Faith of the four Elements
The Faith of the four Elements is the most common belief in Eleonis and parts of Aguilear.
History
The Faith of the Four Elements has been around in Leanor for a very long time, so long that it is impossible to tell its origins. Before the time of the Acadean Empire, it was much more widely practised throughout Leanor, but during the conquest, many of the regions of Leanor, more or less voluntarily, accepted the Gods of Acadea. Exceptions are the Serbaith people, who kept believing in the Dragons of Old, and Eleonis, which was conquered last, so the acadean faith wasn't yet fully established by the time the Empire crumbled. After the fall of Acadea, most Eleonians went back to their old ways. Another exception is the region of Urtheon, which was never actually subjected to acadean rule.
Mythology & Lore
It is based on the belief that in everything in nature there is an ancient spirit. This includes plants and animals and rocks, you name it, but the four most important spirits are those of the four elements: fire (Iaris), water (Aesis), air (Erios) and earth (Aroth). Those four spirits are basically considered the co-leaders of all other nature spirits. Each of the four is responsible for a specific set of natural phenomena as well as being each connected to one of the four seasons. The most common symbol of this faith is a tree, since trees rely on all four elements directly to grow and live, as well as representing seasonal changes like nothing else.
Divine Origins
As stated above, the Faith of the Four Elements dates very far back. Since it predates the existance of written language in Leanor and doesn't use buildings or relics for worship, its origins are nearly impossible to retrace.
Tenets of Faith
The Faith of the Four Elements is centered around the holiness of every part of nature. Therefore, its core principle is to be mindful of natural ressources and to use them responsibly.
Worship
The believers worship the spirits of nature by honouring nature and mindfully using natural ressources. There is no such thing as temples, since that would somewhat contradict the point of worshipping nature itself. Major ceremonies like weddings, funerals or coronations and other religious celebrations are instead held outside, often in ceremonial groves of trees or under one specific large tree.
For example, it is customary to bury the dead in a forest or grove and plant a tree on their grave. The same is true with naming ceremonies, weddings and similar events. Coronations are usually held underneath an old oak tree, since the oak represents nobility. In the case of the Angeleos line in Eleonis, this tree is located in the centre of the castle's courtyard. In fact, the castle was built around it on the island in the river Vadion, which is now the heart of the city Angeleor.
The summer and winter solstice and the spring and autumn equinox are the days of celebration. Each celebrates the spirit of the element connected to the season, fire in the summer, water in the winter, air in the spring and earth in autumn.
For example, it is customary to bury the dead in a forest or grove and plant a tree on their grave. The same is true with naming ceremonies, weddings and similar events. Coronations are usually held underneath an old oak tree, since the oak represents nobility. In the case of the Angeleos line in Eleonis, this tree is located in the centre of the castle's courtyard. In fact, the castle was built around it on the island in the river Vadion, which is now the heart of the city Angeleor.
The summer and winter solstice and the spring and autumn equinox are the days of celebration. Each celebrates the spirit of the element connected to the season, fire in the summer, water in the winter, air in the spring and earth in autumn.
Priesthood
In terms of priesthood, there are people responsible for conducting ceremonies as well as those responsible for reading and interpreting signs of nature, such as weather changes and unusual natural phenomena. While the term of priesthood itself doesn't actually exist in this religion, these people have a very similar function. They often also work as teachers or mentors. Those educated in anything closely connected to nature are considered highly religious folk. People like farmers, hunters, fishermen and those knowledgable about herbal lore are considered particularly connected to nature, so are miners, lumberjacks and the like. Therefore these people have a higher standing in society than in many other places.
Granted Divine Powers
Supposedly, in a long forgotten time there were people who were blessed by the four main spirits. These people had superhuman powers and practised a form of elemental magic centered around manipulating the elements to do their bidding. This magic could take many forms, some much more powerful than others. This form of magic has long since disappeared, supposedly because the magicians became too powerful by combining their powers, so the spirits took them away.
It is however still commonly believed that special talents and skills are gifts from the spirits, though not by far as powerful as the elemental magic. Some also believe that traces of the old magic still runs in some of the old family lines, manifesting in certain skills and personality traits. Some of the old stories were passed down through the generations and are now found in the Book of the Elements.
It is however still commonly believed that special talents and skills are gifts from the spirits, though not by far as powerful as the elemental magic. Some also believe that traces of the old magic still runs in some of the old family lines, manifesting in certain skills and personality traits. Some of the old stories were passed down through the generations and are now found in the Book of the Elements.
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