Post by Moth on Apr 12, 2015 6:43:29 GMT
-The Beginning-
When It was just the Gods, beings of great power and divine prowess, there was nothing but an empty void of darkness in which they lived.
It is said that among these great and almighty gods one named Bheith began to forge the world. Bheith found the dark place he lived in was too dull and wanted something to entertain him. So first he created a light for him to work with. He pulled all his rage and anger into a single spot in the void and thus a ball of flame appeared, the Sun was created. He then began to work on his first and only sphere by forming a circular ball of rock. He craved mountains and cut canals which sliced into the landscape and after many days, Bheith stopped. He glanced at his creation. He had craved and shaped the world from a single chunk of earth, which made it look very bland and barren.
Bheith began to make the first ever plants. He shaped and colored each one. He planted the first forests and scattered them around the world. The plants did change the barren color, but they were still dead and unmoving. So Bheith blew on the world; he brought the first of the ever shifting gales and winds. Bheith was still not happy with his creation. It was colorful and it moved, but there was still something missing.
Bheith had made a world of just land rock and deserts. No seas or oceans. He deemed his work as a failure as it just remind him of the void and empty pace where he still remained. From sadness he shed a tear, which happened to land on the world. It gave it the oceans and the seas. The earth finally began to take shaped. Then something wonderful happened. From the divine grace and power of Bheith, his tears made the plants come alive.
Bheith realized he could make things come to life by adding apart of himself. Bheith made the first animals by using hair from his head. He carved them and added a hair to them causing the creatures to come burst into life. This forging of the creatures of the world went on for years and years. Bheith added thousands of animals to the world. He watch as his creations began to make there own way. Animals needed to eat, so a cycle came about some creatures got hunter and others became prey. This amazed Bheith; something which changed on it's own. A result of his work.
Then an idea came to Bheith of a lesser being which could speak and act on it's own will. A mortal, just like the other creatures, but being able to do so much more. So from his own blood he created man. He then scattered man around the world. He felt that man was alone, so he created the first women from the likeness of a goddess he admired, Luna. He scattered her as well.
-The God wars-
The Creation of the world fascinated the other gods. They centered around the earth watching it's wonders. Some Gods even tried to create there own worlds but each one failed. 8 times this was tried and 8 times the makers of each of these worlds vanished into nothing.
It was becoming clear that the world was a one time masterpiece which cannot be remade, so the Gods watched mankind takes it's first steps. It wasn't until a minor god named Saol went down to the earth and communed to the humans. Saol sought to help them by showing how to make tools and how to farm.
This action caught on with other the gods. They went to the world, some helped Gods helped man others hindered the process of the mankind, Mankind then started to worship these gods. Then the gods feuded, A minor god Bas started to encourage war and death. He made his followers lust for battle. He made them slaughter many cultures and each time they did, Bas got a little bit stronger.
Bas tore threw the world. Bringing death, destruction and enslavement. He threatened Bheith's very creation. But Bheith was weak from his forging of the world and could not act against Bas in his current state. He needed someone else. Someone to bring an end to the terror of Bas. Then a goddess called Noafa came to Bheith, Offering to bare a child of his. A child who would unite the gods and crush Bas. Bheith agreed. Thus a son was born, Trodaí.
Bheith realizing his weakness would be permanent, Decided to pour all his remaining power into Trodai, Making Trodai very powerful amongst the other gods. Trodai then covered his dying father in a sphere of white rock and made it float close the world he created, This was how the moon came to be.
Trodai, Then came down to earth, He disguised himself as a mortal man and began to wander the earth to find worthy followers. Then he made it to Jumane the birth place of the Nords. These great warriors were the only ones who could withstand the wrath of Bas. They fought like the gods themselves so they say. Trodai lived amongst them for a time. He ate, laughed and fought with these men. Trodai was made chief of the early Nords. He spoke of himself to them. How he would grant them an everlasting feast and never ending battles. Many Nords were intrigued by his words but did not believed that a god of this great power cared for them. Teodai, Then said “Those who follow me now. Will be reward with splendors of which the likes you have never seen” He walk out of village and walk towards the area of which Bas ruled. Then slowly the Nordic followers marched after. They were known as the first 500.
The First 500 marched against the war god Bas, And a massive battle was fought, The Nords outnumbered 4 to 1. It was quite clear that Nords had a high risk of losing, But they didn't faltered. Even while Trodaí stayed In his human form. The Army of Bas was preparing to charge the small army of Trodaí, Yet something which shocked Bas and Trodaí was the Nords charged Bas first. The 500 men went into a fit; They snarled, shake and roared and then they charged towards the enemy of 2000 without any hesitation. Trodaí was shocked, But he joined the charge as well they smacked into the tight formations of Bas's men breaking there lines like a knife threw butter. The Nordic men didn't fall until were many wounds were in them. It was looking very grim for Bas's men. They where losing the battle and a lot men as well Bas himself decide he would take the field and brought the wrath of his powers with him. But Trodaí revealed himself and struck down Bas with his almighty power gifted to him by his father. Trodaí ended the regime of Bas once and for all. He then cast Bas into the world itself. To be imprisoned in the endless fires and sulfur. Trodai would cast all he deemed unworthy to Bas, Thus Bas began the god of the underworld. Trodai granted the remaining of the 500 everlasting feasting and battles and declared anyone who was worthy in battle could join them.
-Hierarchy-
After the defeating Bas. Trodaí began to unite the gods under his command. He crowned himself
of the Gods, And Keeper of the world. The Major gods.
God of creation - Beith
Symbol - Raven | Moon Dominions - Winter | Wisdom
of the gods - Trodaí Symbol - War Axe Dominions - Battle | Rulership | Storms
of the gods - Gealach Symbol - Horn of Mead Dominons - Home | Future/Farsight | Summer
God of war - Bród
Symbol - Two handed Axe Dominons - War | Honour
God of Forging - Bia
Symbol - Knocked Bow Dominions - Hunting | Forging
God of Nature - Soal
Symbol - Stag Dominions - Forest | Herbalism | Spring
God of the Sea - Farraige
Symbol - Longship Dominions - Sailing | Raiding | Sea
Goddess of Fertility - Breithe
Symbol - Spear Dominions - Family | Battle | Women
Goddess of Farming - Feirmeoir
Symbol - Scythe Dominions - Farming | Seasons
Goddess of Wisdom - Ismian/Beith
Symbol - Raven Dominions - Wisdom | Old Age | Winter
God of the Underworld- Bas
Symbol - Horned Helmet Dominions - Chaos | War | Power
God of Death- Dearg
Symbol - Black Cloak Dominions - Death
Worshiping
Battle: A form of worship a Nord would be battle itself and making death a great honor on the battlefield.
Sacrificing: This is the most common form for entire clans. Usually animals are used, however food, drinks and Thralls are all acceptable and used. Giving enemies is not considered a Sacrifice, as you are sending your enemies to Bas and not the rest of the Gods. Human sacrifice is rare but acceptable.
Pilgrimages of the Nords They way of the 500: This, is considered a pious and sacred act; that once in any Nords life he or she would go and travel to Jumme, and visit the temple of Beith and the First Stones where a warrior would pledge themselves up top this mountain to defend against Bas and all his kin. This is where it is believed the 500 rest and stand guard for the next coming of Bas. Doing a pilgrimage is the only way to please and gain the blessing of Trodai and Beith. This for only the most pious and considered to be a exceptional deed.
Private Worship: Personal Altars with symbols of the Gods, is also frequently done and acceptable and most often for the lesser Gods blessings.
Priest/Priestess: Preforming ceremonies and rituals, these individuals provide spiritual guidance and interpret the omens sent by the Gods. It is considered a normal thing, to approach one in times of trouble and offer items of value to sacrifice to receive the help of the Gods and to gain the foresight of Gealach. Donations are not considered mandatory, or expected, perhaps only pious and charitable at most.
Nordic culture
Personal Culture: Many Nords keep to traditions of the clan, Traditions vary to each warlord or chief and or family.
Adventurers: Nords freely travel and adopt new cultures, explorers, raiders, merchants and even conquers have spread the Nordic culture far and wide and in turn adopt local customs. Many Nords have a deep wanderlust, and in so have found to be tolerant of different people's beliefs and ways, so long as you respect their ways, Nords will respect yours.
Free People: Free men and free women may marry each other without consent of the warlord. Jarls are voted on by the people of the clan, and in the eyes of the Gods all people who bring reverence to the Gods are considered equal and deserve fair treatment in words and war. (Besides Thralls and Slaves)
Slavery: Nords can keep slaves. If a slave is important it may become a thrall, A better looked after slave. It is acceptable to take prisoners as slaves from wars who have surrendered, and from markets as well. It is not acceptable to heal wounded warriors and enslave them, if they did not surrender without fight.
Duels: Nords can throw down an axe or sword to issue a duel. Duels can be to the death or first blood and must be fought with a shield and axe or sword. It is considered dishonorable, to fight with a shield if your opponent does not have one.
Raiding: Due to the harsh climate of the Nordic homeland, Jumme; Nords have often resorted to raiding to survive the severe winters. Because of this many Nords regularly practice it, and it has been engraved in Nordic culture. To this end, many Calradic Nords have disbanded from the practice and only the free folk of Jumme, still do. It is considered dishonorable and impious to loot other Nords.
Sailing: Before a Long ship is casted off. A goat's head must be thrown from the deck into the sea as a sign of respect to the god of the sea Farraige.
Women: Women of the Nords hold more freedom then there counterparts of the Swadians and Vageirs. Nordic women may become Shieldsisters/Shieldmaidens, The female verison of Noridic warriors. They may inherit land and even rule land in some cases, though this is rare and is considered abnormal.
Traitors: Given to Bas, and therefore to be brunt alive, usually covered in Oil and set upon a pyre.
Arms: Swords may be named and blessed by Seers. Once a sword is named it must be bound to the owner till death hence why looting is frowned upon on other Nords. To this end all weapons may be named, but swords are considered most honourble. It is also incredibly shameful in Nordic culture to let ones weapons and gear rust and be ill managed, considered to be negligence and laziness, Nords will often shun such a person.
Pious: Insults to the Nordic gods usually end with losted arms and legs.Then Death. Nords live and breathe their Gods. They believe the Gods lead their lives, and that all action is in their light and must be pious and true in all acts. You can not be too pious as a Nord.
Priest/Priestess: In every court, and every hold there is one Priest or Priestess, they go by many names such as and not limited to: Gothi/Gyda, Seer/Seeress, Truth-teller, Farseerer, Godspeaker. These religious men and women, are sometimes considered to be closer to the Gods, and other times simply trained like any other trade to interpret the signs the Gods gives as warnings. Most often, these Priest/Priestess, take up a second role in their clan as warriors, advisers, and peace keepers, depending on their abilities.
Old Age: Warriors that grey, are considered revered and to be pitied. To not fall in battle before gray is a dishonour and only falling in true combat will he or she redeem themselves. They are not shunned and is considered a personal failure to not have fallen, most often they are respected and given positions of counsel to the Lords.
Marriage: A simple ceremony that is preformed by the local Priest/Priestess, outdoors. Unlike their Makerist contemporaries, Nords are not bound to one partner however is considered a sign of loyalty and respect if they do. Concubines are considered fair and lawful, however rape, 'sleeping around', and any other such ways are considered dishonourble and even punishable by Lords and their partners.
Burials Rites: Nordic warriors must be cremated on either a pyre, or personal long ship. Sending with the warrior his possessions, including thralls, slaves, wives, husbands, pets, and everything he or she owned with them to the afterlife.
If a Nordic warrior does not die in battle, He is to be buried in a bog so he may never be casted to Bas.
Burying the dead, or leaving to rot above ground is considered to reserved only for the worst of enemies, and is lacking in honour as Bas collects those not burned, or interned in the bog. A Nordic lord, or renowed warrior would be buried in a made tomb, made of stone, however regular burial is not acceptable.
Nordic Worship of the Old Gods
The Nords are a people of never-ending worship. It is in the way they act, the way they carry themselves, and the way they fight. They worship their ancestors and wish to join them in the fields of glory upon their death, but the death must be worth it and it must be a glorious end to be deigned as a warrior and sent to eternal heaven. Every day has a purpose, a deliberation to it. On Sunday the Sun is worshiped for its warmth, and the passing of time. It is on the first day of the week, for it was the first thing Beith created. On Monday they worship the moon, and its phases that help them keep time. On Tuesday they worship law, and justice. On Wednesday they worship magic, prophecy, victory and death. On Thursday they worship strength and fertility. On Friday they worship love, beauty and gold, or power. The Nords bury their renowned dead only after mummification, and often with their retinues. Some of these retinues are willing to become human sacrifices and follow their charge after death, and so do women, and wives. It is believed that these people then protect their charge after death, and become "after-walkers," or "those who walk after death." They believe in divination, but most notably that they are capable of convening directly with the Gods, and the existence of the Stones of Valhdemar, a sacred stone circle, only fuels this. They believe that the stones are imbued with energies that pass through to the Ether-Realm, and allow them to garner omens for the coming seasons. It is here that the omens dictate the success of the clan, and whether or not the omens for trade, fertility, harvest, or even war are favorable. Despite this large-scale worship, many of the Nords harbor personal deities represented by the smallest details in the landscape, and protector spirits for villages.
