Lands of Tyranny
Day 5 of The Philosopher, Year 414
Minerva, The Mother
Minerva, the Chaste Mother
Minerva, The Mother, The Chaste Maiden, The Silent Woman
Goddess of Motherhood, Marriage, Education, of Family Duties
Symbol: A hooded woman with closed eyes
As the tale goes, Jehvoss sat upon his throne and commanded Minerva to bear him a son. The chaste Minerva is still a virgin. She obeyed the wishes of Jehvoss and gave birth to a son, Valthos, her pregnancy induced by her sense of duty alone.
​
Minerva is then said to have left the throne room of Jehvoss to roam the realm for nine months throughout her pregnancy. She was turned away firstly by the Dwarves who rejected her claims of virgin pregnancy, then by the Elves who believed she bore a child of witchcraft.
​
She was finally accepted by a humble human farmer, who offered her a home to raise her son in. He respected the woman, never touched her, never tried to seduce her, never questioned his duty to help raise the man that would be Valthos. And so the eternal maiden lived with the farmer until he was no longer able to fulfil his duties anymore. After his death she walked on the path of light to finally take her place by the side of Jehvoss.
The ceremony of marriage is a holy contract entered into under Minerva. This is where a man and a woman are brought before a priest in a holy place dedicated to The Mother and both swear a vow to one another as well as an oath to honor The Mother through their family duties.
​
Yet it is the general practice of the pious to avoid sex and pregnancy altogether before marriage. Many young girls are taught to be extremely afraid of becoming pregnant before marriage. As if doing so condemns their very soul.
​
Any woman that becomes pregnant is obligated to be wed to any bachelor that can take her in and care for her. And any mother that loses her husband is to be wed as soon as conveniently possible. This is all in effort to ensure the stability of the family, save their souls and maintain the virtues being aspired to by the faith.
​
These teachings are not just restricted to women, men are also taught chastity and duty towards family. A pregnant woman is a somewhat revered symbol with many teachings in the Empire, often stressing the importance of their protection and marriage to a good man.
​
Sex outside of marriage is considered a serious sin, although still not a crime, therefore rarely brought before the Tribunal, but only to Priests of Minerva, unless it is related to adultery. Indeed, adultery is considered not only a sin to Minerva, but also to Jehvoss, and therefore also a crime. Those that commit it are usually punished by the local authority, or in case of delicate cases, by an Inquisitor, or Fatebinder, or in cases these are unavailable, priests of Minerva. Such punishments for sins are often public displays, both as a warning to others and for the individuals guilty to be shamed.
​
While marriage is an oath to and akin to a contract signed with Minerva, neither the deity nor the imperial society are blind to when a marriage simply can not work. In these rare cases, such as when the man is found to be beating and abusing of the wife, when one of the two decides or is forced to leave the other, emigrating to lands far away, or if other conditions occur that put an insurmountable obstacle to a healthy couple life where each of the individuals in the couple plays the role the Mother has thought for them.
Worship
Different to Jehvoss, Minerva has shrines dedicated to her in most places of The Empire, and even houses of law, public offices, and hospitals often are accompanied by shrines to her and Valthos. Common sights are also small shrines to them both in village or town halls, as well as chapels and churches along well travelled roads. She is typically depicted as fully robed, with her hands in her lap and eyes closed. Sometimes cradling a baby in her arms instead.
​
​Minerva is mainly worshipped and prayed to by women, and of these especially mothers. She teaches chastity beyond the duty of bearing children.
​
The core belief of all those that follow Minera is that their body exists only to fulfil the duty towards the Empire and to the family. As such, sex is not something to be enjoyed, but something to be done to fulfill the duty of bearing children. Both in the name of the Empire, and in the name of one’s own family.
​
Her worship consists of prayer towards her and living a virtuous life, but it is common for people to leave items of value as sacrifices on her altars. Children, especially daughters, are sometimes given to be raised as priestesses of her Church. To live a life of chastity and service towards her faith.
​
The church of Minerva, similarly to Valthoss, while not having any direct political relevance respect to The Tribunal - Jhevoss’s Church -, still has high social standing, and her priestesses are respected all across the continent for their wisdom, social, and moral value.
Typical Stance On: Imperial Society
Worshippers of Minerva often see Imperial Society as something to be protected, nurtured and educated out of the mire that is the cardinal pleasures of the body. It is not uncommon to see her followers being at the forefront of caring for their fellow citizens when illness or injury befalls them, or trying to educate the masses.
Typical Stance On: Marriage & Family
Both marriage and family are a sacred duty to any who follow Minerva. It is paramount to their existence to be married and raise a family with a strong sense of loyalty to the Empire. Sex outside of marriage is prohibited, and to conceive a child out of wedlock must immediately be rectified or their soul be damned.
​
For her followers, it matters not that love be considered. Rather that the matrimony between man and woman be good. Although what is good is very loosely interpreted, typically meaning so long as both the man and the woman can perform their duty and strife will not come from the union. They will encourage it.
Typical Stance On: Elysium & Tatarus
Followers of Minerva all generally believe in Elysium and in Tartarus. They believe a life of family duty will lead them into the Kingdom of Minerva as she sits upon her throne besides Jehvoss after death. Here they fear not the mortal thirst, hunger nor pain. But find everlasting fulfilment in the warmth of family, education, and virtuous perfection.
​
Tartarus is a concept reserved for those who sin excessively and for heretics. Damnation comes for those who give into their baser desires, where those desires lead them astray and into the bosom of the Old Gods. Hell is where the Old Gods have made a playground of human souls, each tormenting the souls of man with the most twisted and warped aspects of their worship.
Typical Stance On: Non-Humans
The Mother’s Mercy covers all humans, and stops at any race that is even slightly different. Dwarves and Elves are typically held in contempt by the followers of Minerva as they are seen as the descendants of those who murdered her Son.
​
It is often those who worship Minerva who perpetrated the most racist and abusive acts against the Dwarves and Elves. While followers of Valthos take the mission of The Son to heart, the mind of Minerverans rarely can forgive and forget the sin.
Virtues
Chastity -
Chief among the virtues of followers of Minerva is the belief in chastity. Both men and women should strive to lead lives free from the lust filled pleasures that would tear families apart, destroy the sanctity of marriage and disrupt the order of the Empire.
​
Kindness & Mercy -
Common to most followers of Minerva is the belief in kindness and mercy. Often both are usually advocated for by the followers of The Mother although they will almost always only do so when the individuals in question are humans. This virtue is generally accepted to be the driving force behind her worshippers being commonly found giving medical treatments and bringing peace of mind to lost souls.
​
Loyalty -
To followers of Minerva, loyalty means to the Empire and to one’s family. When these two come into conflict, they will almost always choose loyalty to the Empire over that of their family. This belief is generally taught generationally, and self-sacrifice has then become an accepted way of life for her worshippers.
​
Obedience -
Adhering to the laws of the Empire, to the judgements of the Tribunal and to the will of the Three. Obedience is something expected of all followers of Minerva in their effort to emulate her so closely.
​
Family -
All pious followers of The Mother strive to have the ‘perfect’ Imperial family, or at least the image of it. And with this comes the proper education of children in their roles and responsibilities towards the Empire and other citizens.
​
Sins
Lust -
Lust is seen as an aberration of the mind, a corruption of the soul and a pathway into the claws of the Old Gods. Followers of Minerva hold the most extreme view in the Empire when it comes to such pleasures and it isn’t uncommon for them to be hostile to those they believe have no control over themselves.
​
Cruelty -
While suffering is sometimes translated into great lessons of self-sacrifice and betterment. Followers abhor the intentional suffering inflicted against humans in most of its forms, save for Tribunal imposed punishments. This consideration however does not extend to non-humans.
​
Bad Parenting -
The duty to one’s family includes the rearing of strong children of both body and mind who will serve the Empire dutifully and loyally throughout their life. Delinquents or deviants of the family are generally seen as indications that there is a problem with the family, or more particularly the parents.
Rumors
"It's said that there exists a secretive band of Minerva zealots, widowed and well past fertility, who work from the shadows to provide basic training to their members and chastise women who work against the cult."
​
"Some say that when Jehvoss wed Minerva, all the womanly gods of old ceased to exist and were absorbed - and the few heretics who still exist merely pray to a shadow of Minerva, a self that does not exist."
​
"Among the women worshipping Minerva, it is said that the path to highest power within the church is solely determined by obedience and a kind, supportive and enchanting demeanor."
Authors: Hokan, Maya, Rashan