The Pilrin Pilgrimage

The Pilrin Pilgrimage was a tradition started in 402 NW, following the completion of The Temple of Fanha at the center of Pilris. It consists of a long trek through the middle of the island; Starting in Naulis and ending in Engell, or vice versa. There is no set “correct” way or timing one is required to adhere to in order to complete the pilgrimage, only that they stay on the pre-established paths and respect others they may come across. The trek can be done alone or with a group, and general merriment is encouraged en route to and from the temple. Those traveling alone are encouraged to strike up conversation with any they may meet along the way, and it is common for one to reach the end of the path having made a new companion.

History

When the Temple of Fanha started construction in 397 NW, as a way to honor their presumed deceased goddess, the Pilrins began taking long treks from both the north and south to the center of the island carrying materials, creating set paths that eventually naturally carved their way into the rocky cliffs. While on these journeys, they would often become close with whomever they were travelling with, using their shared piety and grief to make a connection. It is said that in the early days of the tradition, Pilrins would use the path primarily to strengthen relationships and potentially find a mate. After the temple’s completion in 402 NW, Pilrins began to incorporate the journey into a religious experience and coined the term “Pilrin Pilgrimage”. While the meaning of the journey had changed, the various traditions made during its construction remained. Making the Pilgrimage was still a highly social experience and was done by most Pilrins multiple times in their life. Outsiders were also encouraged to join locals on the expedition - an invitation that early scholars and adventurers alike jumped on.
Due to the high traffic the Temple was receiving during the time, it was said to never degrade despite the harsh climate. It had no permanent residents but was almost always home to at least a dozen people who were making the Pilgrimage. These people would upkeep the temple every time they came through or made note of any damage so they could report it to the nearest city. When damage was reported, the next few people who headed out were expected to take the necessary materials with them and attempt to make the repair. If the damage was extensive or required specialized work, whomever was an expert at that field was expected (and was normally more than happy) to make the trek and complete the repair.
In 1901 NW, the Undine took control of Fanha and relocated many Pilrin residents to the mainland. In the years that followed, the pilgrimage took on a new meaning – becoming a bastion of their culture and a mark of hope. The Pilrins disrupted culture and shock started to reflect on the tradition. It became a much more somber affair, with many choosing to make the journey alone and far more frequently. There were a few who tried to make the temple their permanent home, stating that the now-overcrowded Pilris needed to use any space it could get. The opposition to the notion won out in the end, however, and thus the temple was left vacant once again. In its place was a renewed tradition, and taking the Pilgrimage was now seen as a rite of passage for young Pilrins.
While the cheerier demeanor of the tradition has returned in recent years, the population has not. Attributed to the harsh decline in Pilrin birthrates and overall loss of piety in the younger generations, the Pilrin Pilgrimage has become a rather obscure form of memorial. It is no longer seen as a rite of passage, and as such the pilgrimage has thinned in numbers and left the temple in disrepair. While there are still some dedicated to the temple and strive to maintain it, those that do are quickly becoming too old to do all the work needed to keep up with the damage. Recent efforts have been made by outside scholars to try and send help to restore the temple and reignite the tradition, though many are denied access by Undine forces, citing concerns over heavy machinery and foot traffic degrading the path even further. Pilrins are quick to dispute this claim, though have found little success in swaying the Undine government.

Execution

The Pilgrimage is typically a six-day affair at minimum, though many in the early days of the tradition would spread out their camping days to extend the trip. For a typical trip, it consists of two days to the temple, two days spent at the temple, and two days back.
Time spent traveling to the temple was expected to be spent re-telling stories of early Pilrins and Fanha herself, in verse and sometimes song. The first day spent at the temple was for contemplation over Fanha’s sacrifice and forgiveness to the other gods for her fall, as well as reading over her verses scattered about the halls and swimming in the Pool of Tribute. The second day at the temple was meant to be spent cleaning and maintaining the space, as well as helping any newcomers and teaching those less informed of Fanha’s life and the Pilrin’s history. It should be noted, however, that the history taught at the temple does not include the conflict between the Pilrins and the Undine, as it as seen as disrespectful and unimportant to the deeper meaning of the tradition. The two day trip back was expected to be spent sharing personal stories and creating deeper connections, as to symbolize walking towards the future of their species and not always staying in the past.
In the years following the Undine takeover, when many Pilrins opted to take the pilgrimage alone, many of the intricacies for the journey fell by the wayside. Time spent traveling was normally done in silence, and time at the temple was spent in solitude. It wasn’t until 2197 NW, when the young generation of Pilrins gained a sudden interest in the tradition, that it returned to being a social affair. Today it remains mixed, with some opting to use the pilgrimage for quiet reflection and others for its original intended purpose.

Observance

There have been several attempts over the years to establish a set “day of remembrance” that would encourage people to take the journey, though none have ever remained relevant for more than a year or so. Pilrin’s take pride in their free-nature society, so assigning such stringent dates was never something that appealed to them. In the early days, it was common for a Pilrin to take the pilgrimage at each major milestone; Once with their family during childhood, once as a young adult with friends, Once with their partner and child, and once close to death. These were never hard-and-fast rules, though, so many just opted to take the journey whenever they felt like it.

Primary Related Location

Pilris Isle

Important Locations

• Temple of Fanha

Related Ethnicities

• Pilrin