Nierite wrote:
19) How widespread are the holy books in the Arcanis universe? We know that there are such things as printing presses, and on average there seems to be at least basic literacy to be found among the common folk (not just the upper class and clergy, such as in 1500's Europe), which means that it should be possible for many people to have their own copies of the Canticle of Illiir.
19a) If these books are reasonably common, are they in a 'commoner' tongue, or exclusively in Altharin (or High Coryani)? Back in the afore mentioned time in Europe the bible was almost exclusively found in Latin which was not a commonly spoken tongue, but Martin Luther then translated it into German which WAS a common tongue which increased readership of the bible (as well as undercut the authority of the priesthood).
A good questions. Just based on what I think makes sense I would suspect that most commoners do not own a complete copy of Holy Books (or more likely scrolls). At most i would think they might have small reliquaries with snippets of important passages they got on this or that pilgrimage. Again guessing, I believe the books would probably be written in Ancient Altherin...the various temples are all big time into Altherin (Cants if nothing else) and preserving that language keeps out translation errors. Again would tend to keep commoners from reading the books directly.
How wide spread the texts are in wealthier strata of society is a more difficult question for me. In a Renaissance (or even medieval) setting they would be fairly well distributed. The purpose of religion in that time period was Salvation and they wanted to get the word out. But in a Roman setting the reverse would have been true. Religion in Rome could be divided into "the Civic Religion" which was solely based on preventing Divine Disfavor and not Salvation. "Mystery Cults" did promised some for of enlightenment or salvation...but only for the select initiated. They were very private with their inner rites.
While it looks to me like the campaign world and the Mother Church should lean Ren/Med, its also true Coryani culture leans the opposite way. And the old mod To Shake the Pillars of Heaven implies (at least to me) that the Sacred Illuminated Scrolls are almost unique and irreplaceable. That sounds to me like the Sybelleen (sp?) Books of Ancient Rome. They were Holy and consulted in times of potential calamity. Absolutely no one but a few ever looked inside their covers at the ancient prophesies that were alleged to be held within. Most Senators never handled or saw the books, much less the plebs. I think the same is probably true of the Scrolls.
On yet a third hand, clearly Initiates and Annointed Priests are reading *something.*
If I were running a home campaign the way I might split the difference is to hold that the Illuminated Scrolls (or the Kalindruhl) are only partially transcribed and distributed to the clergy and public. Essentially there are different levels of "security clearances" you would need to gain access to more and more esoteric, controversial or sensitive parts. Maybe the Inquisition also fits into that.
No idea how it actually works out in the living campaign. I maintain that Tukufu prints and sells religious tracks to Pilgrims in the First City as part of his business with Litera Scripta Manet. Henry signed off on that when I sent the business write up to him. I don't know if that means that the complete set of the Illuminated Scrolls can be transcribed and sold to the wealthy or if Tukufu is printing up selected sections.
Yes. I agree with your interpretation of history and also think its likely that most garden variety people in Arcanis don't have access to the full Holy texts. While most knights and nobles in the early medieval period didn't read Latin a lot of the upper crust in Arcanis do read Ancient Altherian. I don't know if King Gerhart or the Gracchi family have a full and complete copy of the Illuminated Scrolls but I think its possible. They certainly have something ...