Sermon to the Hungry

"... Libde reached for the new, stretched her fingers into the darkness, and pushed back the emptiness. With nothing out of the way, something grew into its place. A new world at the tip of each finger…"

Halia was bored. She had heard this same sermon a thousand times.

"... Lastly, she made her way here to Piknro. Our vast ocean speckled by islands, and the world we call home…"

Halia hated having to sit through this every week. She didn't see the point in the Gods.

"... invited Shrigh and Grigun first to find a place to raise their expected child, and with that, the first star was born…"

She was living on the lowest rung of society. A poor and orphaned 14 year old girl, shorter and thinner than most of her age. Her personality was just as unassuming as her stature. The priests liked to tell her that she needed to speak up for herself and stop following her friend Atzi into trouble. She had heard the priestesses gossiping that she was 'too meek for her own good' and 'a sweet girl, but too much of a pushover'.

"...Natural Deities came first to Piknro. They formed this world. The Societal Deities came later. Drawn by the humans. As the people of this world came together and built their civilization, we called out to other Gods and Goddesses looking for a home. In the earlier days, all of the Gods lived together in Pantheon…"

Halia felt these Gods and Goddesses did little to actually help them. They didn't seem to care if one was struggling or how cruel the life they had given was. You were just supposed to be appreciative regardless.

"...War of the Gods, we dedicated ourselves to the Natural Deities who gave us life and our home…"

Halia would never complain outwardly though. She knew, like every child here, that the church reserved their best help for the pious, and in exchange for sitting through this sermon, they would receive a better meal than usual, with meat and bread. So she looked at the priest attentively, nodding at the appropriate times.

"... Shrigh, The Sun Goddess, who teaches us the virtues of fertility and childbirth…"

Halia's mother had died in childbirth, and her father followed soon after. He had been a hunter, but one day he never returned from checking his traps in the forest. Halia didn't remember them at all, outside of the stories her grandfather had told her. According to him, her sleek long black hair looked just like her mother's, and her large round green eyes were just like her father's. She didn't think that meant much though, as almost everyone on the island had straight black hair and green eyes. She couldn't see how these features looked different on her than anyone else.

"...husband Grigun, The Moon God, who teaches us the virtues of parenthood…"

Growing up in the island's orphanage, they learned more about Grigun's principles than any other. In the Church of Parenthood, Priests and Priestesses were forbidden from cutting their hair. Their black hair was meant to represent the night sky, and keeping it long meant they would have room for every star in their care. Her mother had been a follower of Grigun, and that was why Halia always kept her hair long, to pay homage to the woman who gave her life.

"... Trar, The Raptor God, who teaches us the virtues of death and looks over the afterlife…"

As a child, she truly never felt that it wasn't fair she was missing a thing most other children had. Her grandfather gave her a great childhood and she felt very blessed they had each other. Even when he started to get sick, she never felt unlucky to have to take care of him. Not until he finally passed when she was only 8 years old, did Halia start to feel she was truly missing a family.

"... Quatsu, The Bear Goddess, teaches us the virtues of overcoming disasters and hardships…"

After her grandfather passed, she had no one left to take care of her. She had lived at the orphanage for half her life but couldn't help but remember that this kindness would soon be coming to an end for her. Halia's 15th birthday was in six days and she would be leaving the orphanage and expected to take care of herself.

"... Va Finve, The Shark God, teaches us the virtues of the ocean and travel…"

She knew that most orphans went on to become priests and priestesses themselves. Part of the reason for these weekly sermons was to give them a good basis to decide which of the gods or goddesses they wanted to devote their lives to.

"... Xotlican, The Flower God, and his wife Xotlicua, The Flower Goddess, who teach us the virtues of fertility and love…"

Halia still wasn't sure which she wanted to follow, if any at all. She had been taught that they were important, but never understood why. Still, if she didn't join a church, Halia was likely to end up dead. She didn't have any skills to take care of herself or make a living. Joining one of the churches was the best way for her to learn these important life skills.

"... Talrach, The Tree God, teaches us the virtues of nature, animals, and the forest…"

She glanced over to her right. Her best friend, Atzi, was always most enthralled at this part. Her birthday was only 4 days after Halia's, but unlike Halia, she had decided years ago to become a priestess of Talrach. A fact the Priests and Priestesses who raised them were not too happy about. Atzi was exceptional at singing, and the church of Grigun tried hard to convince her to dedicate that talent to the orphanage.

"... Fasic, The Boar God, teaches us the virtues of hunting and strategy…"

The priests always tried to push her to join the Church of Fasic as her father was a very devout follower. While she didn't feel particularly connected to hunting. Having a church request for her, meant that she would be considered above other new initiates. It was a rare thing, that most in the orphanage were openly jealous of.

"... Libde, The Volcano Goddess, who gave us life and our entire world. Our most exalted and esteemed of the Pantheon…"

Finally, it was coming to an end. Halia reached out to grab Atzi's hand, in preparation to run out. She wanted to be at the beginning of the line for dinner, knowing this was the last good meal she would have for quite a while.