The Rosary

The Rosary is the most-not-known-way of identifying a member of the Cult of Helios   The Rosary can take many forms but it is always comprised of 5 marbles of beads. Each bead represents one of the 5 planets of the Helios Star system as described on the book of Geoffry Heffe "Helios Rises"   The first and biggest bead is always colours yellow and symbolizes Helios, the star. The next 4 beads are of equal size and coloured, brown, purple, green/blue and red. Each of the 4 smaller beads are a symbol for Hermes (Mercury), Aphrodite(Venus), Gaia and Ares (Mars).   Apart from symbolizing the Homeworld the beads also work as a way for members of the cult to define on which column they belong to. The bead of the column one belongs always carries a red band around the bead.   The Rosary is known to be worn as a necklace, a bracelet, beaded braids, bioluminescent tattoes, ink tattoos (quite uncommon). Hiding in plain sight, the vestal virgins of the Column of Aphrodite wear the marbles on their diadem. Once the priestess matures and becomes a holy mother, their diadem is converted into a bio-art tattoo spanning their back.   For the last 300 cycles, wearers of the Rosary that act as deep inflitration agents of the cult, gather information while working for other corporations. It is said that the Rosary is their only connection and solace during the long years away from the light of Helios.  

Showing ones colors

If the occassion arises the way that the beads/marbles of the Rosary are handled can be used to denote the level their wearer has in the cult. The actual usage and gestures are not commonly known.  

Preparation

Depending on the rank of the wearer the beads can be made of simple polymer, wood, metal or stone. On the very highest eschelons of the Cult the beads are made of clay baked using Gaia's soil as its basis.   TODOTHIS