//------------------------------// // Lapia One // Story: Records of Scientia // by Morgan83 //------------------------------// "Ahem, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Princess of Friendship. Today marks the three thousand seven hundred and sixty eighth day of the end of the Battle of the Sun. It has come to my attention that since the discovery of Starswirl's Vault of Scientia that eventually lead to that battle, no pony has made efforts in reclamation of the knowledge within. This is appalling in my opinion. "Orion Fall's search for knowledge and subsequent battle in the great holding has left much in disarray, including many of the tunnels in dire need of excavation. Many of the shelves have been thoroughly destroyed in the conflict that occurred here. "It is fortunate for us that the Dicentis Lapia, Speaker Stones, are built of sterner material. But that leaves us with an issue. The shelves were marked as to what knowledge was held within them, but the Stones themselves were, unfortunately, never matched to their place-holdings. Leaving us in the dark without an index on what subject any given Stone might be covering. "This must be corrected, and a proper catalog must be constructed to understand what Starswirl and his assistant may have left behind. It is important that his knowledge be researched and sent to the proper archivists to be made available to appropriate interested parties. "To that end I have taken it upon myself, and with the volunteered help of my two assistants, Starlight Glimmer and Spike Sparkle, to delve deep into this vast reservoir of information that those illustrious pioneers left behind for us to find." *a loud thud" "Don't grouse like that, Spike, and be careful with those books. No telling what condition they are in yet. This is good for you. It'll get you away from those comics, you're far to old to be reading them anyway. "Besides, Starlight is excited. "Where is she by the way? "Well, go find her! "No I can't look for her myself, I am unable to leave now, once the Stone starts recording it cannot be stopped till somepony is done with whatever they intended to say otherwise they waste it....What? "Oh...OH pony feathers! Spike you go find her. Now! I will start the recording of this first batch of Stones. Now which one should I start with first...ah this one looks good." *humming noises* *tapping noises* "I see that it is functioning. Finally. This is the sixth one you've botched Clover and I do not like it. I know your skill making these blasted things is subpar at best, but even you should be able to set the Lapis Factorem to simple production without breaking it. You are gonna pay for my Avichinie! "It was expensive! "No, don't get to close! They don't need to hear your voice, only mine! They did not pay to hear the whinings of a stallion barely out of the Iluvertum. Go, stand over there and don't make any loud noises. I don't know, read or something, just do not bother me while I am in session. And NO talking! "Good Afternoon. Or Morning, truly I am not sure when you will be listening to this. "My name is Starswirl. Better known to many of you as Starswirl the Bearded. Yes the Hero of the Contrail Pass. I abhor introducing myself by that title I would have you know. But you're not here to hear my grumbles of a misspent youth, you spent an absolutely exorbitant amount of bits to have my voice teach your students. My coffers appreciate you. "I will be speaking in Common, as I believe whatever rabble you will have listening in on this lecture we barely be able to understand Equish, let alone Summus Oratio. "Today's subject is on Religion, a brief introduction. Very brief in this case because the histories tied into this subject is rather vast for it being largely made up. Or I suppose. There are some things in this world that I have seen that give....merits to the claims of the fanatical. "Worship in Equestria, and pony dominated societies as a whole, fall under three distinct religious sects. Each pulls from the mythos of the past and are mired in in a great deal of uncertain supposition. Yes I know that was redundant, Clover, it was meant to convey the mystery wrapped up in our peoples' belief! Hush. "Where was I? Ah, yes. "There are of course smaller movements, but we will not be covering them in this recording. See Section C - Aisle Thirty-seven... I mean Thirty-eight. Thank you Clover. Now please, shhh... "To begin, we will start with the most wide spread and accepted of the three:  • Faustian- "This religion is the oldest known to ponykind, but has it's fingers have dug deep into other current living cultures. It centers around an elder being, whose form is argued over constantly by the different branches throughout Equis. It is said that the Goddess having found the void empty and without light, created the world and life upon it. There are arguments on why this is, but the most popular state that it is because she was lonely. I personally don't believe it. Ponies are annoying and get in the way of my work, I can only imagine how much of an irritation for the Goddess we as a collection of species are to her! "I know this isn't about myself, Clover. But I can draw comparisons and sympathize with the deity who may or may not have created us. I have to deal with YOU after all. Now quiet! I am working. "While her visage maybe in question, her place as the All-mother, Birther as the title is given by the Changelings, is not in question. In some newer denominations she has been called the Mother of Celestia and Luna. It is believed that as she finished her work, that she realized she needed to create something to maintain balance and life in the world. So she plucked a piece of the essence of the Sun and of the Moon and breathed life into their breasts, giving birth to the Avatars of the Heavens. "Her Daughters of the Day and Night. "There is no confirmation on whether or not that is true, and I find that unlikely. As I know Celestia, and knew Luna. Neither could possibly be demi-goddess material. Celestia is prone to pranks and has put the castle staff under dire stress on more than one occasion with her random departures. And anypony who has seen Luna sleep knows the mare needs a Silentium spell cast upon her room least she shake the foundations apart. ".... I pray that mare one day returns to us. Hale and whole... *sniff* "Moving on!  • Harmony- "This is nearly as old as Faustian, though for different reasons and far more mysterious in many ways. Its roots are in this case, literal, and come to think of it, may actually be older then the aforementioned belief. There is something primal about this one. I've experienced it myself in some small capacity. I will get to that. "A Great Tree, described to look like a glimmering Oak that pulses with the light of ages. It is said to bring peace to all who glimpse it, and its passing revitalizes the land. "There are no official churches constructed for it, nor shrines. It's belief alone that carries it through, though if anypony was to bare the responsibility of its continued proliferation, it would be the Earth Clan. It does make sense considering their ties to the soil. It is also said that this Tree "moves", thus supporting the line on passing and revitalization. It never remains in one place for too long, and some reports have stated, with no certainty mind you, that it was seen in two different continents on the same day. "Going to any of the purported locations myself has yielded nothing of note, save for plants that were not known to grow in those sites suddenly in abundance. Besides the stirred soil, those seem to be the only evidence at large. "Those that do manage to see it are few in number, and never twice. I myself feel as if my chance has been wasted. I believe I may have glimpsed it once, and thus missed my mark as the Sanguine would say. Incredible Boghadiars, or Archers in the layponies term. Can hit the gnat off...what? Of course I know what I am speaking on, you...what? Oh...dragon shité! "Well, I've spoken too long on the subject as it is, and I will not waste a Stone rambling. "Where was I? Ah yes, the Tree! And my brief glimpse of its Majesty. "In my youth, I was rather fond of drink. A little too fond I must admit. Yes Clover, this is Important. Ponies need to have context.....yes well...you're a terrible writer. No sense of grandeur. Now hush, I know a few transmogrification spells you have no defense against yet, and I think you would find difficult to undo yourself. *long silence* "As I was saying, drink, and far too much of it. I curse the wasted time spent in the swill. It was in one of these states of inebriation that I found myself in the woods, relieving myself on Muddle Mire's petunias, when I beheld its glowing brilliance amongst the branches of the wood. Magnificent pulsing colors in rainbow patterns most lovely. It seemed to flare and ebb in time with a music all its own. "I must have found it in the moving stage of it's cycle for as I attempted to move closer, the light stayed the same distance away. "I, of course, eventually lost it and had to wait till morning before I could find my way out of the Everfree, sober and sore for my troubles. Only to find my home in embers! "Apparently Muddle had taken issue with my continued use of her flowerbed, and had set my home aflame. Her flowers were horrid little things to begin with. If anything I improved them by watering them so often! Ungrateful, harrumph! "I hear you back there Clover, these old ears are not deaf. Hush now. "As I was saying. "It is reported that the Tree appears only at great need. For those truly in ill straights. "Thinking about it then and now, that may have been what it had done for me, saving me from being cooked like an Asmirdan on a spit in my own bed! "Horrible mare. "Where...ah yes. The Tree's worship is more in communing with the earth, in respecting nature itself. As said, no churches or shrines needed, though some of the latter does exist in the smaller mudpony communities. It is not a slur Clover! It is what they are! NOW HUSH!" *loud zapping noises* "You will remain a ficus until I am done. I'll have no more of your snickering. "There is not much left to say on the subject without delving into the tribes own belief structures, which is rather confusing as they have not adopted written word until only a hundred years ago or so, and that there is nearly thirty tribes of mu-earth pony just in the valley alone. Each with their own cultures and rituals. The Tree is real, and I have seen it, if vaguely, for myself. "You could say this old unicorn is a believer. "The last religion I wish to speak on is the one with the least information on it. And the one which bothers me the most.  • Sol- "The name is simple, but the practice, I suspect, is anything but. They derive their members from one of the newer Faustian sects, and pull their leadership from the upper crust, primarily nobles and the wealthy unicorns. So despite their small member count, they have rather large influence in politics. "It had begun only recently, about twenty years ago, growing in influence far too quickly to be normal by any standard. Churches, shrines, and totems galore have spread like a fire in hay across this fragile nation. Incredible considering the priests insist on a much smaller congregation than indicated by all the structures that have thus far been built. "Perhaps they have a roving construction crew that moves randomly to set up their places of worship. Something to look into, Clover? Take a note, we must investigate some of the newer building companies that have...oh. Right I made you into a plant. No matter I shall remember. "I find it odd that their appearance and surge in membership had come about just after Luna's fall and imprisonment. "As I have stated, these are not just simple worshipers. Their methods of veneration are hidden from public view. In fact, if one is not part of their upper echelon, no pony learns anything at all! The practice is a complete mystery. But even that does not bother me as much as who it is they revere, and more to the point, how much they worship Her. Oh and the rumors. "Celestia is treated as a goddess made flesh. It makes sense, considering the beliefs the newer Faustian Churches teachings have spoken of. But the way their members go about it, is rather disturbing, entering the Sun court and practically groveling. It's embarrassing to say the least. "The rumors are only rumors mind, if disturbing. Pony sacrifices in Her name at their more secluded temples. Of dark rituals performed to align their members closer to the sun, closer to Her. It causes me great distress to hear of them, and I have seen Her in court pale when another tale creeps in. I can only imagine the harm it causes Celestia to have to listen to them. "To this day, none of it has been confirmed. There has been raids, there have been investigations. Nothing of stone to speak of. "With this, I end my current thoughts on the present religious presence in Equestria and the pony populated countries at large. "Please bare in mind that this Stone is meant as an entry into the subject of religion, not a true source for reports. If you want my more detailed postulations, look to my notes under Religion - And Its Impacts on Pony Culture. That is under Section C - Aisle Twenty-Three...or was it Twenty-two? Clover! What aisle is that confounded...oh yes. I had turned you into a ficus didn't I? "Well I suppose I should fix that." End of Record. "......pfffftttttt hahahahahaha! He pissed on petunias!" "T-thats not funny Spike! Clearly there is some explanation for his actions! Perhaps it is a cultural exchange or something. Maybe he just didn't have permission to..." "Sounds to me like he was a rude stallion that would get soaked and have to find some place to drain the ol' hose if you ask me." "Starlight! That is not funny!" "You're repeating yourself Twilight. Heh, maybe you should take part in that "cultural exchange", after all Starswirl can't be wrong. Right?" *more shrieking laughter* "YOU CAN EVEN EXCUSE IT AS THE RITUAL OF "WATERING THE FLOWERS"!" "SPIKE!!!!" *crashing and thumping noises* "I think I'll just shut this off now...No telling when she will stop chasing him." End of Record.