Misc

**Languages**

The original language of the Sairshi upon arrival would have resembled the Goidelic Celtic languages(Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic). Those that would settle the North and live in modern day Fornland might still know the language but many of the early settlers abandoned the language in favor of the ones their Dreki rulers taught them, in time their language evolved and currently resembles modern Icelandic. The Dreki spoke in a language that would have resembled reconstructed Old Norse. The Ainvi speak a language that resembles Anishinaabemowin. Throughout, a common tongue has appeared referred to simply as Common and resembles modern English.

**Religion**

Fornish

Many of the Fornish have adopted, and bastardized, parts of the Dreki religion as their own. In addition to praying to the Dreki gods, the Fornish also worship several of the Dreki themselves. Each Clan was once led by a Dreki, and so they are regarded as a patron deity of the Clan. Myths and legends say the animals that represent the clans were animals that the Dreki could shapeshift into, aside from their fearsome dragon forms. However some scholars believe that the animals were simply part of the Dreki’s coat of arms. The only other being that is worshipped among the Fornish is the woman who made first contact with the Dreki, simply known as The Explorer.

Much of the religious practice happens in the form of great public festivals. Scattered throughout are temples and altars devoted to the gods, that people may go to pray and feel closer to the associated god. Statues of gods can also be found in villages and different parts of the cities.

The Volur are considered to be the religious leaders of the Fornish religion, and are a group of traveling sages that spread their wisdom.

The Dreki gods are as follows:

* Niod the All Father
* Olik, God of Tricks and Fire
* Hrot, God of Strength
* Reyfa, the Goddess of Fertility
* Grifga, the Goddess of Love
* Nuid, the Goddess of Harvest and Youth
* Dailhem, The Guardian of the Path
* Ryt, God of War
* Uldbar, a God of Beauty
* Ifosetr, God of Justice

Diadrek

Many of the Sairshi of the Fallen Empire, if they consider themselves religious, would practice Diadrek, a belief system that combines the teachings of the Dragon Emperor and the old practice of the Sairshi homeland. Initially it sprung up based upon the teachings of the Dragon Emperor, which largely revolve around the notion of being fair and kind to all, and to be free. However, as nothing in the teachings of the Dragon Emperor came into direct conflict with the Old Sairshi Religion, the two practices somewhat melded into one.

The religion is led by the High Priestess, who resides within the Bronntanas na Déithe Complex in Portashan, Ankeadtir with her Acolytes. The High Priestess is often regarded as the most spiritual Sairshi, and the bridge between the realm and the Divine. She will often lead important events in the spiritual calendar. Diadrek has no holy text, rather a collection of cautionary tales and legends, with their origins largely being Old Sairshi tales or experiential tales of former High Priests and Priestesses.

The spiritual calendar of Diadrek often lines up with the Old Sairshi Religious calendar, which is a cycle of eight festivals spaced every six to seven weeks throughout the year. In addition to the Spring Equinox, Autumn Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice, the Old Sairshi held festivals at the end of October, beginning of February, end of April, and the beginning of August.

Old Sairshi Religion

The early Sarishi were a polythestic and animist society. Despite believing in deities, there is no established pantheon of the Old Sairshi Religion as many of the different deities may have been one and the same. Instead, scholars that studied the Old Sairshi have come to recognize a common theme among the various gods worshipped by Sairshi that originated from different regions of their homeland. The common themes are:

* An Antlered Deity
* Healing Deities
	+ Often associated with thermal springs, healing wells, herbalism, and light
* Solar Deities
* Deities of Sacred Waters
	+ Often deified rivers, of natural springs
* Horse Deities
* Mother Goddesses
	+ Many are not limited to motherhood, having children is only mentioned in passing.
	+ These Goddesses may also be goddesses of warfare and slaughter, or healing, smithing, and farming.
* A Deity of the Sky
* Deities with Hammers
* Deities of Strength and Eloquence
* A Divine Bull

Ainvi

There is no single mythology or religion of the Ainvi peoples, as each tribe and nation has their own set of different traditional narratives. Many stories are deeply based in nature, with symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, animals, the elements (fire, water, earth, air), the sky and the heavenly bodies. Most common through these stories are an all-embracing, Creator spirit. Many of the tales told by the Ainvi tell of the close relationship between themselves and the animals of the land, and it was through learning from the animals that they were blessed by the Great Spirit to learn the magics of becoming one with the land.

**Calendar**

Time in Verthaca is kept much like it is in the real world, and for the sake of simplicity and not having to remember fantasy names for months and days, Verthaca uses the months and days we all know and love/hate.

Years in Verthaca are marked with **PD** which stands for Post Dreki. Meaning, as this team takes place in the year 436 PD, it has been 436 years since the last Dreki ruled on Verthaca.

**Fun Facts**

* Verthaca has two moons