Adfyr

Adfyr
File:Mjolniramulet.jpg Amulet of Wotan
Orientation	Polytheistic
Structure	Largely independent
Leadership	Gothi (various)
Region	Brytene
Headquarters	Temple at Iggnir
Members	31,000,000 Template:Country data Allied Connurist States 15,250,000 Template:Country data Vedria 5,300,000 Template:Country data United States of Conner 4,000,000 Template:Country data Valaran 400,000 1,500,000 Template:Country data Acronius 250,000 Template:Country data Huda 6,500

Adfyr (/ædfɪər/) is the state religion of Brytene, present in the Isles since the prehistoric era. It is a 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.

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.

History

WIP

Deities

Major

• 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

• Grond - Grond is the loyal hound of Wotan. He is reputedly able to see the lies people tell to themselves.
• Tyrtaten

Practices

Locations

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.

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.

Beliefs

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.

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.

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 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.

Rituals

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. 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

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

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 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.