Wahrheit Alderism

Wahrheit Alderism

Theology	Polytheism
Language	Eisarnthiuda, Attian
Founder	Aleksandra Baireiksing
Current Mikils Blōstreis	Aleksandra Baireiksing
Origin	The Kingdom of Eisarnknoth
Territory	Norlanden
Most Dominant	Nowhere
Separations	Alderism, Makerism

Introduction

Wahrheit Alderism is the state religion of The Kingdom of Eisarnknoth. It is followed by the citizens of it and mainly stays within its borders. Wahrheit Alderism is a separation from mainline Alderism due to the vague characteristics of it. However, since the fall of Eisarnknoth, this particular stream of Alderism has mostly died out.

Origin

With the continuous failure of the Hadrian Empire, the Eisarnthiuda decided to leave and cement and organize their religion correctly while also reforming their entire way of life. In order to do so, they created the Kingdom of Eisarnknoth and Wahrheit Alderism in turn. They believe it is the correct and only form of Alderism that should exist, albeit tolerating other schisms of the religion.

Festivals

Eisarnknoth Gaqumthia - 𐌴𐌹𐍃𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌺𐌽𐍉𐍄𐌷 𐌲𐌰𐌵𐌿𐌼𐌸𐌹𐌰

Nine wagons with the Sentinels’ images are dragged to the grove right outside the city and worshiped. One of the wagons, Dolus’, is thrown into a bonfire and cheered upon as it burns. The followers will then chant together a prayer to Alder, stating their distaste for Dolus, asking him for guidance, and finally ending it with a positive and uplifting statement.

Gagatilia - 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐌹𐌰

This festival involves the appeasing of the spirits that watch over the intersections of roads. It is believed that by offering sacrifices of sweets, such as baked goods, for each member of a traveling party, these spirits may be sated and allow the pilgrim safe passage.

Fadreia - 𐍆𐌰𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌰

Fadreia is a festival lasting 3 days, meant to honor family ancestors. It is mostly familial, in that there is little public procession. It is customary that flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets be sacrificed by the family at family tombs. Due to this, any hauntings should stop. On the second day, a ritual occurs, consisting of the oldest woman placing three bits of incense, with three of her fingers, beneath a threshold where a mouse is unknowingly buried. She then rolls seven black beans in her mouth, and smears the head of a fish with pitch, impaling it with a bronze needle, and roasting it in a fire. After she formally declaims the purpose of her actions saying, "I have gagged spiteful tongues and muzzled unfriendly mouths" she departs intoxicated. On the third day, black beans are thrown to lure a spirit out of the home. The head of the house will wash their hands clean in spring water, turn, and receive black beans and throw them away with their face averted; but while they throw them, they say: 'These I cast; with these beans I redeem me and mine.' This they say nine times, without looking back. Again they touch water, clash their hands against their bronze necklace, and ask the shade to go out of their house. When they have said nine times, 'Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!' they look back, and believe that they have duly performed the sacred rites.

Wulfsia - 𐍅𐌿𐌻𐍆𐍃

This festival is conducted annually to purify the city in which it is held and to promote fertility and general health in its citizens. A male goat is customarily sacrificed by two members of the priesthood, who then anoint their foreheads in its blood. A scrap of wool that has been soaked in milk is then used to wipe their faces clean and the two are expected to laugh for a short time. Followers are expected to watch the ritual and partake in eating goat that night, purifying their bodies.

Arizia - 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌹𐌶𐌹𐌰

Arizia, similar to Fadreia, is privately observed by families. It involves celebrations to honor the love of family, as members are expected to provide gifts before enjoying a banquet for all. During this, followers will exchange gifts to each other throughout the day before finally attending the large banquet at night.

Hrussia - 𐌷𐍂𐌿𐍃𐍃𐌹𐌰

Hrussia is a very popular holiday, so much so that it occurs twice a year, with the second celebration coming one month after the first. Public exhibitions of horseback and chariot races are held to honor the gods.

Atfargania - 𐌰𐍄𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌾𐌰𐌽𐌹𐌰

Atfargania’s date is fluid, taking place on either the 15th or 16th of the third month, then again on the 14th or 15th of the 5th month. Citizens of the city obtain or fashion small humanoid figures of straw, which are then collected by a procession of priests and holy figures. They are then taken to the oldest bridge in the city and tossed into the river below. This practice is so ancient that its purposes and origins are no longer understood, but it remains a cultural staple of its adherents.

Skōhslia - 𐍃𐌺𐍉𐌷𐍃𐌻𐌹𐌰

This annual event is meant to exorcise spirits or malevolent ghosts from one’s home. The spectres are given offerings consisting of black beans. Followers will usually do their own ritual at home even after the priest has left, either praying to their patron sentinel or Alder himself.

Haifstsia - 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐍆𐍃𐍄𐍃𐌹𐌰

Haifstsia is held twice a year and is meant to facilitate bountiful fishing. All fish caught on these days are sacrificed in fire. It starts as a competition, with the men and women doing their best to capture the greatest fish possible. Even though in the end it will act as a sacrifice, it shows their dedication to Eisarnknoth and their wish to see it flourish. At home, followers will eat fish for dinner.

Hauskarls Gana - H𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌻 𐌲𐌰𐌽𐌰

This event includes a parade of young people on horseback and occurs annually. The procession begins at the grove and circles the city, ending again at the grove. It honors a mythical battle in which Alder and his horsemen saved the soldiers of their city from Lilith and won a great victory.

Graibia - 𐌲𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌱𐌹𐌰

Similar to Atfargania, this festival traces its origins to an ancient and obscure past. It is mostly believed to honor the grove or sacred woods, though the exact deity that it exalts is no longer known.

Mikils Haifstjan - 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐍆𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽

It begins with a chariot race on the first day, with a parade beginning it. Hauskarls lead it on horseback with their chosen knappe walking behind them. Music plays throughout it all as dancers follow behind the soldiers, while finally people carry statues of the gods behind them. The person presiding over the games will wear the armor of a Hauskarl and will ride around in a chariot themselves, stopping in the middle of the racetrack. Finally, they will state a speech on the military, religion, and Eisarnknoth as a whole. They will then announce the beginning of the games and stay in the center, gesturing for the riders to come onto the track. Each chariot has two people, a driver and a warrior. The riders will then go onto the field with their chariots and race each other to the end once the master of the games allows them to begin. All seats are free but the more wealthy can buy better seats in order to see.

On the second day a play will be put on, either depicting a military achievement or a story from the Sentinels and Alder. Seats are also free for the citizens while also being able to be paid for by the wealthy.

Finally on the third day, a ritual will be done in the grove or the temple, sacrificing a bear to Alder and the Sentinels.

Thiutheigs Gudinī - 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌸𐌴𐌹𐌲𐍃 𐌲𐌿𐌳𐌹𐌽𐌹

A festival for Alda, honoring her presence and what she does for the Eisarnthiuda. Men are strictly barred from knowing anything about the ritual and only women may partake in her festivals. Women will drink strong alcohol, speak of the stories of Alda, sacrifice a dove in her honor, and have a feast specifically for them.

Snaiws Gaqumthia- 𐍃𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃 𐌲𐌰𐌵𐌿𐌼𐌸𐌹𐌰

This festival involves large-scale feasting, drinking, and dancing and is held at night, at the end of winter. During this time, prophetic divinations are made by the priests after eating specific foods and their predictions are believed to indicate how good or bad the rest of winter will be for the citizens of the city.

Workings of the Temple

Hierarchy

Mikils Blōstreis - 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃 𐌱𐌻𐍉𐍃𐍄𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃

The Thiudan of the Kingdom of Eisarnknoth is also the Mikils Blōstreis of Wahrheit Alderism. They are the leader of the cult of Alder, the main cult within Wahrheit Alderism. The Mikils Blōstreis only holds specific festivals and lets the Weiha do the rest.

Weiha

There are different cults within Wahrheit Alderism, one for each of the Sentinels. A Weiha leads each of the cults, allowing for followers to dedicate themselves to one of them. They will hold the majority of celebrations.

• Weiha Rosatils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐍂𐍉𐍃𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Salvorils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐍃𐌰𐌻𐍈𐍉𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Elrils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐌴𐌻𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Aldils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Aristils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐌰𐍂𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Reimarils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Volkerils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐍈𐍉𐌻𐌺𐌴𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃
• Weiha Mortils - 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰 𐌼𐍉𐍂𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃

Symbolism

STAIRNŌ, 'THE NINE-POINTED STAR - 𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌽𐍉

Wahrheit Alderism uses the nine-pointed star in jewelry, poetry, and all sections of life. They do not change it from its original design, denoting that they are the true followers of Alderism.

HALJŌLIUHAÞ, THE ZWEIHANDER - 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌾𐍉𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌸

The Wahrheit Alderists believe that the true name that Alder called his zweihander is Haljōliuhaþ, hell light in Common. It is used sometimes by the military as it was used by Alder to defend the Attians against Lilith.

WALDUFNI, THE CROWN OF ALDER - 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌿𐍆𐌽𐌹

Waldufni is a circlet encrusted with rubies that sits upon the Thiudan’s head during matters of state. It is portrayed in art all the time, especially in their literature.