Ringism [from The Codex]

[Introduction to The Codex]

It is said that when Pyth's Old Quarter was first built its buildings were constructed upon the archaic remains of older structures. This rumor cannot be confirmed, of course, as long ago the foundations of the Old Quarter's buildings were sealed against flooding, given the Quarter's proximity to the sea. Some claim, though, that they were actually sealed to prevent hoary spirits and miasmas rising from the deep. They say that below the archaic structures are even older ones, and, below that, even older, and that people have travelled there. Going down, moving through shafts and breaks, tunnels and drops, level after level, older and older the building gets. The farther one travels in the dark deep the farther one travels into the past. Magic and meta-magic fade underground, of course, eventually ceasing to work at all. Yet, far down, it is said, ancient magics arise. The deeper one goes, the stronger these grow. Deepest down lie mystical wonders and things of enormous power. Here there are still creatures living, it is claimed, some who make their own light, and some who live and hunt in the darkness.

Ringism is supposedly based on the beliefs of the survivors of this journey, but "supposedly" only, for there are no known survivors. Still the rumors persist in Pyth, and they have developed a devout following, dedicated to what they believe are the rumors' truths. These, they say, show a true religion, a religion of a Ring God, and supposedly show how to connect with the god and how the god, when understood, empowers followers. But what truths they have, if any, are fragmentary: bits and pieces of lore, conjecture, and fantasy. 

Special appreciation of the Ring, of course, is ages old. The modern Magnavesil word for the Ring, "Ser," is well attested to run directly from Old Elf. The same word is used in Alithinotiko, Sindari, and Vulkai, unchanged. It is "Sur" to the Caballari and Vagusi despite their completely different languages. The Rubelmanae, who had no known ancient contact with any of these groups, have a mythical hero named "Sergerth" or "ring maker." "S-r" is also the name of the Oruka's ring god, suggesting a similar etymology overseas. These are but examples. As the Ring is as old as the Earth and as old as the hominids, it would be shocking were it not celebrated throughout time.

Ring devotion runs throughout culture. Many think that it binds the world, measures existence, determines fate, is the source of love and anger, records sins, or watches the Earth for some other force or power or god. The Northmen believe the Ring is a snake that someday will eat the World. The Morrar believe it is a scythe continuously sweeping the Earth, separating the dead and dying from their souls. The Adani believe it is the home of their ancestors; the place where people live after death. The Sy believe it is but a comforting symbol made by their god to remind them it protects them. The Esilvi believe it is the seam of the heavenly sphere, the Sphaera Stellae. The Astelli believe it is a portal to other worlds. Anyone with a little training can use the Ring, when it is visible, to determine the time of day or night, and, with but a little more, the day and season. The Ring follows the Sun, they say. To many cultures and religions Sun and Ring are an inescapable dyad: male and female, solid and void, compact and open, taking and giving, killing and conceiving. For millennia people have found meaning and power from their understandings of the Ring. 

A ragtag collection of religious castoffs milling about the Old Quarter seeking ways to sneak into its supposed "basements" does not constitute a unique understanding of the Ring. This group, informally known as "the Delvers," claim special religious exemptions based on their vague beliefs about the Ring. They call these beliefs "Ringism." Many Delvers, though, are evidently little more than fortune seekers, hangers-on of those who have imported mysticism into tired rumors. They are there, one supposes, speculating that great riches lie below the city, though if any riches ever existed, over the centuries they would have been claimed. There are, to be sure, some urban folktales of riches. For instance, one of a so-called "dwarf," likely meaning a Kapaki, who appeared one day in the Old Quarter bearing three fantastical red gems of a manner never seen before. These were taken, the story goes, for "inspection" by city functionaries, and they, gems and "dwarf," were never were seen again. Of course, no actual witnesses exist, or are ever known to have existed, supporting this tale.

Other stories say that the Ring is a god awaiting appropriate prayer and devotion. Supposedly the secrets of making these prayers and devotions, 0f conducting what they call the "true rites," lie buried beneath the city. The Delvers have a bizarre series of hand gestures and steps they claim are, or are part of, the "true rites." How they would possibly come to know this is unclear; the Delvers claim, of course, it is lore passed down from unnamed survivors of journeys below. It is known that the "true rites" have not in any obvious way made any known Delver powerful or successful.

Nonetheless, Delvers can be found in the Old Quarter performing the "true rites," holding both open and secret meetings about their plans, taking donations from followers, charging admission to meetings, and charging for "training" for expeditions below, although no successful expeditions have ever been recorded. One particularly industrious Delver, a Hobbit named Ponzo, has been selling training methods to other would-be trainers, who then train more would-be trainers, and so on, all for a fee, with a portion of each training fee travelling back "up" to each previous trainer, eventually to Ponzo. Many of these activities are illegal, of course. Yet, since in the Old Quarter public exposure of one's naked face is a dangerous taboo, and masks are worn throughout, identifying criminals is difficult. 

Some Delvers claim they have collections of "artifacts" from "below." The few collections the Office of Religious and Cultural Affairs (ORCA) has seen contain objects that are undeniably odd and some that are unquestionably old, but all of them can be found elsewhere. The Delvers with supposed "artifacts" are, interestingly, also a good source of fantastical stories and colorful fables, if one has the time for that sort of thing.

Ringism was ostensibly formed to unite and codify the "religious beliefs" of the Delvers. At ORCA significant debate continues whether Ringism should be accepted as a bona fide religion. To be sure, significant benefits would accrue to it, should it be accepted. At the moment, compromise at ORCA merely allows Ringism's inclusion in The Codex and otherwise denies benefits.

Prepared by C. Geertz, D.M.A.
Office of Religious and Cultural Affairs