ancientreligions
ancientreligions copied to clipboard
xirsoi
Lugovism
Lugovites are a Gaulish splinter cult that worships the trinity of Taranis, Esus, and Toutatis. They refer to them collectively as The Lugove.
They lose feminism, female priests, and absolute-cognatic. They use autocephaly and a pentarchy.
They respect the rule of law, but believe in the ability to challenge the current lord if they think he is weak. Special factions, plots, and/or decisions should be used to emphasize this.
Remove human sacrifice from reformed Celtic religions and give it to Lugovites. During a ritual sacrifice the ruler must choose who to make the sacrifice to; Taranis, Esus, or Toutatis. Each offers different boons.
Possible Pentarchy seats: A Guarda, Trier, London, Haute-Marne, Paris, an Esuvii city, somewhere in Noricum, Rome (Toutates was worshiped here), the location of the Externsteine.
A Guarda, London, and Haute-Marne are associated with Taranis; artefacts and shrines related to him have been found here. Trier, Noricum, and Rome are places of worship for Esus and Toutates. Paris and Normandy (Esuvii territory) are associated with Esus (Paris was where the Pillar of the Boatman was found, which bears the likeness of Taranis and Esus).
The Externsteine is a Germanic holy site in game, the location of Irminsul. Lugovites have Germanic influences (the worship of the Lugove seems to have been largely amongst hybrid Celtic-German tribes in the Rhine river valley), and having Irminsul be holy to them can reflect that. Also, they can interpret the "trees" as those used for sacrifices to Esus.
We can also draw from that pool for holy sites.
Perhaps Prestige could play a more significant role in Lugovite society? See this thread for inspiration.
More ready access to Duels. Martial competitions.
Patron Deities. Each could provide access to a different flavor of martial competition, even bonuses to different types of units. Maybe even special combat tactics?
Lugovites believe that other forces in the universe are the work of wild spirits. Their power means they should be respected, just as any dangerous beast should be, but not worshipped. The Lugove are the tamers of nature, bringers of civilization. The world is harsh, we must be strong if we are to survive, much less prosper.
"The roar of twelve thousand hooves is a hymn to The Thunderer."
A cavalry based HO dedicated to Taranis.
Proto-Nationalism. They should be more about general stability, but signs of weakness from their liege will cause a Lugovite to turn on them. Losing to such a rebellion or challenge should only result in the loss of the highest title. If I am the Lugovite King of Middle Francia, the Duke of Swabia, and hold all the counties in Swabia, if I am overthrown because I lost an offensive war (and thus showed weakness), I lose the Kingship, but am still Duke of Swabia and Count of it's counties. Obviously I'll have a strong inheritable claim that I could use to regain the thrown.
Lugovites respect the rule of law and should be unwilling to rebel under "normal" circumstances. However, if a rebel wins the war they clearly deserved to. Kind of Telvanni-esque in a way.
Prestige could be the primary driver of perceived strength. Traits, modifiers, and various events/actions would influence this as well. A highly prestigious but cowardly and feeble ruler might still be challenged by their vassals. Conversely, a new ruler (with little prestige) who is strong, brave, ambitious, and recently won a holy war is probably going to have a lot of support.
Upon inheriting (first time? first king or emperor tier title?) get coronation event.
Make ~~ceremonial~~ practical weapon for your rule, choose a weapon that represents one of the lugove (bow, lance, sword). All give martial +1 and PC+2, in addition to giving a command bonus to an associated troop type.
Events about wild beasts of unusual size/intelligence/ferocity/etc. that locals assume are a spirit incarnate. You can try to hunt it yourself or send a vassal.
Sparring with someone.
Tending to your horse or chariot (gaulish).
Asking for someone to sacrifice to the gods. Courtier, Prisoner?
Going on a hunt with someone.
Taranis the Thunderer represents rulership Esus the Woodsman represents the religious Vates. Toutatis of the Tribes represents the common people.
Esus would normally be considered a fertility and harvest god, but to fit the trifunctional hypothesis (an important element in Lugovite theology) there needs to be a god representing wisdom and faith. Esus' association with trees can be stretched to bring us to the Druids and Vates, who are associated with sacred groves and oak trees. Toutatis' name literally means "the god of the [various] tribes" and thus is perfectly suited to being the god of the common people (and not much else).
Then again, Lugovism could hew even closer to the trifunctional hypothesis. If we also dip into Roman syncretism, Esus was associated with Mars and Toutatis with Mercury. Under such an organization Taranis would be leadership, Esus the military, and Toutatis fertility/craftsmanship/economy/etc.
Taranis would then serve a dual role as both noble and spiritual leader. It's a weird combo in my mind. In game terms it would imply a feudal religious head, but that is not part of my vision for Lugovism. Eh, creative license. I'll just ignore that implication.
Lugovites probably recognize Danu as the mother who birthed the Lugove. Perhaps as champions to "tame the roiling chaos" or something like that.
Alternatively, to deal with the apparent contradiction of having a male god represent fertility (either Toutatis or Esus, depending on interpretation/mental gymnastics routine), the theology could argue that man is the source of the seed, and women are "merely" the fertile ground in which life grows. Necessary, but not ultimately the source of life.
The second option is in line with the general misogyny of the religion, but I think it risks bringing it to the level of caricature.