Aredaric Paganism

Aredaric Paganism refers to the religious beliefs of the Aredaric people before their conversion to Ra'laabreism. Today the religion is most likely completely extinct, and since the Aredaric people did not have writing before the introduction of Ra'laabreism, all sources come from either archaeology or Ra'laabreist sources, which were often very hostile and uninformed. The most important source comes from Iklon Tespinogiaca, an Ireni historian.

## Worship

Aredaric Paganism was a shamanistic religion, they had shamans, whom could only be men, called *oitjiridiz.* The oitjiridiz served as mediators between the gods and men. They supposedly had a way to enter *kalkaprion* via their dreams, which was a way their mind would enter Moronior, and intermediate on behalf of men. Dogs were also held in high regard. They were seen as apparitions of the god Ikiprezoari, and companionship with a dog was a gift from the god. Killing a dog would supposedly almost guarantee going to Tigronoi; the underworld. However, the most sacred thing to the Aredaric peoples was the Godstone, a boulder located in northern Rodaria, which was covered in carvings of the gods. The carvings on the stone are estimated to be about 2000-2500 years old. Today the stone is put on display in the Dorfheinander Institute of Advanced Studies

## Cosmology

The Aredaric peoples believed there to be five worlds

**Tirinias:** Tirinias is the plane in which men reside. When someone dies, their spirit is transported to Kalkagian.

**Kalkagian:** After death, the soul is taken to Kalkagian, a world that is a large arena judged by the god Alotas. According to Iklon, upon reaching Kalkagian, one is to fight another to the death. The winner is guaranteed a spot in Igioraia, yet the loser may still enter if he was deemed to fight well, otherwise he goes to Tigronoi. One may be given an advantage or disadvantage in the fight depending on their relationship with the gods. Wives always end up where their husbands go, unwed women automatically go to Tigronoi.

**Igioraia:** Igioraia is only for the brave and honorable warriors. Igioraia is a paradise "where every plate has fine steaks acompanied with luxuirious wine" according to Iklon Tespinogiaca.

**Tigronoi:** Iklon describes Tigronoi as a "bleak and cold place where those the gods deemed weak to suffer eternal depression". It is also the setting of the *Ogales of Balation*.

**Moronior:** Moronior is the place where the gods reside, and watch over the worlds from. No man can enter the realm, the only exception was the prophet Kiron. Shamans can also enter a part of Moronior called kalkaprion via their dreams, which they use to intermediate on behalf of men.

## Pantheon

The Aredaric people believed in several gods that reside in Moronior, with the exception of Alotas, who resides in Kalkagian. All of the gods have a respective holiday.

Main Gods:

* Adiogronoitja; the god of fire
* Samaniona; the goddess of love, and the wife of Adiogronoitja
* Zunos; the god of plant fertility
* Rabagiog; the god of wisdom
* Tiloaniatregazi; the god of luck
* Alotas; the god of trials
* Kirizobara; the goddess of death
* Tjispo, the god of music
* Asisoi, the god of shamanistic intercession
* Ikiprezoari, the god of animals
* Yaladia, the goddess of soil
* Kor, the god of hunting
* Simioara, the god of the mind
* Kaladansarigiros, the god of water
* Isinoara, the goddess of time

In addition there were several more minor local gods.

## Mythology

An *ogales* is a story usually revolving around a hero, or sometimes a group. Ususally about legendary feats. The *Ogales of Balation* / *To Tigronoi and Back* is a good example of this. It is common for an ogales to have two, or even more titles.

## Traditions and Worship

Sacrifice to gods wasn't always food or animals, it was typically personal belongings. Usually, each god would have several shrines dotted across the land. Each shrine would be something related to said god. If it was a shrine of Adiogronoitja, the shrine would contain a fireplace, where said belongings would be sacrificed into the fire. Most of these shrines were destroyed following Ra'laabreist rule.

On the first day of Spring they would celebrate All Gods' Day, which was the most important day of the year. On All Gods' Day, in Aredaric villages they would gather around a fireplace and sacrifice personal belongings into the fire, as an offering to the gods, while singing and dancing. Many of the gods respectively also had their own holidays, in which people would gather at their shrine to conduct sacrifice.