The polytheism of Atlantis could be considered the source of the numerous mythological systems of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Their primary deity is the sea god, known to the ancient Greeks as Poseidon. He is said to have fallen in love with a maiden of this land (Creito) and to have shaped the sub continent to her liking. The couple produced five sets of twin boys, the firstborn being named Atlas (from which the name Atlantis derives). The subcontinent was divided among the ten sons who became the first ruling council, with Atlas at its head. This story probably originated from the union of ten tribes that banded together to build the world's first city, beginning the use of specialization. We will use a pantheon of deities which bears a strong resemblance to the Egyptian and Greek pantheons. The gods will be called by different names and may have different attributes than those defined by later civilizations. Some of the Greek gods may be missing and there may be others not accounted for by the Greeks. Similar to the later cultures, the Atlantans typically worship a number of deities, including the one considered the special patron of their home city. A list of the major deities follows:
Name sex Realm align concepts Planet Malada F music cg song, dance, sound Venus Posador M sea cn creation, unpredictability Jupiter Mazrak F fire cn utility, destructive Mars Pandar M lust cn desires, madness Saturn Soliel M sun cn daylight, power The Sun Luna F moon ce darkness, witchcraft The Moon Moria F love ng affection, loyalty Albeda F language nn storytelling, knowledge Valimo M bravery nn valor, sacrifice Bellico M war ne conflict, impersonal Sidara F fertility lg birth, growth Trista F healing ln mercy, regeneration Thules M sports ln competition, luck Katara F land ln food, drink, mother Azur M sky ln leadership, father Spector M death le fear, transition
Calendar
The Atlantean year consists of 365 days (with only one leap year per seventy-two years) which is divided into five months. Each month consists of seventy-two normal days plus a high feast day. Sacred days are the twelfth, twenty-fourth, thirty-sixth, forty-eighth, sixtieth, and seventy-second days of the month. The sacred day is a day of rest for all. The high feasts are five unnumbered days which mark the beginning of each month. These are days on which the entire people assemble to participate in the sacred rituals.
Atlantean Months and Seasons
Sidar season of rebirth Azyr rainy season Katar first harvest Thule second harvest Tristar season of frost
Note: Atlantean Astrology uses only five zodiac signs, one for each season.
Rites and Rituals
Atlantean rituals revolve around their complex creation myths and the annual growing seasons. They are also the mechanism by which selective breeding takes place. The rituals include bizarre sexual activities and human sacrifice. There are prescribed rituals for each high feast in which all are expected to participate. Additionally, there are contests and rituals that are totally voluntary, by which caste improvement and mates may be gained. Males and females of all but the slave caste are eligible to compete from the age of twelve to thirty-six. Males (and a few females) compete in sports to qualify for the right to procreate. Women (and a few of the men) compete in song and dance in the hope of being mated with an upper caste member. The ruling caste determines caste changes that may be warranted, and assigns mates for most of the population. The high feast of Katar is an occasion on which procreation is deliberately attempted on a broad scale. Nearly all normal, healthy females (except those with newborns) that are capable of bearing children are purposefully seeded. The high feast of Thule, seventy-three days later, is an occasion to attempt a second seeding of those females who did not conceive in the first seeding. Permanent, monogamous relations are unheard of. The most capable males are typically assigned a number of mates. Particularly desirable females may be mated with a number of different males during their fertile years. The very best of the males and females are sacrificed to the gods, with one male and one female sacrificed on the high feast of Sidara, annually. Being chosen as the sacrificial offering is the highest honor that a person can attain. It is believed that they will become mates of one or another deity in the afterlife. The most incapable males are castrated to ensure they will not reproduce and are relegated to the worker caste. Incapable and non-compliant women are also relegated to the worker or to the slave caste. The ruling caste is limited to no more than seventy-two adult members at any given time. Contestants who qualify for elevation to the ruling caste can only come from the scholar, sacred, and warrior castes and, unless there is a vacancy, must defeat (kill) a ruling caste champion in hand to hand combat in order to be admitted. Only highly exceptional women can become members of the ruling caste. Women are considered to be the basic type of human being. Males are considered to be a more highly developed, specialized form of human. While this sexism is institutionalized, exceptions can and have been made for females that exhibit unusual talents.
The Arcane Arts
Members of the high castes (top three) have access to natural powers lost to succeeding generations. The secrets of their magic are very closely guarded and its use is strictly limited by law. Years of study are required before these powers can be utilized. For game purposes, all of GURPS Magic will be possible, but definite limitations have been established, beyond which exercise of these powers will be considered criminal. The scholarly caste has access to certain realms, while the sacred caste has access to others. Only the ruling class is permitted access to both categories. Specific realms and spells are forbidden, even to the highest caste. The scholars govern the realms of the natural universe surrounding humanity; earth, air, fire and water, of course, plus item enchantments, levitation, and other physical manipulations. The sacred caste governs mind and body magics; mind control, physical enhancements, healing and divination. Forbidden are the necromantic and possession type spells, along with those effecting time and the planes. Divination type spells use the astrological method, referring to the movement of the visible planets (plus the sun and moon) among the five houses of their zodiac. There is a strong belief that the position of the planets at the time of birth has an influence in shaping human personality. The GURPS prerequisite system applies strictly to all spells, in other words you must have the prerequisites of the prerequisites. Entry into the scholarly and sacred castes also involves certain tests and rituals. Many members of these two castes are children of the ruling caste.
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