Story Progression: The Council Of Helsikki

[MonMarty]

The Fornoss religion, but even the Velheim and Highland Ceardian people, held very fragmented and often conflicting beliefs on their gods and cultures. Fornoss Religion as a whole was widely differently worshiped among the Skaggi, Nordi, Hjordi, Hedri, Tryggy, and all the other cultural currents of the Velheim people, who often presented their religion as an organized monolith, but it was anything but that. Occasionally however, Religious beliefs would re-align through the so-called Trútinga (translated "Belief-Thing") where priests of many regions would come together to discuss the states of their religious beliefs, and how the Gods were interpreted in their corner of the world. These meetings were often incredibly disorganized, fights would frequently break out, but ultimately it was a good way for the faithful to share their folklore and beliefs and be informed about those of others.

((OOC Note: if you want your Character to have been present here, you may do so by writing them in on this thread. Expect all of the above and further below events to have occurred, and Fornoss believers/priestly characters may self-insert themselves into the discussions and events in whatever way they like, even important roles, I just don't have the time to source Character participation and dictations of impact right now.))

The Trútinga was held in the Drixagh province of Helsikki, incidentally also home to the vast Eternal Flame Temple of Stalhjart, one of the Vola Gods that was widely worshiped in the lands inhabited by the Estu and Forest-dwelling Skaggi, but beliefs that were not widely accepted by the greater community. Notably absent from this tinga, were the Hjordi, the embattled natives of Jorrhildr who have found it increasingly difficult to leave Jorrhildr with their dwindling numbers, most of them hiding from the Urlan who seek to eat or assimilate them. Also absent were the Hvitsi, or the Hvitskag Velheim, who are still considered in a state of war with Regalia, and could not secure passage to Helsikki in Drixagh out of fear of being killed on the way there or thrown in prison. Otherwise however, people from all the many corners of Fornoss believed lands were present, even from the lands of the Sunnan Velheim, who had now included themselves for the first time as Sunnvi.

The start of any such tinga was chaotic, various groups would meet each other and segregate away with those whom they liked, such as for example those from Nordskag and Middeskag staying clear from the Gallovian and Alban Highland Ceardian Fornoss believers, while the Hedryll and Tryllelande Velheim stayed clear of the Drixagh Velheim who were more inclusive towards the Sunnan and so on. The Sunnan were completely out of their depth, needing translators to even understand what was being said, and many of their beliefs were considered too alien for the Fornoss believers in the West to adopt, but their inclusion was still interesting, because of some paralell beliefs they had towards Nidr, that were also commonly accepted by those from the opposite end of the world in Middeskag and the Cains.

Naturally, the event also included quite a lot of honor duels and debates that sometimes ended in honor duels or vice versa. Cultural beliefs on burial rites were exchanged, including one that has seemingly recently become popular among the Middeskaggers who have run out of hills to turn into Helbolwen, instead building entombed crypts onto large rafts, sending them into the fjords, and then causing them to sink by burning the raft and letting the crypt sink to the bottom of the fjord. Eventually, a clear consensus would form on the wider adoption of two new Gods, one each for the Vola and Eili: Nidr the God of the unawakened Dread, and Stalhjart the Fury of War.

Each of these Gods was already separately worshiped by several minority groups, but a common debate on Stalhjart had been rampant as of late, due to Stalhjart's common interactions with the Velheim Fornoss believers in particular. Stalhjart was known as the twin brother to Thirun, which already invited some discussion in and of itself that implied that the twin brother of a God, should surely also be a God in their own right. Stalhjart in particular had a long history of showing up at pivotal moments to defend Fornoss and Velheim interests in important battles, whether that was assisting the Skaggers during the Skagger Wars to prevent an all-round defeat, thus securing the nominal autonomy of the Skagger people, or assisting the other Skag nations in securing their protections from foreign invasions, and potentially even assisting in the defeat of Allest in Nordskag.

Nidr on the other hand was a more dubious entity who had not frequently been witnessed to assist the Fornoss faithful exactly, but whose claws and silken threads had been woven into the fates of many believers and non-believers since the beginnings of time. Nidr, like Stalhjart and Rand and Thirun and Hrymrök, was known to be what the Regalian State calls an "Arken" by the believers, which would have normally classified him as a Vola God should be accepted, but from historical retelling, it became clear that this distinction would not be accurate. Nidr seemed far more aligned with the Eili, acting much more as a balancing chip to off-balance Nid (Void Magic) of the Vola. While Nidr wove his Fate Curses with Nid (which was arguably even named after him), these were not things to fear or dread, but things to rejoice.

Nidr appeared to those who had horribly Soldi and Svaldi, and whose souls were cursed to the in-between world, weaving a fate with his silken spider webs called the Fate Curse, which would act as a doom-prophecy for the person that would predict their end and when they would run out of time. Rather than spell doom, however, these prophecies always also included clear instructions on how and when to restore Soldi and/or Svaldi and gave a clear deadline by which time to complete this to avoid catastrophe. Secondly, Nidr also represented a kind of primal dread that all non-Fornoss believers held for what they called the "Barbarity" of the Skaggers and the Velheimers who used all kinds of trances and substances to achieve a greater height of combat prowess and strength. Nidr in many ways for those who already believed in him, became a representation of the dread that outsiders feel, when they prod the sleeping bear. The Fornoss believers do not seek conflict with outsiders, but when conflict comes to them, the savagery they could bring would strike fear in the hearts of even the greatest of warriors, and thus become a symbol of anti-colonialism and enduring independence for the Fornoss faithful who resisted conversion to for example Unionism.

After hours of debating, and the impactful arguments and swaying with social and political credit from some individual actors, the consensus in the tinga was that Nidr would be accepted as Eili, and Stalhjart as Vola. Their inclusion did imply an interesting twist, however: while all other Vola and Eili do not ever interact and are often opposed, there is an interesting cross-play between Nidr and Stalhjart. Nidr represents the will to be left alone and to be free from others trying to change the beliefs and identity of the believers, while Stalhjart is more like the sword-arm that brings about this separation. The conclave held the belief that Nidr was the silent spider that spun webs of fate in the background, picking the exact moments and fights where Stalhjart would bring forth his immeasurable combat skills, and prevent the collapse of Fornoss or Velheim independence. While there wasn't enough time to fully explore this concept, it opened up a wider discussion on whether the opposition between the Eili and Vola was perhaps in itself an obstacle to the reaching of greater potentials among the faithful. The tinga was ended by a communal session in the Eternal Flame Temple, where all the representatives of the various minorities and sub-cultures of Velheim and Highland Ceardian and other Fornoss believers all lit part of the eternal flame at the heart of the Temple together to sanctify and announce their agreement on this dogma adoption.

Nirdr and Stalhjart have now been added as two new Fornoss Gods through IC adoption: https://wiki.massivecraft.com/Fornoss

((Final OOC Note: Because Fornoss as a religion is fairly flexible, your Character can reject this IC adoption of these two Gods. It is generally recommended to accept them, however, as they both fulfill important niches within Fornoss/Velheim history and cover up plot holes in Fornoss religion design).

 

[Iyyiushi]

Revna, being noticeably absent from the city, was said to be present at the Thinga. During her time there, she wore cultural attire, powdering her fur in runic and geometric shapes. She went without the clothing expected of Regalian-City nobility for what was familiar to her during her Skagger years. She kept quiet for most of the debates until their latter end, speaking heavily in favor of Fury's ascension and, in turn, Nidr's inclusion into the wider pantheon. She was among the voices echoing that the extremism on both sides of the Pantheon and even the opposition with the gods was holding back The People.

 

[Maeovika]

Towards the front of the Gallovian worshipers, a Hvarkirik priestess and Countess of the region - Natharia Blàrach - voiced the concerns and praise of her people's sect for this new change. Adorned proudly in her native attire of a traditional yet noble but not regalised kiltach, that even hid the majority of her hair. House colours evident in her clothing. ​

Though, she especially made sure that her people were at the forefront of this change. Loudly speaking up in both Gallwech and Skodje to be able to communicate with all there. Especially stating the equality of the two pantheons now, to fit in with the Hvarkirik narrative Natharia strongly portrays.​

 

[CainsTedTalk]

Svend

With the slow crunch of snow in his boots, Svend returned to the small gathering held at the outskirts of the mock arena. Mock in terms, as it fits more of the description of a barren tundra in the winter climate, with barely the light of the city behind them. The Furyborn had just returned from a honor duel of sorts, where he was pitted against a Halfvel brood in some exchange of old tribal boundaries between the Eilirik and a Volirik tribe in Drixagh. Something along the lines of a bear killing an elk seventy years or so ago. One of many battles that took place at the Trútinga, but it offered little importance to most.


To those he has encountered in Regalia, it might take them a moment to recognize Svend. He had cut nearly half of his hair off and groomed it differently, with long flowing bangs wilding flapping into the wind and with new crimson stained Berhednars Skagger facial tattoos on his face. A strange choice considering most Skagger markings tended to be azure blue.


He moved back with the group of barbaric looking crowds. Vola Skaggers, berserkers of the bear by a glance. By the typical cheers and jeers he was making his bones with the group, proving himself. Entering back into the temple grounds he observed, not interjecting, despite being called on for his word on a few occasions by the nature of his creation. The Trútinga was a place of the wise. Learned individuals.


He was not this, he was a warrior. Still multiple paragraphs of discourse raced through his mind. Stalhjart. A fancy title, a fancy name even if it only meant words. As they drabbed on and on below he couldn't help but think. Does Reitt want this? In their spare interactions he tried to place himself in the boots of his sire. A maddening thought, one that nearly split his head open in more ways than one.


"No." he thought to himself. Reitt was probably walking across a mountain somewhere, splitting valleys open by slamming a corpse onto the stone path or drinking somberly in some dimly lit tavern. Svend could not picture his sire laughing maniacally like this was some master plan of his. He doubted he wanted godhood.


One thing was clear to him though, this wouldn't change a thing for him. At Least not now. Most people steered away from Svend at the gathering, outside of the few shamatic priests who wanted his blood to help with blessings, some who asked for magical rituals on his behalf as a "Thirunsson", a common mistake, especially here and most of all the Sunnvi who tried to include him in their circles as kin given their similar demonic makeup. Something which the Furyborn quickly shied away from, something about them seemed to unnerve him.


He wasn't someone's puppet in a theological stage. He was a warrior, and that's all he ever will be. As the talks dwindled and the evening sun began to set, a glance was given back to the wood carved statue they had hoisted up of his sire. Even now just glancing at it made his stomach turn in many ways. Was it the similar look he shared with the statue, the expression of the pensive arken staring towards the setting sun, or just the thought of Reitt residing above him in some magical kingdom in the clouds?


These thoughts and more were kept to Svend for now.​

 

[OkaDoka]

Signe could have been spotted seated at the front of one of the larger Nordskagger delegations, mantled in a golden pelt and smoking a long pipe with one leg up. Having spent the first part of the Thing unsuccessfully looking for even a single Hjordi Velheim to pass a message to, she instead had to content herself with surly puffs of smoke drifting up through the crowd, and joining in with the rancorous boot stomps and thunder of applause at turn of each decision, large or little, to majority. Every once in a while someone would walk in, notice her and go to shake hands and clap her back in a hug. Others would see her and glare, or hurl a reference to some insult long-gone. Perhaps even a fistfight or two: a reminder of the size of the world, and all the ugly beauty of it.

 

[LadyLekku]

In equal parts revelrous and reverent, Sivrid attended the Trútinga in high spirits. She brought gifts to the Helvigja she had come to befriend during her travels, and the first evening was met with partying and raucous merry-making, followed by a grim morning of prayer and nursing their hangovers. She brought appropriately wealthy offerings to the altars, including gifts for their hosts, and further drinks to sip as they discussed their beliefs. It seemed that to be friendly and agreeable was the Countess av Irvainvik's method of influence. Generosity rained upon every group who hosted her, and she traveled among those groups who would accept the Drixagh native into their conversations.

Long had the Hvarkirik's sermons about the gods hinged on the concept of a holy duality, the give and take of life, the humility and the glory of worship. And so the adoption of these new gods presented an opportunity for her to spread her message.

There had been a long-standing idea floating in the Velheim ethereum that should the Velheim accept outside influence, their own traditions would be watered down by time and assimilation. This adherence to isolationism, Sivrid knew, had led much to the North's poverty. From her time and desperate efforts as Civics Minister, Sivrid could recall the Imperial family explaining this to her; that no matter what Regalia offered Drixagh, the attempts to offer aid were useless. Economic stimulation was useless, as Northerners refused Southern goods. Even among the North itself was infighting that further separated the resources, already parted by icy wastes and slowly mountains, that would forever keep its people in poverty; in a life to which they were well accustomed, and seemingly not actively trying to escape. While she did not speak of her specific experiences in learning this, she did attempt to form a sermon out of the lessons it had taught her, based on the ideals brought forth by these new Gods.

Sivrid's talking points were as follows:

The Fornoss must abandon this fear that change and progress will lead to the death of their traditions. In contrast, she argued that by accepting new technology, the faithful would have more free time in which to do works of glory. That in accepting trade with the worldwide community, more babies would be born healthy and raised into healthy adulthood, who would then further the message and actions of the Gods. That in expanding their horizons to new cultures, then more art, more music, more statues could be built by Fornoss artisans, to create long-lasting works of worship to the Gods. Her passionate sermon seemed to hinge on the idea that without opening one's eyes to the possibilities of their world, they could only worship in a way that would ultimately stagnate, and die with them, as all mortals must die, but culture and ideas and art would live on, and spread, and multiply. She argued that the fear of the 'other' was indeed akin to cowardice, and that adherence to tradition could only truly be tested when one was face to face with outside influence. How can a warrior be tested, with no battle to fight? And to the glory of Nidr, she proposed a new idea of 'Velheimification' (for which there was probably a better term in Skodje) to directly oppose the idea of being 'Regalized'. Her message was to appropriate the best from the world around them, but to use it in the glory of the Gods, and to further their northern voices, as opposed to living in the fear that they themselves would be colonized. Indeed, the resistance of advancements that would make their people stronger, such as technology, magic, and economic stimulation, would sooner lead to their defeat than their glory.

TLDR: Worship Nidr by pulling an uno-reverse on Regalization.

 

[SevenBirds]

Rionna Declan sailed along with the other Regalian Fornoss, giddy with excitement for what was to be her first Trútinga, as her isolated Talahm-Gall village had never been able to send representatives so far away. Upon arrival, she found herself confronted with a sea of faithful from many different regions, many of them decked out in flashy clothing or loudly dueling amongst each other to settle obscure disputes and, for a little while, she stuck close to Sivrid and Revna until she acclimated to the new and overwhelming environment. Soon after, though, she began to peel off to explore and meet other people - seeking out first other rural Gallovians, then other Greatborn, then finally anyone that looked or sounded interesting. By the end of the first day, she was eagerly chatting and participating with strangers and friends alike, bright-eyed and delighted with the entire event.

During the second day, the scholar shone through as Rionna set about exploring and recording all the various regional beliefs and practices she encountered, asking questions about everything and freely volunteering her own knowledge on topics large and small, from symbolic patterns in weaving to local burial practices. Around the fire, she listened with rapt attention to tales of gods and men, committing them to memory before telling her own - the tale of how the great Fire-Tail Paradise Bird became the servant of the Lord of Fire and watched over mortals through the sapphire cormgaltach hanging at her throat, bringing them prophetic dreams; the tale of how Madathair, the Wolf-Father whom the Velheim called Halfvel, taught men to hunt and how to honor him through the three-fold sacrifice of the first kill; the tale of the great water-horse Eanach-Muir that served The Ferryman by directing the rivers of fate and how the practice of swirling one's drink offered the Lord of the Dead respite during his thirsty work. These tales and more were shared with pleasure until finally word came of the reason they were called to gather together. There was talk of worshipping new gods.

At first, Rionna listened with curious attention to the descriptions of the proposed deities, though apprehension tightened her features as they went on. A being like the great powers of the Vola - the Betrayer, whose very name was terror, the Dark Sun, the Mistress of Chaos - to be welcomed among the Eili? The inclusion of Stalhjart was of little concern to her - after all, the Vola were not her gods, and it was fitting for him to enter among the others like him - but the thought of Nidr tightened her stomach and chilled her palms until she suppressed a shudder. No, this could not be. The gods had long been enough for them as they were, bringing in a new and potentially dangerous one could spell disaster.

Still, though, it was her duty to listen and consider carefully, rather than go with the fearful impulses of her own nature. In particular, she attended to Sivrid's sermons on the matter, heeding the words of her trusted and respected friend. The point about regarding the outside world as something to be learned from rather than shut off and feared was well-taken by the curious scholar, and the suggestion of "Velheimization" was an intriguing one, even if it privately rankled that the vision of Velheim culture was seen to take precedence over other Fornoss cultures. In her own mind, she considered what it might look like for smaller regional variants to hold true to their traditions against Velheim assimilation, while still standing strong with their cousins against Regalian or Allorn influence.

After listening to the various discussions and debates for the whole day, including impassioned talks with those she had arrived with, who knew as well as she the delicate balancing act of living within a Regalian city without losing yourself, Rionna finally excused herself for some private contemplation that night. The landscape around her was unfamiliar as she strode out to an open cliffside overlooking the Thing, but the Moon and stars stretching above her were still the same. She settled down in a sheltered spot, forgoing a campfire to not dim her eyes, and prepared the concoction that would bring divine visions.

It wasn't long before the stars began to swirl and rearrange themselves as they often did, forming new shapes with brightly glowing lines as her mind rushed to interpret them. But tonight's vision was different. The sky went entirely black, obscuring even the Moon which she envisioned as the Eye of Madathair, and she held Solareal to her chest, taking comfort from the fox's warmth and heartbeat as the same cold dread settled like a stone in her stomach. Slowly, the stars flickered back to life, forming shapes of people from all walks of life - warriors, healers, shepherds, scholars - all hard at work with their chosen, or fated, occupations. The vision began to take a familiar shape as glowing lines stretched out between them, but instead of solid white moon-light or lines of flame, the lines were thin and many, until Rionna recognised them as strands of spider-silk. More quickly now, the silken threads spun out to fill out the shape of their images, then leapt out to create strong bright bonds between the other figures as well. As Rionna marveled at the powerful and brave heroes, bound by spider-silk to equally glorious shepherds and farmers, the familiar stars and constellations returned to the sky, showing that the new ones had always been hidden behind them. And, finally, the dread lifted.

After a few hours of sleep, Rionna returned down the slope with a more grave expression, but one unburdened by its former apprehension. The lingering disquiet over the new change had not yet dissipated, but the woman held her head up as she prepared to face it, for the god themself had given a vision of their divinity and the shape of the future. Together, they would be strong. And when she finally reached the gathering of the Trútinga, her voice joined with the others welcoming the new Fate-Weaver into their pantheon.