"Offerings to show you're serious about having a prayer answered," Jigano explained, blissfully unaware of the darker turn Chuy's thoughts had taken. "Usually you're praying to ask something of them, after all, whether an item or information or something else that you couldn't get from normal, mortal channels. They tend to be displeased to be called without a purpose, but the offering is a way to improve their opinion of your request. Something like a hosting gift, I suppose you might say." He chuckled at the thought, considering how he brought small gifts to his friends when they invited him over for dinner. Though one might also call it a bribe.
He nodded more soberly at Chuy's analysis of the gods, glad the other man didn't seem eager to treat them like benign wish-granting genii. "They are. Each has their own personality, likes and dislikes, and varied relationships with other gods - and other mortals," he added, thinking of Ronin in particular. But there was also Remi, Wessex, Amalia... "I would council against approaching them lightly until you know more. But just as there is great risk in doing so, there can be great reward as well. Divine blessings can be wondrous things... just as divine curses can be terrible," he added with a wry flicker of dark humor from his own personal experience.
Jigano nodded firm confirmation of Chuy's understanding so far, but instead of asking about the other heralds he shifted to something more prosaic. The bard paused a moment, but he'd given his warnings and it was up to Chulane to make his own decisions for himself. "There are Shrines located around the world," he explained. "Made by mortal hands and blessed by divine presence. You'll find them in most settlements and sometimes out in natural areas as well. In the Grounds there's one in the Temple where you can pray to any god, and another out in the Glade surrounded by glowing stones that is dedicated to the Old Gods. Safrin has a shrine out in the Fields and Ludo has one in the Greatwood. In Halo I think there's one in the Palace that serves all the gods, and there are more in Torchline."
He tilted his head at Chuy curiously. "What is it like, if you don't mind my asking? A world without gods?"
He nodded more soberly at Chuy's analysis of the gods, glad the other man didn't seem eager to treat them like benign wish-granting genii. "They are. Each has their own personality, likes and dislikes, and varied relationships with other gods - and other mortals," he added, thinking of Ronin in particular. But there was also Remi, Wessex, Amalia... "I would council against approaching them lightly until you know more. But just as there is great risk in doing so, there can be great reward as well. Divine blessings can be wondrous things... just as divine curses can be terrible," he added with a wry flicker of dark humor from his own personal experience.
Jigano nodded firm confirmation of Chuy's understanding so far, but instead of asking about the other heralds he shifted to something more prosaic. The bard paused a moment, but he'd given his warnings and it was up to Chulane to make his own decisions for himself. "There are Shrines located around the world," he explained. "Made by mortal hands and blessed by divine presence. You'll find them in most settlements and sometimes out in natural areas as well. In the Grounds there's one in the Temple where you can pray to any god, and another out in the Glade surrounded by glowing stones that is dedicated to the Old Gods. Safrin has a shrine out in the Fields and Ludo has one in the Greatwood. In Halo I think there's one in the Palace that serves all the gods, and there are more in Torchline."
He tilted his head at Chuy curiously. "What is it like, if you don't mind my asking? A world without gods?"
