Church of Narum
The church of Narum is dedicated to filling the world with music and protecting the innocent. Its members are itinerant as often as not, wandering from community to community to learn new songs and tales.
Structure
The church of Narum, in keeping with Narum’s nature, has no formal structure. Instead, followers build shrines in any community in which they stay. Shrines are maintained by his adherents when they are present and there is usually at least one priest of Narum at his shrines. When more than one priest is present they determine authority by musical talent and/or senority.
Public Agenda
The church has three broad goals, the first and most important to the church is to spread and encourage music. The priests like to provide simple instruments to young children, often to the disconcertment of their parents, to encourage young children to learn. Secondly the church strives to protect the innocent and vulnerable, so the church encourages its members to learn martial skills and teach them to others. Finally, the church seeks to promote freedom, and often runs underground railroads from areas where slavery is practiced to lands where it is illegal. It also encourages the abolition of slavery wherever it exists.
Assets
The church has little material assets of its own, its members preferring to collect songs, tales, and lore to wealth. However, the wealth of lore possessed by its members should never be underestimated. When push comes to shove the church is able to barter the lore of its members for whatever it might need, whether this be land for a shrine, or a favorable judgement in a legal case. In terms of intangible wealth, the church is quite affluent.
History
According to legend Narum was born and fostered in the Old Kingdom nation of Elan. Whether this is true or not, his church started there, before spreading to the rest of the Old Kingdoms. As mistrals and bards wandered the land collecting and sharing tales and songs so did the priests of Narum. The priesthood built shrines and occasionally temples as they travelled spreading the joy that song and story brought to the masses.
When humans began to travel to the New Kingdoms, priests of Narum went with them eager for the songs and tales the new lands would bring. There they met the elves who worshipped Narum with the name of Anicäd Möhítéh. The two branches of the church met in joy swapping songs and tales. As the humans spread through the New Kingdoms the church of Narum spread ahead of them, bringing the doctrine of Narum with them. They made contact with the dwarves who dwelt in the Tågbaf who worshiped Narum by the name Lanniftes Dettelsit.
Naturally when the New Kingdoms began to colonize the Frontier Lands the church of Narum was in the forefront, seeking new songs and tales as always.
When humans began to travel to the New Kingdoms, priests of Narum went with them eager for the songs and tales the new lands would bring. There they met the elves who worshipped Narum with the name of Anicäd Möhítéh. The two branches of the church met in joy swapping songs and tales. As the humans spread through the New Kingdoms the church of Narum spread ahead of them, bringing the doctrine of Narum with them. They made contact with the dwarves who dwelt in the Tågbaf who worshiped Narum by the name Lanniftes Dettelsit.
Naturally when the New Kingdoms began to colonize the Frontier Lands the church of Narum was in the forefront, seeking new songs and tales as always.
Mythology & Lore
Legend claims that Narum was born and fostered in Elan in the Old Kingdoms. Whether or not this is true the church believes it to be and one of the biggest temples to Narum is located in Elan. It is also believed that Narum began his wanderings in the Old Kingdoms traveling the lands seeking music and stories.
Tenets of Faith
- Always question authority and seek your own answers
- Encourage others to think freely and for themselves
- Seek after knowledge and truth in all its forms
- Live your life without restricting others
- Freedom and liberty are the birthright of all intelligent beings
- Oppose slavery in all its forms
- Seek the music within and without
- Encourage entertainers for they bring joy to all.
- Protect those who cannot protect themselves
- Fortune favors the bold
Ethics
The church believes, and teaches, that there is no true authority over the individual, and that individuals should think for themselves and come to their own conclusions about things. The church encourages free thinkers and those who follow their own paths. While its followers border on being anarchists they follow a morality that encourages them to support society. Narumites are seekers of knowledge, always striving to learn new things and believers are inspired to go out of their way to seek out opportunities to learn and grow in knowledge. The church teaches that freedom is the birthright of all intelligent life, and followers take this to heart, opposing slavery and tyranny wherever they encounter it and striving to live their lives so as not to infringe on another’s liberty. To a Narumite freedom to seek their own destiny is the most important thing in life, they call it seeking the song within, and encourage all beings to do so. Most importantly to some Narumites are protectors, protectors of the downtrodden and the innocent. The church instructs believers to learn martial skills, and to teach them to others. Finally, the church members are believers in luck and fortune, and faithful strive to take (intelligent) chances whenever faced with a challenge.
Worship
Services dedicate to Narum take place at random times and dates, usually determined by rolling dice at the end of a worship service. Worship of Narum obviously involves a lot of singing. Generally, when adherents gather, they start singing with others joining in as they arrive. After a while, the highest-ranking priest present reads from the Tales of the Wanderer and then proceeds to extrapolate on the lesson contained within the reading. Sermon topics usually involve music, protecting others, or trusting in divine providence, though in lectures on preserving freedom are not uncommon, and sometimes more than one topic is covered. Services are closed with more singing. Faithful usually sing while they work, to continue to honor Narum with their praises throughout the days.
Priesthood
Except when performing duties such as leading worship services priests generally wear rugged traveling clothes but almost always with a blue sash around the waist. Many also add a cap with a feather in it to their ensemble though it is not required. When performing their priestly duties, they wear robes of red and blue again with a blue sash around the waist. Most always carry an instrument with them and are skilled in playing it. Priests spend most of their time traveling from community to community learning new songs and tales. They will usually stay at a shrine until another priest arrives and then move on. They spend their time in communities teaching music and martial skills, and running worship services for the faithful.
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