Swords of Mars: Mars, part 4: Religion on Mars

Religion on Mars takes three major forms. The first is the veneration of the dead, which is undertaken at family shrines in canal cities, or as part of clan rites among barbarians. Those who serve the cults of the dead do so to maintain the sanctity of family and clan, and the dead may be sought for guidance, but are not seen as gods of any sort. This sort of worship is common among all people on Mars.

Second is the worship of the Ten; the 5 Lords of Stability and the 5 Lords of Change. Such worship is common in the canal cities and among the Eldarin. While Terrans find such worship confounding, particularly the acceptance of the Lords of Change (whom many Terrans consider evil), the worship of these gods is common.

Third is a broad sort of naturalistic pantheism that venerates Mars itself as living and filled with spiritual power, and teaches that all things are imbued with spirits that encompass the nature of those items. Veneration of specific sites, types of animals, or natural phenomena is common. This faith is common among the barbarians, beastmen, Dwur and Hadiri.

5 LORDS OF STABILITY

• Shem (Sun, sky, truth, farming). Symbol: Gold disk; Raiment: White robes.


• Ilu (Learning, law, crafts). Symbol: Scroll; Raiment: Hooded robes.


• Astaru (Love, fertility, secrets). Symbol: Mirror; Raiment: Blue mantle.


• Hadu (War, honor, command). Symbol: Lightning Red armor.


• Nergal (Judge of the dead). Symbol: Scales Yellow robes.

5 LORDS OF CHANGE

• Naru (Darkness, night, change). Symbol: Black Disk; Purple, demon mask.


• Vashal (Sorcery, secret knowledge). Symbol: Spider; Raiment: Orange, blank mask.


• Nayari (Lust, pleasure, pain). Symbol: Jade knife; Raiment: Slave collar.


• Kalak (Destruction, fire). Symbol: Flame; Raiment: Red robes.


• Dalku (Lord of the Undead). Symbol: Skull; Raiment: Black, skull mask.