The Sacred Chains of Omrataji
Many gods have diversity of their portfolio. The Varundi
god Omrataji has a clarity of purpose; he oversees all that has to do with
silver, from its mining to the crafts made from it. One would assume that many
of his followers are merchants and miners, but how does a god known for
nobility and leadership reconcile these followers in a segregated caste system?
Today we look at sects of the Spirit in Silver, and you can check out the
random roll character, also a follower.
As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our
theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game we
will play. In this game, we are to make a follower Omrataji. The character does
not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of the Varundi deity. What
character do you make?
For more information on Omrataji
Omrataji’s Pathfinder Wiki Page
Omrataji’s Archives of Nethys Page
The Chaandee Society
The Varundi word for silver is Chaandee. The Chaandee
society is a sect of Omrataji worshipers who craft silver jewelry and
ornamentation for the rajahs, and even the maharaja himself. Although the main
portion of the Society’s business is with these rulers, they allot work for a
certain number of other clients. Getting one of these allotments is considered
a great coup, and to show up to court with a piece sculpted by the Chaandee
Society raises one's status exponentially. On rare occasion the Society will
make a piece for someone in the lower castes, although no one knows how the
recipient is actually chosen.
The Chaandee Society was originally one family of
silversmiths. One of the many rajahs had a vision from Omrataji of the man who
would make his wedding crown. So impressed were all who attended that many
other rajahs begged to be made similar pieces. When the then maharajah saw the
pieces that the rulers of his principalities were wearing he made the
silversmith his personal jeweler. Since then the society has grown as
apprentices outside the family were taken on to meet demand, but only the best
are offered admittance as full members.
The Gathering Moles
In the Impossible Kingdoms of Vudra one does not just rip
ore from the ground, especially not silver. Only those chosen by Omrataii are
allowed to mine the precious metal and it must be blessed as it leaves the
mines from which it is found. The Gathering Moles are a sect within the church
of The Spirit in Silver that oversees this process. Although the actual miners
are lay people within the church, the clergy is on hand to bless every ounce of
ore that makes its way to market.
Becoming one of the Gathering Moles requires a petition
to the church Omrataji. The Moles are led by three special inquisitors who are
said to see into the hearts of the petitioners. If the inquisitors witness
silver pumping through their veins, the petitioner is granted admittance. Such
is the fame of the silver miners that a number of dwarves have come to petition
and converted from the worship of the dwarven pantheon to that of The Spirit in
Silver.
The Silver Chains
Although most of the worshipers of Omratahi are from the
kezavazresthin caste, there is a group
of holy warriors, members of the padaprajna caste. The Silver Chain are the
elite of these warriors and include pure of heart fighters, paladins, inquisitors, and warpriests. The Silver Chain enter
battle wielding the Spirit in Silver’s holy weapon, the spiked chain. They
defend not only the church but all of the Impossible Kingdoms of Varund.
Admittance to The Silver Chain is only for those pure of
heart, even for those what are not
paladins. Its members are held to a higher standard than even the
priests of Omrataji. Each member must drink from a sacred silver chalice a
concoction of holy water, silver, and sacred herbs. For those who are not pure
of heart the mixture will not remain in their system. For those who are truly
evil it burns like the fires of the nine hells. Those that survive unscathed
are allowed into the ranks of the Silver Chains.
Omrataji’s Paladin
Code
Silver’s nature is to shine, but also to tarnish. In its
natural form it is naught but green rocks.
Through the labor of our hands and our backs we draw it from its earthy
bed, distill it to its pure form, and craft it into wondrous works, and even
then our labor is not done. We must care for and polish it or it shall succumb
to its nature and tarnish again. All
people are like silver and only constant effort allow us to shine in the light
of Omrataji
Silver are the chains that bond friends and family. It is
the ring that binds husband and wife. In its way silver is the true conduit of
peace and understanding. We must be as silver and bind our people in love and
friendship. Violence and wrath must be the last act of the true silver warrior.
As the light of the full moon shines off of a silver
dome, so must the paladin’s heart shine with the light of chaandee; a beacon in
the darkness guiding those lost in the wilderness back to civilization.
The magic of the holy silver ore is its malleability,
this is what makes it the metal of the rajahs. This softness allows skilled
silversmiths to work it into shapes of amazing complexity, depth, and beauty.
So, too, are the souls of men. The warriors of Omrataji must be like silver. A
paladin must follow the teachings of Chaandee and craft themselves into the
best form to serve the needs of the people. Likewise, they must understand that
silver may always be recast, reworked, embossed, polished, and etched. So must
a warrior of Omrataji be willing to to change as the occasion demands. Your
heart, your soul, and your body must mold themselves into vessels for what is,
rather than attempting to remain containers for what was.
The purity and majesty of silver exists in all the sects
you’ve seen here. Who is your blessed follower of Omratai? Why have they chosen
to dedicate themselves to the Spirit in Silver? Where does their devotion come
from? Let me know in the comments.
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