Voodoo

**Voodoo** is one of the Religions practiced in After the End. It is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. It arose through a process of syncretism between several traditional religions of West and Central Africa and the Roman Catholic form of Christianity. There is no central authority in control of the religion and much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Vodouists, Vodouisants, or Serviteurs.

Vodou revolves around spirits known as *lwa.* Typically deriving their names and attributes from traditional West and Central African divinities, they are equated with Roman Catholic saints. The lwa divide up into different groups, the *nanchon* ("nations"), most notably the Rada and the Petwo. Various myths and stories are told about these lwa, which are regarded as subservient to a transcendent creator deity, Bondye. This theology has been labelled both monotheistic and polytheistic. An initiatory tradition, Vodouists usually meet to venerate the lwa in an *ounfò* (temple), run by an *oungan* (priest) or *manbo* (priestess). A central ritual involves practitioners drumming, singing, and dancing to encourage a lwa to possess one of their members and thus communicate with them. Offerings to the lwa include fruit, liquor, and sacrificed animals. Offerings are also given to the spirits of the dead. Several forms of divination are utilized to decipher messages from the lwa. Healing rituals and the preparation of herbal remedies and talismans also play a prominent role. Voodoo is part of the Afro-Syncretic religious group.

## Description

> "*Descended from West African Vodun, Voodoo originated in 18th century Haiti, spreading later to Louisiana. Vodouists worship the creator god Bondye, but as he is unreachable by men, they pray to his servants, the Loa, who act as intermediaries in exchange for service. Each Loa is responsible for a different aspect of life, and vodouists develop a personal relationship with them through elaborate ceremonies that can include ritual offerings, song, dance, and allowing themselves to be possessed by the spirits so that Loa and vodouist may communicate.*"
> ― In-game description of Voodoo
>
>

## Gods

* **High God:** Bondye
* **God Names:** Papa Legba, Erzulie Freda and Baron Samedi
* **Evil God Names:** Petro Kalfu
* **Scripture:** The Tarot

## History

Like many other Afro-Syncretic religions, Voodoo was founded by the descendants of African slaves brought to the Caribbean by the Ancient European powers. It is based on the beliefs of the Dahomey in West Africa mixed with aspects of Catholicism. Voodoo grew strong in areas of French Influence, including Haiti, the French Antilles, Cayenne (French Guyana), and parts of Louisiana. This is still the case today, though it has also spread east of New Orleans into southern Mississippi and Mobile.

A Haitian named Jean-Baptiste Sylvain had, at one point, launched an expedition into South America, and spread Voodoo to several small enclaves in the Colombian Mountains.

## Holy Sites

* **Guadeloupe**
* **Port-au-Prince**
* **Le Cap**
* **New Orleans**
* **Cameron-Calcasieu**

As of 2666, Only New Orleans and Cameron-Calcasieu are held by independent Voodoo rulers, while Port-au-Prince, Le Cap and Guadeloupe are held by Voodoo rulers vassalized by the Caribbean Empire.

## In-game features

* Rulers cannot demand conversion
* Priests (Temple Holders) can inherit titles
* Priests can marry
* Religion allows women to hold Temple Holdings
* Fleets can navigate major rivers
* Rulers can raid infidel neighbors for loot
* There is (And can exist) no religious head
* May go on vision quests with the aid of sacramental herbs.
* Possession by the Loa may grant various advantages and disadvantages
* Homosexual Voodoo rulers can marry other homosexual characters
* Voodoo rulers may sacrifice animals to Bondye.

As of 2666, Voodoo has a 55.0 moral authority. A temple holder of the Voodoo faith is called a Houngan if male, or Mambo if female.

## Voodoo Characters in 2666

### Independent & Their Vassals

* King Louis Creaux of Louisiane, also known as The Good;
	+ Duchess Jacquotte Creaux of Neches:
	+ Duke Pierre Vallencourt of Alexandria;
	+ Countess Adah Creaux of Beaumont;
	+ Count Louis Creaux of Lafourche-Terrebonne;
* Duchess Lisa Grenouille of Ouachita;
	+ Count Thomas Grenouille of Caddo;
	+ Count Momus Grenouille of Catahoula;
* Duke David Duvol of Mobile;
* Lord Proprietor Samuel Edi of Orleans;
	+ Patrician Comus le Cowbellion;
	+ Patrician Leveau de Sedella;
	+ Patrician Abraham Metoyer;
	+ Patrician Proteus Flambeau;
* Konte Jean-Claude Sylvain of Aburrá;
* Konte Jean-Louis Sylvain of Veléz;

### Vassals of a Noble of Different Faith

* Marquis Toussaint Duvalier of Haiti;
	+ Earl Francois Loverture of Le Cap;
	+ Earl Fabien Loverture of Artibonite;
	+ Earl Faustin Rivière of La Gonâve;
* Marquis Jean-Luc Flessel of French Antilles;

### Mercenary Bands

* Delta Blues
* Tonton Macoutes
* Sons of Samedi

## Trivia

* Like many other religions in the game, Voodoo is an existing faith.