Velhaggism
Trials of Velhaggism
Velhaggists tend to recognize three major stages of life, which they call "trials", all of which a person must pass through in order to be "fulfilled". Fulfillment is necessary for obtainment of salvation. Luckily for them, life and death are fairly automatic for any followers, although there is some dissagreement amongst follwers as to how necromency plays into fullfillment. However, the the middle milestone of life, loss of virginity, creates a very strange culture in Velhaggism around sex. Sex holds a place as a sacred act for for its necessity in continuing the cycle of life and for an individual's salvation. Since life, death, and procreation are so core to a Velhaggists beliefs, only marriage between a man and woman is recognized. Marriage in Velhaggism always follows immediately after sex between a couple, a sort of pre-consumation. Given its necessity for salvation, velhaggists tend to encourage all members to partake as early as possible, yet they enforce strict rules that the first person someone sleeps with must be who they marry. Depsite the emphasis on the act for procreation and the bond between two individuals, some velhaggists few sex as a communal act to be celebrated by all others and done before an audiance of other believers.Mythology & Lore
Long ago, when Alu began shaping the world with the aid of Ezengeli, Velhaggi observed from the shadows, intrigued by their grand design. Fascinated by the concept of mortality, he saw potential in the interplay of life and death, creation and destruction. He rescued and brought to Halor his people, the Stonehoofs.
Velhaggi then approached the other gods with an offer: to create a monument to mortality on Halor, to remind its inhabitants of thier short lives so they might continually seek the divine. Alu and Ezengli agreed as they wanted followers to worship them and be like them. Devious Velhaggi spun Halor round and round so that it would speed constantly around the sun, shortening the days and nights. He then told his followers to celebrate their mortality, the cycle of life and death, and the creation and perputation of life through many individuals in contrast to the immortality all others sought.
Velhaggi's influence did not stop there. He introduced the element of trickery, infusing the world with unpredictability and surprise. He crafted hidden paths and secret places, where the brave and the curious might find fortune or folly. He scattered mysteries and puzzles throughout the land, encouraging beings to explore, to question, and to embrace the unexpected. He then invited other races to openly abandon their gods and join in his revelry and trickery. This drew the ire of the other gods who attempted to remove Vehaggi's influence from Halor. The god had already disappeared, hiding under their very noses on the surface of Halor where he gave up his Aeviternal nature to become an immortal wanderer and trickster.
Ethics
Velhaggi's lore among his followers speaks of his trickster nature not as a source of chaos, but as a catalyst for growth and renewal. Through his playful deceptions and unexpected turns, he challenges beings to adapt, to learn, and to find strength in their resilience. His festivals are times of unity and joy, where the community comes together to celebrate the fullness of life and the inevitability of death with equal reverence.