Religions

  Beast Cults    Children of Danu (The Old Faith, nature ...    Cult of the Moon    Exemplar Way    Urumaiar (the Pendragon, the Dragon ...    Vôkra, Jungle Gods of the Vôzen    Menelion, gods of the Avatara    Knights of the Eternal Light    Duirgurth (The Gatekeepers)    Harnendrim    Great Deep Ones (gods of the Deep Ones)    Gods of the Alorns 

The people of Ambar believe in a variety of different religions, which range from philosophies to pantheons of gods. Often a god is worshipped by more than one religion, perhaps under a different name or guise, with different prayer rites and customs.

Beast Cults

The wizened old man danced around the campfire and shook a small stone carving in the air. It was a tiny malachite bear with green jade eyes and a white marble nose. As he danced he began to chant "Great Bear! hear the words of a humble Shaman...grant me your strength that I may defend our people from the dark ones!". After a time his face shone with gratitude as he thanked the spirits for their mystical gift--the Gift of the Bear's Strength. [ more... ]

Children of Danu (The Old Faith, nature worship) (updated 2009/08/19)

In ages past primitive humans worshiped the many spirits of nature. People, trees, animals, the seasons, and the land itself all flow with vibrant spiritual energy of life. The cycles of life held great power in the hearts and minds of our ancestors, the greatest of which was motherhood.

All of the spirits, whether weak or terrible, were born from the earth mother Danu. The priesthood was primarily female, led by the Hichana wise women. Each tribe had a circle of Hichana who met and considered spiritual affairs, conducted blessings, named children, and cared for the spiritual well-being of the tribe. This council was at least equal to the tribal chieftain, except in matters of war.

Separately, a council of Istari carried the law across the land and between the tribes. They adjudicated matters of tradition, honor, and justice. When an Istari was initiated into the sacred priesthood, he ceased to be a member of his tribe, for now he represented the law before all the people, and was inviolate. This allowed the Istari to carry news between the tribes, even across fiercely contested territories or in times of war. This also allowed the Istari to broker treaties and work towards peace--or rally the fiercely independent tribes against a common foe. The most famous circle is the Istari of Belerion, who spread the law of the Ithil'Rhi amongst the Kith people, from which they forged the Alornean people.

The traditions of the old faith were passed down by stories, songs, and sacred days. None of the barbarian tribes were literate, save for the secret Ogham script of the Istari. Many of the stories employ symbolism, for example the seasons have special meanings for those who follow the old ways. Spring is the green time of new life and healing. Summer represents warmth and fire. Fall represents wealth and the harvest. Winter represents endurance, sleep and frost.

Nowadays the "Old Faith" of Danu-worship is often viewed as quaint or barbaric. True nature worship is uncommon except in the wildernesses at the ends of the world where primitive cultures still thrive, such as Kith and Rochir. However, most of the new faiths have elements of the old traditions--if nothing else at least the concept of a "soul" can be traced back to the "Old Faith". [ more... ]

Cult of the Moon

Philosophically, this cult believes that patterns of the moons and stars in the sky have divine significance. In practice, its members are top-notch thieves who dabble in magic, stealing arcane artifacts which have magical or religious significance. [ more... ]

Exemplar Way

Karrocks traditionally follow the "Exemplar Way", a path to self-perfection through exacting obeisance to the "Exemplar Virtues" and emulation of the "Exemplar Saints". The saints were holy ancestors who demonstrated the virtues in their lives. Each of the saints is typically remembered for "inventing" a single virtue, such as "Arith the Patient". Karrocks do not actually worship Saints but rather admire and try to emulate their deeds.

Karrock monasteries and shrines are typically named for one of the Saints. Traditionally, each step is carved with one of the Exemplar Virtues or Exemplar Saints of the Karrock Exemplar Way.

Exemplar priests name children after one of the saints on their first birthday, called their "name day". Instead of celebrating their birthday, Exemplars celebrate their name day every year--the birthday of their namesake Saint. For example, an Exemplar named "Arith" would celebrate the Name Day of Arith every year instead of his birthday. Name Days are elaborate festivals surrounding the [ more... ]

Urumaiar (the Pendragon, the Dragon Gods, the Dragon Faith) (updated 2004/03/15)

  Consorts of the Pendragon    Wyrms (Fallen Dragons, Linnorms, ... 

"The five who are one" are the Baal dragon gods Hruul, Mrmym, Pyrose, Xohm, and Suul. They are collectively known as the Urumaiar or Pendragon, symbolized by a pentacle or as an omnipotent five-headed winged dragon with scintillating, multicolored scales. [ more... ]

Vôkra, Jungle Gods of the Vôzen

Vôzen worship the gods of the volcanoes that dot their steaming southern jungles. Sacrifices are made to appease the gods, lest they show their anger by visiting fire upon the people. Criminals are also taken to the holy places and sacrificed to the volcano gods. Vôzen also revere the spirits of the large flying insects and birds that roam the jungles, mumbling prayers or making sacrifices for favor and guidance in this life. [ more... ]

Menelion, gods of the Avatara

The Menelion are the celestial gods of the Avatara, worshiped in their loresongs for thousands of year. The Menelion are depicted by the Avatara as heavenly, angelic beings who radiate light, music and peace, but are fully capable of dealing swift death to evil with Ithilnaur silver swords and arrows. These are the same gods as the Baal Pendragon pantheon, but seen as celestial angels rather than dragons and given Avatara rather than Baal names. [ more... ]

Knights of the Eternal Light

The Knights of Eternal Light exist to defend the people and vanquish black magic wherever it is found. In short, they are religious zealots who hunt witches...broadly defined as anyone who draws power from forces other than a narrow set of gods: Lunara, Pyrose, Sharheen, and Xohm. Whatever may be said about their extremism, they are well-revered in the Shieldlands for their great success in rooting out undead, Kaeden-worshiping Zuhls and mysterious wizards that common folk fear so well. They are also well known for militant crusades to dark lands. Due to their heavy-handed inquisitions, even the righteous tend to leave the neighborhood when an army of men dressed in white robes enters town with a mission. This religion is centered in the Basilica of Aegis, a towering stronghold of gleaming white marble, the bastion of all that is true, just and good. This faith is on good terms with those who follow the Exemplar Way.

Quotes:

Cast light in the shadows of man's heart

*The light, the shining sun and moo [ more... ]

Duirgurth (The Gatekeepers) (updated 2008/02/23)

  Duirgurth Cults 

The Gate Keepers, the Deaths, the Judges

The Alu, Avathars, and Baal believe that each person lead a series of lives, each of which consists of challenges put before them by the fates. At the end of each life man is judged by the Duirgurth on his ability to rise above the hardships he faced. If he is deemed worthy he is rewarded and his next life begins anew. If he is judged unworthy he must undergo purgatory in Ir-Kalla, a subterranean realm ruled by Hypsiglena, the dark earth mother who with her furies torments the weak and the foolish. After a purging of foolishness and ineptitude the man's life begins anew, but often without any remembrance of past lives and even greater challenges to overcome. [ more... ]

Harnendrim (updated 2004/01/14)

The ancient Southmarens of Harnendor worshiped a circle of avian and sea gods. The seacoasts of Harnendor are lined with sculptures of enormous size, depicting sea birds and ancient avian gods of the Harnendorians to bring luck and swiftness to travelers. The most famous temples to these "Lords of Air" are those in the aeries of the "Riphaean Mountains", which have been overrun by Goblyns during the "Second Goblyn War" and are feared defiled and lost for all time.

Worshipers: This faith is the most ancient and runs the deepest with the Southmarens. The elite "Imperial Harriers" known as the Falconguard take oaths to serve not only the Emperor but also the Harnendrim.

Gods Worshiped: Dagon, Abzu, Hruul, Mrmym, Suul, Tyaa

Gods Opposed: These old gods see themselves as above all other gods, and do not lower themselves to consider any worthy of attention or displeasure.

Great Deep Ones (gods of the Deep Ones) (updated 2008/02/07)

  Cthulhu Mythos 

The "Great Deep Ones" are vastly powerful and ancient creatures who are worshiped as gods by the "Deep Ones" and insane human cultists. Some believe that they are "Deep Ones" who have attained godlike power and transcended normal physical existence.

While these beings posses tremendous power, they can only extend their influence when there is a rare confluence of stars, or when summoned through various rituals. Certain forbidden tomes of power list the "True Names" and necessary rituals for invoking the full power of these beings. Such knowledge is perilous in the extreme, and the "Deep Ones" have rendered many of the more dangerous names unto the keeping of the Kraken. It is believed that the Kaeden are "Great Deep Ones" whose names were deliberately forbidden ("Not-to-Be-Named-Ones") and then forgotten ("Unnamed Old Ones") to limit their summoning. [ more... ]

Gods of the Alorns

The gods of the Alornean people are worshiped as a pantheon for their attributes of peace, learning, sport, building, courage and war. These gods are commonly portrayed as Alorns of noble bearing, wearing clothing and armor of ancient design. Many similarities can be drawn with the Menelion and Pendragon faiths, as these older religions had great influence over the Alorns. Indeed, some of the Alornean gods bear a striking resemblance to the Avatara of old. [ more... ]