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. 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 subjugation and enslavement: 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.
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. 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
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, re-make it to a better plan. It does not deny the strength of divinities from other religions, such as 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 in all cases. 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. Since Estelley has been around and prominent for so long, it is usually cast as the dominant traditional religion fighting back against upstart new dogma, to mixed success.
Prophets
talea original, then sanraan did the suvial, then fenhellëy made leyon central. think hadiths here for scripture
Arkaan
justice arken based?
Vaalya
crown/mantle of the world as theology
Merjan
heaven is real and elleyon is guarding it and the lanlath live in the outer layers
Gods and Goddesses
you must worship all the gods. all the gods are real. no picking and choosing.
Leyon, Lord of the Full Moon
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Name: Leyon, Lord of the Full Moon, Keeper of the Destiny Gates.
Domain: Leyon's domain is benevolence, protection, Radiant Magic, and civilization.
Symbols: Metal marbles, keys, staves, doorways, the full and crescent moon.
Role: Leyon watches the door of the afterlife and sends visions to faithful.
Temple: Rand has no temple, Volaheim itself is one big temple to his glory.
Allies: Rand's only allies are the Void Arken, he has no need for others.
Enemies: Rand has no explicit enemies, except for the Exist Arken, notably Justice.
Svaldi: Gained from establishing power and control, losing from banishment.
Rituals: The Feast of authority involving guests choosing their preferred leader among the gathered, with the winner gaining Svaldi. The Binding of Power is respected even by the Eilirik, a ritual in which two persons agree to a binding pact in blood, that if either fails or breaks, they lose all Soldi or Svaldi when vowed to their preferred Gods.
Melca, Foreseeing One
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Name: Leif, the Lord of Fire, Warmth of the Rising Sun.
Domain: Leif is the God of Love and Affection, and of Passion and Care.
Symbols: Leif is represented by Fire and the blazing Golden Sun.
Role: Leif is set to bring warmth and sunlight to the world and to hearts.
Temple: Leif's largest Temple is the Sun-Sky House in Kongehjem, Nordskag.
Allies: Theomar Followers, Regulus Followers, and kindhearted Bloodcast Knights.
Enemies: Followers of any Moon-themed Gods, Armas/Amandaros followers.
Soldi: Gained from loyalty to Lovers/Family and Kindness, lost from Treason.
Rituals: Many of Leif's rituals involve offering things like fruits or hunted animal carcasses to the flame, believers saying that the flames offer them up to Leif until nothing but ash remains, absorbing the life and using it to pull the Sun through the sky each day. Other rituals involve the sharing of passion with other believers in his Temples.
Sapphora, Heart's Desire
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Name: Thirun, called Pride Arken or Ott by non-Believers.
Domain: Thirun is the God of Magic and of Pride and Vanity.
Symbols: Thirun is represented by the Dark Sun surrounded by Light and Hounds.
Role: Thirun is the source of all Fornoss God Magic but also the Magic Burden.
Traits: Prideful, Vain, Sardonic, Sarcastic, Greedy, Scornful, Ego-driven.
Temple: Thirun's largest Temple was destroyed by Regalia in the Elven War.
Svaldi: Gained through great achievements, lost by losing Duels.
Rituals: The Prideful Parade is one custom that involves demanding others show to a public roasting session where the aim is to praise the person who demanded they show, and roast the opponents who invited others. Another is the Prideful Feast, where each produces Food which instills pride in their cooking, and they compete over the best dish with others.
Avinla, Divine Hearthkeeper
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Name: Njal, the Herald of Spring, Keeper of the Light.
Domain: Njal's domain is that of light, and the sky, as well as all of the arts.
Symbols: Njal is represented by clouds and bright pastel colors and light prisms.
Role: Njal is the diplomat and artist of the gods, providing entertainment in Eiliheim.
Temple: Njal's largest temple was destroyed when Ceardia became forsaken.
Allies: Artists, Musicians, and Creatives of any kind, and Queer people.
Enemies: Njal's only true enemies are those who abstain from a good stiff drink.
Soldi: Gained by creative expression and bringing joy, lost by destroying art.
Rituals: Njal is Bard's husband, and because of this, many of his rituals involve Bard in some way. Skysteel Forging is the act of letting an artist inspire a forger to produce a work of art and tough steel at the same time. Other rituals involve poetry duels, and Annointment of the Artist, where Artists use body paint on a strong Man dressed as Bard for Art.
Ammuloa, Last Ferryman
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Name: Svol, Bard's Bane, the Dark Lightning Lord.
Domain: Svol's domain is thunderstorms, but more metaphorically of lies and deceit.
Symbols: Shadows, Lightning, Missing or fully Tattoo'd arms, the colors black and yellow.
Role: Svol was once a Eili, until punished by Bard, changed teams to plot for Rand.
Svaldi: Gained in subterfuge plots, or beaten Knights, lost by being deceived/losing.
Rituals: Svol's rituals are deceptively easily hidden as party games, especially those that involve lying. A common one is Svol's Gauntlet, where everyone produces 2 truths and a lie, and gains points each time a person in the gathering cannot guess which one is the lie, or guesses wrong. Another is punishing tyrannical/corrupt law enforcement with violence.
Sinnavei, Mistwatcher
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Name: Dáuw, The Under-King, the Dwarf-Lord, the Last Stalwart.
Domain: Dáuw is God-King of the Dwarves, and the Lord of all Soil and Order.
Symbols: Dáuw is represented by the Dwarven Runes and shapes of Mountains.
Role: Dáuw's role is to bring order to mortal society through stable structure.
Enemies: Anarchists, Evolism followers, Jacobins, Drakkar, Populists, the Military
Soldi: Gained by showing Solidarity, lost by letting society slip to anarchy.
Rituals: Dáuw have changed over the years, changing from justice and order-reinforcing rituals, to rituals more centered around Dwarven culture, as a byproduct of the catastrophic population decline of the Dwarves. Any festival or event that celebrates, highlights, or discusses and educates on Dwarven Culture is a form of worship to Dáuw.
Morrlond, Abyss Dweller
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Name: Hrymrök, Sirannal Týmal (in Elven), or the Anarchy Arken to non-believers.
Domain: Hrymrök is the chained guilt of the Elves towards the Fornoss believers.
Symbols: Broken chains, cracked shields, and broken statues mended with gold.
Role: Hrymrök was imprisoned by Rand to repent for Elven slavery by freeing them.
Svaldi: Gained by freeing Thralls & Mind-slaves, lost by being enthralled.
Rituals: Hrymrök is a bit of an oddity even for a Vola, because she doesn't really want to be a Goddess. Still, worship to her is more a form of satisfaction appeasement, as if the faithful are responsible for keeping her happy while she does her work freeing Fornoss slaves and oppressed from Elven control by food/wealth offerings to her Magenta Flames.
Aseia, Great Librarian
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Name: Halfvel, the Wolf-Father, The God-Mark Bearer, The Ice-Wolf.
Domain: Halfvel is the lord of Demigods, the tamer of Marken & other Beasts.
Symbols: Halfvel is represented by the Cloth of Dominion & Wolves.
Role: Halfvel's role is to purposefully produce offspring among Mortals.
Temple: Halfvel's largest Temple is the Wolf Rest in the Cains.
Allies: (self-controlling) Marken, other Godborn, and Asha & Urlan.
Enemies: Those who hunt Transformed Persons, The Afflicted, Undead.
Soldi: Gained by protecting the environment, lost by killing Transformed Persons.
Rituals: Halfvel's rituals often involve the seeking out of Halfvel's Godborn children, and aiding them in their quest for Demigod status among Fornoss followers, or correcting their path if they have been led astray. Other forms of Worship involve helping those who Transform deal with their curse, or protecting them from persecution.
Mana, Compassion's Hand
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Name: Eikki, the Arne-Drunk, The Revel-God among other Party epithets.
Domain: Eikki is the God of Feasting and Festivities and Joy, even as Vola.
Symbols: Eikki's Symbol is the Beer Keg and the masks of joy and pleasure.
Role: Eikki guards (and drinks) Arne's Blood brew that has immense power.
Temple: Eikki's largest Temple was thrashed by him after a legendary binge.
Allies: Eikki is everyone's friend and tries to give everyone a chance.
Enemies: Eikki has no enemies, as any enemy becomes a friend with one drink.
Svaldi: Gained with wild parties and getting stuff people drunk, never lost.
Rituals: As Eikki was once Eili but condemned to become Vola when he transgressed by drinking Vola's Blood, his rituals and worship is relatively benign when compared to the other Vola, despite the implication that he is changing into something else. Worship of him invariably just involves getting black-out drunk, and having great parties.
Priestly Activities
priests are called ordvaan and they are well respected and anyone can be one but there is a hierarchy if you want to be recognized. haphazard hierarchy of priests. there is no elf pope but there are a few elf cardinals
General Priesthood
see above
Mana Trees
awesome grove to chat and teach people at. do not let anyone burn it. im looking at you, kathar. im looking at you.
Standards of Perfection
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.
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.
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.
Layelarya
tell some stories from the elven religious books. or elven history maybe. that's a good time
Raelye
compliment session where you big up your flock of worshipers a bunch
Kathira
communal void worshiper clubbing and roasting session where you make them walk down a long gauntlet of estel people
Isantha
caroling. write a song and everyone takes turns singing a verse. very neat
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.
Non-Elven Conversion
convert but also kind of convert to elven culture sort of (different ways to do this)
The Void
i hate void worshipers so damn much they killed my damn estel
Magic and Mages
very cool but if you are not a badass we will laugh at you
