Major Gods and Cults covers eleven gods. Amongst them one finds Adonis (heavily modified from this ancient Greek roots), Mitra, Ishtar, and Set. Things from the Outer Dark covers another nine entities, all of them Mythos-related. The heavy-weights, namely Great Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep, Azathoth and Shub-Niggurath are all included. Minor Gods and cults continues the work with the likes of Ibis and Crom, who apparently is not as much of a deal as his most famous disciple. Regional Cults on the other hand touches on the cults that can only be encountered locally, like the Jungle Cults of Khitai, godlings, and the Zamboula Cannibal Cult. Each listing ranges from one to five pages, and includes any combination of narrative about the deity and the beliefs surrounding it, as well as rules on some of them.
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The Call of the Cultist provides methods and approaches the Gamemaster might take to introduce these gatherings of fanatics and power-hungry opportunists into the player characters' lives. This includes discussion on concepts like whether the gods are real, the cults' goals, what a cult looks like and what it is to live inside it, cult hierarchy and false gods, as well as discussion relating to the nature of belief and the problem of faith.
The strong points: One of the things I really like about this edition of Conan is that even though the option of being religious is open to player characters, in reality the setting (and some treatises in this book) scream how the gods of the Hyborian Age are not there to be worshiped. Only opportunists or lunatics would do so, taking into account the deities that are on the roster or the ambivalence about the sheer existence of the gods, and whether their so-called acts or words are the result of trickery or cosmic cruelty. Still, the new rules about cultist characters are good fun, in case you want to pair your archetypal macho fighter with an equally archetypal superstitious cultist. What is a pilgrimage anyway, if not a call to adventure in lands unknown? Those into sacrilege and making a quick buck will enjoy the dedicated tables on temple loot as well as the holy relics. A blend of Cthulhian, more standard sword-and-sorcery, as well as eyebrow-raising items, they can permanently alter both the characters as well as your campaign. Don't hand them out gratuitously; it won't be as fun.
The narratives when it comes to the gods themselves are evocative and fun to read. They get a rather short treatment each, with each listing consisting from one to five pages. The research that has been put into this sourcebook is clear from the very beginning, with quite the attention to literary detail. I loved the map of the world at the very first pages of the product, where small boxes indicate the gods that are predominantly worshipped in each region. More RPGs should go for such an approach. Those not that versed in Conan lore will be surprised to find out how irrelevant Crom is in the big scheme of things. Mitra and Ishtar are probably the most venerated of all the gods, something that is not as hard to explain when one glances upon their focus: Ishtar is love, beauty, fertility, sex, passion and war combined, while Mitra is by definition the god of civilization. That is the exact opposite of what Conan incarnates.
The weak points: You will be disappointed if you expect something similar to sourcebooks like Deities & Demigods or an overall D&D approach. There are no actual depictions of the gods, be it in the form of icons or holy symbols; the few exceptions confirm the rule. Don't expect holy days, major festivals, scriptures or what have you. There surely are no stats or powers for most of the gods themselves, with the exception of some that Conan already fought and those that your characters are likely to encounter. The remaining gods are unimaginably alien and unforgiving, and are not to be fought under any circumstances, lest they destroy the feeling of Conan's world. Their narratives are not immediately gameable, even though an inventive GM can start a fire with the faintest of sparks and the most innocent of quotes. A good GM will use the texts as a flavouring here and there, interspersed throughout his campaigns when the characters travel, meet new NPCs or when they search the histories of exotic items, in order to further reveal how uncaring or bizarre the world really is. Don't be lazy and don't rely on exposition; such a bland approach is a sure-fire way of dampening the gods' impact on the world.
Conclusion: Nameless Cults is not a typical RPG book about the cosmology and the divine of the setting it deals with. It provides enough crunch for characters to become cultists overall, the gods however remain elusive and mysterious, should they even exist. A fun, concise read on the divine of the Hyborian age and thus suitable for any Conan fan, I would have liked it even more if it contained more crunch, additional information that could be immediately used in the game without further elaboration or modifications.
Nemesius of Emesa and John Chrysostom also valued moderation but applied it to different social situations. They argued that the perfect Christians were those who strove for taming and destroying destructive appetites completely (often associated with the body), while an ideal of moderation was more appropriate for Christians who did not practice as harsh a routine as those striving for perfection (read: monks).47 In the emerging monastic context, the combatting of emotions was central. Emotions were often associated with demons of different kinds, demons that could visit the monk and stir up different emotions.48
Even this brief survey suffices to demonstrate that the view of emotions in ancient philosophy was very closely associated with the formation of the mind, with the cognitive faculty that governed thoughts, beliefs, and actions. The basest emotions were often associated with the body, but the soul also gave rise to emotions. Some, like Stoics, even thought that the intellect, or reasoning aspect of the cognitive faculty, could give rise to emotions, good emotions, although only among the very wise. Sometimes the different components of the mind stood in opposition to one another, and it is here that theories on passions and ethics meet; most would have agreed that a virtuous person was someone who knew which faculty of the mind should govern at which time.
Grendel may be a demon from hell, but he's insignificant compared to the mighty power and goodness of God. Beowulf may be a battle between good and evil, but the two sides are nowhere near equal. This isn't a dualistic fight between God and the Devil; it's God triumphing over all the little, petty demons on earth.
Everyone is thirsty for friendship and kindness; They all like to be loved by others. The heart of a human being thrives on it. A person who is not loved by anyone regards himself as alone and deserted. Dear lady! Your husband is not any different. He is also in need of love and affection. Before his marriage the love and affection of his parents fulfilled this need, but now, he expects you to fulfill it.
Praise him in front of others. Ask your children to respect him and reprimand them if they are discourteous towards him. Be respectful of him in front of guests and be attentive to his needs, as well as the guests. When he is knocking at the door you should try to open the door with a smile and a happy expression. This small act of happiness has such an effect that it refreshes the man's tired spirits. Some women may think that such behaviour is strange. Imagine greeting your husband as if he was a guest. This is not the correct attitude because the man has been struggling all the day for the well-being of his family and he deserves some consideration and respect when he returns home. That first greeting makes a big impression and what's good for a guest is good for the family members.
"Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) stated: 'Any woman who bothers her husband and distresses him is distant from the blessings of Allah and any woman who respects her husband, is obedient and does not cause him sorrow, is blessed and prosperous'."32
Dear lady! You are the mistress of your household. Be wise and understanding. Keep an account of your expenses. Budget your expenditures in a way that it is not detrimental to your wealth and honor. Do not compete with others and be envious of them. If you see a nice dress on a woman, or if you become interested in some furnishings that you have seen at a friend's or relative's house, do not compel your husband to purchase them which is beyond his financial means and would force him to borrow. Isn't it better to wait until your budget is higher or there is some extra saving to make non-essential purchases?
If a friend or relative presented you with a pair of stockings or a bunch of flowers, you would thank them repeatedly. So it is only natural and fair to show appreciation to your husband for his consideration and thoughtfulness. Do not think that you would be belittling yourself by demonstrating your appreciation. On the contrary, you would be loved and cared for more because you appreciate the efforts of your husband whereas snobbism and selfishness can only lead towards great misfortunes.
Dear Madam! Your husband is a human being like you. He is not perfect, but he may have many merits. If you are interested in your marriage and your family then do not set out to find his weaknesses. Do not regard his small defects as important. Do not compare him with an ideal man whom you have established in your mind. There may be some faults with your husband which are not present in others. But you should remember that other men may have other defects which are non-existent in yours. Be satisfied with his merits. You will consequently see that his merits outweigh his faults. Besides why should you expect a perfect husband when you are imperfect yourself. If you are proud enough to think you are perfect, then ask others. 2ff7e9595c
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