Diana, as the Roman goddess of the moon, is directly linked to lunar cycles, which are crucial to the werewolf transformation. In many werewolf legends, the full moon is the time when humans shift into wolves. Diana's dominion over the moon and its phases gives her a strong connection to the mystical and cyclical nature of the werewolf's existence. Werewolves, whose transformations are triggered by the lunar cycle, view Diana as a patroness who governs their curse or their gift.

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Diana is also the goddess of wild animals and the hunt. Werewolves, as creatures of the wilderness, embody both the human and animalistic sides of their nature. They are often portrayed as caught between the civilized world and the primal world of beasts. Diana’s role as the protector of animals, particularly wild and untamed creatures, aligns with the werewolf’s dual existence—both human and animal. Werewolves see her as a guardian or guide in navigating this balance between their human and wolf sides.

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Diana is often depicted as a huntress, accompanied by wild animals and armed with a bow and arrows. This aspect of her—associated with the thrill and danger of the hunt—relates well to the predatory nature of werewolves, hunters themselves. The hunt symbolizes not only survival but also power, independence, and a connection to the primal instincts that are awakened in the werewolf. Diana’s mastery over the hunt is a model for werewolves in their quest for self-control, mastery over their instincts, and the use of their predatory abilities.

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TEMPLES

 

Diana was strongly associated with nature, and sacred groves were central to her worship. These groves were often located in forested areas, and offerings were made to Diana in these natural settings. The groves represented the wild, untamed aspects of nature, which Diana protected. Rituals and ceremonies would take place within these groves, and worshippers would often make sacrifices or offerings to her in the form of food, animals, and other gifts.

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FESTIVITIES AND RITUALS

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1. The Nemoralia (Festival of Diana)

The Nemoralia, held on the 13th of August, still celebrates Diana as the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and nature. However, for werewolves, the festival centers more on their hope for fertility and renewal rather than actual childbirth. It remains a nocturnal event with processions under the full moon, where the worshippers, in both human and bipedal werewolf forms, gather near lakes or groves. Instead of offering fruits, flowers, and cakes for fertility, they offer hunting trophies (large animal pelts, antlers, and claws) as symbols of their strength and connection to Diana. This festival is less about nurturing life in the traditional sense and more about invoking the goddess's favor for their eventual ability to bear offspring in the future.

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The festival is marked by ritual dances around bonfires, the howling of the werewolves to honor the moon, and sacrifices to Diana—boars, deer, and large wolves—offered with the hope that one day their kind might regain the ability to reproduce. The ceremony is both a celebration of life and an earnest plea for the restoration of fertility among their kind. This is a time to reconnect with their primal nature and to seek Diana's guidance, wisdom, and blessing for the future.

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• - Participants form a procession under the moon, chanting or howling to honor Diana. Those in bipedal werewolf form could move in a circle around the bonfire, growling and grunting in time with the rhythm of the dance.

•  - Offerings of hunting trophies (antlers, pelts, claws) are laid before a statue or altar dedicated to Diana, and ritual words are spoken to invoke her blessing.

•  - A member of the pack may step forward to lead the ceremonial hunt, tracking and capturing a human, wild boar, deer, or wolf to offer as sacrifice.

•  - The mood is a mix of reverence and celebration, with a palpable sense of longing for future renewal. The werewolves might speak of their hope for fertility or their desire for Diana’s blessing to one day restore their ability to reproduce.

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2. The Ludi Apollinares (Apollo’s Games)

The Ludi Apollinares in mid-July still honors both Apollo and Diana, emphasizing the twin connection between the two gods. For the werewolves, the focus is on their dual connection to both the sun and the moon, and how these celestial bodies govern their transformations and their future hopes. Though Apollo’s domain is the sun, and Diana’s is the moon, the werewolves celebrate their primal energy and unity, where both forces complement each other.

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This festival includes competitions of strength and endurance, particularly the hunt—the werewolves engage in elaborate simulated hunts to display their prowess. Rituals during this time emphasize the balance between light and darkness, as the werewolves hope that this balance may one day lead to their ability to reproduce. The festival culminates in a ceremonial invocation to both Apollo and Diana for strength and future fertility, with a special emphasis on their shared roles in guiding their transformation from hunter to hopeful parent.

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• - The festival begins with a grand hunt. Werewolves in human form may don leather armor or simple tunics while they track and "hunt" through the wilderness, either alone or in teams. In bipedal werewolf form, this could be more physical, with competitors racing or wrestling to capture prey.

• - Some may challenge each other in strength trials or endurance competitions, testing their stamina, speed, and skill. Winners are honored with a brief but raucous celebration.

• - At the height of the festival, participants gather for a ceremonial invocation, where they chant praises to both Apollo and Diana. A leader or priestess might offer a prayer for strength and fertility, and members of the pack might raise trophies or bloodied pelts as symbols of their power.

• - The tone is both competitive and spiritual, as the werewolves celebrate their strength and primal instincts while invoking a future of hope and renewal.

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3. The Agonia and Vigilia Dianae (Vigil of Diana)

The Vigilia Dianae, held during the full moon, is a solemn night vigil dedicated to Diana, where werewolves gather to fast and pray under the moonlight, reflecting on their connection to the natural world. During this vigil, rites of passage for young werewolves are conducted, marking their transition into adulthood and the responsibility they hold to honor their goddess.

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The fasting is symbolic of their longing for the future, where they hope that one day their species may be able to bear offspring, a fertility that has been lost but remains an unwavering hope. As they chant under the full moon, they seek Diana's protection for their future offspring and pray for the restoration of their fertility. The rituals are filled with offerings of blood from their hunts, symbolic of their strength and hope for life to continue through their line. During the vigil, the werewolves come together in meditation, quietly sharing their dreams of a future where they may restore their kind and bring new life into their community.

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• - The night begins with a solemn gathering as werewolves prepare for the vigil. They gather around the altar, often in silence, and prepare for fasting. Some may meditate or pray in the shadows, contemplating their connection to Diana and their future.

•  - The fasting symbolizes their yearning for fertility and the restoration of their species. A chosen elder or leader may lead a ritual chant under the full moon, invoking Diana to grant them the ability to bear offspring again.

•  - Young werewolves undergoing rites of passage may be tested or asked to make personal pledges of loyalty, strength, and honor to the pack, the goddess, and the moon.

• - Participants offer their blood, either from a recent hunt or a personal sacrifice, pouring it onto the earth as a sign of their dedication and hope for the future.

• - The mood is reverent, filled with quiet reflection and anticipation, as all the werewolves silently pray for their future progeny and the restoration of their kind.

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4. Communion with the Manes in the Lupus Sanctum

In the Lupus Sanctum, the werewolf pack honors its dead by consuming the body of a fallen member. This ritual allows the deceased’s spirit to join the Manes, the pack’s ancestral spirits, who provide guidance and power to the living. The pack gathers under the full moon, howling in unison to call upon the Manes, while certain members may channel the spirits of the dead, gaining their wisdom or abilities.

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However, if a pack member is excluded from this ritual—either by accident or punishment—they are cut off from the Manes, losing access to the wisdom of their ancestors. This exclusion creates a spiritual void, leaving the individual haunted or incomplete. The unity and strength of the pack depend on the proper execution of this ritual, as losing connection with the Manes can weaken the pack and even cause internal conflict.

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• - The ritual begins under the full moon, as the pack gathers in a circle to honor the recently deceased. The body of the fallen pack member is prepared, and after the ceremony, the pack consumes the body in a solemn act of communion. This could involve drinking from ceremonial bowls or sharing the food in a ritualistic manner.

• - As the consumption begins, certain members of the pack may enter a trance-like state, their eyes glowing or their bodies shifting, as they channel the spirits of the Manes. These spirits provide guidance, strength, or even new abilities to the living, and some pack members may seek out specific wisdom or power from the deceased.

• - There is an opportunity for roleplay drama here—if a pack member is excluded from the ritual (either intentionally or by mistake), they may feel the loss of connection with their ancestors. They might be plagued with feelings of isolation or spiritual confusion.

• - The scene could involve a confrontation where the excluded werewolf seeks reconciliation or challenges the others, attempting to regain their rightful place within the pack and the Manes.

• - The ritual ends with a solemn howl, a cry to the Manes, and the living pack members pledging to honor their fallen kin, vowing to remember them and the wisdom they imparted.

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RELIGIOUS ROLES

Not detrimental to having another job or business in the city

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​1. Flamen Dianus
The Flamen Dianus was the high priest of Diana, similar to the Flamen Dialis of Jupiter. He was a dedicated priest who oversaw the rituals and sacrifices in Diana's honor.

• Duties: The Flamen Dianus led sacrifices, prayers, and rituals at Diana’s temples. He ensured the correct performance of ceremonies related to Diana’s worship, especially those connected to her role as a protector of the wilderness, fertility, and women in childbirth.

•  Character Traits: Reverent, composed, connected to nature, and protective of women.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Lead rituals with a serene and grounded presence, focusing on Diana’s association with the hunt and the moon.

  •  Conduct sacrifices with respect, particularly focusing on animals connected to the wild, and protect the sanctity of the sacred spaces.

  •  Maintain a calm demeanor and lead rituals in her honor with a deep respect for nature.

2. Priestesses of Diana
While the Vestal Virgins were primarily dedicated to Vesta, there were also female priestesses specifically dedicated to Diana, particularly in her role as a goddess of the moon and of women’s health and dream of fertility (unachiavable for lycans).

• Duties: These priestesses were responsible for performing certain sacred rites, especially those related to the purification of the pack. They also played a role in overseeing the Festival of the Ides of August, dedicated to Diana’s role as a goddess of the hunt and wilderness. Some sources suggest the priestesses would lead shadier rituals in Diana's sacred groves and temples, including offering sacrifices.

•  Character Traits: Nurturing, wise, protective, and devoted to women’s well-being.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Focus on purification rituals, especially those that involve the protection of the pack.

  •  Lead ceremonies honoring Diana’s connection to fertility and the moon.

  •  Engage in healing practices or rites that ensure women’s health and safety.

3. Hunters and Herders
Diana was the goddess of hunting and wild animals, and hunters and herders were especially connected to her cult. They sought Diana’s blessing for successful hunts and the protection of animals.

• Duties: These worshippers would offer sacrifices, such as the first fruits of the hunt or animals that were captured, to Diana in hopes of receiving her favor. Hunters would also take part in festivals or processions that honored Diana, especially her connection to the wild and her protection over the forests and animals.

•  Character Traits: Practical, nature-bound, spiritual.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Offer prayers and sacrifices to Diana before and after hunting, seeking her blessing for success in the hunt.

  • Respect wildlife, embodying Diana’s connection to animals and the natural world.

  • Demonstrate reverence for the wild, treating all creatures with respect and care.

4. Tibicines (Musicians)
Music, dance, and song were often a part of Diana’s worship, particularly in her role as a goddess associated with the moon, nature, and ecstasy. The Tibicines, musicians who played flutes, were involved in her rituals.

• Duties: The Tibicines played during festivals and processions dedicated to Diana, especially at times when the focus was on her role as a protector of women and nature. They also performed music that would accompany dances, particularly those in the sacred groves and wild spaces where Diana’s followers gathered.

•  Character Traits: Serene, tranquil, nature-bound.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Play soft, harmonious music, enhancing the peaceful connection Diana offers with nature.

  •  Focus on instruments like flutes or harps, which evoke the quiet beauty of Diana’s sacred groves and moonlit hunts.

5. Votaries
Votaries were individuals, both men and women, who made vows or offered gifts to Diana in return for divine favor, especially related to hunting, and hope of fertility.

• Duties: Votaries would engage in rituals by making offerings of food, animals, and other sacred gifts. They might also participate in festivals such as the Nemoralia, a major festival dedicated to Diana, in which votaries gathered to celebrate and honor the goddess.

•  Character Traits: Devout, humble, seeking protection and favor.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Offer personal prayers or vows to Diana for protection, guidance, and blessings.

  •  Participate in sacred ceremonies with a sense of deep devotion, particularly those focused on healing or the hopes of fertility.

6. Sacrificers
Sacrificers were those responsible for carrying out the sacrifices to Diana, especially during significant festivals and public rites.

• Duties: They prepared and offered animals, usually wild creatures, as sacrifices to Diana. In her capacity as goddess of the hunt, these sacrifices were an important part of ensuring the goddess’s favor and blessings on the hunter’s future endeavors.

•  Character Traits: Reverence, care, respect for the natural order.

•  Roleplaying Tips:

  •  Sacrifice animals, particularly those connected to Diana’s domain, in a manner that honors her relationship with the wild.

  •  Ensure rituals are conducted with deep respect for the sanctity of the natural world.

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