Ymraen Faith

The Ymraen Faith is a widespread organized religion based on the teachings of the Prophet Ymrae. It is widely practiced and accepted throughout the continents of Omnos and Yndar, the islands of Cymacia Majoris, Cymacia Minoris, and the Midhaal Islands.

It is a polytheistic religion based on the similarities found among various religions and beliefs by Ymrae and condensed down into what he believed were the “true beliefs”, that seemed to be present in all religions.

As all writings by Ymrae, including his great work In Amdion, were written in Old Anosian, the language has since come to be the lingua franca of all Ymraen peoples and the official ecclesiastical language of the religion.

Factions
Within the Ymraen Faith there are three divisions as seen by its adherents. There are Orthodox Ymraens, Secular Ymraens, and Temporal Ymraens.

Temporal Ymraens are people who have accepted or practice various aspects of the Ymraen Faith without adhering to it in its entirety. Among these are the Loclanae, who only worship the god Sernos, the Conroicht, who follow a system of beliefs based loosely on Morriceth and the Young Gods, and various other groups.

Secular Ymraens are people belonging to one of the various Ymraen Cults, which can be either localized, or widespread. These are usually devoted to the worship of a single god (while also believing of the existence of the others) and usually provide services related to that god’s domain.

Orthodox Ymraens are those who follow the entirety of the faith and are usually members of one of the many Ymraen Churches, with their clergy and organization. These people are most often citizens of a realm which views the Ymraen Faith as the official state religion, such as Anos, Culannia, Dalhuat, and West Valkuta.

Churches
Within the Ymraen orthodoxy, there are three main churches, organized sects each with its own clergy, practices, and interpretations of the faith. These are the Aerolian Church, the Reformed Church, and the Cymacian Church.

Of these, the Aerolian Church is the largest and most influential.

Cults
There are a great deal of Ymraen Cults, but only the largest are listed here. There is the Golden Temple, the Eginothic Order, the Cult of Lidra, the Hands of Edrassi, the Cult of Ranum, the Cathlan Missions, the Maids of Morriceth, and the Etchkoteuchans.

Deities
The Ymraen Faith recognizes thirteen deities, though virtually all of them only worship twelve, as the thirteenth, Etchkos, is seen as an evil figure. Each god or goddess is associated with various domains and aspects of life. Among the gods there are two classes, the Old Gods who were created first, and the Young Gods, the children of Ranum and Morriceth.

Each of the Old Gods are rulers of a divine plane that their chosen followers will ascend to upon death. Those unaffiliated with any one god are believed to go either to Raurna or the Sea Hell upon death, depending upon the judgment of Edrassi.

The Young Gods on the other hand are believed to walk the world, taking mortal shape to further their various causes.

Name: Hroplir

Title(s): The Golden, Golden God

Spouse: Lidra

Offspring: Mankind

Domains: Sovereignty, Leadership, Wisdom

Divine Plane: Raurna

Symbol(s): Spear, Flame, Circular Shield

Description: The chief god and the father of mankind.

Name: Eginoth

Title(s): The Master, The Smith

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Crafting, Smithing, Creation

Divine Plane: Lebarnae

Symbol(s): Hammer, Tongs

Description: The great smith who taught mankind to create and craft.

Name: Sernos

Title(s): The Mystic, Sea Creature

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: The Sea, Storms, Weather, Magic

Divine Plane: The Sea Hell

Symbol(s): Eye of Sernos

Description: Inhuman and lacking any true physical form, Sernos is simply a mystical entity, almost a force of nature, and the ruler of the Sea Hell.

Name: Lidra

Title(s): The Beautiful

Spouse: Hroplir

Offspring: None

Domains: Beauty, Femininity, Youth, Art, Day, Light

Divine Plane: Arun

Symbol(s): Harp, Sun

Description: Wife of Hroplir and the most beautiful of all the gods. Her hair shines bright and lights the sun.

Name: Ranum

Title(s): The Mighty

Spouse: Morriceth

Offspring: Cathlan, Jonal, Lanna, Etchkos

Domains: War, Combat, Martial Sovereignty

Divine Plane: Calhar

Symbol(s): Sword, Chariot, Skull

Description: The mightiest of the gods, Ranum is revered as a great warrior. All who die in his name are taken by his great chariot to Calhar, his realm.

Name: Norol

Title(s): The Swift, First Horse

Spouse: None

Offspring: Horses

Domains: Husbandry, Travel, Wind

Divine Plane: Ularim

Symbol(s): Horse, Hoof

Description: The first of all horses, a wise and swift horse.

Name: Yoi

Title(s): The Hound, Dark Hound

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Night, Darkness, Loyalty, Protection

Divine Plane: Nograth

Symbol(s): Hound, Moon

Description: Hroplir’s faithful hound and the guardian of Lidra, who puts himself between her and danger, thus blocking out the sun and bringing the night.

Name: Edrassi

Title(s): The Just

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Law, Justice, Order, Morality

Divine Plane: Ecos

Symbol(s): Headsman’s Axe, Scales, Fist

Description: The great judge of deeds who decides if the soul of a dead man will continue on to their appointed plane, or suffer in the Sea Hell of Sernos.

Name: Maiden Morriceth

Title(s): The Maiden, The Mother

Spouse: Ranum

Offspring: Cathlan, Jonal, Lanna, Etchkos

Domains: Life, Fertility, Nature

Divine Plane: Itharna

Symbol(s): Female Figure, Ivy Vine, Wine Vessel

Description: The mother of the Young Gods.

Name: Lanna

Title(s): The Musician, Music’s Daughter

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Music, Entertainment, Performance

Symbol(s): Flute

Description: It is said Lanna plays for weary travelers and pilgrims, warming their hearts and inspiring their souls.

Name: Jonal

Title(s): The Storyteller

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Stories, Inspiration, Myths, Legends

Symbol(s): Open Book

Description: Ever the talespinner, it is said that Jonal walks the world, telling tales, some true, some false, to inspire mankind.

Name: Cathlan

Title(s): The Good

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Poverty, Charity, Alms

Symbol(s): Open Hand

Description: Cathlan looks out for the poor, making sure the wealthy give charitable donations else they be cursed with ill luck.

Name: Etchkos

Title(s): The Deceiver

Spouse: None

Offspring: None

Domains: Magic, Lies, Evil

Symbol(s): None

Description: Having stole magic from the gods and given it to evil men under the guise of teaching them to protect themselves, Etchkos is mistrusted and generally regarded as evil.