retourReligion : The organisation of Lynkha's cult
Article Card:
Title:The organisation of Lynkha's cult
Identifier:95
Created on:2004-03-15 at 10:43
Created by:Eliane Jaulmes
Modified on:2004-03-15 at 10:43
Modified by:Eliane Jaulmes
Credits :
Abstract:The organisation of the cult of Lynkha, Esrolian goddess of philosophy.
Contributors:Eliane Jaulmes (author), Philippe Sigaud (proofreader), Edern Rio (proofreader), Eliane Jaulmes (translator)
Subjects:Esrolia, Lynkha, religion
Keywords:Algeroba, braid, critical mind, cult, Demi-Vierge, Empire of the Wyrms Friends, Esrolia, EWF, God Learners, hair, Hendira, Imperial Age, initiation, Kingdom of Night, knot, Lhankor Mhy, library, logic, lunar, Lynkha, mathematical writing, mathematics, meeting place, Middle Sea Empire, Nochet, Nysalor, Ontos of Rhigos, organisation, Osmiene, philosophy, reasoning, Red Queen, relic, religion, Rhigos, Seven Mothers Church, shawl, temple, travel, wisdom
See also:The place of Lynkha's cult in the Esrolian society(30%), Mythology of Lynkha(25%), Playing a devotee of Lynkha (Magic keyword)(23%), A few key figures of the Pharaoh's cult(13%), The Pharaoh's cult(10%), The Other Side: the world of Lynkha(10%), The Shadow Plateau history(10%), Landmarks in the Shadow Plateau(10%), The Holy Country political organization(10%), The magical ceremonies of the Pharaoh's cult(10%)
Appears in:-
Esrolia
EsroliaThe organisation of Lynkha's cultEsrolia

The cult accepts men and women but it is well-known that women are naturally more gifted than men at mathematics and philosophy. Men tend to act rashly and without thinking, as mindless bullies.

The cult is not centralised at all. It encourages travels and self learning rather than books and studying with many old masters. There are small shrines and tiny groups of worshippers of Lynkha throughout Esrolia, and also outside, in other Holy Country sixths. Lynkha's cult is originally urban. It was born in Nochet and developed in the big Esrolian cities.

In Nochet, in addition to the Great Library, there are several amphitheatres and meeting places, used for debates (the debates are long and animated discussions between the goddess' worshippers). Those meeting places are sometimes called forum when one is specifically referring to the debates.

Outside the big cities, there are country shrines where communities of thoughts, different from those of the towns, gather. Indeed, the interpretation of the goddess' reasoning can lead to different conclusions. Strictly speaking, there is no `rebellious' thought in the cult, but of course, when reasonings become too different, the diverging goddess' worshippers tend to go and have a look a little further, in order to think in peace.

In fact, the moment when the young apprentice begins to doubt her mistress words proves that she truly has understood Lynkha's teaching. When they stop following the reasonings of their mistress and construct their own, they have found their own path. From time to time, the headstronger will consider the opportunity of teaching their own way a little further, to people who are not yet graced with the wisdom of the goddess. They will go and found a new temple in the countryside, and offer to their followers new thoughts and new reasonings. Each temple is open to the outside world and the initiates travel quite a lot. They should not be closed to external ideas. The great priestesses do not often meet but their students are encouraged to meet and discuss their lessons.

When two groups of initiates of different temples meet by chance in a tavern, the customers have the unique privilege to witness passionate scientific discussions, sometimes even somewhat animated with beer mugs flying, and they privately reflect that maths are good. Thus, it is not uncommon to see in an Esrolian inn two initiates debating across a table, drawing their neighbours into the discussion, for a good Lynkha's initiate never let pass a good occasion of teaching wisdom to the inn customers as he puts back on the right track the other initiate, clearly misled.

Note. See also the parallel with the Lunar missionaries and the devotees of Nysalor, the Illuminated God who opened people's minds by asking them questions. This god came in Esrolia, before being driven out by Arkat.


The Temple of Wisdom, the great Lynkha's temple in Nochet, birth city of Lhankor Mhy, is not located in the same district as the huge Terminal Library. Thus, the priestesses symbolise the divergence of world conception between the daughter and the father. Some worshippers of Lynkha regard the worshippers of Lhankor Mhy as dusty old fogeys, anchored at the bottom of their library as if the world could be found there (even as it is well known that the world is outside and that one must go and meet it). Vice versa, Lhankor Mhy's worshippers see Lynkha's worshippers as filthy wanderers, wasting their time with idle speeches, talking about nonsense rather than collecting precise and important facts. Between the worshippers of the two cults, there is often a slight contempt, tinged with snigger, from both part, but the cults of Lhankor Mhy and Lynkha stay quite close.

Usually, a master have one or two students who accompany him in his travels. The master use the surrounding events, the circumstances, the passing encounters, to train his disciple's mind to Lynkha's reasonings. Of course, the student also need to study and master Lynkha's tools: the mathematical writings and logic. Before becoming a devotee, each worshipper has to set about a great travel which will lead him to encounter other peoples and other cultures, reenacting the great travel of the goddess around the world.

In game terms, many great priestesses have at least a mastery in "critical mind". The candidates for the job think twice before challenging the head of their temple. Many have come to regret it dearly and had to leave for a long trip, still covered in shame after a verbal joust with a great priestess. Often, the candidates first listen attentively to their mistress and try to show suitable interest in their work. They are then welcomed with a tolerant and kindly attitude. The wisest understand they need to work twice more, developing both their own critical mind and their knowledge of their mistress' reasonings.

Distinctive signs.
Each initiate possess a shawl, braid by her own hands according to Lynkha's ritual of knot theory. Each shawl is different and reflect the thoughts of the one who braided it. The initiate may come, during the course of his life and following the development of his own reflection, to complete or even braid anew his shawl. For example, an initiate discovering something new (a geometry theorem), will try to inscribe this important fact in the knots of her shawl. The other initiates will then understand his new achievements and respect him for his discoveries (as people who tattoo on their skin their battle feats). Some devotees of the cult can, it appears, recognise the one who braided it by looking at the knots. It is also possible to determine the identity of the master of a student by studying the shawl of the young one, and even to know the master's master, for the most well-known devotees. The shawls of ancient great masters are sometimes hanged of the walls of the temples, for the teaching of the next generations.

Worshippers of Lynkha also often have long braided hair. The great priestesses have the longest hair which they braid like a shawl. Each evening they undo the braiding and each morning they do it again with a different pattern. It is said there is a special feat known only by the cult's priestesses: to do one's hair in a very sophisticated hairstyle as quickly as a eyelash's fluttering.

Great devotees of Lynkha

* Osmiene: She is a councillor to the Red Queen, Hendira, called the Moon Lover. She lives with her in Nochet and follows her queen anywhere she goes. They have been good friends for years and some claim Osmiene is partly responsible for the open-minded attitude Hendira has toward the Lunars that come to visit her and discuss the moon's knowledge. Many even inside the cult think she is in the pay of the Seven Mothers Church. Osmiene just says that Lunar beliefs are not worse than many others and that they have an inner wisdom which she finds appealing.
* Ontos of Rhigos: One of the rare male devotees of Lynkha, his awful reputation will not change the cult attitude towards men. He is a shameless seducer, a raucous singer and even in the lewd city of the Demi-Vierge, he is seen as a danger for the youth. Many heads of families have demanded that the city rulers outlaw him, but to no avail. In his defence, it must be said that he is always loyal to his home city and defends it during the yearly cult meetings. His famous discourse on the necessity of pleasure earned him many friends in Rhigos.
* Algeroba: She lived during the Imperial Age, during the strife between the Middle Sea Empire, the Kingdom of Night and the Empire of the Wyrms Friends. Questing for a new way to see the world, she came back with the secret magic that is now called after her. She could calculate unlike any other and founded single-handedly a whole school of thought inside the cult. Many devotees see her as an example to follow, for even during dark times, she found a way to bring new knowledge to the wise ones.

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