interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

[apurrstate]

[Anders didn't think much of the fact someone else had come into the room other than to maybe be a bit quieter so he didn't disturb. But after a second, a feeling got under his skin that maybe this person could just tell Anders didn't belong here and maybe it would be better for everyone if he just left. Hawke could find him later, maybe at Malum or the gardens or anywhere, he'd just-]

...I'm sorry?

[He hadn't been expecting that.]

I mean-of course, if you'd like.

[monolike]

That prayer you were saying...it's for worship of 'the Maker?' [It's kind of rude, since that prayer wasn't for him to hear, but this is the Interfaith Center and all. Stefan always encouraged sharing religions, and though Sorey had never considered what he did religious solely through the benefit of having seen his world's benefactors since he was a child, he knows it's not the same for everyone.] Have you...I mean, can the Maker be seen by people? Or heard?

[apurrstate]

[Anders didn't seem especially bothered by the question, more surprised than anything. He sometimes forgot people weren't Andrastian here, it was so normal back home. But what he'd been reciting hadn't been especially personal, just a passage of the Chant he liked and thought of often in recent years. The Chant was for everyone, esecially the curious.

Anders just wasn't sure he was the best one to be talking about it.]

No...the Chant of Light says that the Maker turned away from us when we went against his Plan. A woman of pure heart named Andraste got him to reconsider and He spoke to her, but she was the first and last, as far as anyone knows. Andrastians pray and worship in the hopes that someday He will return to Thedas.

But I like to think he listens, even if he doesn't respond in a fashion people would like. Sometimes the Maker's will is subtle.

[monolike]

[What the heck that is like. Way sadder than what Sorey was expecting.

He turns on the cushion to face Anders fully, hands clenched worriedly in his lap.] You mean you're all praying for the Maker's forgiveness?

[apurrstate]

[Well, that wasn't quite the reaction he'd expected.]

Most people do, yes. It's the official doctrine of the Chantry. Some of us, however, think He hasn't left us at all, we pray to Him and His bride for guidance and blessing and strength.

To be perfectly honest, I think the Chantry only says he's left to hold control over the populace, but my opinions on the organization of the Chant are notoriously bad.

[Like...having blown up a Chantry kind of bad, but you know.]

How is it where you're from?

[monolike]

[That makes a lot of sense, now that Sorey's seen the corruption of the church back home firsthand. Still, it hurts his heart to hear that people are praying for their god to come back, same as when he'd overhear people back home begging for the seraphim to return when they hadn't really gone anywhere. Religion is sad sometimes.]

Similar, [he admits.] There isn't really any one particular deity people pray to, but most people've lost the ability to see them. In a lot of cases, even people holding out hope don't think they exist.

I'm glad you can still have faith in yours. I think it's really nice.

[apurrstate]

You...you know your gods exist? That they walk among you?

I don't think I could blame your people for having doubt, if they can no longer see them, I could understand where their fears might seem valid. What made them stop seeing?

[He couldn't imagine. The Maker had never walked Thedas in human history, only shown Himself to those He'd chosen through time. But even the elven 'Creators' apparently used to be around, only to have been banished away from the elves. At least they knew the Creators were gone through evidence of their disappearance. Maker, imagine if they hadn't disappeared at all, but simply been lost from sight and still walked Thedas, simply ignored by those who longed for their return?

How incredibly sad that seemed. He half wished Merrill were here to offer her opinion and half hoped she'd never have the idea herself.

[monolike]

Generations of humans born away from seraphim, mostly. Humans used to worship seraphim and live with them, and seraphim would give blessings in return for it. This was a long time ago though, and humans lost reverence in seraphim so seraphim moved on. [There are a lot more factors, but it's a long story and Sorey can't even really tell most of it considering how little he knows.] After that children were born with less and less resonance until they couldn't really see them anymore. Lots of people still worship seraphim, but as something a lot more abstract instead of actual beings and people who exist. Not many people talk with them. I was raised in a seraphim village, so I've been able to see them since I was a baby.

Do you know Dezel, Zaveid, Mikleo or Lailah here in the Fleet? They're seraphim.

[apurrstate]

How interesting. [The idea of people worshiping something they could see existed...it certainly seemed to him that it should make things easier.

At least right up until Sorey lists off a few names.]

Wait...Dezel? The spirit that works at Malum? My boyfriend works there too, Dezel's one of these Seraphim?

[He honestly enjoyed the food Dezel made, but he couldn't imagine worshiping him like he worshiped Andraste. Then again, he supposed it really wasn't any different from the Avaar.]

He mentioned most people couldn't see him, I hadn't really thought about it when you started describing your home, but it makes sense now.

[monolike]

[lmfao ok but the reactions he gets when he tells people that Dezel and Zaveid are technically holy beings will never, ever get old.] Trust me, I understand your surprise. He doesn't seem very worship-able, right?

Humans don't worship seraphim like they used to, but they're still considered holy beings. And the ones who stay in cities and villages to extend their blessings get worshipped more than the ones who just mind their own business. Dezel's one of the latter. [plus he's a wind seraph who, as everybody knows, are weirdos]

[apurrstate]

He makes a mean tart, but that's hardly grounds for worship, no.

[He smiles thoughtfully.]

Then again, who's to say that, if Andraste showed up here, anyone would believe she's worshipped back home? She was just a normal woman once. I'm sure it's similar.

[monolike]

I always think that's so fascinating. You know? Things like- a lack of personal accounts or a strangulation of historical documents can elevate a normal person to godhood.

[Sorey smiles to himself.] Like with Andraste; she must've complained about being hungry or bored at least once, right? It'd probably be funny to hear now.

[apurrstate]

[He can't help but laugh.]

I'm sure she did, although if you said as much in front of any Chantry Sister, they'd likely have a few choice words for you.

I haven't been around here for my own reasons until now, but perhaps I'll start coming more often, I think it would be interesting to learn more about the other religions out there.

[monolike]

Oh, definitely, you should! Stefan, he practices this religion called Islam and there's so much rich history involved. Plus he has this beautiful song-like chant, it's a call to prayer that he plays during specific times during the day. It's really beautiful and very spiritual, and so interesting to learn about.

Plus! There's plenty of room if you'd like to make some kind of altar or something for your own faith! I could help too, my friend and I built that one over there. [He gestures to the seraphic elemental altar over yonder, simple but with curled carvings and draped in cloth.]

[apurrstate]

[Anders' eyes travel to the alter and his expression gives away his appreciation before he can open his mouth.]

I'll definitely have to ask him about it next chance I get.

That alter is quite lovely. But...perhaps you should talk to Sister Leliana about helping her make some kind of alter. I'm afraid...ah...

[That he blew up a Chantry to get freedom for his people, to remove the blockade between the two forces of Kirkwall, the Grand Cleric who refused to help and turned a blind eye to those who hurt all in the name of 'peace.' Anders had the blood of innocents and the faithful on his hands as much as any patient whose life he saved. It would never balance out and the last thing he should be doing was touching or building anything to revere Andraste.]

She would know better what an Andrastian alter should have, I'm afraid I know the Chant much better than I know what the inside of a Chantry looks like.

[Good enough, not entirely a lie, but not entirely the truth either.]

[monolike]

I can do that. [Sorey shifts his weight on the cushion so he's sitting cross-legged instead of kneeling. Not a lot of discipline, this one.] Though maybe it doesn't have to look like what the Chantry would make it look like. You said you don't agree with them, right?

If it's an altar for your worship, can't you make it how you think it should look?

[apurrstate]

[Anders doesn't comment on the change in possition, he was hardly one to judge. But whatever his mind was stirring up when Sorey next spoke, it fizzled up and fell away at those words.

His expression changed into one of confused uncertainty and, after a moment, contemplation.]

Is that right? I mean, I don't agree with the Chantry, but it it's not a proper alter, how is it good for worship?

[He was trying to wrap his mind around it, but he was clearly struggling. This wasn't something he'd ever considered.]

[monolike]

[Sorey scratches his cheek sheepishly.] Well...maybe I have a unique take on religion, but, [he gestures around them] look at all this. Everyone is worshiping their own gods and spirits in their own way, here. I can't help but think that any god worth worshiping would look at this and would just see the utter devotion. I mean, wouldn't you?

[apurrstate]

[Anders takes that idea under consideration and looks around as Sorey suggests.]

I suppose you have a point. Worship in a constructive way...surely the Maker, being who He is, would simply want the respect, devotion, and desire to help that should come with worshiping Him. I've never thought He would approve of the Chantry's fascination with opulence and riches.

[Then again, perhaps that was Anders' narrow understanding.

On the other hand, a God who prized opulence and riches might not be the God for Anders.]

Perhaps you have a point, thank you.

[Something made from the heart would surely mean more than something made of impersonal images. And if it didn't...well....no, it had to be. That had to be true, Anders couldn't imagine a world where the Chantry could actually be right about the Maker.]

I'll look into making something, then.

[monolike]

[Ahhh, that's so nice... Sorey beams, grabbing onto his ankles and pulling his legs in tighter.] That's fantastic! If you need anything with embroidery or leathermaking, I can help you out. Please let me know!