Azuran

File:StatueOfAzura.png

The Statue of Azura, Azurien

Azuran, also called Followers of Azura, is the faith of the people of the realm of Azurien. The faith is led by the High Priest, chosen by the goddess Azura herself, who nominates the priests that preach the teachings of the faith to the populace. The goddess is often referred to as the lady of dusk and dawn, mother of roses and queen of the night sky.

Alongside the Statue typical holy places to pray are the big temple in Tel Aldnium, the smaller temples, and the wayshrines. The holy places usually contain a small water reservoir at its centre that is consecrated by a priest and are surrounded by rose bushes. Prays are usually silent and involve cleansing with the water. At sermon at the temples the priests recite Azura's Mantra. A large sermon is hold at the nights of a new moon in front of the statue. The sermon will not take place at nights of lightning and thunder as these are the nights are ruled by chaos.

Priesthood

As official state religion of Azurien the High Priest also is the head of state, although it is more a ceremonial nature and his part of the high council is only advisory nature. If the High Priest dies, the priests gather together to wait for a vision of Azura in order to be told who the next high priest will be. There is usually atleast one priest at every city or village that holds a temple or shrine for Azura. Since there is no written codex of the faith, the priest are the main source for faithful living. Priesthood is withhold for men only.

Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy act as guards to the holy places and priests as well as the high priest. The leader of the Sisters is called Head-Sister. The Sisters have no obligation to follow orders from priests, but tradtionally they respect the wishes of them. Because there are many travellers and priests within Azurien to visit the Statue or the temple at Tel Aldnium, they also deal with muggers prey on those between the cities. A few Sister are sent to the temples of foreign nations to protect the priest and followers their. Sisterhood is withhold to women only. Abstinence is neither obligated to the sisters nor to the priests and relationships between them are welcome.

During the Silvetian Revolution Sisters of Mercy were sent to Kosel to aid civilians.

Azura's Mantra

Here in her Shrine
That once was forgotten
Here do we pray
That we might remember

By Night we reclaim
What by Day was stolen
Far from ourselves
She grows even near to us
Our Minds once were blinded
Now through her do we see
Our hands once were idle
Now through them does she speak

And when the world shall listen
And when the world shall see
And when the world remembers
That world shall cease to be