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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mythmere" data-source="post: 431473" data-attributes="member: 7995">For Jarsan onlyFor Jarsan onlyThe Cult of DagnosEveryone knows that Dagnos and his big clerics stand for the motto of “Be strong, drink deep, belch mightily.”  Of course, there is considerably more to the Cult of Dagnos than one might imagine, and there is more to some of his clerics than one might guess.In most rural settlements, the worship of Dagnos is limited to the occasional toast over a mug of beer, a simple acknowledgement of the deity.  There is generally a prayer to Dagnos when it comes time to brew the beer, and whenever considerable strength will be required for a task such as pulling out a tree stump, lifting a stone into place, or facing one’s spouse after an all-night bender with the other village farmers down at the pub.A wise observer might, however, consider the doings of this wide network of traveling clerics more closely.  Many forget that the Cult of Dagnos interprets “Be Strong” to mean that the common man should fight to be free of tyranny and oppression.  In many instances, riots and battles to overthrow bad rulers began with the arrival of a cleric of Dagnos in the area.  The “Seven Catapultings of Lord Cedwell,” set to a popular tune by the radical bard Boddo Balmoor, is an excellent example.  The arrival of Dubvardo in the village of Pell Nun is the very first stanza of the song.  What is not mentioned in the song is that Dubvardo traveled to the surrounding manor houses and incited the peasants (with the help of Boddo) to march on Pell Nun, bringing with them their own lords to assist in overthrowing another noble, the evil Lord Cedwell.  Dubvardo was also the only person who knew how to work a catapult, but this is beside the point.In addition to waging a quiet (and sometimes slightly drunken) war against tyranny, the Clerics of Dagnos have a deity to honor.  Most towns will have an individual referred to as the Caskmaster.  This person, usually but not always a cleric, coordinates information for all the clerics of Dagnos in the town.  The position usually falls to whomever fails to show up at the election.  “Caskmaster” is the only administrative position in the entire religion.  Everything else is done by individual initiative.  However, there are certain titles that are occasionally granted by Dagnos to some of his followers.  When a cleric is accepted into the service of Dagnos, a mark appears on his right palm, visible only through beer, and even then only when the cleric wishes it to be visible.  For most clerics, the mark is that of a cup, Dagnos’ holy symbol.  However, after great deeds, the mark will sometimes change into a cask, and for a very few clerics, performers of legendary deeds, a pair of warhammers will appear crossed over the cask.The clerics of Dagnos and the clerics of Lothos are bitter enemies, and the Cult of Dagnos has consequently been outlawed in many fiefs and principalities of the Heidenlaand Empire.The most common password (other than the use of the mark on the hand for identification) is the use of the phrase, "We all belch sometimes, but you can belch most loudly for justice."  The proper response is: "To belch is to be."</blockquote>

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