United Following of the Fjennan
The United Following of the Fjennan, known to themselves as the Fjenni outside Vexan , or inside Vexan as the Fienane, is a major polylatrist religion popular in most of the north of West-Argo. The henotheistic religion focuses on the worship of the Gods of the Pantheon, known as the Fjennan. As these gods have been around for as long as humans have walked the central plains of West-Argo, their worship is old as well, with the first accounts of worship of the constituent Fjennan going as far back as the 3rd century AAA.
However old it's roots, the United Following is a relative new faith in it's current form, it being formed when three temples would unite their tenets of faith under one banner, as three gods would unite as allies: Maraman, Corellon and Solleros.
The Three Houses
Maraman, Corellon and Solleros are the three primary deities, yet in the greater faith, it is more accurate to look at the Fjennan faith as a union of three complete pantheons. Deities in one of these Three Houses, as they are called, often take responsibility for different aspects of not only life, but the greater workings of the gods themselves, with many of the three houses having their own minor deity for the same aspects.Maraman
Maraman, called Sała Maraman by the Melisternians, is the first of the Three Deities. Originally a sun-god, he has grown far beyond his domain and now is considered more a patriarchal deity of the gods underneath him. Worship of Maraman and his House is most prominent among the Roccui and Podoalmerians.Corellon
Corellon, the second of the Three Deities, is the well known god of arcana, holding near a universal grip on magic through his Great Laws, forming arcane magic in the strict bounds that it knows throughout the eras. Worship of Corellon is widespread globally even outside Vexan, although mostly with mages and others who rely on the arcane.Sorellos
Also known as Sorèl to the Bataqois, Sorellos is the third of the Three Deities. Originally a creator of wildlife, he also outgrew his original purpose with the expansion of his House. Sorellos is known for his giving of omens, good and bad, often through nature, guiding his followers through life. Worship of Sorellos and his House is ubiquitous to the Bataqois, although a decent population of Laikka also still follow him, especially in the north of their kingdom.Deities and their Domains
Deities are marked M for gods under the House of Maraman, C for Corellon and S for Sorellos.Solar Deities
- M Maraman. God of Light, the Sun and All That Which Shines.
- C Lumella. Lady of Pearls. She often is depicted with an open Oyster as a head, shining with sun rays. Lumella is the youngest daughter of Corellon.
- S Eciénne. Lady of Fire. She often is depicted as burning woman, sometimes even with burned flesh. Enciénne is the second daughter of Sorellos and technically a demi-goddess, originally having a human mother.
Lunar Deities
- M Çelane. Lady of Mirrors. Often depicted as a woman holding hand mirrors, her statues and amulets are often made to a mirror polish from top to bottom. Çelane is the only daughter of Maraman.
- C Bajun. Lord of the Moon. A personification of the moon itself, Bajun is often depicted as the full moon. He is the first son of Corellon.
- S Tiblanc. Lord of the Eclipse. Often depicted as a washing, or black, moon. Tiblanc is also seen as the personification of absence. He is the first son of Sorellos.
Sky (and weather) Deities
- M Tunrik. Lord of Thunder. He is the second son of Maraman.
- C Selyanne. Lady of the Wind. She is the second daughter of Corellon.
- S Chelange. Lady of the Rain. She is the wife of Sorellos.
Fertility & Natural Deities
- M Mirea. Godess of Matronage and Fish. Often depicted as a mermaid. She is the wife of Maraman and considered the mother of many of his children.
- S Sorellos. God of Fertility and All That Grazes.
Trade Deities
- M Alkanak. Lord of Commerce. He is the fifth son of Maraman.
- C Siano. Lord of Teleportation. He is the third son of Corellon.
- S Geaucheneaux. Lord of Sail and Wheel. He is the fourth son of Sorellos.
Crafts Deities
- M Boradonik. Lord of Artisans. He is the third son of Maraman.
- C Tylana. Lady of Artifacts. She is the first daughter of Corellon.
- S Marène. Lady of Engineering. She is the first daughter of Sorellos.
Art Deities
- M Sorkonost. Lord of Theatre. He is the sixth son of Maraman.
- C Falando. Lord of Music and Arcane Bards.
- S Yugor. Lord of the Visual Arts. He is the third son of Sorellos.
Administrative Deities
- M Glomnir. Lord of Scribes. He is the fourth son of Maraman.
- C Luciana. Lady of Runes. She is the wife of Corellon.
- S Doneaux. Lord of Calculus. He is the second son of Sorellos.
War Deities
- M Yknurvak. Lord of Holy Wrath. The first son of Maraman.
- C Kedan. Lord of Evocation. He is the second son of Corellon.
- S Silán. Lord of Blades. He is the fifth son of Sorellos.
Wardens (of the afterlifes)
The Fjennan faith, just like many other, incorporates their own afterlifes as a promise for the faithful. Specifically, the faith knows two: The Aether, watched over by the Warden Nimea and Gorbern, watched over by the Warden Gorlig. The Two afterlifes however, are entered through the same gate in the Inbetween. The afterlife then functions as a justice system, where those that lived according to the faith's tenets are rewarded with bliss in the Aether and where those who did not are sent to Gorbern to suffer. The decision to send who where is made by a many headed creature called Beytmish'bash; The Court, who was created by all three of the Great Deities.Tenets
The Fjennan Congregation holds to a number of common tenets and commandments that are formulated in the Sefeg Had’Barud; the Book of Commandments. One of the five holy texts of the faith. The other ones consisting of three collections of testimonies and stories about each of the gods and then the Khuka'Tabaïn; the Constitution of the Following, which is the basis of the temple structure. They describe a wide range of subjects and proper handling in them, as well as suggested punishments on the metaphysical level for not following them, most of which include the heightening or lowering of Shivūi; Worth. This is considered the currency which with you may pay The Court after you die to judge you in your favour, although it is not the only thing judged. The most important tenets are explained below.- Hold Honour. With this is meant that one is to keep to his word, be faithful to all who you've given it and to uphold promises given by your ancestors.
- Hold Kindness. With this is meant to be kind to everyone unconditionally and help anyone in need within the limit of one's ability.
- No Mindlessness. With this is meant to not act without proper thought in any situation, but also to prevent situations that could lead to that inevitability, like through overindulgence in substances.
- No Blasphemy. With this is meant to not use the names of the gods in vain and to not call upon them when it is not needed or the call is made in bad faith.
Worship & Traditions
Worship of the Fjennan is done through the organisation of the Congregation. All throughout the northern hemisphere, temples to the Fjennan have been built, with local believers being expected to visit often. Services are daily in the larger ones, with smaller temples hosting services just twice a week on a minimum. These services are moments of mass sacrifice and communal prayer, combined with readings from the holy books and sermons bringing them into context of daily life. Outside of these, members are encouraged to engage in private prayer and candle burnings and the singing of songs, especially at the start of one's day, when the Sloshan Erot; Day Candles are lit at the home altar (or on a mobile altar, if on the move) a, as well as at the end when they are extinguished. Special ceremonies include those surrounding marriage, betrothal, birth, death and other special moments, like blessings before moving in a new home, exorcisms, healing of the sick and blessings before battle or when embarking on a long journey.Ecclesiology & Metatheology
As divine organisations like religions are still organisations like any other, they need coordination and structure to function properly. This is especially the case for a religion as large and complex as the Fjennan. Being essentially a union of three religions into one, a lot of divine diplomacy and sanctified red tape is needed to make it all function. This is why the Three Churches have a streamlined hierarchical structure going from the Three Deities at the top, through the Act of Holy Communion all the way down to the courts of the lesser gods and from there on to the mortals. As deities gain their arcane power from worship and not all individual members of the divine court actively are the subject of that, power is divided by the courts among themselves, granting executive powers the means to execute their tasks.
996 AZ - 37 AE
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
Fjennanism, the Vexan Trinity, the United Following
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