Maranonic Faith
The religion known as Maranonism is the monotheistic faith found in two distinct regions of the map. The first and largest is found in and very near Colo and the second is found along the coastal regions of the Principality of Fangort. This faith worships one god as the only true god and creator of the universe. It adheres to the scriptures found in a text known as the Song of Life which details the creation stories and the expectations of Maranon/Maranosoi for the faithful.
There are two denominations to the religion known as Maranonism. The faithful in the northern regions (Colo, Imesse and parts of Cobal) refer to their god as "Maranon" while the adherents of the southern regions (mainly Fangort) call him "Maranosoi". Both consider him the "one and only god, creator of all the world".
Mythology & Lore
The faith states that Maranon/Maranosoi created the world out of a vast and dangerous chaos that encompassed the universe. Swirling and impenetrable darkness, bitter cold and without form or design, Maranon began to forge a tangible and habitable world with only his hands and his voice. He sang of light and there was light to be seen. He sang of a hammer, and a hammer was there to beat back the swirling chaos. He sang of earth, and water, and sky and stars, and all came to be as he sang of them. With every song sung, the Chaos fought back, forcing Maranon to sing of a weapon he could defend the world with, and it appeared in his hands.
When the earth and sky and seas were solid and real, Maranon saw they were empty and lifeless. He sang of birds and fish and animals and trees and grasses, and all came to be as he sang. Then he sang of People that would help him fight back the dark chaos and defend creation, and Men came to be, then Dwarves, then Elves, then Halflings and Gnomes and all the intelligent races of created beings. Some followed Maranon and sang with him in harmonious praise, but others began to sing their own songs and stopped aiding Maranon in his efforts. These are the unbelievers, the soul-less and the evil beings of the world who will someday be brought back into harmony with the Song of Maranon or will be cast into the chaos and lost forever.
Tenets of Faith
The Followers of Maranon believe he is the one and only god, the creator-judge-provider for all of creation.
His words and directive are codified in a collection of scriptures known as the "Song of Life"
Maranon is represented in the north as a carven image of a bearded man with his arms crossed over his chest. This image is carved from a single piece of wood, typically a thick tree trunk. The image is then placed upright in the ground in a prominent place where ever his followers live or work. There are thousands of these carven images scattered across the north, from Cobal and Imesse to the frozen extents of Colo and beyond.
Maranosoi is represented in the south as an image of a bearded man with crossed arms holding a sword or hammer. This image is always chiseled from a single block of stone, placed upright in a prominent place.
Ethics
The "Song of Life" dictates that evil deeds are punished and good deeds are rewarded. These punishments and rewards are distributed both in this world, and in the next life. The scripture advocates charity, generosity and love of family as supreme virtues, while greed, parsimony and kin-slaying are the ultimate sins.
Worship
For the worship of Maranon, offerings of food are then left in open containers at the foot of the image. Wild animals and birds will consume the offering, and it is by observing which animals/birds eat the offering that the faithful can determine if their gift was well-received by Maranon. These wooden idols are venerated, and are never allowed to be defaced or desecrated, but the faithful know that it is a representation of their god, and not their god in fact.
The worship of Maranosoi requires a fire be lit in an iron brazier at the foot of the stone image and written prayers and offerings of food be burned, with the rising smoke taking the prayer and offering to the god's abode in "heaven". These stone idols are treated in the same reverential manner as the wooden idols of the north. The image is a representation of god, but not god himself.
Priesthood
There is an itinerant priesthood in the Maranonic faith. Particularly dedicated and faithful adherents commit themselves to a life of service and contemplation and walk from community to community tending to the carven images they find, carving new ones if the old ones are too old or worn by weather and age. They sometimes lead locals in prayers and songs, and many have gone so far as to memorize huge portions of the Song of Life scriptures. These wandering hermits can have an immense influence on local people, and any harm that might come to one is dealt with harshly and swiftly.
Sects
There is a recent movement amongst the priests of Maranon in Colo that has brought about the formation of an order of militant monks/priests that work to actively defend and protect innocent farms and villages along the border with Imesse against raids and attacks. These priests do not wield edged weapons but instead use staffs, clubs and their hands and feet to fight raiders and brigands that cross into the north to harass locals. These priests have been given the monicer Maranists by those they protect, and the movement is growing at a surprising (even alarming) rate.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
