The Old Faith
The Old Faith is a religion devoted to a pantheon of goddesses and gods that represent the worldviews held by the traditions of the People of the Blood (elves, orcs and humans). The religion of the elves, orcs and humans is ancient and it has changed only very slowly over time. It is a fundamental part of life in which there is no difference between the divine and the mundane. Regardless of the realm in which its adherents may reside, they incorporate the culture and teachings of the Old Faith into daily life. As something is brought into the life of the people, it is incorporated in the tenets of the religion. The Old Faith is a reflection of the world just as much as the divine influences it.
The Great Cycle
The Old Faith is a religion that believes in the cycle of reincarnation, that people are born and live and die in a seemingly never-ending cycle. The reason for this existence is hotly debated by religious thinkers. Elves tend to believe that there is a reason for the great cycle of life and death, and that there are lessons that lead adherents to greater fulfillment in this and future lives. For some, elves believe, these lessons can only be learned through harsh and cruel experiences that will set a transient soul on the right path. In contrast, the orcs believe that there is simply no reason, and that their existence is one where they cleave to the teachings and do as best they can with what they have. Humans who still hold to the Old Faith tend to take a pragmatic view, one in which mortals are born to serve Creation in some way, and that their lot is one that is somewhere between function and transcendence.
Tenets of the Old Faith
The Old Faith is a worldview, an understanding of one's place and the reason for being in all Creation. There exists a divine hierarchy, and there exists a divine plan, though perhaps it is only truly known by Creator Goddess herself. Whether it be orcish wise women or elven high priestesses, there is an underlying story to Creation and this narrative influences the cultures of the People of the Blood. Different peoples and nations may emphasize different parts or different depictions of the deities, but the baseline story of life and death and all creation is the same at its most fundamental level.
The First Tenet
The first tenet is the creation of Creation. In the Old Faith, the beginning of Creation began with one being, the Queen of Heaven, Yhera (ee-HERR-ra). Elven theologists debate the exact details, but it was she who manifested Creation. According to some, she awoke from an inspiring dream and set about her work. According to others, the Queen of Heaven fell asleep and dreamed Creation into existence -- and she may yet still be dreaming.
The Second Tenet
The second tenet is the Creation of the Gods. Yhera created elder gods and goddesses to aid her in her work. The first she created were the Twin Queens of the Earth and the Sea, Geniche (genn-EE-chey) and Getima (get-EE-ma). The next was Seedrik (SEE-drick), her intended Consort and now the God of the Underworld. She then created Islan (IZ-lahn), Prince of Heaven and God of the Sun; then Moya (MOY-ah), the Princess of Heaven and Goddess of the Moon. These are the Elder Gods of the Pantheon, those who have been created by divine origin.
The Third Tenet
The third tenet is the Creation of the Mortal Form. Geniche and Getima oversaw the creation of mortal beings: dragons, giants, changelings, elves, dwarves, orcs and all the rest. Through their existence, mortals then created other gods and goddesses based on their understanding and beliefs. Mortal hearts and minds crafted meaning in the sky and the world around them. Twin Sisters of the Stars, Ami (AH-mi) and Diva (DEE-vah) came into existence. So too did Yaro, Irré (EER-rey), Hatha, Vádrik and Leera. These are the Old Gods of the Pantheon, those who were created by the hearts of mortals.
The Fourth Tenet
The fourth tenet is the Creation of Wakeful Mind. Mortals existed simply for eons, but as they multiplied, they learned much and began to become more than clever animals scraping out a living. The discovery of agriculture and the domestication of animals allowed for the greater expansion of the minds of mortal beings. Moving through the ages, more divine beings came into existence according to what had been discovered. In addition to Garda and Equis (ECK-kwiss), the Pantheon saw the adoption of Malik (MAL-ick), King of the Word and the multitudinous Sons of Industry and Daughters of Leisure. These are the New Gods of the Pantheon, those who were created by the minds of mortals.
The Fifth Tenet
The fifth tenet is the Liberation of the Mortal Soul. Civilized, educated, organized and self-aware, the mortals of the world found ways to go beyond their natural or ancient limitations through the application of magic. Urza (UR-zah) the Orange Sage was the first. He stood alone as the first Demigod in the Pantheon for an age. The vendetta between Mishra the Purple Sage and Nymarga (nim-AR-gah) the Green Sage raised them into divinity following their catastrophic battles across Creation. Lastly, there was Riga (RYE-gah) the White Sage, whose glorious but short reign as the Emperor's Foil ended with the falling of Yhera's Tears. These are the Demigods, those who were not created but rather self-made.
The Eternals
The Elders
- Yhera the Queen of Heaven (LG): She is the Heavens, The Stars and the Goddess of All Creation
- Seedrik the Exiled King (NE), Banished for his Ambitions now the Humiliated God of the Underworld
- Geniché the Gentle Queen (NG), Creator of the Female Form and Goddess of the Life of Growth and Nurturing
- Getima the Savage Queen (NN), Creator of the Male Form and Goddess of the Life of Consumption and Struggle
- Arma the Wild Princess (CN), Goddess of Life and Death in Nature and Mistress of the Wild Hunt
- Islan (LG), Prince of Heaven, He is the Sun, the Fiery Heart and the God of Bright Light, Strength and Truth
- Moya (NG), Princess of Heaven, She is the Moon, the Tender Heart and Goddess of Soft Light, Tenderness and Secrets
- Ami the Dawn Maiden (NG), She is the Morning Star, the Goddess of Fertility and Romantic Love
- Diva the Dusk Maiden (CG), She is the Evening Star, the Goddess of Sensuality and Erotic Love
- Yaro the Wandering Star (LG), He is the Hidden Light, the God of Knowledge and Magic
- Irré the Black Sun (NE), He is the Eclipse, the God of Disaster and Cruel Warfare
- Hatha the Veiled Sun (LN), She is the Burning Haze, the Goddess of Vengeance and Righteous Warfare
- Vadrik the Ringed Moon (CE), He is the Creeping Doom, the God of Madness and Desperate Warfare
- Leera the Crimson Moon (CE), She is the Lunar Eclipse, the Goddess of Temptation and Obsession
- Garda (NG), Princess of Farming, Goddess of Agriculture and Herbalism
- Equis (NG), Prince of Husbandry, God of Herding and Ranching
- Malik (LN), Prince of the Word
- Urza the Orange Sage (LN), Demigod of Artifice, Alchemy and Scribing
- Mishra the Purple Sage (CG), Demigod of Independence, Irreverence and Rebellion
- Nymarga the Green Sage (LE), Demigod of Avarice, Envy and Jealousy
- Riga the White Sage (CN), Demigod of Caprice, Charisma and Pride
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Permeated Organizations
Notable Members
- Judge of the Dead
- Spirit Guides
- Keeper of Whiteflame
- Warden of Shadowmoor
- Daughter of the Green
- Son of the Red
- Daughter of the Black
- Son of the Grey
- Prince of Mathematics
- Prince of Rhetoric
- Prince of Chronicles
- Prince of Heraldry
- Lord of the Forge
- Lord of the Quarry
- Lord of the Mill
- Lord of the Axe
- Lady of Song
- Lady of Dance
- Lady of Poetry
- Lady of Drama
- The Anathema, Cursed Godspawn of Irré and Leera, Soldiers of the Heavenly Usurpation
- The Neverborne, Original Inhabitants of the Underworld and Agents of the Exiled King
- The Motherless, Spawn of the Creeping Doom and Invaders from Beyond
- The Divine Host, Winged Servants of the Heretical God Islik "the Divine King"
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