Faunaros

Faunaros is often depicted as a noble rider prepared for the hunt. He is a protector of civilized places and as such is known to roam the wilds near Vitulus' home, protecting the Celestial City from intruders. As Bidari the Warmaster, he is the god of Evocation and serves Abaris as one of the Dukes of Mystery with domain over Evocation spells. As Godwin Goodfellow, he is the patron of cooks, particularly professional cooks in the castles of nobles and protects those who pray to him from preparing bad food. As the Mongrel Lord, he punishes those who mistreat dogs, typically by trapping them in the wilderness and hunting them until they die of exhaustion. Faunaros can be a cruel deity, but his aim is to protect civilized lands from the depredations of Polydorus, his most dire enemy.

Faunaros

God of Hunting

Descriptive Info

Gender: Male

Avatar: Bidari the Warmaster; Godwin Goodfellow; the Mongrel Lord

Consort(s): None

Allies: Baelthor, God of the Earth (father); Innus, God of Friendship (brother); Phemos, God of Sport; Thalia, Goddess of the Hearth; Virtus, God of Courage (brother); Vitulus, God of the State.

Foes: Empusa, Goddess of Poison; Enosigaois, God of Earth; Nelestrix, Goddess of Insects; Pelactere, Goddess of Rage; Picus, God of Avians; Polydorus, God of Wild Beasts; Ruminus, God of Disease.

Spiritual Info

Rank: Major

Nature: Chaotic

Ethos: Agathocacological

Major Influence: Hunting

Minor Influence(s): Cooking, Evocation, and Dogs

Symbols

Ten tends to be a number universally sacred to Faunarans. It is the number of days Faunaros spent tracking Polydorus when they first fought, it is the number of heads the Hydra slain by St. Telemachus the Vengeful had, and it is the maximum number of Apprentices a mentor can have at any one time. The mistletoe is a significant symbol for Faunaros, while those who worship him as Godwin Goodfellow particularly favor the pepper plant. As Bidari, he is usually depicted with a carnation, to symbolize his fealty to Abaris, Goddess of Magic.

Dwelling Place

The Lofted Lodge

Servants

St. Androcles the Generous, St. Telemachus the Vengeful, St. Theodoric of the Crimson Cowl, St. Balecan the Hunter.

Doctrine

No information available on the doctrine of Faunaros

Mission

No information available on the mission of Faunaros

Geography

No geographic information available on Faunaros

History of the Church

No historic information available on Faunaros

Organization

No information available on the Organization of the Church of Faunaros

Garments

An acolyte is required to wear only a medium brown linen garment, which is extremely uncomfortable next to the skin. The garment is hooded, and the hood must cover the head at all times, so as to obscure the face. Hands must be kept within the large sleeves of the garment whenever they are not in use. The garments are made in one size only, and those individuals too large to fit into the garments are given a dangerously restrictive girdle and forced to fast until they have lost enough weight to fit into the robe.

The Legens typically wear a gray robe similar to that of the acolytes, but made of a finer grade of flax. The robe usually is held in place by a rope belt, as the acolyte's robe is, but it also has rope suspenders, meant to keep the belt, which is usually heavily weighted with a couple of books and the Legens' writing tablet, in place. The Legens usually wear thin leather gloves, which are always stained with the colors of their work.

Custos wear a combination of black and midnight blue robes, the choice of design is usually up to the wearer. The Investigatos are known for wearing armless robes, held tightly in place by a thick leather apron even when not in the laboratory. Episcopai have the right to wear steel skullcaps, though iron and other metal skullcaps are permitted to the members of the Legatus. The Potens Maximus typically wears a steel skullcap, a black cape with a red lining and extremely high collar, and a midnight blue robe. He carries with him a golden Zshadusceus, the crystal ball upon which has strong divinatory powers, and a six-inch sphere of pure bloodstone, which is apotropaic in nature.

Members of the Order of St. Libriacus do not have any regularized code of dress, though they do usually carry on any shield or emblem the carnation and pentacle symbol of Abaris and the crossed sword and quill symbol of St. Libriacus. Quartermasters and Field Commanders of the Order are usually awarded a gold lined midnight blue cape and bronze skullcap with the symbol of St. Libriacus etched into it.

Religious Practices

No information available on the religous practices of the Church of Faunaros

Customs

Religious ceremonies to Faunaros tend to be highly personalized affairs and only the most significant holidays require the presence of a priest. Adherents are expected to give a prayer to Faunaros before and after a hunt. A portion of meat gained from hunting should be burned as an offering of thanks to Faunaros. If dogs were used in the hunt, they must be fed part of the meat as well, before the hunter sits down to his own meal.

The mistletoe is of prime significance to Faunaros and hunters often carry a sprig of mistletoe when hunting to draw Faunaros’ blessing on their hunt. Faunarans are particularly fond of green and brown clothing, though those who worship him as Godwin Goodfellow usually wear white, while those who worship his aspect as Bridari the Warmaster usually wear the red robes of the evoker. Those few dedicated to the Mongrel Lord wear variegated clothing, often patched in mis-matched colors.

It should be noted that, while proclamations of heresy are extremely rare among Faunarans (the church leaves most details up to the individual worshippers), Crusades against a specific beast or group of beasts are not uncommon. All worshippers are welcome to join in such a Crusade and clerics are generally expected to, should they hear of it.

Taboos

Despite the individualized nature of worship, the followers of Faunaros are enjoined to follow several very specific traditions when hunting. Hunters are tasked to only kill female prey during the winter, so as to not deplete the game population. Furthermore, they must never abuse or mistreat their hunting animals, particularly a hunting dog (there are a multitude of apocryphal stories Faunarans tell of masters who met ill fortune after abusing their hunting dogs). Game should not be wasted…if there is more meat than the hunter and his family can consume, the excess meat must be given away (selling it is acceptable, but if there are no buyers, it must be given to someone). Of course, having the head of a particularly magnificent animal preserved for display is not considered a waste. Game injured by the hunter should not be left to die…the hunter is expected to track the game down and end its life mercifully. Those hunters who fail to find such game often fast for ten days in penance (a common penalty for displeasing Faunaros). Most of the hunting rules apply only to game…rapacious animals and beasts, as representatives of Polydorus, are to be given no quarter or respect.

Needless to say, supporting or assisting a worshipper of Polydorus or, really, doing anything other than relentlessly opposing them is considered a grievous offense, one that may be considered heresy by other Faunarans, depending on the degree of the crime.