Red Faith
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The Red Faith, also known as the Faith of the Father, is a major human religion and the sole faith of the Kingdom of Norland. The followers of the Red Faith are most commonly Highlanders of Norlandic heritage however Elves, Dwarves, and even a Kha have been found to practice the Red Faith.
The faith itself is a Monolatry faith with the Father as the central deity. He is believed to be the incarnation of growth and order. The Red Faith revolved around the Three Tenents, Suffer not the Unworthy, Spread the Flame, and Stand against the Long Dark. The Red Faith commonly uses symbols depicting flames surrounded by darkness to represent the figurative and literal eternal struggle against the Long Dark. Under the guidance of the Three Tenets the faithful commune primarily with those ancestral members of the Red Faith who had performed extreme acts rendering them worthy of the All Father’s favor known as Paragons. Each Paragon is representative of a different aspect of the world, be it fieldwork and agriculture, defense and will, or mysticism and the unknown, as such these Paragons may be invoked in support of a relevant cause. Each Paragon has their own group of dedicants as each member of the Red Faith is required to select a patron Paragon upon their cleansing and official indoctrination into the Red Faith.
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Tenets of the Red Faith
Adherents to the Red Faith live their lives in accordance with the Three Tenents as they are central to the faith. The Three Tenents were historically spoken to Thoromir whence he received the Father's Flame. The Orthodoxy of the Red Faith interprets the Three Tenents as the edicts which the Father set forth so as to ensure that the corruption of the Void, Iblees, or any other malevolent being is minimized in all lands which the Father's Faithful inhabit. Those who do not uphold the Tenents of the Father's Faithful are viewed as weak, dishonorable, and unworthy to claim to serve the Father.
The first tenet of the Red Faith is to Suffer not the Unworthy. Those defined as unworthy is debated by the clerical authorities of the Red Faith; however, the Orthodoxy of the Red Faith defined those unworthy as beings corrupted in mind, body, and soul such as Voidal Mages who have corrupted their soul by connecting it to the Void or those undead whose bodies and minds are twisted into servants of malice.
The second tenet of the Red Faith is to Spread the Flame. The least controversial of the three tenets, yet still oft debated by the clerical authorities of the Red Faith, the Orthodoxy of the Red Faith requires the Father's Faithful to endeavor to spread the teachings of the Father so as to protect the Descendants from the clutches of the Long Dark. The establishment of faithful domains and amicable conversion of those unilluminated of appropriate worthiness is paramount to the practice of the Red Faith. Forced conversions are strictly forbidden by the Father and his clergy and are considered a serious offense to any who conduct such actions.
The third tenet of the Red Faith is Stand against the Long Dark. The concept of the Long Dark and what it specifically pertains to is still debated by the clerical authorities of the Red Faith; however, the Orthodoxy of the Red Faith defines it as that which is unnatural and defies the natural laws of the world and that which is corrupted by the Void, Iblees or any other malevolent being. Those with corrupted souls such as Dark Mages or Undead often face the direct wrath of the Father's Faithful, being hunted down and exterminated when their presence is known. Though other beings such as the Inferi have been made enemies of the Faith since their latest incursion on to Arcas and the subsequent Inferi War.
Interpretation
In recent history the interpretation of the Will of the Father and His Tenets has shifted, from Arthas, to Tyr, and to Alisa; in this two views have formed, the Arthasian tradition and the Tyrite tradition. Named from the men who founded them and expanded upon by successive High Keepers these traditions rise and fall in prominence throughout history often tied directly to one of or both the King of Norland and the High Keeper.
History of the Red Faith
The Red Faith existed for some time in various forms prior to its reorganization into the Faith we understand in the present-day. Various tribes had their own iterations of the Faith and their own understandings of the Father, in many cases their beliefs going back hundreds of years. This would change in the year 1300 of the Mathic Age. The Red Faith's modern form was brought to the descendants by Thoromir I Ruricsson Armahnk, founder of House Ruric. The faith would continue to be closely tied to the fate of the Rurics as centuries went on, as well as the fate of the Kingdom of Norland itself.
Notable Keepers of the Flame
Thoromir Ruricsson Armahnk
In the year 1300, in the land of Thales, Thoromir Ruric was caught in a horrific snowstorm. He was about to reach his end in the blizzard when a spirit-like figure appeared in front of him carrying a burning Flame. The figure, later identified as the All-Father, and its flame guided Thoromir out from the storm and into safety, thus sparking the beginning of the Red Faith as we know it today. Thoromir was from then known as the Prophet and was promoted to the ranks of the Paragons.
Edvard I Thorsson Ruric
After the death of his father, Edvard continued the ways of the Father, having it become much more successful for a large period of time until relations began to sour with the Dwarven Kingdom and the Orenian Empire. Much of Edvard's reign is noted for failed talks of diplomacy, the looming possibility of war against the Norlandic people, and the All Father's religion. It was discovered one day that Edvard had disappeared, thought to have climbed a mountain seeking absolution for his failures in leading his people. A Kingsmoot was held, choosing Eirik Thorsson Ruric as his successor.
Gareth Faretto
Gareth Faretto was a Keeper that had been taught by Tyr and the writings of old, he had misunderstood the lessons he was taught and had killed one of the four heroes of Renatus. due to the fact that he was an orc, and under Gareths perception he believed that under the eyes of the Faith all orcs were corrupt creatures only worthy of the Father's mercy. He met his last days as a shadow of his former self in Morsgrad, after a last failed attempt to become the High Keeper, where High Keeper Alisa Camian was chosen instead.
Arthas I Edvardsson Ruric
Arthas was elected as head of the Red Faith by the Norlandic people during the reign of Artyom Eiriksson Ruric, and greatly reformed the Red Faith, including the creation of the title of High Keeper - which he was the first to hold. His leadership led to the Red Faith's rise to become one of the most powerful religions of it's time. Arthas is remembered as likely the most notable and powerful High Keeper, in his time participating in the Norlandic Moot Wars and starting the Norlandic Purge of Magic. (still WIP)
Elle Noctuid
Elle was a keeper during Arthas I Edvardsson Ruric' time as High Keeper. It was, in part, due to her efforts that Norland returned to the Faith after the reign of Jevan Ruric came to an end. Her feats for the Faith included the burning of the Grand Hall in Axios, and the destruction of House of Silversteed's Keep shortly after they were outed as turncoats. After the Renatus versus Norland war of Axios concluded Elle burned down most of Vjorhelm, as they still had not returned to the Faith. In Atlas she dwelled in the Monastery, later becoming one of Jory Ruric's ash wives, bearing twins to him. During her children's childhood she took part in the murder of Jory's second wife, Jordan, for her part in a plot to kill Elle's children. She was later beheaded during a Dominion versus Snow Elf conflict.
Hod Svensson
Elected by Godden Ruric, Hod only reigned for a few years due to his lack of ability to lead the faith, which led to a decline of loyalty and discipline shown to King Godden having brought up many fights and disagreements, he was removed by Godden Ruric after only serving as High keeper for 4 years, having reigned for the least amount of time in the history of the Red Faith.
Galen
Elected by Godden Ruric after the Hod incident. He rarely participated in any documents or recruitment in the Faith although he did pass along vasts amount of knowledge of the faith to Godden as well as many of the newer Norlandic recruits, he remained High Keeper after the sack and dissolution of the Fourth Kingdom of Norland, until his eventual disappearance in 1673. (still WIP)
Rae Arden
Elected by Thoromir II Ruric, in his early years as High Keeper, Rae Arden began a massive reformation of the faith, converting almost the entire population of the Earldoms capital of Nordengrad, Rae would later establish a Red Faith temple, the size of the Ruric temple, if not bigger, housing all members of the Red Faith, being home to all those who wish to offer gifts to the Father, Rae would then further himself by continuing minor work upon the Red Scrolls, alongside the greatest scholars in Nordengrad. Throughout the majority of Raes reign as High keeper, it remained to be rather inactive only having merely a few priests to assist him in matters, although, after the completion of the Red Faith Temple, it greatly improved the numbers within the Red faith. Although after the start of the Third Atlas Coalition War, Rae knew that it would be the end of him if they were to lose the Siege of Nordengrad, so he greatly worked to recruit numerous members to the faith, being successful in doing so, he made the faith once again an active entity within Nordengrad, although this would be a short lasted victory as when the time came of the Siege of Nordengrad, Rae fought valiantly but fell to an unknown Renatian Soldier.
Alisa Camian
The longest reigning High Keeper, Alisa Camian is the chief of the Camian clan, and notably the only gay High Keeper. Alisa was voted High Keeper in a hearthmoot in Morsgrad in date. Alisa crowned and advised four different kings of norland, she additionally was instrumental in the revitilization effort of Morsgrad after the AIS war. Alisa was an influential member of reform of the Kingdom of Norland under King Caedric Edvardsson Ruric, as well as a number of policy reforms. Alisa led successful investigations and inquisitions against dark mages within the lands of Fenn and Vi'stige. In an effort to fight off what she believed to be a growing threat of the Long Dark, Alisa reformed the order of the Purifiers and was a key leader of the Inferi war, both administratively and in the battlefield. Alisa was a renowned diplomat for the Kingdom of Norland, and eventually became regent of Norland for five years during King Halvar Edvardsson Rurics pilgrimage. Alisa survived two assasination plots, one from the ancient keeper Alifer Amice, and one from Jexton skorsgard, a disgruntled aspiring keeper. W.I.P.
Paragons of the Red Faith
The Paragons of the Father are those select figures of the All Father’s children who embody singular virtue and service far beyond the norm. These figures are those who have performed the highest level of service. A paragon is raised from the ranks of the ancestral spirits that have joined the ranks of the Father. This ascension is then conferred unto the ranks of the clergy in the form of a series of vividly realistic visions concerning the feats and deeds of the risen ancestor. Each paragon serves as an aspect of a specific virtue prized by the Father in the pursuit of his great mission. The following compendium details the pantheon of Paragons acknowledged by the Holy Hearth.
Paragons are not necessarily virtuous in nature, however. Every Paragon has been raised to the Father’s service due to extreme virtue or through undeniably grand feats of skill, will, strategy or power. These virtues and feats can be either positive or negative in nature. The All-Father recognizes both, as peace and chaos are both sides of the same coin, for good cannot be known without seeing evil, and evil does not exist without a greater good. Both contribute to the harmony of Norlandic society and the world as a whole.
| Name | Emblem | Virtue | Summary | Preffered Offerings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thoromir 'the Herald' | Ashwood tree over a shield | Loyalty, Fidelity | First Ruric Chieftain, received the Father's Flame while freezing to death. | Metals, tools, well-constructed stoneworks |
| Alfred 'the Martyr' | Downward sword infront of an open book | Justice, Self-Sacrifice, Retribution | Notable monster hunter and stabbed in the back by political agitators and Canonist extremists, the Hounds of St. John. | Hides, bones and trophies of evil creatures, Ashwood Spirits |
| Edvard 'the Terrible' | Upright sword over the Ashwood tree | Hubris | First King of Norland and founder of the Red Brothers he repeatedly struggled against foreign powers to secure his people but ultimatly was defeated. | Broken weapons |
| Eirik 'the Great' | Crown over the Ashwood tree | Diplomacy | Successor to Edvard he used diplomacy to navigate his people to a secured future, albiet under an emperor's dominion. Remembered in a variety of ways for his actions. | Heraldry, swords, wax |
| Donovan 'the Bastion' | Shield and Crown | Defense, Governance | Considered to be the greatest military strategist and defender of the Norlandic people. Successfully thwarted two Dwarven assaults on the Krag being outnumbered and undermanned. | Objects of defence, anti-Dwarf curios, ales, horseshoes |
| Snow 'the Flamesinger' | Four-pointed star | Mysticism, the Unknown | Blessed by the Father, snow communed with the Father through his Holy Flame with a beautiful song. First to delve into the mysteries of the Father. | Spiced wine, glassware, coal |
| Arthas 'the Patriarch' | Burning book | Piety | Credited with documentation of many previously unwritten practices of the Father's Faith. High Keeper during the schism of Javier and Jevan Eiriksson Ruric. | Blank scrolls, written scrolls, pen and paper |
| Myro 'the Wordsmith' | Quill | Lore, Writing | One of the founders of Norland, first to translate the holy scripture from Old Norlandic to Common | Quills, partchment |
| Vykk 'the Founder' | Hammer | Labour, Craftsmanship | The sole Paragon to still walk among us, dedicated to the Father and architect of the first Hearth Temple of Fynor. Often appears at pivotal moments to offer advice and assistance. | Liquor, soulstones |
| Bjorn 'the Beserker' | Axe | War | An imposing man with a violent disposition, embroiled himself in conflict and joined the Red Brothers, quickly becoming the Champoin and lead the Red Brothers to many great victories. | Whiskey, buorbon, weapons, armor |
| Uther 'the Old' | Scythe | Harvest, Farming | Veteran of the Krag, fed his nation with bountiful harvests and dedicated to the reaping of crops. Provided a famed meatloaf and haggis for soldiers during times of war. | Crops, farming tools, mead |
| Athelflaed av Hurth 'The Weaver' | Child's Doll | Family, Child Rearing | Wife to Thoromir Ruricsson Armahnk and renowned motherly figure to all the children of the Father, she often told stories of her past and of the lessons of the Father. | Knit goods, homecooked meals, toys |
| Sven 'the Bard' | Lyre | Music, Poetry, Festivity | Second son of Eirik he is renowned for being a great bard, creating a variety arts in the written word, poetic verse, or depictions. Rallied the Norlandic levy to defeat Beowulf 'the Betrayer'. | Instruments, poems or songs, cups |
| Aelfwynn av Vuttelund 'the Fleet' | Drawn Bow | Hunting, Nature | She had raised a bear which she raised as a cub, considered to be the protector of the forest, defending it vehemently against bands of vagabonds who hunt for leasure rather than survival. | Bows, flowers |
| Tyr 'the Raven' | Bird in Flight | Passion, Freedom | Credited for assuming mantle of High Keeper after the assassination of Aeyn. Launched investigation into undead infested lairs where he safeguarded the Faith's principles. | Artisan tools, Ashwood alcohols, daggers |
