Religion
by
Finley Vorden
Religion in Ilhdeinia runs deeper than mere personal belief. It permeates daily life from marketplace haggling to late-night philosophical debates. In Ilhdeinia, everyone believes in something. True atheists, apostates, and self-declared non-believers typically aren’t philosophical skeptics; they’re people nursing divine grudges or those who've walked away from faith after bitter disillusionment.
Most Ilhdeinians follow the standard pantheon, though they’ll focus their worship on one god or a small family of deities with complementary domains. Some cultures occasionally introduce “new gods” that serve as false idols or puppets manipulating public opinion, but such religious innovations rarely survive long, especially once the true pantheon takes notice.
For travelers navigating this complex spiritual terrain, I offer these practical tips:
- Watch locals at temples and ceremonies, then mirror their actions.
- Pack small offerings suited to various gods. I carry colored ribbons that satisfy most devotional requirements while taking minimal space.
- Memorize basic religious greetings like “Temrūs grant you strength” or “Alȳrā’s blessings upon your house.” These cost nothing but earn surprising goodwill.
- Stay neutral during theological discussions unless you enjoy arguing for sport.
- When confused, admit ignorance. Most locals love explaining their traditions to attentive foreigners. Genuine curiosity covers many accidental transgressions.
The Gods of Ilhdeinia
- Āldiēr, the God of Knowledge
- Alȳrā, the Goddess of Love, Passion & Pleasure
- Denēlia, the Goddess of the Fae and Woodland Creatures
- Dhȳrōs, the God of Sins and Transgressions
- Dōhāra, the (Ancient) Goddess of Magick
- Exphīra, the Goddess of Nature
- Idrāsil, the God of the Sun and Light
- Ilhdeinir, Mother of the Gods
- Illyāna, the Goddess of Beauty and Fertility
- Irākstl, the Goddess of Fire & the Arts
- Lādīka, the Goddess of Chaos
- Lūdthār, the God of Hatred, Fear, & Tyranny
- Mārdōna, the Goddess of Illness, Poison & Disease
- Ōhgūs, the God of Harvest and Growth
- Ōphīa, the Goddess of Death
- Osnitan, God of Wisdom
- Ōvlīan, the God of Language & Communication
- Rāvehnswhenh, the Goddess of Weather & Seasonal Blessings
- Reīnstīel, the God of Deception & Illusion
- Rīōnne, the Goddess of Air & Sky
- Rūdār, the God of Peace & Protection
- Sāhren, the God of History & Time
- Shūjāō, the God of Celebration
- Temrūs, the God of Might & Righteousness
- Valfǫðr, the God of Blacksmithing & War
- Vōldāll, the God of Combat & Confrontation
- Yāerōnās, the God of Water, the Sea, & Storms
- Ytīa, the Goddess of the Fallen Planes
Lesser Divine Entities
- Elsinevīr, Sylvan Moon Goddess
- Sanjjīmar, the goddess of war
- The Slumbering Titan, an anomalous, sleeping, primordial being whose dreams shape reality
- The Earthen Spirits, the collective consciousness of the mortal domain
- The Seven Who Wait, the mortal heroes who transcended normal death