More writing from my work hard drive
Today, some summaries of the religions followed by my TL characters:
Liesl - Vkandis
In the beginning was darkness, then Vkandis bought Light.
Vkandis is considered god of the Sun: of fire and light, of life, order and justice. His wife, Lillinara, is goddess of the moon: of water and light, or life, freedom and, very rarely chaos. Followers of Vkandis or Lillinara are never Balance aligned, since that would require accepting worship of death.
The majority of human Vkandis worshippers live in closed communities, calling themselves the Sonnenvolk (People of the Sun). They believe this is best way of life to avoid contact with the outside world and its suffering. Young people spend a year or two experiencing the outside world so they will understand Vkandis's mercy better and the vast majority return to the community afterwards. Of those who don't, some become ambassadors of Vkandis (or Lillinara) as Paladins, spreading Light throughout the world.
There are also elven worshippers of Vkandis, often mages of fire or light.
They believe when they die, through the mercy of Vkandis, they will experience eternal life within his pure light and all others will be left in eternal darkness (which bears a strong resemblence to the Plane of Shadows).
The Sonnenvolk are not strictly monotheists, but believe that deities other than Vkandis (or Lillinara) are lesser beings, planar creatures or natural spirits who have led humans astray into their worship. Worshippers of such beings may use miraculous castings but, on death, they will only go to their 'deities' native plane.
Lexi - The Blessed Ones
In the beginning when the world was young, two brothers walked in green fields together. They spoke often of knowledge and understanding and others were drawn to them to listen. Soon there were Seven, the greatest in wisdom and conviction of all their people.
Cadrus, the eldest and brightest, spoke of Life and Light, and his brother Narduk balanced him, speaking of the natural inevitability of Darkness and Death. Their twin cousins, Crisian and Caerule, spoke of nature and justice. Rhaeteth and Pyrior, more distant cousins, were enamored with creation by magic and in the fire of the forge. Hevish, the only one not related, talked of peace even as he fought to keep their community safe.
But, as the years passed, cracks appeared in their smooth agreements. Magic and the paths settled and as each of the Blessed Ones found their place, they became divided. Narduk delved in necromancy and was cast out, his clever tongue drew Crisian with him, into the darkest corners of nature.
Cadrus, even in all his anger, could not bring himself to strike his brother down even as he strove to destroy the undead Narduk created. Caerule wept for her twin, seeking to heal the rift their cousin had wrought and return him to the light. Rhaeteth researched ways to protect those who remained.
Through it all Hevish stood strong against all foes, meeting blow with blow, but never taking the offensive.
And so they stand:
Narduk - the Dark One
Crisian - the Redeemed
Caerule - the Blue Lady
Rhaeteth - the Great Sorceror
Pyrior - the Craftsman
Hevish - the Warlord/the Peacemaker
Cadrus - the Lord of the Light
Belladonna - The Bader Pantheon
Religion in Bader is a part of everyone's daily life. It would be foolish to try to deny the existence or divinity of deities who are likely to turn up and prove you wrong. The calendar is shaped around the gods and their domains, navigation turns on if you travel godwards (north) or kingwards (south). An entire country united under one pantheon; a nation of worshippers whether priests or not. All will ask for Traveller's blessing on a journey, call on Queen to bless a marriage, ask Champion to hold their oaths. So alignment matters less - who do you have more in common with, a fellow member of Lothander's temple, or another follower of the path of gold, who may not appreciate the importance of destroying demons and the undead?
Bader festivals/calendar dates
*First full moon after the Winter Solstice - Sky Moon (Sky Lord) (the New Year). Visitors to any village, town or city will notice a preponderence of orange in clothing, drinks and food. People fly kites, release sky lanterns, balloons or even birds and set off fireworks.
*The second moon - Fire Moon (Bel)
*Winter/Spring cross-quarter - Seeker's Day
*The third moon - Healers Moon (The White)
*Spring equinox - Claw
*The fourth moon - Evil Moon/Tricksters Moon (Deceiver). The first day of the month sees people playing (mostly) harmless pranks on each other. Followers of opposing paths to Deceiver may make an effort to tell the unvarnished truth to counter his influence.
*The fifth moon - Lovers Moon (Rosa). The first day of the month is when lovers exchange gifts. A popular month for marriages.
*Spring/Summer cross-quarter - Builder's Day
*The sixth moon - Travellers Moon (Traveller/Merchant). A good month for making journeys or agreeing business deals.
*Summer Solstice (longest day) - Lothander's Day. Considered especially good luck if it falls on a full moon.
*The seventh moon - Homecoming Moon (Queen). Another popular month for marriages.
*The eighth moon - Warriors Moon (Champion).
*Summer/Autumn cross-quarter - Brilliance's Day
*The ninth moon - Harvest Moon (Gatherer).
*The tenth moon - Death Moon (Skull Lord). The first day of the month is a day of remembrance for those lost.
*Autumn Equinox - The Oak King
*The eleventh moon - Seers Moon (Crow).
*Autumn/Winter cross-quarter - Afon's Day
*The twelfth moon - Justice Moon (The Knight)
*Winter solstice (the longest night) - Elune's night. It is considered bad luck for the year ahead if this falls on a new moon as Elune is mercurial, changing with the moon cycle between a gentle maiden and a determined crone.
Liesl - Vkandis
In the beginning was darkness, then Vkandis bought Light.
Vkandis is considered god of the Sun: of fire and light, of life, order and justice. His wife, Lillinara, is goddess of the moon: of water and light, or life, freedom and, very rarely chaos. Followers of Vkandis or Lillinara are never Balance aligned, since that would require accepting worship of death.
The majority of human Vkandis worshippers live in closed communities, calling themselves the Sonnenvolk (People of the Sun). They believe this is best way of life to avoid contact with the outside world and its suffering. Young people spend a year or two experiencing the outside world so they will understand Vkandis's mercy better and the vast majority return to the community afterwards. Of those who don't, some become ambassadors of Vkandis (or Lillinara) as Paladins, spreading Light throughout the world.
There are also elven worshippers of Vkandis, often mages of fire or light.
They believe when they die, through the mercy of Vkandis, they will experience eternal life within his pure light and all others will be left in eternal darkness (which bears a strong resemblence to the Plane of Shadows).
The Sonnenvolk are not strictly monotheists, but believe that deities other than Vkandis (or Lillinara) are lesser beings, planar creatures or natural spirits who have led humans astray into their worship. Worshippers of such beings may use miraculous castings but, on death, they will only go to their 'deities' native plane.
Lexi - The Blessed Ones
In the beginning when the world was young, two brothers walked in green fields together. They spoke often of knowledge and understanding and others were drawn to them to listen. Soon there were Seven, the greatest in wisdom and conviction of all their people.
Cadrus, the eldest and brightest, spoke of Life and Light, and his brother Narduk balanced him, speaking of the natural inevitability of Darkness and Death. Their twin cousins, Crisian and Caerule, spoke of nature and justice. Rhaeteth and Pyrior, more distant cousins, were enamored with creation by magic and in the fire of the forge. Hevish, the only one not related, talked of peace even as he fought to keep their community safe.
But, as the years passed, cracks appeared in their smooth agreements. Magic and the paths settled and as each of the Blessed Ones found their place, they became divided. Narduk delved in necromancy and was cast out, his clever tongue drew Crisian with him, into the darkest corners of nature.
Cadrus, even in all his anger, could not bring himself to strike his brother down even as he strove to destroy the undead Narduk created. Caerule wept for her twin, seeking to heal the rift their cousin had wrought and return him to the light. Rhaeteth researched ways to protect those who remained.
Through it all Hevish stood strong against all foes, meeting blow with blow, but never taking the offensive.
And so they stand:
Narduk - the Dark One
Crisian - the Redeemed
Caerule - the Blue Lady
Rhaeteth - the Great Sorceror
Pyrior - the Craftsman
Hevish - the Warlord/the Peacemaker
Cadrus - the Lord of the Light
Belladonna - The Bader Pantheon
Religion in Bader is a part of everyone's daily life. It would be foolish to try to deny the existence or divinity of deities who are likely to turn up and prove you wrong. The calendar is shaped around the gods and their domains, navigation turns on if you travel godwards (north) or kingwards (south). An entire country united under one pantheon; a nation of worshippers whether priests or not. All will ask for Traveller's blessing on a journey, call on Queen to bless a marriage, ask Champion to hold their oaths. So alignment matters less - who do you have more in common with, a fellow member of Lothander's temple, or another follower of the path of gold, who may not appreciate the importance of destroying demons and the undead?
Bader festivals/calendar dates
*First full moon after the Winter Solstice - Sky Moon (Sky Lord) (the New Year). Visitors to any village, town or city will notice a preponderence of orange in clothing, drinks and food. People fly kites, release sky lanterns, balloons or even birds and set off fireworks.
*The second moon - Fire Moon (Bel)
*Winter/Spring cross-quarter - Seeker's Day
*The third moon - Healers Moon (The White)
*Spring equinox - Claw
*The fourth moon - Evil Moon/Tricksters Moon (Deceiver). The first day of the month sees people playing (mostly) harmless pranks on each other. Followers of opposing paths to Deceiver may make an effort to tell the unvarnished truth to counter his influence.
*The fifth moon - Lovers Moon (Rosa). The first day of the month is when lovers exchange gifts. A popular month for marriages.
*Spring/Summer cross-quarter - Builder's Day
*The sixth moon - Travellers Moon (Traveller/Merchant). A good month for making journeys or agreeing business deals.
*Summer Solstice (longest day) - Lothander's Day. Considered especially good luck if it falls on a full moon.
*The seventh moon - Homecoming Moon (Queen). Another popular month for marriages.
*The eighth moon - Warriors Moon (Champion).
*Summer/Autumn cross-quarter - Brilliance's Day
*The ninth moon - Harvest Moon (Gatherer).
*The tenth moon - Death Moon (Skull Lord). The first day of the month is a day of remembrance for those lost.
*Autumn Equinox - The Oak King
*The eleventh moon - Seers Moon (Crow).
*Autumn/Winter cross-quarter - Afon's Day
*The twelfth moon - Justice Moon (The Knight)
*Winter solstice (the longest night) - Elune's night. It is considered bad luck for the year ahead if this falls on a new moon as Elune is mercurial, changing with the moon cycle between a gentle maiden and a determined crone.