Religions

Religions across the continent vary wildly from one culture to the next. A constantly shifting group, deities stretch from ancient nature and fertility gods to patrons of more modern and esoteric concepts. Each of them has some following, whether an open powerful cult or something more hidden and clandestine. Few gods are completely bound by racial lines, with many being embraced by any who ascribe to their particular views or domains. For the most part their followers live relatively peacefully, with a surprising amount of religious tolerance practiced among the human realms. That isn’t to say that prejudice does not exist, especially outside the major cities where life is less diverse. While religion does play an important role in most societies, the amount of dedication practiced varies heavily between individuals.

Religions

Humans

The various human pantheons all share a common ancestry, stemming from the early groups that migrated to the continent ages ago. Largely nature spirits and fertility deities, they have since grown with the societies that worship them. Now, a brace of unique and powerful deities can be found across Oderen, each having its own followers and cults dedicated to their glory. The old gods cling to power in the eastern highlands and desolate northern steppes, gnawing on the fringes of cities as they are pushed out in favour of more modern ones. Cultural lines help to further this divide, as some groups press onwards with new customs and others cling to tradition. All of this creates a diverse and varied spirituality, and makes it a complicated path for many to walk.

Elves

Elves, nearly universally, share a devout nature. Ideology and spirituality steep their society, limited not just to clergy but engaging the average citizen as well. While once a single belief system, the two factions were torn apart by a schism in ancient times. Despite this cataclysmic event, both pantheons remain at their heart very similar. Elf religion focuses on a battle between chaos and order, with one viewed as the righteous and the other the wicked. The disagreement over which side was which is what led to the sundering of the Elf lands, irrevocably separating the two factions. Each now considers the other’s deities to be evil, and have found it difficult to reconcile their past differences.

Dwarves

Dwarf faith roots itself in belief of Kamay, an ancient titan who created the Dwarf race. This ancestor-god gave his children life and taught them all of the gifts he could bestow, helping to build them into a powerful culture early in the world. But other forces stole the Dwarves from Kamay, blemishing them with imperfections and stealing their creator’s light from their lives. Forced to find their own way in the world, the Dwarves sought out numerous ways to try and find that unattainable perfection of the past. Various prophets have appeared and gained followings in Dwarf society, each offering their own path to perfection and enlightenment. The most influential of these are worshipped as demi-gods, each a fragment of Kamay himself come to guide Dwarves to a better life. They are worshipped long after they die, their beliefs and dogma handed down for others to follow.

Noreya

Once a splinter of human polytheism, Noreya religion was corrupted and twisted by the demonic and fel influences that infected their once great society. With the cataclysm of the Aetherbreach, the surviving elements sought to return to their once humble roots. These travelled south with other refugees from the empire, bringing and harbouring their cults and traditions with them. A few of these have grown popular once again, especially among those Noreya who seek to connect to their past glories. Unfortunately, many who seek to harness the power of the Noreya at their height also seek out these gods, resulting in their cults carefully watched and tolerated within the human realms.

Halflings

Halfling religion is mostly based on human pantheons, modelled after the polytheistic gods of the Routot primarily. Muselle is easily their most concentrated centre of worship, though they are worshipped in the Nimpo marshes as well, albeit under different names. There are no cults to the Halfling gods, instead they are simply the embodiments of certain concepts most encounter in their daily lives. Halflings will often invoke their names for help with certain tasks relating to their domains, or carry a symbol of their particularly favourite one for good luck. They are all bound by familial ties, emphasizing how important the family unit is to Halfling society.

Orcs

Orc religion is relatively straightforward. Based around balance between two concepts, it features two deities. The concepts change depending on the circumstance, and are embodied by a variety of things in the world around them. Man and woman, sun and moon, peace and violence: balance between each of these is sought above all. Most Orc bands hold a chieftain and seer at their head, each representing their deity and providing appropriate guidance for the group. Compromise is the foundation of Orc dogma, something other races are often surprised to learn.

Miscellaneous

Various other deities exist in the world, either without proper cults or simply forgotten by time. Chief among these is the Gnome god Baervan, worshipped only by freed Gnomes in the human cities. Monsters as well craft primitive gods for themselves, interpreting their divine orders to enact bizarre goals across the world.