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Sharessan Hymns & Prayers
Author: Xaviera Xuider-Xee
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Song of Praise

Sharess, our Goddess, Thou art Pleasure -
Thy touch, Thy kiss, our hearts make leap.
Thy gift to us, life's greatest treasure,
Sustaineth us from dawn till sleep.

The means for song and dance to please
Thou hast provided us, Thy blessing.
We pay Thee homage on our knees
Then rise, Thy servants, proud Sharessin.

Thou urgest us to new endeavours,
A feast Thou makest of our life.
Thou teachest how to live for pleasure
And join our hands to ward off strife.

In joy Thou keep'st us safe from pain,
In love ensure Thy song is heard.
Each morn we happy rise again,
Embrace the call to live Thy word.

Our hearts are Thine, O radiant Princess!
In bliss we sing Thy highest praises,
In Thy name burn sacred incense -
Divine Sharess, Thou e'er amaze us.

Each drop of life's sweet joy we capture,
And when time comes to pass the veil
We look to join with Thee in Rapture -
To Thee in death, as life, we hail.


The Idol of Sharess

As I look into my lover's eyes and gaze upon her face
My breath comes faster and my heartbeat quickens in its pace.
As I sit beside her feet and as I look to her above
I realize how very much my heart is filled with love.

She's the one I'll always look to and in her I place my trust,
Her beauty is divine and I am burning up with lust.
The thought of her sweet kisses cause my veins to run with fire,
I dream of silk caresses that inflame me with desire.

More than any in this world I feel that I am truly bless'd
To gaze upon those sultry curves, the fullness of her breasts.
But though her body makes me shiver and my passions rise
this is not the sum of what endears her in my eyes.

She shines with tenderness and wisdom and with love for all that's good -
Like flowers drinking sunshine, she is all I need for food.
She inspires me to follow, living life as best I may,
She is the moon to light my nights, the sun to guide my way.

Forever shall I bend my knee and offer mind and heart.
And though I may not touch her I don't ever wish to part.
Perhaps my deepest love for her shall e'er be unrequited
but so long as I sit here I'll always be delighted.

I kneel to kiss her feet and feel the coolness on my lips,
I reach out with my hand to touch unyielding finger tips.
More than anything, it's true, I sorely yearn for her caress,
but it can't be for she is stone, the idol of Sharess.


"The War-Chant of the Sharessin" (so called)

(sung to the accompaniment of finger cymbals and tambourines with much shouting, laughing and waving of silk scarves)

Sharessan friends, attend my words
Gather round and heed my call
Far and near, we shall be heard
Rapture's Queen will bless us all

Let them see us dance and pray
Show how we praise Her wondrous beauty
Get out and live your life Her way
For love we do it, not for duty

Jump right up now! Do not tarry!
Vanquish evil fiends and devils
Come all ye and let's make merry
Banish cares! Attend the revels

Feel the thrill and join the game
Cant be meek and cant be modest
We'll bless you in Sharess's name
And introduce you to our Goddess


Prayer of Thanks

Sharess, I pray to You now, thankful for the light You have shown to us and to others. We are the messengers of Your wishes for freedom and life. To experience everything there is to see, feel, taste, smell, and hear. To fill us with passion and the truth of what life is. To show one another that there is more to life than day-to-day tasks. To help others to see and decide what they will do after they see. To help others make the choices to fulfill their lives. Sharess, I thank You for this vision of life and end this prayer in hopes of a new day for me and for everyone. Goddess, bless us all.

~ Laura Orcotto


Prayer to Defend the Faith (The Knight’s Prayer)

I have traveled far and my curiosity knows no bounds. I delight in every day given to me on this earth, to love and share my thoughts and feelings with others. I thank Sharess for my lust for life and all its wonders. I pray for the wisdom to comprehend Her ways and the foresight to see their implications. I swear by my sword that I will fight to protect the Temple, its priestesses, and all who seek sanctuary within it. I swear by my shield that I will provide shelter and comfort to those in need and to bring as much joy as I can into their lives. I swear by my heart to be true and faithful to Her teachings and to seek Her more each day in all things. This I pray to Sharess.

~ Laura Silverleaf


Prayer for Protection

Sharess watch over me. Sharess protect me. Sharess bring me joy. Sharess take away my pain.


Prayer of Invocation

Sharess, Princess of Passion! You enthrall us with the beauty of Your voice, and so we praise You!
Bast, Mother of Cats! You bewitch us with the clarity of Your gaze, and so we adore You!
Zandilar, Dancing Lady! You enchant us with the grace of Your movement, and so we celebrate You!
Bast, Feline of Felicity! You enrapture us with the taste of Your lips, and so we revere You!
Sharess, Lady of Lust! You captivate us with the gentleness of Your touch, and so we worship You!


Prayer of Reverence

Thank Sharess, that you may feel happiness at the sight of a morning sky, or an evening sky. Thank Sharess!
Applaud Sharess, that you may enjoy the sound of music, or of a child's laugh. Applaud Sharess!
Praise Sharess, that you may appreciate the scent of a flower, or of the air after a summer rain. Praise Sharess!
Venerate Sharess, that you may revel in the taste of fine food, or of a vintage wine. Venerate Sharess!
Worship Sharess, that you may rejoice in the kiss of a friend, or the touch of a lover. Worship Sharess!


Blessing in Brief

Bless us, O Lady, in the giving and receiving of pleasure. Take our pain and give us joy in return, and grant us happiness in all that we do.


Blessing at a Revel

O Beautiful Sharess, we are here today to celebrate this festival in Your honour. We are here today to enjoy that great gift You have given us - the gift of pleasure. Without pleasure, our food would be as ashes, our wine as swampwater. Without pleasure, our lives would be filled with misery. Without pleasure, our loves would be bitter. I ask that You extend Your blessing over this, Your festival, that we may all take pleasure together, without hurt or harm, hatred or horror. Bless us, O Lady, in the giving and receiving of pleasure. Take our pain, Mistress, and give us joy in return. Grant us happiness in all that we do, insofar as we do it for You and in Your name.


Wedding Blessing

I bless you both in the name of the Lady Sharess. I bless you both in the giving and receiving of pleasure. May She take your pain and give you joy, and may She grant you happiness in all that you do, both together and apart. May you love and pleasure each other for all your days, and may you forever share in the Eternal Revel that is life.

_________________

~Sharess on AmiaWiki~
Priestess, politician, prostitute
"[They] were moving in on me like Sharessans on a new broad in the bath house" - Tracer Bolt
AmiaWiki mod (mostly inactive)

The Indulgent's Prayer.

Sweet Sharess, Princess of Passion
I, once broken, now healed by Your love
Come before You to kneel at Your feet
Beseeching You to hear my single plea
Fill my cup to overflowing
That I might spread Your love
That I might be a beacon for You
This I pray to You, divine Sharess

- Riala Tsu'rein


Song of Joy.

In the warmth of the sun with my children I'm playing
In the silence of night with my lover I'm laying
In the movement of dance while my body is swaying
In the arms of my Goddess to whom I am praying
In all of these things I am joyfully saying
It’s Sharess that I love and my heart I’m obeying


A Song for the Temple.

O my Princess, my most holy divine Lover
Let this, Your house, stand firm and keep us safe
May Your touch on this cold marble bless it
May those within it feel the warmth of Your sweet breath

I pray that all who see it here remember
That Your presence lingers here for all of time
May it offer peace and welcome in the darkness
Protecting all within from frost and rime

I beg of You that You will never leave me
That the light you give the world is ne'er extinguished
You shone in darkest corners of my soul
Sent me reason, sent me purpose, banished anguish

You give life meaning, offer us Your comfort
And teach us all there is about the world
I beseech you, Goddess, do not go from me
But should the world grow dark, Your house endures

May it hold You as a mother keeps her child
Sheltering Your essence from the storm
And if, O horrors, this last refuge crumbles
I give myself to You with open arms

Let me, Lady, hold You to my breast
Let me cup within my hands Your divine light
For without You the world would lie in ruins
And there would be no pleasure in the night

Let me guard Your sacred love within me
To Your beauty may my last breath hearken
That at my own sad end there still remains
A tiny spark of love left in the darkness


A Prayer For Those Who Defend Innocents

Bless you all, who go against the dark
I pray that all your arrows meet their mark
Raise your shields for those you leave behind
You are in our hearts and in our minds
We who wait do so with 'bated breath
As you turn to face the face of death
Yea, let all the fires of love burn bright
And guide you through the darkness of this night


The Song of Sharess.

In ancient times in far-off realms
An amber Goddess strode the sands
With emerald feline eyes Bast watched
Her people and defended them
With sharpened claws against their foes
The snakes and jackals of the night
Protecting mothers and their young
That they might see the day once more

The powers of the stones and sands
The roving spirits of the tribes
Who dwelled within the haunted wastes
She called upon to lend Her aid
She bound them to her, desert cats
Felidae and all those others
And at the side of bright Anhur
Their claws and teeth drove back the dark

The shining sun rose up again
And all the people welcomed it
So then they gathered to rejoice
And praise those who watched over them
The Goddess blessed Her faithful folk
She kissed Her priestesses with love
Embraced them all and bade farewell
Then took Her sword and walked away

Far to the north and west She roamed
And brought to those She journeyed with
A knowledge of life's greatest joys
And for its pleasures great desire
Unable to avert their eyes
Those who beheld Her were most awed
And vowed to bind themselves to Her
Giving Her their fervent worship

Once prowling in the dim Yuirwood
She came upon an elfin maid
A hostage to the dark designs
And evil lusts of Vha-e-raun
Though great with child and bound in chains
Zandilar strove to escape him
To Her the Queen of Cats she called
To sunder bonds she could not bend

Touched by the elven power's plight
Bast there lay down with Zandilar
She joined with her and gave Her strength
And offered up Herself in love
Summoning the power given
In twain they broke the eldritch chains
And threw those curs-ed links from them
To flee into the woods' embrace

Beside a flowing stream they fell
Wracked by pains birth brought upon them
And there brought forth the dark god's child
Whom they left lying on the moss
There Vha-e-raun did find his son
The one he would name Selvetarm
And seeking to escape his wrath
Further fled the conjoined Goddess

In darkling woods they travelled long
And fought for Zandilar's folk there
Each day their trials brought them close
Joined more than lovers ever could
But ever nearer pressed their foes
They saw the way their shields would fail
And 'twixt the times of clashing blades
They lost themselves in others' arms

Finally they stood no longer
One night the stars all went away
The battle lost they fled the woods
Cross plain and over crag they went
Until at last they came unto
The Land of Lions it was called
And there found refuge and succour
Though still the pain of loss burned hot

Safe for a time they gave themselves
Up to excess and revelry
Seeking ever wilder pleasures
To drown their bitter sorrows in
A night-clad woman came to them
She offered them some slight surcease
If they would serve her dark desires
So to forbidden fruits they turned

To satisfactions of the flesh
And wild dances in dark places
Their sole concerns their raging lusts
No thought for those they coupled with
Enslaved they were and lacking hope
Seeking just to fill each moment
And so forget those yet to come
The name they took - Shar-ess - told all

She wandered aimlessly in search
Of distractions ever greater
She sought out those who could bestow
Upon Her power that She might
Purchase pleasures ever rarer
With which to indulge dark desires
And so She came to Calimshan
Where She was queen of concubines

She stood behind the jewelled throne
And sought to rule the land entire
Naught but a puppet was its lord
The Pasha was Her willing slave
It seemed She gave Herself to him
He was in bondage to his lusts
No request could he deny Her
But She Herself was also trapped

What She had gained was coveted
By Her true mistress and desired
Such that the latter schemed and planned
To take the power thus amassed
And so the Dark One came to Her
Sprawled on perfumed cushions sated
Holding out to Her a promise
Of that utmost and final end

Showed Her a life in grey and black
A painting of futility
With no reason to carry on
Jaded Sharess reached out to her
And in surrender raised Her hand
One saw peace the other triumph
But none espied the red-haired girl
Who for her lady bore the wine

That golden cup was lifted high
The shining liquid glowed within
Wine of gods and source of beauty
The Evergold poured out of it
On contact with that sacred draught
Despair was banished, youth returned
The Dark One fled with curses vile
Sharess stood radiant again

Her sight restored and once more clear
She saw how far She'd gone astray
Looked about and saw Her folly
And tore it from Her then and there
She took bright Sune's offered hand
And kissed her lips in heartfelt thanks
Vowed steadfast friendship ever more
For that great gift of life renewed

Once more beautiful She guides us
To walk life's pleasures' path with Her
And gives us strength to reject pain
By teaching us that what life brings
Is to be felt for what it is
And that no matter what befalls
Sharess invites us all to share
Each part of life's great feast with Her


The Man Whose Prayers Were Answered.

There was a man, in days of yore,
Who desired the Deity of Whores -
The Lady that they call Sharess -
A lust that drove him to obsess.
He prayed all day and all the night
And begged She grant him but a sight
Of breasts divine, so like the moon
He swore that they'd outshine Selune;
Of legs so long and sculpted fine
With pow'r and beauty leonine;
And of the secret 'tween Her thighs
And all the pleasures that there lie.
Day and night before Her altar
His loud entreaties did not falter;
He wailed and gnashed his teeth and moaned
And sacrificed all that he owned.
Then came the moment hoped and feared
When Passion's Princess there appeared
And reached to where he bowed down low,
Her fingers burning on his brow.
Upward his eager gaze did travel
And as it did his soul unravelled.
She knelt and breathed upon his cheek
Which nearly brought him to his peak
While stammering words of devotion
That claimed a love deep as the ocean.
"O man", she laughed with throaty chuckle
(Disintegrating his belt buckle),
"Love is fair Sune's domain
And that's not what you hope to gain
From me, the Lady known as Lust"
(With that, his clothing turned to dust),
"But I shall grant what you have sought,
That which your fervent prayers have bought,"
And so She took him in Her arms
And lavished on him divine charms.
And nevermore was he the same
Once with a Goddess he had lain,
And so he pined and died apace
But with a smile upon his face -
What mortal bliss, what mundane treasure,
Could outshine She whose name is Pleasure?

_________________

~Sharess on AmiaWiki~
Priestess, politician, prostitute
"[They] were moving in on me like Sharessans on a new broad in the bath house" - Tracer Bolt
AmiaWiki mod (mostly inactive)