Artnía
Sikíronian: /ar̥tnija/
Artnía is the largest settlement on Eikan, the third largest of the Azókan Islands, and is a major religious center for many of the native Azókani inhabiting the archipelago.
Every fourteen years, the inhabitants travel up on Mt. Skos, the the highest peak on the island, where they sacrifice cattle and goats to the gods, followed by dancing around a large bonfire which can be seen across most of the archipelago. While this ancient ritual is traditionally only attended by locals, many believe that providing them with the various materials needed for it will bring good fortune.
Artnía is also the center of the cult of Vóka, whose worship, while relatively more recent, is still of great antiquity. Vóka is the protective deity of the town, depicted as a black stallion with golden hooves, and the inhabitants honour him by hanging tiny golden plates on the walls of his shrine. His cult originated during bronze age, when dwarven Zameltoníans from the mainland introduced the worship of the divine horse Úkvó.
The islanders built a number of altars in honour of the god to strengthen their relationship with Zameltonía, which were gradually abandoned as Vóka's connection with the zameltoníans faded and his worship merged with native beliefs, until the cult only lived on in Artnía.
Artnía is the largest settlement on Eikan, the third largest of the Azókan Islands, and is a major religious center for many of the native Azókani inhabiting the archipelago.
Every fourteen years, the inhabitants travel up on Mt. Skos, the the highest peak on the island, where they sacrifice cattle and goats to the gods, followed by dancing around a large bonfire which can be seen across most of the archipelago. While this ancient ritual is traditionally only attended by locals, many believe that providing them with the various materials needed for it will bring good fortune.
Artnía is also the center of the cult of Vóka, whose worship, while relatively more recent, is still of great antiquity. Vóka is the protective deity of the town, depicted as a black stallion with golden hooves, and the inhabitants honour him by hanging tiny golden plates on the walls of his shrine. His cult originated during bronze age, when dwarven Zameltoníans from the mainland introduced the worship of the divine horse Úkvó.
The islanders built a number of altars in honour of the god to strengthen their relationship with Zameltonía, which were gradually abandoned as Vóka's connection with the zameltoníans faded and his worship merged with native beliefs, until the cult only lived on in Artnía.
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