Priests, Beasts and Sacred Geese

If we consider a number of cases from real-world history and religion:

The Sacred Geese of Rome.

'What's that, Mr Hissy? Timmy's fallen into the aqueduct?'
(Image found here.)
This is a beautiful picture. Those are some implausibly fancy goose houses.

The Sacred Bull of Apis, in the Histories of Herodotus.

Crocodopolis, on the Nile and the sacred reptile there within.

The Sacred Cow of Hinduism and the various animal or half-animal incarnations of Vishnu.

The imagery of the Lion of Judah, or the Brazen Serpent.

The prophet Elijah being fed by ravens.

Odin's surveillance ravens; the cats on Freya's chariot and the goats that pull Thor's.

The tame bear of St Corbinian and the Swan of St Hugh of Lincoln.

St Hugh of Lincoln, being pestered at an inopportune moment.
Image found here.

To say nothing of literature:

Shardik, the titular great bear of Richard Adams's novel.

Image found through AbeBooks.
Shardik is a pretty major influence on this post. That and the goose painting.

The Chronicles of Prydain, with their oracular pig and assistant pig-keeper.

The Chronicles of Narnia, with Aslan, who is definitely a lion, not one who is strong as a lion (as Trumpkin finds out) - and certainly not a tame lion.

Small Gods, and its numerous invocations of incarnate deities...

There is ample reason for clerics (prophets) to have an animal companion of some kind.

However: there is a distinction between a priest having a pet and a divine presence in the shape of a beast. The one is commonplace and adds little thematically; the other has some degree of greater interest. The distinction is much like that of G K Chesterton's Father Brown: he is a priest who solves mysteries, not a detective who sometimes says mass.

So, I shall determine a number of states in which a prophet in The 52 Pages might have a Sacred Animal around them and how this effects play.

This is deliberately dissimilar to spells like Call Familiar or Befriend Beast. The latter could hypothetically co-exist with the Sacred Animal.

Firstly, there is a theological status to consider:

1. Animal is God. Trying to herd or constrain the Sacred Animal is blasphemous. Aslan is not a tame lion. It has a direct line to the deity, or the Animal is the deity.  + 2 spell casts a day

2. Animal is Beloved of God. The believer must not direct the Sacred Animal, but may advise it as best possible. Any true Sacred Animal will listen - at least some of the time. No goad or leash is permitted. + 1 spell cast a day

3. Animal is Sacred The Prophet is the Animal's keeper. They are blessed, if not outright divine and may be guided or questioned - as a cleric might a hermit. Nonetheless, harsh or abusive treatment is blasphemous.

Then there is the nature of the animal to consider:

A. Animal may readily Ignore Man A bear, a lion, a dragon. Pretty terrifying, largely unstoppable. None of these could be a domesticated animal.  Start with 2 extra spells of a suitable school.

B. Animal may be Led by a Man A bull, a horse, a crocodile - you wouldn't want to tangle with them, but they are not the most fearsome of beasts. Some may be domesticated. Start with 1 extra spells of a suitable school.

C. Animal is Easily Controlled by a Man A goose, a dog, a tortoise - they may be actively domesticated  they certainly can be picked up.

The Sacred Animal functions rather like a Wizard's spellbook - it must be present at some point throughout the day for the Prophet to cast spells.

The movements of the animal are determined by the factors above, the player's choices and the GM's decisions (as well as what kind of animal it is - a bird can fly, but may be unwilling to go underground; a sacred whale is subject to numerous restrictions). A Sacred Animal might be tougher and cleverer than other animals - but it can still be killed (in what will doubtless form a new portion of divine scripture).

In play, (not that this has been tested) a Prophet with a 1A Sacred Beast (for instance) has the assistance of the Tiger Avatar of the Bone Goddess (IE, a larger than usual tiger will turn up and rip into your foes) and more spells and more chances to use them. However, said tiger goes where said tiger pleases.

A Prophet with a 3C Sacred Beast is rather in the position of Brutha from Small Gods (yes, I know the tortoise is Om himself); more guile and craft will be needed, though the player is freer to move around.

A 3A Sacred Animal is rather like the novel Shardik (never mind the actual theology of the Ortelgans); a massive bear roughly speaking on your side, but still a massive bear that goes it's own way.

A 1C Sacred Beast is powerful and portable - but the prophet is still compelled to acknowledge their demands, which may be awkward.

Dragons and other outsize beasts probably deserve an 'A+' ranking: you really can't follow them - but you don't have to so much; their spell granting influence lingers a little longer. They don't turn up often, but when they do, you have a dragon by your side, with all that entails. No A+ Sacred Beast can be a 3.

A SLIGHLTY SILLY GRIMDARK ALTERNATIVE:

You are playing a Prophet from the Church of Stern Feudal Monotheists. There is an inquisition, a hierarchy and flagellants.
The Church of Stern Feudal Monotheists once had an sainted exorcist that trapped demons in pigs. The pigs have been kept over the years and may be convinced by sundry means to perform magical spells for the benefit of the Church.
As a Holy and Devoted Servant, you have been entrusted with their use and will presumably evolve a humorous buddy-cop style relationship between yourself and a pig that occasionally speaks with a voice straight out of diabolical central casting to offer you a Faustian bargain.

A SLIGHLTY LESS SILLY GRIMDARK ALTERNATIVE:

The Scapegoat, William Holman Hunt.
You have to follow this thing everywhere.
Found here.

The Beast is far from sacred, but must be supervised anyway by a Holy Man. It is a scapegoat, burdened with the sins of many and so a vessel of a certain degree of power. Your job is to bind the sins of many into it on your travels (there's your Level-up mechanic!), use it wisely and hopefully get it killed somewhere remote doing something useful.

Any thoughts?

Unlikely Golems

A bid to produced golems divorced from the elemental concept - and hopefully with some interesting structural elements. These aren't as wild, say, as some of those in China Mieville's Iron Council - but they are deliberately distinct from the natural or elemental ideas in that book.  The below are also intended to be for purposes beyond smashing things, as I hope the below makes clear.

Rope Golem
In appearence: much like a corn dolly; a roughly humanoid bundle of ropes and cables.

Capabilities and properties: it is able to knot or plait itself together into thicker, but stronger lengths.

Intended purpose: among other uses, the golem is known for its use in rescue missions, able to prise away broken rubble.

Location of the words of power that give it motion and purpose: stitched onto a central rope.


Reed Golem
In appearance: a great bundle of thatch, like a squat humanoid, with thickly ridged arms and a peaked head, somewhat reminiscent of a Pharaonic headdress.

Capabilities: it floats on water and is lighter than most of its kind. Water sheds from its exterior.

Intended purpose: a reed golem is often used as a 'less-lethal' means of crowd control. However, a popular model of golem can twist itself into a strange form of boat - the peaked head forming a prow of sorts. Their relative cheapness, bulk and ease of decorating often can see then used in theatrical work.

The words of power: these are twisted sigils made from reed stalks embedded along the line of the golem's 'spine'.


Wattle and Daub Golem
In appearance: a bulky, squarish, Deco sculpture - if sculpted out of packed earth. Neat lines of studs line its body - the protruding portions of its framework.

Capabilities: it has a distinct frame, making it slightly more coherent than the Clay 'Classic' Golem.

Intended purpose: it is much like a classic golem - but it is on the whole, cheaper and easier to repair.  The AK47 of golems.

The words of power: these are cut into the line of the thigh rod of the skeleton.



Wood shaving golem
In appearance: a wall of little curled cylinders all pointing the same way, elements of which separate to form arms and legs. If the wind is in the right direction, it makes a slow eerie whistling as it walks.

Capabilities: it is formed of lots of woodshavings, hardened with an alchemical varnish. It is remarkably lightweight and can become quite compact; it can walk almost silently.

Intended purpose: it is very popular as a silent servitor and useful for handling delicate articles.

The words of power: one of the cylinders is a scroll. Good luck on finding it.


Enamelware Golem
In appearance: a bulbous figure. Rounded covers protect the joints, of which there are few. The hands alone are primitive - frequently mitten-like, or pincers. It comes in a range of colours. It might put you in mind of a nineteenth century diving suit.

Capabilities: the golem is effectively a hollow frame. Tough, but not super-resilient. Easily cleaned.

Intended purpose: the fact that the golem can be cleaned is valuable for those who need it to do dirty jobs or deal with noxious substances.

The words of power: are kept in a hermetically sealed vial in the head.


Fur Golem
In appearance: an odd thing, like a slumped hollow sack made of fur. Its limbs bend trying to imitate those of a beast. It is, or can be, dead fancy.

Capabilities: hollow,  flexible and warm.

Intended purpose: is there something you need kept warm and safe in a cold place? Would this by any chance be yourself? A walking shelter is not to be despised. They can also be a status symbol of sorts.

The words of power: are stitched onto the interior.

Gravel Golem
In appearance: a torso and two heavy limbs that it lifts itself with. In form, it always seems like it is held together loosely by some unseen sack.

Capabilities: it is slightly flexible and resists beating. It shifts but holds - rather like a gabion.

Intended purpose: a movable, multipurpose prop or bastion.

The words of power: are carved on one stone, larger than the others.


Canvas Golem
In appearance: a bulky, flapping thing - slightly rigid. A bit like a man walking carrying a door frame around himself. It has a face of loose flaps; when it fills with wind this puffs out like a baroque cherub.

Capabilities: living, tough canvas that can keep off the water or gather the winds.

Intended purpose: the most obvious uses are nautical, but canvas golems can also be used as part of theatrical backdrops.

The words of power: are across the fabric of the golem in bands of Ogham like stitching.