The Elder Faith

Written by David_Ulph

The Elder Faith is a pantheonic religion, part of the Survivor God family, most active throughout majority Korg lands of the Great Western Empire.

Customs

Various actions, such as incest, slavery, and kinslaying are considered offensive to the old gods, although, as regards kinslaying, the degree of kin and circumstance of killing one’s kin (e.g., in war) hold significant influence. The laws of hospitality are considered to be sacred.

Since the Grand Schism - a war between the Diamen Faith and the Order of Saint Vortarius - the worship of the Survivor Gods throughout the GWE diminished greatly and the dogma of the Elder Faith turned increasingly unyielding in nature. The Raven Priests, despite their ideological differences, have decided that they will never spread the worship of the Elder Pantheon and Survivor Gods back to the lands that used to be faithful. They are committed to making their ancestral lands impregnable to the Order's missionaries and infidels.

Worship

The worship of the Elder Pantheon is astrological in nature, since it is the belief of the Survivor God Faiths that every star in the nights sky is the soul of a God who has died. The Faith is based on the belief that despite mortals are unshackled from their destinies, through study of the stars on select nights one can read the fate and future. It is also thought that when someone is born, the constellations that are in the nights sky at the time dictate what the person will be like in life.

The priesthood advocate that the Gods praise bravery and a free spirit. They encourage that even the smallest man can reach for the stars and achieve anything.

Temples

Priesthood

There are 6 levels of priesthood in the Elder Faith, each represented by a different corvid species. To show their ranks, the clothes the faithful wear represent the very same corvids. At the bottom are Scholar-Jays, then Treepie Acolytes, Friar-Crows, Hooded Priests, Lord Magpies and then finally Raven Priests who are known more usually as High Priests and Priestesses.

Jays and Treepies, being colourful members of the corvid family, means that Scholars and Acolytes will wear robes in the colour of the deity in which they are studying and preaching. Friar-Crows wear all black robes but with a chain around their neck depicting the gemstone of the main deity they worship. Hooded Priests are like Hooded Crows, with black arms and hood but a grey bodied robe. During a faithful's time as a Hooded Priest, they are expected to cut themselves off from the outside world entirely which is symbolised by the hood they always wear. Lord Magpies wear stylised and contrasting black-white clothing and will often be bedecked in jewellery and symbols depicting the whole Elder Pantheon. They will be the main priests of major temples.

Raven Priests are the only rank to not wear robes and will instead wear any clothing they desire as long as it is crafted with the blackest material available. There are only 3 Raven Priests left, but soon it will only be 2 at the rate in which Dalriadan Korgs are converting to the Order of Saint Vortarius. They are all equals and will overview the faith of their regions and individual Korgic culture, with the Frosian Raven in Valsport, the Midden Raven in Blackrock, and the Dalriadan Raven only recently moved to Talvel's Point.

Clerics

Marriage

Funerals

The dead are generally interred in remote tombs, rather within settlements although it is not uncommon for settlements to develop around these tombs, crypts and barrows to protect the dead within. Each settlement that has an Elder Faith population will have a Hall of the Dead with one or maybe two Friar Crows dedicated to Kaer, where every dead faithful will be transported to. The Friar Crows ensure that corpses are properly consecrated and cared for before transportation to barrows. All Scholar-Jays and Treepie Acolytes dedicated to Kaer are trained to prepare and inter the corpses of the dead and to learn the proper burial rituals and prayers, sometimes, since they were children. When entrusted with a Hall of the Dead, Friar Crows of Kaer are awarded a ceremonial dagger passed down through the generations. This tool is used to embalm the bodies, as well as be used against any restless dead who sometimes arise from their tombs. Friar Crows of Kaer usually live solitary lives and are seen as little more than outcasts.

Barrows are found dotting the wilderness, usually within short riding distances from settlements. They are usually circular and in the centre of the dome, will have an entranceway known as a lychgate that allows for crypts to expand under the ground. Since barrows are generally reserved for a single family, more ancient clans will have extensive barrows. Highly esteemed Elder Faithful, like honoured warriors, knights and nobles of old, had their own personal barrows commonly in secluded places, far from populated places. This tradition has fallen somewhat out of practice, where nobility now have family barrows beneath their castles.

Some faithful may choose a Fire Burial, instead of interring themselves. Reasons may differ, but they are an uncommon choice, but not despised at all. This ritual involves the cremation of the body of the deceased and the consecration of the ashes by the Friar Crow of Kaer, to secure their souls to depart to the afterlife. The ashes are then placed in urns and placed inside their family's barrow.

Sects

Arassaic

Type

Organised Religion

Nature

Unyielding

Doctrines

Astrology, Daring

Leadership

Autocephalous

Gods

Shyracon, the Father

Also known as the All-Father. Shyracon is the Light and Protection God of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Night, Law, the Afterlife, War, Midnight and Fire. His main temple is in Valsport, with shrines at any bridges over fast flowing rivers. His symbol is … or a ruby gemstone.

Thodir, the Warrior

Also known as the Champion of Korgs, the Champion of Mortals. Thodir is the War God of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Brawls, Trials, Valour, Celebrations, Vengeance, and Adventures. His main temple is in Talvel's Point, with shrines at many crossroads. His symbol in the Elder Faith is either an axe or an aquamarine gemstone.

Kaer, the Judge

Also known as the Shadow, the Brother. Kaer is the Grave God of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Law, Mortality, the Moon, Misery, and Mourning. His main temple is in Struiglay, with shrines atop mountain peaks and at the entrances to burial sites. His symbol in the Elder Faith is either a sword, dagger or an obsidian gemstone.

Padan, the Smith

Also known as the Steelmaiden. Padan is the Forge God of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with the Sun, Love, Life, Art and Competition. Her main temple is in Riverwatch, with shrines in every town square. Her symbol in the Elder Faith is either a hammer, anvil or an amethyst gemstone.

Kelai, the Traveller

Also known as the Companion. Kelai is the Knowledge and Tempest God of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Science, Language, Messengers, Storms and Sailing. His main temple is in Port Rea, with shrines at any place of education. His symbol in the Elder Pantheon is either a feather or an emerald gemstone.

Idaderra, the Sister

Idaderra is the Life Goddess of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Business, Harvest, Rain, Nature, Treaties and Manual Labour. Her main temple is in Skida Castle, with shrines in every town square and sometimes on isolated islands. Her symbol in the Elder Pantheon is either a leaf or a topaz gemstone.

Isoundur, Trickster

Isoundur is the Trickery Goddess of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Magic, Beauty, Marriage and Love. Her main temple is in Roghavern. Her symbol in the Elder Pantheon is either a lantern or a sapphire gemstone.

Arassai, the Mother

Also known as the Creator, the All-Mother. Arassai is the Death Goddess of the Elder Pantheon, being associated with Chaos, Creation, the Underworld, Gambling, Daytime, Prisoners and Lust. Her worship is outlawed in every Korg region apart from Lionmidden and so her main temple is in Blackrock. Her symbol is either a skull or an alexandrite gemstone.