.
Like the stars it portrays, Stallia teaches that the world is a vast darkness of unknowing with only a few motes of truth in it. Those who investigate the world to better understand it, to find what is true among the darkness and then to make use of this knowledge - they are those who walk the path to Stallia. Inquisitive minds, dedicated to the discovery and protection of truth in a world of confusing chaos.
Stallia - The Sphere of the Stars
See Stallia Ceremonies for more information.
Doctrine of Stallia
Seek Truth, there is only One
Always be looking for the truth of things, as truth is not belief, but an objective reality of the world.
It is Worse to Believe a Falsehood than Nothing.
Uncover and expose false understandings wherever you can, and then grow from the process and help others to do the same. This frequently draws Stallia into conflict with Lumos as the hope-filled doctrine of Lumos can seem hollow to the follows of the Star-Sphere.
Protect Knowledge, for it may not Return
Libraries, scrolls, and the well learned are precious artifacts that deserve your respect and devoted protection.
Carry your Starlight, Shine it on the World
Act with intelligence and credibility in your life. Take your knowledge and understandings and use them to better the world, lest they be wasted.
What Stallia is not
Harsh
As devotees of knowledge, Stallian aspirants are teachers by nature, and to be rude or harsh to someone for their ignorance will only make them less likely to change their ways - be gentle in reproving those who misunderstand the world.
Priests of Stallia
Like all the Spheres, Priests of Stallia are varied. Some are conservative sages, attempting to unravel the world. Others are adventurous treasure hunters, seeking out lost artifacts and tomes. Others are masters of their crafts, seeking to tackle all the problems of the world with intellect and research. People often come to Priests of Stallia in order to receive advice on their areas of expertise, or for advice on beginning research of their own, which Priests of the Stars are obliged to give. Priests of Stallia also function as protectors of magical histories and items that are perhaps too difficult to store elsewhere.
More than the other Spheres, to be a priest of Stallia is to simply go beyond the norm in following the tenets of the Sphere - priests of Stallia are essentially extremely devoted aspirants, though there are some tasks expected of them that common aspirants do not have. To gather and be a repository for knowledge, to share and inform with that knowledge to improve the lives of others, and to teach aspirants how to best seek out truth; these are the mandates of the priesthood of Stallia.
High Priest of Stallia
In addition to seven extra votes on Church matters, the Concordian High Priest of Stallia is invested with a shard of divine power and inspiration. Through prayer and devotion, they can gain a brief and convoluted connection to the boundless truths contained within The Shackled One, receiving a vision relevant to whatever it is they have been focused on and raised in prayer to The Star Serpent.
Realmic Traditions of Stallia
Iron Valley - Sagites
Priests of Stallia of the Valley fill the role of record keeping Sagites. They maintain the mighty Saga Tomes of the Valley, ensuring that the tales of the greatest of the Valley are recorded, but also that they are spoken. It is traditional in many places to begin a feast, wedding, funeral or tournament with an appropriate reading from a Saga Tome.
For Sagites, these Tomes are their most prized possessions, often treasures in their own right. With the loss of the homes from which the Sagas were transcribed into Tomes they have become even more important and many pious young folk have joined the ranks of Sagites dedicated to recording everything that has been lost, however they can.
Greenweald - Houndpriests
The mysteries and dangers of the Greenweald are many. Some are ancient curses that are burned into the soil, others are great beasts that migrate through the trees themselves and far crueler things besides. Many priests see it as their duty to attempt to understand these threats - these individuals become known as Houndpriests. Often devoted to Stallia, these Houndpriests wander the forest roads seeking out danger or signs of ancient magic. From there they attempt to quantify and control these dangers, so that this knowledge may be used to help the Baronies overall. They are known by the symbol of a hunting hound often worn as a badge or amulet.
Followers of Stallia
To follow Stallia is to be the critical eye in any situation, the outspoken critic and incisive voice against lies and propaganda, and the meticulous collector of information. Knowledge in all its forms is divine to Stallia, and while the common Stallian is not venturing deep into the wastes of the world to bring back knowledge, or pushed to daily break through the mysteries of science to find new truths, there is still a burden placed on them.
Meticulously recording the events of the day, the proper method of doing anything that is worth doing, and suffering no errors in their work are some simple callings of a Stallian aspirant, though to each aspirant their callings will depend on their line of work in what they are tasked with. Beyond that, they are called to shine the light of their knowledge on the world around them, gently correcting those who are laboring under misconceptions, and tearing down those who would actively seek to mislead. To let someone be tricked due to knowledge they could have been given is a Failing under Stallia’s light, and so many Stallian aspirants seek out as much knowledge as they can in their spare time so they might be well equipped to counsel and support those around them in their community.
Symbols and Aesthetics
As is to be expected, the symbol of Stallia is a star, often with five points, with the central point being the bottom one and far longer than the rest. Beyond this, the three Eternals of Stallia are represented by a Stylized Labyrinth, a coiled Black Snake with Six Silver Eyes, and an Assortment of Delicate Gears, respectively.
Spheric Beings of Stallia
Common Worship of Stallia
Stallian rites tend to be in one way or another the sharing of information. Common rites include one aspirant teaching many others a craft or skill, so that they can then be the carriers of that knowledge. Other rites include the reading of old stories or tales from books, or the critical analysis of stories and their contexts and meanings.
Common Prayers of Stallia
The Labyrinth
As our voice echoes around the celestial Labyrinth, hear us and guide us! We put to mind the knowledge we seek - inspire us as we go forth and look for the pieces of the puzzle.
*brief pause for all participating to devote their current goal to Stallia*
In our hunting, our seeking, and our finding, take from us our Blights and Failings - lead us to our goals as you will surely lead me through the Labyrinth of the heavens on the Journey.
In the Spheres’ Light we pray.
The Star Serpent
As our voice whispers secrets into your great hoard of knowledge, hear us and guide us!
*brief pause for all participating to whisper a secret under their breath*
Wherever we have failed to protect, cherish, or spread knowledge, take from us our Blights and Failings, for know that surely as we strive for success in the Journey, we strive to protect that which you deem divine.
In the Spheres’ Light we pray.
Machine
*spoken in iambic pentameter*
Our voice is called into the Spheres to you,
the one who’s Grace and guidance leads us on.
To heights of glory, knowledge forged anew;
to wisdom earned and darkness fled for good.
Forgive our Failings and our Blights as on
and ever on we seek to be with you.
Lead us to Grace and insight both, and thus
the blessed Journey calls our hearts and souls.
In light of Sphere and gaze of you we pray.