On Shrines and Prayer
- Thread starter Jimborg
- Start date
Ledaal Kajiri
Two Thousand Club
Who's to say most Shrines aren't Temple Manses. Even mortals with enough patience can build such. Still, it's not impossible for such to be otherwise and perhaps still be 'special' sites. Perhaps prepared with Geomancy and prayer and Spirit Beckoning. How such would actually benefit...well. We already have Non-Manse flawless workshops, that give the exact same benefits as the Workshop Manse power, also at level 3. Giving an equivalent bonus for a special built, but non-Manse temple wouldn't seem unreasonable.
However, there's no actual example of such canonically. Still, it wouldn't be unreasonable, and there is a precedent of something similar. Still, when it already takes around the same effort to make the Manse with the same power...I'd generally take that step, even with such an option. Given the option of making a location with the same ability as part of a Level 3 or higher Manse, or actually making a Level 3 Manse, with another 3 points of powers and a Hearthstone as well... I know which I'd choose, if I were the architect. Even un-enlightened mortal priests could say, give the Hearthstone to the appropriate deity to bear as an offering of the essence of their place of worship.
However, there's no actual example of such canonically. Still, it wouldn't be unreasonable, and there is a precedent of something similar. Still, when it already takes around the same effort to make the Manse with the same power...I'd generally take that step, even with such an option. Given the option of making a location with the same ability as part of a Level 3 or higher Manse, or actually making a Level 3 Manse, with another 3 points of powers and a Hearthstone as well... I know which I'd choose, if I were the architect. Even un-enlightened mortal priests could say, give the Hearthstone to the appropriate deity to bear as an offering of the essence of their place of worship.
First of all, such shrines can often provide resources that aid prayers (see corebook page 379). That's how a good many of them make their money. Heck, even with Exalted level technology, primitive prayer strip "vending machines" are possible to make, and probably exist at many shrines.
Second, shrines are rather beacon-like. While a shrine to the Unconquered Sun does you little good other than a nice central location and perhaps some inspiring motifs (always good for those mortals who can't be bothered to try their hardest every time), shrines to smaller, more local gods are very helpful for that sort of thing. It's a place where they have a bit more guarantee of jurisdiction. It's much like an itinerant monk: while they make the circuits, you've got a lot more reliability if you go for one of the stops instead of just some random point.
Other than that, I doubt shrines provide anything more than scenery for stunting a prayer roll. Most day-to-day stuff in Creation is just that: day-to-day. Nothing special about it. Religion included. But I might have missed something.
Second, shrines are rather beacon-like. While a shrine to the Unconquered Sun does you little good other than a nice central location and perhaps some inspiring motifs (always good for those mortals who can't be bothered to try their hardest every time), shrines to smaller, more local gods are very helpful for that sort of thing. It's a place where they have a bit more guarantee of jurisdiction. It's much like an itinerant monk: while they make the circuits, you've got a lot more reliability if you go for one of the stops instead of just some random point.
Other than that, I doubt shrines provide anything more than scenery for stunting a prayer roll. Most day-to-day stuff in Creation is just that: day-to-day. Nothing special about it. Religion included. But I might have missed something.