Below are the 4 most recent journal entries recorded in smashing_luna's InsaneJournal:

Thursday, May 1st, 2008
1:13 am	Test Scene Okay, so here is a little Bavarian town called Lickenzedicken test scene from St. Christopher's Charges. ( Read on, plzkthx ) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
11:49 pm	St. Christopher's Charges - Even More Notes --Religion-- Religion in the SCC universe is fairly Arthurian, and blends Pagan and Christian themes. Look at it this way: "High" Religion, as practiced by Aldzodak (the High Counsel), is the equivalent of Roman Catholic. Aldzodak himself is basically a facsimile the pope. "Low" Religion is practiced by everyone else to varying degrees. Pretty much everyone in Sarras accepts basic Christian concepts: the Trinity, namely. They also venerate the saints martyred before 500 AD. However, this is also a land populated by Fae, Pixies, and magical items...things with a distinctive Pagan flavor. The general populace accepts these things as matter of course. Aldzodak is not so pleased with them. Moreover, the concept of God's feminine aspect (Shekinah; a Jewish concept, and a Taoist concept if you rearrange the wording) resides in this world as Thekla, though is widely discounted and not known about. Furthermore, no one really has a concept of reincarnation, which is just as much a fact in this world as the sky being blue. In Bashkim, Our Brave Heroes are going to catch glimpses of religions in other parts of the world (so long as it's chronologically sound). There's also going to be a clip of St. Martin of Tours (he was a Pagan who practiced "Christian" ethics--by ripping apart his cloak to give it to a beggar--and legend goes that Jesus himself appeared to him, bragging him up to the angelic host). The Book of Shadows I mentioned earlier contains a few bits of Pagan wisdom. I think I prefer the scenario that Aldzodak has it, but can't appreciate due to its pre-Christian origins. Anyway, the bits o' wisdom are: 1. The Rede - If it harm none, do as you will. 2. The Law of Three - Every action affects us on three levels: mind, body, and spirit. 3. As Above, So Below - As above, so below. As within, so without. 4. Words of the Magus - To know, to dare, to will, and to keep silent Furthermore, it outlines a certain practice of spiritual discipline: mental discipline, development of willpower, proper substance use, development of power, ritual experience, psychic development, astral projection, and sex magic. I can find the details for these easily. BTW, I lied before. Bhaskaran people follow the same religion as Sarrasian people. EDIT: Here are the saints venerated: St. John the Evangelist – Burns, Good Friendships St. Joseph – Carpenters, Happy Death, Real Estate transactions St. Callixtus – Cemetery workers St. Afra – Converts St. Eustace – Difficult choices St. Jude – Impossible situations St. Monica – Lapsed Catholics St. Felix of Nola – Lost animals St. Anastasia – Martyrs St. John Chrysostom – Preachers St. Philomena – Teenagers St. Augustine of Hippo – Theologians St. James - Arthritis St. Agatha - Breast ailements St. John - Burns St. Quentin - Coughs St. Bibiana - Hangovers St. Acacius - Headaches St. Lucy - Eye ailments St. Cornelius - Hearing ailments St. Lazarus - Leprosy St. Blaise - Sore throats St. Patrick - Snakebites St. Catherine - Libraries St. Ambrose - Beekeepers St. Tarsicus - Communion St. Martha - Houseguests St. Jerome - Scripture St. Athanasius - Orthodoxy St. Basil - Reformers St. Vitus - Dance St. Januarius - Blood St. Demetrius - Crusaders St. Paula - Widows St. Alban - Refugees St. Cecilia - Music St. Paul - Hermits St. Christopher - Travelers St. Cyriacus - Exorcism St. Dorothy - Brides St. Valentine - Lovers St. Martin of Tours - Horseback riders Mood: blah Music: "Good Enough" by Sarah McLachlan (Comment on this)
11:26 am	St. Christopher's Charges - More Notes --Items-- Chariot: SOMEONE is going to have a chariot. I don't know who just yet. Miran: A ship, based off the mythical Ship of Solomon, which had the power to travel anywhere and anytime in space. It's an heirloom belonging to the royal family, and used to be used by the army. However, nowadays it's been possessed by a Fae known as Ihsan, who will only allow it to be used to ferry refugees from Bhaskara via Shui, as she considers all other reasons less pure. Of course, at some point this has to change, but we should put this off and make it aggravating for our protagonists. Wheel of the Year: Can't think of any particular use for this - right now it's just a calendar. I'll let you guys chew on it. Book of Shadows: A spiritual text containing cardinal wisdom. I can't decide if I want it to be in Bashkim, or in possession of the High Counselor (Aldzodak) who doesn't/can't read it, or can't appreciate its wisdom because it comes from pre-Christian times. ** Broom: Right now it's just a broom that might gain symbolic significance. If you want to make it a flying machine or something else, I'm open to ideas. Key: Open the door to Bashkim (worn by the guardian spirit?). Cup: One of the Hallows. The cup form of the Holy Grail. In its original form it's just a first-century cup, but now it's covered in sapphires. Contains the water dragon, Mayim. When found, belongs to Belphoebe. Coin: One of the Hallows. Made out of chocolate pearl. Brings forth the earth dragon, Avani. When found, belongs to Belphoebe. Sword: One of the Hallows. Made out of gold. Brings forth the air dragon, Ilma. When found, belongs to Erland. Wand: One of the Hallows. Made out of rubies. Brings for the fire dragon, Fiamette. When found, belongs to Erland. Lance: One of the Hallows. Made out of diamonds. Brings forth the white tiger, Rhonwen. When found, belongs to Ariella. Stone: One of the Hallows. Made out of emeralds. Brings forth the phoenix, Penninah. When found, belongs to Ariella. Cruach: A cauldron belonging to Thekla and residing in Bashkim. Personifies the verse "I lay down my life and I take it up again"; it's contents have the power to restore life to the dead. (Do you think a sacrifice will have to be necessary?) Caliburn: A sword of flame worn by the commander of The Friends of St. Cyriacus (the "specials" of the Sarrasian army). Based off Excalibur. **I'll make another post about the religious views of this universe next. Mood: tired, yet productive Music: "As Long As You're Mine" from Wicked (Comment on this)
1:33 am	So, I've got a lot more notes down for everything. --Places-- Sarras: Utopia, our "good country". Think Camelot. By the way, if you can find any info on the actual laws of Camelot, that'd be great (I can't find anything). Sarras is also ruled by religious laws...think the Shari'a, but with less geo-political/cultural baggage, and more Christian-based. It's almost a theocracy, but that really depends on who's doing the ruling: Elizabeth is much more laidback about this. Cyneburga: Capitol of Sarras. This is the political and military center of the country, pretty much. I'tidal: Tiny little nondescript town in Sarras, but somewhat of a tourist attraction for the cave located just ouside the city limits. Bashkim: The cave just outside I'tidal (known affectionately to the authors as the Cave of Trippy Things). The door is guarded by a fierce sentinel; as far as anyone knows, no one in this generation has ever gone in (unbeknownst to them, Sotiris and Thekla can enter at will). Enfys: Sotiris' and Thekla's inn, in I'tidal. Temple of the Old Ones: The obligatory temple in I'tidal (there's one in every village/city). Oded: Another little village in Sarras, home to our protagonists. Temple of the Hearth: Oded's temple. The rooms here have names: St. Catherine's (library), St. Ambrose's (classroom), St. Tarsicus' (altar); St. Martha's (Tara's private room); and St. Jerome's (Erland, Belphoebe, and Ariella's study hall). Lin: An extensive forest that covers most of Sarras' landscape. Serves as a good deterrent to invading armies. Mainly populated by Annual Honesty plants, flora-wise. Temple of the Pixies: A small Temple used primarily as a marriage chapel. Hidden away in Lin, and famous for blessing "taboo" matches (elopements, same-sex, defying an arranged engagement, polyamorous). Bhaskara: Dystopia, our "bad country", and the traditional enemy to Sarras. Inspirations include Nazi Germany, Khmer Rhouge Cambodia, Saddam Iraq, etc. Unlike Sarras, the country has no major religion and is just godless in general. Qiana: The capitol of Bhaskara. Basically the mirror to Cyneburga. Keren: A town in Bhaskara. (We don't spend a lot of time in Bhaskara, so there's not a lot of description here. Shui: Sarras and Bhaskara are connected by land, but the northern border of the two countries combined is a big "scoop", and the area above it is an ocean called Shui. More to come later... Mood: tired Music: A strange mix of "Finale" from Les Miserables, and "Please Forgive Me" by David Gray (1 Comment |Comment on this)