The Northern Parthenon
The harsh gods of the northern religion are among counted among the oldest and long lived of the dieties of the Sovereign Lands. The northerners, particularly those who live deep within the northern barrier range, have been worshiping these gods since the Elven age and perhaps even longer. Unfortunately, the northern traditions have only recently adopted a written form of their previously oral histories and much of their deeper beliefs are still held secret. This prevents us from knowing for sure where and when this religion emerged, as memory is an incredibly inaccurate method of record. Regardless, recently transcribed oral histories indicate the first followers of the Northern tradition emerged some three and a half thousand years ago. While no specific dates are given, it can be surmised from descriptions in the record that the Northerners have been worshiping the harsh gods since before the time of the elvish empire. The elvish age is estimated to have lasted about 1,240 revs, and our current Sovereign age has carried on over 2,200 revs. At about 3,500 revs, the Northern religion is perhaps as old, or even older than the oldest elvish legends.
Structure
The northern pantheon of gods is small, much like the Elvish pantheon. Its deities are organized by specific purpose, with each god having a specialized role which in fulfilled. The religion's infrastructure is largely decentralized, with each priest likewise specializing in a specific god and administering related ceremony's to that god. Cross training among priests is exceptionally rare, and generally held within the specific families to which a priest belongs. All ecclesiastical authority is beholden to the northern sovereign, who often orders new law or decree be posted on or near the entrances of religious buildings. Taxes are often collected via one of the larger religious buildings in a particular town.
Each individual temple keeps its own records, manages its own staff, and handles the administration of all its own ceremonies. Each temple is administered by a lord priest, or head priest, with all decision and power within the temple ultimately residing in the hands of said priest. The lord priest is always of the same gender as the god they claim to represent. The northern pantheon is overwhelmingly male so female lord priests are uncommon.
Lord priests are usually very involved in the politics of the area in which they reside. Observers commonly document lord priests attending high level governmental meetings, and operating in the role of a council or consultant. As a result the lord priests possess an incredible amount of latent political power. Local authorities rarely move or make decisions without first taking counsel with the lord priests in their community. New law's or decrees by the sovereign succeed or fail with the support of lord priests. Their fulcrum position means that the sovereign, or his representatives, play a role in approving new lord priests when power changes hands.
Public Agenda
The specific agenda of the northern Parthenon changes from city to city, though all are in line with the stated political goals of the Northern Sovereign. Lord priests are granted vast freedom to carry out their own personal objectives or interests so long as they do not impede standing political interests. As a result, each lord priest has a different agenda or priority, with some leveraging their office to increase their power base or personal wealth. Other lord priests remain aloof from greater politics, choosing instead to focus solely on spiritual objectives.
Assets
Assets of the northern Parthenon are likewise decentralized, with each lord priest having total authority to raise and spend their funds in whatever manner they see fit. As a result there are no firm numbers for total control of assets. The Parthenon are the only entities granted tax exemptions from the sovereign, though in exchange for the exemption the priests are expected offer their facilities as tax collection and census locations.
Mythology & Lore
The northern mythos is centered around two principal major gods, the god of life and the god of death. These two entities have formal names, though they are never spoken aloud for fear of the curses which they can bring. Speaking the name of either god aloud is a crime for which a person may be imprisoned. The only place where their names may be spoken is within the confines of a temple, and even under those conditions names are spoken in a whisper.
The central conflict of the religion is a battle between the two major gods, one of life and one of death. These deities each control several key aspects of the environment, and will maintain the workings of the planet only if sufficient worship is received. Most worship is directed at the God of Life, who is believed to control the arrival of summer and the bearing of young across the world. The God of Death is the bringer of winter, and the lord of the cold. Despite the negative context, northerners view the God of Death as the purifier. He comes to purge the weak and unfit from among the people, ensuring only the strongest and most fruitful survive generation to generation.
Other gods are considered minor gods, and are only passively acknowledged by priests and the clergy. Though they do play a role in certain seasonal ceremonies, the minor gods are mostly featured in stories or legends. These minor gods are sometimes worshiped as small idols or totems carried by individuals. Their names are not held as sacred, though speaking of certain ones is thought to attract their notice and could cause bad fortune.
The central narrative of the Northern Parthenon dates back to the creation of the world. In the beginning Avilla was forged from the fires of Celina, the central star in the system. The northern Parthenon regards the star Celina as the source of all life, and the seat of the Life god's power. Avillanar, the planet on which the continent of Soverinar takes place They were attempting to create perfection to match their own, though the reasons why are hotly disputed among the various priests. Answers range from creation for the sake of entertainment, to other more profound intent.
None.
Unknown - Ongoing
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Alternative Names
The Harsh Gods, The Gods of Winter, The Cold Ones
Related Traditions
Related Ethnicities
Comments