Religion
The gods are very much real and they take an active role in the goings-on of Shadow Star and Chaos and the lives of those who follow them. The six main gods are Irotana, who usually stays neutral about the affairs of her children and is the most powerful deity, and her five children, all equal in power -- Tyrea, Laugar, Aeryon, Claeryn, and the Goddess of Chaos, whose true name has been lost to time.
Gods and Goddesses
Further information on where the gods and goddesses came from can be found in the creation myth.
Main Dieties
Irotana
Goddess of nature and all that is. She watches over nature and is usually neutral- unless the natural world is threatened or disrupted. She is the mother of the druidic gods and goddess of the four realms, and the Dark Lady herself. Druids rarely draw magic from her, unless it is in defense of nature. She is commonly depicted as a silver and white unicorn.
Tyrea
Goddess of land. She rules over the land realm and any natural being associated with the sphere. She is usually depicted as a gray or silverish wolf, and said to be solid and nurturing. She helps those that helps themselves. Her anger to those that hurt her and hers is quick, but her punishments may take awhile to appear. When they do, however, they are devestating. Tyrea is protective and magic granted by her is powerful, but it has to be well-earned. Druids of Tyrea often take longer to move up in rank, but are powerful and well-diciplined. Tyrea's pendant is a silver wolf or, more commonly, a maple leaf.
Aeryon
God of air. He rules over the realm of air and anything winged. Most depict him as a gryfalcon, usually white. Aeryon is swift and decisive in everything he does. His druids are fewer than some of the other deities because he tends to be more selective in choosing which druidic acolytes can advance. He values strength in his followers, but also the knowledge of when to give a little and try a different direction. Winds do not simply push against a tree, they go around it too. Aeryon is more reclusive maybe than his siblings, perhaps because he is one of the more universal of the five. He can whip waves into foam, dust into storms, and fire into roaring blaze. This is a powerful position and he keeps it well checked, unwilling to be challenged as too interfereing in the matters of the other deities. He has a certain love of music, as evidenced by songbirds. The Air God's pendant is a feather, and very rarely, a silver or white falcon.
Laugar
God of water. He rules over the water realm and any natural thing associated with water. Commonly depicted as a blue and green sea dragon. He's mellow, laid back, accepting of everything as it comes. His anger is slow but very powerful when it finally rises up from the swelling depths. He's very protective of his followers and the life beneath his waves. Like Aeryon, he enjoys music, seen in the haunting song of whales and the rhythm of the waves. Laugar is often toasted to as the patron god of alcoholic drinks as well as water. The druids of Laugar wear a pendant shaped as either a water dragon or a droplet of water.
Claeryn
God of fire. He rules over the fire realm and anything natural within it. His temper is said to be as hot as his flame, but he is otherwise gentle and warm of heart. Claeryn has a vivid sense of humor. He believes in giving second chances - unless he'd burned up the first chance. He's the closest to Chaos, the only one who hasn't truly disowned her, perhaps due to his realm's destructive power. Even now, on opposing sides, they still play pranks together sometimes. His pendant is that of a burning torch, and he is often depicted as a phoenix.
Chaos
Goddess of Chaos. She is extremely whimsical; it takes a great deal to please her or gain her favor, and even then it's capricious at best. Only she chooses who gains royalty and more power, or who she wants to protect and teach. Her favor can last, given she's sufficiently pleased. Currently there is only one Chaosian she calls her "child", and that might not change for a while. Vicious, malicious, bloodthirsty, sensual, devious and demanding, Chaos truly is the bane of all that is decent in this world.
She takes the form of a very curvy but willowy woman with extremely long black hair (we're talkin' dragging on the floor long), dead-pale skin, long black nails, slender hands, red eyes with gold irises, and black lips. She wears a great deal of red and black clothing and gold jewelry, and only dispenses her favor where she will, and even that's whimsical at best. It takes a great deal to please Her.
Her true name is lost to history, but there are several ways to refer to her. The Nameless One, Lady of Darkness, the Lady, Chaos, and Dark Lady have all been used in recent times.
Lesser Dieties
Falirne
Falirne, goddess of mischief, whom legend has is the love child of Claeryn and Chaos. (Most druids will deny this vehemently.) Many a feline has said to be carrying her will.
Elsiel
Elsiel, the Lady of a Thousand Lifetimes, Shadow Star's grim reaper with a rather unusual legend surrounding her. According to it, she was originally an ambitious dragoon made who sought the power of the gods to become immortal. She got her wish, but not exactly in the way she wanted; she continues to age, die and be reborn for all of eternity, guiding people to the eternal rest she cannot have. By the legend, she is a fairly tall dragoon with yellow wings and blonde hair, dressed in dark robes, that may appear to be any age. She is always carrying a lantern, which she uses to guide the spirits of the dead. (No, she does not carry swords or any other sort of weapon, much less give them out.)
Void
Besides the six main gods, there is also Irotana's brother, Void, who at one point attacked Calacia in an attempt to destroy everything. Thankfully, he was sealed away.
Unitarian Religion
Religion is an unquestioned part of society. There are few, if any, athiests, since the gods are so obvious, and near-physical.
There are no actual churches except the druid guildhall, druidic ceremonial circles, and the wilderness. To the gods, "worship" consists of respecting, protecting, and being in nature. Pets are highly common. Most people consider only one of the gods "their" god- usually whatever realm they or their bond is. Many Unitarians consider themselves Irotana's and leave it at that: this is also fairly common among Chaosian defects.
Of course, there is a lot of debate on the "what," "how," and "why" of the gods and their worship. Druids usually just shake their heads and leave the debaters alone, amused at their actions. They rarely participate in those debates themselves.
Druids are supported by donations and taxes, though they don't live too materially. Most donations go to upkeep on the villa or druid-approved charities; most druids are fairly self-sufficient, and thanks to the Age of Darkness, there aren't really enough druids around to run charitable things themselves.
The gods are interested in SS and SSers for several reasons. For one, the sentients are almost children to them. They're also entertainment, and most importantly, tools of war against Chaos. The gods aren't quite like the Greek Pantheon, though also not like the Christian God. They can make mistakes, though rarely, and have their limits. They are all-seeing except where Chaos holds entire sway- they can't tell SSers exactly what Chaos is doing, and vice-versa. They don't watch every single person, but a serious invocation of their name will draw their attention. They try not to interfere *too* much, though they quite often do interfere with humanity.
Evil happens because (1) Chaos' interference, (2) the gods aren't totally perfect, (3) no being is all good or all evil, and (4) SSers and Chaosians have choices of what to do or not to do.
Chaosian Religion
The Srih is a large cult following the Nameless One; anyone allied with Chaos is allowed to join. They celebrate the existence and effects of Chaos, and often have large gatherings where leaders of the cult, called 'Ditloxi,' command the followers to participate in different rituals, often entertaining themes of blood, sacrifice, and sexual encounters.
A Ditloxi is one of up to three leaders of the Srih who has 'visions' from the Nameless One, telling them to carry out different rituals. It is rare that a Ditloxi has true visions, and most are induced by different types of hallucination-inducing herbs. They assure their place as Ditloxi usually through combat or election through a current Ditloxi, or by rare cases of divine intervention by the Nameless One herself.
There is not any other ranks within the cult, to preserve the frenzied nature of the group. Many high-ranking Chaosians, and many nobles, or those who are wealthy, are part of the Srih. They are known for lavish celebrations when the Ditloxi call for them, that may change their purpose halfway through. A ritual that begins as a gluttonous orgy may end in virgin sacrifices, etc.
The most common rituals practiced are orgies, feasts, virgin sacrifices, animal sacrifices, other sacrifices, bloodbaths (literally, fighting among the group until everyone is bleeding), random fighting matches, and, sometimes, cannibalism. Animalistic fits of the members of the Srih are greatly encouraged at any celebration.
The Srih believe that when the Nameless One grows in power, and the forces of Chaos take over the world, it will be them that are her most favored, and will be rewarded greatly by their goddess for their worship.
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