HC Religion

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Mainstream Religion, the Sturian Church

The principal religion across the Empire. Generally inclusive, although this varies geographically and has varied through time. Where it meets other creeds, it tends to be syncretic, as with the animist pygmies to the south. There is a good deal of variation in the relative importance given to the major gods and also to the relative importances of the gods, the giants and nymphs, and the saints.

Sturt was a Rend (?) prophet of great insight. His great work was A Life of Truth, an account of his own life, lived in the company of Huth and the Granite Tribe. The text is carved into the Stone Library and is to this day being expanded upon by the Stone Sages. In it, Sturt recounts the travels of the Granite Tribe before they arrived at the shores of the Placid Sea, the building of the Star Mountains, and the fate of the giants and nymphs. Much of the text details Sturt's conversations with Huth, thereby establishing most of the doctrines of Sturian faith. He reveals that Huth is a reincarnation of Hatha and will be reborn many times; that is to say, he is always present and any man could be a vessel for the God. Some of his reincarnations will serve to teach Huth about the world but occasionally he will take on a powerful form in order to act.

Variations:

• Alaya - A different flavour to Sturianism, with heavy influences of Saurian mysticism. In recent times, missionaries have spread across the empire, most recently into Potomanchu.
• Hugaar - Huth is preeminent, the prevailing view through the Empire.
• Pashnaar - Pasin and Newelaar are given preeminence in a syncretic version of the religion (these gods usually have little importance).
• Pygmies - syncretic with animism.
• Sirdehaar - Depending on the tribe, Sird, Hatha or Calla is most prominent. In some instances, Sird's dominance specifically precludes extensive worship of Hatha or huth.. The Bastard God Umer is almost universally given a prominent role and there is a specific warrior-king cult dedicated to him.

Doctrines

• All souls reincarnate. The exceptions are those that excite a God's interest and become playthings, angels or demons, serving Ayyus. None are aware of their former lives, with rare exceptions.
• Huth and the other gods reincarnate too. Any stranger could be one of the gods in human guise.
• The Sun is the servant of the Gods and each of Huth's main reincarnations demonstrates this in his own way.
• As he approaches the end of his life, the Emperor becomes infallible

Points of Religious Discord

• Huth is/is not a reincarnation of Hatha.
• Hatha is due his third/fourth/fifth reincarnation.
• The preeminent god is: Hatha, Huth, Calla, Sird, Umer, Lorn, or even the Sun!
• The Sun should have a greater proiminence than it does.
• The Gods should/should not be represented in images.

Splinter and Mystery Cults

• Solar - The Sun is seen as the key god, representing captivity and a burning desire for freedom. His worshippers seek to find a body for the Sun on the earth. The cult is usually seen as quite fanatical.
• Sons of Lorn
• a Saurian one (the good old days)
• a Draconic cult
• Apocalyptic Cults

Other Creeds

• Goblin shamanism
• Pygmy animism
• Saurian mysticism
• Vister shamanism

Alignments

• Saurian Mysticism
  • Initiates of the Saurian Mysteries seek to find Oneness with their Gods through rediscovery of the lost arts of the ancient Saurian overlords. They continually search for any clues which will further their knowledge and power. In particular, they strive to recreate the symbolic and tattoo-based sorceries of the Saurians, yet strive to keep these arts hidden from those who do not understand their work and would interfere in their quest for Illumination.
    
  • Skills: Crafting (Inscription), Disguise, Investigation, Search
  • Paths: Knowledge, Magic
  • Ritual Weapon: Quarter Staff
  • Avatar: Naga
  • Opposed Alignment: ??

• Zagros
  • Skills: Spell Casting, Search, Blend, Investigation
  • Paths: Knowledge, Magic, Secrets, Order
  • Ritual Weapon: Glaive
  • Avatar: Dire Heavenly Tiger
  • Opposed Alignments: Those who keep secrets to harm or oppress, Those who use knowledge to harm others.

Gods

• Ayyub (?), God of primordial chaos
• Azagila (F)
• Calla (F), Witch queen and wielder of magics. Jealous wife and mother.
• Corr,
• Elikon (F),
• Fiddes (M), Lorn's brother, the first to plow the land. The god of farmers, fathers, kings and desperate men with nowhere left to turn. Paths: Life, Order, Strength.
• Hatha (M), God of the Oceans and of Wisdom.
• Herak the goblin seer
• Hiveh (F),
• Huth (M), Binder of the Sun, great lover
• Lorn (M), Creator of the first Man
• Myrta (F), Calla's daughter by Sird. At once loving and fickle. The goddess of women before motherhood, of passionate love. Paths: Beauty, Light, Water.
• Newelaar, Goddess of Beauty and of the Placid Ocean
• Otun (M),
• Pasin (M), Huth’s boon companion, god of plenty, of wine, of music, of poetry.
• Sikvayah (F),
• Sird (M), God of Resolve and of Warfare (some could call it brittle obstinacy)
• Umer(M), The Bastard God
• Yolanda (F),
• Zagros (M),

Giants and Nymphs & the Calendar

Go to Calendar and Birth Alignments

Saints

• Acuin
• Kirlan St. Kirlan was a mountain wildman who befriended Sta. Mineera of the Veil and sustained her through her years of hermitage. Although he listened to her teachings and acted as her mentor in some of her spiritual works, he is better known for his acts of devotion than for his thoughts. The Wardens of the Heartstone seek to emulate him in carrying out their duties.
• Mineera of the Veil was a Hathari hermit who lived for three-score years within the Heartstone and heard the words of Hatha and Tullis. Some of what she learned found its way on to parchments, now in Hugaar. She spoke through a veil. She was given sustenance for three-score years by Kirlan, a mountain wildman and saint.
• Tereza

Places and Things of Legend

Places

• The Castle of Ice
• The House of Sepeion
• The Stone Library

Things

• The Ice Throne
• Keys of....
• Niddighugger
• Stars...