Followers of the Ode

Overview

The Followers of the Ode (FO) are the second largest religion in Grouce with approximately one million followers known as Faithful. FO encompasses a variety of rituals, beliefs, and teachings based on original teachings of The Verdienen, the gods of the faith, called the Ode. The religion originated in the eastern region of present day Vinmur sometime between the fifth and sixth millenia BU.

FO focuses on the ideas of self improvement by overcoming the flaws that plague mortal beings. The faults of mortals as seen by the religion are: cowardice overcome by courage , doubt overcome by belief, animosity overcome by forgiveness, complacency overcome by improvement, vanity overcome by humility, avarice overcome by generosity, and prejudice overcome by compassion . It is the duty of each individual to become aware of their flaws and to work each day to be better. The ways to overcome these flaws and warnings of The Fehler, or the embodiment of the faults of mortals, are contained in the teachings given to mortals by The Verdienen.

Each merit and corresponding fault is represented by a god. The gods live in a series of connected planes collectively known as Selisungen. Selisungen takes the shape of a range of mountains that stretches seemingly forever into the sky with the valleys between them descending into an endless abyss. The gods that represent the virtues of mortals known as solars each hold domain over one of the mountains. The devils that represent the sins of mortals call the valleys between the mountains home. When a follower of the Ode dies their soul is sent to Selisungen. Once there they climb each mountain in order based on how much they struggled with each virtue. The more they embodied the ideal the easier it is to climb each mountain. If at any point the follower fails to climb the peak, they fall into the valleys where they are consumed in darkness until they can climb their way back out. Once a follower has climbed each mountain they have reached enlightenment and are granted serenity and the ability to help others climb the mountains. If a follower gives up they are twisted and malformed into horrible beasts that lurk in the crevices of the mountains.

Originally FO was only practiced by the dwarves of Vinmur, and was practiced by over ninety five percent of the population in Derrovsk. After the Unification FO spread South and West to the surrounding provinces. In the present day, FO is primarily practiced in Oosterhof in conjunction with other religions including the Servants of Heiliger and Providence . FO is the primary religion in Romborn, Vinmur, and Hallbefeld. The church experienced a schism in 745 BU and is now divided into two sects. Selisungen is the original sect and is still primarily worshiped by the dwarves. Lothrin is the newer of the sects and is primarily worshipped by the farmers of Romborn.

Core Beliefs

The core of FO revolves around teaching its followers how to better themselves so they can overcome the obstacles of life. Each of the seven gods or virtues of the religion show an aspect of life that one must overcome to be able to truly help themselves and others. The religion's teachings do not focus on specific methods to overcome any issue or ceremonies that can be preformed to guarantee certain outcomes but instead practices and ideologies that can be used to approach others and ourselves to overcome the internal struggle we all face. The world is an uncontrollable mass and society keeps us safe, but how do we use that safety and chaos to create a civilization that is good? This is the core principal of the religion.

Mod

The virtue of courage and its embodiment Mod strive to encourage FO to stand against fear and oppression. Fear and cowardice threaten to overcome people and keep them from reaching out their hands to others who need their help. Courage not only applies to conflict but to have the courage to face all obstacles that are placed in front of them. The world is a constant swirl of chaos and as the rain and winds batter us it is easy to find a cove to rest in and hide, every step we take could be our last and every choice we make threatens to be the one that leads to our demise. When we allow our minds to be overtaken by thoughts of fear of the unknown we close off the chance to learn and experience new pleasures. We should never allow the fear of the unknown keep us from help others and continuing our own journey.

Tro

Belief in oneself and in others allows a person to continue to move forward and to stand. Tro, the virtue of belief, teaches that doubt will poison a person's mind and make them unable to continue. There will always be an easier path, a different way to go, but it is those who stay true to the path and are able to put their faith in others and themselves who will come out the other side with their heads held high. FO teaches that belief is not the same as courage. Courage is the strength to stand against outside forces as they try to break their way into our minds, for cowardice is the rot placed in our hearts by the world. Belief is the internal strength to fight the doubt that comes from within ourselves.

Frolat

Animosity and hatred builds in the heart of men and weighs them down. The act of forgiving others is the act of cutting the ropes that tether you back. FO teaches that we must forgive others or we will be restrained in all of our movements. Forgiveness does not mean blind trust once more, but an openness to grow with that person and a chance for them to build a bridge with you once more. Forgiveness is often called the most difficult virtue for many. The world does not strike us such that we need to forgive only our fellow mortals. As such, this virtue can not be won in isolation but instead must be practiced through pain and in the presences of others who would do you harm.

Battring

FO teaches that as we grow we will often reach points of comfort. It is the nature of all beings to find places of known safety and grow our lives there. The safety of the nest lures us in, but we mustn't allow that to keep from growing. It is the duty of each of us to seek growth and new challenge. Improvement is the only way that we can move forward as a society, to truly help others, and to find serenity. Improvement and the drive for growth are often associated with courage to face the unknown. Where courage focuses on the ability to stand against the tide and move forward into life, improvement is the goal for which we work. Improvement is the shaft and tip of the spear that FO preaches, for it is not only the point of the religion but the driving force behind it. The point of the Ode is to improve and grow as mortals so that when we pass we may continue to improve ourselves.

Mjukhet

Even masters started as novices and those who forget that are bound to stagnate and stop growing. The virtue of humility Mjukhet impresses upon his students is that we must never allow our own vanity or self importance keep us from growing. No being is a master of all crafts and no person is every done improving and growing. By taking an attitude of humbleness and humility we keep our minds and hearts open for others to influence us and help us grow. If improvement is the goal of the Ode then humility is how we open ourselves to us.

Valgoren

Generosity to others is a treacherous endeavor. It is easy to believe that when we give to others we are doing it to be generous. However, we must take caution to ensure that we are not instead paying gold for self satisfaction. Avarice can pertain not only to sums of money but to the gratitude of others. True generosity comes from the pure goal of helping another with nothing in return, including thanks. We must give generously not only to those we see in need but those whom are suffering silently and to the world itself. Valgoren teaches giving must come as naturally as a breathing and do more good.

Chansla

Compassion is the virtue that guides the others. As improvement is the goal and thrust, and humility is the avenue taken on the journey, compassion is the steps we take to improve. Compassion to help others is not easy to gain. As with generosity, it is easy to help those we see, but we must show compassion to everyone. As forgiveness teaches tolerance to our enemies, compassion teaches us how to approach them. Prejudice is a comfortable thing and does not require anything to grow but instead takes efforts to quell. It requires that we open ourselves and see the world in a new light. We must not only be courageous to face a threat, but compassionate to turn that threat into a boon. We must understand our enemy or a suffering beast, and help them, even if they lash out at us so that they may grow to understand us.

The Ode takes a life time to learn and even then, we struggle when we die. But as we struggle, we not only make ourselves better but the world around us better. A world devoid of chaos and a world devoid of suffering and injustice are not the same. Rather than trying to tame the wilderness and restrict the people, the Ode encourages them to grow and help each other, to become sheperds of the world and beacons to others that the whole world may become better.

Gods

Virtues

The gods of the Ode, who act as teachers and guide mortals towards improvement and salvation, are called the Virtues. They inhabit the peaks of Selisungen and grant followers the ability to overcome the turmoil of the world. They have never been known to take form on the material plane and as such no forms are known but their servants often take the forms of winged beings with glowing features and outstretched hands to help.

Name	Pronunciation	Portfolio	Alignment	Domain	Favored Weapon
Mod	MODE	Courage	LG	Protection	Long sword
Tro	TROE	Belief	NG	Nobility	Rapier
Frolat	FROE-laht	Forgiveness	NG	Healing	Long Bow
Battring	BAT-tring	Improvement	LG	Liberation	War hammer
Mjukhet	MEW-ket	Humility	NG	Good	Glaive
Valgoren	val-GORE-en	Generosity	CG	Community	Battleaxe
Chansla	CHAN-sla	Compassion	CG	Repose	Mace

Manifestations

Opposite to the virtues are the manifestations. While the virtues represent betterment and serve to elevate others, the manifestations tempt the people traveling Selisungen and attempt to drag them down. While there is no evidence of physical beings pursing these goals, the manifestations are taught as cautionary tales and given names for reference so that they may be avoided.

Name	Pronunciation	Representation
Ghet	GET	Cowardice
Tivel	TEE-val	Doubt
Hata	HA-ta	Animosity
Lattja	LAT-ja	Complacency
Stolt	STOLT	Vanity
Giri	GEE-ree	Avarice
Domar	DOE-mer	Prejudice

History

Formation

The formation of the Followers of the Ode has been lost to history over the millennia since its formation nearly 6000 years ago. The history of the region has never been the primary focus of its worship and, as the dwarves of Vinmur continued to expand and change, the original circumstances of its foundation are no longer known. The most commonly held belief of the religion's teachers is that it was started by a group of wise monks when they immigrated to the Beresto Mountains. As they dug into the ground and created the civilization that would become Vinmur, they decided to create a code to live by and to encourage others to live by as well. They were more concerned with the people of this new land being good and helping others and did not want to tie a government they did not known the eventual shape of and so they started worshiping the ideals. As the community they started grew and took shape the religion grew and took form and guided the people.

Schism

Eventually, in 1439 BU, the religion spread outside of Vinmur and the Dwarves. As it did these new Followers started worshipping the gods in their own ways. Eventually this belief system collided with the tradition beliefs held in the religions home land. The two factions eventually came to the Seven Settlements. While there was some resentment on each side, the break was rather peaceful with followers in both regions converting to the different sects and wishing well to the others that they may find enlightenment. The two sects continue to worship the same gods and hold similar festivals, and as they share an after life they are continued to be denoted as the same religion.

Relationships with other Religions

Servants of Heiliger

Many Followers of the Ode see the Servants of Heiliger as a lost group. They believe the religion puts to much emphasis on the group rather than the individual's responsibility to the whole. The Servants believe that society and its advancement, even at the cost of individuals or the world, are the most important factors; that it is the duty of everyone to support the drive forward even if it leaves others behind. The Ode preaches that it is more important to help others than it is to follow individual laws. FO are happy to help SoH but often wish they would move from their rigid beliefs and help more people and the world as a whole rather than just their community.

Feywild

FO preaches heavy caution around the Fey. They see the Fey and their lords as beings consumed by self indulgence. FO encourages its followers to avoid dealing with the Fey whenever possible.

Providence

The Ode and Providence share many similarities in how their followers should act each day. However, when it comes to what comes after life the religions very greatly. FO teaches that life does not end at death, but is simply a precursor to the growth we experience in search of salvation. Providence however, preaches a belief of finality at death. That once a being dies, they are done growing and can no longer improve, which for FO means that all potential is lost.

Notable Locations

There are two locations of exceptional note in the FO religion. Chanslat is a large monastery and town in northern Sherpburg that is the largest school for monks of the religion. The large monastery is considered one of the greatest gatherings of knowledge in the religion and is often touted as a place of enlightenment and knowledge. The second place of great note is the Viriton Hall. A great cathedral in the dwarven city of Derrovsk. The halls size is immeasurable and is estimated to at any one time by larger and more populated than several cities.

Festivals

Festivals are held in remberance of those who embody each virtue.

Practices with the Dead

The Followers of the Ode see the dead as those who have moved on to be tested. Due to the limited space of their lands and the difficulty of keeping the dead for long times, Followers of the Ode are often returned to the earth in a less permeant manner. Their bodies are often burned or left out to be picked apart by birds. Families will keep detailed records of the dead and construct a shrine or memorial to track those who have passed.

The dead are buried quickly and ceremonies are often held the day after death. The Ode will respect the dead of other cultures and try to give them a proper resting.

Ode has traditional wills as outside of Sherpburgh resurrection is expensive and out of reach of most, though available. Even in Sherpburgh, many will refrain from being brought back as they are seen as having progressed to the next stage of life.

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