Apollo (Mithras)

Apollo is the god of light, the great protector from darkness and evil. He is furthermore the patron of music, song and poetry, and the master of prophecy and omens. He is also the herald of the plague.

Apollo is commonly imagined as a handsome, beardless young man, with curly hair. He appears nude or lightly clad, and carrying bow and arrows. He wears a wreath of leaves (laurel, oak or holly) as a crown and may be accompanied by lions, the animals of the sun. He has a chariot pulled by fire-breathing horses.

In myth, Apollo is both notorious for being jilted by those females whose affection he seeks, and for visiting refined and cruel punishments on them.

The worshippers of Apollo are split in two. The first, larger portion consists of ordinary folk, much concerned with piety and goodness. They aspire to be honest, generous, chaste and loving, but have little belief in tolerance nor in eccentricity. The second, smaller portion are wordsmiths and songsmiths, creative artists who believe they have a very personal and inspired relationship with Apollo, and consort little with the ungifted rabble. Relationships between the two groups are strained at best.

Non-Apollonians also invoke him, for protection against evil, darkness and sickness, and when seeking foretellings.

Apollonians are extremely concerned with doctrinal purity, and have split repeatedly into competing sects.

 

The Cynics: A recent, fairly local, but extremely powerful sect. The Cynics combine the worship of Apollo with a personality cult to the Grand Master Valdemar of Decria, and intermingle potent fire-magic with esoteric study. The initiated mage-clerics shave off all body hair, are vegetarians and wear orange monastic robes. Apollonians in Clemencia and the Free Kingdoms are often suspected of being Decrian agents.

 

Abraxascianism

The Doctrine of Consubstantiality

According to the consubstantionalists, Apollo (Mithras) and Hades (Nergal) are not only brothers, but one god - Abraxas, the beautiful and terrible. Abraxas is seen as the single Son of the Titan Hyperion. Some even claim that the Son is the Father.

The Consubstantionists see one Lord ruling light and darkness, heat and cold, death and life, Heaven and Hell, good and evil. Their godhead is inscruteable, purifying and castigating the living and the dead, to mold pure and true souls to populate the coming Kingdom. Even for Appolonians, the Consubstantionists are exceedingly humble (or servile), accepting the enigmatic truths of their sacral superiors without questions.

The Consubstantiality doctrine is held as dogma among the Haramesh, and in Clemencia. It is more or less tolerated in the Cargan Empire. In the Confederacy and the Free Kingdoms, the Consubstantionists are persecuted by the dominant Apollonians.