Religions

Aldor, the Hunter and Far-Wanderer

Aldor is the God of the forests and of the wilderness. He is a remote, wandering God, usually depicted as a grey-cloaked archer. In legend it was he that first taught men the skills of bowmanship. Unsurprisingly for such a solitary deity, there is no organised priesthood or religion although he has a following amongst archers and foresters. He is also supposed to be the protector of travellers, and merchants on the road can often be seen wearing his emblem (a twig of oak leaves) to bring good luck. Tradition has that this God sometimes appears in human form asking to share the evening meal of travellers, so solitary strangers should never be turned away.

Daleth, the Earth Goddess

This is the largest and most popular of all the different religions, being particularly strong amongst the peasants and yeomen farmers. Its priests are either Wellkeepers or Earthspeakers, and work as partners based at a Wellhouse. The Wellkeeper oversees the House and its lands, and attends to the needs of the guests and the inhabitants (usually children or the old). The Earthspeaker travels the surrounding lands acting as a teacher, advisor and preacher. The philosophy of this cult is simple: The Goddess is, and we are the Goddess. The Earth is. Nothing else is needed. Circling a finger over the heart is the sign of the Goddess, and the priests teach the cycle of life and death and rebirth. For them the greatest crime is destroying the land beyond its ability to regenerate, and death is a lesser penalty than living landless. Although neither priest wears any kind of weapon, they are protected by earthspirits. These unseen creatures destroy anyone that murders a priest or desecrates a Wellhouse. They can also be summoned by the large scale destruction of land. This effects anyone from woodcutters who replant as they go, to a general who ensures that his army forages more widely for food. No-one can remember the last time a retreating army pursued a ‘burnt earth’ policy. Occasionally people disbelieve, during the civil war there were several mercenary bands who decided that Wellhouses were easy prey, but the discovery of the corpses reminded everyone that earthspirits are not an ancient and harmless myth. Green and Brown are the colours associated with this cult.

Esprayenna, the Sea Goddess

Esprayenna is the Goddess of the Ocean, beautiful and terrible, both generous and destructive. Her priests, all seafarers, hold that life is a privilege that must be earned. They measure respect by a person’s ability to survive the Goddess, maintaining that only ability, and not luck, affects the outcome; “The Goddess delivers those that deserve”. All priests regularly pit their skill against the tides and the weather, and refuse any retirement. Those that survive to old age are often semi crippled but are recognised as the most expert Master Mariners anywhere. It is not unknown for these mariners to crew a ship together and sail off to make a last gesture, such as riding the winter storms or seeking the Land of the Sun across the western ocean. Deep blue and silver the colours of this order.

Torus, the God of Healing

Not surprisingly, this religion believes in the sanctity of Life. They are organised in a loose hierarchy of respect and experience based around the scattered hospital temples. Each Infirmarium trains new members with as much theory and practice as they can offer, it is then the responsibility of these new Physickians to travel around the land giving help wherever it is required. This duty tends to find Physickians working closely with the Earthspeaker of a region, the Torian Priests however regard all life as sacred, and will fight death rather than treat it as part of a natural cycle. Many priests spend their entire lives as wandering Physickians, but others will return to an Infirmarium when they are older. Here they teach Novices, heal patients and contemplate the benevolence of Torus. These Curofanii often specialise their expertise, becoming herbalists, hypnotists, bone-setters or even one of the very rare chirugeons. Unadorned white is the sacred colour of this religion.

Hahn, the Gold of Law and Justice

This is a God much used by all forms of government. During the civil war it did much to try to maintain the law of the land. The religion has a complex form and initiates sometimes use the idea of a trinity: Hahn, the Father-who-rules (a mature figure, crowned and seated and seated on a cubic throne), Lahm, the Lady-of-Justice (a woman, not blind-folded, balancing a pair of scales), Shin, the Son-that-Judges (a youth, unshielded, holding a gold sword).

All three are normally depicted in red robes, red and gold are holy colours for this order. Initiates, who must be literate, are trained in numeracy and begin a lifelong study of the law. Mandatiens are sent out as clerks and treasurers to the ruling lords around the kingdom. They attend the provincial courts with the Lord, gaining experience of the practical application of the law, keeping the court records. It is interesting to note that they also act as the eyes and ears for the King’s Justice, it being difficult to conceal a corrupt ruling from these ubiquitous clerks. Pendentites are attached to a temple in a city, and work at preparing and presenting cases for judgement at the various secular courts. Their duties sometimes include acting as judges in an internal court. Plenipotentiaries are individuals attached to an Eorl’s court as his legal advisor. They are also entitled to attend the Lord’s council in Linrodeth. The Archimandrite is the absolute leader of this order. In addition to attending the Lord’s council, he is often found to be one of the King’s advisors.

Opal, the Star Queen

This order claims that all stars, including the sun, are daughters of the Star-Queen and that her messengers fly from star to star carrying her blessings. One day, aeons hence, her blessings will be free and the world will find peace and happiness. They are, of course, completely mad.

Resh

The Holy Son Resh is described as the beloved child of Daleth and Torus and is an incarnation of that aspect of Hahn that is the Son-that-Judges. Worship of Resh has many adherents in the Daleth, Torus and Hahn religions but with many orthodox priests denouncing worship of Resh as Heresy he is a brave god to follow.

Azial

Azial is seen by most as a demon. As such worshippers of Azial are reviled as demon-worshippers.

The Dragonborn

The Dragonborn are a particularly obscure religious sect of warriors reputed to live high in the Kalkas Mountains. Once every generation or so they appear at a major battle, often causing mass desertion of the opposition. They have never been known to be defeated, and after a battle they disappear as mysteriously as they come. They are known to all share the distinction of having been born on Dragonfeast. A child destined to become one of the Dragonborn vanishes on his first birthday and a small shield (depicting the four elements) is left in their place.

Religions in Kerun

Religions in the City States, such as Kerun, include many gods that are different to those in Athion. Even those that are similar have many unfamiliar differences. For example while there is a god of healing, the priests that follow it are a lot more mercenary than those of Torus, so that your access to their services (both spiritual and practical) are often determined by your ability to pay.

Amongst the gods unique to the City States are: Miros, Baccelos, Hermos, Poseiros and Hippone.