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Somber sips at his mead, turning his attention politely to Sithani as Sunrise and Ka'Ri confer. "You're not far off, no," he agrees with a smile.
"You have to understand," he says, including Glen into the wider net of this conversation with a subtle shift of his body language, "Olidammara is the 'laughing rogue', yes, but he's not just the god of tricks and theivery. He's also a god of music, of revels, of wine, and of humor. He favors bards, bartenders, and brewers as much as he does rogues and pirates. Hells, if Sunrise here weren't so attached to the luxuries of the bath-house, she might well have been one of his just for her voice alone. Olidammara is chaotic, but he's not cruel or unkind."
"As a god he teaches his followers to break out of their routines, believing that stasis is stagnation and death. His clerics urge the laity to delight in wine, to learn music, to pursue happiness and joy with determination, and to find entertanment and company they enjoy. Olidammara himself is not about temperance and solemnity," the sober young man warns, "but we mortals being, well, mortal complicates matters. Some of his priests embrace wild abandon, sure, but others work as counselors for people who have problems with addiction and over-indulgence. Once the pursuit of joy has become something that causes you pain, after all, it's time to seek help with that." He winces slightly and sips at his mead to wet his throat.
"Most of the clerics at the temple have a second occupation in addition to their holy duties. You'll find everything from vinters and entertainers, minstrels and messengers, jacks-of-all-trades, and yes, some thieves. Their priest attire is comfortable and loose-fitting, not stuffy and ceremonial like some of the other temples. Hells, even the temple itself is big and boistrous and loud; there's every kind of alcohol on offer in the worship hall--most are free to sample even if you don't have the cash to pay for a full glass--and a restaurant on-site where you can buy good food, fine wine, and pour out a blessing to the god as part of your meal. The temple is huge, is my point. We're not talking one of the little minor gods where you get a single hall and some pews to sit in."
Returning to his meal, he shakes his head. "As for obedience... it's a sticky subject. Olidammara's nature is to encourage clever politicking within the ranks, insubordination in service to a good cause or two, and the occasionally friendly stab in the back. There's a bit of an invisible line not to be crossed, though; kind of like the difference between a 'one-time' funny joke and a 'never' funny joke. Some of the priests dance up to that line a lot. Might be why Lucky has a bone to pick with Betreygis, I don't know."
"You have to understand," he says, including Glen into the wider net of this conversation with a subtle shift of his body language, "Olidammara is the 'laughing rogue', yes, but he's not just the god of tricks and theivery. He's also a god of music, of revels, of wine, and of humor. He favors bards, bartenders, and brewers as much as he does rogues and pirates. Hells, if Sunrise here weren't so attached to the luxuries of the bath-house, she might well have been one of his just for her voice alone. Olidammara is chaotic, but he's not cruel or unkind."
"As a god he teaches his followers to break out of their routines, believing that stasis is stagnation and death. His clerics urge the laity to delight in wine, to learn music, to pursue happiness and joy with determination, and to find entertanment and company they enjoy. Olidammara himself is not about temperance and solemnity," the sober young man warns, "but we mortals being, well, mortal complicates matters. Some of his priests embrace wild abandon, sure, but others work as counselors for people who have problems with addiction and over-indulgence. Once the pursuit of joy has become something that causes you pain, after all, it's time to seek help with that." He winces slightly and sips at his mead to wet his throat.
"Most of the clerics at the temple have a second occupation in addition to their holy duties. You'll find everything from vinters and entertainers, minstrels and messengers, jacks-of-all-trades, and yes, some thieves. Their priest attire is comfortable and loose-fitting, not stuffy and ceremonial like some of the other temples. Hells, even the temple itself is big and boistrous and loud; there's every kind of alcohol on offer in the worship hall--most are free to sample even if you don't have the cash to pay for a full glass--and a restaurant on-site where you can buy good food, fine wine, and pour out a blessing to the god as part of your meal. The temple is huge, is my point. We're not talking one of the little minor gods where you get a single hall and some pews to sit in."
Returning to his meal, he shakes his head. "As for obedience... it's a sticky subject. Olidammara's nature is to encourage clever politicking within the ranks, insubordination in service to a good cause or two, and the occasionally friendly stab in the back. There's a bit of an invisible line not to be crossed, though; kind of like the difference between a 'one-time' funny joke and a 'never' funny joke. Some of the priests dance up to that line a lot. Might be why Lucky has a bone to pick with Betreygis, I don't know."
