Valatrú
Valatrú (also called Valtrúr, Valstígr, or Valleið) is an Acrean polytheistic religion centered around a divine pantheon of gods. Odin (also called the Valföður or the Allfather), is the primary deity of this pantheon. It is the state religion of Acrea. The name Valatrú is derived from Valr, the name of Acrea's warrior class and the root of many core parts of Valatrú, and Trú, meaning oath or faith.
The origins of Valatrú are largely unknown, and its core practices, traditions, and iconography have existed since at least the 12th century BCE, with the earliest known carvings and artworks depicting the Pantheon dating from that time. A collection of writings collectively called the Æsirsögur (often simply referred to as the Sagas) are Valatrú's principal scripture. Valatrú holds Odin and Eira as supreme deities and the father and mother of the Æsir. In some interpretations, Odin has also been considered as the king of the Gods, however he is always held as the father of the Gods. According to the Sagas, Odin was created alongside Eira by the primordial entities of Ætra and Kaos, who are the be the origins of all things and of nothing, respectively. Through the marriage of Odin and Eira, the Æsir came to be. In addition to Odin and Eira, Valatrú recognises seventeen other major gods and goddesses.
The responsibility of universal ministry and unity of faith falls to the Ædís, a temple considered one of the religion's holiest sites located in Vrinnevid, near Uppsala. Protection of Valatrú religious sites has historically been the responsibility of the Templars, officially organised as the Templar Order. The Order is overseen by both the Acrean government and the Ædís, and following its establishment as an official organisation has historically played an important role in both theological matters and religious politics in Acrea.
Etymology
Beliefs
Pantheon
The Acrean Pantheon is extensive, accounting for seventeen main gods and goddesses, listed below. Unlike other Norse polytheistic sects in Northern Eraura, Valatrú does not consider the Æsir and the Vanir as separate entities. Instead Æsir refers to the gods as a whole, and Acrean religious texts further classify the gods into Vanir and Mæknir. Gods belonging to the Mæknir are patrons of that which relates to war, conquest, and rule whilst the Vanir are patrons of that which is considered civil or domestic matters.
| Name | Patronage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Odin | Wisdom, Royalty, Order, Power | |
| Eira | Hearth, Home, Family | |
| Thor | Strength, Courage, Protection, War | |
| Tyr | Law, Justice, War | |
| Hela | Underworld, Death, Spirits, Night, Judgement, Mercy | |
| Baldr | Peace, Order, Prosperity, Light | |
| Freyr | Virility, Prosperity, Harvest | |
| Freyja | Beauty, Fertility, Love, Maidens | |
| Ran | Sea | |
| Loki | Knowledge, Mischief, Wisdom | |
| Skadi | Knowledge, Mischief, Wisdom | |
| Vidar | Vengeance, Strength | |
| Dagr | Daylight, Sun | |
| Mani | Night, Moon |
The Sagas organise the Æsir into two groups: the original Æsir (also called the Skjöldnir) and the Vanir. The Æsir are generally associated with power, wisdom, and war, while the Vanir are associated with health, prosperity, and fertility. Dagr and Mani are not considered to be associated with either, as the children of Odin and Eira who serve as the Æsir's representation of the primordial. Because all the gods are said to live in their realm and are the children of Odin and Eira in some way, all of the gods are collectively called the Æsir.
Whilst immortal, the Æsir are not omnibenevolent nor omnipotent, and in the Sagas are represented as behaving like humans and possessing human vices which they seek to balance or overcome. This mortal behaviour even among immortals is central to one of the important teachings in Valatrú; the nonexistence of infallibility.
In the afterlife, individuals are divided by a combination of their profession and morality during their lifetime. Morality in Valatrú does not exist in absolute concepts. Instead, morality is judged by the effect that one's behaviour has on themselves and others. This is represented in the spectrum of sin that exists in Valatrú, as well as the distinction of sin between man, and sin between man and the Æsir. Acts of indulgence, hedonism, vanity, and pride are not considered to be an act of sin until they are harmful or extreme; moderation and self-discipline are emphasised in Valatrú. These concepts are considered sinful for the reason that they can lead to committing sins if an individual does not possess the core virtue of self-discipline.
In addition to the Æsir, Acrean theology is replete with other supernatural beings and entities. The jötnar are the most prominent of these, and are described as greatly powerful beings who were once in conflict with the Æsir. Most of the lesser beings and entities are divided into two groups: the vættir and the djöflar or dæmnir. The vættir are those creatures who exist in harmony with the Æsir, and often serve as instruments of the gods. The Sagas describe many types of vættir, such as valkyries, rår, and some dísir.. They are often associated with the realms of the Æsir. The djöflar or dæmnir are morally ambivalent or rarely malevolent lesser beings who are often associated with the jötnar by their nature, though are not necessarily related so and are often portrayed in a conflicted light within the Sagas. Such creatures in the Sagas include vampires, haugbúi, and draugar. Also featured in the Sagas are other races such as elves and dwarves, though in modern religious context they have lost much of their original significance and cultural importance.
The Realms in Valatrú represent the dual existence of the mortal world and the afterlife, and are divided as such. The mortal world is called Midgard, while the afterlife exists in three separate regions: Valhöll (more commonly referred to as Valhalla), Folkvangr, and Hel. Valhöll and Folkvangr are considered the "heavens" in Acrean theology. These are regions of the afterlife in which those who lived faithfully and virtuously are found, and are intrinsically connected. Those who go to Valhöll are individuals who lived their lives in the service of protecting others, with the most common example of such being warriors or soldiers. Folkvangr, by comparison, exists for those who lived otherwise virtuous lives, but may include warriors who reside there to protect the realm. According to the sagas, both realms exist on the same plane, and are connected with one another.
Hel exists as a place for those who received neutral, and is the most complex part of the afterlife. It is comprised of Solennängr and Náströdr. Solennängr exists for those who lived their lives in ambiguity, or otherwise did nothing of note. It is regarded in the Sagas as a wholly neutral place, and is in effect an "uneventful" afterlife. The Sagas hold that Hela's judgement is rarely final, and that those who find themselves in Solennängr are able to change her judgement through their behaviour and actions after death.