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{{Info religion
{{Info religion
|image = Noimg.png
|image = noimglong.png
|pronunciation = Estel-lei
|pronunciation = Es-te-ley
|origins = 15,000 years ago.
|origins = Presumed roughly 15,000 years ago.
|deities = 10 unified Gods.
|deities = Three greater Gods, 5 Gods, 5 optional Gods.
|subsects = Regional interpretation differences.
|}}
|}}
{{TOC right}}
Estelley, or "Estel's Law," is the original faith of most Elves in the world. A moralizing, perfection-focused Religion, it is observed by most descendants of the Allorn (Elven) Empire across the world in varying ways and with varying zeal. Having enjoyed status as the pre-eminent Religion before, and hoping to enjoy it again, despite its struggle to spread beyond the Elven peoples it remains respectably powerful. Estelley worshipers believe that they are opposed in their divine struggle both by those who teach alternative paths to paradise and those who seek to corrupt the world alike, but that mortal heroes carrying the torch will defeat the usurpers and restore Elvendom to the glory it once knew.  
Estelley is the ancient faith of air and light, a proud, judgmental [[Religion]] that demands the best of its worshipers so that the world might be redeemed and men suffer no longer. It is primarily the domain of the [[Elven]] [[Race]]s and [[Culture]]s, though others convert if they believe that the Estelley Gods may give them grace and protect their people, or that its clear and defined virtues are easier to live by than those of their native religion. Estelley worshipers believe that they are opposed in their divine struggle both by those who teach alternative paths to paradise and those who seek to corrupt the world alike, but that Estel's truth and the truth of her prophets will emerge victorious, and that mortal heroes will see the Elves to a golden age where they want for nothing and no one.
 
==Origins==
==Origins==
Estelley is rooted in the history of the Elven Races, even though its followers do not all belong to that people. It is understood that early Elven history played host to a patchwork of bronze-working kingdoms in a strange world far unlike the modern one, murals depicting lanky and alien-looking long-eared mortals doing business with the [[Dewamenet]], the similarly oversized, though muscular ancestors of the [[Asha]], and a whole range of other cultures that have since been erased from [[Aloria]]. Each kingdom tended to favor a single patron god, the divinities bickering and fighting like the people did, until Estelley's first prophetess [[Talea]] swept through like a wildfire conquering throne after throne and uniting the Gods she went under the dogma of the over-deity Estel, a sleeping creation goddess who rests in the world beyond. Talea's divine right was proved at the tip of her spear and down the barrel of her spellcraft: uniting the Elves into the first iteration of Estelley dogma, recorded on a variety of stone slates and obelisks meticulously handed down. While Estelley is associated with Exist Magic and the powers of that Dimension due to Estel's lordship over it, they have a more complex understanding of their own Gods. While the Void and Ordial Gods had to sign bargains with other entities to escape their own Dimensions into Aloria's reality, the Estelley Gods were always native to the mortal plane and came into their arcane powers later, as a gift from Estel through Talea in a single mystery-shrouded event called "the Convergence". The Convergence is tied to the similarly murky [[Elven-Dewamenet War]], which ended in that people's destruction: and so it is unlikely that a clear answer will ever be passed down about what the Convergence was or what it entailed, even from the lips of the Gods themselves.
The early Elven peoples were no more than barbaric tribes on the fringes of the Dewamenet Empire, an [[Asha]] state poised to conquer the known world. Its hatred of Magic and the ascendancy of a trio of Goddesses led the Dewa and the Elves to clash, and with their divinities' power making victory possible, they declared their own Allorn Empire in its ashes. From there, the various deities were pulled into the Pantheon by the War Goddess Talea one by one. This is discussed further in Expanded Lore.
 
Since Talea there have been two more prophets, no less important than she. Second was her younger brother Sanraan, who after the destruction of the Dewamenet cursed the [[Allorn]] victory as a defeat and proclaimed that an Empire built on poison would not last, and third was her youngest brother Fenhellëy who wrote the codes of governance and proper rule, also beginning the tradition of favoring Leyon as Estelley's highest god that would eventually become dominant outside the Allorn Empire. There have been no major modifications to Estelley dogma since the time of Fenhellëy, a boon and a curse at once. For while Estelley worshipers can claim with confidence that they have the most unedited and accurate religion to the exact practice of their forefathers, their faith's inability to change has often led to its defeat in its struggle against the usurping religions that have challenged it throughout history. Despite this, Estelley is still one of the world's most popular religions practiced by a large range of cultures, and has a presence in most major states.


==Core Beliefs==
==Core Beliefs==
Estelley preaches that the world was created inherently flawed, and that it is the Estelley Gods who shall lead the people closer to perfection so that Estel might, when the last sinner disappears from Aloria, remake it in her divine image and merge the realms of the living and the dead. It does not deny the strength of divinities from other religions, such as Dragons or Unionist Divines or even its hated enemies the Void Gods, but believes that they were created to lead mortals astray. Each Estelley God has a different role to play in bringing about this perfect world, and while priests and written dogma are allowed to be incorrect, the Gods are considered infallible by way of their divinity. This has led to complicated situations where two opposed Estelley Gods have given contradictory instructions to the faithful, but with the overall understanding that different instructions can be valid at different times, and both still have their uses. While the religion is named after Estel, no actual worship of Estel is performed, focusing instead on the Pantheon of Gods who she empowered through Talea and relegating her to a purely creative role. It is understood that Estel is in a state of "slumber," with some believing that she is dead, and some believing that her consciousness is inactive until prophecy will require it to reawaken.
===Central Message===
 
The central message of the Estelley faith is that the whole of the world is a flawed creation of the Dragons that is being ordained to a more perfect reality by the Estelley Gods. The Empresses combined to lead a host of Gods and Goddesses to create a more perfect world, starting with the mortal agents of their will, their followers. Through the Perfections of the Gods, mortals learn to strive for a better world, and thus change the world around them. When they die, their soul is weighed by Ammuloa onto the Perfected Balance, to measure their perfection. If they had sufficient perfection, they would pass into the Eternal (Merjan in Altalar, the Elven Language), an afterlife which weaves the faithful into the fabric of reality making them able to change the world like Dragons in subtle ways. If rejected, their souls is passed back to the land of mortals through reincarnation.  
===Divine Mechanics===
===Perfected Will===
All Religions provide 1 single Mechanic to their Believers that fits within the flair of their Religion. This Mechanic is lost if the individual stops believing in the Religion, or becomes a heretic, but can be regained. Afflicted can use this mechanic, but having the mechanic does not imply that they have blanket forgiveness from their Gods, just that there is more nuance to it than that.
The Perfected will describes the Perfections of the Gods. These are like virtues that mortals are expected to live by, to increase their inner and outer perfection so they too can become perfect world-shapers. Each God has a different perfection. Through the Empresses, Cemaan measures perfection by the amount of people subjugated, Talea by the amount of people defeated in battle, and Sapphora by the amount of people who love and adore the soul. Through the Ordained, Mana measures in kindness and compassion, Aseia in Magical knowledge and ability, Artarel through law-abiding and just acting, Ammuloa to dedication to achieve things before death, Avinla to dedication to experience things in life, and Leyon measures perfection in the desire to solve the mysteries of the ages. Finally, the Vowed Gods, Melca measures perfection through companionship and the protection of others, Sinnavei through the gaining of material and spiritual wealth, Vyrë through respect for that which is greater than the self, Soma through intellect, Gilan through lordship over wildlife, and Suellon over adaptation to change.  
* Estelley Faithful can manifest an "Avatar of the Gods", which is a Spirit who does not have a free will and is instead fully controlled by the person (and in a way, is a conduit of the person). This Avatar is themed and aesthetically built after the Patron God of the individual, does not reserve Kill-Perms (meaning anyone can kill it in Combat, but does re-manifest after 24 hours), and is not a Disguise. The Avatar can have their own Proficiency Points and Abilities, counting as a [[Spirit]], (and if used, should be mentioned on a Character Application including the point spread, but is not their own person and does not have their personality that exists besides the Estelley worshiper (functioning like the Worshipper putting on VR goggles at their home and piloting the Avatar). Remember, Spirits, even ones from Gods, are still very illegal in the eyes of the Law!
===The Afterlife===
 
A person can be more perfect in some qualities, and generally speaking not all perfection standards need to be met to have one's soul passed into the afterlife, though reaching all of them is considered a great piety. The Estelley Afterlife is described as a physical realm that is experienced as a perfect land where the souls continue to hone their perfection in the afterlife while mortals and the Gods continue to build towards a world that resembles this more perfect world called the Eternal. It is believed that the souls in the eternal lands of bliss that is the Eternal, still help mortals as well, by gently pressuring reality in the living world to reach such a more perfect state. It is believe that at a certain point, the perfected souls in the Eternal will be so numerous, that they will out-pressure the flawed creation of the mortal world, and merge the rivers of the Eternal and Aloria to become one perfect reality. It is believed by the faithful that Lathan is part of the Eternal as an outer realm of it, and many believe the Eternal to be much like Lathan but more of everything and better.  
===Standards of Perfection===
===The Ruindawn===
Estelley does not have a formal set of Vices and Virtues, but rather so-called Standards of Perfection. Standards of Perfection are general life-goals and ambitions the faithful should strive towards. Once they feel confident they have met the Standard, they seek out Estelley Priests and undergo the Trials of Preparation, where the priests trial their perfection, sending them back to learning if they fail, and giving them a blessing and official recognition to their Ascendance. Estelley Faithful as such go through life seeking Ascendances, with most faithful having completed several Ascendances by the time they reach advanced age.
The Ruindawn is an important period in Estelley history that nonetheless has left no records, but many legends and tales. The Ruindawn describes a period during which the Empresses agree in a compact that the world is flawed, and that they will right what has been wronged by a misshapen reality. To them, all living things are condemned to needless suffering by the way the world works, and that they could ordain a better world but by the flawed laws of the world by itself cannot do so alone. Their vision lacked clarity for those who were not in agreement, and so began the Ruindawn where the Empresses would either subjugate by will, or more commonly conquer by force other Gods of minor proto-Elven Religions as well as Religions from other peoples. Sometimes these legends also include tales of Gods who refused and were slain by Talea or had their power absorbed, or those Gods who early on decided to be an obstacle to the work of Estelley and made it their mission to sabotage their efforts, but were eventually defeated and removed from reality. The Ruindawn is in essence a rare concept for Aloria, as Gods of various religions tend to be secluded from one another, it shows a period of active conquest, of one Religion subjugating at least a dozen others and forcing them all into a unified doctrine. The legends focus mostly on how Sapphora convinced some to join, how Talea defeated the majority by the sword, and how Cemaan subjugated a few by sheer pressure of influence.  
 
===Avinla's Death===
* '''Leyon's Standard of Perfection''' is both having the strength and endurance to protect one's self, but also to protect others around one's self, even for no benefit to self.
Avinla's Death is in the grand scheme of things not a world-shattering event, but important enough for all faithful to know. Gods do not truly die, but they can approach a death-like state, which has happened to Avinla. The homeland of the Suvial Elves has been terrorized for centuries by massive Magical events called Void-Outs which killed hundreds of thousands. In order to stop the endless suffering and potential eradication of her worshipers, Avinla sacrificed herself, forming a massive network of rings of fire in the skies over the Suvial lands like a blanket of chainmail. This protected the Suvial lands, but had other unintended side effects. Due to their heavy association with her, the Suvial Elves no longer had their Mother of Fire breathing life into their newborns, or passing their souls to Ammuloa for judgement to the Afterlife. As a result, no new Suvial could be born, and each Suvial that was born, was a reincarnation of a long-dead one. No Suvial could die either, as Ammuloa could simply not receive their souls, starting a deathlessness for the Suvial that is living torment for them (read more on the [[Suvial]] Page).
* '''Artarel's Standard of Perfection''' is to act with perfect clarity, to judge the actions of others without succumbing to attachment, and do what is right, not what feels good.
* '''Melca's Standard of Perfection''' is foresight to understand the troubles of the age, and to be well-informed and properly prepared for all eventualities that might arise.
* '''Sapphora's Standard of Perfection''' is cleverness to make oneself likeable, to be inoffensive without being incapable, to be welcomed anywhere and a pleasure to any stranger.
* '''Avinla's Standard of Perfection''' is to stoke the fire of life, to create and love and enjoy, to bring new things into the world and rekindle joy in those who have lost it.
* '''Ammuloa's Standard of Perfection''' is to regard death without fear, to throw oneself into battle without becoming addicted to it, and to kill with respect and dignity, always.
* '''Sinnavei's Standard of Perfection''' is valor to brave the deepest wilds and cunning to escape them alive, good investment in a good cause, and honesty to rely on one's allies.
* '''Vyrë's Standard of Perfection''' is redemption to turn dark skill to a good cause, to do little kindnesses from the shadows, to never forget the rejected and unloved.
* '''Aseia's Standard of Perfection''' is erudition to understand the world, to record its many happenings and people, to never forget a moment, but never get caught up in the past.
* '''Mana's Standard of Perfection''' is kindness to reach in love to others, to steward the little creatures of nature, to tend to gardens and to have hands that heal and soothe.
* '''Cemaan's Standard of Perfection''' is having the skill and wit to conquer and subjugate others, to win at trial of arms, and bend the weak to one's will as a ruler of men.
 
===Exist Arken===
[[Arken]] are powerful beings of [[Magic]] who each embody a single idea, some created from Exist Magic, some from Void Magic. Many religions name them Demons and enemies, such as [[Draconism]] and [[Unionism]], while others raise particular Arken to Godhood, such as Fornoss which favors the Void Arken. Estelley does neither. Rather, it casts particular Exist Arken as heralds to their Gods, given the divine charge to protect their worshipers where they are unable to and enforce their power in the world. In the Allorn period there were seas of hundreds of named and known Arken strong enough to serve this role, with individual Estelley deities maintaining whole hosts of Arken allies, but in the modern day the death or absorption of many Arken as well as Justice's divine ascension has led to only four powerful enough remaining: Compassion who serves Mana as a [[Maquixtl]] named Ixchel, Rejection who serves Vyrë as a [[Maraya]] named Ammalla, Loyalty who serves Sinnavei as a [[Solvaan]] named Iltaron, and Beauty who serves Sapphora as a [[Fin'ullen]] named Vernaela. Unlike the Estelley Gods, Arken are not considered infallible. Even if they are Heralds, their orders can be disregarded completely without committing blasphemy or sacrilege, though others may still take offense.
 
===Merjan===
The Estelley afterlife is a very real and tangible thing. Called Merjan, a place-name as if it were just another principality or place that one could charter a carriage to, it is reached at the end of one's life by a ferry taken down the "straight river" by the death god Ammuloa. On one's way down the straight river, they relive their life over and over and over again as a series of disjointed flashes of moments or important events, given the opportunity to reflect on past ills done to others or suffered done to the self. Especially important is the moment of death: Estelley worshipers are very afraid of dying in bad circumstances or alone or of disease, because it might haunt them for decades as they journey to the afterlife. Past a series of gates guarded by Leyon, the souls of the Estelley dead dwell in Merjan's fair halls and await paradise to be achieved in the world of the living so that it might be united with theirs in perpetuity. This situation is moreover complicated by the Lanlath race, who dwell in a series of pocket dimensions under the protection of Leyon. Many theorize and understand that since Leyon controls both the gates to the afterlife and built the pocket dimensions the Lanlath live inside, that the Lanlath in fact live in the outer layers of Estelley heaven and serve as a sort of security buffer between the mortal world and the souls of the dead, with the "straight river" to Merjan that Ammuloa sails existing somewhere in one of the more secret Lanlath realms that even they themselves have not been able to devise.
 
==Gods and Goddesses==
==Gods and Goddesses==
Estelley recognizes that all Gods are real and all Gods are infallible, but that when gods disagree one is always worth more than the other. What this complicated idea means can be explained through the example of Cemaan. All Estelley worshipers except Allorn ones generally spit on and reject Cemaan, but they don't reject the idea that she is a divinity or that she somehow has a point. Rather, they believe that her instructions are a way to solve the problem ("Estelley worship must be preserved,") but not the right way to solve the problem, and prefer to follow Leyon's dogma which usually opposes hers. All the same, this does not mean that she is not a God, and even when ignored is treated with a certain fearful deference. It is traditional to see Leyon as the father god and the strongest in the Estelley Pantheon, a view held by all except the Allorn Elves, who hold onto Talea's original assertion that Cemaan is the head of the pantheon.
Estelley as a Religion has one unified Pantheon, but not all Gods are treated equally. At the head of the Pantheon are the three Empresses, of which there have only ever been three, and there will always be three. Then come the Ordained, which are Gods that either joined willingly or were conquered during the Ruindawn. Finally, there are the Vowed which similarly joined willingly or were conquered, but who are not considered unquestioningly loyal to the Empresses. As a result, while worshiping the Empresses and the Ordained is mandatory for the religion, worshiping the Vowed is optional. One can worship a single Vowed God, a few, or none at all, it all depends on the person's personal preferences. '''Note, because a lot of art on this page is still in development, old placeholders are put in place. Do not for the time being refer to these old images for aesthetic inspiration (the temporary images have black borders).'''
 
===The Empresses===
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<gallery mode="packed-overlay" widths="220px" heights="439px">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Leyon, Lord of the Full Moon'''</center></span>
File:Cemaani.png|''Cemaan, Empress of Power.''
{|
File:Brydef.png|''Talea, Empress of War.''
[[File:Sdafafafafas.png|220px|caption|left]]
File:Saphori.png|''Sapphora, Empress of Love.''
|
</gallery>
* '''Name:''' Leyon, Lord of the Full Moon, Keeper of the Destiny Gates.
* '''Cemaan''' (pronounced say-maan) is the Empress Goddess of power and domination. She represents the will for increased fame, increased influence, and increased legacy. She embodies the perfection of fame, that her followers should not disappear into the crowd, to be forgotten by the world. Cemaan is historically seen as the patron Goddess of the Teledden Elves and the Allorn Empire. She is one other Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Cemaan cannot.
* '''Domain:''' Leyon's domain is benevolence, protection, Radiant Magic, and civilization.
* '''Talea''' (pronounced ta-leya) is the Empress Goddess of war and conquest. She represents the will of nationhood to expand, she represents the inner desire for societies to clash and establish the better and the elder. She embodies the perfection of conflict, that her followers are able to defend themselves and better yet, subjugate others by force of arms whether it be weapons or magical. She is one of the Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Talea rules alone.
* '''Symbols:''' Leyon's symbols are metal marbles, keys, doorways, and especially the moon.
* '''Sapphora''' (pronounced sa-fo-ra) is the Empress Goddess of love and passion. She represents the will to be desired and adored, to be seen truly and to be loved truly. She embodies the perfection of beauty and want, that her followers should always seek ways to mentally and physically please others in appearance and presentation, and thus spread influence through the heart. She is one of the Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Sapphora will not.  
* '''Role:''' Leyon watches the door to the afterlife and dispenses wisdom to lost mortals.
===The Ordained===
* '''Traits:''' Mute, Thoughtful, Wise, Pensive, Haunting, Dignified, Royal.
<gallery mode="packed-overlay" widths="220px" heights="309px">
* '''Temple:''' Leyon's largest Temple is the House of Lunar Eclipse in Silverspire.
File:Iiiiiiiiiiii.png|''Mana, Goddess of Kind Nature''
* '''Allies:''' Regulus followers, Alexander followers, Bev & Dáuw followers, sages, scholars.
File:Aisheiah.png|''Aseia, God of Magic Knowing''
* '''Enemies:''' Caius & Ifrit followers, Power & Pride Arken(born) & followers, tyrants.
File:Artareill.png|''Artarel, Goddess of Just Law''
* '''Favor:''' Leyon is seen as a patron of the Lanlath and their Senleya Order.
File:Ammuloa.png|''Ammuloa, God of the Death Kiss''
* '''Rituals:''' Leyon rituals involve the composition of holy poetry and bardic song on the great heroes of the past, protection given to others, and the binding Rite of Hospitality where a wounded nemesis on a Leyon worshiper's doorstep accepts their protection, but becomes Magically unable to betray their host for the duration of their stay.
File:Avinloo.png|''Avinla, Goddess of Living Fire''
|}
File:Sdafafafafas.png|''Leyon, God of Farsight Keys''
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
</gallery>
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Artarel, Lord of Judgment'''</center></span>
* '''Mana''' (pronounced ma-naa) is the Goddess of nature and kindness. She represents the whole of the natural world in all its beauty and plant-life. All the trees, all the flowers, and even the grassfields are given nurture by her will. But she is also the Godddess of kindness and compassion, hers is the perfection of empathy that wishes for a kindness received for each given. Seen as the mother of the Yanar people, Mana suffered in the fall of the Allorn Empire greatly to a weakened state.
{|
* '''Aseia''' (pronounced a-say-a) is the God of knowledge and Magic. They are the all-knowing of the Gods, who holds deep ancient secrets and arcane power. They are the perfection of the Arcane, teaching that all must seek some knowledge, understanding, or use of Magic, and to be completely devoid of any insight in the matter, is a great personal failing. They also preach for the perpetual training of the mind, to always be learning new things, and to absorb new concepts and literature.
[[File:Artareill.png|220px|caption|left]]
* '''Artarel''' (pronounced ar-ta-rel) is the Goddess of Justice and Law. The laws and codes of the Allorn Empire were made by her will, and first to be perverted by her enemies when the Empire declined. Artarel is the perfection of justice, a cruel but just sense of cosmic rightness, that all the stars will not shine brightly until all injustices are excised from the world. She preaches that all followers bear common responsibility for the fair treatment of all, and equality at the end.
|
* '''Ammuloa''' (pronounced amuu-loa) is the God of the dead and the afterlife. He ordains the burial rites and teaches the priests the dogma of the faith. He represents the perfection finality, that all good things must come to an end, and that all bad things must also. He preaches a drive in the faithful to seek enlightenment, or achievement, or service before it is all too late and their soul is lifted onto the perfected balance where he measures their worth for the afterlife, or reincarnation.
* '''Name:''' Artarel, called the Justice Arken by nonbelievers.
* '''Avinla''' (pronounced avin-la) is the goddess of life and the motherhood. She represents the future of the people and is the patron of all children and parents who foster new life. She is said to breathe the perfection of enduring into every newborn, to create joy, happiness, and to please the self. To Avinla, life is a gift that must be experienced, and she endears a curiosity for that beyond the familiar, and a wanderlust to those trapped by the confined. Avinla is currently in a death-slumber.  
* '''Domain:''' Artarel's domain is fairness, judgment, restitution, and vengeance to evil.
* '''Leyon''' (pronounced lay-on) is the God of farsight and seers, and of secrets and keys to unlock them. While he is only an Ordained God, many other Gods in the pantheon see to him for guidance because the Empresses are fickle, and his foresight means he commands greater wisdom than Aseia's library could. Leyon is the perfection of resolution, resolution to problems and to unknown things and to open doors to create new opportunities and find lost things. His oracle dreams are a pathway to this.  
* '''Symbols:''' Artarel's symbols are the Scales of Jawat, Justice Flames, and floating blades.
===The Vowed===
* '''Role:''' Artarel is the ultimate judge of the sin of the living and the dead.
<gallery mode="packed-overlay" widths="220px" heights="309px">
* '''Traits:''' Haughty, Headstrong, Domineering, Idealistic, Vengeful, Bitter.
File:Sihndargod.png|''Melca, Goddess of Companionship''
* '''Temple:''' Artarel does not yet have a Temple, as she is recently ascended.
File:Sinavaallano.png|''Sinnavei, Goddess of All Wealth''
* '''Allies:''' Bard followers, Odal followers, Elia followers, Khannar followers (it's complicated).
File:Vyregoddes.png|''Vyrë, Goddess of the Unknown Seas''
* '''Enemies:''' Pride Arken(born), Void Arken, Evolist followers, Khannar followers (it's complicated).
File:Dddddddulleyinthaolis.png|''Soma, Goddess of Logic in Time''
* '''Favor:''' Artarel favors anyone who takes up her mission to destroy all Sinners.
File:Beastundud.png|''Gilan, God of the Beast Hunt''
* '''Rituals:''' Traditional Estelley legal proceeds are an elaborate form of Artarel ritual, Estelley honor duels are sanctified in Artarel's name, the destruction of Sinners and stifling of arrogance also pleases her if done correctly. Artarel's zealot priests are the Inulvaan, who wear four-faced helms and suffer in search of holy wisdom.
File:Magnificentmaster.png|''Suellon, God of Forever Change''
|}
</gallery>
</center>
* '''Melca''' (pronounced mel-ka) is the Sihndar Goddess of protection and companionship. Melca warns against solitude and loneliness, that all great struggles and trials of life are overcome through togetherness and loyalty, and that no one can overcome their demons alone. Her perfection is the vanguard shield, a demand that the faithful protect each other and their lords in a way she could not do for her people. Melca became an Estelley Goddess when her entire people, the Drovv, were slain in the Void Invasion.  
</tr></table>
* '''Sinnavei''' (pronounced see-na-vey) is the Solvaan Goddess of wealth, trade, and commerce. While this largely covered material wealth like currency and property, it also refers to a richness in opportunity and social means, in essence to be rich in anything that one can have many things of. Her perfection is the seizing of opportunism and the recognition of pathways previously untreaded. Sinnavei is sometimes seen as a traitor Goddess, because she is also a Goddes in the [[Unionism]] faith, and has a [[Evolism#Morrlond,_the_Undefeated_Depths|Demon Consort]].
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
* '''Vyrë''' (pronounced vee-ray) is the Fin'ullen Goddess of the vast oceans and the unknown. She commands respect and humility to the followers when faced with the vast unknowns of the world, and to not boldly look danger in the eye with expectation of assured victory. Her perfection is awe and respect for authority, seniority, and power, but to show bravery despite it all. She is sometimes also called the Empress of Seas, implying she might have the power to compete with the other Empresses.  
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Melca, Foreseeing One'''</center></span>
* '''Soma''' (pronounced so-ma) is the Abismaï Goddess of time and logic. Her perfection is more esoteric than the others, in preaching that knowing the past and the present allows one to make an intellectual summary of the future. While the other Gods wield much in the ways of knowing, Soma represents the idea that all this knowing is meaningless if someone lacks the mental faculties and insight to understand the world deeply beyond face value. Soma also has immense power over time, competing with Dragons.  
{|
* '''Gilan''' (pronounced gee-lan) is the Selvath God of the wilds and the hunt. He represents the animal domains that are subservient to the followers created with intellect to rule. His is the perfection of control and submission, to lord over animals but to care for them, to control their population numbers but to do so with grace and respect. To Gilan and his followers, the animal kingdom is a beautiful and respectworthy plaything, and the activity of the hunt is the greatest flattery of it.  
[[File:Sihndargod.png|220px|caption|left]]
* '''Suellon''' (pronounced sue-ellon) is the Chantli God of progress through change. He is the only Estelley God that was once a mortal man, who merged with the remnants of a long-dead Avarr God to ascend godhood. He represents the changing seasons, and his perfection is forever progress, the idea that some form of progress or change is always good and that the faithful should not shirk from change just because of discomfort. He is a controversial Estelley God, because he often acts against the other Gods.  
|
==Expanded Lore==
* '''Name:''' Melca, the Foreseeing One, Mother of Mysteries, who now aids the Sihndar.
===Priesthood===
* '''Domain:''' Melca's domain is foresight, danger, adversity, and the unknown.
An Estelley priest is called an Ordvaan. It is the responsibility of an Ordvaan to preach and know all the Gods, even the Vowed ones, and have a thorough understanding of dogma as well as serve as positive examples for the community. An individual Ordvaan usually dedicates themselves to a single patron God whose message they are clearly better at preaching, but do not specialize so hard that they become mono-focused or heretical. Beyond this, the Ordvaan organize in successively larger Lunar Councils. While city or regional councils can meet quite often, massive meetings that affect the entire religious body are once in a lifetime experiences, even for Elves. Especially in the post Allorn world where political differences make a collective meeting unlikely, it is unclear when the next Lunar Eclipse (worldwide) Council will occur. Because of this, Estelley priesthood has a reputation of being ponderous and slow to change, but very well understanding of its religion in the state it currently is. Due to an Allorn emphasis on debate culture, Estelley priests are well equipped with everything they need to justify themselves and protect their position around the world. This is especially important in Regalia, where conservative elements like to dogwhistle that Talea's status as Allorn secular leader and Empress in the Estelley Pantheon makes Estelley elements untrustworthy. Knowing the rhetorical defenses (Estelley dogma has no pro-Allorn demand, improving Regalia can be interpreted as Estelley dogma, Regalia is closer to Artarel's Law than the corrupted Allorn Empire) has saved Estelley as a whole from landing in hot water many a time. It is also the responsibility of an Ordvaan to preach, proselytize, and convert. This is both done through rhetorical skill, but also by caring for the abandoned and unwanted. Those already successful and happy in life rarely convert. Estelley, therefore, has a sophisticated understanding of the idea that one man's reject can be another's zealot. Those cast aside by mainstream society as freaks are prime targets for Estelley conversion, to then be rehabilitated to function in line with Estelley principle.
* '''Symbols:''' Melca's symbols are glittering starry fabric and khopesh swords.
===Estel===
* '''Role:''' Melca whispers hushed warnings into others' ears to avert calamity.
The religion of Estelley itself is named after a formless entity called Estel, known by arcane scholars to have once been the origin point of Exist Magic. The trio of founding Goddesses, Talea, Cemaan and Sapphora, are described to have somehow met Estel and learned something from her which enabled them to do all that they have done, including resist and defeat the Dewamenet in a war of mutual annihilation. Described as motherly or statuesque, despite the faith being declared in her name, Estel plays little to no actual theological role in Estelley worship. She is only relevant insofar as a reader needs to understand the journey of the founding Goddesses, or occasionally invoked in shouts of surprise like "by Estel!"
* '''Traits:''' Anxious, Compassionate, Hurried, Detailed, Elaborate, Careful.
===The Great Enemy===
* '''Temple:''' Melca's largest Temple is the House of Warning in Alta Hold.
The Enemy, the Great Enemy, and the Eternal Foe are varying terms used to describe the Void Gods and Void Arken, historical enemies of the Estelley religion. That their nature has changed with time through the morphing of Void Worship into [[Evolism]] or Void Arken turning into [[Fornoss]] Gods and fracturing their personalities does not change this. In the ancient past before the Elves were born, Void Arken would serve as the heralds of the apocalypse in every cyclical Void Invasion of Demons that would end the world, and the Void Gods would sow evil among mortals to ensure that the next Invasion would be carried out. Even though it is commonly held belief that there can never be a Void Invasion again, the Estelley Gods and by proxy Estelley faithful have not forgiven Void-born entities for the evils of the past, especially because Evolism-worshiping Kathar Elves have been at war with Estelley worshiping populations for centuries. Among Void Arken, special prominence is given to the Pride Arken, eternal nemesis of Artarel. It is believed that Pride in all his aspects (Arken, Evolism Catheron, Fornoss Thirun) is the so-called Tempter, who through the gifts of power and glory loves to save the enemies of the Elves from their righteous wrath, or seduces them to darkness at their weakest moment. A wise Elf, however, would understand a degree of nuance to this situation. For example, while it is true that at face value Pride often patronized the enemies of the Elves, in doing so he often saved them from brutal extermination. That the Fornoss worshiping humans relied on Pride in his aspect as Thirun to give them Magic to fight off Allorn raids that would see them horribly killed in Death magic rituals and burned as magical essence cannot be called blatantly evil, even if dogma would paint Pride in such a light.
* '''Allies:''' Caan and Kaldric followers, Elkonur followers, Severena followers.
===Exist Arken and Apparitions===
* '''Enemies:''' Gahan followers, Rand followers, Kathar, Suvial, Theurgists and Summoners.
Estellian interactions with Exist Arken are complicated. At surface value, the Justice Arken successfully refracted into Estelley as the God Artarel, and entities like the Compassion Arken and Loyalty Arken have a long history of positive interaction with Estelley Worshipers. However, there is no holy status clearly enshrined for these entities. That they choose to be helpful because of historical association is seen as lucky happenstance more than surety, and some caution is urged to make sure that the mortal worshiper is not being misled in the name of nonexistent goodwill. The relationship with Exist Apparitions, meanwhile, is more complicated still. It was once upon a time religious dogma that these Spirits and their Sovereign masters obeyed Estel's Law, and could therefore be depended on to act reliably in alignment with the Estelley Gods' wishes. Nowadays, however, it is understood that there is nothing chaining them down at all. The average run of the mill Exist Apparition is no different in Estelley eyes as Void Demons, and are to be struck down in much the same measure. Despite this, there is an exception for those Spirits answerable to the Estelley Gods directly. When Artarel leaves behind Apparitions in places of great injustice or Leyon sows Apparitions of art and music, these are seen as holy Spirits that exist to teach the worshipers lessons about life and living, before being respectfully departed from and moved on.  
* '''Favor:''' Melca is seen as a patron of the Sihndar and their holy Blue Sky Wardens.
===Allorn History===
* '''Rituals:''' Melca's worshipers invoke "pity them, Melca" before battle with any mortal, as they would rather turn their swords on Spirits only. Their Blue Sky Wardens, clad in ceremonial [[Melcarite]] armor (see her art), travel the world in search of new weapons for future calamities. The purest form of Melca Worship is banishing Void Spirits.
Allorn History is not part of the Estelley religion, but because its Gods played such a large role, some explaining is important. This is an abridged version. The Elves began as backwards tribes on the fringes of the Dewamenet Empire, a superstate of [[Asha]] technocrats who abhorred the Magical and sought to eliminate it both within their borders and out. Elves existed in this state for a time, until the founding Goddesses Talea, Cemaan, and Sapphora came together and declared their vision for a better world, prompting the Dewamenet to initiate conflict and a war of apocalyptic proportions to begin. Through Magical methods not yet understood to this day, after centuries of warfare the Goddesses reduced the Dewamenet to rubble and built their dream out of its ashes, declaring the Allorn Empire and setting about the slow subjugation of the other Elven tribes and people who remained outside of their borders. Individual tales of divine integration are discussed in the Other section below. However, the slow decline and fall of the Allorn Empire bears review. Around a millennium into the Allorn history, that is, 14000 BC or so, Talea is recorded to have suddenly fallen into sleep. From this point onward, mortal elements in the successive Empresses and powerful Mages controlled affairs with the tacit blessing of Cemaan. Sapphora is recorded to have parted in disgust and retired to her original patron city of Amontaar, from where ever since she has partied in indolence as the Love God and refused to turn her mind to tainted statecraft, forever upset about something that she could not avert.  
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Sapphora, Heart's Desire'''</center></span>
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[[File:Saphori.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Sapphora, the Heart's Desire, Lady of Here and Now.
* '''Domain:''' Sapphora's domain is popularity, sociability, and extroversion.
* '''Symbols:''' Sapphora's symbols are snakes, silver fans, and wine goblets.
* '''Role:''' Sapphora holds salons in Amontaar, testing the wit of worshipers.
* '''Traits:''' Vain, Self-Obsessed, Gregarious, Lustful, Likeable, Witty.
* '''Temple:''' Sapphora's largest Temple is the Mesvaan Palace in Amontaar.
* '''Allies:''' Eikki followers, Vess followers, socialites, sapphics.
* '''Enemies:''' Wirtem people, the austere, those who break hospitality.
* '''Favor:''' Sapphora is seen as a patron of the Minoor island Elves.
* '''Rituals:''' Hosting parties in general is respectful to Sapphora, even if her name is not directly invoked. She is not a deity with extensive ritual or who demands observance through complex worship, though some fanatic loyalists do take the extra step of traveling to her temple to reproduce with her and have Sapphora [[Godborn]].
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Avinla, Divine Hearthkeeper'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Avinloo.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Avinla, the Divine Hearthkeeper, Tender of the Flame.
* '''Domain:''' Avinla's domain is the warmth of life, fire, passion, and craftsmanship.
* '''Symbols:''' Avinla's symbols are almost always only fire motifs in red and yellow.
* '''Role:''' Avinla petrified herself in sacrifice to save the Suvial from annihilation.
* '''Traits:''' Motherly, Wistful, Amicable, Insightful, Passionate, Giving.
* '''Temple:''' Avinla's largest Temple is Dhruvagni Niketa in Avela Travinda.
* '''Allies:''' Efrat followers, Leif followers, mothers and guardians.
* '''Enemies:''' Ordial Entities, Kathar, Evolist followers, murderers.
* '''Favor:''' Avinla is seen as a patron of the Suvial people.
* '''Rituals:''' Avinla's rituals often involve the holy fire. Whether tending one and stoking it for as long as possible, throwing alcohol into it to bless the departed in their name, or using a portion of it to kindle new fires, most of their rituals rely on it. In a figurative way, Avinla's rituals can also be about 'giving the fire to others,' the gift of life.
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Ammuloa, Last Ferryman'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Noimglong.png|220px|caption|left]]
 
* '''Name:''' Ammuloa, the Last Ferryman, Death's Whisper.
* '''Domain:''' Ammuloa's domain is death and the dying, undeadism, and warfare.
* '''Symbols:''' Ammuloa has no symbols, depicting him is inviting death into one's home.
* '''Role:''' Ammuloa is the lord of the afterlife and the creator of Estelley Undead.
* '''Traits:''' Morose, Silent, Grimly Prophetic, Dutiful, Sincere.
* '''Temple:''' Ammuloa's largest Temple is Rammath's Mausoleum in Charossa.
* '''Allies:''' Daiana followers, Bev followers, grave-tenders and undertakers.
* '''Enemies:''' Ordial Entities and Spirit stealers who would rob his Faithful of death.
* '''Favor:''' Ammuloa is seen as a patron of the Fin'ullen people and Deathwatch Undead.
* '''Rituals:''' Ammuloa's most famous ritual is his Rite, by which a living faithful is sacrificed and turned Undead with the sacred task to guard a name, a place, or a family until their destiny is fulfilled and they can rest. Ammuloa worshipers also practice reading scrolls of achievements of the famous slain, so that others know to live up to their example.
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Sinnavei, Mistwatcher'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Sinavaallano.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Sinnavei, Mistwatcher, our Lady of Valor.
* '''Domain:''' Sinnavei's domain is the wild, its beasts, and the resolve to face them.
* '''Symbols:''' Sinnavei's symbols are mist curl patterns and songbird motifs.
* '''Role:''' Sinnavei binds the Estelley faithful to Regalia, and to foresee calamity
* '''Traits:''' Insightful, Solitary, Generous, Private, Reflective, Well-Meaning.
* '''Temple:''' Sinnavei's largest Temple is the High Chair of Windwhere in Solleria.
* '''Allies:''' Guided Unionism followers, Theomar followers, Aelrrigan Knights.
* '''Enemies:''' Argentum Knights, Anarchists, Evolism followers, Regalia-Haters.
* '''Favor:''' Sinnavei is seen as a patron of the Solvaan and the Regalian Empire.
* '''Rituals:''' Sinnavei's liveliest ritual is the Great Hall Muster where soldiers give one another gifts of equipment and good blessings for the battles to come, but her worshipers also enjoy going on hunts together or simply enjoying the beauty of nature's creation whether by making landscape paintings or sitting together in quiet sacred groves.


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Allorn Elves dabbled in Oblation Magic, the use of powerful hexes from the Death realm to reduce a soul to ash and burn it as magical fuel, and practiced repeated, cruel warfare on the defeated Asha whereby they could be cyclically kidnapped and sacrificed. Group by group, Elves began to split off, sometimes taking Gods with them. Either by making distance like the Lanlath who fled with Leyon into portals, or by assertion of politics like the Suvial with Avinla who banned Oblation Magic within their borders and barely obeyed orders from the capital Ivaëlle, actual Estelley presence beyond Cemaan dwindled to nigh on nothing over the millennia. This power vacuum left room for power-hungry, but also reality-questioning Allorn Elves to start considering alternative religions. These reformers coalesced into two main camps. One was the Void Worshipers (Cathëlaar in Altalar), who followed the Gods who would later make up [[Evolism]], and the other were the Dragon Worshipers (Dregodar in Altalar), who followed the [[Dragons]], original shapers of the world left unworshiped in Estelley dogma. With the Estellians around the Empress and Cemaan left as an increasingly less powerful center as more and more groups departed or shirked fealty, the Void Worshipers decided to use the situation to eliminate their rivals, having Dragon Worship outlawed and massacring the Dragon Worshipers, killing one of their Dragons, driving them to another continent called Ellador, and turning the native Dwarves against them to kill their second Dragon together and almost wipe them from the face of the world.  
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Vyrë, Deep Empress'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Vyregoddes.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Vyrë, Deep Empress, Mother of the Dark, Shelter of the unloved.
* '''Domain:''' Vyrë's domain is the unwanted, pariahs, freaks who others reject.
* '''Symbols:''' Vyrë's symbols are wave designs, rough storms, and deep sea beasts.
* '''Role:''' While Talea acts as Empress on the land, Vyrë is the ruler of the seas.
* '''Traits:''' Wroth, Imperious, Rude, Self-Assured, Commanding, Charismatic.
* '''Temple:''' Vyrë's largest Temple is the Great Trench Table in Ïlha Faiaal.
* '''Allies:''' Void Mage & Void Arkenborn Estelley followers, Marken, the poor.
* '''Enemies:''' Draconism followers, justiciars, the wealthy, Purists.
* '''Favor:''' Vyrë is seen as a patron of the Daphalar, Magic Mer-Fin'ullen.
* '''Rituals:''' Vyrë rituals always have a violent or sacrificial element to please the Empress of the Deep. For example, the Whalesong Feast in Ilha Faial where tables of seafood long enough you cannot see one end from the other side are shared after a six-hour brawl, some more impressive years drawing Vyrë herself to attend. Feasts, brawls, all are popular in her name.
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Aseia, Great Librarian'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Aisheiah.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Aseia, Great Librarian, Left Half of the Great Lady.
* '''Domain:''' Aseia's domain is secrets, libraries, and enlightenment.
* '''Symbols:''' Aseia's symbols are books, tomes, and his Fountain of Knowing.
* '''Role:''' Aseia studies life in the hopes that he can create the perfect being.
* '''Traits:''' Inquisitive, Focused, Dedicated, Knowledgeable, Profound.
* '''Temple:''' Aseia's largest Temple is the Lessariaton Library in western Daen.
* '''Allies:''' Nox followers, Chantli Maquixtl, Qadir, Maraya, scholars.
* '''Enemies:''' Inth followers, any who destroy the records of history.
* '''Favor:''' Aseia is seen as a patron of Suel's cult of Chantli Maquixtl.
* '''Rituals:''' Aseia's rituals involve recording and cataloguing information. There are those who dedicate their whole life to acting as walking libraries to other Elves and those respected enough to be allowed to browse their mind for wisdom, sometimes also referred to as Ancestor Oracles, because their knowledge is so profound it approximates Magic.
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Mana, Compassion's Hand'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:noimglong.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Mana, Compassion's Hand, Right Half of the Great Lady.
* '''Domain:''' Mana's domain is love, compassion, kindness, and nature's little creatures.
* '''Symbols:''' Mana's symbols are trees, laurel wreaths, thorns, and flower bundles.
* '''Role:''' Mana inspires mortal worshipers with reasons to live in happiness.
* '''Traits:''' Joyous, Kindly, Grandmotherly, World-Wise, Empathetic.
* '''Temple:''' Mana's Temple was destroyed by Kathar, her followers worship at Mana Trees.
* '''Allies:''' Xotik and Sentli Maquixtl, Yanar, farmers and the keepers of nature's bounty.
* '''Enemies:''' Mana feels for the pain of even the darkest Gods, and bears no ill will.
* '''Favor:''' Mana is seen as a patron of the Maquixtl and Yanar.
* '''Rituals:''' Mana's rituals inevitably center around agriculture. Harvest festivals are incredibly popular even among non-Estelley worshipers as a way to get some of the free food her priests hand out, various animal rearing competitions like dog shows and similar are popular as well. Worshipers also beseech her to ward off plague and famine.
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<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Cemaan, Golden Empress'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Cemaani.png|220px|caption|left]]
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* '''Name:''' Cemaan, the Blue Empress, the Crusher of Nations.
* '''Domain:''' Cemaan's domain is war, conquest, Oblation, and subjugation of others.
* '''Symbols:''' Cemaan's symbols are the Crown of Victory, scepters, glowing blue chains.
* '''Role:''' Cemaan intervenes in the mortal world to combat the Allorn Empire's enemies.
* '''Traits:''' Domineering, Vicious, Direct, Proud, Powerful, Sarcastic.
* '''Temple:''' Cemaan's largest Temple is the Royal Sanctum in Ivaëlle.
* '''Allies:''' The only ally Cemaan needs is herself, all will know her rule in time.
* '''Enemies:''' Hrymrök followers, Baskarr followers, Savellon followers, Draconism followers.
* '''Favor:''' Cemaan is the creator and patron saint of the Allorn Empire and Elf Nationalism.
* '''Rituals:''' The Acceptance of Fealty where all who owe a Cemaan Worshiper favors ritualistically pledge their allegiance and servitude, the Great Moot of Conquest where a Cemaan Worshiper attempts to convince the rest of the Estelley community that an enemy group must be eradicated and driven underground, burnings of Ashal texts and relics.
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==Priestly Activities==
Estelley priests are referred to as Ordvaan. While there is no single authority on who is and is not an Ordvaan and anyone may declare themselves a part of the clergy, there are influential Ordvaan with the patronage of different segments of Estelley society who have staying power and the ability to regulate a sense of orthodox worship while denying extremist opinions. The Lanlath high priestesses of the Water-Mirror Grove set the standard of the correct way to worship Leyon, for example, while the Mana priests in Guldar under their Honored Mother define what the rites to Mana should look like and how often they should be performed. Being an Ordvaan does not bar one from other occupations as Estelley is a religion which encourages ambition, but Ordvaan are demanded to abstain from the self-interested corruption that is politics, as a priest with a stake in worldly affairs cannot be trusted.


Their ascendancy secured, these Void Worshipers would become [[Kathar]] and turn to systematically dismantling what was left of Estelley in the Allorn Empire, burning the holy groves and usurping the Nobility, placing the Empress effectively under house arrest. It is not unthinkable that they would have succeeded in transforming it entirely, had Cataclysm not struck, the Fifth Void Invasion. This apocalyptic Demonic invasion saw eighty percent of the Allorn population die and their ability to practice Oblation Magic disappear, along with many of their most powerful spells. As well, it restored some faith in Estelley, and by the diminishment of Allorn power allowed some of the split-off peoples to flourish on the world stage. Nonetheless, even nowadays Estelley as a religion must morally deal with the context of the many atrocities committed by its worshipers and in its name under the banner of the Allorn Empire, and every individual worshiper must choose if they want to apologize for these actions, not consider themselves responsible, or find a way to moralize them in the context of the time. With Talea's awakening several years ago and the re-declaration of the Allorn regime, there is fear that the worst will resume, especially with scant sightings of Oblation Magic here and there.
===Va'sil & Mana Trees===
===Va'sil & Mana Trees===
The [[Va'sil Tree]]s were holy and powerful entities sent directly by Estel, nature spirits who took the form of immense walking trees and manifested as ghostly avatars of [[Yanar]], a symbol of her favor to that people and their culture. The Va'sil served the role of holy advisors for much of Allorn history, with the Lanlath having a special fondness for them but being unable to take them with them when they were expelled from the Allorn Empire and put to flight. Over time as the Allorn Empire drifted towards collapse and many of the people fell away from Estelley worship, the Va'sil and their groves were increasingly neglected. The act of treachery that created the [[Kathar]] race was the destruction of the Va'sil in the so-called [[Night of the Weeping Stars]], the coordinated destruction of their many groves and the vast majority of Estelley holy places across the Allorn Empire to knock the teetering religion off of its legs for good. It is this act more than any political separation which engendered such hatred towards the Kathar from the Estelley worshipers, because the loss of the Va'sil trees is something that can never be undone, comparable to Unionists just having to accept the death of a God or Dragon Worshipers having an entire clade of lesser Dragons wiped out and having to live with it forever. Non-worshipers often confuse Mana Trees for being Va'sil, but this term in fact refers to groves tended by Ordvaan that are considered safe havens for the faithful to socialize and discuss. The one thing that Mana Trees and Va'sil have in common is the lust [[Void Worship]]ers and their allies have for setting them on fire, something which most Estelley worshipers have experienced at least once in their lives, and many would die to prevent. Priests are charged with telling the story of the loss of the Va'sil, usually as mournful poetry or sad recollections of their ancestors who died protecting them, and with gathering the faithful at Mana Trees and ensuring their safety, or planting new ones if they are destroyed.
The Va'sil were holy nature spirits, fragments of Estel who took the form of giant, walking trees. They were holy advisors for much of Allorn history, with even Talea herself receiving counsel from them, reportedly ponderous, wise, and gentle. The Lanlath had a special fondness for them, but were unable to take them with them when they were expelled from the Allorn Empire. Over the course of the Allorn Empire's collapse and the decline of Estelley worship observance, the Va'sil and their groves became neglected, abandoned. This would come to a head when the forerunners of the Kathar Elven race destroyed them in a single coordinated attack, the Night of the Fallen Star, which wiped every Va'sil tree from the world. Left behind in their wake are so-called Mana Trees, continuing the tradition of gathering in glades, but without the Va'sil that used to define them. Mana Trees, the ancient oaks at the center of Elven groves and places of worship, do still enjoy a holy status nonetheless. Much like the Va'sil before them, they remain a target for attacks from Kathar worshipers looking to please the Evolist Gods through historical re-enactment.
===Vaalevara===
Retelling of regional Elven history and folk tales is considered a sacred activity as Vaalevara, or the "memory of Empire." Priests are encouraged to look at the [[Geography]] page and its sub-pages as well as information about locations strewn across various Race and Culture pages to find inspiration for stories to tell about different locations, or failing that, to make a ticket in the [https://www.massivecraft.com/discord-roleplay Roleplay Community Discord] to inquire after canon stories not presently listed on these pages. These stories can be on the smaller side, such as blessing the famous swan-boats of Amanra Assalei on the southern coast of [[Daen]] and discussing the ancient practices of the shipbuilders, to the grander side such as the cataclysmic battles between the Pride and Justice Arken during the Allorn days, with their most famous twelve-hour battle at Descäe Ilavan Lancaï or the "Spear's Rest" serving as one of the most common Elven re-enactments. Generally speaking, these retellings do not use the storyteller as the focus but center instead on important works of art or pieces of Estelley worshiper culture that can be used as inspiration to create things of beauty, or if they are lost, can be mourned.
 
===Aelye===
Collective moralization of the Estelley faithful is called Aelye, or the "good speech." It is the priest's responsibility to come up with at least two nice things to say about every member of their flock, and convene them for a gathering. There each person asks the priest to say nice things about one of the other people there, never themselves, and the priest does so until everyone is satisfied or has had at least one thing said about them. The idea is not mindless flattery or ignorance of one's flaws, but the account for the fact that the world is a busy and tired place and not everyone has the time to admit the positive feelings they have for one another. Aelye creates the environment necessary for usually uptight and closed-off Elves to lighten up a little bit and, even if disguised by implication and religious and flowery wording, show some kindness. Most popular by far among Mana worshipers and Sentli or Xotik Maquixtl, the most rural types of typical Estelley worshiper, Aelye can be seen as soft or perhaps overindulgent by the frigid Lanlath even if it is a valid ceremony which they participate in regardless.
 
===Kathira===
Collective punishment of a sinner by the Estelley faithful is called Kathira, or the "destruction of pride," the same root word that named the Kathar culture. The faithful form up into two long columns between which the accused must walk while the priest standing at the head of one of the lines recites their crimes for all to hear, with each worshiper in the line stating their own personal grievances and then striking the accused with a hand. Kathira can range in severity from a purely demonstrative ceremony meant to humble someone or even an ironic party trick performed purely in jest on someone whose virtue is beyond reproach with ridiculous accusations like having taken the last pastry, to a serious vigilante punishment where the punches are meant to bruise and disorient and the accused is brought near to collapse by the end of the line. While Estelley scripture prescribes that all wounds between the accused and the accuser are healed after this ceremony is performed, this very rarely if at all holds up in reality, and the punished almost always come back with a group of their friends to inflict violence on those who issued the punishment. As such, it is recommended and understood by most priests that Kathira is only to be performed on those who wish to show penance and will take its outcome seriously.
 
==Peripheral Concepts==
Peripheral Concepts are important thoughts from Estelley theology, that didn't necessarily fit anywhere else on this page, but also aren't strictly necessary to know. They cover a wider range of topics which Estelley believers have a solidified opinion of, or things that Estelley faithful might get questioned on in Roleplay and may be useful to have answers for.
 
===Prophets===
Estelley recognizes three prophets: Talea, Sanraan, and Fenhellëy, in this order. Each of them has a separate holy book that together form the three-part Estelley religious canon, with successive priests over generations doing their best to curate statements and minimize contradiction, though sometimes to little success, as Talea and Sanraan were bitterly opposed in life. Talea's dogma is quite warlike and brutal, as the Elves in her lifetime were disunited and had to be brought together by the sword. Far from the ethereal wise ones that they are today, the Elves of Talea's rule were a backwards, folkish, and unlearned people who needed a strong hand to unify into a centralized state. The prophetess herself favored Cemaan and cast her as the focal point of the Estelley religion, a traditionally Allorn viewpoint, but one that would later be subverted by those who dwell outside the Allorn Empire. Her younger brother Sanraan fought with her in what he considered the defense of the Elven people until he witnessed the divine intervention of the Estelley Gods to destroy the Dewamenet in order to save the early Allorn nation from complete destruction: witnessing what is described in apocalyptic terms as the "extinction of a continent, ground rotting under a sea of white chalk," he turned away from his sister's cause and seceded with the people who would later become the [[Suvial]] Race. Sanraan's dogma is compassionate and regretful, reminding the faithful that a poisonous victory can never last, and that building an empire on misery, extermination, and oppression is like raising a castle in a field of clay, dooming it to slowly sink. Their youngest brother Fenhellëy spent the majority of his life as an unimportant clerk, before composing a series of treatises on proper rulership considered so well-worded that they must have been divinely inspired, and made the final part of the Estelley canon only after his death. Fenhellëy emphasized Leyon worship in his writings as the most important part of the Estelley religion, as it is Leyon who provides the benevolence and grace necessary for a continuity of stable civilization, and his virtues which create the longest lasting empires. Leyon worship however did not catch on as a dominant role until the time of the Lanlath's secession from the Allorn Empire, covered on the Lanlath culture's page. Telling legends from the lives of the Prophets is encouraged.
* Talea's most famous are the subjugation of the surrounding peoples to become subjects, and to unify the Elven Empire. Equally however, some of her most famous legends, are her war with Vyrë to conquer the ocean (which she lost), creating an eventual uneven truce in which Vyrë would rule the seas, and Talea and her offspring would rule the land.
* Sanraan's most famous are the taming of the Firelands in concert with the Goddess Avinla where he led his exiles to the west and founded the Suvial people, and the Day of Cursed Regret where he proclaimed the Allorn Empire would fall due to Talea's poisoned victory and choice to destroy the defeated Dewamenet, a prophecy that would famously eventually come true. He also liked giving cryptic sitting-circle stories with his followers where he would share his wisdom, always beginning with the poetic line "Good friend: consider," and trailing off into an anecdotal story from his life.
* Fenhellëy's most famous is the tale of his eight day debate with the Dragon Regulus about the definition of justice, both of them shaking hands at the end and going their separate ways in satisfaction.
* They had a fourth sibling, Alaïaam, who was not a Prophet of Estelley. She was a famous archer who could shoot kilometres away with her bow [[Aulaya]], and her heroic feats are also popular stories.
 
===Vaalya===
Vaalya, meaning "regnance," is the Elven idea that only one mortal Empire at a time can claim rulership or dominance of the world. Beginning as the Draconism concept of the Mantle of the World, the idea that Dragons created all things and passed the responsibility to steward them on to the living, this concept changed significantly over millennia of interpretation. Vaalya proposes that pluralism of ideas and difference of opinion is false, and all opposing dogma is somehow a flawed or incomplete version of Estelley dogma in the light of which worshipers were led astray. This concept is dominant even among more benevolent Estelley worshipers, leading to the arrogant and patronizing air that Elves are famous for, the idea that they stoop in their grace to uplift barbarians who do no not know better. As much as it seems an oppressive ideology to follow, there is some truth to this idea. For the Dewamenet Empire to arise the [[Meraic]] had to collapse, and for the Allorn Empire to achieve glory it had to destroy the Dewamenet, while the modern [[Regalian Empire]] is in turn built on the corpse of the Allorn Empire, sure to someday follow it and be replaced by something else. Not entirely about the correctness of Elves, it also proposes that this one dominant ideology always cycles and that power never lasts, a shifting and impermanent system where no legacy is truly meaningful except for those remembered by the people.
 
===Worthiness===
There is an overall concept in Estelley that it is the responsibility of each worshiper to do as much as they can in their lives to appear worthy of their company, the faith, and the standards of the Gods. This perfectionist attitude extends itself especially to Magic, Mages, and especially [[Godborn]] and [[Arkenborn]], even those of Gods or Arken whom Estel's faithful do not look kindly on. Those who are rewarded with the blessing of a stronger birth, whether through a powerful Mage bloodline or direct descendance from a God, are expected to use that power to achieve great things. It does not matter if these things are done in good or evil: merely that they leave legacy and live up to the expectations of those who are responsible for granting that power. Many Estelley worshipers through history have spoken fondly of powerful enemies, not because they like them, but because they respect them for harnessing the gifts of their bloodline even if in opposition to Estelley virtues. The same idea can be extended to conversion of non-Elven worshipers to Estelley, that being that since it was not their destiny to be born into the faith, they must have migrated for a reason and are expected to prove themselves in a way that a native Elf might not. This means that some of Estelley's most violent and dogmatic zealots belong to the population of first-generation converts pushed to demonstrate their dedication by priests.
 
===Leyon's Eclipse===
===Leyon's Eclipse===
Leyon's Eclipse is an ancient principle of Allorn pseudo-religious magical theory that explains the view of Exist and Void Magic to one another. It remains true that the Estelley faithful are unequivocally opposed to the Void Gods and the Void Arken, but their view of Void Magic by itself is a lot more nuanced. The comparison that is often drawn, is that of the Moon and its two sides, the light side of the moon and the dark side of the moon. To the Estelley faithful, the light side of the moon represents Exist Magic: organized, clean, transparent, with clarity and purpose. The dark side of the moon represents Void Magic: chaotic, unpredictable, capricious, ungovernable. These aspects do not make Void Magic "evil", in fact, Estelley as a religion does not ascribe it any moral label. Rather, what it means, is that while Exist Magic is a safe and predictable option to empower one's Magic, Void Magic is an inherently dangerous one, but one that hides terrible power if properly controlled. Simply put, while there is very little risk of succumbing to sin with Exist Magic, Void Magic hides within it the temptations of becoming a blasphemer or heretic who seeks to usurp the thrones of the Gods and the afterlife. This corresponds to the historical notion that many Void Mages in the Allorn Empire sought to become god-like themselves, and showed less respect for the Estelley Gods and the discipline they endeared.  
Estelley worshipers believe that conflating an individual's Magic use with religious alignment is backwards and tribal. The status of a person as a Void Mage does not matter, so long as they worship Estelley Gods. The status of a person as an Exist Mage might not matter, if they chose to worship Evolist Gods. There is some pseudo-religious theory that describes the light side of the Moon as Exist Magic: organized, guiding, safe and clear in purpose, and the dark side of the Moon as Void Magic: capricious, ungovernable, and deeply unpredictable. A sentiment is held that mastering Void Magic is harder, and by the implication of a power source shared with Void Gods and Arken, it is likelier to attract their malign attention or be tempted into corruption. If a Void Mage is found to be an enemy of Estelley religious dogma, it is custom for the priests to declare a so-called Eclipse Judgment, marking that Void Mage as attack on sight for Estelley adherents who are part of the priests' flock. Despite Estelley's venerable status, Eclipse Judgments are not legal in Regalia, and are considered a sort of vigilante assault to be practiced with the risk taken on the chin. From the Estellian point of view, a few days in prison are worth knowing that one has lived life rightly.


What this means for the faithful, is that there must always be a conscious choice between Void and Exist Magic (at least for those not born with it), but that this choice is not pre-determined to Exist by default. Those who are deemed of strong mental fortitude and pious beliefs are thought as suitable practitioners of Void Magic, who are able to potentially unlock greater magical potential than Exist Magic would allow them to. Equally, Void Mages or Estelley faithful who use Void Magic are not by default evil or shunned but are usually held to a higher standard of disciplined and pious behavior. They will be more hawkishly watched by Estelley society for signs of Corruption, and may become the target of so-called Eclipse Judgements by Estelley Priests (which in essence marks them to be hunted by the faithful for turning against the faith). Void Magic is the cause and source of Void Corruption where it does occur in the world, but Void Magic by itself in the view of Estelley as a religion does not cause Corruption by itself, only through the intent of the wielder to corrupt and damage things beyond their natural or serene state and warp them into abomination or horror.  
===Other===
The Expanded Lore section contains additional contextual information about the Estelley faith. This section is not necessary to read to get a good understanding of the lore, just the background information.
* '''This is still being written.'''
* Consider expanded lore for each God. More like the old large text format, go wild.
* Consider more explanations of each God, whether they belonged to a proto-Elven tribe, another race altogether, etc.
* Explain how patronage is cool but doesn't ultimately define a God more than their perfection standard which is universal.
* Explain the locations of Temples and give them descriptions of the biggest ones and their statehood relevance.
* Explain the state relevance of each God, which states have their patronage and what it did to those states.
====Artarel====
* The Justice Arken was invited to join the Pantheon by Talea upon the end of the Dewamenet War. She refused, but wrote the original Allorn Law Code. Artarel's Law is a concise and restitution focused legal document that clearly enshrines rights and protections for citizens, right to trial, methods of jury and fair trial, suggested penal codes, and alterations depending on the disposition or situation of a kingdom. It is the basis of all modern law codes, including to some extent Regalian law, but is different in a fundamental way. The enshrined class protections of Regalian Law do not exist in Artarel's Law, and indeed, equality under the law is an alien concept in Regalia where biases still rule strong. Unfortunately for Estelley worshipers, the law codes in their own nations have departed even farther, with racism, classism, corruption, and other flaws dragging down the legal principles of especially the Allorn Empire but to some extent even more enlightened states like the Lanlath to the point where they cannot be said to really practice Artarel's Law anymore either. It is a goal of all zealous Estelley worshipers to see Artarel's Law practiced to best extent wherever possible.
* Artarel finally properly ascended to the Pantheon in 312 AC following a mass-death incident in several Allorn principalities where she was mass appealed to for help by the dying Elves who cried out to her. While she is an Ordained God, she is also a little bit of a loose cannon, because it is heavily implied that if the evils of Oblation Magic and other Allorn indulgences were to begin to appear again, she might do something about it. In ascending, her consciousness fractured between her Arken and Divine form. While it is clear that the Divine form embodies the calm sense of frigid and cosmic justice with just a little retribution that she has always been held in light of religion, many of the more cruel, wroth aspects of Justice were left behind in the Arken body, which still exists as an independent actor executing things on their own will.
* Artarel is in possession of a document called the List of All Sinners, that supposedly describes the faults of all mortals that she, her Arken form, or her Fornoss refraction Bard have laid eyes on. Scribed by Aseia who constantly has a host of lesser Spirits keeping up with the demand of the workload, she uses this List of All Sinners to determine priorities in execution and hunting, and sometimes reads from it to direct her mortal worshipers to harry a foe strong enough to be dangerous but weak enough to be below her attention. Those who have done great wrongs tend to avoid any situation where she could lay eyes on them, because Artarel's focus is enough to read a man's soul in an instant, and no guile can hide the truth from her.
* Artarel is a famous warrior with a storied history of battles against her nemesis the Pride Arken. Although these battles have slowed down to a crawl since Cataclysm and become nonexistent since her ascension to godhood, the poetry of their incarnations battling across the ages is legendary, and frequently the subject of stageplay. Her claymore sword is called Nightfall (Maan-Menvaan in Altalar), and Artifact copies of it have been left behind in places before for her favored or worshipers to carry onto the field in execution of her will. It is said that anyone who carries Maan-Menvaan will feel an echo of her perception of Sin, but that just the echo is enough to drive lesser men mad, and that knowledge of how far the world has left to go can make a wielder insane with grief before they have held the blade for a tenday. She has lesser heirloom weapons as well, like the twin shortswords Traitorbane (Aravond in Altalar) and Traitorpain (Aravai in Altalar), as well as spears, bows, shields, and more, but these circulate in mortal hands regularly.
* The largest Temple to Artarel is a place called the Reliquary of Meÿ-Anvaal, an abandoned, ravine-struck graveyard on Maartasil (an island in northeastern Daen) near where the Allorn armies used to ship captives to be sacrificed through the strait to the mainland. The place was sundered during Cataclysm, the palace of the Governor who used to live there falling into the ground, its residents consumed by plant growth, Demons, and wildfire. Shortly after Cataclysm, the next incarnation of the Justice Arken was born there, and after her ascent to Godhood seems to have retained a fondness for it. Her zealot followers, four-masked penitents called the Inulvaan, have leave to gather in the cold stone houses at Meÿ-Anvaal and think cruel thoughts about the sinful world in towers of iron, poetically juxtaposed against the portals to paradise in Lathan being just a day away.  


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The holy caroling of the Estelley faithful, Isantha or the "Harmony of the Voices," is a haunting experience that can be heard ringing out streets away as each takes turns pronouncing a sacred verse one after the other.
* Estelley worship is frequently denoted with moon symbolism, which is the heraldic icon of most Elven kingdoms, even the ones who have abandoned Estelley dogmatism.
* A brutal massacre rumored to have been carried out by an awakened statue of Estel in 302 AC is derided by the Estelley faithful as a fraudulent attempt by the ruinous enemies of their faith to destroy their beliefs.
* There was much art and verse that denoted some kind of closeness between the Empress Goddesses, but Sapphora has had almost all of it destroyed, with only a few ruins left.
* Mana and Aseia were created when a single more powerful Goddess, Manaseia, split as her worshipers the Maquixtl went in two different societal directions. It is unlikely they will ever re-merge.
* Estelley has extensive poetic scripture recorded on obelisks, in runes and in ancient tomes handed down, but there is no single definitive, collective canon for recital.
* The legitimacy of the revived Talea is a fierce topic among the Estelley faithful, many non-Allorn seeing her as illegitimate, or that even if she is legitimate, she has no right to return and expect to rule the world again.
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Revision as of 08:44, 12 July 2024

Estelley
Noimglong.png
Religion
Pronunciation Es-te-ley
Origins Presumed roughly 15,000 years ago.
Deities
Three greater Gods, 5 Gods, 5 optional Gods.

Estelley, or "Estel's Law," is the original faith of most Elves in the world. A moralizing, perfection-focused Religion, it is observed by most descendants of the Allorn (Elven) Empire across the world in varying ways and with varying zeal. Having enjoyed status as the pre-eminent Religion before, and hoping to enjoy it again, despite its struggle to spread beyond the Elven peoples it remains respectably powerful. Estelley worshipers believe that they are opposed in their divine struggle both by those who teach alternative paths to paradise and those who seek to corrupt the world alike, but that mortal heroes carrying the torch will defeat the usurpers and restore Elvendom to the glory it once knew.

Origins

The early Elven peoples were no more than barbaric tribes on the fringes of the Dewamenet Empire, an Asha state poised to conquer the known world. Its hatred of Magic and the ascendancy of a trio of Goddesses led the Dewa and the Elves to clash, and with their divinities' power making victory possible, they declared their own Allorn Empire in its ashes. From there, the various deities were pulled into the Pantheon by the War Goddess Talea one by one. This is discussed further in Expanded Lore.

Core Beliefs

Central Message

The central message of the Estelley faith is that the whole of the world is a flawed creation of the Dragons that is being ordained to a more perfect reality by the Estelley Gods. The Empresses combined to lead a host of Gods and Goddesses to create a more perfect world, starting with the mortal agents of their will, their followers. Through the Perfections of the Gods, mortals learn to strive for a better world, and thus change the world around them. When they die, their soul is weighed by Ammuloa onto the Perfected Balance, to measure their perfection. If they had sufficient perfection, they would pass into the Eternal (Merjan in Altalar, the Elven Language), an afterlife which weaves the faithful into the fabric of reality making them able to change the world like Dragons in subtle ways. If rejected, their souls is passed back to the land of mortals through reincarnation.

Perfected Will

The Perfected will describes the Perfections of the Gods. These are like virtues that mortals are expected to live by, to increase their inner and outer perfection so they too can become perfect world-shapers. Each God has a different perfection. Through the Empresses, Cemaan measures perfection by the amount of people subjugated, Talea by the amount of people defeated in battle, and Sapphora by the amount of people who love and adore the soul. Through the Ordained, Mana measures in kindness and compassion, Aseia in Magical knowledge and ability, Artarel through law-abiding and just acting, Ammuloa to dedication to achieve things before death, Avinla to dedication to experience things in life, and Leyon measures perfection in the desire to solve the mysteries of the ages. Finally, the Vowed Gods, Melca measures perfection through companionship and the protection of others, Sinnavei through the gaining of material and spiritual wealth, Vyrë through respect for that which is greater than the self, Soma through intellect, Gilan through lordship over wildlife, and Suellon over adaptation to change.

The Afterlife

A person can be more perfect in some qualities, and generally speaking not all perfection standards need to be met to have one's soul passed into the afterlife, though reaching all of them is considered a great piety. The Estelley Afterlife is described as a physical realm that is experienced as a perfect land where the souls continue to hone their perfection in the afterlife while mortals and the Gods continue to build towards a world that resembles this more perfect world called the Eternal. It is believed that the souls in the eternal lands of bliss that is the Eternal, still help mortals as well, by gently pressuring reality in the living world to reach such a more perfect state. It is believe that at a certain point, the perfected souls in the Eternal will be so numerous, that they will out-pressure the flawed creation of the mortal world, and merge the rivers of the Eternal and Aloria to become one perfect reality. It is believed by the faithful that Lathan is part of the Eternal as an outer realm of it, and many believe the Eternal to be much like Lathan but more of everything and better.

The Ruindawn

The Ruindawn is an important period in Estelley history that nonetheless has left no records, but many legends and tales. The Ruindawn describes a period during which the Empresses agree in a compact that the world is flawed, and that they will right what has been wronged by a misshapen reality. To them, all living things are condemned to needless suffering by the way the world works, and that they could ordain a better world but by the flawed laws of the world by itself cannot do so alone. Their vision lacked clarity for those who were not in agreement, and so began the Ruindawn where the Empresses would either subjugate by will, or more commonly conquer by force other Gods of minor proto-Elven Religions as well as Religions from other peoples. Sometimes these legends also include tales of Gods who refused and were slain by Talea or had their power absorbed, or those Gods who early on decided to be an obstacle to the work of Estelley and made it their mission to sabotage their efforts, but were eventually defeated and removed from reality. The Ruindawn is in essence a rare concept for Aloria, as Gods of various religions tend to be secluded from one another, it shows a period of active conquest, of one Religion subjugating at least a dozen others and forcing them all into a unified doctrine. The legends focus mostly on how Sapphora convinced some to join, how Talea defeated the majority by the sword, and how Cemaan subjugated a few by sheer pressure of influence.

Avinla's Death

Avinla's Death is in the grand scheme of things not a world-shattering event, but important enough for all faithful to know. Gods do not truly die, but they can approach a death-like state, which has happened to Avinla. The homeland of the Suvial Elves has been terrorized for centuries by massive Magical events called Void-Outs which killed hundreds of thousands. In order to stop the endless suffering and potential eradication of her worshipers, Avinla sacrificed herself, forming a massive network of rings of fire in the skies over the Suvial lands like a blanket of chainmail. This protected the Suvial lands, but had other unintended side effects. Due to their heavy association with her, the Suvial Elves no longer had their Mother of Fire breathing life into their newborns, or passing their souls to Ammuloa for judgement to the Afterlife. As a result, no new Suvial could be born, and each Suvial that was born, was a reincarnation of a long-dead one. No Suvial could die either, as Ammuloa could simply not receive their souls, starting a deathlessness for the Suvial that is living torment for them (read more on the Suvial Page).

Gods and Goddesses

Estelley as a Religion has one unified Pantheon, but not all Gods are treated equally. At the head of the Pantheon are the three Empresses, of which there have only ever been three, and there will always be three. Then come the Ordained, which are Gods that either joined willingly or were conquered during the Ruindawn. Finally, there are the Vowed which similarly joined willingly or were conquered, but who are not considered unquestioningly loyal to the Empresses. As a result, while worshiping the Empresses and the Ordained is mandatory for the religion, worshiping the Vowed is optional. One can worship a single Vowed God, a few, or none at all, it all depends on the person's personal preferences. Note, because a lot of art on this page is still in development, old placeholders are put in place. Do not for the time being refer to these old images for aesthetic inspiration (the temporary images have black borders).

The Empresses

  • Cemaan, Empress of Power.

  • Talea, Empress of War.

  • Sapphora, Empress of Love.

  • Cemaan (pronounced say-maan) is the Empress Goddess of power and domination. She represents the will for increased fame, increased influence, and increased legacy. She embodies the perfection of fame, that her followers should not disappear into the crowd, to be forgotten by the world. Cemaan is historically seen as the patron Goddess of the Teledden Elves and the Allorn Empire. She is one other Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Cemaan cannot.
  • Talea (pronounced ta-leya) is the Empress Goddess of war and conquest. She represents the will of nationhood to expand, she represents the inner desire for societies to clash and establish the better and the elder. She embodies the perfection of conflict, that her followers are able to defend themselves and better yet, subjugate others by force of arms whether it be weapons or magical. She is one of the Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Talea rules alone.
  • Sapphora (pronounced sa-fo-ra) is the Empress Goddess of love and passion. She represents the will to be desired and adored, to be seen truly and to be loved truly. She embodies the perfection of beauty and want, that her followers should always seek ways to mentally and physically please others in appearance and presentation, and thus spread influence through the heart. She is one of the Triarchy Empresses, and even though they should rule the Pantheon together, Sapphora will not.

The Ordained

  • Mana, Goddess of Kind Nature

  • Aseia, God of Magic Knowing

  • Artarel, Goddess of Just Law

  • Ammuloa, God of the Death Kiss

  • Avinla, Goddess of Living Fire

  • Leyon, God of Farsight Keys

  • Mana (pronounced ma-naa) is the Goddess of nature and kindness. She represents the whole of the natural world in all its beauty and plant-life. All the trees, all the flowers, and even the grassfields are given nurture by her will. But she is also the Godddess of kindness and compassion, hers is the perfection of empathy that wishes for a kindness received for each given. Seen as the mother of the Yanar people, Mana suffered in the fall of the Allorn Empire greatly to a weakened state.
  • Aseia (pronounced a-say-a) is the God of knowledge and Magic. They are the all-knowing of the Gods, who holds deep ancient secrets and arcane power. They are the perfection of the Arcane, teaching that all must seek some knowledge, understanding, or use of Magic, and to be completely devoid of any insight in the matter, is a great personal failing. They also preach for the perpetual training of the mind, to always be learning new things, and to absorb new concepts and literature.
  • Artarel (pronounced ar-ta-rel) is the Goddess of Justice and Law. The laws and codes of the Allorn Empire were made by her will, and first to be perverted by her enemies when the Empire declined. Artarel is the perfection of justice, a cruel but just sense of cosmic rightness, that all the stars will not shine brightly until all injustices are excised from the world. She preaches that all followers bear common responsibility for the fair treatment of all, and equality at the end.
  • Ammuloa (pronounced amuu-loa) is the God of the dead and the afterlife. He ordains the burial rites and teaches the priests the dogma of the faith. He represents the perfection finality, that all good things must come to an end, and that all bad things must also. He preaches a drive in the faithful to seek enlightenment, or achievement, or service before it is all too late and their soul is lifted onto the perfected balance where he measures their worth for the afterlife, or reincarnation.
  • Avinla (pronounced avin-la) is the goddess of life and the motherhood. She represents the future of the people and is the patron of all children and parents who foster new life. She is said to breathe the perfection of enduring into every newborn, to create joy, happiness, and to please the self. To Avinla, life is a gift that must be experienced, and she endears a curiosity for that beyond the familiar, and a wanderlust to those trapped by the confined. Avinla is currently in a death-slumber.
  • Leyon (pronounced lay-on) is the God of farsight and seers, and of secrets and keys to unlock them. While he is only an Ordained God, many other Gods in the pantheon see to him for guidance because the Empresses are fickle, and his foresight means he commands greater wisdom than Aseia's library could. Leyon is the perfection of resolution, resolution to problems and to unknown things and to open doors to create new opportunities and find lost things. His oracle dreams are a pathway to this.

The Vowed

  • Melca, Goddess of Companionship

  • Sinnavei, Goddess of All Wealth

  • Vyrë, Goddess of the Unknown Seas

  • Soma, Goddess of Logic in Time

  • Gilan, God of the Beast Hunt

  • Suellon, God of Forever Change

  • Melca (pronounced mel-ka) is the Sihndar Goddess of protection and companionship. Melca warns against solitude and loneliness, that all great struggles and trials of life are overcome through togetherness and loyalty, and that no one can overcome their demons alone. Her perfection is the vanguard shield, a demand that the faithful protect each other and their lords in a way she could not do for her people. Melca became an Estelley Goddess when her entire people, the Drovv, were slain in the Void Invasion.
  • Sinnavei (pronounced see-na-vey) is the Solvaan Goddess of wealth, trade, and commerce. While this largely covered material wealth like currency and property, it also refers to a richness in opportunity and social means, in essence to be rich in anything that one can have many things of. Her perfection is the seizing of opportunism and the recognition of pathways previously untreaded. Sinnavei is sometimes seen as a traitor Goddess, because she is also a Goddes in the Unionism faith, and has a Demon Consort.
  • Vyrë (pronounced vee-ray) is the Fin'ullen Goddess of the vast oceans and the unknown. She commands respect and humility to the followers when faced with the vast unknowns of the world, and to not boldly look danger in the eye with expectation of assured victory. Her perfection is awe and respect for authority, seniority, and power, but to show bravery despite it all. She is sometimes also called the Empress of Seas, implying she might have the power to compete with the other Empresses.
  • Soma (pronounced so-ma) is the Abismaï Goddess of time and logic. Her perfection is more esoteric than the others, in preaching that knowing the past and the present allows one to make an intellectual summary of the future. While the other Gods wield much in the ways of knowing, Soma represents the idea that all this knowing is meaningless if someone lacks the mental faculties and insight to understand the world deeply beyond face value. Soma also has immense power over time, competing with Dragons.
  • Gilan (pronounced gee-lan) is the Selvath God of the wilds and the hunt. He represents the animal domains that are subservient to the followers created with intellect to rule. His is the perfection of control and submission, to lord over animals but to care for them, to control their population numbers but to do so with grace and respect. To Gilan and his followers, the animal kingdom is a beautiful and respectworthy plaything, and the activity of the hunt is the greatest flattery of it.
  • Suellon (pronounced sue-ellon) is the Chantli God of progress through change. He is the only Estelley God that was once a mortal man, who merged with the remnants of a long-dead Avarr God to ascend godhood. He represents the changing seasons, and his perfection is forever progress, the idea that some form of progress or change is always good and that the faithful should not shirk from change just because of discomfort. He is a controversial Estelley God, because he often acts against the other Gods.

Expanded Lore

Priesthood

An Estelley priest is called an Ordvaan. It is the responsibility of an Ordvaan to preach and know all the Gods, even the Vowed ones, and have a thorough understanding of dogma as well as serve as positive examples for the community. An individual Ordvaan usually dedicates themselves to a single patron God whose message they are clearly better at preaching, but do not specialize so hard that they become mono-focused or heretical. Beyond this, the Ordvaan organize in successively larger Lunar Councils. While city or regional councils can meet quite often, massive meetings that affect the entire religious body are once in a lifetime experiences, even for Elves. Especially in the post Allorn world where political differences make a collective meeting unlikely, it is unclear when the next Lunar Eclipse (worldwide) Council will occur. Because of this, Estelley priesthood has a reputation of being ponderous and slow to change, but very well understanding of its religion in the state it currently is. Due to an Allorn emphasis on debate culture, Estelley priests are well equipped with everything they need to justify themselves and protect their position around the world. This is especially important in Regalia, where conservative elements like to dogwhistle that Talea's status as Allorn secular leader and Empress in the Estelley Pantheon makes Estelley elements untrustworthy. Knowing the rhetorical defenses (Estelley dogma has no pro-Allorn demand, improving Regalia can be interpreted as Estelley dogma, Regalia is closer to Artarel's Law than the corrupted Allorn Empire) has saved Estelley as a whole from landing in hot water many a time. It is also the responsibility of an Ordvaan to preach, proselytize, and convert. This is both done through rhetorical skill, but also by caring for the abandoned and unwanted. Those already successful and happy in life rarely convert. Estelley, therefore, has a sophisticated understanding of the idea that one man's reject can be another's zealot. Those cast aside by mainstream society as freaks are prime targets for Estelley conversion, to then be rehabilitated to function in line with Estelley principle.

Estel

The religion of Estelley itself is named after a formless entity called Estel, known by arcane scholars to have once been the origin point of Exist Magic. The trio of founding Goddesses, Talea, Cemaan and Sapphora, are described to have somehow met Estel and learned something from her which enabled them to do all that they have done, including resist and defeat the Dewamenet in a war of mutual annihilation. Described as motherly or statuesque, despite the faith being declared in her name, Estel plays little to no actual theological role in Estelley worship. She is only relevant insofar as a reader needs to understand the journey of the founding Goddesses, or occasionally invoked in shouts of surprise like "by Estel!"

The Great Enemy

The Enemy, the Great Enemy, and the Eternal Foe are varying terms used to describe the Void Gods and Void Arken, historical enemies of the Estelley religion. That their nature has changed with time through the morphing of Void Worship into Evolism or Void Arken turning into Fornoss Gods and fracturing their personalities does not change this. In the ancient past before the Elves were born, Void Arken would serve as the heralds of the apocalypse in every cyclical Void Invasion of Demons that would end the world, and the Void Gods would sow evil among mortals to ensure that the next Invasion would be carried out. Even though it is commonly held belief that there can never be a Void Invasion again, the Estelley Gods and by proxy Estelley faithful have not forgiven Void-born entities for the evils of the past, especially because Evolism-worshiping Kathar Elves have been at war with Estelley worshiping populations for centuries. Among Void Arken, special prominence is given to the Pride Arken, eternal nemesis of Artarel. It is believed that Pride in all his aspects (Arken, Evolism Catheron, Fornoss Thirun) is the so-called Tempter, who through the gifts of power and glory loves to save the enemies of the Elves from their righteous wrath, or seduces them to darkness at their weakest moment. A wise Elf, however, would understand a degree of nuance to this situation. For example, while it is true that at face value Pride often patronized the enemies of the Elves, in doing so he often saved them from brutal extermination. That the Fornoss worshiping humans relied on Pride in his aspect as Thirun to give them Magic to fight off Allorn raids that would see them horribly killed in Death magic rituals and burned as magical essence cannot be called blatantly evil, even if dogma would paint Pride in such a light.

Exist Arken and Apparitions

Estellian interactions with Exist Arken are complicated. At surface value, the Justice Arken successfully refracted into Estelley as the God Artarel, and entities like the Compassion Arken and Loyalty Arken have a long history of positive interaction with Estelley Worshipers. However, there is no holy status clearly enshrined for these entities. That they choose to be helpful because of historical association is seen as lucky happenstance more than surety, and some caution is urged to make sure that the mortal worshiper is not being misled in the name of nonexistent goodwill. The relationship with Exist Apparitions, meanwhile, is more complicated still. It was once upon a time religious dogma that these Spirits and their Sovereign masters obeyed Estel's Law, and could therefore be depended on to act reliably in alignment with the Estelley Gods' wishes. Nowadays, however, it is understood that there is nothing chaining them down at all. The average run of the mill Exist Apparition is no different in Estelley eyes as Void Demons, and are to be struck down in much the same measure. Despite this, there is an exception for those Spirits answerable to the Estelley Gods directly. When Artarel leaves behind Apparitions in places of great injustice or Leyon sows Apparitions of art and music, these are seen as holy Spirits that exist to teach the worshipers lessons about life and living, before being respectfully departed from and moved on.

Allorn History

Allorn History is not part of the Estelley religion, but because its Gods played such a large role, some explaining is important. This is an abridged version. The Elves began as backwards tribes on the fringes of the Dewamenet Empire, a superstate of Asha technocrats who abhorred the Magical and sought to eliminate it both within their borders and out. Elves existed in this state for a time, until the founding Goddesses Talea, Cemaan, and Sapphora came together and declared their vision for a better world, prompting the Dewamenet to initiate conflict and a war of apocalyptic proportions to begin. Through Magical methods not yet understood to this day, after centuries of warfare the Goddesses reduced the Dewamenet to rubble and built their dream out of its ashes, declaring the Allorn Empire and setting about the slow subjugation of the other Elven tribes and people who remained outside of their borders. Individual tales of divine integration are discussed in the Other section below. However, the slow decline and fall of the Allorn Empire bears review. Around a millennium into the Allorn history, that is, 14000 BC or so, Talea is recorded to have suddenly fallen into sleep. From this point onward, mortal elements in the successive Empresses and powerful Mages controlled affairs with the tacit blessing of Cemaan. Sapphora is recorded to have parted in disgust and retired to her original patron city of Amontaar, from where ever since she has partied in indolence as the Love God and refused to turn her mind to tainted statecraft, forever upset about something that she could not avert.

Allorn Elves dabbled in Oblation Magic, the use of powerful hexes from the Death realm to reduce a soul to ash and burn it as magical fuel, and practiced repeated, cruel warfare on the defeated Asha whereby they could be cyclically kidnapped and sacrificed. Group by group, Elves began to split off, sometimes taking Gods with them. Either by making distance like the Lanlath who fled with Leyon into portals, or by assertion of politics like the Suvial with Avinla who banned Oblation Magic within their borders and barely obeyed orders from the capital Ivaëlle, actual Estelley presence beyond Cemaan dwindled to nigh on nothing over the millennia. This power vacuum left room for power-hungry, but also reality-questioning Allorn Elves to start considering alternative religions. These reformers coalesced into two main camps. One was the Void Worshipers (Cathëlaar in Altalar), who followed the Gods who would later make up Evolism, and the other were the Dragon Worshipers (Dregodar in Altalar), who followed the Dragons, original shapers of the world left unworshiped in Estelley dogma. With the Estellians around the Empress and Cemaan left as an increasingly less powerful center as more and more groups departed or shirked fealty, the Void Worshipers decided to use the situation to eliminate their rivals, having Dragon Worship outlawed and massacring the Dragon Worshipers, killing one of their Dragons, driving them to another continent called Ellador, and turning the native Dwarves against them to kill their second Dragon together and almost wipe them from the face of the world.

Their ascendancy secured, these Void Worshipers would become Kathar and turn to systematically dismantling what was left of Estelley in the Allorn Empire, burning the holy groves and usurping the Nobility, placing the Empress effectively under house arrest. It is not unthinkable that they would have succeeded in transforming it entirely, had Cataclysm not struck, the Fifth Void Invasion. This apocalyptic Demonic invasion saw eighty percent of the Allorn population die and their ability to practice Oblation Magic disappear, along with many of their most powerful spells. As well, it restored some faith in Estelley, and by the diminishment of Allorn power allowed some of the split-off peoples to flourish on the world stage. Nonetheless, even nowadays Estelley as a religion must morally deal with the context of the many atrocities committed by its worshipers and in its name under the banner of the Allorn Empire, and every individual worshiper must choose if they want to apologize for these actions, not consider themselves responsible, or find a way to moralize them in the context of the time. With Talea's awakening several years ago and the re-declaration of the Allorn regime, there is fear that the worst will resume, especially with scant sightings of Oblation Magic here and there.

Va'sil & Mana Trees

The Va'sil were holy nature spirits, fragments of Estel who took the form of giant, walking trees. They were holy advisors for much of Allorn history, with even Talea herself receiving counsel from them, reportedly ponderous, wise, and gentle. The Lanlath had a special fondness for them, but were unable to take them with them when they were expelled from the Allorn Empire. Over the course of the Allorn Empire's collapse and the decline of Estelley worship observance, the Va'sil and their groves became neglected, abandoned. This would come to a head when the forerunners of the Kathar Elven race destroyed them in a single coordinated attack, the Night of the Fallen Star, which wiped every Va'sil tree from the world. Left behind in their wake are so-called Mana Trees, continuing the tradition of gathering in glades, but without the Va'sil that used to define them. Mana Trees, the ancient oaks at the center of Elven groves and places of worship, do still enjoy a holy status nonetheless. Much like the Va'sil before them, they remain a target for attacks from Kathar worshipers looking to please the Evolist Gods through historical re-enactment.

Leyon's Eclipse

Estelley worshipers believe that conflating an individual's Magic use with religious alignment is backwards and tribal. The status of a person as a Void Mage does not matter, so long as they worship Estelley Gods. The status of a person as an Exist Mage might not matter, if they chose to worship Evolist Gods. There is some pseudo-religious theory that describes the light side of the Moon as Exist Magic: organized, guiding, safe and clear in purpose, and the dark side of the Moon as Void Magic: capricious, ungovernable, and deeply unpredictable. A sentiment is held that mastering Void Magic is harder, and by the implication of a power source shared with Void Gods and Arken, it is likelier to attract their malign attention or be tempted into corruption. If a Void Mage is found to be an enemy of Estelley religious dogma, it is custom for the priests to declare a so-called Eclipse Judgment, marking that Void Mage as attack on sight for Estelley adherents who are part of the priests' flock. Despite Estelley's venerable status, Eclipse Judgments are not legal in Regalia, and are considered a sort of vigilante assault to be practiced with the risk taken on the chin. From the Estellian point of view, a few days in prison are worth knowing that one has lived life rightly.

Other

The Expanded Lore section contains additional contextual information about the Estelley faith. This section is not necessary to read to get a good understanding of the lore, just the background information.

  • This is still being written.
  • Consider expanded lore for each God. More like the old large text format, go wild.
  • Consider more explanations of each God, whether they belonged to a proto-Elven tribe, another race altogether, etc.
  • Explain how patronage is cool but doesn't ultimately define a God more than their perfection standard which is universal.
  • Explain the locations of Temples and give them descriptions of the biggest ones and their statehood relevance.
  • Explain the state relevance of each God, which states have their patronage and what it did to those states.

Artarel

  • The Justice Arken was invited to join the Pantheon by Talea upon the end of the Dewamenet War. She refused, but wrote the original Allorn Law Code. Artarel's Law is a concise and restitution focused legal document that clearly enshrines rights and protections for citizens, right to trial, methods of jury and fair trial, suggested penal codes, and alterations depending on the disposition or situation of a kingdom. It is the basis of all modern law codes, including to some extent Regalian law, but is different in a fundamental way. The enshrined class protections of Regalian Law do not exist in Artarel's Law, and indeed, equality under the law is an alien concept in Regalia where biases still rule strong. Unfortunately for Estelley worshipers, the law codes in their own nations have departed even farther, with racism, classism, corruption, and other flaws dragging down the legal principles of especially the Allorn Empire but to some extent even more enlightened states like the Lanlath to the point where they cannot be said to really practice Artarel's Law anymore either. It is a goal of all zealous Estelley worshipers to see Artarel's Law practiced to best extent wherever possible.
  • Artarel finally properly ascended to the Pantheon in 312 AC following a mass-death incident in several Allorn principalities where she was mass appealed to for help by the dying Elves who cried out to her. While she is an Ordained God, she is also a little bit of a loose cannon, because it is heavily implied that if the evils of Oblation Magic and other Allorn indulgences were to begin to appear again, she might do something about it. In ascending, her consciousness fractured between her Arken and Divine form. While it is clear that the Divine form embodies the calm sense of frigid and cosmic justice with just a little retribution that she has always been held in light of religion, many of the more cruel, wroth aspects of Justice were left behind in the Arken body, which still exists as an independent actor executing things on their own will.
  • Artarel is in possession of a document called the List of All Sinners, that supposedly describes the faults of all mortals that she, her Arken form, or her Fornoss refraction Bard have laid eyes on. Scribed by Aseia who constantly has a host of lesser Spirits keeping up with the demand of the workload, she uses this List of All Sinners to determine priorities in execution and hunting, and sometimes reads from it to direct her mortal worshipers to harry a foe strong enough to be dangerous but weak enough to be below her attention. Those who have done great wrongs tend to avoid any situation where she could lay eyes on them, because Artarel's focus is enough to read a man's soul in an instant, and no guile can hide the truth from her.
  • Artarel is a famous warrior with a storied history of battles against her nemesis the Pride Arken. Although these battles have slowed down to a crawl since Cataclysm and become nonexistent since her ascension to godhood, the poetry of their incarnations battling across the ages is legendary, and frequently the subject of stageplay. Her claymore sword is called Nightfall (Maan-Menvaan in Altalar), and Artifact copies of it have been left behind in places before for her favored or worshipers to carry onto the field in execution of her will. It is said that anyone who carries Maan-Menvaan will feel an echo of her perception of Sin, but that just the echo is enough to drive lesser men mad, and that knowledge of how far the world has left to go can make a wielder insane with grief before they have held the blade for a tenday. She has lesser heirloom weapons as well, like the twin shortswords Traitorbane (Aravond in Altalar) and Traitorpain (Aravai in Altalar), as well as spears, bows, shields, and more, but these circulate in mortal hands regularly.
  • The largest Temple to Artarel is a place called the Reliquary of Meÿ-Anvaal, an abandoned, ravine-struck graveyard on Maartasil (an island in northeastern Daen) near where the Allorn armies used to ship captives to be sacrificed through the strait to the mainland. The place was sundered during Cataclysm, the palace of the Governor who used to live there falling into the ground, its residents consumed by plant growth, Demons, and wildfire. Shortly after Cataclysm, the next incarnation of the Justice Arken was born there, and after her ascent to Godhood seems to have retained a fondness for it. Her zealot followers, four-masked penitents called the Inulvaan, have leave to gather in the cold stone houses at Meÿ-Anvaal and think cruel thoughts about the sinful world in towers of iron, poetically juxtaposed against the portals to paradise in Lathan being just a day away.

Trivia

  • Estelley worship is frequently denoted with moon symbolism, which is the heraldic icon of most Elven kingdoms, even the ones who have abandoned Estelley dogmatism.
  • There was much art and verse that denoted some kind of closeness between the Empress Goddesses, but Sapphora has had almost all of it destroyed, with only a few ruins left.
  • Estelley has extensive poetic scripture recorded on obelisks, in runes and in ancient tomes handed down, but there is no single definitive, collective canon for recital.
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