Dionysian Mysteries
Opened this issue · 8 comments
To go with #146 Wines and Oils, the Dionysian Mysteries will be a society available to the Hellenic sub-group. Could make it available for Christians and Kemetic sub-group to join, but not form.
This society could perform the function of a kind of social club, in that it helps build relations between members (gaining positive opinion modifiers between each other), but also things like removing stress and gaining temporary health benefits from eating good food.
The society should be secretive but not necessarily criminal, although it was criticized in the past as dangerous and uncivilized.
Ceremonies often involved hallucinogens, incense, and strong liquors and wines.
The philosophy of the cult involves returning to nature through revery and intoxication. Authorities frequently considered them savage and dangerous to the social fabric, though they were rarely directly persecuted.
Holding celebrations should require wines. References to hallucinogenic substances in events would make sense.
Would be fun to have some lyrical references in events and options. e.g. "Whiskey, give it to me straight. Straight and strong." as an event option, in reference to the Halestorm song "Unapologetic".
Vernal Equinox (~March 20) and Winter Solstice (~December 21) are holy days for Dionysus. These two were part of the public rites. Secret rites were held afterward (like, that night, next day at most). During some periods and regions there were monthly celebrations, might as well let characters throw them arbitrarily. These should be entirely secret for those not publically Hellenic.
The secret rites were mostly giant orgies of wine and sex. See wiki article for deets.
Someone got pregnant in an orgy and their spouse is pissed!
Events for making wine.
Events for two members making wine together.
Events where members can ask each other for winemaking supplies (or just wine) in exchange for gold/favor/opinion bonus.
Make friends with someone while fondly remembering the most recent celebration.
Being a member of the society gives you access to decisions to hold the public rites as a celebration, giving you revolt risk reductions and small opinion bonuses with members of your (sub)realm, something on the order of +5.
Commission a play.