Alderism
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| Theology | Polytheism |
| Language | High Attian |
| Founder | Alder Himmelschwert |
| Current Vater | Vacant |
| Origin | The Attian Empire |
| Territory | Magna Attia, The Hinterlands |
| Separations | Makerism |
Intro:
Alderism is the state religion of the Empire of Hadriana and is followed by most of its population, the religion focuses mainly on the worship of Alder and the eight sentinels at his side. Within every Hadrian town and city shrines and temples have been built in honour of Alder’s Eight, where the populace gathers for worship and guidance from their local spiritual leaders.
Origin
The Legend
It is believed that during the First Age of Man, there was an all-out invasion of Lilith upon the living realm. The settlements of the Attians could not handle this threat, they were divided and low in numbers, numbers which were only dwindling. The Attians were on the verge of extinction when the Sentinels decided to descend from the Halls of Divination, the tribes of Attians’ flames were rekindled and a slight push against the tide of Lilith began to happen. Though during this time, the Sentinels were as divided as the Attian tribes, they bickered among one another and strove to gather more support from the people. The tide of Lilith once more began pushing further through the land, the Sentinels preoccupied with each other, and the Attian people left in disarray.
A promising young chief of one of the northern Attian tribes called Alder ruled during these times, and saw the lands around him burst up in flames. Waiting and doing nothing might have been the safer, and much easier choice, though Alder wished for a taste of glory. He led a small band of like-minded Attians against the tides of Lilith and snatched some victories by using the terrain of his homeland. None of the Sentinels took notice of this, aside from two. Rosatia, the Sentinel of Wisdom and Learning, and Volker, the Sentinel of Change and Destiny. The two Sentinels appeared before Alder, observing his mind and destiny, Rosatia saw what she deemed a flawless soul and Volker saw a great destiny unfold before him, one that intertwined him with the Sentinels.
Alder had gained the approval of two Sentinels, a feat no mortal had ever accomplished. Rosatia gifted him her wisdom, helping Alder lead his men to war. Volker, however, gifted Alder something rather unusual. The Sentinel gifted one of his own skills, just like Rosatia did, but one a mortal had never possessed. Just as Volker could read destiny, Alder could now too, helping him stay ahead of his enemies. Progress was slow against the tide, and the Attians kept slimming in numbers. Alder, now with the support of two Sentinels, knew he would need to unite them all to stand a chance against the raging tide of Lilith. With that, he sent the Sentinel Rosatia to locate and convince the others to join hands for the cause.
One by one, the Sentinels fell in line. Aristea, the Sentinel of Fertility and Decay watched as Alder fended off a horde of Lilith from the forest and became the third, gifting him eternal life. Elric, the Sentinel of Judgement and Justice would follow Aristea’s example after gaging Alder’s mind for deception and finding nought, he would gift him his supreme sense of justice. Then came Mortius, the Sentinel of Death and Dreams, the fifth to join the fray. Mortius had been filled with sorrow thanks to the number of souls that the Great War was producing, he gifted Alder insight into the afterlife in an attempt to end the war quickly.
Four of the Sentinels remained stuck within their old ways: Alda, Reimar, Salvor and Dolus. While the first three would soon too join Alder in his offensive, Dolus remained headstrong. He had refused to band together with the other Sentinels under Alder’s flag, Dolus swore to end the Great War another way. Dolus had sold his soul to the forces of Lilith, and meant to reshape the world in his image.
The armies of Lilith and Alder would clash for one final time, during a battle dubbed the ‘Battle for the Halls’. Lilith’s army was now led by Dolus, the fallen Sentinel had ordered his forces to descend the greatly outnumbered Attian troops, many demons fell during this charge, yet their sheer quantity crumbled the enemy ranks. Alder, seeing his armies were no match, dashed forward across the battlefield to take the serpent’s head. After cutting through hundreds or perhaps thousands of enemies, Alder’s gilded armour now shining red, he finally came eye to eye with Dolus. Alder unsheathed ‘Heillicht’, the zweihander made by the Sentinel Reimar, said to have been forged from the star of Hadria. Dolus was an intelligent and skilled commander but never a fighter, he knew not to stand and fight, and he attempted to retreat. Alder once more dashed after him, catching him with seeming ease, Heillicht pierced through the Sentinel in one swift motion, unleashing what is said to have been the light of Hadria itself. For a minute, there was nothing but bright white light, and when it faded, the tear through which the forces of Lilith came was gone. Dolus lay defeated on the grass, and the day was won.
There is little recollection of what happened after this point, but it is said that when the Sentinels went to return to the Halls of Divinity, Alder ascended with them. Dolus had been taken with them, doomed to roam the Endless Plains for eternity, and be the shepherd of those he had brought misfortune onto. Alder had ascended from being a mere mortal to being the balance that held the Sentinels together, was dubbed ‘Alder Himmelschwert’, and became the ruler of the Halls of Divinity. Now those who lived their life by his ideals may share his hall, and enjoy peace in the afterlife.
Heaven and Hell
The Halls of Divinity is the place where the most pious of Alderists reside in the afterlife, it is described as an endlessly long marble hall where Alder and the Sentinels roam. It is said Alderists who have lived their life following the path of Alder and his Sentinels may feast within the hall and serve their deities in the afterlife for perpetuity.
The Endless Plain, sometimes called the Unterweld, is described as a large and empty dark plain where time moves incredibly slowly, while catching glimpses of memories in the distance, yet too far away to get there, it is described as feeling as if you can grab something yet always falling short. It is said Alderists who have lived a bad life in the eyes of Alder are doomed to roam this plane in perpetuity.
Alder, Dolus, and the Sentinels
- Alder | Himmelschwert / Common Tongue: Sword of Heaven | Ruler of the Halls of Divinity, Alder stands for balance and order. Alder was gifted a trait from all the Sentinels aside from Dolus, creating a perfect balance, and is described as the one keeping the realms from plunging into chaos. He is said to wield pure light and present himself in the form of a nine-pointed star.
Physical depiction | A dark-haired man with fair and ageing skin, clad in gilded armour while wielding Heillicht, a Zweihander said to be forged from the star of Hadrius itself. He wears a golden circlet, inlaid with rubies and was said to ride an enormous Griffin into battle.
- Dolus | Sentinel of Deceit and Corruption | Dolus betrayed Alder and the other sentinels during the great battle against Lilith, for which he was cast down and eternally shepherded fallen souls towards the Endless Plain, getting the same punishment in the process. They are no longer counted among the deities and stand alone.
Physical depiction | A hooded figure said to be surrounded by smoke. Nobody knows their true form, since Dolus is a shapeshifter.
- Rosatia | Sentinel of Wisdom and Learning | Rosatia stands for wisdom and learning and is responsible for all knowledge of the world, she is the shepherd of all learned people. The first of the Sentinels to side with Alder during the Great War against Lilith, after she observed his mind and deemed him a flawless soul. She began rallying support from the other Sentinels, beginning the road towards unification between them. Rosatia bestowed the gift of wisdom upon Alder.
Physical depiction | Depicted as a fair woman, wearing a white gown. She is usually depicted with a white owl at her side, as well as a book said to contain the moral truths of the world.
- Salvor | Sentinel of War and Honour | Salvor stands for war and honour and is responsible for all conflict in the world, he is a leader of armies and usually a favourite amongst Knights. Salvor was the seventh Sentinel to join Alder during the Great War, having been sceptical of Alder’s worthiness until most of the others joined him. Salvor bestowed the gift of tactical prowess upon Alder.
Physical depiction | Much like Alder, he is usually depicted clad in armour and wielding a variety of weapons. These weapons range from swords to spears and warhammers. He is depicted as a handsome man with brown hair, though he is scarred across his entire body from all his fighting.
- Elric | Sentinel of Judgement and Justice | Elric stands for judgement and justice and is responsible for all fairness and equality within the world, he is an example for all rulers, judges and leaders. Elric was the fourth Sentinel to assist Alder in the Great War, following Aristea’s example. Elric became a vital part of keeping the peace between the united Sentinels during the war. Elric bestowed the gift of Justice upon Alder.
Physical depiction | Elric is depicted as a tall and thin man with blonde hair, he wields a golden staff in his right hand and a scale in his left. An eagle is said to follow him around, whose eyes he can use.
- Alda | Sentinel of Love and Beauty | Alda stands for love and beauty and is responsible for all things stunning in the world as well as the love within it, she is usually associated with motherhood and art. Alda was the sixth Sentinel to join Alder in the Great War, falling in line together with Mortius after he convinced her of Alder’s intentions. Alda bestowed the gift of love upon Alder, and this love he then harboured for the Attian people.
Physical depiction | Alda is usually depicted as a tall woman in a red dress adorned with different flowers, she is said to be the most beautiful of all the Sentinels. A dozen of doves always fly near her, and these animals are now always connected to her.
- Aristea | Sentinel of Fertility and Decay | Aristea stands for fertility and decay and is always associated with nature, she is the token Sentinel for all farmers and lovers of nature. Aristea was the third Sentinel to join Alder in the Great War, joining his side after witnessing him protect a forest from being corrupted by Lilith. Aristea bestowed the gift of life onto Alder, making him immortal like the Sentinels.
Physical depiction | Aristea is usually depicted as a short woman, half her body is in a state of eternal decay, while the other is life. She wields an ebony staff of which the top is a carved serpent hugging a lotus.
- Reimar | Sentinel of Creation and Craftsmanship | Reimar stands for creation and craftsmanship and is responsible for all created works and materials in the world, he is the Sentinel most craftsmen and miners resonate with. Reimar was the last Sentinel to join Alder in the Great War and tried to buy his way into Alder’s graces by crafting his famous Zweihander from the Hadria star. It is said that when trying to forge this Zweihander, the sparks that came off of the hammer became stars in the night sky.
Physical depiction | Reimar is depicted as a short, bulky man with dark hair wielding a hammer and a simple leather apron. He has a large ruby inlaid on his forehead and seems to be working in every depiction he is in.
- Volker | Sentinel of Change and Destiny | Volker stands for creation and destiny and is responsible for writing the destinies of all beings in the world, he is the Sentinel most clergymen and fortune-tellers associate with and often speaks in riddles. Volker was the second Sentinel to join Alder in the Great War and bestowed him with the ability to see destiny.
Physical description | Volker is depicted as an older man with grey hair, he has a third eye which he uses to see the destinies of all beings and write them. Volker is sometimes depicted with a harp, the strings symbolising the souls he weaves.
- Mortius | Sentinel of Death and Dreams | Mortius stands for death and dreams and is responsible for guiding souls towards the afterlife, where he judges them and sends them to either the Halls of Divinity or the Endless Plain. He delivers all souls that have failed his test to the Endless Plain, where they join their march in purgatory with Dolus. Mortius was the fifth Sentinel to join Alder in his struggle against the tides of Lilith and gifted his knowledge of the souls he shepherded.
Physical depiction | Mortius is depicted as a hooded skeleton, plated with gold. A skilled shapeshifter, like Dolus, only the other Sentinels know his true form. He always carries a skull named Asmodai, after the first soul he brought across the Sea of Souls, which he uses to capture the spirit of those who have passed and judge them.
Workings of the Church
The Steps of Alder
The Head of the Church of Alder is called the Vater, who serves as the spiritual head for all the Alderites across Eden. He leads the church from the cathedral in Adelsburg and is said to be the closest servant to Alder present in the mortal realm. He has absolute authority on all matters relating to church and religion and acts as the mouthpiece for Alder’s will, he is elected through a vote among the clergy should the previous Vater die.
Arch-priests, priests and monks make up the bulk of the ranks of the church. These sworn brothers and sisters live and die in the service of Alder, and make it their life’s goal to preserve and spread his word. These brothers and sisters often do this in diverging ways, some opting for the path of a scholar, some opting for the path of a warrior, equally devout.
Joining the church is an easy process, to become an acolyte one must be clean in Alder’s eyes. Clean of guilt, clean of fault, by having the nine-pointed star marked onto one’s skin, burning away all that is unclean in the eyes of Alder.
The Way of Alder
The Himmelschwert lived a pious life, and a life filled with glory. To live a life worthy in the eyes of Alder, one must live it to the fullest. The Way of Alder teaches mediation in all things, and to gain strength through unity. Alder teaches three rules by which every Alderite should live, and are constantly repeated by those of the clergy: Alder teaches us not to destroy, but to create. Alder teaches us to act when others remain silent. Alder teaches us that strength can only be gathered through unity and that none should stand alone.
Every Alderite chooses which Sentinel they shall devote their life to at the age of eighteen, with most Alderites choosing one that fits with their employment and standing in life. The believers then attempt to live their life as their Sentinel imagined, caring for what they care for, and promoting their values. The most pious of Alderites who have chosen the same Sentinel to worship are commonly seen banding together in sects and cults, doing what they can to appease their deity.
It is customary for Alderites to pray to their chosen Sentinel daily, and for communities to gather together in prayer at least once a week. These communal prayers usually happen within churches and cathedrals, but some pious sects prefer other locations. For instance, the most pious followers of Aristea would prefer their prayers to happen out in nature as their deity intended.
Symbolism
THE NINE-POINTED STAR
The symbol of the Church of Alder is a white nine-pointed star, representing Alder and his eight Sentinels. These nine-pointed stars can be found everywhere, on clothing, armour, weapons and shields. Followers of the Church of Alder can usually be seen wearing a pendant of this nine-pointed star, made from various metals such as gold, silver and steel. These pendants are worn around the neck or the wrist and are said to ward you from the influence of Dolus.
HEILLICHT, THE ZWEIHANDER
The weapon of Alder himself, it is very common practice for Alderites to either use Zweihanders in combat or adorn their clothing, armour and shields with symbols of the Zweihander. Having been the weapon that warded off the invasion from Lilith, it stands for good luck and perseverance through hardship.