Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-26535281-20170822230229

The worship, veneration, and respect of ancestors is/are long established traditions within Imperial Society and Rin culture. For if it was not for the ancestors we would not be where we are. Ancestors (save those accused of heresy or treason) are worshiped with a special few being venerated as 'Honored Ancestors' comparable to saints or minor deities in some households.

It is the Rin belief that one never truly dies and those that depart the material realm become part of the psychic, but they are still connected to the material realm just in a less tangible form. To stop the veneration and worship of the ancestors would sever this link and, by Rin belief, would kill these ancestors forever. This is the reason that many ancestors are worshiped with only their names known and shrines built to ancestors 'from before writing' to keep these spirits alive.

Ancestors are believed to be able to protect those still living from threats of spiritual or psychic nature (Ex: demons) thus shrines are built both privately and publicly to protect not only homes, but entire cities and worlds themselves. The only price is the yearly burnt offerings offered up en mass and usually monthly visits, small offerings, lighting of candles, and the burning of incense.

Ancestor Spirits come in two forms public and private.

- Public spirits are those called saints, great leaders, and other note worthy individuals who by Rin custom have become communal spirits. Other such spirits would be those of the past Emperors' who are worshiped as 'Magnus Paters/ Magnus Maters' or the spiritual heads of every family and thus Imperial Society. They tend to have massive shrines dedicated to them.

- Private Spirits are those of direct family origin and not the saints and heroes of the larger Empire. They are respected by a direct few and tend to have smaller shrines.

Now the worship of these spirits is conducted in shrines throughout the Empire with three main types: Private/Family, Saint, and finally Imperial. Imperial shrines are the largest of all and are dedicated to all ancestors (So not to skip anyone)

The individuals that look over Public and Imperial shrines are a class of priestess known as the Vestal Virgins (also overseers of the temples of Vesta) they are well Virgins (If their virginity is ever disproven they are exiled) most Vestal Virgins are female Eunuchs, but a few natural born Vestals still exist within the Empire (Ex: High Priestess) 