A'Irama
It is said that while the Dragon Lords enslaved the first Elves, they could not shackle their belief. The Ivelen served the Dragon Lord but they worshiped the A'Ilrama, or The First, the pantheon of deities they believed to have existed before all things. Unlike the Humans, the gods the Elves worship are primarily nature gods, specifically the moon, the sun, the waters, and the earth. While there are some differences between the worship of the Sylvan and Alfar Elves, the two still revere the same deities in a very similar manner.
Deities:
- Mora'Isvani "Queen of Truth"
- Tyrin'Al "Lady of Strength"
- Muro'Qul "Green King"
- Ulvi'Il "Water Lord"
Divine Origins
While the specifics are unknown, it is believed that the first iteration of the A'Irama that is at all similar to the pantheon known today, was first worshiped around 4500 CA. This makes belief in the A'Irama older than even the first Dwarves by around 1500 years. It is theorized that rather than work at forbidding the faith of the Elves, the Dragon Lords found it easier to simply allow their Elven slaves to retain their gods. Despite this, within Elven myths, there are references to the wickedness of the Dragons. As the Elves are known to have been loyal servants to the Dragon Lords it is unknown whether these were later additions to the tales after the fall of the Dagon Lords, or if they were hidden stories that revealed the true feelings of the Elves towards their masters. Unlike Human religion, the myths and practices involved in worshiping the A'Irama have changed relatively little, due to the long lifespan of the Elves allowing for a more static tradition. While the reality behind the creation of the first Elves is shrouded in mystery, it is unknown how much of their myths are based in truth.
Priesthood
The tribes of Tyrin'El and Isvan'El both have similar structures in the leadership of their people. The two bases of power are the chieftains and the priests. The Alfar call their priests the Orun'Kin, or Moon Priests, and the Sylvan call their priests the Vae'Kin, or Sun Priests. The Orun'Kin and the Vae'Kin are chosen based on signs interpreted by the current priests and through their training, typically are the most powerful mages in the tribe. Once an Elf is chosen to become a priest, a high honor amongst their people, they must remain in that position for the rest of their lives. The priests advise the chieftain on how to best lead the tribe, as well as consulting with the spirits of nature to help the tribe flourish through harsh conditions. Some Human scholars theorize that some of the unique magical abilities of the Sun and Moon Priests were at one point taught to the Elves by the Jotunn given their similarities, but this notion is considered offensive to the faithful Elves.
Founding Date
~4500 CA
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Deities
Related Species
Related Myths
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