[h1][u]Religion[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h1][sub][h3][u]The Quentic Faith[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3][/sub] [hider=The Menanne][h2][u]Scripture of the Quentic Faith[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h2] Known by many names in many languages, but to the Parrench as the Menanne, this holy book proclaims the word of the Pentad as spoken through the saints and prophets. The early chapters share many of the same stories and conceits as the Orpash, holy book of The Path, but adapt these to be more favourable towards humans and less towards yasoi. Later chapters focus on the wisdom of the Gods and the acts of people. It is divided into three section, known as testaments: [sub][h3][u]Le Début[/u] (The First Testament)[/h3][/sub] This is the opening portion of the Menanne and includes the story of how the world was formed, how the first people came to be, and how the light of the Pentad was brought to them. It includes three 'testaments': 1) [u][b]La Fondation[/b][/u] describes how the five gods of the Pentad conceived of the world and empowered Oraphe to bring it into being. 2) [u][b]La Naissance[/b][/u] imparts the story of the first yasoi and the harmony of the beginning times. It details their exile from the Field of Plenty for their greed and ends with the bet between Oraphe-Sept and Aun-Echeran that these foolish people would not know the Pentad. 3) [u][b]La Renaissance[/b][/u] tells the story of how humans came to be and how the light of the Pentad was made known to the world. Dami judged the yasoi wanting, so their civilization was destroyed and they were cast into the mountainous wilderness by Echeran. Yet, some were judged better than others and Chune then provided Oraphe with guidance in how to remake them into the first humans. 4) [u][b]L'Obscurité[/b][/u] is the story of the time before humans discovered the light of the Pentad. Unlike with the yasoi, who grew greedy and complacent, the gods decided not to simply give humans that knowledge but, instead allow them to discover it. 5) [u][b]La Lumière[/b][/u] details how the true knowledge of the Pentad was brought to the yasoi under King Namyel. He and his followers were struggling in their homeland and Chune told him how he might prosper if he were to go to the human lands and minister to them. Thus, humans were enlightened to the existence of the Pentad. [sub][h3][u]Les Actes[/u] (The Testament of Acts)[/h3][/sub] The second testament of the Menanne covers the acts of prophets, saints, and other great actors in the history of the faith and of Quentic peoples. It is subdivided into two sections: Before the Clash and After the Clash, referring to the conflict between Macianus III of Avince and Fradje Ironshaper of the Eskandr. [sub][h3][u]La Sagesse[/u] (The Testament of Knowledge)[/h3][/sub] The third and final testament of the Menanne covers the wisdom of the Gods and how one might best follow them and their ways in the respective pursuits and facets of life that they govern. In the name of the Lover, the Learner, the Creator, the Destroyer, and the Judge: Amen.[/hider] [hider=The Pentad][h1][u]The Pentad of the Quentic Faith[/u]____ __ _[/h1][h3]Ipté. Chune. Oraphe. Echeran. Dami.[/h3] Lover, Learner, Creator, Destroyer, Judge: All magics and all of creation pay homage to the divine Pentad who brought them into being. Thy existence is beyond human understanding, thy ways both arcane and divine, and thy gifts the foundations of life itself. May thy will be done now and forever. [hr][h3]🌹 Ipté: The Lover 🎻[/h3] Ipté is known as The Lover and occupies the first position in the sign of the Pentad. One places their right hand beneath their left shoulder when making the sign. Like their four fellow Gods, Ipté possesses a female aspect - Aun-Ipté, the Queen of Beauty - and a male aspect - Ipté-Sept, the Lord of Love. The two aspects' legendary artifacts are the Rose and the Lyre, respectively, and the deity is associated with the element of Air, Arcane Magic, and the year's first season of Hundri, in the depths of winter. The works and deeds of Ipté make up the books of Ephaire and Kinship, which are the fourth and fifth books of the Menanne. This god's blessing, oft delivered by Hundrian monks and nuns, is "Ipté enchant you." [hr][h3]📖 Chune: The Learner 🕯️[/h3] Chune is known as The Learner and occupies the second position in the sign of the Pentad. One places their left hand beneath their right shoulder when making the sign. Like their four fellow Gods, Chune possesses a female aspect - Aun-Chune, the Keeper of Knowledge - and a male aspect - Chune-Sept, the Seeker of Knowledge. The two aspects' legendary artifacts are the Record Book and the Lantern, respectively, and the deity is associated with the element of Lightning, Thunder Magic, and the year's second season of Stresia, when the spring bloom begins. The works and deeds of Chune make up the books of Bergamon and Wisdom, which are the sixth and seventh books of the Menanne. This god's blessing, oft delivered by Stresian monks and nuns, is "Chune enlighten you." [hr][h3]🌳 Oraphe: The Creator 🥭[/h3] Oraphe is known as The Creator and occupies the third position in the sign of the Pentad. One places their left hand upon their right hip when making the sign. Like their four fellow Gods, Oraphe possesses a female aspect - Aun-Oraphe, the Giver of Life - and a male aspect - Oraphe-Sept, the Preserver of Life. The two aspects' legendary artifacts are the Tree of Life and the Ambrosia, respectively, and the deity is associated with the element of Water, Blood Magic, and the year's third season of Dorrad, in the hottest months. The works and deeds of Oraphe make up the books of Lazaire and Flourishing, which are the eighth and ninth books of the Menanne. This god's blessing, oft delivered by Dordian monks and nuns, is "Oraphe keep you." [hr][h3]💀 Echeran: The Destroyer 🗡️[/h3] Echeran is known as The Destroyer and occupies the fourth position in the sign of the Pentad. One places their right hand upon their left hip when making the sign. Like their four fellow Gods, Echeran possesses a female aspect - Aun-Echeran, the Hand of Death - and a male aspect - Echeran-Sept, the Bringer of War. The two aspects' legendary artifacts are the Skull and the Sword, respectively, and the deity is associated with the element of Fire, Essence Magic, and the year's fourth season of Rezain, when the harvest takes place. The works and deeds of Echeran make up the books of Gelgamed and Wrath, which are the tenth and eleventh books of the Menanne. This god's blessing, oft delivered by Rezaindian monks and nuns, is "Echeran spare you" or, in some cases, "Echeran empower you." [hr][h3]⚖️ Dami: The Judge 🔨[/h3] Dami is known as The Judge and occupies the fifth and final position in the sign of the Pentad. One retracts their hands from the hips and presses their palms together in a sign of reverence below their chest. Like their four fellow Gods, Dami possesses a female aspect - Aun-Dami, the Giver of Choice - and a male aspect - Dami-Sept, the Arbiter of Justice. The two aspects' legendary artifacts are the Scale and the Hammer, respectively, and the deity is associated with the element of Earth, Force Magic, and the year's fifth and final season of Somnes, when the harvest is over and cold rains coat the land. The works and deeds of Dami make up the books of Arbroast and Judgement, which are the twelfth and thirteenth books of the Menanne. This god's blessing, oft delivered by Somnian monks and nuns, is "Dami guide you." [hr][/hider] [hider=Religious Orders][hr][h2]Five Gods, Five Orders[/h2]The Quentic Faith organizes its religious orders into one for each deity in the Pentad. They take variations on the names of their associated seasons. Monks and nuns of a given order are responsible to all five divine members of the Pentad, but especially to the particular deity that they serve. Each order also contains suborders, with their own original vestments, purposes, and structure of governance. Every monastery of monks or convent of nuns is headed by an abbot or abbess, respectively. These are almost always members of the nobility, while other members may be of any social class.[center][h3]The Hundrian Order[/h3][/center]Deity Served: Ipte Associated Season: Hundri Blessing: “Ipte enchant you” Suborders: [list][*]Gold Order Hundrians: Counselors and advisors who facilitate family relationships - 50% nuns, 50% monks [*]Green Order Hundrians: Gardeners and animal husbandry who cultivate beauty in nature - 40% nuns, 60% monks [*]Vermilion Order Hundrians: Courtesans and escorts dedicated to the arts of sexual love - 70% nuns, 30% monks [*]Orange Order Hundrians – Counselors and therapists committed to facilitating marriages - 60% nuns, 40% monks [*]Turquoise Order Hundrians – Performers, muses, and models who showcase human beauty - 40% nuns, 60% monks[/list][hr][center][h3]The Stresian Order[/h3][/center]Deity Served: Shune Associated Season: Stresia Blessing: “Shune enlighten you” Suborders: [list][*]Stresian Scribes: responsible for the transcription of books and recordkeeping - 60% nuns, 40% monks [*]Stresian Sages: live in remote areas engaged in the study of time, space, and magic - 50% nuns, 50% monks [*]Stresian Philosophers: scientists, thinkers, and inventors engaged in the natural sciences - 30% nuns, 70% monks [*]Stresian Scholars: teachers, instructors, and researchers - 50% nuns, 50% monks [*]Stresian Thaumaturges: scholars and practitioners of magic, particularly holy magic - 60% nuns, 40% monks[/list][hr][center][h3]The Dordian Order[/h3][/center]Deity Served: Oraff Associated Season: Dorrad Blessing: “Oraff keep you” Suborders: [list][*]Sisters of the Sunrise: dedicated to assisting with childbirth and infant care - 100% nuns [*]Sisters of the Sunset: doctors, healers, and carers for the elderly - 100% nuns [*]Brothers of the Sunset: doctors, healers, and carers for the elderly - 100% monks [*]Brothers of the Unconquered Sun: protectors, paladins, and magical healers - 100% monks [*]Sisters of the Unconquered Sun: magical healers, menders, and protectors - 100% nuns [*]Children of the Nourishing Sun: dedicated to the preservation and protection of nature - 50% nuns, 50% monks[/list][hr][center][h3]The Rezaindian Order[/h3][/center]Deity Served: Eshiran Associated Season: Rezain Blessing: “Eshiran empower/spare you” Suborders: [list][*]White Rezaindians: care for the dying, easing their passage to the afterlife - 80% nuns, 20% monks [*]Grey Rezaindians: burial of the dead, mourning, and commemration - 70% nuns, 30% monks [*]Black Rezaindians: assassins in service of the Death God - 20% nuns, 80% monks [*]Brown Rezaindians: maintenance of graveyards and monuments - 40% nuns, 60% monks [*]Red Rezaindians: warrior monks who spread and protect the faith - 10% nuns, 90% monks [*]Blue Rezaindians: disposal and destruction of unwanted things - 40% nuns, 60% monks[/list][hr][center][h3]The Somnian Order[/h3][/center]Deity Served: Dami Associated Season: Somnes Blessing: “Dami guide you” Suborders: [list][*]High Somnians: judges, lawyers, and justices of the peace - 30% nuns, 70% monks [*]Old Somnians: advocates - keepers and enforcers of tradition and morality - 50% nuns, 50% monks [*]New Somnians: advocates - challengers of traditional morality, guarantors of free choice - 50% nuns, 50% monks [*]Grand Somnians: advisors to royalty and high nobility, lawmakers - 30% nuns, 70% monks [*]Light Somnians: protectors of due process, fairness, and legal transparency - 60% nuns, 40% monks [*]Dark Somnians: dispensers of vigilante justice, clandestine challengers of injustice - 20% nuns, 80% monks[/list] [hr][/hider][sub][h3][u]Other Faiths[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3][/sub] [hider=Eskandr Religion][h1][u]The Five Wardens[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h1][h3]Father. Mother. Sister. Brother. Visitor.[/h3]The Gods of the Eskandr are not all-powerful. These people are not so arrogant as to claim such though, in recent years, as their culture has rubbed up increasingly against that of the Greenlanders, their gods seem to have gotten stronger, perhaps in competition with those of the Pentad. While the two pantheons would seem to share the essential similarity of being based around five deities, it is not this simple. Rather, the Eskandr view four of their five main deities as a family, with each of the five members acting as warden over a particular realm. There are many lesser deities to help them, along with demigods, wilderness spirits, and ancestral guardians. Below is a rough guide to the Eskandr belief system. [h2][u]Realms & The Femrigr[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h2][sup][h3]Arbeid. Hjem. Glede. Krig. Død.[/h3][/sup] To the Eskandr, there are five essential realms of being, each representing a particular set of spaces and activities within the world (and without). These are Abeid (Work), Hjem (Home), Glede (Pleasure), Krig (War), and Død (Death). As you move from one place and pursuit to another, you move between the protection of the Five Warden Gods. The realms which they guard and the duties of people are recited by Eskandr children in a rhyme known as the Femrigr. Many carry its words with them through adulthood and will repeat it as a sort of comforting ritual. [i]Father guards the realm of work, for he is strong and sure. He knows his job and does it well, just as I know mine. Mother guards the hearth and home, and there we pray to her. She will feed me and protect me up until I cross that line. Sister walks to market and hurries about town, Yet she makes time for merriment and just as well should I. Brother fights the Greenlanders and strikes his rival down. I will follow him with bravery, from now until I die. To act with grace and purpose, I shall always do my best, Until the Visitor arrives and takes me off to rest.[/i] [h3][u]Father[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3] Father is provider and protector. He is generous but stern. His realm is that of duty, work, and labour. He is warden of leaders, fathers, men, labourers, craftsmen, brewers (disputed with Sister), miners, sailors, farmers, rain, the harvest, and judgement. There are lesser deities to help him with each of these. In terms of physical space, Father's protection extends to all public and work spaces, farms and work animals, and to the sky. He is known for his temper when wronged, however, and is also the secondary deity of War after Brother. In particular, he watches over sailors, foragers, and engineers. Father is happily married to Mother, though he grows a bit lecherous as he ages. Despite his wandering eye, he never actually strays. This is a subject often addressed playfully in Eskandr literature, song, and performance. Father has also grown rather stout, courtesy of Mother's excellent cooking, but remains incredibly strong. He will often carry mother to bed. His is also the job of ridding the property of pests, as Mother is usually too busy, Brother is away, and Sister is afraid of them. Though brewing is under the wardenship of Sister, Father is so fond of mead around feast days that it is said that he has unofficially stolen it from her. Thus it is considered a customary offering to him. [h3][u]Mother[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3] Mother feeds, warms, and clothes her children. She is kind and loving, but expects much. Her realm is that of the hearth and home. She is warden of food and drink, filial and parental love, water, childbirth, memory, and learning. Beloved of Mother are cooks, mothers, women, teachers, homebuilders, storytellers, priests, scribes, sailors, and children. There are also lesser deities to help her with each of these. In terms of physical space, Mother's protection extends to all homes, harbours, and churches and to the sea. She often looks after sailors and brings them home safely. Mother is happily married to Father though, as she ages and he fattens, her eye starts to wander- a fault that she often chastises [i]him[/i] for. Still, she has never actually strayed. Mother often frets about the order of creation, from great to small things, and her obsessive, anxious attention to detail is often addressed playfully but respectfully in Eskandr song, literature, and performance. It is said that she has a magical goat, Heldig, who she lets taste all of her creations before giving them to Father, Brother, or - especially Sister, since the latter is a very picky eater. Mother herself appreciates currant pie very much, but it is the one thing that she cannot cook well, so Sister or Brother often bring it to her. This is seen as an appropriate offering. [h3][u]Sister[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3] Sister is a merry soul who brings light, love, and laughter to the world, but she can be fearsome when angered. Her realm is that of pleasure, community, and romantic love. She is warden of lovers, girls, merchants, brewers (disputed with Father), bargaining, beauty, sexual intercourse, gambling and gamblers, games, and mischief. There are also lesser deities to help her with each of these. In terms of physical space, Sister's protection extends to all public spaces within the community that aren't work spaces and all gatherings and parties. Along with brother, she guards the land. Sister is also not to be trifled with, however, and is the tertiary deity of War after Brother and Father. In particular, she is the guardian of scouts and rangers. In terms of her temperament, Sister is very much like Father. She is a shameless flirt but still guards her dignity to a respectable degree. She is well known for her mischief and tricks and has a strong lust for gold, money, and valuable or beautiful things. Due to an incident in her childhood, she is said to be deathly afraid of mice, and this, along with her notoriously picky diet, is often played for laughs in Eskandr song, literature, and performance. Sister is very fond of her drink, though she prefers expensive greenlander wines to mead. As such, the struggle to be warden of brewers between herself and father is one that she is secretly willing to lose to keep him happy. It is often joked that there is no good offering for Sister because she won't eat very much but, in practice, wine is used. [h3][u]Brother[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3] Brother is a bold and adventurous sort who brings discovery, magic, and victory in warfare. He is warden of nature, boys, travelers, magicians, explorers, raiders, soldiers, roads, plunder, discovery, horses, and shepherds. There are also many lesser deities to help him with each of these. Brother's is the big wide world beyond one's town or village and, because he has such a large realm to be responsible for compared to the others, his protection is often tenuous despite his youthful vigour. He is said to enlist sister when he can, and this is why communities tend to spread outwards when they flourish. Some Eskandr consider Brother to be the most important of the Gods. Brother is young and strong and he is a powerful warrior. This makes him the primary deity of Warfare in Eskandr culture, ahead of Father and Sister. He is also seen to help Father and Mother with the harvest if he makes it home on time from his travels. Brother is not a grim personality, however. He is said to be 'home' in his temples and churches less than the other warden gods because of his insatiable wanderlust. This has lead many yasoi people to also respect him as a guardian spirit even though he is not officially part of their belief system. Brother is quite handsome but, unlike Sister, is not quite as selective in love. He is said to be eager to bed just about any woman and some men. This makes a common appearance as a theme in Eskandr song, literature, and performance, as does his cast iron stomach. It is said that, in contrast to Sister, he will eat just about anything. Once he ages, they believe he will be quite a bit rounder than even father. He does have his favourites, though. Brother prefers a hearty side of mutton upon returning home from travel or war, and this is an appropriate offering for him. [h3][u]Visitor[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3] Visitor is a quiet, gentle, and wise sort, who only makes an appearance once in a while. Their realm includes sleep, peace, time, and death, which they bring to the world. Visitor is warden of night, sleep, the elderly, ill, and injured, magic (along with Brother), and the passing of time. There are also lesser deities to help them with those. In terms of physical space, the Visitor's domain comprises the human body itself and he is responsible for its protection during the night. As such, one is supposed to leave a fresh candle as an offering for Visitor. He guards the three levels of the underworld: Rødhal, Guldhal, and Grønhal, consulting with Mother and Father on where a soul should be placed. Those who die honourably on the field of battle following Brother are guaranteed not to end up in Rødhal and, more likely than not, in Grønhal. There are three levels of afterlife in Eskandr religious belief. Rødhal is the first and it is where those who have not been virtuous in life end up. It is hot and fiery place where souls are forced to subsist on meagre food and water, mining the great black mountains for the coal needed to heat the world. It is said that Eskand is so cold because the Eskandr are virtuous and send few people to Rødhal, while the greenlanders send many there, ensuring that their lands are well heated. The second level, where most people end up, is Guldhal. If one has lived a decent, average life or died too young to be proven good or bad (children are exempt from judgement), then his or her soul will reside in this level of the afterlife. It is very much like the living realm, but there is no war, disease, or deprivation. There is also little excitement. It is simply a peaceful afterlife beneath the golden sky of the eternally setting sun. The final realm, where the worthy reside, is known as Grønhal, and is a place of excitement, adventure, and feasting. There are great beasts to hunt, challenging and invigorating games to play, endless lands to explore, and fine wines, meads, and spirits to drink, along with endless savoury foods. On feast days, everyone will gather at the Visitor's table and those most honoured, will sit closest to them. [/hider] [hider=Yasoi Religion][h1][u]The Chosen Creed[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h1][sup][h3][u]Ytpi. Shiin. Oirase. Exiran. Damy.[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h3][/sup] The yasoi belief system, known to them simply as 'The Path' and, to outsiders, as "The Chosen Creed' is an ancient one, long predating even the founding of the Avincian Republic. Superficially similar to Quentism, it formed the basis of this now-continent spanning religion. There are, however, important differences. To begin with, there is much less emphasis on the Gods' aspects. These are also not taken to be separate natures but rather merely different roles that they play. Ypti is female in form and is the Bringer of Love. Shiin, the Bringer of Wisdom, is male. Oirase is the Bringer of Life and is female, while Exiran, the Bringer of Death, is male. Damy, however, is the Bringer of Fate as opposed to choice and is male as well. It is believed that the Gods are not themselves eternal beings. Instead, they simply represent eternal needs and a collection of eternal power that searches out and finds for itself a host body. Every thousand years, the current manifestations of the Gods expire and five Bringers are reborn and live among mortals until their twenty-fifth year. There will often be prophecies left by the previous iterations of the five as to where these children will be found and what their natures shall be. The passing of time and mythologizing of words often leads to inaccuracies, however, or so it is maintained. Further, yasoi also recognize a sixth, 'uncrowned' God: Vyshta. Originally, she was the Bringer of Fortune, but she incurred the wrath of Exiran, who resented how she seemed to prevent his work, and Dammy, who, for two mortal lives, had coveted her and was refused... despite his attempts to render them fated to be together. Hence, her two newest selves have failed to live to age twenty-five and she has been lost for one thousand nine-hundred ninety-eight years. It is said that, as a consequence, the yasoi people are to wander the land, ever seeking after fortune and coveting that which they cannot have. [/hider]