Aldarwis (/ɑldɑrˌwi:z/)
Aldarwis is the indigenous belief system of the Rhenish people of northwestern Ione. Once the common religion of all of the Rhenish tribes, due to the spread of the Ouranic Church during the time of the Rexan Empire, the old ways are now only commonly observed within the borders of the Duchy of North Rhenland.
Public Agenda
The Rhenish believe that their gods require regular and frequent sacrifice in order to maintain the orderly functioning of the universe. In exchange for assistance through sacrifice, the gods of the Rhenish pantheon look favorably upon their worshippers and protect them from harm. Thus, the responsibility to implement these sacrifices correctly is delegated to the priestly caste for the greater good of Rhenish society.
Mythology & Lore
The Rhenish pantheon is divided into three clans based on a particular sphere of influence. Some sages believe that this strange arrangement is the result of the cults of the patron gods of various Rhenish tribes being amalgamated into one belief system after the unification of the Rhenish people some time in the past. Nevertheless, at this point in time, all of the Rhenish gods are afforded the same level of respect, regardless of their particular pantheon.
The 'Upper' or 'Cosmic' clan is led by Teuz, the Sky-Father, and consists of deities responsible for the orderly movement of celestial objects in the heavens. The 'Lower' or 'Telluric' clan is led by Hegge, the Earth-Mother; the deities of this pantheon are concerned with the elements and natural phenomena. Finally, the 'Middle' or 'Anthropic' clan is led by Wurth, the All-Seer. The development and flourishing of Human civilization, and in particular, the Rhenish people, are overseen by this group of deities.
The Rhenish gods are grouped as follows:
Upper Clan
| Name | Domain |
|---|---|
| Teuz | God of the Sky |
| Osa | Goddess of Dawn and the Horizon |
| Lum and Mahn | Twin Gods of the Moons |
| Seul | Goddess of the Sun |
Lower Clan
| Name | Domain |
|---|---|
| Hegge | Goddess of the Earth |
| Werghnaz | God of the Weather |
| Ekni | God of Fire |
| Dona | Goddess of Water and Rivers |
| Wentha | God of the Wind |
| Peson | God of Herds and Pastures |
Middle Clan
| Name | Domain |
|---|---|
| Wurth | Goddess of Fate |
| Arjoman | God of Community, Roads, Healing, and Marriage |
| Arfus | God of Crafts, Mining, and the Forge |
| Nasha | Goddess of Death |
Divine Origins
The roots of Rhenish beliefs lie in the spiritual visions and insights communicated by shamans who accompanied the first human tribes that settled along the banks of the Rhen River during the start of the Fourth Age. As time went on, the teachings of the shamans became codified into an oral tradition that was kept by a caste of priests and priestesses and passed down through the generations, thus forming the basis of Aldarwis.
Cosmological Views
According to Rhenish teachings, after Ar had awakened and had attempted to see its own face, the universe was a chaotic thought-sea from which Teuz the Sky-Father, Hegge the Earth Mother, and Wurth the All-Knower arose. These primal gods are known to the Rhen as 'The Three'. Seeing all of existence writhe in agony as the newly born reflections of the Ar thrashed about in blind confusion, at Wurth's suggestion, Teuz, Hegge, and Wurth joined in divine marriage to imposed order upon the universe that mortals experience as the laws of the natural world. The other deities were born from either the consummation of Teuz and Hegge's marriage or Teuz and Wurth's. The young gods were then each assigned to either the Upper, Lower, or Middle clan based on their affiliation to one of their parents so that they may assist them in maintaining cosmic order.
In particular, the Cosmic deities maintain this order in the cosmos by ensuring the sun and moons rise and set and their ordained times, so that mortals know when it is the time to sow and when it is the time to reap. Likewise, the Telluric deities ensure that the natural elements remain in balance so that animal and plant life can flourish. Finally, the Anthropic deities oversee the elements of civilization, so that the Rhen people can grow and spread the glory of their gods across the surface of Tel.
Tenets of Faith
A common theme found in the collected myths, hymns, and prophecies of the Rhenish people is the exhortation to live one's life according to a particular set of virtues, which include obedience, honesty, trustworthiness, hospitality, courage, and strength. Both Rhenish men and women are expected to live their lives in such a way as to exemplify these values, and it is believed that those who hold to this virtues are rewarded after death by Wurth with rebirth into a life with an even more glorious destiny. Likewise, the cowardly, weak, and dishonest are punished with rebirth as earthworms and other lowly vermin, sentenced to toil in Hegge's soil until they are deemed worthy of reentering humanity in another life.
Ethics
- Honor - Ar
- Courage - Kerk
- Hospitality - Gestgothi
- Perseverance - Uthaldenhed
Worship
The worship of the Rhenish gods entails devotional chanting as well as ritual sacrifice. A core tenant of Aldarwis is that the gods require sustenance, in the form of life energy given through sacrifice. Thus, the priests and priestess regularly sacrifice animals and sentients to appease their deities. The nature of the sacrifice depends on the particular pantheon it is dedicated to. Sacrifices offered to the Telluric deities are in the form of blood, which is usually collected in silver goblets and then poured out onto the ground to 'feed' Hegge and her children.
On the other hand, the Cosmic deities require burnt sacrifice. Sacrificial animals or captured prisoners of war are tied to funeral pyres placed on sacred hilltops and set aflame while they are still alive. The Rhenish priesthood believes that the smoke of these burnt offerings carry the life force of the sacrificed into the sky for Teuz and his children.
The Anthropic deities are satisfied merely by sweet-smelling incense and the sounds of sacred chants and hymns offered to them daily at family shrines in each Rhenish home and each village's community altars.
Priesthood
A Rhenish cleric is known as a gudi (plural: gudiös). Priestly status is inherited paternally, and gudi begin their training quite early in life. They are divided into different priesthoods, depending on which divine clan they serve. The clerics of the Anthropic deities are called 'village gudi' as they maintain the shrines of a community's patron gods. The clerics' food, clothing, and other necessities are provided through the patronage of the village or clan elder.
On the other hand, worship of the Cosmic deities is the responsibility of the 'temple gudi, who maintain the sacred hilltop altars of Teuz and his children. As the temple gudiös provide for the spiritual needs of the entire Rhenish nation, their cult is directly supported by the Duke of North Rhenland.
The priesthood of Telluric deities consists of the 'wandering gudi', who live as hermits in the forests of northern Rhenia and tend to the sacred groves of Hegge. Living mostly self-sufficient lives, whatever needs that cannot be met from nature are supplemented by donations given by grateful laymen who seek out these gudi for healing, natural medicine, or spiritual guidance.
