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 mmost 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.

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

Gods

• Ayyub (?),
• Azagila (F)
• Calla (F), Witch queen and wielder of magics. Jealous wife and mother.
• Corr,
• Elikon (F),
• Fiddes,
• 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),
• Myrta (F),
• 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

Spring

• 1. The Month of Ganud (Destruction) and Hilfe (Deceit)

Together, they destroyed the Granite Tribe and stole Huth's Golden Crown. They travelled west where they awakened the ancient god Ayyub.

• 2. The Month of Sonnac (Protection) and Rovira (Life)

Preoccupied with keeping the Tribe safe, Sonnac never finished his mountain. This display of devotion, however, won his bride Rovira. Mount Sonnac is now topped by a peaceful and verdant plateau where the High Guard breeds the finest horses in the Empire.

• 3. The Month of Peloas (Beauty) and Caryae (Nature)

So handsome was Peloas that it was Caryae who impatiently plucked the star from the sky before he had finished his mountain. Together, the giant and nymph created the most beautiful of plants and animals, from the most delicately crafted lichen to the soaring eagle.

Summer

• 4. The Month of Lafraio (Beasts) and Arno (Fortune)

One of the best-loved of the Rend, Lafraio was a great lover of revelry and a great teller of tales. When the nymph Arno caught his eye, he made a wager with her that he would gain her star before the year's end. As he built his mountain, though, Arno would visit him every day, bringing sweet wine with her to while away the time. To this day, the giant still builds his mountain, one stone a day.

• 5. The Month of Craon (Strength) and Lycida (War)

Craon brought all of the rocks he used to build his mountain from the far north, to show that he was the strongest of the giants. Seeing his might, Lycida was won over and, before he took the star from the sky, worked a great magic. Their sons, the strongest of all beings bar the Rend, were mighty warriors. She created an army of her sons and grandsons, and these were the ancestors of the ogres.

• 6. The Month of Pelodas (Metal) and Cherso (Spirits)

Pelodas was a great worker of metals and built his mountain of iron. Aware of the giant's talent for making objects of great worth, Cherso placed herself before him at the first opportunity. When her suitor gave her her star, she showed him how to imbue his work with spirits. Thus, the pair made items of great power, including Huth's Golden Crown. On Mt. Pelodas are the iron mines where the Empire gains much of its strength.

Autumn

• 7. The Month of Hok (Earth) and Salinbene (Water)

Although Hok won Salinbene's heart many times, the fickele nymph never remained true. Disconsolate, he left to wander who knows where and his mountain washed away over the ages until now no-one knows where it once stood. Salinbene repented and now seeks her lover across the world.

• 8. The Month of Bardil (Chaos) and Thais (Air)

When Bardil and Thais joined, there union was a raging gale. Although the two have fought ever since, they have remained together. Mount Bardil is a treacherous place to visit.

• 9. The Month of Sinon (Knowledge) and Egibis (Light)

Sinon took the brightest star from the sky to gift Egibis, and used it as an aid to craft within his mountain the great Stone Library, where the prophet Sturt carved A Life of Truth.

Winter

• 10. The Month of Maruk (Darkness) and Pisistra (Secrets)

Once Maruk had crafted his mountain of pure unreflective blackness, he took Huth's most important feats and hid their essence within it. Pelodas made for him a copper key to bind these essences and this key was Maruk's gift for Pisistra. She has guarded this jealously ever since. Her star is only visible when the Moon hides the Sun.

• 11. The Month of Malik (Evil) and Miska (Curses)

Malik was one of Huth's favourites, but the god never understood Malik's true nature. Malik plotted his master's downfall with ganud and Hilfe, but Miska, involved at the outset, repented. When Huth was dead, she worked with Newelaar to curse the three villains, that they might never return to the Placid Sea.

• 12. The Month of Suger (Order) and Sepeion (Death)

Sepeion was always jealous of Cherso and her multitude of spirits. She sought to draw them away from the other nymph to herself with guile. Once Suger had built his mountain and collected a star for her, Sepeion thrw it into a basket with her other baubles and forgot about it. Dismayed, the giant asked her whjat treasurte he could gift his nymph. With hunger, she told him what she most desired. So, Suger designed a great magical web and cast it out into the world, such that it touched every soul and spirit. To this day, Suger's thread drqaws every being relentlessly to its centre, the House of Sepeion, where they reside until she tires of them and they are reborn.

Rebirth

• 13. The Month of Huth (Magic or Heroism)

The time for reflection and prayer

Saints

• Saint Anselmo
• Santa Tereza

Places and Things of Legend

Places

• The Castle of ice
• The Stone Library

Things

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