Religions of Velgarth

[World of Velgarth]

Religions of Velgarth

Inspired by many real-world religions, author Mercedes Lackey has provided a few options for the faithful of Velgarth.

It is our fan interpretation that the religions are far more varied than the canon works imply. This could be due to the books having focused on one particular region of the world where the same ‘core’ deities are worshiped under several names.

Chief among them are the dual deities representing male and female aspects.

The Female aspect appears to be mostly represented in the region of Valdemar as ‘Astera’ while her aspect as a triple goddess is represented in Rethwellan as ‘the LadyTrine.’ Among the Shin’a’in and the Tayledras, she is known as the Star-Eyed - represented with four aspects of the maiden, the mother, the crone and the warrior.

The Male aspect is represented strongly in Karse, where he is known as Vkandis. This aspect is mirrored in Iftel, where he is known as Vykaendys - hinting at a long ago sundering of the faith when followers of the Lord of Light counted themselves among Urtho’s armies.

Of the deities that existed outside of this duality - few are known. The books provide some details and hints of Others - along with the notion that Death itself exists outside the bounds of the Empyreal plane. Some fans believe that Death is an aspect of the two deities, but it is our thought that Death is neither, and instead is the balance.

The Mage Wars and Sorcerer-Adept Ma’ar’s war of conquest eradicated many things from Velgarth. Religion was almost definitely one of them, as Ma’ar acted as most ruthless dictators do - destroying everything and everyone that doesn’t fall in line.

Below, we have compiled all known aspects of the two main deities, as well as a list of other honorable mentions.

Table of Contents

• Female Aspect
  Kal’enel (the Star Eyed of the Shin’a’in and Tayledras)
  Astera (Valdemar)
  LadyTrine
  Lady Windborn
  Avatars of the Goddess
  Historical Religion, ‘The Twins’ Karanel the Fighter
• Male Aspect
  Vkandis & Karse
  Vykaendys & Iftel
  Kantis, the Child of the Morning
  Resoden & Jkatha
  Historical Religion, ‘The Twins’ Kerenel the Healer
• Death
• Groveborne-specific Religions, Practices & theological Orders
• Religions of Valdemar & Hardorn
• Religions of the Eastern Empire
• Religions of Jkatha, Ruvan & Beyond
• Historical Religions

[World of Velgarth]

Female Aspect

Her relevance to the story of Valdemar is a deep one. She is believed to be the deity who answered King Valdemar’s prayer and created Companions. Groveborn companions in particular appear to be ‘new’ souls, closely linked to the Goddess and resembling Her Avatars, while ‘regular’ companions are the reincarnations of past Heralds.

Groveborne canon on the notion of reincarnation is based on the thought that any believer of the Star-Eyed’s aspects can be reincarnated as a Companion if they so choose - though the vast majority continue to be Heralds.

Appearance

Among the Clans, She has four faces or aspects: Maiden, Warrior, Mother, and Crone. When she appeared to Tarma, she came as the Warrior:

"...the radiant figure... glowing faintly within a nimbus of soft light, appeared to be leshya'e Kal'enedral, but was unveiled--her body that of a young, almost sexless woman. A woman of the Shin'a'in, with golden skin, sharp features, and raven-black hair. A swordswoman garbed and armed from head to toe in unrelieved black--and whose eyes were the featureless darkness of a starry night sky, lacking pupil or iris." [Oathbreakers]

In every face, her eyes are compared to the starry sky--the origin of her most common name, the Star-Eyed. To a lesser extent, the eyes of Companions resemble her eyes. The Star-Eyed is also implied by name to be one of the Twins worshiped by the mage-smith Lashan (who later became Need), Karanel the Fighter.

She is associated with the stars and the night. She is known to have a male companion, who is called "Hunter, Guardian, Rover, Guide." Interestingly, the Fighter of the Twins had a sibling known as Hunter. In "Sun in Glory," it is implied that the Star-Eyed is the companion of Vkandis. This implication is raised again in Storm Warning (Chapter Nine) when Vkandis' companion is revealed to be the goddess Kalanel.

Worship

Shin’a’in Shrines to the Star-Eyed
The Shin'a'in use tent-shrines that are easy to pack and move as they migrate across the Plains.

"The tent-shrines of the Clans were always absolutely identical in their spartan simplicity. There were four tiny wooden altars, one against each wall of the tent. In the East was that of the Maiden; on it was her symbol, a single fresh blossom in spring and summer, a stick of burning incense in winter and fall. To the South was that of the warrior, marked by an ever-burning flame. The West held the Mother's altar, on it a sheaf of grain. The North was the domain of the Crone or Ancient One. The altar here held a smooth black stone."

Shamans of the Star-Eyed
"The only ‘magicians’ the Clans have are the shamans ... They don’t do magic ... Healing, acting as advisors, keepers of outClan knowledge." -- Tarma (Oathbound)

The Shin'a'in chose to shun most magic on principle, after the devastation of the Mage Wars. Under their pact with the Goddess, she allowed them to have shamans for specific needs. Shin'a'in shamans are oathbound to Her crone aspect, the north wind, as are the healers and elders of the clan.

Shamans of the Kaled'a'in, Shin'a'in, and Tale'edras serve Enelve'astre / Kal'enel (commonly called the Star-Eyed) and are equal in standing to the priests or priestesses of any other god or goddess.

Kyree, hertasi, tervardi, and dyheli all have shamans whom appear to serve Kal’enel

Shin’a’in Sworn to the Goddess
Kal'enedral
Called "Sword Sworn" by non-Shin'a'in, they are servants of the Shin'a'in Goddess in her aspect as the Warrior. The term kal'enedral actually means both "Children of Her Sword" and "Her Sword-Brothers."

They are celibate and answer to the needs of all the Shin'a'in rather than any particular clan. They are the only ones allowed to claim blood-feud, this prevents inter-clan warfare, as the Swordsworn always put the welfare of the Shin'a'in as a whole before any particular clan. They are trained by leshy'a Kal'enedral, spirit warriors of Kal'enel, Swordsworn who died generations before. After their own deaths they may continue to serve the Goddess by becoming spirit warriors, leshy'a Kal'enedral, as well.

Kal'enedral are actually priests and priestesses of the Star-Eyed, though they are not often called on to perform priestly functions. Clansfolk more commonly utilize shamans, who are actually the mages of the Shin'a'in, and are not as rare as Swordsworn.

Unlike typical Clansfolk who wear bright colors, Kal'enedral usually wear brown, unless on blood feud. At that time they wear only unrelieved black. There is one special branch of the Swordsworn who wear only midnight blue. These dozen or so Kal'enedral or sworn to the Star-Eyed not only in her aspect of Warrior, but also in her aspect of Crone. These sworn ones protect the knowledge of the Clans woven into magical tapestries hidden in the heart of Kata'shin'a'in.

The Star-Eyed occasionally dispatches her Kal'enedral to complete certain tasks or to directly intervene in a situation. This happened in the Mage Winds series when the Star-Eyed took a personal interest in events. The Swordsworn were first sent to chase Mornelithe Falconsbane away from k'Sheyna. They were then sent to confuse him at his fortress, appearing as the Black Riders.

Scrollsworn
Like the Kal'enedral, the Scrollsworn are Shin'a'in who have taken vows in service to the Star-Eyed goddess in her aspect as Wisdom Keeper. While the Kal'enedral (or Swordsworn) are warriors and priests sworn to the goddess in her warrior aspect, the Scrollsworn are shamans and mages. They wear midnight blue, rather than the brown or black of the Swordsworn. They are mostly found in a hidden enclave in Kata'shin'a'in, where they maintain and guard the Webs of Time.

The Webs of Time are the Shin'a'in memory tapestries. They are housed in secret stone buildings in the center of the city of Kata'shin'a'in. They are located in nondescript buildings with glass roofs that allow the moonlight to activate the tapestries, while still keeping the ancient weavings safe. They are maintained and guarded by the Scrollsworn.

The weavings contain the actual memories of past Shin'a'in, showing events such as the Cataclysm, the Sundering of the Clans and the First Sacrifice. When activated, the tapestries allow someone to relive the stored memories.

Other Aspects of the Goddess

Rethwellan

LadyTrine
Agnetha is the mother aspect of a triple goddess, the LadyTrine, worshiped in Rethwellan. Agnira and Agnoma are the other aspects.

• Agnetha is a mother of twins, with wheat sheaves at her feet and a wheat crown in her hair. She is usually depicted with fruits, vines and farm animals, such as sheep. She represents fertility and feminine sweetness. She was Rathgar's favorite aspect for this reason, embodying what he thought a woman should be. In fact, his future daughter-in-law Dierna was sent to the cloistered Sisters of Agnetha to be trained.
• Agnira is the maiden aspect of a triple goddess, the LadyTrine, worshiped in Rethwellan. Agnetha and Agnoma are the other aspects. Agnira is wild and free, a horse tamer. The horseshoe is a common symbol for her. She is Kerowyn's favorite aspect.
• Agnoma is the crone aspect of a triple goddess, the LadyTrine, worshiped in Rethwellan. Agnira and Agnetha are the other aspects. A snowflake is a common symbol for Agnoma.

Valdemar

Astera of the Stars
In religiously tolerant and diverse Valdemar, Astera of the Stars is one of the most popular goddesses, with temples scattered throughout the kingdom, though they appear to be concentrated in the north.

Mentions of Astera
Maeven the Weatherwitch began training to be a priestess at her local temple of Astera.
Father Leren was a priest of Astera. After his betrayal, the High Prelate of the order sent "finders" into all the temples to clear out any other corrupted clergy.
Merris retreated to a shrine of Astera, ostensibly for a period of contemplation. In reality she used it as a cover to slip away to Darkwall Keep.

Jkatha

Lady Windborn
Lady Windborn, also known as the Windborn Soulshaper, is a goddess worshiped in Jkatha. She is the one Kethry follows, though Kal'enal--the Shin'a'in Star-Eyed goddess--told her that Lady Windborn is just another of her own faces. She may or may not be the same as Teslat.

Avatars of the Goddess

Avatars are otherworldly entities that serve deities as messengers and/or agents of divine orders. They are entities of the Spirit Realm, and can walk the Moonpaths. They can be created from mortal creatures, as was the case with the Star-Eyed's avatars Dawnfire and Tre'valen.

Other suspected Avatars include the original Groveborn companions and ‘new souls’ such as Gwena.

Though not as closely linked to the Goddess as her true Avatars, the leshy’a Kal’enedral and the later Heraldic reincarnations that would become Companions share some similarities and are believed to be spirit-born in much the same way.

In much the same way, the Firecats are believed to be the spiritual creations of Vkandis - though there are far fewer Sons of the Sun than there are Heralds or Swordsworn.

[World of Velgarth]

Male Aspect
Where the Star-Eyed is vital to Valdemar through the creation of the Companions, Vkandis is vital to Karse as the country’s unifying faith. There are no other temples besides that of the Sunlord in Karse - a fact believed to be due to the region being settled by followers of the Sunlord (or perhaps one of his older aspects, Kerenel the Hunter, Twin to Karanel) who were members of Urtho’s army and heavily persecuted by Ma’ar’s people. The same is true in Iftel, where the diverse following of Urtho’s people unified beneath the protection of the clergy as they raised the Barrier to protect them from the Storms and remnants of Ma’ar’s forces.

The similarity between the two deities continues: the Star-Eyed has the Moonpaths where Shamans and other holy beings may interact with her Avatars, Vkandis has Sunheart. Sunpriest Karal seeks wisdom from Vkandis during the Mage Storms while wondering if working with the ghost of Herald Vanyel (and not exorcizing him as he was instructed to do with wandering specters) is sacrilegious. The experience is described as being a thing of light - then darkness - where all parts of Karal’s heart and mind were examined.
Appearance
Not much is explicitly stated about the visage of the Sunlord, outside of his statues in Karse. What is notable is his masculine nature and relationship with the sun.

Sun Disk
The Sun Disk is the wheel-shaped holy symbol of Vkandis Sunlord. Sunpriests trace a Sun Disk in the air when blessing someone. All Karsite towns and villages are also laid out in a Sun Disk configuration, with the capital city of Sunhame being the ultimate example of this design.

Voice of Flame
The Voice of Flame is a form of possession in which Vkandis speaks through a Sunpriest or extremely holy lay person, using their voice to deliver prophecy. An aura of fire that appears above the head of a person so possessed. Along with Firecats, the Voice of Flame is one of the two supernatural manifestations of Vkandis. Unfortunately, with many of the corrupt priests also being mages, this was a ridiculously easy "miracle" to counterfeit.

Worship
Understanding the religion of Vkandis comes from a deep dive into the history of Karse itself. This tumultuous relationship begins in much the same manner as it did for the Shin’a’in and Tayledras - where the ancient Karsites asked their God for protection from the effects of the Cataclysm. Some in the fandom believe they were granted knowledge in how to summon and control demons, though others think it was a different set of spells that made the Priest-mages of Ancient Karse sought after and respected for the protection they offered.

Meanwhile, in Iftel, the survivors of the Cataclysm asked for a different sort of protection, and were given the Barrier. They worship Vykaendys and speak a tongue similar enough to Karsite to be understood by native speakers.

Within Valdemar, the Sunlord is worshiped as the Lord of Light - alongside a modified (or more accurately, less hostile to the Gifted) version of the Writ.


Vkandis in Karse
Vkandis' highest representative in Karse is the Son of the Sun, who leads the sunpriests and establishes the law. Unfortunately, as the sunpriests became more powerful, they also became corrupt, until they began electing each new Son of the Sun without the will of Vkandis. The corrupt clergy terrorized Karse for centuries, burning children with magical abilities, torturing and executing those accused of heresy or witchcraft, summoning demons against the populace, burning battlefield survivors, and so on.

Faithful people called out to Vkandis in prayer, asking why he allowed such torment to continue. Sometimes in death they learned his answer:

"I cannot interfere with the free will of my people, not until the fate of the very world is at stake."

Intervention
Vkandis finally took action to support the revolution within the Karse priesthood, led by Solaris, Ulrich and others. In front of thousands of witnesses on Midsummer's Day, Vkandis reduced the corrupt Son of the Sun, Lastern, to ashes, personally crowned Solaris the new Son of the Sun with his own crown, and wrought several other miracles to emphasize his point.

He directly intervened again later during the Mage Storms, personally holding the Sun Throne for Solaris after ordering her to visit Tremane in Hardorn.


Known Karsite Religious Principles & Practices
Principles
The Writ of Vkandis is the book used in Karse to educate worshippers. Free Will is a cornerstone of the faith, and thinking things through for yourself is another.[1]

Worship services in every village are led by local priests at dawn and dusk, called on some occasions Rising Sun[2] and Sun Descending.[1][3] The corrup clergy frowns upon anyone who misses services, putting the person's loyalty under scrutiny.

Writ of Vkandis
Usually referred to as the Writ and Rules of Vkandis, the Writ is the holy book of the Karsite religion. The Writ is based on the Prime Principle of Free Will. In some stories it is also referred to as the Word and Will of Vkandis. In addition to rules, it also contains the liturgy.

For centuries corrupt Sunpriests either twisted the Writ, or simply lied about what it contained to justify their actions. Writ and Rule said the Son of the Sun was selected by the Sunlord, but that process was subverted for ages. When Solaris took over as Son of the Sun, she proclaimed adherence to what the Writ actually said, not what it could be twisted to mean.

The Writ:
Demanded that a person learn how to think, and come to the Sunlord having thought through everything for himself.
Spoke against witch-powers that tried to predict the future, not for being "evil," but because "knowing" a future might close people's eyes to other possibilities and curb Free Will.
Says the future is mutable (which Alberich discovered from his Gift of ForeSight. The futures he saw could be changed.)
Says that "when Vkandis wished the future to be revealed—or steered—He would find a way to do so."
Tells us that a man’s home is where his family is, and that friends are the family one can choose.

Quotes from the Writ
If thine eye gazes upon the forbidden, put it out with thine own hand, lest ye be tempted.
"And lo, I was a stranger, and in a strange realm, and no man knew me. Every man’s heart was set against me, and every man’s hand empty to me."

Tedrel Orphans Prophecy
The child Kantis taught the Tedrel orphans that the Writ foretold their rescue by the "White riders" and "ghost-horses," citing Canto and Verse:

Alcar, Canto Seven, Verse Nine: "And the children shall be reft from the people, and they shall suffer in the hands of the infidel, but those that keep faith shall endure and the riders of light shall redeem them."
Porphyr, Canto Twelve, Verse Twenty-two: "And lo! in the moment of despair, I shall guide you, as you were a child, out of the camp of iniquity and into the hands of the saviors, and great spirits of white shall succor you."
Werthe, Canto Fifteen, Verse Forty-nine: "And a rider of the purest white spirit shall..."

Feast of the Children
A Karsite religious festival, the Feast of the Children was originally a time for all the children to be celebrated and to receive blessings from a Sunpriest. The children were also tested for Gifts and talents as well, so that they might be trained as they grew into their abilities. The festival was also a right of passage, from childhood into adulthood. To represent that passage, each child who was coming of age would toss a cherished childhood possession into the fires, symbolizing leaving childhood behind. It was a joyous festival, and all looked forward to it. That changed with the corruption of the priesthood during Hanovar's reign as Son of the Sun.

Instead of being blessed, with special training recommended for some of the children coming of age, all children from the ages of five through twelve were examined by a priest. Some might be claimed for the priesthood, being taken out of town before the festival concluded, never to see their families again. Others might be condemned for having 'witch-powers.' instead of burning a possession, these children were thrown to the Fires themselves, to be burned alive. For this reason, the annual Feast became a time of dread throughout all Karse.[1]

This all changed again with the crowning of Solaris as the Son of the Sun. She outlawed the sacrificial fires. She also had scholars research the original versions of ceremonies and festivals, reinstituting the old ways from before they were twisted by corruption. Children were still to be evaluated for their potential abilities, but no one was dragged off to the Temple. Personal and parental consent had to be given for any child to enter orders. Those that did were allowed the same familial contact and visits afforded to army recruits. The Feast became a joyous time again under her tenure.

Fire Kindling Ceremony

The Fire Kindling Ceremony is the rite of the Temple of Vkandis in Karse performed on Midwinter Day, the holiest day in the temple calendar. The fires in every fireplace in the nation are extinguished. Then, in every temple at high noon, a beam of sunlight shine through a special lens window known as the Eye. The beam itself is referred to as the Lance of Hope. This concentrated sunlight is used to kindle a fire on the altar. The fire is then shared out, with the worshipers all taking a bit of flaming brand home to re-light their own fires.

It was during this ceremony in the central temple in Sunhame that Solaris was crowned Son of the Sun.

Fires of Cleansing

The Fires of Cleansing, also known as the Fires of Purification, were the bonfires the corrupted Sunpriests of Karse used to burn people at the stake. Anyone who possessed inconvenient Gifts, or that the priests believed they could not control, was denounced for possessing "witch powers" and was sent to the Fires.

The people of the villages could often tell which children were likely to be denounced by a Voice of Vkandis during the annual Feast of the Children Festival. Those living near the border with Valdemar sometimes smuggled the children out, or escaped across the border with them. That was how Father Henrick came to Valdemar. He had been ordered to burn a group of children, and ran with them instead.

When she was crowned Son of the Sun, Solaris put an end to the practice, outlawing it throughout Karse.

Battle Tithe, the Victory Sacrifice
"Men too wounded to travel or otherwise unlikely to survive will go to the flames. Alive. Vkandis takes no pleasure in cold flesh."

This practice was thwarted in Hardorn by Solaris, and is later considered one of her first Miracles when she heals the injured with a touch, thus preventing them from being fed to the Fires. Under Solaris’ rule, this practice has been outlawed.


Vykaendys in Iftel
In contrast with Karse, Iftel has had a very different relationship with their god known as 'Vykaendys'. After the Mage Wars, the Third Army found themselves in strange country and subject to predation. They prayed to their god, who directly acted by putting a Wall around Iftel that was all but impenetrable. Their ruler's title is Vykaendys-First.

The Third Army was a mixed species unit who served Urtho in the Mage Wars. The humans of the Third Army served a God, whom they called Vykaendys, who decreed that those with magic powers must be the priests, so the army had no mages. Since they didn't object to working with those of other faiths, a group of mages with which they shared no nationality was assigned to them, as well as a wing of gryphons with their trondi'irn, a charge of dyheli, a pack of kyree, a surge of ratha, and a knot of tyrill.

After the retreat from Urtho's Tower, the Third Army was cut off from everyone else. The mages opted to use a Gate to get away from the devastation, since the Priests for the army's humans had remained behind in their land with the common people. However, due to a lack of Adept mages, a lack of power, and nowhere safe to go, they were forced to Gate to the remotest point that a barbarian shaman from the North could remember.

The Wall
Alternately known as the Barrier, the Wall has defined Iftelian society for millenia. It has kept the country relatively free of foreign influence, but has also kept nearly all of the inhabitants virtual prisoners within, creating many aspects of their society. Originally created by their god Vykaendys (Vkandis) in order to protect the country, it eventually came down after the Mage Storms. Iftel rejoined mainstream Velgarth and became a member of the Alliance.

Kantis, The Child of Morning
Kantis was a small child among the Tedrel orphans. He unified the orphans, teaching them a simplified version of the rites of Vkandis, and telling them that one day soon the Tedrels would abandon them for good, and that on that day the "White Riders" on their "Ghost Horses" would rescue them and take them to a new land where they would have real homes and families and plenty of food.

He is described as a "very small, very red-haired boy, with amazing blue eyes that looked oddly old in such a young face."[1] He tells Alberich that he is the one prophesied in the Writ who would come for the Tedrel orphans. Some of his statements about exiles sound as if they come from Vkandis directly, intended specifically for Alberich. Alberich wonders if he is a prankster, or Vkandis himself in his aspect as "Child of the Morning," but decides it doesn't matter, because it is wisdom. Kantis' parting words to Alberich reference Solaris:

"wait some few years. And you will see what my daughter can do. Or should I say, my daughter who will be my Son?"

Resoden, Sun God of Jkatha
Resoden is a sun-god worshiped in the region of Jkatha. When Kethry caught a former mage-apprentice robbing caravans, she geased him to build temple walls for Resoden until he'd learned his lesson.

Other Aspects
Kerenel the Healer, twin to Karanel the Fighter and worshiped by the Sisterhood of Spell and Sword alongside Dina and Dara. The Twins were prominent deities in the time before the Mage Wars.

[World of Velgarth]

Death
While Death is represented as either gender when They appear to a wavering soul, it is Groveborne canon that Death exists as the balance to Kal’enel and Vkandis. Death exists outside the control of both deities, though it is presumed that Death can be swayed by the Will of the people of Velgarth in certain times of great strife - much the same way the Gods can. Death is capable of navigating all planes and holds sway over time and energy itself.

[World of Velgarth]

Groveborne Specific Religions, Orders & Practices
Brotherhood of Red Flame
A Karsite radical religious sect, they had a failed uprising in Sunhame to overthrow Solaris and are now nursing their wounds in Valdemar. It is believed that they are made up of several black-robe priests, including at least two adepts and several masters.

Sovvan Night
Remarked upon in the books by Vanyel as the day Tylendel died - it is referenced that it is a major festival in Valdemar. It appears to be inspired by All Hallow’s Eve/Samhain and Dia de los Muertos. In Groveborne canon, it corresponds with Halloween and marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Valdemarans believe that it is the time of the year where the boundary between the realm of the dead and the world of living is especially thin, allowing the dead to visit the living. Standing vigil appears to be a means to both respect the dead and to ensure nothing goes awry. In the day leading up to Sovven Night, festivities greatly resemble a harvest festival where the living celebrate the lives of those lost and pay tribute to their ancestors. is the night when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, or so people believe. It is also common for Valdemarans to light candles in every window on Sovvan.

Midwinter
Depending on one’s faith, Midwinter can be spent feasting and celebrating, or in somber reflection of the year. Common threads amongst celebrations include resting throughout the day in preparation for the evening, where either one intends to dance the night away or spend it in vigil.

Children play many different games, with a ‘Midwinter Queen’ crowned each year in individual celebrations to decide which games are to be played. Among the social elite, this childish tradition takes on a different note, with eligible young ladies vying for the title to impress equally eligible young men. The role is only taken seriously at the balls hosted by the Winter Court in Haven, where the monarchs of Valdemar indulge their noble class with such deliberations. (Often, the Seneschal is the one who delivers the list of names - as the monarch may not be aware of all current machinations among Court socialites.)

At the conclusion of Midwinter, the matriarch of each household brings the traditional feast leftovers to the local temple as a gesture of goodwill. Such offerings are then immediately distributed to the poor.

[World of Velgarth]

Religions in Valdemar & Hardorn

Valdemar's motto is: There is no one true way. This holds true for religions as well as everything else. Most of the religions are based on a dual god and goddess. Though even in this, there are wide differences. In the north of the country this takes the form of Kernos of the Northern Lights and Astera of the Stars. The patriarchal Holderkin in the southeast have a dominant god and a passive, subservient goddess.

There are some monotheistic religions as well. In the Three Rivers area is a such a group, whose religion centers on their holy book, the Book of One. The Karsite Sun religion, worshiping Vkandis is also practiced in Haven and along the Karsite border. It is monotheistic in nature as well.

Due to both countries sharing an open border for decades, there is a large overlap between religions in Hardorn and Valdemar.

Earth Father & Sky Mother
The old earth-based religion of Hardorn is making a comeback, with those gifted with Earthsense and common hedgewitches and wizards finding themselves once more in positions of respect in their towns and villages. As with most religions on Velgarth, the Hardornens pay homage to a dual sect of deities, the Earth Father and Sky Mother. The common thread between all Hardornen religious sects is their bond to the land and the earth-taking ceremony.


Kernos of the Northern Lights
Kernos of the Northern Lights is one of the more popular gods worshiped in religiously diverse Valdemar. His temples and shrines are scattered throughout the kingdom, but are especially prevalent in the north.

Monks dedicated to Kernos are a martial order, and Kernos is especially popular among Heralds and members of the Guard. Many common oaths and epithets use Kernos' name.

Thenoth
Thenoth, Lord of the Beasts, is a god worshiped in Valdemar. His order is focused on caring for animals, and the Brotherhood who serves Thenoth highly prizes the Gift of Animal Mindspeech among its Brothers and Novices. Only men can become full clergy, while women are limited to novice vows, which do not impede marriage. The main Temple of Thenoth is located in Haven.

Book of One
The Book of One is central to a monotheistic religion found in the Three Rivers area in Valdemar. Mero, the Collegium cook, is one of its adherents.

Quotations
"Do not keep the ox who threshes your grain from filling his belly as he works."
"That love is most true that thinks first of the pain of others before its own."
"Great pride shall earn equal humiliation

[World of Velgarth]

Religions in the Eastern Empire
Horned Hunters
The Horned Hunters are a shamanistic sect from the Eastern Empire known for their sweat lodges and vision quests. Tremane had a number of Horned Hunters among his troops.

Hundred Little Gods
The Hundred Little Godsis the core of the religion of the Eastern Empire. The official state religion venerates the current Emperor and all his predecessors and ancestors. The previous emperors may not number one hundred, but the group is designated as such.

When the Empire conquers a new land, the worship of the Hundred Little Gods is imposed alongside whatever religion may already exist in that land. As long as the conquered people about the Hundred Little Gods, they can also keep their native beliefs.

[World of Velgarth]

Religions in Jkatha, Ruvan & Beyond

Path of the Wheel

The Path of the Wheel is a religion worshiping the Gods of the Wheel, symbols of balance. The adherents of the Path believe that they must do all they can to balance out any evil they have done in their lives with the good they do now. When they take their vows, practitioners have the symbol of a five-spoked wheel tattooed on the back of one wrist. Kindness, honesty, industry and hospitality are all prized by the wheel-bound, and they have a very formal hospitality ritual for welcoming guests. They also believe in reincarnation, another "turn of the Wheel."

The more conservative followers do not approve of using magic, likely because it seems too easy, violating their principles of industry and self-reliance. However, the most pragmatic adherents will not quibble when magic is truly needed.

Haighlei Empire
Eclipse Ceremony
The religion of the Haighlei Empire enforced a strict rigidity on the culture of the empire. Once a pattern was set or a social rule made, it could not be altered or overturned except during the height of the Eclipse Ceremony. Once every twenty years, there was a total solar eclipse, visible in the more southern regions of Velgarth. During this brief window, the Haighlei emperors could mandate changes in law and society. As it is written in the Haighlei holy books: "When the sun vanishes at midday, then change comes to the Haighlei." [The White Gryphon, chapter four]

During the first Eclipse Ceremony following the Mage Wars, Emperor Shalaman mandated a number of changes, including an alliance with White Gryphon and his own marriage to his advisor and chief kestra'chern to the royal court, Silver Veil.
Anathei
Anathei of the Purifying Flame is one of the many deities worshiped in the Ruvan city of Oberdorn. His sect teaches that evil is not a thing unto itself. Instead evil is what happens when good cannot see the truth. Anathei's followers believe that even a demon can be redeemed is it is shown the error of its ways. The priests of Anathei get a golden opportunity to prove their philosophy when their archpriest, Nemor, aids Tarma and Kethry in their fight against the demon Thalhkarsh. In the end, Thalhkarsh is permanently transformed into a small, delicate young woman. Still in shock, her powers are bound by the priests, who imprison her until she can accept the immorality of her actions.

Duross
Duross is a gentle, smiling god of rain who was worshiped in the town of Oberdorn in Ruvan before the temple closed, due to the death of the last acolyte. The temple had been abandoned for fifteen years when the demon Thalhkarsh attempted to establish himself there on his rise to godhood. He was defeated by the united efforts of Tarma, Kethry, Warrl and the archpriest Nemor.

Lurchan
Lurchan is a luck god. While this generally means good luck, one of his sects makes cursed coins that give curse their bearer with bad luck. Anything that can go wrong will. The coins also can't be disposed of. They have to be freely taken by someone. The coins are made for distribution to their enemies. If someone else gets them by mistake, the sect will take them back. Tarma had the misfortune to acquire one of the cursed coins in her change when she purchased grain for the battlesteeds. After several very miserable days, they managed to pass it off to a bandit on the road

Shayana
Shayana is a deity of healing. Devotees of Shayana do not make gender distinctions, calling all members of the order 'priest' rather than using 'priestess.' This confuses those unused to dealing with Shayana's followers.

[World of Velgarth]

Historical Religions

Bestet
Bestet was a Battle-Goddess who predated the Mage Wars and the Cataclysm. Due to the wars, her Temple was triply-shielded. Need survived the Cataclysm by taking shelter there, occupying a shielded casket in the shielded shrine at the heart of the Temple, along with the goddess' regalia.

Sisterhood of Spell & Sword
The Sisterhood worshiped two sets of holy Twins. The Twins were two sets of gods and goddesses:

Kerenal the Healer
Dina the Crafter
Karanel the Fighter
Darathe the Hunter

The Twins were worshiped by the Sisterhood of Spell and Sword in the ancient days long before the Mage Wars and the Cataclysm.