Fantasy Pilgrimages

[Gez]

Pilgrimages are a staple of the middle-age. People would walk long journey, pass through symbolic trials (like walking in a labyrinth drawn on the floor) or actual trials (climbing up a mountain, carrying a heavy cross), to symbolically "revive" mythical events.

From this, they supposedly gained blessings conferred by saints, as well as spiritual enlightenment. Even today, lots of people believe they can be healed of infirmities or diseases by bathing in the waters at Lourdes.

This is from a western perspective, but similar thing happens in every culture.

Now, when you have magic and gods and feys and whatnot in your world, there's no reason to not have pilgrimage working as they're supposed to.

I'm looking for pilgrimage ideas -- a trip to a place, then a ritualized trial (which usually include another trip to the real target of the pilgrimage), a symbolic re-enactment of something, and a little blessing that results from it.

If you played Morrowind, you'll remember it had something similar.

I wanted to use pilgrimages IMC, and this seems to provide a standard mechanism that can be adopted. Rather than "planar touchstone" with a simple "recharge condition", I'm wanting hallowed (or whatever) grounds and a more or less challenging trial.

Any idea?

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Pilgrimages are a staple of the middle-age. People would walk long journey, pass through symbolic trials (like walking in a labyrinth drawn on the floor) or actual trials (climbing up a mountain, carrying a heavy cross), to symbolically "revive" mythical events.

From this, they supposedly gained blessings conferred by saints, as well as spiritual enlightenment. Even today, lots of people believe they can be healed of infirmities or diseases by bathing in the waters at Lourdes.

This is from a western perspective, but similar thing happens in every culture.

Now, when you have magic and gods and feys and whatnot in your world, there's no reason to not have pilgrimage working as they're supposed to.

I'm looking for pilgrimage ideas -- a trip to a place, then a ritualized trial (which usually include another trip to the real target of the pilgrimage), a symbolic re-enactment of something, and a little blessing that results from it.

If you played Morrowind, you'll remember it had something similar.

I wanted to use pilgrimages IMC, and this seems to provide a standard mechanism that can be adopted. Rather than "planar touchstone" with a simple "recharge condition", I'm wanting hallowed (or whatever) grounds and a more or less challenging trial.

Any idea?

Well, off the top of my head, I would make some pilgrimages easier than others. If everybody who went on a certain pilgrimage died, then certainly no one would go on it (and the monastery/church sure as hell wouldn't pick up any wealthy patrons!). However, some should be really hard to get to and the rewards for arriving there definitely worthwhile (what? The eternal salvation of your soul isn't enough?). Definitely something to think about when your paladin needs to atone!

So, let's start off on a base of what things you do in real world pilgrimage/ascetic religious challenges, shall we?

Walking on coals becomes running the gauntlet through angry fire elementals, or calling the genie (efreet)'s bluff.

Baptism turns into being held underwater by the water weird for a long time. Don't tell the players that if they actually had any faith, that they shouldn't worry, they'll be able to breathe just fine.

The labyrinth actually becomes a labyrinth (duh).

Confession becomes a nightmarish/surreal trip through the inner self, confronting your demons (if you got good or just angsty roleplayers).

 

[Turanil]

Shugendo and Yamabushis

This one simply comes from Japan:

The Yamabushis (literally: mountain warriors) were spiritually inclined ascetics (I think cleric is ideal here: priest-like + warrior) whose religion the Shugendo, emphasized on climbing a mountain / volcano in difficult conditions of suffering that would purify them, then practicing a ceremony once on the top of it (near the volcano mouth), including walking on burning coals. During this pilgrimage, they would have to go through trials of "air", "earth", "water", and "fire".

It should be noted that originally Shugenja and Yamabushi designate the same people; moreover, before getting the name of Shugendo, their religion was called Shinobu (today it is called Genjitsu). Note also that Shinobi is another word for Ninja, and you will notice that Ninja of upper ranks (Jonin) had this spiritual practice that gave them supernatural powers (or so it is said).

This could be the basis for some more fantasy and western-like pilgrimage.

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By the way Gez, do you live in Paris? If so, would you be searching for new players?

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I remember watching a documentary on India a long time ago. They showcased a pilgrim who was making an obscenely long journey to a holy mountain. Journeying from his home in the lands he made his pilgrimage sure enough...by taking one step, dropping to his knees praying, standing up, taking another step and doing it all over again...the whole journey. Now THAT'S a pilgrimage.

 

[tarchon]

I remember watching a documentary on India a long time ago. They showcased a pilgrim who was making an obscenely long journey to a holy mountain. Journeying from his home in the lands he made his pilgrimage sure enough...by taking one step, dropping to his knees praying, standing up, taking another step and doing it all over again...the whole journey. Now THAT'S a pilgrimage.

There was one guy in the news recently that was rolling.

 

[johnsemlak]

Great Idea.

I guess in forming a fantasy pilgrimage, you should make a list of questions about it and see how you can answer them.

Like...:

1. Who should go on the pilgrimage, how often or on what occasion?
2. What god or religion (or other purpose) is the pilgrimage devoted to?
3. Where is the journey going to? Why this particular place?
3.5 Is the journey overland, sea, a combination, or other (inter-planar!)?
4. What obsticles or trials should the pilgrims encounter on the way?
5. What do the pilgrims do when they arrive?
6. How are the pilgrims rewarded for their journey?

 

[Gez]

By the way Gez, do you live in Paris? If so, would you be searching for new players?

Nah, sorry, I'm between Montpellier and Nîmes. A mere 710 km away from Paris...

 

[Tonguez]

I once ran a pilgrimage based on Red Riding Hood in which the PCs were escorts to neophyte maiden who was going to the High Temple of the Earth Mother. On the way they were harrassed by wild animals and a Werewolf (of course)

 

[Turanil]

Just another idea inspired from different RL faiths and history.

Once, long ago, the gods or messengers of the gods appeared in some specific locale to make some important revelation. Then, this place has become a religious city with a great temple. Now, belonging to that religion (and it could be any god of a whole pantheon) means that a follower will have to do a pilgrimage to that place at least once during his life. Those who have done the pilgrimage come back home with a distinctive religious item that they will display in their house or what not (lets say it gives some minor advantage when interacting with priests of that religion).

Now lets add to this that the forces of evil would like to conquer the place; or maybe this place is in some savage wilderness; or lies at the junction between a couple of warring nations. As such, this place of pilgrimage must be protected, as must be protected the pilgrim on their way to the place and back home. So you now have a real utility for Knight Templars and Knight Hospitaller prestige classes. These orders protect, heal, support, the pilgrims on the road; they have fortresses, etc. just as inspired from the historical crusades.

 

[Gez]

An example:

Pilgrimage of the Muzzle

Long ago, a huge, vicious worg led a large pack of wolves and dire wolves on a rampage in this hilly region. People and livestock alike were attacked, and those who took shelter behind sturdy walls were assieged by the vile lupines.
A young ranger lured the alpha worg to a small hill upon which grew an old oak tree, climbed up to safety barely in time; but, soon after, fell right on the worg's head. He was feinting, though, as in the same movement, he slipped a robust muzzle on the dreadsome beast's head, a muzzle he had bound to the tree by a hefty chain.
The rest of the pack ripped the brave ranger to shred, but their leader, for all its struggle, could not free itself from the muzzle.
Without their alpha, the wolf pack behaved as normal wolves do, and scattered into smaller packs who avoided the fields and towns of man.

Pilgrimage: Pilgrims must travel to the ranger's hometown. There, they spend one day and a night fasting behind locked doors and closed shutters, symbolizing the siege villagers had to suffer. On the morrow after, they must run the three hundred and fifty yards between the village and the old oak (now dead), where they meditate on the rusted muzzle kept in a little shrine.

Benefit: Characters making the pilgrimage gains a +2 luck bonus to their AC when attacked by wolves or other lupine creatures, as well as to Handle Animal checks to tame or intimidate these creatures.
This benefit lasts until the next Spring solstice.

Other Benefits: Some pilgrims carry restive domestic animals, or captured dangerous animals, to the old oak tree. Keeping it bound to the dead tree for three days and three nights gives the pilgrim a +10 circumstance bonus on Handle Animal checks against that animal, for a whole year.
Making the pilgrimage also cures rabies, if the pilgrim was infected.