Home

Religion

Human Religion

(By far the vast majority of humans follow Angelic religion, although the question of whether they're "very religious" or "casually religious" depends on the individual or place of birth. Those who disrespect the Angels and the Saints are exiled and persecuted in all humankind communities, and even executed in the more religious cities and kingdoms. Infidels are very rare in this setting, the deities are very "real" in peoples thoughts, despite the fact their intervention in the world is almost non-existent. Generally if a character disrespect the Saints and the Angels, they worship other, often fouler, deities.)

Archangel Avengard is believed to be the incarnation of I'fea'Quel, who is the spirit of good. There are three Angels, known as the tripos: Aurayel, Angel of Thought, the most senior; Ivan, Angel of Vengeance; and Devon, Angel of Mercy, the most junior. These three are considered the guardian angels of all good souls. It is believed they were once mortals, and were bestowed with angelic blessings by Avengard to defend humanity in the age of chaos, and thus given their wings. There are 7 Saints who walked the earth in bygones, men and women who were sainted (most of them believed to have been sainted in the Second Age), each known for a different quality.

Avengard is the supreme being, formed of the very essence of I'fea'Quel. He is the Archangel, and the tripos of lesser Angels kneel to him just as the Saints kneel to the Angels and humans kneel to them all. Worship of Avengard is central to Angelic religion. While in various cults and doctrines one or another of the Angels might be more important, in all of them Avengard is prime. Direct worship of Avengard exclusively, however, is rarer, and he is a more distant figure than even Aurayel. Rarely is he thought to answer prayers, rarely does he send visions, and rarely are miracles attributed to him.

The doctrine of Angelic religion teaches that from the Archangel spills all life and creation, and all that is good. It is he that vanquished the first spawn of I’mori, and he that banished chaos from creation, allowing the seed of humanity to grow. It was he who raised the Angels up to do his bidding, each of them representing one of his facets, and it is common to add prayers to Avengard to prayers to the Angels. Avengard has a hand, therefore, in all aspects of Angelic religion: he is a defender, a healer, a judge: a king of the heavens.

Avengard is known simply as “The Archangel” in whatever context he is referred to. His symbol is two angel wings, spread widely so as to cover all beneath them. He has no saints that are especially connected with him – all are equally connected to him.

 Aurayel, The Angel of Thought

Aurayel is the Angel of Thought and the first in rank of the tripos. He is Avengards right hand, the steward of civilisation. He is the patron of the philosophy, the patron of learning and culture, the patron of law, the patron of magical study and is said to have taught the earliest humans how to learn these skills. When the faithful attempt to expand the boundaries of human knowledge, Aurayel’s name is in their prayers.

Many rulers and governments claim to dispense their commandments with the wisdom of Aurayel. It is he who is said to intercede with Avengard on behalf of kings and Dukes throughout the Midlands in order to gain divine blessing for their status. Aurayel inspires those who seek justice and order, and many judges and government officials pray to him. In this guise he is also venerated by merchants, as a stable society is a one that allows profit to be made. Aurayel is also venerated in this form by some soldiers, particularly by citizen militia, whose service is defensive, and also by generals, whose considerations run above mere battle prowess. Generally, however, Aurayel is regarded as the most distant of the three Angels, and there are less who claim to have witnessed miracles deriving from him than, from Ivan and Devon.

Aurayel in his guise of teacher of magic and philosophy is known as “The Guide” or “The Star of the Heavens” in the sense of a Star to navigate by. In his aspect of patron of order he is often referred to as “The Steward”. His symbol is an X shape with a vertical dagger thrust through it, together forming a stylised star. The saints most associated with him are Saint Beaugard, Saint Hal and Saint Theodora.

 Ivan, The Angel of Vengeance

Ivan (pronounced Eh-vahn) is the Angel of Vengeance and the second in rank of the tripos. In ages past, servants of Ivan stood fast against the darkness of the spawn of I’mori, the orcs. Now, with the dominance of humanity over the Midlands established, he is more often the patron of soldiers, guards, and others who defend the weak. That said there are many warriors of faith still in the Midlands, and those who directly oppose the godless and heretics, such as the Ordo Septagos, do so with the name of Ivan on their lips. Ivan is also patron to those of less violent bents who go to extremes of faith and devotion to the Angels: Monks, hermits, and others. To them, Ivan represents the most pious of Angels

Ivan is also known as “The Spear of Avengard”. For those of a non-martial bent who venerate him he is known as “The Shining Path”. His symbol is a sword or spear, pointed upwards, as if to the heavens. The saints most associated with him are Saint Theobald and Saint Isabella.

Devon is known as the Angel of Mercy, the third in rank. He is the Angel that watches over the hurt and the sick, patron of healers. Devon extends his wings to cover the poor and needy, and acts of charity by the great and the good are often dedicated to him. He is also said to favour peace between humankind, and it is on his name that peace treaties are sworn; diplomats, conciliators and negotiators often remember him in their prayers. Otherwise, however, the great and the good do not have such regard for him as they do Avengard and the other Angels.

Devon is also known as “The Crying One” or “The Benefactor”. His symbol is a teardrop, sometimes depicted falling from a stylised eye. The saints most associated with him are Saint Kaine and Saint Abegayle.

Saint Kaine - The Humble, The Sufferer (Saint Kaine is believed to have been turtured hanged a cruel tribe of barbarians in the year 5344 - since they believed in war, they did not like his message of peace, and gave him a cruel fate when they ran into each other. He was a man of many followers and a great preacher of religion and love. Sainted in the year 5344).

Saint Isabella - The Faithful. (Is is believe saint "Isabella" was a a "Shamali" - a woman of the desert, who made a crusade to educate her people, The Shamalis, about the true religion of man)

Saint Beaugard - The Honourable (A great war hero in the beginning of the First Age, known for honourably dealing with foes. Sainted in the year 94)

Saint Abegayle - The Kind (The famous high-priestess of an enstranged monastery in the mountains, reknowned to have the hands of a miracle-worker. Sainted in the year 5001)

Saint Theobald - The Brave (A great barbarian leader who's given himself to the Saints and the Angels, known for his bravery to kill giants. Sainted in 2141)

Saint Hal - The Lawful (A holy cleric and judge in the city of Concasse, believed to have ascended to heavens after dying in his deathbed, right after completing his 1000th trial. Sainted in the year 7644)

Saint Theodora - The Wise (Believed to have discovered the aether, and then preached of its quality to all humans. Sainted in the year x013)

The Saints are also worshipped and along with the archangel and the angels. This is the hierarchy of human religion, first the archangel, then the angels, then the saints. The saints are concerned with those still alive and have no ties to both the afterworld and the realm of the living. The angels, however, have ties to both realm, as well as the archangel.

The Practice of Angelic Religion

Human Clerics often choose a Patron Saint to represent their most noticeable quality. They are known to have a healing touch, and the ability to channel the powers of the Saints and the Angels. Occasionally monasteries and chapels will dedicate themselves to a certain Saint. "United" churches dedicate themselves to all the Saints. The practice of Angelic religion differs from region to region and place to place, however, there is a degree of unity and it is true to say that there is such a thing as “standard” Angelic religion, composed of the Archangel, the tripos of Angels, and the seven Saints.

The holy teachings of the Angels and Saints are contained within two great written works: The Deeds of the Angels and The Deeds of the Saints. Although there are several chapters that are regarded as core chapters, there are many different versions and edits of each book, and arguments as to holy canon can lead to more than angry words. In the past doctrinal disputes have led to open violence and full blown wars between the more religious peoples and nations.

The following doctrines have been prevalent in recent history:

The Ordo Septagos: A group that roots out heretics by lawful means or foul, composed mainly of followers of the “Seven Enshrined”, with minorities drawn from other doctrines.

The Kri’Suna: a shadow sect that reviles orcs and halfbreeds as the spawn of I’mori and works to slaughter them by clandestine or open means.

Unitarianism: Unitarians worship the Angels and Saints collectively, in one place, regarding each Angel and each Saint as an aspect of a singular divine. Rarely do they choose a separate patron saint, and rarely do their direct their prayers at any specific Angel. Generally however they are inclusive and do not attempt to persecute other doctrines, instead being open minded. There are exceptions to this tolerance however. Although it appears to be strongest in Gilithias, unitarianism has no particular geographic base, and Unitarians can hail from any country – they are a small minority everywhere though.

Avengardism: To give it its full name of Avengard Ascendancism, this doctrine is a more extreme version of Unitarianism. It holds that Avengard is the ONLY divine force, and all others are fictional or, in the case of the Saints, witches. Avengardism often drives its followers to extremes of religious violence and zealotry. Forms of Avengardism are most common in the Canary Desert, and at least one knightly order in Gilithias has flirted with it. However, only among the Ordo Septagos could it be said to be anything but rare and persecuted – and even there it is the source of much infighting and internal conflict, as most members of the Ordos are firm opponents of the doctrine.

Weeping Brothers: The Weeping Brothers are a strange cult that is obsessed with easing suffering and disease, particularly that which occurs among the poorer sections of society. They take the Angel of Mercy as their patron, and hold that his words should be heeded more than they are. This can extend all the way through to active opposition of the nobility and “Robin Hood” style theft in the more extreme cases. They hailed originally from Gilithas but have been often persecuted and outlawed.

The Seven Enshrined: “The Seven Enshrined” is a particularly austere form of regular Angelic religion. The full hierarchy is respected, and each Angel and each Saint is strictly accorded his or her place under Avengard. The main focus of “The Seven Enshrined” is in stamping out, by peaceful means or otherwise, other sects of Angelic religion and safeguarding what they regard as proper worship. This sect is quite widespread geographically, and seems to have developed independently in several places in the Midlands. It is one of the more common sects in its peaceful variations, although many of the more militant members are powerful among the Ordo Septagos.

Theodorianism: A group that preaches the divinity of the Aether, and the fact that the Angels and the Aether are interlinked. Note that while Theodorians claim this was Saint Theodora’s doctrine, this is contested by the Church proper that. Popular with mages and other scholars, Theodorianism has a small following anywhere where there are places of learning, such as Concasse and in Elynn Dunhaven.

Halianism: Followers of Aurayel, and Saint Hal in particular, they believe that the Church should play an active role in government. While Halians are generally law abiding there are some radical members of this sect who promote and campaign for full blown theocracy. Although this doctrine originated in Concasse, where its mild forms have significant appeal, it has spread abroad and now has a small but active gathering in the Canary Desert and also in the Thalamian Autocracy. It is persecuted, however, in Gilithas.

Nosperians: A group that follows the teachines of Bishop Nosper of Gilithas. Bishop Nosper followed in the footsteps of Saint Theodora and advocated that the Aether was divine. He went further than this, however, and asserted that the Aether could be used to map the past and future of human history. He produced countless strangely worded prophecies, and there are even more such visions of fate and doom incorrectly ascribed to him. Some of the more fervent members of this sect claim Nosper as a Saint, but this has little support even among the Nosperiauns.

((Note to players: this list of doctrines is intended to act merely as an example as to the kind of doctrines that are possible, and in fact there are many such divisions in the faith, some with as small a following as a single individual. Players should feel free to create their own doctrines, but then should be prepared to have them argued with!))

The holy teachings of the Angels and Saints are contained within two great written works: “The Deeds of the Angels” and “The Deeds of the Saints”. Although there are several chapters that are regarded as core chapters, there are many different versions and edits of each book, and arguments as to holy canon can lead to more than angry words. In the past doctrinal disputes have led to open violence and full blown wars between the more religious peoples and nations.

Dwarven Religion

Sonn'Donnar - The dwarven god of stone and metal. It is believed in the First Age, Sonn'Donnar was formed by I'fea'Quel (the spirit of creation) tapping a stone. A great dwarf with a long white beard, who in the First Age, in the smithy of the netherworld known as Gavelsdome, forged a great hammer. Sonn'Donnar then smashed his hammer into the same stone I'fea'Quel tapped him from, and from that blow sprung the the dwarven race (with affinity to mining, metalworking and crafting, Sonn'Donnar may even be tributed by the different races who craft with stone and metal).

Other than Sonn'Donnar, dwarves also The 20 Sages, a great circle of very wise dwarves who the dwarves ask for guidance in difficult decisions and troubling questions. "What would the sages advise me?" Is a question many dwarves ask themselves

Universal Religions

Monna-Gladis ("mother-earth"), worshipped by rangers, druids and elves, mother earth is the spirit of all flora and fauna. It is believe she has bred the elves our of small woodling creatures. In one ancient war between the goblins and the elves, Monna Gladis asked for the aide of the angels. The angels did not wish to intervene, and so Monna Gladis refused to provide any crop until they did. And so, at the final day of the war the angels stuck the goblin, and the elves secured their victory and the woods, and Monna-Gladis has bore fruits once more. Monna Gladis has close ties to the Saints and Angels as she is their ally in the battles against I'mori.

There are those who speak a different tale about Mona'Gladis, and the mysterious entities known as her daughters. They are not, however, accepted by followers of the Angels... (Read more...)    

Cyanthus ("the devilous") is believed to have been born out of I'mori (a great spirit of evil that's been very present in the formation of everything). Some reckon Cyanthus was once mortal, and I'mori favored him for his cunning, selfishness, greed and manipulation, and made him a deity. Thus, Cyantus is master of deceit, empowering the greedy and feeding from selfishness. By some, he is considered the evil inclination, often depicted as a red devil with two horns, generally robed. And at times, a burning skull. Those who worship him almost never disclose it, instead often faking devotion to the traditional Angels and Saints.

Cyanthus Dread Mistress - Cyanthus once plucked a mortal girl from the world below, a wandering gypsy girl. Her beauty was unmatched in the lands, her skin was lightly tanned, 'sun kissed', her hair was thick and full of life, her lips where as red as blood and her eyes a luscious green. (Read more... )

Shamroth - Madness. Some claim it's a punishment from Angels. Others consider it a sign of orcish blood or of the worship of Cyanthus. Some heretics claimed that it's nothing divine, just reaction of intelligent beings to great pain and misery.

There is a darker theory, however, that survives only in fairy tales told around campfires or to naughty children, that of Shamroth, the Prince of Delerium. It is said that he resides in a great dark lake beneath the world, securing in the iron grasp of his slimy hands the souls of those unfortunate, or unwary, enough to interest him. Such hapless individuals he bends and twists until they are one with madness. His true form is unknown, because it is said to drive anyone who sees it instantly insane.

The very existence of Shamroth has long been officially denied by the church of the Angels and is now little more than an unsubstantiated myth. There are very few who take stories of him as more than the children’s stories they are, and none have ever found proof of his existence.

((Note on evil: Currently all evil players must be "lawful evil" and worship Cyanthus and/or The Dreadmistress. In the future that may change, and evil players be allowed to integrate with evil like in no other gameworld, they will live and breathe with the core evil of this settings. They will have their own evil domain from which they could build and expand. But until that happens we ask that all players do not deviate from this type of evil. The reason to that is that worshippers of Cyanthus are a very specific type of evil that's self-sustaining in a good community, and we feel that the other more overt type of evil are not, and thus deserve their own dominion, which may be in due time.))

The Ferryman, also known as The Angel of Death and Grim's Reaper, is the "death warden" of all souls. It is believed that when a person dies, he walks on the rocky pier of the netherworld until he reaches the end where he meets the ferryman, he then goes onto his boat and the Ferryman carries him unto his eternal rest.

Shamanistic Religion

Chachunga is one of the shamanistic forces mainly referred to and worshipped by goblins. They put its effigy upon their tribal items. The sphere of Chanchuga powers is relatively small, it is believed she or he has sprung out of I'mori in attempt to counter Mother Earth (Monna-Gladis). It is believed the mere effigy of Chanchuga brings bad luck. If manipulated correctly it can be used to curse. Chanchuga is a chaotic, evil spirit seeking to undermine peace and disturb mother earth.

[Chanchuga is depicted as an ugly, saddle-faced androgynous humanoid with long scattered hair. She's normally carved into items as a part of an idol that empowers shamans.]