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| |pronunciation = Old-Gods | | |pronunciation = Old-Gods |
| |origins = [[Old Ceardia]] | | |origins = [[Old Ceardia]] |
| |deities = 8 primary Herrehem (Archgods) and 3 each Maarda (part-gods) each belonging to a Herrehem. | | |deities = TBD |
| |subsects = [[Velheim]], Riklander, [[Fridurfolk]], [[Zvorun]] variant, and Highland & [[Breizh]] variant. | | |subsects = TBD |
| |}} | | |}} |
| Old Gods is the oldest [[Religion]] known to the [[Ailor]] [[Race]], predating any and all religions, but also being wildly different from its original inception due to the constant modification as the centuries passed by. Old Gods is inherently a very disorganized religion, meaning that regional differences and small custom exceptions may exist, though generally speaking, its core principles are well followed. Among the [[Velheim]], Old Gods is by far the most practiced religion, and all major changes and religious sites also exist in their lands. Other notable populations of Old Gods worshipers exist in the Highland Territories among the [[Caeren]] and even some [[Dunbrae]], [[Fridurfolk]], [[Tarkkin]], and [[Zvorun]], particularly in the northern mountain regions of [[Drixagh]] where [[Unionism]] reverted back to Old Gods. Old Gods is a polytheistic religion, setting it apart from most other Ailor religions, though it has many aspects in common with the [[Faith of Estel]], and is often accused, by [[Altalar]], as a copy of the Altalar faith even if Velheimers will violently disagree with this assertion. Old Gods as a religion shrunk considerably since the creation of Unionism by [[Theomar]] at the rise of the [[Regalian Empire]], however it remains a massive religion for the Ailor, far outclassing all other minor religions isolated to various cultures, and second only to Unionism. To some Unionists even, Old Gods has a certain allure of freedom and spiritual absolution not revolving around back breaking work or self sacrifice. While Old Gods is certainly shrinking in the [[Regalian Archipelago]], where whole regions have not a single worshiper left, elsewhere, Old Gods is actually on the rise as populations among the Velheim and Heartland Ceardian kingdoms continue to grow due to an increase in welfare, following their introduction into the Regalian Empire, increased food supplies, and Regalia’s relatively moderate religious freedom laws. | | ==Origins== |
| | The origins of the Old Gods religion are somewhat murky, because of intensely conflicting versions. Old Gods as a religion has always lacked an organized hierarchy, and so local communities as well as diasporas do not agree on a common origin tale. While many Regalians consider Old Gods synonymous with the Velheim culture, they actually are not, and there are more Ceardians who worship Old Gods under the Cellik variant than there are Velheim Old Gods worshipers. Old Gods reaches beyond these cultures however, with Zvorun, Tarkkin and Dunbrae all having slight variations on the same ideology. All Old Gods worshipers agree that their faith started on the island of Yervonth (called Jerl in old Velheim) however they all disagree with what happened after. Cellik and Velheim Old Gods however are the two largest denominations controlling around 80% of the total worshiper population, and as such, their version is generally accepted as common dogma. Cellik and Velheim Old Gods doctrine claims that when the menace from the west (Nelfin slavers) arrived on the shores of Ceardia, that a group of Pagan Gods created a pantheon together and spirited large communities away from the Ceardian continent, harboring them in safety on the Yervonth island. From here, Old Gods would continue to spread over the world with migration waves, however the further they went, the more their doctrine was changed by local variations and changes. Unlike Unionism, Old Gods never underwent any major cataclysmic changes or schisms. As such, this page will treat the average understanding of Old Gods as fact, though minor local variations like changing a God's name or patron identity is permissible. |
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| ==Etymology== | | ==Core Identity== |
| Among the practitioners of the faith, there is no real official term for Old Gods, rather, the term was invented by the Regalians upon the creation of Unionism to create a clear distinction. To the Velheim and other Old Gods believers, the Old Gods simply are “The Gods”, and so there is no official term for them. Commonly however, Velheim and other Old Gods worshipers accept that for the sake of easy communication, the term Old Gods suffices. It is curious to note, that Unionism does not fully reject or debase Old Gods as a Religion. In fact, it could be claimed that because of their distinction between the “new god” (namely the Everwatcher) and the Old Gods, that they universally accept that the Old Gods dogma was true, but that with the blessings of the Everwatcher, they became redundant, or subservient to the [[Regalian Emperor]]. Indeed, the Celates have no official stance, and the Creed does not have any particular concept of denying Old Gods as a true faith, rather simply stating that upon the arrival of the Regalian Empire, the Everwatcher deemed the Ailor more worthy than the Altalar for the mantle of the world, and sought to raise up paradise through them and for them. Old Gods as such was mostly left behind as a cultural and traditional curiosity, and it is notably that relaxed attitude towards Old Gods, that has mostly kept their religion alive amid aggressive proselytization and missionary activities. Even the [[Skagger Wars]] were never truly about religion, even if some Emperors used the concept of Holy War to rile up the masses to fervor, as the Velheim were allowed to keep their religion intact in Drixagh in particular.
| | Old Gods is a religion that developed out of the old concept of Ailor Paganism in Ceardia, which was a polytheistic religion with a theoretical infinite amount of gods. Old Gods as a religion reformed this principle, attaching itself to the tangible gods that the people could see and interact with, and then centralized religion to them. Old Gods as a religion is centered around the concepts of Honor of the Soul, which is similar to Asaredu, but not strictly bound to combat honor alone, rather to the purity of one's soul as understood through the lens of behavior, actions, and things said. Old Gods worshipers refer to the Honor of the Soul as Soldi. |
| | ===Tenets=== |
| | * '''Bravery:''' Soldi is gained with bravery, to fight against foes that overwhelm and overpower, to seek out challenges that bring glory and honor to one's family name, and to generally not show cowardice. Soldi is lost by showing cowardice and shirking from one's duties. |
| | * '''Wroth:''' Soldi is not strictly gained by being mean or violent, but rather by the idea that one should never give up or simply let things happen that one does not want to happen. Inversely, Soldi is lost by simply being meek and weak and letting events transpire without affecting them. |
| | * '''Pleasure:''' The matter of chasteness versus pleasure is not really a matter that demands any Soldi satisfaction. Old Gods worshipers just don't really believe in chastity. That being said, dishonesty and deceit to one's lovers and spouse(s) results in loss of Soldi. |
| | * '''Vengeful:''' Soldi is gained by settling scores, Soldi is lost by letting a vendetta or nemesis simply walk all over one's self. Old Gods worshipers declare Motsaga against a person to declare them their enemy with scores to settle. The Old Gods worshipers came up with the saying "An eye for an eye". |
| | * '''Greed:''' Soldi is not specifically gained or lost while being charitable or greedy, but Old Gods as a religion generally rewards those who attain and retain the power to seize what they want and be merciful with what they have, but shows little favor on those too weak to make their own destiny. |
| | * '''Honest:''' Soldi is lost with deceit and lying, though not specifically while withholding information. Old Gods religion has a concept of "white-lies", and only punishes those who tell lies for explicit personal gain or to prevent danger to self (which they must be brave to face). |
| | * '''Pride:''' Soldi is gained when others are aware of how great a person is, and Soldi is lost if a person is forgettable and irrelevant in the scope of history. Old Gods worshipers should endeavor to make sure their skills and talents are always known to others. |
| | * '''Respect:''' A very important aspect of Old Gods worship is the acknowledgement of respect. While one must be proud of one's self, one must always deeply respect the skills of others, and pay homage to those who are simply better (even if they deserve a challenge here and there). |
| | * '''Soldi:''' The most important aspect of Old Gods is Soldi, which is like a currency of Honor. There is no strict numerical minimum or maximum, but being accused of being without Soldi is the worst insult to levy against an Old Gods worshiper, one that they believe condemns their soul. |
| | * '''Loyalty:''' A very important aspect of Old Gods is loyalty, which can mean loyalty to family, to lovers, to one's overlord, one's ruler, or just the gods. Vows of loyalty are taken very seriously, and breaking one is considered a great way to lose all Soldi instantly. |
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| ==Pantheon==
| | Beliefs: |
| Old Gods, because of its central lack of clergy or a unifying clerical body, does not have the same exact consistency across all lands. There exists a diversity of ideas and traditions from region to region, culture to culture, and even nation to nation. Generally speaking however, Old Gods are divided among polytheistic and pandeistic lines. The former claiming that all gods were born as seperate and unique individuals, the latter claiming that all gods were born from a single all-god, who after creation ceased to exist as a single entity and instead became many. The different terms used for these two spiritual denominations are Fleregud, and Enkelgud, or Flere and Enkel. | | * '''Narrative:''' In Old Gods beliefs, the world is one giant proving grounds for all living things (even wild animals) to prove the value of their soul and prevent loss of Soldi until they die. While all living things are born with Soldi, the effects of evil causes them to commit sins. Sins causing a loss of Soldi are a person's soul showing weakness and thus not having the right to pass into the afterlife. Old Gods dictates that while bodies are made by the gods, and Dragons create a kindling of a soul, that ultimately a soul's development, nurturing, and aging, is entirely up to the person themselves. When a person dies and their soul has enough Soldi they pass into the afterlife or the Valley of Life, which is an idealized version of life with drinking, feasting, and fun. When a person who passes into the Valley of Life also has a hero or legendary status soul through some great achievement or fame in life, they go to the Valley of Legends, which is an upgraded version of this afterlife where their every whim is satisfied. In case a soul is deemed without Soldi, they are condemned to the Mirror world, where the soul wanders for eternity on the salt-flats without color, smell or sound as penance. It is said that some souls have such evil in their hears that they escape the Mirror world, and become Undead in the real world. This is why Old Gods worshipers have such a negative view of Undead who were Old Gods worshipers in a prior life, but are apathetic to Undead from other religions. |
| ===Unions===
| | * '''Canon Evil:''' Canon Evil in Old Gods is called Demons, which takes similar origins as Unionism, but has a more flexible interpretation. On one hand, Old Gods worshipers do acknowledge Demons from the Void, Exist, and Bintaar as evil with corrupting intentions. They refer to them as Betrayers, with one particular Demon called The Great Betrayer being the worst, which scholars believe to be the Arken of Power. Demons seduce people into doing things that ruins their Soldi with promises of power, fame and legend. On the other hand, Old Gods worshipers acknowledge the evil in mortals as a far more realistic source of bad things in life. It is said that the Gods and Dragons made a pact, with the Gods making the bodies of Ailor-kind, and the Dragons providing the breath of life, which would create a seedling of a soul. However, as life develops, the person who the soul belongs to creates the expressions, actions and feelings of the soul themselves as it grows over time, and that evil is simply the person being too weak to hold onto virtues in life and engaging in sin. As such, evil can neatly be defined as either Demons inducing weakness in otherwise strong people, or weakness just existing in a soul because the person themselves are weak. |
| There are, primarily, eight Herrehem (Archgods) in the Old Gods faith. Archgods is not a term used within the Velheim or Common language, rather, it is a Regalian distinction to create a clearer boundary between the Herrehem and Maarda, as the Velheim call them. The Old Gods faith has a form of derivative god birth where each Herrehem in theory exists out of the combination of several Maarda (part-gods), but these Maarda are also individuals. Furthermore, of all the eight Herrehem, each of them are paired in two called Unions or Gudpar in Velheim, with various religious implications. Beyond that, Maarda are also capable of interacting with mortals and the living, and as such, Maarda are also capable of siring demi-gods among the people, something that commonly is a recurring theme in Old Gods folklore. To understand the Herrehem, one must first understand the primary Unions and what they represent.
| | * '''Identity:''' Old Gods dogma has no explicit gender, sex, sexual orientation or gender-identity bias, though it has an implicit male-bias. While any Old Gods worshiper will claim that all genders and sexes are equally fair in their religion, traditional male-coded masculinity takes a unique place that discolors a lot of the nuance about gender. Strong, masculine and emotionless are framed as virtues for men living by the examples of their gods, and so Old Gods society can come across as publicly egalitarian, but having hidden masculine preferences under the surface. |
| ====Union of Fire====
| | * '''Conversion:''' Old Gods as a religion does not require preaching or spreading through missionaries, which is usually a practice reserved for Faith of Estel and Unionism, though to say it is without violent impression is false. Among Old Gods worshipers, holy wars can rage between two distinct populations over small denominational ideals (some as ridiculous as the believed hair color of a god), but bigger conflicts arise with other religions. Old Gods worshipers in general are very intolerant to other religions mostly born out of necessity, because disloyalty to the gods (for example by converting from Old Gods to Unionism) means a complete loss of Soldi and thus a soul being condemned to the Mirror world. Old Gods worshipers have been known to force their faith at the end of a sword and axe, especially in the far north where they are in the majority. Old Gods worshipers also frequently deface religious symbols of other faiths or engage in desecration of holy sites. |
| The Union of Fire is commonly described as “all that feels”, and that is roughly what the Union of Fire also represents. Their primary element is fire, representing protection, parentage, passion and rage, and a wider variety of emotion. The Union of fire is supposedly responsible for all the feelings and emotions that the mortals have, and in ways also affect their emotions during the daily life, depending on their favor or disfavor.
| | * '''Sins & Taboo:''' The worst cases of sinning and taboo for Old Gods are disloyalty to god, family and one's leaders, backstabbing, betrayal, deceit for greed's sake, and refusing a challenge of honor or duel of honor and abiding by cowardice. Never does a single sin or transgression cause Soldi to be lost fully, it is more like a currency that slowly leaks away, however repeat offenses do cause eventual loss of Soldi altogether. Old Gods does not really have a central body of priests to condemn a person, but generally speaking, Old Gods communities have a very communal sense of expelling a member when they believe their Soldi to be too far gone. |
| ====Union of Air====
| | ==Gods and Goddesses== |
| The Union of Air is commonly described as “all that wants”, and that is roughly what the Union of Air also represents. Their primary element is air, representing freedom, change, ceremony and combat, and a wider variety of human needs. The Union of Air is supposedly responsible for the needs and wants of people (detached from emotion, which belongs to Fire). The Union of air is commonly blamed for all calamities in the world.
| | TBD |
| ====Union of Water====
| | ===Arne, Father of All=== |
| The Union of Water is commonly described as “all that perils”, and that is roughly what the Union of Water also represents. Their primary element is water, representing grief, fear, treason and death, and a wider variety of pestilence and misfortune. The Union of Water is supposedly responsible for all the bad things that happen on a personal level for all mortals, but has a duality in that it also represents acceptance, forgiveness, peace and tranquility. The Union of Water is more complicated, because it not as strictly positive like the Union of Fire, or (almost) strictly negative as the Union of Air. It represents both good and bad sides of death and sorrow. | | {| |
| ====Union of Earth==== | | |[[File:Treeaaaa.png|220px|thumb|left]] |
| The Union of Earth is commonly described as “all that knows”, and that is roughly what the Union of Earth also represents. Their primary element is earth, representing will, justice, learning and yearning, and all knowledge based aspects. The Union of Earth is supposedly responsible for storing all information and knowledge, memories and remembrance.
| | |Arne is a non-humanoid non-physical representation of divinity in Old Gods. In Old Gods doctrine, it is believed that before Ailorkind was born, there was Arne, the tree of Life, that stood in a world that was already alive with plant life and wild life. Old Gods doctrine never made any claims on how the world or reality actually started, but implied that other religions are valid (to a degree) because they refer to the "Old World", where-as the world in which Old Gods exists now is the "New World". Simpler put, Old Gods acknowledges other religions and beliefs that pre-date itself as legitimate within their time-frame, but claims that with the birth of Old Gods, those religions or beliefs became invalid for Ailor, and that Old Gods is the only valid truth. This does mean that Old Gods is a mostly Ailor-centric religion, though more recently Url have also started following the religion (or continued following post-symbiosis). This causes particular conflict with Unionists. While Old Gods believers claim that the Everwatcher probably is real, they consider the faith false, because it induces its followers to engage in actions that cause them to lose Soldi and be condemned to the Mirror World. |
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| ===Herrehem===
| | Arne stood in Old Ceardia for many centuries, until he communed with Dragons (who are not considered divine, rather just really powerful entities of legend), and developed a voice. With his voice, he spoke to fauna and flora, and with them approaching his roots, his mind expanded. With expansion came his desire to create his own life, and so with each new animal or event around Arne that he became aware of, a new god or goddess was born, creating the traditional pantheon by willing them into existence, which in turn caused them to create the Ailor Race. Arne is not worshiped however, because while he is the Tree of Life, he is seen more as a means to an end, and when all the Gods were born, he went into a lifeless slumber that created the afterlife in his dreams. As such, worshiping him is like worshiping the afterlife, which Old Gods worshipers consider strange at best. He is however occasionally still referred to as the father of all the Old Gods pantheon, and the Tree of Life remains an important symbol in Old Gods, even if Arne is nowhere near as important as the Everwatcher in Unionism and is only given lip service. Arne's physical body is believed to have perished with the destruction of Ceardia, however this didn't spell disaster, as it is believed that his spirit and dreams (and thus the afterlife) live on even without his physical form. |
| ====Lensa====
| | |} |
| Lensa is usually depicted as a woman with exceptional beauty, long hair flowing all the way to her ankles in a variety of braids and golden blonde. She usually has a variety of feathers and green budding twigs in her hair, her body covered with various pieces of traditional male body wear, such as male-fitted armor or male pants and shirts. Rather than being an outright cross-dressing god, the implication here is that beauty can be found in even the rugged of man, a reflection of their subjective beauty through the judgement of the beholder. Lensa is tall, moves with poise, and the wind always sweeps her hair in ways that accentuate her tallness and floaty movements. It is common for Velheim to compare a woman they love dearly to “the beauty of Lensa”, or to call their sweetheart a Lensån, meaning daughter of Lensa. Lensa is commonly believed to be of a soft temperament, caring and loving, soothing and embracing. In other ways, she also represents the obedience and loyalty of children, and the closeness of friendship and lovers. She is bound to Ellmår in a same-sex female union, though is sometimes also considered Ellmår’s daughter in other regional variances, where their Union represents the dedication of parents and children to each other instead of lovers. Those who dedicate their identity to Lensa, have a tree-like tattoo applied to the nape of their neck, running from the top of the spine adjacent the shoulders, to the lowest edge of their hair. This tree represents Lensa’s wide and covering care, the shade of her embrace sheltering the person’s heart.
| | ===Liv, Beauty of Fire=== |
| ====Ellmår====
| | TBD |
| Ellmår is usually depicted as a woman with exceptionally strong masculine features, short hair and with a very strict and average face, with fiery red hair. She usually has a variety of chains and necklaces around her neck, as well as belts around her arms that represent the duty of parentage and the bonding of offspring. Ellmår wears traditionally female clothing such as long flowing dresses and knee-high skirts with sashes and over skirts. Rather than being an outright cross-dressing god, the implication here is that any parent can take any role they need to for a child, and that a woman and a man are both equally capable of acting in a parental role. That being said, the existence of Ellmår has become a bit of a curious Regalian oddity. Some Regalians (even though they believe in Unionism), have created an exceptional fondness of Ellmår, as she (more so than Lensa) represents gender-dimorphism among religions, perhaps being the only deity that is so obviously non-gender conformist in a patriarchal and male-dominated world. As such, even if they are Unionist, some Regalians sing the praises of Ellmår through the scope of a cult or society to feel a sense of divine inspiration and connection over trials and happiness that is unique to them. Ellmår is also invoked for women who behave in traditionally male roles and societal standards. A woman who fights with the ferocity of a man is considered an Elmark, or a Warrior or Ellmår. She is believed to have a measured outwardly, yet passionate internal personality, remaining very stoic and reserved to outsiders, but extremely involved with those closest to her. She is bound to Lensa in a same-sex female union, though is sometimes also considered Lensa’s mother in other regional variances, where their Union represents the dedication of parents and children to each other instead of lovers. Those who dedicate their identity to Ellmår have tattoos of chains applied to their wrists, not as a sign of slavery, but as a sign of dedication to their family or their lover. Among Velheim, traditional chaining is not often if at all seen, which is why being chained by a Regalian guard is considerably humiliating to Velheimers, given that they see this act as a religious dedication, not a part of a judicial prison system.
| | ===Estrid, Queen of Battle=== |
| ====Basjtur====
| | TBD |
| Basjtur is usually depicted as a man with exceptional strength, a wide frame and a muscular body, with long hair and a body covered in tattoos, pitch black hair on his head. He usually wears nothing on his upper body, instead wearing only battle pantalons and boots, but always wielding at least one weapon, if not more. Basjtur is the simplest and easiest representation of a a warrior god, and lives up to that expectation to the T. He is always depicted in some sort of battle, either with Mærsjel as some sort of combat spar, defeating some sort of beast, or taking on a whole horde of enemies. Basjtur is commonly seen as a the guardian of the Gods, and is also the only one truly depicted taking on Demons, who are frightfully absent from the Old Gods faith, unlike Unionism. It is commonly said that through Basjtur’s blessings, the Velheim people and the Old Gods worshipers don’t have to deal with the negative side of Demons, as Basjtur is in an endless battle with them in the nether world. Basjtur is always invoked on the eve of battle or a duel, for the sake of invoking his rage and skill in battle. Inscriptions of him are placed on weapons to grant them the durability of his body, and warriors bring offerings to his name to grant god-like strength in battle. Basjtur is bound to Mærsjel in a same-sex male union, though is sometimes also considered Mærsjel’s student in other regional variances, where their Union represents the raging beast that is liberated by the calm mind. Those that dedicate their identity to Basjtur have an axe-like tattoo applied on their back, the blades on their shoulder blades, and the stave on their spine.
| | ===Bard, King of Bears=== |
| ====Mærsjel==== | | {| |
| Mærsjel is usually depicted as a man with exceptional youthly beauty, a thin and slender frame of body, with short curly hair and a youthful face full with lips and rose cheeks. Mærsjel usually wears Altalar clothing, as Old Gods considers Altalar culture a high standard worth emulating for those seeking fortune in culture and art. He is never depicted without his harp or flute of soothing, often playing it, or dangling by his side. Mærsjel represents the arts and culture that flow from the freedom and liberty afforded by peace and prosperity. In many ways, Mærsjel is the natural consequence of Basjtur keeping everyone safe. Comparing someone to Mærsjel is an extreme complement of their entertainment capacity, and any tavern called a “Hall of Mærsjel” is the highest honor bestowed by an Old Gods worshiper, believing that spending time there is roughly equal to the afterlife in pleasure and comfort. Mærsjel is bound to Basjtur in a same-sex male union, though is sometimes also considered Barjtur’s teacher in other regional variances, where their Union represents the idea that no warrior or great sage is too good to learn new things from a young thinker or an amateur who is not set in their ways. As lovers, Mærsjel is usually depicted as the fawn chased by the wolf, but also the soothing tune that brings peace to the raging bear, a moment of comfort in a world of misfortune and misdeeds. Inscriptions of him are placed on the backs of paintings and in the wooden engraving of wooden instruments,
| | |[[File:Treeagdsgsgjdjf.png|220px|thumb|left]] |
| ====Bev==== | | | |
| Bev is usually depicted as a flying cloth, devoid of a physical body inside, though it can also be depicted as a man covered in black robes with a white mask, blood coming out of the eyes and mouth sockets that are pitch black. Bev is always depicted through the frame of a mirror, as if looking into a mirror, with Bev on the other side. Bev is an often unspoken God, because it is believed that to invoke his name is to bring misfortune itself, Bev is the reason why Old Gods worshipers are uneasy with those who wear masks, in their culture, masks are seen as the faces of Bev, worn by those who wish to do Bev’s bidding, which is to cause death, but also to act as Bev’s eyes. Those who are seen by Bev are believed to be on their way to the grave sooner for each time they are seen by Bev. It is largely why devout Old Gods worshipers refuse to participate in masquerades. Bev is usually depicted in a loving and tender desire for Alu, but never being able to actually reach Alu, as he is a reflection of her in the mirror. Those that have surrendered themselves to become dealers of death have a twin-sickle tattooed across their shoulder blades.
| | Bard is the first son of Arne, and was born when bears took shelter under the tree of life. Bard is always depicted as a large rugged man, covered in bear or wolf-pelts, with brown hair, plenty of facial and body hair, and black charcoal washed out around his eyes emulating the claw marks of a bear. Bard is the husband of Njal, and is often said to have a raging temper and a beastly countenance that makes him lose all semblance of humanity when he is beset by fits of rage. Bard is said to be uncontrollable by the other gods, dispensing punishment and retribution on mortals for failing in the eyes of the gods, a practice which has earned him the moniker "watch-dog of the gods", because he is indeed the first into battle. |
| ====Alu====
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| Alu is usually depicted as a haunting beauty, a woman floating off the ground with long hair that is wispy and longer than her own body, extending all the way to the ground, almost holding up her body like the stand of a street lamp. She is usually depicted caressing the mirror from which she looks at Bev, or admiring herself in a reflection. In many ways, Alu represents life and the obsession that life has with itself, a mysterious longing and curiosity for death, but equally a fear for it that prevents them from utterly embracing it. Alu’s expression is always different, depending how the light strikes her face. From some angle, whe may look at ease, peaceful and kind. In other angles, she may look ambitious, sneering, prideful, and others yet sorrowful, sad and in anguish. This shows the many faces of living and being alive, and her hair represents the length of life, each strand of hair cut off, representing a person who has died, passing that single hair through the mirror to Bev like a love letter to the dead. Those that wish to strongly represent Alu have the infinite braids of life tattooed all across their chest and stomach.
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| ====Handrin====
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| Handrin is usually decpited as a sagely old man, who is so old that his eyelids are permanently closed, his busy eyebrows furling over his eye sockets, and a beard that reaches all the way down to the ground. He is usually depicted seated on a great throne, but more bending over and hunched as he no longer has the strength to sit up from age. Handrin is presumed to know everything, the guardian of knowledge and fact, and forever true. Yet, at the same time, he represents the inability to move, narrowmindedness and dogma, stuck in his chair through roots that have started growing from his robes into the ground. Handrin is usually depicted seating opposite to Julvira, in a pose traditionally seen as debate among the Old Gods and Velheim. The Old Gods worshipers believe in healthy debate and discourse leading to new ideas and new contexts from which to see the world, and so Handrin always represents experience, knowledge and sageness, while Julvira represents new ideas, revolutionary concepts and upsetting established dogma with new information. Those that wish to represent the knowledge-seeker tattoo a pair of hummingbirds on the back of their hands.
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| ====Julvira====
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| Julvira is usually depicted as a spritely young woman with very short hair, wearing a collection of colorful robes with exotic plants and items hanging from chains and belts on her. She is seen as worldly, travelling around the world absorbing new views and new ideas to bring back to Handrin and upset him in his established notions and beliefs by constantly challenging him. In a way, Julvira and Handrin also represent the struggle of the older generation with the newer, as well as child versus parent. Still, Julvira and Handrin can also be depicted as lovers, one who is moving ahead in the world with ambition and want, while the other is stagnant, unable to move and content where things are, representing the eventual loss of love because one partner moves faster in the world than the other. Julvira and Handrin can mean a great deal of things, which is why the Union of Earth is not as clear cut as the Union of Fire and Air. Those that wish to represent the worldly ambitions of Julvira have waves and wind patterns tattooed across their forearms and their ankles.
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| ===Maarda===
| | Bard is the god of battle, strength, rage, endurance, stability, power and solitude. In Old Gods lore, he roams the land seeking battle from legendary beasts and gods of other religions, but has a broken heart of loneliness that he cannot mend because he is too proud to admit his desire for companionship. It is here that Njal found him, and was the only one who could break his beastly demeanor, soothe his rage, and calm his temper when it erupted. As such, Bard and Njal are now considered spouses, and are frequently framed together as the Union of Air. Bard worship is done through prayers to his name before and after battle, or to invoke his name for strength and rage during battle. |
| * The Maarda of Lensa are Beauty, Loyalty, and Fertility, three women clad in dresses made of leaf and flowers each with beauty rivalling Lensa. It is often said that the three sisters compete with each other for who is the most beautiful, with beauty dolling herself up with make-up and fancy clothes, Loyalty seeking the adoration of others through their loyalty to her, and Fertility seeking the adoration of offspring. It should come as no surprise that Fertility is said to have the most demi-gods under their wing.
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| * The Maarda of Ellmår are Femininity, Command, and Virility, three men clad in simple fur robes and harnesses. As opposed to the Maarda of Lensa trying to rival her beauty, the Maarda of Ellmår try to disgust Ellmår to be rejected. Femininity does this through deceiving others of their gender, Command through the slaughter of soldiers by commanding armies, and Virility by siring too many useless demi-gods, which is considered a grave insult to godhood among the Herrehem and Maarda alike. The Maarda of Ellmår are often accompanied by their respective sibling Maarda from Lensa.
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| * The Maarda of Basjtur are the so-called Hounds of War, Masculinity, Pride, and Combat. Each of these are believed to be wolf-men, gods with the heads of wolves and the bodies of men. They are also often called the giants, as when seen in the world, they were as tall as houses, slaying many foes and allies alike in berserk combat.
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| * The Maarda of Mærsjel are the so-called Virtues of Beauty, Art, Poetry, and Music. The three of them always compete to outdo the other, proclaiming they are the truest of beauty, whether through the painted piece, a spoken poem, or a played melody. The Maarda of Mærsjel are often accompanied by the Maarda of Basjtur as their protectors.
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| * The Maarda of Bev are Forgiveness, Empathy, and Compassion, the three heralds of death, and those also most commonly depicted as Valsung, and invoked by the Valsung to aid their song in reaching the ears of the dead. The Maarda of Bev commonly walked [[Aloria]], found wandering through Helbolwen hills and graveyards.
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| * The Maarda of Alu are Revenge, Murder, and Betrayal, the bringers of death. It is said that while the Maarda of Bev announce the arrival of death, the Maarda of Alu actually bring it forth, inspiring those without Soldi to take lives. The Maarda of Alu are universally feared, as they have had a habit of forcing good people to commit heinous crimes.
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| * The Maarda of Handrin are Age, Wisdom and Knowledge, though they have never by themselves been seen in Aloria. They are rumored however to exist as tomes and books all over Aloria, Artifacts of centuries past that collect the memories of those who touch them.
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| * The Maarda of Julvira are Glee, Whimsy and Wanderlust, the sisters of the world. It is said that their running all over the world is what causes the world to rotate, and the sun to rise, and the moon to sink from the horizon to herald a new day.
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| == Beliefs==
| | Bard's shrines are usually large stone steles with runic inscriptions surrounded by animal bones, or large stone tables with all manner of beast pelts strung over it. On this table or in front of this stele are usually bowls in which offerings of the hunt are brought in his name, which can also be a piece of cloth or hair from a slain foe, which is then ritually burned. Bard has a cult of worshiper's called Bard's Wolves, though the Ceardian branch was recently eradicated in the Carrhen War by the Regalian Empire, with the Northern variant mostly in hiding in Talahm Gall. |
| ===Concepts===
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| ====Soldi====
| | ===Njal, Prince of Art=== |
| Soldi is perhaps the single most important term in Old Gods, as well as Velheim culture. Every living being has a Soldi, but it is not quite the same as a soul (which is more specifically Sjele). Soldi represents the honor of the bearer, a quota that exists in either having, or not having, and there not being any greys in between. Every person is born with a clean Soldi, regardless of the crimes of their ancestors or parents, and through life, Soldi is affected by nearly every action. Generally speaking, all things that are good uphold Soldi, where/as all things that are morally or ethically bad result in loss of Soldi. Betrayal is the worst kind of Soldi loss, resulting in an instant evaporation of virtue, where-as self-sacrifice is the greatest of Soldi gain, reinstituting even the worst of affected individuals who lost their Soldi long ago due to betrayal. In a sense, Soldi represents the ability of everyone to find redemption and forgiveness, albeit some at a heavier price than others. Soldi is a necessity to travel to Speillørgard, the Old Gods version of the Afterlife. Soldi is in most cases a personal matter, meaning that if a son loses their Soldi, that the parents are unaffected. There is however a practice called Soldi Redda, in which case a family member may take it upon them to restore the Soldi of a person who has lost it, whether they are alive or dead. This frequently occurs for sons to fathers and fathers to sons, and the Old God Worshipers believe that if they can redeem the injustice perpetrated by their relative, that their soul will be saved from the Imellomgard, or the in-between realm, and be permitted to join the others in Speillørgard. Those with exceptional Soldi that goes beyond the basic maintenance and slow accrue of Soldi, become Soldigurd. This is usually reserved for great heroes of mythical deeds, as well as kings, and those who are touched by the Maarda, capable of achieving greater feats, but also greater betrayals.
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| ====Sjele==== | | |[[File:Treeagdsgs.png|220px|thumb|left]] |
| Sjele is in the simplest way of putting it, the Old Gods version of a Soul. Unlike other religions however, the Old Gods believers believe that souls exist in two forms, the soul in the Egetgard (what is commonly understood as the real world as perceived by the living), and the soul in the Speillørgard. The two souls always live apart from the moment a child is born, but live in an inverted manner, since Speillørgard is a mirror-realm to Egetgard. For example, if a soul in Egetgard kicks another person, it is believed that the Sjele in Speillørgard is kicked in turn. This is where the concept of Karma comes from, the Old Gods believe that every little thing a person does, is done back to their Sjele in Speillørgard, and vice versa. It is believed that the more a person damages their Soldi until they become outcast, the Soul in Egetgard and the Sjele move further and further apart, until they can no longer become one when the person dies. In such a case, the soul is transported to Imellomgard, while the Sjele in Speillørgard becomes a wandering flame in the valley of forever warmth.
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| ====Draugr and Gaudr====
| | Njal is the second son of Arne, and was born when birds sang their songs among the branches of the Tree of Life. Njal is always depicted as a very handsome young man with fine and expensive linens wrapped around an otherwise seductive body, with strawberry blonde hair and minimal facial hair. Njal is also traditionally depicted with heterochromia, one light-blue eye and one light-brown eye with which it is said he always keeps an eye on Bard, who has dark brown eyes. Njal is said to be eloquent and calming, a soothing presence that mediates and forms compromise between the gods when they fight. It is said that Njal provides divine inspiration, hidden as a robed stranger giving gentle hints to steer maestros into the right direction for a masterpiece. |
| Draugr are the restless living, while Gaudr are the wandering dead. The terminology can sometimes be confusing to an outsider, because in Regalia, there is no difference between a Poltergeist and an actual [[Undead]], though the Old Gods worshipers have many unique distinctions. When it concerns Draugr, they are the dead who have come back to life, their body wandering the Helbolwen (or other places) and living as if they were still alive. It is up to the Staargir to put the Draugr to rest, they are also called upon if there is an infestation of Draugr away from Helbolwen, as it is not uncommon for old burial sites to be washed open. The presence of Draugr is a considerable problem in Drixagh, because Velheimers do not burn or behead their dead, like is common practice in all other regions of the Regalian Archipelago due to the Undead problem. To other Regalians, the dead body is just a piece of leftover meat after the soul has passed on, but to the Old Gods worshipers, the dead body is in a way seen as a conduit to the Sjele, from where those still alive can send messages to the dead and sometimes receive messages back through the Valsung. The Old Gods worshipers consider the Undead a relentless problem, because it upsets the balance of the living and dead between Egetgard and Speillørgard. It is believed that if too many Undead or Draugr roam Egetgard, that the two realms will flip upside down, and all chaos will break loose as the living will suddenly be dead, and the dead will be alive. The valleys of Speillørgard will freeze over from the cold, while all life in Egetgard will end, without being able to pass on to the afterlife. This potential event is called Dodarrøs, which is practically synonymous with the apocalypse in Old Gods beliefs. Gaudr on the other hand, are far more benign, even if they can sometimes have streaks of deceit and violence. Gaudr are body-less spirits of the undead, usually left behind due to some unfinished business, their soul unable to merge with their Sjele in Speillørgard. It is up to the Valsung to approach the Gaudr and commune with them, whether they are visible or not, and speak to the living to resolve their business.
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| ===Places===
| | Njal is the god of creativity, art, fertility, compromise, male beauty, and silver tongues. In Old Gods lore, he roams the land seeking the perfect piece of art whether it be a painting, statue or music, but never finding it, until he found Bard one day, and discovered that the perfect piece of art was not a thing, but the virility of man. Njal ensnared Bard with poetry, and ever since is depicted as Bard's spouse that calms his worst urges and turns him into a loving partner that transitions his anger into a desire for protection and preservation. As such, Njal is seen as a necessary deterrent of godly abuse of mortals also, and one who protects them from godly cruelty. |
| ====Speillørgard====
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| Speillørgard is considered the Old Gods afterlife, or at least the positive version of it where a person can go to live a happy after-life. Speillørgard is describes as a world with endless valleys, one for each Sjele, plus three, one for the Herrehem, one for the Maarda, and one for the Sjele that have dislodged from their souls in Egetgard, and become flames in the valley of forever warmth. It is believed that if a soul arises to Speillørgard with adequate Soldi, that they live in a valley of plenty, where rivers teem with fish, the wildlife is abundant, and the frost of winter is far away. A warm cabin with plenty of mead and good company await. There is even a greater version of these valleys called the Herrehem Himmel, which is roughly located in the sky far above all the valleys. This is where the Herrehem, Maarda, and the Soldigurd come together for the great feasts and boasting sessions where they praise one another’s deeds and live in an eternal feast above the other souls in the valleys below. It is believed that a Soldigurd Sjele can travel between the eternal feast and their valley, content to sit among the gods, but also find the comfort of solitude.
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| ====Imellomgard====
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| Imellomgard is where the souls of those who lost Soldi during their life go to wander into endless twilight. This realm is described as made of obsidian, endless plains and seas and mountains of obsidian with howling freezing winds, all the snow and particles of the wind made of cutting glass that torture the souls that wander. Souls stuck in Imellomgard are condemned to always wander the endless barren wasteland in search for comfort and warmth that they will never find, occasionally bumping into each other or objects that should remind them of their life, but they can no longer place in memory. It is said in a way that Imellomgard is a torturous hellish existence, this also where the term “Hel” comes from in Velheim language, that was later adopted by the Common language to describe a terrible place or doomed location. The bards who record the tales of Imellomgard are not exactly clear on whether the souls stuck there are aware of what is happening, since often it is described as a place of never-waking or not being able to perceive the passage of time, yet it has also been described as a place where the souls are caught in a cycle of punishment, and as such, the implication is made that they indeed are aware of their endless torture.
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| Curiously enough, the Old Gods worshipers acknowledge a concept called “Second Death”, that can only occur to those who are struck in Imellomgard. It is said that the souls wandering Imellomgard can only remain present there for as long as their names are known among the living. It is believed that the moment someone’s name is spoken for the last time, that their soul in the Imellomgard simply vanishes and ceases to exist, or indeed, as if it never existed to begin with at all. Yet, in the spirit of redemption, even a soul that has been removed from existence might be revived in Imellomgard. A name might last part someone’s lips five generations down, and for all intents and purposes experience their Second Death. Then, 200 years later, a Navner finds a lost tome, or written record of the dead, speaking out their name. It is believed that when a Navner speaks out a name of a person who has died centuries ago, that if they were lost in Imellomgard, that they are brought back to life, for as long as the Navner remembers their name.
| | Njal's shrines are usually mobile, meaning that they are carts or special harnesses that people have developed to strap onto themselves or move around. The idea is that Njal never sits still and must roam the land to see and experience more, and so his shrines should never stay in one place either, but rather see places. The act of worship to Njal is to say a prayer to his name, and then donate an alms or some sort of gift to an artist (even if the artist is not an Old Gods believer). This has resulted in Old Gods artists using a donation pot as a Njal shrine, and so when a Unionist tips them, they actually bring a prayer to Njal. Njal's cult is called Njal's Harps, who are known to reside in some of the major cities of Drixagh, hosting debauched feasts and parties with plenty of drinking and passionate exchanges. |
| ====Helbolwen==== | | |} |
| Death is a very important aspect of Old Gods worship, and caring for the dead is doubly so. For this purpose, Helbolwen are created like necropolises, housing hundreds if not thousands of dead, mummified into alcoves, rowed in tunnels that reach ever deeper underground, usually hewn from stone. Helbolwen frequently are placed near each other, the largest collection of which still actively used in Irvainvik, where the coastal Helbolwen of Himmelgard sits atop a valley flanked by tall jagged mountains. Helbolwen have a central entry room called the Endrerom, where the dead are mummified and prepared for burial by the Staargir, all the while guided from Egetgard to Speillørgard by the song of the Valsung. Beyond the Endrerom is the Fjorarom, which usually contains a pedestal and a statue of Bev, who in a Helbolwen represents the afterlife, usually flanked by a large collection of candles which the Old Gods worshipers use to remember the recently deceased, having carved their name in the candle wax. These candles in and of themselves also represent the hope and will that the name of the dead person is not forgotten. Even if a person’s soul has transferred to Speillørgard, it is believed that the Second Death is a profoundly sad thing, even if it can no longer affect them when they have passed on without issue. Beyond the Fjorarom is the Haardrom, which in itself may extend to further Haardromma, which is where the dead are stored in alcoves. Most of then just wrapped in linens with parting gifts, but also commonly in coffins. Raiding a Helbolwen, or stealing items from it without the approval of the spirits, is considered a grave sacrilige and assured to ruin someone’s Soldi, yet it still happens, especially in Drixagh where life can be hard in the more desolate places.
| | ===Bev, Mirror of Life=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Hel, Bride of Death=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Hagen, Father of Time=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Tove, Daughter of Dreams=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Gro, Shaper of Flesh=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Jord, Forger of Metal=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Frode, Carer of Nature=== |
| | TBD |
| | ===Toke, Lirh of Wilde=== |
| | TBD |
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| ====Haugbolwen====
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| Haugbolwen serve much of the same purpose as Helbolwen, but are generally reserved for Nobles, or those who can pay for them. Haugbolwen are smaller burial chambers with single corridors dug into mounds of dirty and sand that eventually grow covered with grass and have Lily of the Valley flowers planted on top covering it in a blanket of flowers, climate permitting. When a person is to be buried in a Haugbolwen, the body is usually embalmed in a Helbolwen, and then carried on top of a bed of shields with Valsung guiding them with lamentations of the dead to their final resting place, where the embalmed corpse is put into the sarcophagus. If a person was particularly wealthy, the sarcophagus is filled with honey to preserve and sweeten the voyage of the dead, however an assortment of flowers and berries are also common, before closing the lid. Haugbolwen differ from Helbolwen in that they are designed to hold exactly one stone tomb, and the personal effects of the buried person, while remaining entirely open to the outside. The tomb itself is made of heavy slabs of granite usually, thus preventing any Draugr from escaping. The stonework on the outside of the tomb is decorated with the exact copy of the dead person's Velheim Tattoos, so the tomb tells the story of their life, and the beam crossing the entryway bears their name, so it may be seen even from further away, and strangers may carry the name in their mind and not forget. Haugbolwen generally remain open, meaning the doorway can simply be passed through, and offerings may be left at the stone sarcophagus. Because the Velheim don't take precautions against Undeadism (unlike other Cultures) it is not too uncommon to hear an uneasy scratching noise in Haugbolwen. Regalian Scholars insist this is an undead trying to get out of the tomb, however Velheimers insist these are Draugr who have taken possession of the body of the deceased and are trying to break into the mortal realm. In fact, hearing noises inside a Haugbolwen is considered a blessing of good luck, because it means that the Union of Air has blessed the body there-in with vigor and strength, a memory of the person in their afterlife. Families can however choose to close down a Haugbolwen. This can be done for a variety of reasons, though primarily involves preventing the personal effects of the dead person from being stolen, which is sadly quite common even among the Velheim people. The act of leaving offerings and items in a Haugbolwen is not considered a religious act, merely a cultural one, so thieves do not lose Soldi, or simply don't care because of the harsh living conditions. Other reasons might be that the person has died so long ago that nobody maintains the tomb anymore, with moss and water damage breaking the stonework. In such cases, it is often considered better to just lock the tomb, as a large circular stone is rolled into place to block the entrance and seal it forever. Draugr breakouts from Haugbolwen are exceptionally rare, mainly because the sarcophagus is so heavy and large, a deterrent that usually does not exist in regular Helbolwen where the dead are often left embalmed and exposed to the open air in the inner corridors.
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| ====Dyrbolwen====
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| Old Gods believers are the only religion known on Aloria to bury their pets with reverence, and that is exactly what a Dyrbolwen is, a burial place for pets. The process for pet burial is much simpler than the complex process of a Helbolwen or Haugbolwen burial however. When pets die, the embalming is often done by the family who owned the pet, and the process could be seen as rather gruesome by other cultures, but is considered the final homage a pet can get while passing into the afterlife. The Old Gods religion is very vague about whether pets actually arrive in any type of afterlife. It is in fact more commonly believed that because animals can be heralds of the Gods, that pets simply go to the side of their particular patron God, to wherever the Gods are in the afterlife. It is also believed that pets are not measured for their Soldi. Rather, it is believed that pets are always "good" and that even evil pets that commit misery are only following the command of their master to show loyalty and devotion, and that as such, pets are always blameless of whatever crimes they are accused of. The process of embalming a pet involves with removing the head and seperating the body. The animal is usually skinned also, but this is not strictly necessary. The hide is reserved, and the meat is usually discarded into nature to be eaten by scavengers or wild animals. The head is then skinned also, and boiled so thoroughly in lye that all organic material eats away, and only a pure white skull remains. This skull is then removed from the lye, dried, and will have stories of the animal written on it either in a written language, or in Velheim tattoo, applied with the ink. Finally, to put the animal to rest, is to find an alcove in Dyrbolwen, put down the animal's hide (if there is one) as a mat inside the alcove, and then rest the animal's skull on top of the hide. The alcove is usually covered with a wooden hatch, as Dyrbolwen are actually in the open air, and weather wear would otherwise destroy the alcove. The wooden hatch is usually painted upon by the owners of the animal to express their animal-soul with colorful depictions of things they loved in life, or places they liked to be. Each type of animal held by Old Gods worshipers goes to a different Dyrbolwen, as there are usually different locations for each type of animal. Canine or dog-related pets are buried in the Union of Air's Ulvar Dyrbolwen, which has a large statue of a sitting wolf. Cat-like or feline pets are buried in the Union of Earth's Gammeldom Dyrbolwen, which has a large statue of a reclining big cat. Bird or Insect-like pets are buried in the Sjkonn Dyrbolwen, which has a large statue of a monitor lizard, belonging to the Union of Water. Finally, any other type of animal that is held as a pet, like a goat or a hog, is buried in the Annan Dyrbolwen, belonging to the Union of Fire, and having a large statue of a Frostback. Offerings can be brought to the Dyrbolwen, but it's unusual. There is however the 29th of August, which is the holiday of the faithful animals in life, where Old Gods worshipers visit the Dyrbolwen en masse, and read and perceive about the lives of loyal pets who have gone before, by looking at the hatches and any notes left behind on the alcoves belonging to the dead pets. Most of the hatches are even opened on this day, so long as the weather is not awful, in the belief that it allows the souls of the animals to breathe at least one day in the year and look spectators in the eyes. At the end of the day, everyone comes together to share stories about pets they have lost, or would like to own one day, and shares A Hønningkake, which is a carrotcake baked and drenched in honey so it resembles more a wet sponge, often coated on the outside with oven roasted flour to make it easier to hold and eat.
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| ====Trellemur====
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| Old Gods worshipers, when also Velheim, actually do not bury their slaves in any of the aforementioned locations. A Haugbolwen is obviously too wealthy for a slave, while a Helbolwen is considered only for Old Gods worshipers and free folk, while many Velheim slaves are in fact not even Old Gods worshipers. Slaves are buried at the Trellemur, though it is more accurate to say they are cremated and then left at the Trellemur. Slaves that die are burned on the Trellestein, a large bed-like stone with a depression where wood may be stacked so the body can be burned. The ash left behind from the burning is then mixed into a so called Døklemens, which is a form of concrete that sets with clay and sand and can be shaped into a stone. Then, the family places this stone on their Trellemur, which is a small stone wall either somewhere in a field, or near a pond, or on a mountain, it entirely depends on how well the family treats their slaves. Badly treated slaves simply have their Døklemens tossed into a ditch along with the other rocks where weathering eventually crushes them down to pebbles or sand and leaves nothing behind. Slaves that are well treated have their Døklemens stacked up on a neat wall that usually stretches a few feet long, with each generation of the family adding more and more stones on top as slaves come and go. The practice of the Trellemur is to commemorate the slaves for their contributions to the family, to build the foundations for a better life, but not to treat them to well as to honor them with a burial in a Helbolwen. Trellemur are often not visited with offerings save for perhaps a candle when one of the family members who was not a slave has died, and slave names are rarely imprinted on stones. While there is obviously no chance for Draugr to appear near a Trellemur, Gaudr have been seen there. This is why Trellemur are usually built more in isolated nature and away from any hunting grounds or places where the worshipers live and work. Because Velheim living in cities cannot reasonable make thousands of Trellemur near their city, there is a common understanding that Trellemur are built in one massive cohesive wall structure. For coastal settlements, this usually involves using the Døklemens as added stones for any coastal defenses or dykes to keep the water out. For in-land settlements, this usually involves using the Døklemens to strengthen the outside walls, and offer a first-line defense against siege weapons cracking the actual walls of a city or townlet. Because this close proximity endangers the city with contact to Gaudr, Valsung frequently patrol the outside walls or Dykes, singing to the dead, in the belief that this eases their minds and prevents them from coming back. There are no Trellemur in Regalia, as they are considered vulgar and illegal. As such, in Regalia, Old Gods worshipers simply dump their slaves in mass-graves for the poor that the city provides.
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| ===People=== | | ==Trivia== |
| ====Navner====
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| Navner are religious individuals within the Old Gods community. The best way to describe them, is to call them “Those who seek out the names of the forgotten, and bring them back from Second Death”. Some Navner in fact take this duty a step further, and even take it upon them to engage in the practice of Soldi Redda, to save that person from eventual Second Death again (or Third Death in this case) when the Navner forgets their name, and to allow them to rise up to Spellørgard. Navners are not specifically solely a Navner. The act of being a Navner is often combined with being a Valsung, or even a Skorda. Most Navners can be told apart from non-Navners by the bearing of a thick tome attached to a chain on their hip, or a large scroll in a holder on their back. This piece of writing is used to record the names of those who have passed their Second Death, so that the Navner can remember the thousands of names they might encounter while they live, and occasionally recite the names again to stave away Second Death. Navner frequently travel the world, scouring old records in Velheim towns, or even down ruins and forgotten places, hoping to find a shred of names to bring back to life. The act of being a Navner in itself grants Soldi, but it is a decision for life, as those who believe in the Old Gods also value the weight of bearing the potential soul-death of all those people on their shoulders.
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| ====Staargir====
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| Staargir are a revered and reviled bunch in equal measure by different groups of people. By Regalian Empire terms, they are nothing but soothsayers that claim to know the future. As such, Staargir occupy a very strained position within Regalian Empire lands, though the Velheim greatly appreciate their services and advice. Staargir are chosen from children who are either born blind or become so after a disease or simply from malnutrition. Staargir specifically look frightening since their lips are cut off, while their eyelids are darkened with charcoal dust, all acts done in the belief that it will make them invisible to the Undead who wander the inner halls of the Helbolwen, and it actually seems to work. Their face is often also littered in scars, lines drawn with knives to resemble Old Gods runes to allow them to hear the gods. Finally, they blacken their teeth with charcoal paste also, cutting all hair and dressing head to toe in black. Even if a Staargir is reluctant to become one at an early age, they eventually realize the benefits of having the adoration of the Velheim as well as a position of power for little work. They are provided everything they require by donations from those living near Helbolwen.
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| The accuracy of Staargir predictions and fortune telling is a hotly debated topic among the Regalian Scholars in particular due to their unusual far-higher average than usual prediction correctness. It is as such believed that their practices through the dead and the soul essence that drifts in these great cities of the dead, somehow has an impact on their ability to perceive events from far away or to predict natural occurrences before they take place simply by reading the world around them through the essences. The dead are tended to by the Staargir, who actually live inside the Helbolwen from where they dispense their fortune and potions to the people when they seek them out among the dead. It is also their job however to put the restless dead back to sleep, the so called Draugr, usually by removing the head and then sewing it back on when they have been returned to their alcove.
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| ====Valsung====
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| It is said that the Staargir live in the cities of the dead, while Valsung are the tenders of the restless Spirits. There are two known Helbolwen in the City of Regalia, and many more scattered across the Velheim-populated areas of the world. Valsung in particular can be found on the fringes of Helbolwen, singing the songs of the dead and laments of the dead, or simply standing guard in them or the traveling Staargir. The Valsung sometimes are told to have dyed red hair, and this is only partly true. It is in fact because Valsung sometimes, while singing the laments of the dead, wash their hair with the blood of the recently deceased, because it is believed in allowing them to perceive the lives and stories of those who have died, so that they can sing their name one last time, until they are sent through the mirror of Earth, and sending them to Speillørgard. Valsung and Skorda are very similar, though the bigger difference is that the Valsung pre-occupy the majority of their time talking to the restless Spirits called the Gaudr (and avoiding the Draugr which are the business of the Staargir), and doing only minimal fighting if the interior of a Helbolwen is breached by an invader. The Valsung and the Staargir equally rely on the Skorda to make sure that the invaders never reach the Helbolwen.
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| ====Skorda====
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| Skorda are religious warriors who protect the Helbolwen, and by extension the Valsung and Staargir, and sometimes also the Sammun. Skorda are more often than not hermits who live on the edges of society, and have taken the charge on them to protect a Helbolwen from incursions, tying their own Soldi to the Helbolwen in particular. If the Helbolwen is never breached during their lifetime, they ascend to Herrehem Himmel in Speillørgard. If however the Helbolwen they protected is breached, their Soldi is destroyed, and they must go on a pilgrimage to secure their honor and justice. Skorda are usually excellent warriors, many of them in history having been blessed with weapons from demi gods and the Maarda to execute their duty. Many Skorda have gone into legends, defending great Helbolwen from invaders, particularly during the Skagger Wars and the incursions by [[Gallovians]] and [[Clannadh Alban]] Highlanders. Skorda in particular have a dislike for Highlanders, still avidly remembering the rampant plundering and wanton destruction left behind by them during the Skagger Wars, and the many Skorda that were lost defending the Helbolwen from looting.
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| ====Sammun====
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| Sammun are religious guides and priests for the living, business not related to the dead like the other religious figures of the Old Gods community. The Sammun in particular specialize in soothing the worries and anguish of the living related to earthly and living matters. The most common practice of the Sammun, is to engage in confessions of personal failings, acts against Soldi, and other wrongdoings. It is then the Sammun’s responsibility to provide guidance on how to best make amends for the Soldi loss, or how to best deal with a situation that the person sees no way out of. It is distinctly not the Sammun’s position to tell the living what to do, but rather to equip them with the knowledge and context to make a decision for themselves. Sammun are never part of any noble families, and if they decide to become a Sammun while part of a family, they usually disavow the family and take no name, so as to avoid personal involvement and bias in their position. The worst loss of a Soldi that a Sammun can ever receive, is to betray the confidence of their charge, if they ever reveal the secrets or the statements made by someone seeking guidance. While Sammun do not operate from Helbolwen, and frequently just take those seeking comfort to their home, they do usually hang around a Helbolwen, just because it is a religious nexus from which to seek out all other religious activities.
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| ==Faith Variants==
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| ===Highland Variant===
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| The Highland Variant of Old Gods is worshiped in areas of the Highland Cultures territory as well as minor regions of Breizh population, though it is most common among the Ceardians spread across Aloria. The faith is known as the Cellik Old Gods, with Old Gods translating into Seann Dhiathann.
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| *Herrehem are instead called Thighearn
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| *The Maarda do not exist in Cellik Old Gods
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| *The Goddess Lensa is called Lenna, and is instead a large moth-woman
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| *The Goddess Ellmår is called Ella, and is instead a large owl-woman
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| *The God Basjtur is called Bannor, and is instead a large wolf-man
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| *The God Mærsjel is called Mannor, and is instead a fox-man
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| *The God Bev is called Delu
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| *The Goddess Alu is called Anu
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| *The God Handrin is called Hanna
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| *The Goddess Julvira is called Alvir
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| *Soldi and Sjele are called Urram and Arram
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| *Speillørgard and Imellomgard are called Sgàtantalla and Meadhantalla
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| *Navner, Staargir, Valsung, Skorda and Sammun are called Ainman, Splechdman, Seinnma, Dìonma and Eìstma
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| *Helbolwen/Haugbolwen/Dyrbolwenn/Trellemur, Draugr, and Gaudr are called Dachaigh-na-tinn, Corpolc and Corpmath
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| ===Zvorun Variant===
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| The Zvorun Variant of Old Gods is worshiped almost exclusively by the Zvorun Culture itself, while portions of Tarkkin, Fridurfolk, and a tiny minority of Velheim also follow it. The faith is known as Taevõnnis Old Gods, with Old Gods translating into Igivana Jumalad.
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| :*''For more information on the Zvorun Variant, click [[Zvorun#Religion|HERE]].
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| *Herrehem are instead called Joobes-jumal
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| *The Maarda are instead called Tähtapsed
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| *The Goddess Lensa is called Sündema, and has white, fluffy wings
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| *The Goddess Ellmår is called Armasema, and has stone hands and feet
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| *The God Basjtur is called Maruvur, and has a billowing thunderstorm for a beard and head of hair
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| *The God Mærsjel is called Tuulaul, and has small pale blue wings
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| *The God Bev is called Näguvaras, and has a single red eye along with a formless body
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| *The Goddess Alu is called Leharmas, and has a pair of slick black wings
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| *The God Handrin is called Kõiketeatark, and has a body half formed of vegetation
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| *The Goddess Julvira is called Vehklejamal, and has a pair of broad brown wings
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| *Soldi and Sjele are called Hingkaal and Hing
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| *Speillørgard and Imellomgard are called Igavenpäev and Igavenöö
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| *Navner, Staargir, Valsung, Skorda, and Sammun are called Meerik, Pimetark, Soikustark, Kõulööja, and Elutark
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| *Helbolwen/Haugbolwen/Dyrbolwen/Trellemur, Draugr, and Gaudr are called Surmmaja, Valju-soikus, and Sosin-soikus
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| ==Practices==
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| ===Worship===
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| Worship of the Old Gods is fairly simple and easy to do anywhere. The most common practice is to create a bowl of incense along with dried flowers, herbs and spices, as well as additional food offerings for the great feast in Herrehem Himmel. More complex rituals of worship include the sacrifice of cattle and livestock, as well as the burning of large quantities of grain and fruits. A common way to disturb someone’s luck and favor of the gods, is to deposit rotten food items into their prayer bowls and offerings, so as to offer something bad to the gods, by which punishment is handed to the person who owns the bowl. Personal prayers can also be said to the gods however, usually through meditation, or through drawing Old Gods runes on the body of the worshiper themselves, or to draw them onto others for blessings or protection.
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| ===Rites of Passage===
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| All Old Gods worshipers go through a Rite of Connection at the age of 15, where they perform a certain ritual depending on the chosen patron god they wish to associate with. Each Rite is different, and each rite must be completed before the age of 20, otherwise they lose Soldi.
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| * The Rite of Lensa requires the initiate to breathe life where there is none. This one is rather flexible, allowing one to choose bringing life to a barren garden, children in a home that is unlived in, a school that does not know the laughter of children, or a retirement home that does not hear the stories of generations past.
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| * The Rite of Ellmår requires the initiate to serve for two years as a Livgardet or Husgardet. Livgardet are the personal guards of jarls and the nobility and other wealthy persons. Husgardet are healing houses of the ill, using herbology and mundane healing principles to cure the ill and give comfort to the dying.
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| * The Rite of Basjtur requires the initiate to defeat a 3 on 1 duel in the arena of Basjtur, such arenas exist in many cities where Old Gods worshipers live, one even exists in Regalia in Old Town. Those challenged must always be warriors, and must always be older than the one going through the Rite of Passage.
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| * The Rite of Mærsjel requires the initiate to tame a wild beast. This does not necessarily mean an actual animal, the rite can also involve attaching one’s self to a wild criminal or savage person, and bringing them to discipline and calmness.
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| * The Rite of Bev requires the initiate to die, and to survive. This does not necessarily mean they actually die, but rather, can also imply near-death experiences, or experiences that would normally kill others but not them, like ingesting lethal amounts of poison, yet surviving. Not many of Bev’s initiates survive the ritual, and it is not a commonly chosen one.
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| * The Rite of Alu requires the initiate to save the life of someone who is destined to die, in whatever way they can think of, medical, or simply by killing a would be assassin.
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| * The Rite of Handrin requires the initiate to go on a 2 year information sabbatical that causes them to write a Jovbok, a book of knowing. The book is then presented to the great library of Jokkalan found in the capital of [[Nordskag]]. If the Sammun at this library deem the Jovbok of adequate new information or new theory, the rite is accepted. If not, the person is sent back to start over.
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| * The Rite of Julvira requires the initiate to travel the five Julvin Gates. These are massive contraptions at the heart of traditional Velheim homelands, each of the five great Heims. The first is the [[Yervonth Tribedom]], near Old Ceardia, the second is [[Cain Folkar]] on [[Cain]], the third is in the [[Yervonth Kingdom]] on [[Talamoor]], the fourth is in the Throatcap Mountains in Drixagh, and the fifth and final gate is in [[Tryllejag]] on [[Ellador]]. It is believed that once these gates were all connected allowing instant transportation between them, but no longer so, they are just massive inert stone gateways.
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| ===Festivals===
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| *5th of January is the Solstiger Festival, where the Old Gods worshipers celebrate ancient heroes. Anyone who is able can perform, sing, or speak an ancient tale, story, and such about such figures on a stage, and the crowd throws a certain number of flowers depending on how much they enjoyed the tale, performance of it, or both (since it is all personal). The one with the most flowers at the end of the night becomes the favored god-king for a week, who all Velheim are compelled to listen to.
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| *2nd of April represents the Gladdamat Festival, a festival where Old Gods worshipers bring thanks for food abundance, and celebrate the diversity of Velheim cooking by creating a large collection of dishes from the Old Gods cultures, and offering them up to strangers in the street. It is very common to bake sweets and savory bites, put them in a bag, and hand them out to passer-by’s in the street to enjoy, while telling them a bit about Old Gods cultures cuisine.
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| *17th of May represents Freedom Day, where all Old Gods worshipers celebrate the freedoms they were given by the Old Gods, and their ability to live the life they want to live, the way they want to live it. It is said that during this day and this day alone, Soldi crimes that are not the worst (like betrayal and grave robbing) are forgiven by the gods. Many do not tempt fate, but still, the 17th of May is a day of dressing up nicely and drinking copious amounts of mead to get very drunk.
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| *5th of June is the Øya Festival, where the Old Gods worshipers celebrate the arts of Mærsjel in Music. This is commonly a large music festival where numerous musicians both within the Old Gods and outside of the Old Gods community come together to make music for 24 hours straight, while all the spectators get immensely drunk.
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| *10th of August is the Traldi Festival, wishing for the Union of Air to bring calmness to the sea and the winds, to pray for safety among the sailors and fishers and explorers. This festival is celebrated by wearing bright blue clothing and offering cloud-cakes to travelers and fishers alike, which are made out of white-fish cakes that are steamed with salt and vinegar.
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| *11th of November is the Traalbess Festival, wishing for good fortunes to come for the next year, and signalling the final harvest of Ripebær from the highest coldest mountains. This festival is usually celebrated through the eating of berry and fruit rich compote pies, and wearing crowns of dried blueberries and raspberries.
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| ==Trivia==
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| * There are many correlations between the [[Avatars of the Gods]] in Faith of Estel and the Maarda in Old Gods.
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| * Unlike the Avatars of the Gods however, the Maarda are said to still walk Aloria, with numerous sightings all over the world.
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| {{Religion}} | | {{Religion}} |
| {{Accreditation | | {{Accreditation |
| |Artists = | | |Artists = |
| |Writers = MonMarty | | |Writers = MonMarty |
| |Processors = FireFan96 | | |Processors = |
| }} | | }} |
| [[category:Religion]] [[category:Human Religions]] | | [[category:Religion]] [[category:Human Religions]] |
