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Today we’ll be looking at a piece about the cults of Mithras.
Mithraicism
Mithraicism is a mystery cult, Roman in form, but arising from religion to the east of the Roman Empire on the old world. Soldiers in the Ninth Legion brought Mithraicism to Arcadia. According to Mithraicism, there is a supreme creator god and god of good, Oramasdes, who is opposed by a supreme god of evil and desruction, Ahriman, also known as the Adversary. The cosmos is a war between these two gods, and the ultimate outcome of the war is uncertain. Individuals fighting for good and evil will contribute to the final result.
Mithras, the son of the creator was born from a rock in midwinter, around the time of Saturnalia. His purpose is to lead others to battle Ahriman and his minions in the physical world, both in spirit and in deed. Shortly after his birth, Ahriman sent a fire-breathing bull to kill Mithras, but the fledgeling god instead triumphed, and came into his power as god of the sun, light and purifying fire. According to the Mithraists, other gods of the sun, such as Apollo and Belenus, are aspects of Mithras. Some Romans also see Jupiter as an aspect of Mithras, as both are kings of the gods, thus squaring Mithraicism with the official state religion.
An initiate in the Mithraic religion is a soldier in the battle between good and evil. On Arcadia, this has an additional meaning, as supernatural creatures of evil- the darker Fae, certain monsters and the restless dead- are present physically, and clearly inimical to humanity.
Worship of Mithras can happily coexist with worship of the gods of the New Roman and Arcadian pantheons. These gods are real, and the good gods are allied to either Mithras. All that is required from a follower of Mithras in terms of spiritual devotion is that they hold Mithras as supreme in their heart.
Mithraicism, while perfectly legal, is a mystery cult, and not everybody can join. It is organised by local temples, which are located underground, and, like the temple of Vesta in New Rome, contain fires which are never allowed to go out. If a temple’s fire is extinguished, it cannot be used again for sacred purposes (and in particular for the induction of new initiates) until the temple has been rededicated and the fire is relit.
Meetings of the cult take place in the temple every full moon, and on the day of the birth of Mithras, the 25th of December. Mithraicists, also usually belong to other public religions, with their own feasts and celebrations.
Only those seen as worthy by current members of a temple are admitted to the cult; a potential initiate must be sponsored by a member of the congregation at a temple, and seconded by another, before being recommended at a meeting.
The process of initiation can take place at any monthly meeting. One undergoing the process must enter a pit naked, blindfolded, and with hands bound behind them with chicken intestine. A bull is then slaughtered above the pit, bathing the candidate in the animal’s blood. After this gory baptism, the candidate swears an oath to honour the god, stay loyal to their comrades, and not betray the secrets of the temple. They may then wash and join the congregation, at the lowest grade, that of Corex.
Members of the cult of Mithras can learn sorcery, and magic of the school Fires of the Sun God. The more powerful magic requires a candidate to undergo a second initiation. In the second initiation, as well as showering in the bull’s blood, the candidate must drink a specially prepared potion sending him into a trance, where he experiences a spiritual journey and battle, seeking to overcome the evil in his heart.
Fires of the Sun God
Worship of the sun god is popular among both the New Romans and the Iverni, although the details vary from place to place. Even his name changes. More traditional Romans call the sun god Apollo. Others call him Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun. Many in Arcadia give the sun god the name Belenus. Some Romans identify him as the king of the gods, with Jupiter.
Magicians of this school of magic and their fellow cultists know him by his true name, Mithras, and exalt him above all other gods. They are soldiers, giften wtih divinely granted fire and light to fight evil. The spells of this school are prayers made to Mithras, asking the god’s aid.
A sorcerer must be a member of the Mithraic cult in good standing to use fire magic. Not only must they have undergone an initiation, but they must have participated in a Mithraic ceremony at the last full moon.
Spells of this school involve fire and light. The following are examples.
Fiery Sacrifice (Intensity 4, Attuned Only)
This spell affects a single victim within 100 paces. When you cast it, you suffer a point of killing damage to each hit location apart from the head, as if exposed to fire.
The victim of the spell is enveloped in flames for Width rounds, and suffers Waste killing damage for each round the flames remain. The damage ignores armour, and cannot be blocked or dodged.
Healing Touch (Intensity 5)
Your hands glow gently with light when you cast this spell. The light lasts until you touch a wound, at which point the wound’s victim heals Width in killing and shock damage from the location touched. ‘Excess’ healing damage is carried over into other locations. Extra points of killing damage to be healed can instead heal shock damage, but not the other way round.
Casting this spell is a strenuous affair, and causes the caster to suffer one point of shock damage to each hit location. The effect is as if you have suffered sunburn all over your body.
