Name: Radiu
By-line: God of Silence
Type: Greater God of Inner Strength
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Abilities: Soothing Word, Able to turn off ears (once per day), resistance to charm
Major Spheres: Astral, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, Protection, Charm, Chaos, Thought
Minor Spheres: Numbers, Combat
Weapons: Blunt
Religion:
Radiu has followers of all races in all areas of the world. Radiu is considered by the sages to be more mysterious and unknown than most gods because of the fact that Radiu is one of the few gods who did not participate in the War of the Gods. On Ascension day, one of the fears of the people was that Radiu would not be caught in the world ring.
In the Oknar, Radiu was the only one of the spirits now known as gods who had a solo part in the great music. Detractors of Radiu claim that the entire content of Radiu's solo part was silence, and that silence should not be considered a solo. Priests of Radiu do not dispute the silence during Radiu's solo. However, during these silent moments of pregnant anticipation and transition other forms of expression were in evidence. Due to this belief, many patrons of Radiu support the 'silent' arts, such as dance or painting.
Priest of Radiu are known for their strength of will. This strength is made manifest in the interest Priest of Radiu take in certain metals, such as iron and steel. In fact, many Priests of Radiu are also excellent smelters, forgers, or tinkers. Since there are not many patrons of Radiu, the Priests of Radiu work in these capacities in order to raise money for their order. Most of the worshippers of Radiu come from this class of workers as well. Many seamen also worship Radiu.
The strength of will and affinity with strong metals of Priests of Radiu is reflected in the fact that priests of Radiu are resistant to charm. Even Elven priests of Radiu find that they are more resistant to charm than other elves, who are already resistent to charm spells.
A famous poem, supposedly written by a Bard follower of Radiu is as follows (Shakespeare Sonnet) :
They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold and to temptation slow;
They rightly do inherit heaven's graces,
And husband nature's riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer's flower is to the summer sweet
Though to itself, it only live and die;
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds:
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
The holy symbol of Radiu is a G-Clef created out of cast iron. There are a few strange properties of the symbol of Radiu. When a person becomes a cleric of Radiu they have an urge to commision or create a personal symbol of Radiu. Furthermore, when a cleric becomes more adept at the art of silence, they again feel the need to create or commission a new personal symbol, with a certain new feature, different and better than the older symbol. Hence clerics of Radiu who have achieved a certain amount of power can tell by the symbols of those with less power where that cleric stands in his development. However, those of less power do not seem to be able to observe any difference between their own symbols and the symbols of those with more power. Once any particular symbol has been consecrated as a cleric's personal symbol it becomes light and easy to carry by the cleric or priest of Radiu for whom the symbol was created. However others who try to lift or carry the talisman, even another priest of Radiu, find that the symbol is much heavier than can be explained by the material and bulk.
All priest of Radiu must learn sign language as part of the initiation process. Most Priests of Radiu prefer to use sign language when possible, so when Priests of Radiu meet, they will often speak only via sign language. This has led to the common misconception that the Priests of Radiu must take a vow of silence. While it is true that most priests of Radiu speak very seldomly, no vow of silence is required.
Priests of Radiu must commune with their god once a day by meditating silently sitting in the lotus position. It is during these silent meditations when the mystical transfer of spells is achieved by the clerics. Generally, the priest imagines the spells they would like to be granted, and then attempt to forget the request during the time of meditation. This difference from other gods, where spells are explicitly solicited, rather than explicitly abjured, is one of the things which makes priest of Radiu rare: Forgetting is a difficult task.
On most holidays of Radiu the priests of Radiu may not speak, even via their sign language. On the major holiday known strangely as the Day of Silence (Ides 2), it is the responsibility of each priest to speak out, loudly and not using sign language, about some evil practice of society which should be changed. This holiday reflects Radiu's belief that the worst kind of noise is the hidden acceptance of evil through silence.
Priests of Radiu are not able to turn undead. However, they are able to use a soothing word power. This soothing word is actually a complicated sign language word, and requires the use of the holy symbol of Radiu. When the power is used, hostile, frightened or insane individuals may be calmed. In some cases, the effect only works if the creatures have been magically manipulated, but their are known cases where priests have been able to calm those who have been manipulated through riot mentality, the ministrations of an orator, or some other non-magical means of making someone act against their own best interests.
Another ability which priests of Radiu use often during meditation is the ability to 'turn off' their ears. While this is most useful (and even necessary) during the time when a priest of Radiu is attempting to forget his desires, it can also be used in other situations. A well known story in the religion of Radiu concerns a priest of Radiu who was able to walk through a plane of the abyss where the noises and sounds of the dead and tortured souls drive anyone else who dares the plane to go instantly insane. This event is the focus of the major holiday called The Day of Listening. This holiday is also the reason many people think that priests of Radiu are immune from insanity.
Haloween is one of the few holidays of Radiu which are known to many of the denizins of Kron. In the religion of Radiu, it is a day to remember and commune silently with the deceased. Because of this, it has been rumored that on this day, the dead are as close to the world as they can be without becoming undead. It has become tradition in Kron and other areas to dress children up in fanciful costumes and parade them around to the neighbors in search of 'Tricks or Treats.' Most people do not understand the religious signifigance of Haloween.
Minor Holidays:
| Kalari | 18 |
| Octavian | 5 |
| Wellsian | 15, 24 |
| Dohad | 22 |
| Mahrian | 21 |
| Chills | 14, 16, 18, 22 |
| Quavers | 16, 17, 19 |
| Quentin | 13, 14, 25 |
Major Holidays:
The Day of Listening: Augustine 22
Ascension Day: Quavers 2
Day of Silence: Ides 12
Haloween: Ilmater 23