Arv
| Arv | |
|---|---|
| File:Njord.1.jpg | |
| Name: | Arv, Arvifar |
| Other names: | the king of the ocean the son of Arv he who delves in the deep the lord of Vattnaheim the ruler of the drowned the Shipmaster |
| World: | Vattnaheim |
| parents : | Arv, the spirit of the ocean. |
| siblings : | None |
| Consorts : | The spirits of the oceans, several mortal women and men |
| Children: | Several demigods |
Avr, Arvefar, the king of the ocean, he who delves in the deep, the lord of Vattnaheim, the ruler of the drowned, the Shipmaster are all names given to Arv that is one of the more important gods of the holy chronicles since he is the god of sailing and oceans. Since most Scanderans in one way or another was tied to the large oceans for trade, travel and warfare in the old days so has Arv always been an important deity. However in the islands like Jarnarna, sundet and Asterarna where the ocean is part of everyday life and fed most of the people so did he become even more important and they developed Jarntra which was a separate sect of the holy chronicles where the priests were blue robes instead of the fire red ones worn by the mainstream branch of the holy chronicles and Arv is considered to share a dual kingship over the gods and the world with Rasmer.
Gudaföljare
Gudaföljare sees Arv as a very important god but still just one of the many vassals of Rasmer. However especially amongst the coastal regions so is he seen as much more important than inlands and while he might have a painting in the inland regions so would he most certainly have one of the bigger idols.
Draktra
In Draktra so is Arv mostly a minor god, most people argues that this is because of the landbassed nature of the Karmanjakan people due to the majestic cliffs that covers the shores of the Scanderan west coast and gave little to no opportunity for the people of Karmanjaka to sail or interact with the ocean.
Jarntra
In Jarntra however so is Arv one of the more important gods and even seen as sharing a dual kingship with Rasmer making him one of the two most important and revered gods in the faith.
Birth
It was said that Arv was the son of a king named Arv that ruled on the islands in brytnaryggen and was known as the greatest swimmer and sailor in his day and was known to be able to swim wearing armour and stay under the water for hours. Such was his might that he was even able to lead raids as far south as Jarnarna and it was said that after the war of shadow and light was it his sons that took the islands and it was also said he fought both Ishra, the first of the sea dragons and the dark demon king that sleeps in the city of Räli. However so did he not have a wife to give him children. So one day did he put on his armour and swam out into the ocean and found the spirit of the oceans herself and took her as his lover. Each night would he swim out in the ocean and return in the morning. One day however did he return with a woman, she was pale and her hair was green seaweed, her eyes the deepest blue and she was as naked as a newborn. However it was clear to each and all that she was pregnant.
For nine months did she stay with the king until she gave birth to nine children, eight were normal humans but one was clearly bigger than the other, with long flowing red hair and without crying at all. This large child did the woman take before she returned to the ocean never to return to the king again nor did the king swim out into the oceans during the nights anymore. The child she took grew up to be the ruler of the sea and were given the name Arv after his father.
Arv in the sagas
In the sagas is Arv said to be a tall giant with bushy long red brown hair and beard walking naked or wearing simply a piece of linen wrapped around him and ruling his undersea kingdom from his hall Vattnaheim where all the spirits of the oceans, his mother and aunts sits as his wives on his sides. He is often also seen aiding heroes or demanding tributes from them for his help or downright trying to get in their way for petty reasons. Even the holy chronicles say that Arv is a god that gives and takes quickly and without reason that one day can be friendly and helpful and the next be furious and do all in his power to hurt those that he one day blessed.
Children
Arv is known to have taken several lovers in the holy chronicles and especially in Asterarna and Jarnara was it common to let young women swim out in the ocean in the night to be taken by Arv as his lover and to deflower them, a practice that remains to this day but t'was later on rephrased in the chronicles to simply be blessed by him as most of the more downright sexual rites in the chronologically was remade and dropped entirely during the federal purification period in the middle of the 17th century.
It was said that most of the children birthed soon after this was the sons of Arv and in Jarnarna was it law that would a princess give birth to sons and daughters this way so would they be first in the line of succession as Gudasener or gudadottir or "sons/daughters of gods".
Worship of Arv
Worship to Arv was made in water and idols raised in his name often stands in a pool of saltwater where the worshipers can pray. Sacrifices done to the god are not burnt as most gods demands it but it is instead dropped into oceans, rivers or lakes.