Monvesian Seekers: Muses

The Seekers of Monvesia are called Muses.  Instead of coming from the ranks of the gods, they are the archdaemons of the Dreaming, powerful egregores of knowledge:  the Trivium of humanities (Poeia, Philosophia, Theologia) and Quadrivium of sciences (Arithmetica, Astrologia, Geometria, Musica).  While the Trivium seek to understand Why the world works, the Quadrivium seek to understand How.

Unlike the other archdaemons, the Muses do not have a "standard" physical form; each person who sees them sees what they want to see.  Nearly all who have encountered these Muses agree that they are female--but each describes them as being the epitome of their own race.  The only other common attribute from all accounts is the color of each Muse's robes.

There are more Muses than those detailed  below.  These include the matriarchs--Grammatica (mother of Poeia), Logica (mother of the Quadrivium), and Rhetorica (mother of Philosophia and Theologia)--who are so ancient and powerful that their interest in mortals has diminished.  Many of the Muses below are matrons themselves, with daughters and grand-daughters; these younger generations, while powerful enough to inspire mortals in the arts and sciences, are not powerful enough to patron warlocks or sponsor saints.

Both the Muses and the HMDJVNW are seven in number; and each governs one of the two Astral Planes of Monvesia.  Because of these similarities, some philosophers have tried to equate a Muse with each HMDJVNW as its opposite.  However, the alien nature of the HMDJVNW is apparent also in their spheres of authority (Disquietude, Profundity, Stillness, etc.), and these do not align well with the stricter fiends of knowledge of the Muses.

Arithmetica

Favored Class(es):  Fighter, Wizard

Arithmetica is a being of pure numbers.  She exists to calculate sums and products, differences and fractions.  She is the eldest daughter of Logica.  She embodies the idea that the simplest, most direct solution to any problem is the most accurate.  Arithmetica commonly wears black robes.

As a muse, she favors warlocks who view the world analyticcally, and are interested in breaking down any possible knowledge to its most basic information.

Astrologia

Favored Class(es):  Druid, Ranger, Wizard

Astrologia keeps her sights on the heavens and their movement--the cycles of the sun, the moon, and the stars; and the changes of the seasons.  It was she who inspired the various calendars of the world.  For her, the most important participles of magic are synchronicity and polarity.  Astrologia commonly wears purple robes. 

Her daughter is Alchemia, and her grand-daughter is Biologia.

As a muse, she favors warlocks who will help to expand knowledge of the heavens (the sun, moon, and stars) as well as the structures of the Planes themselves.

Geometria

Favored Class(es):  Artificer, Wizard

Geometria is a close comanion of her sister Arithmetica.  She embraces the logic of points, lines, shapes, and solids.  Hers is the logic of comparison.  For her, the magical laws of similarity, contagion, and synthesis are paramount.  Geometria commonly wears yellow robes.

She favors warlocks who seek out patterns in the world--who endeavor to see the "big picture" instead of focusing on the minute details.

Musica

Favored Class(es):  Bard, Monk, Rogue

Musica is the youngest of her sisters, the daughters of Logica.  For her, number, patterns, and cycles are realized as vibrations of sound (pitch) and light (color).  She is the muse of passion and expression--embodying the product of art, as opposed to her cousin Poeia (who embodies the ideas).  She commonly wears green robes.

Each form of art and performance is said to have its own muse; these are called the Daughters of Musica.  Her suspected daughters (& grand-daughters) include Cantia, Oratia, Pantomimia, Pictura, Sculptura, Thespia, Tripudia, etc.

Musica favors warlocks who are interested in the fine and performing arts; those who seek to share their knowledge through personal expression.

Philosophia

Favored Class(es):  Cleric, Monk, Mystic

The daughters of Rhetorica are often at odds with one another.  Philosophia is concerned primarily with empirical evidence--that which can be sensed--while her sister Theologia concerns herself instead with theory.  Philosophia's way is one of pure reason, driven by a need to understand reality.  She commonly wears blue robes.

Philosophia favors warlocks who seek to understand why; those who question motives not out of skepticism, but out of a need to understand.

Poeia

Favored Class(es):  Cleric, Bard

Poeia is a close companion to her cousin Musica; and so well known that the two of them are commonly referred to as the Muses, in exclusion to the others. As the sole daughter of Grammatia, she continues her mother's work--though she prefers connotation over her mother's denotation.  She is concerned with ideas expressed; though the manner of that expression is os little consequence to her.  She commonly wears red robes.

Each genre of poetry is said to have its own muse; these are called the Daughters of Poeia.  These are not divided by the forms poems take, but by the themes of writing in general.  The suspected daughters (& grand-daughters) of Poieia inlude:  Historia, Lyricia, Pastoria, Romanoria, the sisters Comoedia and Tragoedia, etc.

Poeia favors warlocks interested in exploring and cataloging the writings of the world; those who seek to share their knowledge in writing.

Theologia

Favored Class(es):  Cleric, Mystic, Paladin

Unlike her sister, Theologia in concerned with truth, not reality; in pursuit of this, she fills her devotees with theory and concept instead of physical evidence.  In her endeavors, she works often with her cousin Astrologia, as they both chart the movement of the planes in relation to each other.   It has been suspected that she may have even been the one to sponsot Mohas for sainthood, not his hero Baltus.  She commonly wears white robes.

Theologia favors warlocks with an interest in expanding knowledge of the divinities--the aeons, saints, and angels.