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{{Infobox religion
{{Infobox religion
| name                = Adfyr
| name                = Adfyr
| image              = Mjolniramulet.jpg
| image              =  
| imagewidth          =  
| imagewidth          =  
| imagealttext        =  
| imagealttext        =  
| caption            = Amulet of Wotan
| caption            =  
| abbreviation        =  
| abbreviation        =  
| type                =  
| type                =  
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| structure          = Largely independent
| structure          = Largely independent
| leader_title        =  Leadership
| leader_title        =  Leadership
| leader_name        = Gothi (various)
| leader_name        = Aeldor Wulfrun
| leader_title1      =   
| leader_title1      =   
| leader_name1        =  
| leader_name1        =  
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| associations        =  
| associations        =  
| area                = {{flag|Brytene}}
| area                = {{flag|Brytene}}
| headquarters        = Temple at Iggnir
| headquarters        = Groves of Kalkreide
| founder            =  
| founder            =  
| founded_date        =  
| founded_date        =  
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| aid                =  
| aid                =  
| congregations      =  
| congregations      =  
| members             = {{flagicon|Brytene}} 31,000,000<br>{{flagicon|Allied Connurist States}} 15,250,000<br>{{flagicon|Vedria}} 5,300,000<br>{{flagicon|United States of Conner}} 4,000,000<br>{{flagicon|Valaran}} 400,000 <br>{{flagicon|Stasnov}} 1,500,000<br>{{flagicon|Acronius}} 250,000<br>{{flagicon|Huda}} 6,500
| membership             = ''Brytene'' - 46,000,000<br>''Zerinfriom'' - 15,500,000<br>''Allied Connurist States'' - 15,250,000<br>''Vedria'' - 5,300,000<br> ''Valaran'' - 400,000 <br> ''Stasnov'' - 1,500,000<br>''Acronius'' - 250,000<br> ''flagicon|Huda'' - 6,500
| ministers          =  
| ministers          =  
| missionaries        =
| missionaries        =
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}}
}}


Adfyr ({{IPAc-en|æ|d|f|ɪər|}}) is the state religion of [[Brytene]], present in the Isles since the prehistoric era. It is a {{wp|polytheism|polytheistic}} religion and lacks any real central authority, although the [[Temple at Iggnir]] is considered to be one of the most important holy sites and is the location of the annual Gesyntubryne festival. The religion is most prevalent in Brytene, but it has worshippers across the globe.
Adfyr ({{IPAc-en|æ|d|f|ɪər|}}) is the state religion of [[Brytene]], present in the Isles since the prehistoric era. It is a {{wp|polytheism|polytheistic}} religion and is most prevalent in Brytene, with worshippers across the globe.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Adfyr'' is {{wp|Old English|Old Englisc}} for 'sacrificial fire'. Fire is an important element in Adfyr, as it represents the power of the gods, gifted to humankind.
''Adfyr'' is {{wp|Old English|Old Englisc}} for 'sacrificial fire'. Fire is an important element in Adfyr, as it represents the power of the gods, gifted to humankind.
==History==
WIP


==Deities==
==Deities==
===Major===
The polytheistic, decentralised nature of Adfyr means that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of individual deities, but there are several primary figures whose worship has been attested consistently throughout history.
*'''Wotan''' - As chief of the pantheon, Wotan is typically depicted as an old man with a thick white beard, typically dressed in scruffy grey clothes. He carries a spear, Ungnir, and is believed to be able to change his appearance, visiting the human world regularly to subtly make small or large changes, often using only a single offhand remark or a casual comment in the right (or wrong) ear. He represents wisdom, cunning, patience and justice. People pray to him for wisdom and guidance. His symbol is the hammer.
*'''Thior''' - Son of Wotan and Frija, he is the god of fire and thunder. He is typically depicted as broad-shouldered, heavy-bearded, and wielding a heavy battleaxe wreathed in flame. He can also command storms and lightning. He is known to be brave, cheerful, and loyal, but impetuous, gluttonous, and rash. People pray to him for victory, courage, and happiness. His symbol is the lightning bolt.
*'''Frija''' - The Goddess of wealth and plenty, she is beautiful and knowledgeable. She is depicted as a tall, elegant blonde, and is famously witty, often at the expense of her husband or son. People pray to her for academic success, plenty, or wealth. Her symbol is the sun.
*'''Schathi'''- The Goddess of hunting and the night, Schathi is uniformly depicted as having short, rich red hair, wearing hunting leathers and carrying a bow. She is wild and ungovernable, and people pray to her for luck, accuracy, safe journeys, and protection from natural threats. She is the favoured deity of hunters, snipers and light infantry. Her symbol is the moon.


===Minor===
'''Ulldor''' - Chief of the pantheon, known as Old Man Winter or Sky Father, Ulldor is typically depicted as an old man with a thick white beard, typically dressed in heavy red or white robes and a hood, hung with pouches and tomes. His left hand is made of stone. He is the God of the Skies, Winter, Storms and Clouds. People pray to him for wisdom and guidance. to His symbol is the lightning bolt.
*'''Grond''' - Grond is the loyal hound of Wotan. He is reputedly able to see the lies people tell to themselves.
*'''Tyrtaten'''


==Practices==
'''Solla''' - Goddess of the Sun, Summer and Love, Solla is beautiful and perceptive. She is depicated as a tall, elegant blonde with a sharp and irreverent wit. She wields Hermaer, the Heart-Scythe. People pray to her for fertility, happiness and love. Her symbol is the sun.
===Locations===
[[File:Uppsala.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A temple outside of Hamtun]]


Adfyr is a very loosely-defined religion with no central authorities, but the sprawling Temple at Iggnir, in [[Anglaland]], is considered to be one of the most important sites of the faith. Adfyr holy sites come in a range of forms, from simple stone shrines to oaken temples. Most Adfyr sites include some form of water feature and a firepit. They are typically tended by members of the local community, unless a Gothi happens to be in residence. Many wealthy people will have their own shrine, and it is seen as a mark of power and pride to invite others to use one's shrine or to hold community events there.
'''Hertonos''' - The oldest of Ulldor and Solla's children, he is the God of the Oceans. A powerful and brooding god, he is depicted as a skeleton covered in coral and aquatic growth, with unblinking red eyes, wielding Brinbyrne, a scrimshaw harpoon with the ability to control the seas. He was killed soon after birth when Agronai, Ulldor's brother, drowned him. He is an angry and bitter god, brought back to half-life by the sacrifice of Ulldor's left hand. His symbol is a teardrop.


The [[Temple at Iggnir]] has space for thousands of worshippers on its grounds, and almost five hundred individuals inside. It is made of ancient oak, and was build around an ancient well-shrine that is believed to date back to the original Tennstedt migrations. It is painted in gold leaf and located atop a forested ridge, meaning that its peak is visible for miles around. The grounds of Iggnir are expansive, and encompass a large lake, a cavern system, and several meadows and fields, as well as a sprawling forest laced with pathways and clearings. During the Gesyntubyrne festival, thousands of Adfyrians from across the globe travel to Iggnir for the week-long festival, camping in the open.
'''Austora''' - Daughter of Ulldor and Solla, she is the Goddess of War, Hunting, and Travel. She is portrayed as short and nimble, with thick red hair. Her symbol is the stag.


===Beliefs===
==Overview==


Adherents of Adfyr are not bound to any one set of rules, but the religion tends to promote tolerance, and respect for bravery of all forms. There is no holy book of Adfyr, rather a sprawling collection of sagas, epics, and ballads, such as the tales of [[Pelegiad]], which demonstrate a variety of moral messages.
Adfyr, meaning 'sacred fire', is the state religion of the Confederacy of Brytene. It is a polytheistic religion originating with the Saxones, with a pantheon of deities led by Ulldor, a patriarchal figurehead known as "Old Man Winter" or the "Sky Father. The adherents of Adfyr are known as Adfyrans, and the religion features strong elements of animism and cultic practice.


Adfyrians generally believe that upon death, a person either goes to Valholl or Haeds. Valholl is a giant meadow, hosting an eternal feast, where friends and enemies alike toast one another and live an eternal life of laughter and joy. Every day they must fight to repel the attacks of Haeds, but those who are killed in battle are reborn at the first sign of dusk that day.
Adfyr is approximately 3500 years old, and was imported to the Brytisc Isles by the Saxones who first settled the islands in the 6th Century BCE. By 800CE, all islands of Brytene were under Saxone control and Adfyr had supplanted the earlier Celti belief systems. In 1304CE, the Kingdom of Dyflin was conquered and elements of the related Vikingr pantheon were syncretically absorbed into Adfyr.


Haeds is a cold, dark place, full of narrow tunnels and cold rock, haunted by foul monsters conjured up by the minds of the prisoners themselves. Life in Haeds is a torment, but every day the people of Haeds gather to try and storm Valholl. They are never successful, for the wounds they take in battle never fully heal, leaving them weaker every day. The inhabitants of Haeds are those who held malice or cruelty in their hearts for too long in life.
Adfyr has a wide variety of subsects, beliefs and ritual systems and has no codified canon. There are approximately 75,500,000 adherents worldwide, and the Groves of Kalkreide serve as a focal point for the religion and are the site of the annual Gesuntubyrne festival.


Adfyr has no official clergy, but holy men and women are typically known as Gothi. Gothi typically spend a lot of time away from major urban centres, living alone in the wilderness the best they can, travelling to the larger cities only when absolutely necessary. Gothi are typically treated with respect, although some individuals inspire fear or even disgust. Any Adfyrian can give a general blessing or administer last rites, but the efficacy of these depends upon the reputation of the person giving them.
==Beliefs and Practices==
Adfyr is worshipped in Weiden (sing. Weide). Originally held outdoors in meadows and groves, a Weide is now typically a circular slate stone building around a central courtyard, with any variety of rooms coming off the central colonnade.


===Rituals===
Banfyr, a communal act of worship, is typically celebrated on Sundays. An Aeldor leads the rites. Participants bring a stick or piece of wood with them to the Weide, and upon entering mark their forehead with the ash remaining from the previous Banfyr. A traditional chant or song is sung, followed by a brief sermon and, depending on the day, a sacrifice and prayers for a given cause. Following this, the central Banfyr is lit and the assembled throw on the wood they brought, after which the ceremony is concluded.
Adfyr is a religion of habit, and rituals are part of everyday life as well as serious religious observance. For example, Adfyrians touch iron to ward off bad luck, believe strongly in hubris and jinxes, and think that stormy weather is a sign of favour from the gods.


On a more formal note, certain rituals are believed to earn the attention of the gods or to appease certain forces. a horse's head mounted on a spear, facing the direction of a perceived threat or enemy, is believed to lay a curse that can only be broken by the cremation of the head or the total decay of the flesh from the skull.
Adfyr is largely ritualistic. Sacrifice is a key component of worship, and most commonly takes the form of libations or burnings, although items can also be thrown into deep waters. Animal sacrifice is still observed for special occasions, and typically involves beheading the animal.
Sacrifices are common, from simple coin through to whole animals and, it is rumoured, even humans upon occasion, though this last is strictly illegal in most nations in which Adfyr is practised. It is believed that the sacrifice's worth to an individual determines its value in the eyes of the gods - a child sacrificing her favourite teddy bear would garner more favour than a billionaire gifting a bar of gold. Sacrifices can be thrown into water, placed in cave systems, or burned.
The dead are almost always cremated, as it is believed that is only as smoke that an individual can travel to Valholl.


====Gesyntubyrne====
Touching iron or wood is considered to be a ritual blessing.
Once a year, at the September Equinox, Brytons and foreign Adfyrians from across the globe descend upon Iggnir to observe the Gesyntubyrne Festival. Gesyntubyrne, meaning 'health-fire', is a week-long festival in which a variety of sacrifices are made, marriages are held, games and tournaments are hosted, and more. This is the only time that the Brytisc state interferes in legal religious matters, for health and safety concerns. Demand is high enough that the government holds a 'lottery' to determine the attendees each year, from amongst those who apply and who pass security checks.


==Membership==
==Membership==
There is no formal structure for Adfyr, so there is no reliable way to count the precise number of worshippers, but a general guide is the number of people who select 'Adfyr' on governmental census polls.
As of 2018, it is estimated that there are around 46 million Adfyrians in Brytene. There are also sizeable populations abroad, including approximately 15.5 million in Zerinfriom, 15.25 million in the Allied Castarcian States, 5.3 million in Vedria, 4 million in the United States of Conner, 1.5 million in Stasnov, 400,000 in Valaran,and 250,000 in Acronius. There are also smaller enclaves such as 6,500 in Huda.


As of 2016, it is estimated that there are around 31 million Adfyrians in Brytene. There are also sizeable populations abroad, including approximately 15.25 million in the [[Allied Castarcian States]], 5.3 million in [[Vedria]], 4 million in the [[United States of Conner]], 1.5 million in [[Stasnov]], 400,000 in [[Valaran]],and 250,000 in [[Acronius]]. There are also smaller enclaves such as 6,500 in [[Huda]].
Most Adfyrans are ceremonially named on the first midday of their life, in a ceremony known as "Ankenner". At the age of 16, formally considered the age of majority, they go through the ceremony of "Widderkenner". These two rituals, recognising the name of the child and the name of the adult, are important for the recognition of an Adfyran by the gods and by the wider community.


==Controversy==
==Controversy==

Revision as of 17:20, 12 March 2019

Adfyr
OrientationPolytheistic
StructureLargely independent
LeadershipAeldor Wulfrun
Region Brytene
HeadquartersGroves of Kalkreide

Adfyr (/ædfɪər/) is the state religion of Brytene, present in the Isles since the prehistoric era. It is a polytheistic religion and is most prevalent in Brytene, with worshippers across the globe.

Etymology

Adfyr is Old Englisc for 'sacrificial fire'. Fire is an important element in Adfyr, as it represents the power of the gods, gifted to humankind.

Deities

The polytheistic, decentralised nature of Adfyr means that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of individual deities, but there are several primary figures whose worship has been attested consistently throughout history.

Ulldor - Chief of the pantheon, known as Old Man Winter or Sky Father, Ulldor is typically depicted as an old man with a thick white beard, typically dressed in heavy red or white robes and a hood, hung with pouches and tomes. His left hand is made of stone. He is the God of the Skies, Winter, Storms and Clouds. People pray to him for wisdom and guidance. to His symbol is the lightning bolt.

Solla - Goddess of the Sun, Summer and Love, Solla is beautiful and perceptive. She is depicated as a tall, elegant blonde with a sharp and irreverent wit. She wields Hermaer, the Heart-Scythe. People pray to her for fertility, happiness and love. Her symbol is the sun.

Hertonos - The oldest of Ulldor and Solla's children, he is the God of the Oceans. A powerful and brooding god, he is depicted as a skeleton covered in coral and aquatic growth, with unblinking red eyes, wielding Brinbyrne, a scrimshaw harpoon with the ability to control the seas. He was killed soon after birth when Agronai, Ulldor's brother, drowned him. He is an angry and bitter god, brought back to half-life by the sacrifice of Ulldor's left hand. His symbol is a teardrop.

Austora - Daughter of Ulldor and Solla, she is the Goddess of War, Hunting, and Travel. She is portrayed as short and nimble, with thick red hair. Her symbol is the stag.

Overview

Adfyr, meaning 'sacred fire', is the state religion of the Confederacy of Brytene. It is a polytheistic religion originating with the Saxones, with a pantheon of deities led by Ulldor, a patriarchal figurehead known as "Old Man Winter" or the "Sky Father. The adherents of Adfyr are known as Adfyrans, and the religion features strong elements of animism and cultic practice.

Adfyr is approximately 3500 years old, and was imported to the Brytisc Isles by the Saxones who first settled the islands in the 6th Century BCE. By 800CE, all islands of Brytene were under Saxone control and Adfyr had supplanted the earlier Celti belief systems. In 1304CE, the Kingdom of Dyflin was conquered and elements of the related Vikingr pantheon were syncretically absorbed into Adfyr.

Adfyr has a wide variety of subsects, beliefs and ritual systems and has no codified canon. There are approximately 75,500,000 adherents worldwide, and the Groves of Kalkreide serve as a focal point for the religion and are the site of the annual Gesuntubyrne festival.

Beliefs and Practices

Adfyr is worshipped in Weiden (sing. Weide). Originally held outdoors in meadows and groves, a Weide is now typically a circular slate stone building around a central courtyard, with any variety of rooms coming off the central colonnade.

Banfyr, a communal act of worship, is typically celebrated on Sundays. An Aeldor leads the rites. Participants bring a stick or piece of wood with them to the Weide, and upon entering mark their forehead with the ash remaining from the previous Banfyr. A traditional chant or song is sung, followed by a brief sermon and, depending on the day, a sacrifice and prayers for a given cause. Following this, the central Banfyr is lit and the assembled throw on the wood they brought, after which the ceremony is concluded.

Adfyr is largely ritualistic. Sacrifice is a key component of worship, and most commonly takes the form of libations or burnings, although items can also be thrown into deep waters. Animal sacrifice is still observed for special occasions, and typically involves beheading the animal.

Touching iron or wood is considered to be a ritual blessing.

Membership

As of 2018, it is estimated that there are around 46 million Adfyrians in Brytene. There are also sizeable populations abroad, including approximately 15.5 million in Zerinfriom, 15.25 million in the Allied Castarcian States, 5.3 million in Vedria, 4 million in the United States of Conner, 1.5 million in Stasnov, 400,000 in Valaran,and 250,000 in Acronius. There are also smaller enclaves such as 6,500 in Huda.

Most Adfyrans are ceremonially named on the first midday of their life, in a ceremony known as "Ankenner". At the age of 16, formally considered the age of majority, they go through the ceremony of "Widderkenner". These two rituals, recognising the name of the child and the name of the adult, are important for the recognition of an Adfyran by the gods and by the wider community.

Controversy

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