FEATURE ARTICLE

Forces of Faith
Etaf

Common Symbol of Etaf

The most beloved of the Forces, Etaf is the most elusive and the most mysterious. She holds no home for which pilgrimages can take place. Her priests wander the world, or stay in a localized area, in the local temples, toiling for their Force - the prophets, the soothsayers, the spreaders of old wives' tales.

Dogma

"Almost nobody has a fate set in stone."

While it may seem an oxymoron, Etaf priests try to do their best to dispel the idea that anything is predestined or forordained. Prophecy is rarely unchangeable and even the individuals of a prophecy may throw it askew and render a vision more or less pointless.

Example Holy Passages

Taken from the Book of Stars:

"Let you be as guides along the road. The teeming masses plod through life believing that the road they see before them is the only path available. Take them by the hand and step off the beaten track, and show them the wonders of the world around them."

"Nahum reached inside himself and touched the spark of the divine. He shone like a candle, alight with understanding of the power that rested within his bosom. All around him people were but the darkest of shadows, their eyes blind, their sparks dimmed."

(To be sung) "I seek the candles/Shining in the dark./Weary, worn sandles/Continue to embark."

Holy Days

Fourth Ferven of Nox - Stardim: The last day of the year, generally, this holiday merely celebrates the ending of one year and the beginning of the next. Celebration practice includes spending the night outside, holding a vigil by watching the stars until dawn.
First Aria of Sade - Starbright: Like Stardim, it is merely a holiday to celebrate the passage of time, this one celebrating the height of the year. Celebrants are advised to wake at dawn and rest and sunset.
First Rosa of Vrede - Cailiday: A holiday venerating the 'greatest' prophet of Etaf, Caileigh Seersight. Caileigh was amongst the first priests of Etaf and forsaw events that to this day have yet to come to pass - and, supposedly, the end of the world. Her prophecies are generally guarded, kept only for the high priest to handle.
Second Ventosus of Isolde - Day of Prophecy: A day dedicated wholly and simply to the worship of Etaf. The reason for this particular date has been lost to time. The very rare formal services of Etafian priests are given all day long on this day, as well as various prophecy readings (but only those that have passed or are deemed 'safe' by the older Etafian priests).

Roles of an Etaf Priest

Whether they stay rooted to their home or travel abroad, the duties of the Etafian priests are twofold - those that deal with the public and those that are more secretive in nature. In the public eye, an Etaf priest's job is mainly as an advisor. Wise from their readings, and from observing the lives of others, one would do well to approach these priests with matters of choices that weigh heavily on the soul. While their advice is not always what one wishes to hear, or even perfectly understandable, it is generally sound. Not to be confused with the book smarts of the Thuothian priests, Etafians lean more towards the common wisdom of the people. They know general home remedies, old stories that relay messages of good common sense, and other such lore.

Privately, the Etafian priests have a far more grave duty. Though they have no open, public home which is dedicated to their Force, a serious of secretly hidden (mostly underground) storage bases exist scattered around Naruta where the Etafian priests go to study, record, and analyze the prophecies given to them by their Force. No matter how large or small, if one receives a vision (and generally a priest knows when they have), they are to report directly to these depositories and write it down (or draw it, in the case of visions only of images). Once that is done, the priest either chooses to take over the study of the particular prophecy or they may leave it for another to decipher. Speculation and research are carefully done in order to best decide the most likely meaning behind the prophecy. For this reason, Etafians do travel often if only to receive the most recent news of the world so as to help further their understanding of the whispers of Etaf.

Depending on the magnitude of the prophecy, a single priest may work on it or a collection of priests may collaborate in an effort to get the prophecy 'translated' with timeliness and haste.

Once the prophecy has been discerned, the conclusion is reported to the high priest or other senior priests. It is these wise minds that decide whether or not action must be taken for the good of Naruta. Rarely is this the case. Generally, a senior priest will inform the one who has worked on the prophecy to go to the supposed location or person or whatever the focus of the vision is and study it, watching and learning how the prophecy unfolds. This is as much of a learning and holy experience for the priest as it is a safeguard against tampering with the fates of others.

In the rare case that a prophecy is deemed a warning, and that action must be taken, specific individuals are selected to go 'nudge' the course of history under very strict guidelines. It is only with hope that they are making the correct decision that this is undertaken.

Transcendance Through Priesthood

The transition of power within the heirarchy is incredibly loose with almost no 'formal' titles. Seniority is recognized by how long one has been a priest and, more importantly, how often they gain visions or decipher them. If a person wishes to become a priest of Etaf, they could seek out a full priest and request to be taken into the priesthood. This is usually met with kind words and a recommendation to go into deep prayer to Etaf. "If you are needed, she will let you know," are the words these people are often sent off with. Etaf chooses her own priests, sending them offers through dreams or hallucinations. Should they choose to accept what they see, and not dismiss it as their imagination, the individuals begin their journey on priesthood.

Either a fledgling priest can figure things out on their own, with hints and help from Etaf, or they can take on a mentor in another Etafian priest, which is usually the case. These new priests are shown to the secret prophecy depositories and told their duties. Beyond that, they are on their own, to do as they see fit.

The only 'official' position is that of the high priest, who is chosen based on seniority. If there is a dispute as to whom is most worthy, the entire priesthood goes into prayer until an answer is given by Etaf in some shape or form.

Relations to Other Religions

Efil - Etaf and Efil priests get along fairly well. Rarely do their paths cross and so judgments are left to the individuals.

Taed - Much like Efil, Etaf and Taed priests do not intermix very often. Sometimes they will see one another at the site of a particularly powerful prophecy unfolding - if there is death involved - but this is an incredibly rare occurence.

Worg - See Efil.

Thuoth - Etaf and Thuoth priests are very friendly with one another. As Etafians often need to do research, they find themselves frequently in Mentis in order to search the hoardes of books available there. For that reason, Thuothian priests do their best to assist Etaf priests whenever possible, and in return, Etafians will sometimes allow a Thuothian priest to store and chronicle away a bit of prophecy and the history attached.

Soahc - The two religions are often at odds, but sometimes compliment one another, as is the nature of chaos. Etafians generally dislike the wild-card effect Soachian priests have in their surroundings, but they bow to the fact that it is through chaos that often free will is most apparent. Soachians, for their part, feel the Etafians need to lighten up and greatly dislike the idea of anything being unchangeable.