Intermission: A Look at the Brethren Religion



I write this as perhaps my last work for the court. In light of the recent victory of the Brethren against the Ursuline Crusade, I felt that it would be appropriate to detail what exactly the Brethren religion is. Of course, one major problem with this is that, unlike, say, Catholic Christianity, the Brethren are not a truly unified religion. The Brethren of the West Coast differ from the Brethren of Central America, and they differ from the Brethren here in the Maritimes. News from our British trading partners even shows there are Brethren (though they do not call themselves that) in Europe and Africa. However, there a few unifying factors that can create an umbrella of these beliefs systems.



First is the veneration of the sea. It is very rare to find Brethren more than 100 miles from a major body of water. Owing to its status as a pirate religion, this is not surprising. Second is the tendency for more lax moral standards than other religions, likely for the same reason. You will certainly find no scripture disapproving of a lust for gold in any Brethren teachings. Third is a generally polytheistic system, with some sort of sea god as the original creator, though what name that god holds depends on where you reside.



The religion itself is not organized. There are no church services or Sunday masses. The main practice of the religion is a short prayer offered to the appropriate god or goddess prior to engaging in some activity. One may pray to ABC to resolve a dispute in a friendship, or to Joyful Roger before beginning work on a house, for instance. A list of the most important gods and goddesses can be found at the end of this piece. In addition, each god usually has a holiday, with the more major ones being national events where merriment and carousing sweep the nation. These festivals are usually organized by the shamans. Beyond this, the priests’ only power is in giving advice to the lords and in reaching the hearts, minds, and souls of the people.



One final aspect of the religion, and one which is being forced to adapt as a result of the unusual circumstance of the Maritimes, is the generally anti-authoritarian attitude of the religion. Pirates loathe nothing more than the work of a tyrant. Every ship is required to elect their captain, and the crew can overthrow the captain (sometimes literally) if they deem him to be abusing his powers. It was this attitude that led the shamans to support the lesser nobles in their revolt against Admiral Dorothy. However, thus far, each Admiral has sought to curb this attitude and to make the shamans subject to the state. Naturally, the shamans object to this. The conflict has continued over two admirals so far and shows no signs of being resolved soon. Perhaps my son will be the one to witness the culmination of this, or perhaps it will simmer for yet longer. We will have to see.





Gods and Goddesses:



Note: This is only representative of the deities worshipped in the Maritimes. I am sure that the Western and Eastern Brethren have their own deities. Perhaps to the Europeans, Rosa is the central figure, while Blackbeard is merely the god of the Western Seas.



Poseidon / Neptune: The creator god. Long ago, the Earth was nothing more than a barren rock, where nothing moved or changed. Then, Poseidon appeared and gifted the Earth with water. From his crashing waves, the rest of the gods were born. Even later, life emerged from the sea, spreading across the Earth and enriching it. Poseidon was pleased with what he created and went to the bottom of the sea, to sleep a deep slumber. Poseidon is held in the highest position by the shamans, but is usually passed up in prayers for the more active gods.



Blackbeard: Along with his twin, The Teacher, the first god to emerge from the foam. He is everything a pirate could hope to be: brave, ruthless, glorious, and the strongest being to exist. He wields a great cutlass as long as a ship’s mast. All the salt water of the world is his domain, and every ship travels with his approval.



The Teacher: Along with his twin, Blackbeard, the first god to emerge from the foam. He embodies the more mental aspects of piracy: cunning, wisdom, and planning. Make no mistake, though: he is just as ruthless as his twin when pushed. He is the lord of fresh water, from the mightiest river to the stillest pond.



She: The principal goddess of the Pacific Ocean. Obviously, not worshipped often by Maritimers, but still one of the more powerful goddesses. It is said she is as wrathful as the ocean she presides over.



Rosa: The principal goddess of the European and African seas. As with She, not usually worshipped by Maritimers. One curious fact about her is that, despite definitely being a goddess, she is always depicted with a long, flowing red beard.



The Kidd (sic): The god of wealth and plunder. The Kidd (and I do not know the reason behind the spelling) is usually depicted in the form of a baby sitting in an open treasure chest, surrounded by gold and jewelry. Naturally, one of the more popular gods to worship and pray for before a raiding voyage.



Colorful Jack: If The Kidd is the god of wealth, Colorful Jack is the god of what that wealth is spent on. He is the patron of pleasure of all sorts: alcohol, sex, gambling, and a good night out. If it would make a Christian priest balk, Colorful Jack likely revels in it. Along with The Kidd, one of the most popular gods to worship. He is also a notorious shapeshifter, all the better to revel with.



Draco: The two-faced god of trickery and deception. His face is split down the middle: his left half being that of a handsome human and his right half being covered by a fearsome golden mask in the shape of a dragon. Tricksters and thieves across the seas pray to him before beginning their con. In one of the greatest differences between regions, Draco is held as an evil devil figure in Mexico and the lands south of it.



Joyful Roger: The god of ships and artisans. The title given to him is strictly ironic, as he has a reputation for being the most dour and grim members of the pantheon. Nevertheless, he is the greatest craftsman in the world, and Blackbeard sails his finest creation, the Flying Dutchman. Usually worshipped by those who worked with their hands.



The Black Man: The god of ambition and ruthlessness. The Black Man is the god most likely to intervene in human affairs. He smiles on ambition of any kind, and will gladly help a person who will do anything to achieve their goals. Consistently worshipped by few, but called on by many.



Old John: The god of death. Depicted as a man with an octopus for a head, Old John comes for all, inevitably. However, there are stories of those who manage to trick or outrun him. Against these people, he sends his companion, Kracker (sic). Kracker is an octopus so large that it could be mistaken for an island from a distance. When it comes for a ship, there is nothing the ship can do to save itself. Old John is usually not worshipped, but is quietly respected by all.



The Hangman: The only god to not be worshipped. Once, the Hangman acted in pursuit of justice, as Old John’s faithful partner. However, he seized power and became a god. Now, he is a tyrant, executing all those who oppose him. He sends his agents in the form of kings and emperors to do his bidding on the Earth. He also corrupted one of Old John’s beasts, the Leviathan. Now, it is the Redback, a great lobster-like beast that serves the Hangman utterly.



Anne-Bonnie-Clyde (usually abbreviated as ABC): The most complicated god, at least for outsiders, is saved for last. In appearance, ABC appears to be three people with their backs fused together. Anne is depicted with two cutlasses, and she is a fiery and emotional goddess. To her right is Clyde, who wields a rifle (an Old World firearm known for its great accuracy), and favors caution and planning. To his right, and Anne’s left, is Bonnie, who wields both a cutlass and a pistol (an Old World firearm wielded in one hand). She usually brings balance between the two, deciding when is the time to plan and when is the time to act. Together, they are the god of a concept unique to the Brethren. The closest phrase that I have been able to think of is a fire-forged friendship, where a bond deeper than any other is formed in times of great danger and crisis. The Brethren call this “a crew’s love”, and this is one fact on which they do not differ.



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Don't have a full update yet, but I've had this idea bouncing around in my head and figured I'd post it. Hopefully it's enjoyable to read, and not just write! You can probably easily tell I had fun with all the gods.