Newe Dawdinism

The banner of Newe Dawdinism, depicting a skull on a black banner.

**Newe Dawdinism** is a religion practiced in the **Kyngdom of Skugirland**. It is a monotheistic faith with the worship of the Bone King, Lord of Death, and overseer of life; Dawdin. In Newe Dawdinism, bones are venerated, for bones are not only what supports the body but also your spirit. Dawdinists believe in a single life that cannot be regained, and that the life you are given by Dawdin's grace should be loved and respected more than anything else. This mortality is celebrated annually during a festival called Dawdin’s Carnival, where members of the clergy don skull masks of copper and iron and the common folk paint their faces in elaborate skeletal designs. A pious person's ultimate goal is to die and enter Dawdinrealm, the afterlife.

## Terminology

Newe Dawdinism is known as such due to its status as a reformed successor to the religion of Daudinism, practiced by the Skóguran People in the Holy Kingdom of Beinlandi. "Dawdin" in the name comes from the main god Dawdin, the Bone King, and Lord of Death.

## Beliefs

In Newe Dawdinism, there is a belief in one god, Dawdin, and Dawdinists believe in Dawdin's power and authority over life and death, in which reincarnation cannot be attained.

### Afterlife

Upon death your flesh and bone will be taken by Dawdin and refashioned into new life. Your soul will then be judged by him, those deemed to be worthy enough shall be taken by Dawdin across the cosmic sea that separates the world of life from that of death. These worthy souls will be taken to Dawdinrealm, the land of the Dead where one will enjoy eternal rest and comfort in the presence of Dawdin.

However, those deemed unclene shall have their soul extinguished by Dawdin. Those who have been damned shall cease to exist and their memory will only remain with those who knew them in life.

## Practices

There are only a handful of practices that followers of New Dawdinism must follow

1. Veneration of ones dead ancestors through the regular maintenance of tombs and graves.
2. Belief in the cycle of Decay and of the Afterlife.
3. Participation in Dawdin's Carnival.

### Clergie

The Dawdinistic Chirche is the theological governing structure of Dawdinism.

#### Positions of the Church

1. Cardenal: the Cardenal is the head of Newe Dawdinism and oversees the rest of the clergy and ceremonies.
2. Tombe Cardenal: or Cardinal of the Tombs in Skugirish, is the care taker of graveyards.
3. Knyghts of Seinte Inar's Cathedral: The Knyghts of Seinte Inar's Cathedral are a religious police tasked with keeping the Kyngdom of Skugirland free from heresy.
4. Prest: Prests are simply priests within the faith and oversee daily tasks such as sermons and weddings.

### Tasks of the Clegie

Most of the tasks of the Clergie is simple events such as holding sermons, wedding and most importantly performing the funerary rights. Likewise, after funerals the Prest's watch over the graves of the dead and monitor how well maintained they are; once it is obvious that a grave is no longer being cared for the Prests and Cardenal will exhume the now forgotten body and move it along with the headstone to a crypt below the Cathedral. The bones of the forgotten are then sealed away, the name of the forgotten soul recorded in the Tombe, and the second funerary rights are performed. For in Newe Dawdinism, to be forgotten by ones ancestors and no longer have your grave being cared for is considered a second death.

### Seintes

Within the Dawdinistic Chirche a Seinte is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to Dawdin. Those designated by the Order as Seintes often have their bodies entombed within a shrine dedicated to them where the faithful may pray and worship. The Seintes and their individual deeds are written down in The Chirche Cronikles which is an integral part of Dawdinist worship.

**Below is a current list of the Seintes in chronological order of canonization**

* Seinte Inar, the Profet
* Seinte Bardel, the Bard
* Seinte Tungel, the Zealous
* Seinte Nall, the Advisor
* Seinte Forna, the Victim
* Seinte Gamalt, the Kind
* Seinte Sigmon, the Traveler
* Seinte Ross, the Pilgrim
* Seinte Helga, the Martyr
* Seinte Leaf, the Warrior

### The Knyghts of Seinte Inar's Cathedral

The Knygts of Seinte Inar's Cathedral, or shortened to Knyghts of Inar, is a holy order within the Kyngdom of Skugirland and Newe Dawdinism. It is officially recognized by the Chierche of Skugirland and can be called upon to protect Dawdinism or Daudinistic interests.

## Texts

The only religious text of Newe Dawdinism is The Chirche Cronikles, a large book detailing stories of Seintes and of the history of Dawdinism. The Chirche Cronikles are only available to members of the Clergie, those who are pious enough to be able to read such important and beautiful scriptures.

## History

### Founding

Before Newe Dawdinism, there was an Old Daudinism. Daudinism began with the first settler of Beinlandi, Einar Einaren. Upon sailing to the land on which the City of Beinlandi now sits, Einar discovered overgrown ruins of an era long since passed. Thinking nothing of it Einar made camp there, as he slept he heard a raspy voice in his ear. The voice spoke unto Einar, beckoning him forth into a cave nearby. Einar ventured deep into the bowels of the world eventually discovering an elaborate stone sarcophagus. The voice boomed within the chamber "The land you camp on is holy, build upon it, farm on it, and live upon it; invigorate the cycle of decay and renewal and your reward will be fruitful.” From that day the Daudinist Order has spread the gospel of life from death and the loyalty to Daudin the god of death.

Upon the original settling of the Kyngdom of Skugirland, the Skóguran settlers brought with them their religion and traditions. Sadly for Daudinism, isolation led to confusion within the people of Skugirland and heresy ran rampant within the realm. This led to the reformation of Daudinism, although it was good enough for their ancestors, the Skigurish needed to reform the religion or risk becoming a realm of heathens. They reformed the religion into Newe Dawdinism, changing many aspects of the religion, forgetting some traditions and beliefs lost to time, and translating much of it to their own language.

### Spread and Growth

Upon the Dawdinist Reformation, the religion was widely accepted amongst the people of the Kyngdom of Skugirland, mainly through the aspect of fearmongering due to the belief of reincarnation being lost and a new belief of the souls of the unclene being extinguished by Dawdin Himself.

## Demographics

Newe Dawdinism is completely unique to the Kyngdom of Skugirland, with no other nations practicing it or recognizing any aspects of it. However, religious belief in the Kyngdom of Skugirland is very strong, with all people facing pressure to be a Dawdinist publicly no matter their private beliefs.