Daughters of Null
The Nine Daughters
The Daughters of Null is the collective name for the nine deities of the Aldish followers of Erastes Tideborn, who are worshiped as the state pantheon of Aldernord. They are said to have been a group of nine mortals who long ago achieved apotheosis, and who are the ancestors of the High Houses of Aldernord. The Daughters of Null are:- Akandra - the Mother of Earth, goddess of civilisation, agriculture, and the wilderness; she is most closely associated with House Riddacci
- Damalith - the Poet of the Dreaming Depths, goddess of dreams, prophecy, and poetry; she is most closely associated with House Erastes
- Disphona - the Keeper of the Winds, goddess of merchants, travelers, and law; she is most closely associated with House Zaal
- Ekirena - the Midwife of Heaven, goddess of medicine, childbirth, and truth; she is most closely associated with House Ysern
- Ektrophos - the Guide of the Stars, goddess of home and hearth, of protection, light, and spring; she is most closely associate with House Mettvergen
- Hrenisha - the Stealer of the Flame, goddess of magic, freedom, and education; she is most closely associated with House Canthor
- Kriophona - the Voice of the Aeons, goddess of the dead, winter, and wisdom; she is most closely associated with House Votellian
- Laethe - the Blade of the Oceans, goddess of war, lighting, and summer; she is most closely associated with House Sarren
- Mellet - the Dweller in the Darkness, goddess of death, autumn, and change; she is most closely associated with House Bheuren
Iconography
- Akandra is commonly depicted as an archer, with a raven perched upon one shoulder and a serpent coiling at her feet; in another depiction she is shown suckling a lamb and a wolf cub
- Damalith is always depicted blindfolded; she is generally shown weaving a complex string figure with her fingers, or holding a net with which in older versions of her legend she is said to fish for truth in the ocean of dreams
- Disphona is depicted holding a set of scales and a book, representing her authority over commerce and law
- Ekirena is depicted cradling a newborn child and holding a wooden staff; the staff is always depicted as unfinished, little more than a torn-off branch from a tree, though the symbolism of this is obscure
- Ektrophos is traditionally depicted dressed in dark robes, holding a lantern in one hand and making a warding gesture with her other. She is frequently shown as having eyes of two different colours - one yellow and one blue - which are said to represent the Sun and Moon.
- Hrenisha is typically depicted holding a clawed wand - with which she reaches up to draw upon the power of the heavens - and a dagger - with which she reaches down to work her will upon the world.
- Kriophona is typically depicted in white or sky-blue robes, carrying a skull bound about by numerous cords in one hand, and making a warding gesture with her other hand; these symbolise both the remembrance of ancestors now gone, and protection from the restless dead.
- Laethe is typically depicted holding a falchion or other curved sword, wearing manacles around her wrists, the chains of which have been broken; the symbolism relates to the Unconquerable Oath.
- Mellet is typically depicted dressed in black, hooded and veiled, with a large moth in each outstretched palm. The symbolism is somewhat obscure.
Whispered Truths
Whilst it is not common knowledge, it has been claimed that the Daughters are linked in some manner to the Paragons. The precise nature of this link is unclear; they are said to "walk in their wake", and are able to tap the power of the Fountain of Night. It has been suggested that if even one of the Paragons was able to regain their full power, the Daughters would be irredeemably corrupted by the forces of the Four Hells, or even destroyed outright. According to Qi'eka'a, the Daughters attempted - and very nearly succeeded - in overthrowing the forces of the Four Hells. According to the doctrines of the Order of Heliodora Tyrantbane, the existence of the Daughters in their present state is predicated on their mortal descendents; maintaining a wide pool of mortals who are descended from them by blood or adoption is somehow able to shield them from certain dire metaphysical consequences. It has been suggested that members of the High Houses are subtly encouraged to have illegitimate offspring in order to ensure that the bloodline of the Daughters is as widely spread as possible. This is plausibly linked to the Anchor of the Ancestors, a magical working which is said to have helped to bind the Daughters to the service of their people following their ascension.Divine Origins
The Origin Myth
A long time ago, across the oceans and beyond the isles, there was a land ruled over by a great and terrible wizard named Urvuren, whose cruelty was matched only by his power. For centuries he had ruled as a nigh-immortal undead tyrant, enslaving whole nations and killing any who dared challenge or resist his rule. For generations, none had dared to raise a hand against him, and even the gods themselves were not able to intercede on behalf of those who were under his dominion. Then one winter under a new moon, at the stroke of midnight nine children were born scattered across the land. Though they knew it not, they were all touched by the hand of destiny, their fates entwined from the moment of their birth - though it would not be until years later that they would meet and realise their common connection. The nine girls grew to adulthood: Kriophona, the embalmer; Damalith, the seer; Ekirenna, the herbalist; Ektrophos, the fire-keeper; Akandra, the huntress; Laetha, the warrior; Disphona, the merchant; Hrenisha, the magician; and Mellet, the gravetender. When at last the nine did meet, at the a great gathering of the tribes and families to celebrate the harvest, they recognised each other immediately and knew in their hearts that there was some manner of curious connection between them all, though they could not place it into words. It is said that they withdrew to a sea-cave to discuss the nature of the strange connection that they felt to each other, when Damalith - who was blessed with the gift of prophecy - fell into a trance and spoke with the voice of the gods. Her words have long since been lost, but it is said that she spoke of the common fate that the nine women had: that they would be the ones who would ultimately liberate their people from tyranny, but that they would not live to see this liberation themselves. The nine of them discussed and debated through the night, knowing in their hearts that Damalith had spoken the truth, but unable to agree on how they might set about liberating their people. Laetha proposed that they should rise up in open rebellion against Urvuren and face him in battle; Akandra that they should flee into the forests where Urvuren's soldiers could not follow them; and so on and so forth, until Hrenisha spoke last of all. She said that all such things as had been suggested had been tried at one time or another, but that all had failed; and that indeed it was said that no mortal force could ever defeat Urvuren. One option presented itself - that if no mortals could triumph over Urvuren, and if the gods of their people had proven unable to do so either, then perhaps it was time that new gods walked the world. In short, she proposed a most daring plan indeed: that they seek apotheosis for the sake of their people. How Hrenisha stole fire from the gods is a tale worth a hundred tales in and of itself: some say that she turned herself into a bird and plucked nine stars from the night sky; others that she travelled to the centre of the earth and reforged herself in the fires of the deep, that all mortal parts of herself became divine. In any case, she was the first to achieve apotheosis, her knowledge and her will liberating her from the bounds of mortality; and soon she returned, and imparted the same gift on the other eight. But whilst they were now immortal, they were yet to master the capabilities of divinity; and though they were mighty, they knew that even with their power they could not yet stand against the dread lich-king Urvuren. Fearing that Urvuren's wrath would fall upon their mortal families if their apotheosis was discovered, the nine newly-ascended demigods conducted a ritual to erase themselves from the web of fate. In doing so, they gave up the names of their families and their tribes, forsaking any direct connection to them but holding responsibility for the good of all who suffered under Urvuren's misrule. Thus they became daughters of none, daughters of nobody - a description which would later be applied to them using the Volsangan word "Nullen", from where the modern name for them derives. They retreated to a place far from the world, and for many years they waited, and they plotted - until at last the time for action came, and they revealed themselves to their descendants, granting them great boons and inspiring them to finally throw off their chains and rise up against the Urvuren, finally gaining the freedom that had been promised to them.Historical Correlation
The origins of the Daughters of Null are somewhat shrouded in mystery; the Daughters themselves are said to have lived as mortals at some time before the rise of the Katari Empire, though precisely when and how they ascended to divinity is unclear. This can be attributed to the complete lack of contemporaneous records of their ascension - which is said to have been conducted in complete secrecy, and only revealed to their followers in the decades after their ascension; those oracles that have been recorded on the subject would seem to indicate that the Daughters do not consider the date or circumstances of their ascension to be particularly relevant, or at least that they are unwilling to speak overly much to mortals on this subject. The earliest tales of the Daughters state that Hrenisha was the first of their number to achieve apotheosis, an event referred to as the Stealing of the Flame; the first documented reference to their cult, written in the 3rd century AK by a Volsangan skald named Halvar Stenskind, has been used as the basis for a number of theories through comparison with other souces; the most commonly proposed date of their ascension is forty-one years prior to the founding of the Katari Empire, though there are a number of other theories which place their ascension up to three hundred years earlier, or as late as some time in the middle of the second century AK. It is likewise a little unclear where the Daughters dwelled when they were mortals; it is commonly assumed that they lived somewhere in the Adric Isles, from where their cult appears to have originated, though there is no consensus on exactly where in the Isles this may have been - though some have identified the land from where they emerged as bearing some resemblance to the Mageocracy of Azan. Intriguingly, some scholars believe that Erastes Tideborn overthrew the lich-king of Azan in the years prior to her invasion of Kataris, though this is a matter which is open to a great deal of speculation.Cosmological Views
The Created World
The Nullist doctrine has very little to say on the origins of the world; following from the Empire of Kataris, it is commonly said that the world is "a myriad-myriad of years old", which by a strict definition could be taken to mean a hundred million years but is most often used to indicate an arbitrarily long time ago. It is assumed that the entities which created the world have since retreated to their demesnes and play little or no part in the ongoing creation. Living beings are said to have emerged as an inevitable consequence of the conditions of the world, and it is generally speculated that ensouled beings must have existed from the beginning of time in some form or another. It is commonly taught that humans were the first sentient species, though this is not strictly a point of doctrine and there are numerous scholars who have differing theories on this matter.The Nature of Souls
The Daughters teach that all living things have a unique and immortal soul which incarnates into them, generally along familial lines. Plants and lower animals have simple souls which impart the essence of life and the ability to perceive and through their senses and to act in the physical world, to a greater or lesser extend and limited by their physical form. Sentient beings have more complex souls, which allow for the faculties of intelligence and language, though it is possible to grant a measure of this to a lower being through magical means. Nullist doctrine teaches that some souls are altered, or "overshadowed", by magical means, and that such things can persist from incarnation to incarnation. The soul is thought to contain within it a prototypical image of the body, and thus such overshadowings can alter the body - the most obvious examples that are cited in this regard are those of the tieflings and the Aasimar; some scholars go as far as to refer to elves as being human souls long-overshadowed by otherworldly spirits, or dragonborn and kobolds as lizards overshadowed by the souls of dragons - though there is little empirical evidence for this claim.On Other Gods
Nullist doctrine accepts the existence of other deities beyond the Daughters, though often depicts them in a poor light. Other gods are typically depicted as being wicked, ineffectual, or distant from the world, in contrast to the benevolence and relative willingness to intervene of the Daughters. It is broadly accepted that it is permissible to worship other deities than the Nine Daughters, though for members of the High Houses to do so openly is seen as irresponsible and ignoble. It is commonly said that most deities are either unable to directly affect the world, or choose not to, and indeed there is a degree to which this applies to the Daughters. According to Nullist doctrine the attribution of such things as the weather, the outcome of a battle, or any similar thing to the direct intervention of a god is mere superstition, though there remains a significant degree of folk belief in divine intervention nonetheless, particularly among the lowborn populace of Aldernord; the most orthodox view is that the Daughters only act upon the world though mortal intermediaries, though in practice the idea of divine intervention is rarely spoken against outside of academic and theological circles.The Realms Material and Immaterial
Nullist doctrine does not comment overly much on cosmology, and tends to focus more on worldly concerns. In common with many other religions, it teaches that the world has two natures - material and immaterial - and that beyond these lies the Periphery, the Celestial Vault, the Eight Elemental Palaces, and a multitude of other spiritual realms. Sentient beings form a bridge of sorts between the material and immaterial worlds, existing in both but without the reliable ability to discern one from the other; and it is taught that when a soul becomes detached from the body, through death or some means of projection, it is possible to traverse the Periphery and gain access to these realms. The dwelling-place of the Daughters of Null is rarely given a canonical definition, save that it is some place beyond the periphery; some scholars speculate that they dwell upon the Octadic Planes, or within the White Abyss.The Afterlife
The doctrine of the Daughters teaches that there are numerous possible fates for souls after death, and the eventual destination of the shade is ultimately determined by the actions of the deceased during their lifetime. They teach that the vast majority of shades which do not fall into the Four Hells ultimately return to the world through reincarnation, and that the shade has some degree of ability to choose the time and place of their next incarnation; the Abodes of the Dead are seen as transitory places in which shades might abide between incarnations, but that it is in the nature of shades to long to return to life, and that they will eventually tire of even the most perfect paradises and choose to become mortal once more. There are two exceptions to this rule, the first being apotheosis. This is taught as being a difficult - but by no means impossible - process, by which shades of great conviction and strength of will can remove themselves from the cycle of reincarnation and become gods in their own right. The majority of gods, the Nine Priesthoods claim, were once mortals of one kind or another, and all souls have the potential to achieve divinity if that is what they truly seek. Unlike some other religions which preach the permanency of apotheosis, the doctrine of the Daughters claims that it is in fact possible for deities to become mortal once more if they choose to return to the cycle of reincarnation. The second exception to the general rule of reincarnation concerns the Four Hells. The Nine Priesthoods teach that those who are burdened by wickedness inevitably end up drawn to the Four Hells, but that it is also possible for certain unfortunate souls to be ensnared in the grasp of the Hells despite their virtue. Unlike the reversibility of apotheosis, the Descent to demonhood is said to be irrevocable - though it is, they say, a process which must be chosen, and which only the irredeemably corrupt would choose. The Daughters are said to be able to intercede to aid those who have become entrapped in the Four Hells, even those who have been “hollowed” by their torment and have lost their individuality and memories of their lives; prayers are most frequently offered to Mellet the Dweller in the Darkness, or Hrenisha the Stealer of the Flame, for this purpose, and the usual funeral rites involve particular invocations of the Daughters to protect the shade of the dead as they begin their journey into the beyond.Tenets of Faith
The Creed of Hildegard
The most common formulation of the Nullist doctrine is the Creed of Hildegard, formulated by Queen Hildegard I Ysern (ruled 808AK to 835AK) in her later years after abdicating the Throne of Aldernord:"We hold this as our doctrine and guide:From now until the end of time, all reverence be unto them." Hildegard I Ysern, "On Doctrine"
- That the Nine Daughters were born mortal, achieved divinity, and remain divine.
- That they concealed themselves following their apotheosis for the good of their people, and that at the greatest hour of need they revealed themselves once more to bring liberation.
- That they blessed and anointed Erastes Tideborn and the Children of Fire, who were of their mortal blood, as their chosen champions.
- That they did sanction Erastes Tideborn to claim her throne in Ysberinge and liberate the peoples of Kataris from the tyrants who stood over them; and that they did bless and anoint the Nine High Houses who carry on their divine bloodline to this day, that they might take stewardship over the land and people for the good of all.
- That the Nine Daughters are the true goddesses of Aldernord, the steadfast guides, tutors, and protectors of our people, and that their design for the nation and the world is righteous.
- That they have authority over the living and the dead, and may guide the souls of the righteous to join them once they have left this world; that they stand guard at the gates of the Four Hells and might descend to rescue the souls of those who have been drawn into iniquity's grip; and that they too do protect their faithful from all other dangers that lurk beyond this world.
The Formal Doctrine
The "Nullist Doctrine" as it is often referred to has emerged over centuries of gradual formalization, the process beginning in the early 9th century with the emergence of the Apertori as a politically significant office. Prior to Erastes' Landing , the teachings of the Daughters of Null were mostly transmitted orally in the manner of allegories and parables, and it was only during the conquest of the Ysberwaal and the strategic marriages made between Erastes Tideborn's daughters and the local rulers that a degree of standardization became desirable. It is thus the case that the worship of the Daughters of Null in Aldernord is significantly more formalized and bound by doctrine than among those worshipers of the Daughters who are found in certain other parts of the world, such as the Adric Isles. The earliest writings on the philosophy of the Daughters of Null are attributed to Ser Percheval Zaal van Nezr a bard and close confident of Queen Heliodora (ruled 724AK to 743AK). Although only a portion of Percheval's work has been preserved, in the form of the "Book of the Nine Daughters", it has had an incredibly significant influence on the path taken by the priesthoods of the Daughters. Several other texts are considered foundational, the most prominent being the anonymously-authored "Nine Doors of Truth" from which the Apertori draw their name, and Queen Hildegard I Ysern's works, especially "On Doctrine".Ethics
Stewardship
"To rule is to serve; how much greater therefore the burden of a virtuous Queen than that of any who labour in the field?" Hildegard I Ysern, "On Doctrine"The Nine Daughters teach that one should cultivate a certain sense of responsibility toward that which one has power or mastery over, which is generally referred to as stewardship. This manifest in a number of ways: most notably, in the relationship between the Alderni nobility and the common-folk whom they rule over. It is this principle which, in theory, ultimately underpins the justification of the feudal contract - that all members of Alderni society have different roles to play in the collective wellbeing of society, and that it is the obligation of the nobles to protect the lowborn from harm, and to guide them in their labours. The degree to which this principle is upheld beyond mere lip-service does, of course, vary considerably. A similar principle is applied by the sects of Akandra to the relationship between mortals and the natural world. Akandra teaches that both cultivated land and the wilderness must be actively managed and cared for, and prescribes specific rites and ceremonies to be conducted around the year to ensure that harvests are plentiful and livestock healthy. One of the best known of these is the traditional requirement that the same crop not be grown on a particular patch of land for two or more years in a row, and that every third year the land should be left to lie fallow or be given over to the grazing of livestock. Akandra likewise requires that hunters observe certain auguries as to what and when to hunt, directing them to either cull those animals which have grown too numerous, or else to desist from hunting certain creatures who grow too few in number. Ekirena and Hrenisha likewise teach a certain form of stewardship; in the case of Ekirena, this manifests as a call for the faithful to be compassionate towards others and offer care and charity to those who require it, whereas in Hrenisha's case it is said that the goddess requires her faithful to elevate others to be able to achieve all that they can achieve. This latter position has led to some controversy, especially since the Triponzo Revolution , due to the common perception that certain portions of the cult of Hrenisha actively sympathize with the revolutionary cause.
The Four Knightly Virtues
"Let Courage be my breastplate, and Honour my helm; Compassion my shield, and Wisdom my sword. By these four virtues I swear to uphold myself as a perfect knight of the Nine Daughters" From the traditional Alderni ceremony for conferring knighthoodBeyond the concept of stewardship, the Nullist Doctrine teaches that those who aspire to greatness should abide by the four "Knightly Virtues" of Courage, Honour, Compassion, and Wisdom; these things are to be encouraged for all, but are of particular relevance to the scions of the High Houses, who are considered to be bound to uphold these ideals. Some Alderni intellectuals have proposed that it is the adherence of the High Nobility to the Four Knightly Virtues, rather than the accident of their descent from the Divine Bloodline, which provides the ultimate justification for the Alderni social structure - though this is considered somewhat radical, and some formulations of this opinion have been declared seditious and are prosecuted harshly by law for fear that they might undermine confidence in the state. In the context of the Four Knightly Virtues, these four concepts have fairly well-established meanings. Courage consists of the willingness to stand up for what one believes in, and fight, or even die for those things that matter to a person; it also includes such things as the willingness to confront unwelcome truths rather than hide behind comforting lies, a sense of inner certainty and confidence in ones convictions, and in general the attitude of striving against challenging circumstances rather than being cowed into submission by them. Honour includes such things as abiding by one's word, a willingness to do what is right rather than what is convenient or what might bring temporary pleasures, and a general sense of restraint in one's behaviour - which might sometimes include elements of sexual propriety, and at least the outward appearance of monogamy. Compassion refers to the cultivation of an appropriate sense of mercy - neither too mild nor too severe - towards others of appropriate station, and is part of the rationale for the illegality of inflicting corporal punishment upon members of the nobility; it is often stated that this consideration does not apply to the common-folk, who may need such punishment to properly "correct" them should they err in their behaviour, under the doctrine of stewardship. Finally, Wisdom includes such things as seeking to increase one's knowledge and understanding of the world, and to apply that knowledge to one's actions; there is a strong doctrinal precedent for the search for wisdom as a justification of questioning doctrine, which is partially responsible for the general lack of laws against heresy despite the ever-increasing formalisation of doctrine. The Four Knightly Virtues are said to guard against the malign influence of the Four Hells: Courage fends off the call of Thalkaya, Hell of the Apathetic; Honour defends against the insidious whispers of Aiskapekos, Hell of the Desirous; Compassion defends against the attention of Vylokheim, Hell of the Cruel; and Wisdom protects against the corrupting grasp of Skomaellum, Hell of the Hubristic. Whilst this has been believed to a greater or lesser extent for many hundreds of years, it has only been considered doctrinally binding since the mid 13th-century and remains somewhat contentious to this day. It is perhaps inevitably the case that so often the outward appearance of virtue is valued greater than actual adherence to the principles of virtue, and the extent to which any of the Four Virtues are upheld when they clash with pragmatic considerations varies considerably.
Sanctity of the Dead
Whilst Kriophona tends to place the most emphasis on funerary rites and the reverence of the "Honoured Dead", almost all sects of the Nine Priesthoods consider it a terrible sin to disturb the dead. The creation of the undead, especially the ensoulled undead, is considered an affront to the gods and to nature, and the practice of forms of necromancy which involve the animation of corpses or the binding of souls is considered anathema. It is likewise not permissible to return the dead to life - though for this purpose death is considered to be a process that begins at the cessation of the heartbeat, and is completed at the time that the body begins to decay. During this period, which is usually considered to take around eight hours, it is permissible to revive the dead provided that the soul remains within the body, and to do so is not considered malefic; likewise, it is permitted to revive one who has died "before their time", even if the initial period has passed - though this must be sanctioned through oracular methods to determine that it is the will of the Daughters. An exception to the ban on necromancy is found in a handful of particular rites practiced by the clergy of Kriophona, which include the creation of "guardian ghosts" to watch over tombs and graveyards - and such rites are only ever conducted with the permission of the deceased prior to their demise, and even then only rarely.The Quest for Godhood
Unlike many other religions, the Daughters of Null teach that apotheosis is both an acceptable goal that one might put their mind to, and one which is feasible to achieve in a single incarnation. However, this comes with certain caveats - the first being that whilst there are many routes toward such power, they are universally difficult and fraught with danger; and furthermore, that many involve practices which are morally abhorrent. The only licit method, said to be the most reliable, is the path offered by the Daughters of Null to their faithful - serve well, and live a virtuous and faithful life, and your service may be rewarded.Worship
Exoteric Worship
The Daughters are considered a cohesive pantheon that shares a common philosophy, though most shrines and temples are dedicated to one of the Daughters in specific; the major exception to this is the great Cathedral of the Nine Daughters in Ajakappel, though even that is divided into nine precincts. Individuals will offer up praise and veneration to specific members of the pantheon depending on the circumstances; one might pray to Ekirena in hope of a swift recovery from illness, or to Laethe for protection in battle, for example. Whilst Nullist doctrine condemns the view that worship is somehow transactional as being demeaning to the dignity of the Daughters, it is an attitude which is nontheless widespread. Offerings are given to the Daughters not necessarily as payment for some service to be rendered to the worshipper, so much as a method of drawing the attention of the goddesses; offertory traditions vary significantly, though commonly include such things as garlands of flowers, libations of oil, wine, and beer, or of freshly made bread. A particular kind of spiced bread made with cinnamon and flake-pepper is considered extremely suitable as an offering, and is widely used in the ceremonies of the High Houses.Esoteric Worship
As well as the more public face of the religion, there is a long and subtle tradition of esoteric worship of the Daughters of Null. Most esoteric sects are close-guarded as to the specific details of their practices, though many incorporate elements of meditation and inward reflection, with the ultimate goal of apotheosis.Feasts and Holidays
Since time immemorial, the Ald have considered the New Moon to hold a special religious and magical significance - whilst this was once related to the worship of the Star Gods, in modern Aldernord there is a strong association between the new moon and the Daughters of Null. Symbolically, the darkness of the new moon is said to represent the concealment of the Daughters of Null from the eyes of their enemies; on a more esoteric level, it is said to be a reminder that one ought to "walk in darkness to better see the light" - that the presence of the divine is most immediate in the silence and darkness when one might turn the eye of the mind inward, rather than to the bustling of the world.First New Moon - Festival of Hrenisha - Ascension Night
Fourteen days after the Winter Solstice, the festival of Ascension Night begins. Associated with Hrenisha in her aspect as Stealer of the Flame, the festival is one of the most important of the Alderni religious calendar. It celebrates the apotheosis of the Daughters, their concealment, and their triumphant return to the world to bring liberation to their people. Prior to the unification of the Aldenri ceremonial calendar with the Katari calendar in 784AK , it was considered the beginning of the new year. The first night tends to feature the performance of mystery plays depicting the Daughters meeting as mortals, plotting their rebellion against the lich-king Urvuren, and eventually achieving apotheosis through Hrenisha's magic. The tone of these plays varies considerably from place to place, and whilst some are solemn and rather dour, most are fairly lively affairs, and some are outright raucous. In some parts of Aldernord - especially the provinces of what is now Savura - these plays have often taken on a somewhat satirical element, with the villainous Urvuren being subtly (or not-so-subtly) being depicted as a caricature of some unpopular local noble or burghermeister, sometimes by an actor using magical means to appear as the individual being mocked; whilst for most of Aldernord's history this kind of mockery has generally been overlooked by all but the most officious of judges, such things have come under significantly more scrutiny following the increase in social unrest of the 1320's AK, and more than one satirist has been dragged to the gallows on a charge of sedition for overstepping the line of acceptable commentary. The second night of the festival is typically somewhat more muted in tone than the first night, in keeping with the concealment of the Daughters; there is a long tradition of storytelling among the Ald, and it is on this night that many of the more ancient tales are traditionally told. The second night is also the traditional date for the admission of students to certain establishments of higher education, such as the Studium of Valkenholt and the Academy of Gildenschloss. The third night celebrates the triumphant return of the Daughters of Null to liberate their faithful from the lich-king Urvuren. In Ysberinge it is marked by the quenching of all lanterns and candles, followed by a silent procession in darkness through the city, ending in a gathering around the shores of the central lake; at the height of the ceremony the Queen herself lights a great brazier upon the tallest tower of the royal palace, and sounds the "Iron Horn of Conquest", a legendary war horn that is said to have been carried by Erastes Tideborn when she landed in the Bay of Ysber, and the lights of the city are ceremonially reignited. Other settlements have their own traditions, which often share similar symbolic elements, albeit on a less grand scale. The night then proceeds with feasting and dancing until the early hours of the morning.Second New Moon - Festival of Disphona - Feast of the Three Winds
The second new moon of the year is dedicated to Disphona; named the Feast of the Three Winds, it honours her threefold aspect as goddess of law, commerce, and travel. The Three Winds of the festival refer to the Great Gyre, a system of winds and current that flow northeast from the Adric Isles along the coast of Kataris, west along the coast of Azarach, and then south from Parath, along the coast of Aaranak, back to the Adric Isles; these three winds, sometimes known by the ancient Ald as Belowind (promise-wind), Dagenwind (dawn-wind), and Droefwind (sorrow-wind), play a major role in maritime trade along the northern coast of Kataris and with the lands to the far north and west. Unlike Ascension Night, the Feast of the Three Winds follows a rather less fixed and formalised pattern; whilst there are certain specific religious rites which must be carried out by the priesthood of Disphona at this time (including the formal swearing-in of the nine justices of the Royal Tribunal, the blessing of ocean-going ships, and the reckoning of certain annual taxes), for the majority of the populace it passes with celebration but little in the way of ceremony. In Ysberinge, it is common for the central lake to be frozen over at the time of the festival, and during such times it is usual for it to be marked with a great market faire in which traders from across the Ysberwaal come to the capital to sell their wares. If the ice has melted by the time of the festival, some say that this is an omen that the coming year will be a time of economic hardship.Third New Moon - Festival of Ekirena - Winter's Ebb
Considered to mark the beginning of spring and point when the upland rivers begin to melt, the festival of Winter's Ebb is dedicated to Ekirena. It is a relatively gentle celebration, seen as a time to mark periods of growth and change, and is a common time for coming-of-age ceremonies to be held. It is also said to be an auspicious time to make offerings for the relief of illness, and for the beginning of certain great journeys and other ventures. In some parts of Aldernord it is said that children born on Winter's Ebb are blessed by Ekirena with the power of healing; whilst this is not an official part of the doctrine, little has ever been done to suppress this belief, and it is not infrequent for such children to become initiates of Ekirena when they come of age. In other parts of Aldernord, it is customary to attribute the birthday of foundlings and other children whose precise date of birth is unknown to one of the days of the festival.Fourth New Moon - Festival of Ektrophos - Watchnight
The fourth new moon of the year is dedicated to Ektrophos, the keeper of the hearth and protector of the nation. It is a somewhat somber festival, the central night of which consists of the Watchnight Vigil. During this night, it is traditional for at least one member of every household to remain awake between the hour of sunset and dawn, to guard against malevolent spirits that might sneak into the home and harm the occupants, and also in the belief that on occasion the angelic servants of the Daughters walk the earth in order to deliver the words of the goddesses to their faithful. Since 1301AK, this festival has also celebrated the coronation of Queen Margaretha IV Bheuren.Fifth New Moon - Lesser Festival of Spring
The first of the three "lesser festivals", all of relatively recent provenance, being formally declared holidays by Queen Altea II Vottellian in 1094AK. There is no doctrinal stipulation on how this festival is to be celebrated, and in many areas it takes the form of a small market faire with a few small religious ceremonies for dedicants of the Nine Daughters. Some Alderni, especially those with familial connections to the elves of the raths celebrate the Night of the Ancestors at this time in much the same way as the devotees of the Eightfold Circle do, making offerings and telling tales of their ancestors, and say that on this night the spirits of the ancient dead might on occasion return and walk among the living.Sixth New Moon - Festival of Laethe - Warmoon
Sacred to Laethe, the sixth new moon is known as the Warmoon. It is typically marked with contests of skill at arms, ranging from jousting, archery, and sword-duelling through to traditional forms of Aldish wrestling. These contests generally have an air of friendly competition to them, though they do also serve as a time to settle grudges, and for substantial sums of money to change hands over wagers. The timing of the Zallenkirk Accord , signed on the second day of the Festival of Laethe in 1342AK, has been a matter of great controversy among the priesthood of Laetha; some hardliners decry the timing of the treaty, seen as akin to a complete capitulation to the rebel forces of Savura and Balthas, as almost blasphemous, whilst more moderate voices including the Apertor of Laethe have been quick to point out that the auguries and omens of the Daughters were unambiguously in favour of the treaty, including those attributed to Laethe. Some scholars have remarked that there are certain similarities between the celebrations of the Warmoon and the gladiatorial spectacles of the Empire of Kataris, albeit without the element of sacrifice and with rather less bloodshed.Seventh New Moon - Festival of Damalith - Night of Landing
The second most important festival of the Alderni religious calendar, the Seventh New Moon is dedicated to Damalith and commemorates the landing of Erastes Tideborn in the Bay of Ysber. As with Ascension Night, there is a long history of mystery plays, which usually depict the arrival of Erastes Tideborn on the shores of Kataris, and associated historical events such as the overthrow of the Regent of Kato Varos, the marriage of Ambiphane to the Archmage of Kalamak, and the victory over the Grand Jarldoms of Balthas. Whilst primarily a time of national celebration, the festival also has a traditional association with fortune-telling; it is also seen as an auspicious time to marry, especially among the High Nobility.Eight New Moon - Lesser Festival of Summer
The second of the "lesser festivals" declared by Queen Altea II Vottellian, likewise without a significant doctrinal component. In some areas the rathi tradition of offering libations of fruit wines to the spirits of the rivers is observed; in others, an old Aldish tradition of memorializing the recently-dead by casting votive tablets bearing their names into the ocean is performed. Some scholars have speculated that this Aldish tradition may have a common origin with a similar memorial tradition of the Eightfold Circle that occurs at on this same date.Ninth New Moon - Festival of Akandra - Harvestide
The ninth moon, sacred to Akandra is the traditional harvest festival, celebrating the successes of the agricultural year and offering up a portion to the Daughters and to the myriad spirits of the land who are said to serve Akandra, in the hope of continued prosperity. It is a time of feasting, drinking, dancing, and singing, and is generally considered to have an attitude of joy and thankfulness. It is traditional that the portion of the harvest to be offered up to the spirits of the land should be ploughed back into the soil from whence it came on the second day of the new moon. Those whose interests encompass the esoteric and the political rarely fail to note that the Treaty of the Three Cities was formally signed on the second night of this festival in 1329AK, signalling the creation of the League of Savura - though the precise metaphysical implication of this fact is often elusive.Tenth New Moon - Festival of Mellet - Three Nights of Soot and Ashes
The Three Nights of Soot and Ashes, dedicated to Mellet the Dweller in Darkness and goddess of death and transformation, is often seen as somewhat morbid, even sinister in nature. It is something of a counterpart to the preceding festival of Harvestide, and is said to mark the recognition that life and death are fundamentally intertwined. Rituals vary from place to place, though there are numerous common elements; one of the most widespread is a ritualised form of begging in which the commonfolk of a village don sackcloth and rags and use a mixture of white ash and black soot to paint their faces as skulls, before assembling at the manor of the local landlord armed with agricultural implements and singing dirge-like songs threatening calamity unless the dead are paid their due, leaving only when they are provided with food and strong drink. Certain folktales speak of horrible fates befalling those who refuse this morbid wassail, with some saying that every so often the dead do in fact arise from their graves and prey upon the miserly. Another notable tradition, most common in Zudomoeras, is the dressing of a scarecrow in the clothes of one who has recently died, which is then burned amid the fields to ward off the restless dead. Some scholars believe that this ultimately stems from a much older tradition of human sacrifice which may have been practiced in the time of the Empire of Kataris. In some parts of Aldernord it is said that if a moth lands upon you during the Three Nights of Soot and Ashes, it is an omen that you, or someone dear to you, shall die within a year.Eleventh New Moon - Lesser Festival of Autumn
The third of the lesser festivals inaugurated by Altea II Vottellian, the eleventh moon marks the turn of Autumn to Winter. In many areas a tradition similar to that of the Eightfold Circle is followed, and dwellings are ceremonially cleaned and warded against intrusion by the ravenous spirits of winter that might invade during the dark months.Twelfth Full Moon - Festival of Kriophona - Nights of Remembrance
The final festival of the Alderni ritual calendar, dedicated to Kriophona, is held in the heart of winter. Though a festival of the dead, it is a remarkably joyful one which owes a great deal to Volsangan traditions; it is not a time of mourning, but of celebration of the great deeds of ones forebears, in which it is traditional to tell tall-tales of the heroes of the past and make elaborate boasts on the deeds of one's ancestors.Priesthood
Within Aldernord
Whilst Aldernord is not a theocracy as such, is it the spiritual centre of the worship of the Daughters of Null and many who are not familiar with the history of their worship simply assume that the Daughters are the tutelary deities of the Alderni state. The priesthood of the Daughters in Aldernord is heavily integrated into the functioning of Alderni society, with various subsects and orders, commonly termed consobrini or sodalities, holding specific social responsibilities and rights; at the uppermost level, the Apertori hold permanent seats in the Grand Council, and wield significant power and influence. Each sodality has its own unique nature and set of traditions, and is in theory independent from all others save for the oversight of the Apertori; in practice though, many smaller sodalities are effectively subsidiaries of other more prominent ones upon whom they may rely for financial or political support.The Apertori
See also: Apertor The Apertori, formally styled the "Openers of the Ninefold Door", are the nine ranking priests of the Daughters of Null in Aldernord. Whilst the position has existed since the early 8th century, their role was not formalised until the reign of Queen Hildegard I Ysern (ruled 808AK to 835AK). Since the reign of Queen Kasimira Sarren (ruled 900 to 924AK) they have held permanent seats on the Ground Council (excepting those times when the Grand Council has been temporarily suppressed), and their political influence has gradually increased ever since. The role of the Apertori is more political than ceremonial; they are considered the highest religious authorities in Aldernord, and in certain contexts their decrees are considered to be as binding as if they were spoken by the Daughters themselves. The role of the Apertori is ultimately to be found in their interpretation of doctrine and their determination of the canonicity of revelation; it is argued that prophecies and oracles are often somewhat opaque, and the determination of their true meaning and wider applicability requires specialist knowledge and understanding. As much of Alderni law ultimately derives from the philosophy of the Daughters of the Nine, the Apertori thus also play a role in guiding the functioning of the secular legal system; they do not have the authority to unilaterally amend the law, but their recommendations are usually considered to hold great weight on most matters. Among some of the more notable and controversial matters that the Apertori have issued doctrinal recommendations on are such things as the ability of the Matriarchs of the High Houses to block a candidate from accession to the throne, the precise circumstances in which Justification by Arms may be called for, and the circumstances in which a declaration of illegitimacy can be rescinded. Not all of the Apertorial judgements are matters of public record - it is sometimes said, for example, that there are several which relate to the role of the office of the Queensknife. As a result of their authority over doctrine, the Apertori hold the right to declare whether a religious sodality is compliant with the doctrine or not. Whilst a declaration of non-compliance does not, in itself render an organisation illegal, it is seen as an indication of official disapproval and tends to encourage others to sever their links with the condemned organisation, and indeed can be a prelude to a legal declaration that an organisation is seditious and to be suppressed. This power has been exercised a great number of times over the years; the most prominent organisation to be so stripped of rank in living memory is the Order of the Three Swords.Akandra in Aldernord
The sodalities of Akandra are among the most powerful and influential in Aldernord, having broad responsibilities for agriculture and the wilds. In many cases, her sodalities act in a fashion more akin to guilds than religious organisations; the right of certain of these sodalities to claim a portion of the crops, livestock, and other food produced by the nation has led to their accumulation of significant wealth, and in many areas corruption is rampant. Prominent sodalities include:- The Consobrinum of Field and Flock - who have responsibility for the inspection of crops and livestock to ensure that they are free of disease.
- The Consobrinum for the Regulation of Wine and Ale - who have responsibility for the oversight of the production of all alcoholic drinks.
- The Consobrinum for Relief from Vermin - who have responsibility for control of pests.
- The Consobrinum of the Forest - a militant priesthood who act as gamekeepers and monster-hunters in the wilder parts of Aldernord.
- The Order of the Mother of Earth - a militant priesthood, popular among the High Houses, who protect farmland from hostile incursions, whether of bandits or similar mundane threats, or more monstrous ones
Damalith in Aldernord
The sodalities of Damalith are small, and mostly confined to the High Nobility. The main sodality of Damalith is the Consobrinum of the Song of Dreams, whose membership is exclusively drawn from the High Houses, particularly House Erastes. They are concerned with prophecy and the determination of the will of the Daughters, and many members of the High Nobility make a point of consulting them before undertaking any great venture. A rather less well-thought-of organisation is the itinerant Consobrinum of the Weaver, who are grudgingly accepted as an orthodox sodality by the Apertori based on historical precedent. Drawn from the lower social orders, they are often dismissed as mere fortune-tellers and charlatans, and have virtually no influence among the rich and the powerful; among the rural serfs however, these wandering mystics tend to be greatly respected, and often greatly feared for their supposed ability to read omens of the future and lay both blessings and curses upon people.Disphona in Aldernord
As goddess of merchants, law, and travellers, Disphona has a number of influential sodalities. These include:- The Consobrinum of Clerks-Judiciary - who study jurisprudence and act as judicial investigators and agents of the Alderni courts
- The Consobrinum for the Regulation of Markets - who ceremonially open and close the market faires in various settlements, and who often have specific legal standing to oversee disputes relating to them
- The Consobrinum of Priest-Magistrates - who are drawn from those members of the High Nobility who pursue careers in jurisprudence; most of the long-standing judges of the Ducal Courts, and all members of the Royal Tribunal, are initiates of this sodality.
- The Oathkin of the Blade of Judgement- a semi-secret society, whose members are drawn from the High Houses by invitation only, said to exist to hold all the other judicial sodalities to account
- The Sodalities-Militant for the Protection of Travellers - which contains a number of self-described religious orders who provide armed security for travelling merchants or patrol the roads to keep them free of bandits; the degree to which some of these orders are distinguishable from mercenaries, or brigands for that matter, is perhaps debatable
Ekirena in Aldernord
Ekirena is widely revered, especially among the common-folk of Aldernord, though her formal priesthood are relatively few in number. All those who formally join her priesthood are bound by a solemn oath to heal the sick and injured without recourse to wealth or social station, and are barred for accepting direct payment for their work, though this does not apply to her lay initiates. Her sodalities include:- The Consobrinum of Midwives - who initiate and train midwives, usually as lay members; they are greatly respected across Alderni society, and as a result of their work it is likely that even the most impoverished of villages will have a trained midwife, who also commonly acts as a healer and herbalist
- The Faithful Consobrinum of the Hospital-Academy of the Orphans of Ekirena at Gildenschloss - often simply referred to as the Hospital of Ekirena, a charitable institute who take in a significant number of orphaned, unwanted, or abandoned children. It also provides medical treatment for those with supernatural or inexplicably maladies
- The Order of the Jar - a militant order of healers who provide care for wounded soldiers and those displaced by war. They have in recent years garnered a somewhat controversial reputation due to offering treatment to Savuran and Balthan soldiers alongside their Alderni counterparts, and on a handful of occasions have taken up arms against members of the Alderni military in defence of their charges
Ektrophos in Aldernord
The priesthood of Ektrophos is small and mysterious; whilst she is widely revered as a protector-goddess, the majority of her devotees are lay initiates rather than members of a priestly sodality, and the precise nature of her sodalities is often somewhat mysterious. Those sodalities that are widely known include:- The Guardian-Monasts of the Priory of Theriko - A monastic sect who are said to guard against certain magical and more esoteric threats to Aldernord, who have some links to the Gilded Tower
- The Order of Heliodora Tyrantbane - an ancient and somewhat-esoteric militant order, with connections to certain more secretive sects.
Hrenisha in Aldernord
The cult of Hrenisha is similar to that of Ekirena, in that it is large, influential, and mostly consists of lay initiates. Her sodalities are entwined with academia of all kinds, and include:- The Concillar Consobrini of Scribes and Scholars - a relatively recent sodality, formed in 1230AK to standardize practices across certain institutions of higher education including the Studium of Valkenholt, University of Auditore, Academy of Gildenschloss, Collegium Coniuratio of Kalamak, and Collegium Transmutione of Lapis; following the emergence of the League of Savura it has lost a significant amount of its former credibility, in no small part due to accusations of radicalism.
- The Consobrium of Scholars-Militant - a sodality which concerns itself with the education of the scions of noble families in the art and science of war. Whilst relatively small, it is extremely influential.
- The Consobrium for the Education of the Poor - a sodality which concerns itself with the provision of education in basic literacy and numeracy to the children of serfs and of the urban poor
- The Consobrium for the Advancement of the Arcane Sciences - one of the constituent sodalities of the Concilar Consobrini of Scribes and Scholars, representing the interests of magical researchers. Deemed non-compliant in 1327AK following accusations of radicalism.
Kriophona in Aldernord
Kriophona is considered the goddess of the dead, and her sodalities are concerned with the care of the dead and with the recording of history. The most prominent sodalities include:- The Consobrinum of Gravetenders - who have responsibility for the regulation and upkeep of all cemeteries and sepulchres in Aldernord
- The Consobrinum for the Preparation of the Dead - who have responsibility for embalming and burial, and who also oversee certain aspects of academia relating to the dead, including the use of cadavers for dissection by students of the medical arts
- The Consobrinum of Exorcists - who conduct rites to ward off restless spirits and the undead
- The Order of the Winter Spear - a militant order who specialise in the destruction of the restless dead, and are granted legal authority to apprehend necromancers, or even summarily execute them under certain circumstances.
Laethe in Aldernord
The sodalities of Laethe are numerous and varied, though all are involved in the practice of warfare in one form or another. Many professional soldiers are lay initiates of her cult, and most Free Companies of Alderni origin will have a chaplain dedicated to her. One tradition in common within all sodalities of Laethe is the "Unconquerable Oath", and the characteristic ritual brands made upon the back of the wrists as a mark of this oath. Those who have sworn the Unconquerable Oath pledge to accept death rather than surrender or be taken prisoner in battle; they are automatically considered to have the legal standing at least equivalent a Banner-Knight regardless of their actual social position, and have certain unique legal privileges relating to the tradition of Justification by Arms. Theoretically, any person may swear the Unconquerable Oath at any time - though those who swear falsely do so at significant risk, as Laethe's clergy have the right to call out and kill their own should they fail to uphold the expectations that go along with the oath.Well-known sodalities of Laethe include:- The Order of the Alphyn - the most well-known militant order devoted to Laethe, greatly feared for their battlefield prowess and refusal to give ground to the foe
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