Amhraism
Referring to the Elven faith, which follows three deities, collectively known as 'The Amhrai' (roughly translating to Singers) do not have traditional names, and are each known by a title, with further titles for different applications of their domains.
While essentially recognised by all Elvenfolk, the three gods have the closest ties and most importance to the forest dwelling elves.
Mythology & Lore
The tale of the Three and their discovery of Elves is well known to Elvenfolk, and while some of it is doubted, much of it is believed to be true.
When the Three discovered Elves, they were primitive folk, living in darkness, eating roots and berries, barely aware of themselves. This was in days long forgotten, when men and dwarf, gnome and dragonborn were barely awake. The Three observed the Elves, and The Morhaeg saw the future of the Elven folk, and the Three came to agreement, that each would grant gifts to the Elves, and take guardianship over different aspects, so that the Elves could fulfill their future, and the Three would be blessed by their worship, and with champions to act on their behalf in the material world.
The First Gift given was by The Kernunach. He taught the Elves how to hunt the beasts of the forests, and how to make use of the natural world to shelter themselves. With this The Kernunach taught the elves the Song of the Wild, enabling them to speak to nature, and his companion, the red stag Fiannon, guided them in their communion, giving to the Elves his flesh so that they might survive the harsh times.
The second gift came from The Bracwanir, who gave the Elves fire, and taught them how to wield it. With this, the Elves began to cook the meat that The Kernunach had provided them, and lit up the darkness they lived in. With this, The Bracwanir taught elves the Song of War, and his companion, the white wolf Mac'Tir, tested their talents in the ways of battle. The Elves took these lessons and gifts, and made arms and armor.
The Third Gift came from The Morhaeg. She gave the Elves knowledge, making them aware of what they were, and all the things they had learnt, and could learn. The Morhaeg taught the elves the first magics, guiding them in the art of creating for themselves, and taught them the final song, that of Knowledge. Her companion, the crow Tuatha, plied the elves with riddles. The Morhaeg brought silence to the camps of the Elves, as they contemplated all they had learnt, and so became the Song of Silence.
It was after all of their gifts had been received that the Elves began to understand their world was far more than primitive darkness, and they emerged into the light with minds to conquer other fledgling races. They warred first with each other, to place one Elf amongst all others.
The Three saw now what the Elves were becoming, and it did not fit the future they had seen, and so together they gave all elves names that would tie them to the land, to teach them their final lesson - humility. All Elves knew the names of the trees, flowers, winds and beasts, taught to them by the Amhranai, but their own names they were not taught, as it was decided they must find them for themselves, and learn their place in the world through that journey.
Together, the Three selected the greatest of the Elves, who embodied best the qualities the Amhranai desired, and took them to a secret place where they would take part in tests and trials, until such a point as they had discovered the name of their Soul. The first of these remained behind, to guide those that would follow through the trials, as it was not a place one should travel unguided.
Those that had successfully obtained their names returned to their people with fresh sight and understanding, and directed their people to follow their footsteps. It took many years, but eventually all Elves knew their Soul Names, and the people could turn to their true path.
Cosmological Views
According to the Elven faith, the world can be compared to a Tree or similar plant. They do not presume to guess who planted the seed, though they know the Elven folk had existed for some time before their Gods found them. Who knows how long the world, or the Elves, existed before that point. The Tree continues to grow regardless.
Worship
Many of the holy days of The Three are associated with the turning of the seasons, the solstices and equinoxes. Others are tied to important aspects of Elven culture.
First Quarter
Festival of the Burning Heart - Devoted to The Bracwanir, this festival relies on the preservation of the Heart of Fiannon until the new year, when a large bonfire is constructed from dead wood collected from the forests. The Heart is then burned in an offering to The Bracwanir, to signify the coming end of The Kernunach’s dominance of the seasons. It is believed that The Bracwanir then crafts a new Fiannon from the ashes of the heart, as a gift to The Kernunach.
Fiannonsday - Dedicated by extension to The Kernunach, but mainly to Fiannon, this day celebrates the wild world, its beauty, and its gifts and curses, and thanks The Kernunach for teaching Elves how to survive. Elves wear red cloaks as they feast and make merry.
Festival of the Whelptime - devoted to The Bracwanir, taking place at the Spring Equinox. Key event involves elven children dressing up in wolf masks. They then hunt for hidden treats. Further there is a feast, and a dance in which young adult Elves are expected to court eachother. The festival is supposed to usher in a time of growth and life for Elves, through prosperity for children and new couples.
Second Quarter
Festival of Names - dedicated to The Morhaeg, this day was traditionally the one during which eligible elves would discover their Soul Names. Since the practiced was stopped, it has now become the day on which Elven children select their adult names, when coming of age. The festival is devoted to The Morhaeg, as she will guide them to suitable names.
Festival of the White Fire - devoted to the Bracwanir, taking place at the Summer Solstice. Key event involves elves divided into teams who must compete through a race, and in conflict, to obtain the White Fire, and return it to their ‘base’. The victors are considered The Bracwanir’s favoured for the period of the festival, and by extension until the next year’s competition. This festival is believed to obtain the blessing of the Bracwanir for any battle or competition that may arise for the elves in the next year.
Festival of Joining - Dedicated to The Morhaeg, the festival of joining is when almost all elven weddings take place. Known as Joinings. It is often a semi-communal affair, with some private aspects happening for each couple.
Third Quarter
Festival of Birdsong - Devoted to The Morhaeg, the Festival of Birdsong’s main event involves Elves telling secrets. The standard maintains that each elf should share one secret, no more, no less, with other elves. This is supposed to praise The Morhaeg as a sharing of knowledge, while also retaining the blessing of secrets that she grants to her people.
Tuathasday- Dedicated to Tuatha and by extension The Morhaeg, this day celebrates the All seeing Crow, gives thanks for gifts of knowledge and magic, and thanks The Morhaeg for watching over the Elves. Elves wear black cloaks as they feast and make merry.
Festival of Lost Winds - devoted to The Kernunach, taking place at the Autumn Equinox. Key event involves reverence of the dead. The key event is the Reciting of Names, in which elves remember the beings they have slain, and kin they have lost. This act extends to all beasts of the wilds, who on this day are considered brethren.
Fourth Quarter
Festival of Wild Binding - Devoted to The Kernunach, this festival celebrates and encourages the beginning of the natural decay of the forests, which will fertilise the earth, in preparation for the next year when they grow and live again. The main event involves elves using red lengths of cloth to tie around saplings and other young trees, to guard them from the death and ensure they remain to grow in the next spring.
Mac’Tirsday - dedicated to Mac’Tir, and by extension The Bracwanir, this day celebrates the white wolf, the gifts of fire and light, and the growth of elvenkind. Elves wear white cloaks as they feast and make merry.
Festival of the Gory Stag - devoted to The Kernunach, taking place at the Winter Solstice. Key event involves the hunt of the manifestation of Fiannon. Whichever Elf takes down the great stag is adorned with its red coat and antlers, and revered as Kernunach’s favoured for the period of the events (and by extension, until the next festival of the gory stag takes place). A small measure of the meat of Fiannon is consumed raw, in reverence to The Kernunach, and the days of Elves before they had fire, then the rest is cooked and consumed over the remaining days of the festival. The Heart of Fiannon is preserved until the new year, when it is burnt as an offering to The Bracwanir.
Priesthood
There is little in the way of traditional priests in this faith. There are those that are favoured by the gods, though the elves traditionally scorn the solid structure of priesthood that other races often follow.
There is only one known temple of the three, if it can be called that, consisting simply of a clearing in the forest of Vala, with a shrine for each deity, and three caretakers. The boundary is marked by a ring of birch trees. More commonly, there are shrines scattered around Galaed Vala, some individual, others of all three deities. On rare occasions, shrines can be found in the deeper wilds of other realms, and in the wildlands beyond the mountains.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Permeated Organizations
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