Sarenal

Ze ser-venats ol zyca cenaza.

A begging dog gets no meat; begging yields no rewards.

Sarenalians are notoriously devout. They sought stability in their faith after Ekryta Belyn; the gods will carry them through the winter.

Sarenal’s main religion is polytheistic and complex. There are hundreds of gods, each with their own rites and rituals. This comes from the divide between world and local gods.

World Gods

World gods are widely agreed upon and worshipped. These are forces of nature, influencing people everywhere. World gods are, as a rule, more powerful than local gods. Notable examples include:

○ Iryn and Necha, the Mother and Father, the Future and Past

○ Aversele, the trickster god of storms and lightning

○ Mures and Ocyzal, the Sun and Moon

○ Haletse, the Afterlife

○ Miry, who guides souls home

A complete list of world gods can be found here.

A force sometimes included among this number is Pyr Roynaz, the First Wind, who in some sects is considered a supreme god of chaos and change. In more mainstream religion, however, Pyr Roynaz isn’t worshipped.

Local Gods

Local gods are far more numerous than world gods. They preside over small areas of land. As a rule, each community has their own local god, and their own stories to go with them. It’s common for local gods to be used to explain geographic features. For example, a hill might be a god’s back, and a lake might be where they laid down to rest.

Local gods are often only worshipped by members of their own community. That’s not to say no one else believes they exist — it’s widely acknowledged that all local gods are real, and travellers will often pay their respects as they pass through. But proper, sustained worship takes place within the confines of villages.

Worship

Most Sarenalians believe in all gods, but it’s typical to worship only two or three. Usually, that’s their local god, as well as a world god or two related to what they are. For example, a farmer might worship the local god of where they live, as well as Aversele, who brings rain.

Worship generally consists of spoken prayers, songs, and chants. It’s believed noise is essential to communicate with the gods. What worship looks like varies from god to god, but offerings are very common. Plants, food, drinks, and animals are all traditional sacrifices. Human sacrifice, while historically rare, can be seen in times of great strife.

Fen Derali

Fen derali, god-magic, is a strange phenomenon. It’s contrasted with fen liris, people-magic, which consists of everyday spells and rituals. Fen derali is revered, coveted, and obviously supernatural.

Fen derali is linked to the gods. When someone with it appears, it’s said they’re an incarnation of a god. Often, they’re worshipped like a living god, finding positions beside kings. The people try to appease them and seek their favor.

Fen derali is highly variable. No two people have the same sort of god-magic. It might be incredibly powerful, or something as simple as summoning glowing lights. It’s also exceptionally rare, appearing only a handful of times in any generation. Even when it does appear, it’s often weak or mild.