Lessons to the Children- A History of the Alin’sa’s organisational structure and it’s relationship
The Alin’sa are the Priestesses of Celeste, the Goddess of Death. An order that began when the immortal Celeste, daughter of Hades and Perspehone, took her uncle Thanatos’ place as the Goddess of Death and her appointment as an Olympian Goddess, the order is females-only. Females have a privileged position in that they are often preferred to males in all aspects, but merit and credit is given where due. However, there are no men in any decision-making positions. It is said that men have a tendency to fight among themselves unnecessarily and use their power to start wars.
In order to understand the Alin’sa, one must first understand their Goddess.
The Lady of Death, Celeste, is the daughter of the Maiden of Spring, the granddaughter of the Goddess of Harvest, and the daughter of the Underworld. There was more than enough in her background to teach young Celeste that Death had a place in Rebirth, in clearing out the cobwebs of the old before the new season could begin. Since both her mother and her grandmother were tied closely with the Seasons and Agriculture, Celeste grew up with the understanding that Death should not be a full stop to Life, but just a comma.
Her father was the God of the Underworld and a God of Judgement. This meant that in addition to her reverence for Life, Celeste also grew up with a strong sense of judgement and identity. Death comes to all, good or bad, and the only judgement that Celeste uses is when a person should die and why, for ultimately Celeste is answerable only to Karma, the Goddess of Fate.
Her Priestesses show this attitude quite clearly. Though they are descended from the warlike Amazons, the Huntresses Clans that form the bulk of Celeste’s Priesthood are anything but warlike. They are actually quite specialised to their respective tasks and prey, and in a very literal sense, they are born to their duties. Each Clan is responsible for one aspect of the Hunt.
The Hunt is often referred as a campaign of sorts. One clan is in charge of hunting animals for the dinner table during this campaign. Another is to clean and serve it, and then there are those who hunt specific prey, such as Harpies, Phoenixes, and the like. These are specialised versions of the Amazons. Bear in mind though, that there is an offshoot to the Clans, collectively known as Menalippe’s Children. These are clan families that have not produced a female heir in 15 generations. They are not accorded full status, but are treated with less respect. Many of these sons often remarry into other clans, which ensures that the power and experience of each families are not lost.
In order to understand the Alin’sa, one must first understand their Goddess.
The Lady of Death, Celeste, is the daughter of the Maiden of Spring, the granddaughter of the Goddess of Harvest, and the daughter of the Underworld. There was more than enough in her background to teach young Celeste that Death had a place in Rebirth, in clearing out the cobwebs of the old before the new season could begin. Since both her mother and her grandmother were tied closely with the Seasons and Agriculture, Celeste grew up with the understanding that Death should not be a full stop to Life, but just a comma.
Her father was the God of the Underworld and a God of Judgement. This meant that in addition to her reverence for Life, Celeste also grew up with a strong sense of judgement and identity. Death comes to all, good or bad, and the only judgement that Celeste uses is when a person should die and why, for ultimately Celeste is answerable only to Karma, the Goddess of Fate.
Her Priestesses show this attitude quite clearly. Though they are descended from the warlike Amazons, the Huntresses Clans that form the bulk of Celeste’s Priesthood are anything but warlike. They are actually quite specialised to their respective tasks and prey, and in a very literal sense, they are born to their duties. Each Clan is responsible for one aspect of the Hunt.
The Hunt is often referred as a campaign of sorts. One clan is in charge of hunting animals for the dinner table during this campaign. Another is to clean and serve it, and then there are those who hunt specific prey, such as Harpies, Phoenixes, and the like. These are specialised versions of the Amazons. Bear in mind though, that there is an offshoot to the Clans, collectively known as Menalippe’s Children. These are clan families that have not produced a female heir in 15 generations. They are not accorded full status, but are treated with less respect. Many of these sons often remarry into other clans, which ensures that the power and experience of each families are not lost.