Religion (Edovall Supplement)

Religion

Religion on Edovall generally refers to two different aspects of a person's belief system, and two different forms of divinity: Religion and Worship. Religion does not necessarily involve a god, and instead represents a belief systems that binds people together, be it the various forms of Nolrandism that unite the three major continents or the ritualistic, magic- and nature-based faith of the Seven Dells on Mircor dubbed Fearic Druidism. Worship instead reflects personal adherence to the powerful entities known as the Old Gods or Patron Gods, the deities that created the world and governed it before eventually leaving it in the hands of their own creations. Though the existence of the Old Gods is indisputable, the reasons for their departure and the extent to which they still watch over the world are the subjects of heated theological debate worldwide.

Religion

Nolrand

The most widespread religion in the world, the Church of Nolrand (NOL-rend) views Nolrand of the Wheel as the true successor of the Old Gods. According to Noldrandite teachings, Nolrand was a human from Naklivea who was chosen at birth by the Old Gods to enact their will in the world after their departure. To gain a following and spread his word, Nolrand performed several exploits, though the exact number and nature of these varies from branch to branch; all branches agree that for his final exploit, Nolrand fought seventy-seven Demon Lords, bound them to a large wheel of cold iron called Edovall's Wheel, and destroyed them along with the wheel as he ascended to heaven. Most calendars nowadays count years starting with this event, and are labelled NA (Nolrand's Ascension).
More than nine hundred years have passed since Nolrand's Ascension and the foundation of a central Church of Nolrand, and the religion has seen several denominations branch out since.

• Solism: Solism (so-LIZ-um) is the most widespread of Nolrandite denominations, observed throughout most of southern and eastern Naklivea and the Mesterre region of Mircor as well as several missions in Addorome. Claiming to be the original Nolrandite Church, Solism views Nolrand as the only true form of divinity after the Old Gods, and teaches that every miracle and holy person since were sent by Nolrand to continue ruling the world in His absence.
• Abyllianism: Abyllianism (a-BIL-i-a-niz-um) is a catch-all term for the diverse forms of Nolrandism practised in the Seccos, Trysakys and Ostovels regions of Mircor, unified under the teachings of Nero di Abyllio. According to the Abyllian faith, Nolrand passed some of his divinity down to his three most loyal allies, so that even in his absence the divine presence of the Old Gods will remain in the mortal world, and that this divinity has been passed down among the most virtuous of believers ever since. Of these three, two descendants eventually reached Mircor, and Abyllianists worship them - the Crusader Saint Adhemar and the Queen-Saint Letho - as the topmost religious figures besides Nolrand himself.
• Iccarism: Iccarism (EEK-a-riz-um) is a unique form of Nolrandism only observed in the Great Duchy of Austelle in Mircor. Named after the Austellaise town of Íccaro, Iccarism preaches that in his final exploit, Nolrand fought eighty Demon Lords, but could only bind seventy seven of them to Edovall's Wheel. The remaining three, the most powerful Demon Lords, he took to Mircor and sealed within three massive mountains at the heart of the continent. These mountains, the three Sacred Peaks of the Austaise mountain range, are the focal point of Iccaric worship, and are revered as deific figures just as much as Nolrand himself.

Faeric Druidism

The primary religion of Mircor's Seven Dells, and specifically the three Faers, is a complex system of rituals that prioritize community and communal relationship with nature and the magical fonts of the Seven Dells. The religion traces its roots back to the original Three Faers, powerful sorcerers who were born as a result of intermingling between the Fey-born natives of the Dells and an ancient tribe of humans who reached Mircor from their long-lost homes. The Three Faers, named Dûn, Nér, and Fannaigh, researched the Dells and their unique magical energy, but pride eventually got the better of them and each retired to their own personal Dell, where they formed their Covens and became their God-Chiefs. Too arrogant to pass their knowledge on directly, the Faers hid their answers to the secrets of the Dells in various rituals, artifacts, and temples, which followers of Faeric Druidism diligently attempt to decipher as part of their spiritual lives.

St. Kon

Exclusive to the militant Duchy of North Konom in the Trysakys peninsula of Mircor, worship of St. Kon entails a near-fanatic dedication to the elimination of what the Order of St. Kon deems as hazards to civilization, specifically beasts and other monsters. The central figure of the faith, Saint Kon of Karon, was a peasant from the Duchy of Baltosuola who, while the Duke's troops were busy clashing with those of two neighbouring counties, took up arms as a Paladin and rallied a band of heroes around him to save the land from the Winter of Claws, a nine-year disaster wherein dragons, hydras, and other monstrosities plagued Baltosuola after being unleashed from the Caves of Micjula. After raising local militias in various strategic outposts, Kon and his allies entered the Caves of Micjula, where they fought and destroyed the Progenitor of Beasts, though Kon himself died in the process. Tales of Kon's deeds spread like wildfire, and disciples flocked to his hometown of Karon, eventually renaming it Konozan in his honor and the entire duchy Konom.

Worship

Gutun

God of Language, Writing, and Speech

Alignment	Lawful Good
Domains	Charm, Good, Knowledge, Law, Rune
Favored Weapon	Rapier
Sacred Animal	Swan
Sacred Colors	Red and White

Gutun (gu-TUN) is the Patron God of language, both written and spoken. A younger and more apocryphal deity, worship of Gutun is only common in linguistic and similar scholarly circles, as more powerful Old Gods tend to claim ownership of related subjects such as books or song. The largest community to worship Gutun is the small nation of Istalia, the origin of the Common language; according to Istalian tradition, their king Doré the Wordgiver was taught the Common language directly by Gutun in a series of prophecies. Adventurers who follow Gutun include oratory-focused bards, scroll and rune scribes, and diplomats who find themselves in constant need to learn new languages.

Rochubur

God of the Steppes and the Horde

Alignment	Lawful Neutral
Domains	Animal, Community, Law, Travel, War
Favored Weapon	Shortbow
Sacred Animal	Horse
Sacred Colors	Gold and Brown

The Patron God of the Dronur people of Channat, Rochubur (ROKH-u-bur), the Horde-Father, shaped the steppes of Dronur in the image of his celestial domain and populated it with his golden grass and wild steeds. Communities that worship Rochubur rarely sit in one place, instead roaming the plains in search of better grazing grounds and areas still unexplored. Even now in the age of Dronersur, established communities are accepting Rochubur as their Patron, mostly the social rituals, in an effort to strengthen the bond between the three constituents of the Confederate Crown. Adventurers who seek The Horde-Father's patronage include cavaliers and other mounted fighters, especially mounted archers, as well as leaders and support-oriented casters.

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