RELIGION

Voldugir Pantheon
Hellfrigg. The Chooser of the Dead escorts the brave and honorable to the
afterlife but keeps the honorless (cowards, traitors, liars, and oath-
breakers) for herself to torment. She manifests as a slender woman with
tightly braided raven-black hair and hands marked by fire. Wherever she
passes, she is followed by the scent of smoke and ash. She wields
Draugasverð, an invisible, weightless and unbreakable sword. Ravens serve
her as spies and messengers. Her Constellation is knowm as the Phantom
Blade.

Herjia. The Goddess of Wrath and Vengeance. Every time someone swears
revenge, they pledge themselves to her. Herjia is portrayed as a naked,
pale woman whose flesh and wild hair are smeared with the blood of her
foes. She carries the dagger Hefndargrip and the enchanted iron ring
Töfrahringur, with which she can summon lightning. Sometimes Herjia
transforms herself into a black eel and lies waiting on the muddy bottom
of a lake. Her constellation is known as the Ring.

Hverglói, the Burning Mist. Embodiment of wildfire, it slithers across the

land, an ever-shifting cloud of cinders and embers. Its form, as elusive as
smoke, morphs and writhes, mimicking the dance of flames – never quite
solidifying, ever-threatening to consume.

Legends paint it as the Spawn of Logi, twisted by rage and despair. It

carries the fire god's cunning, weaving illusions of flickering light to lure in
the unwary before engulfing them in merciless flames. Its touch scorches
the earth, leaving behind smoldering ash and a lingering heat that chills
the bone.

Hverglói's power extends beyond mere fire. It bends smoke to its will,
choking the air and blotting out the sun. The very ground trembles before
its might, warping and melting under the infernal heat. Some say it even
laughs, a sound like crackling embers, as it devours all in its path, leaving
behind a desolate wasteland marked by its fury.
Thórmur, the Mighty. Standing tall and imposing, Thórmur embodies raw
physical strength and athletic prowess. Long, flowing hair and a thick
beard frame a figure often depicted bare-chested or clad in a bearskin.
Warriors and athletes, peasants and nobles alike, revere him, seeking his
blessings. Festivals in his honor are known for displays of daring, and
contests of Strength and Stamina.
Thórmur mirth erupts readily, yet the embers of his rage smolder deep.
When fury ignites him, the ground trembles as if in fear, and many may
perish before he sees reason again. Forgiveness is a concept as foreign to
him as deceit, offered rarely, if ever, for the wounds he carries fester in
the halls of his memory.
Thórmur is said to be the youger brother and chief enemy of Mörken. His
constellation is known as the Bear.
Logi. The god of fire and smiths, burns with a fiery passion for his craft. He
toils not for the praise of others, but for the sheer joy of creation, fueled
by the flames of his own imagination. His forge, a mythical heart beneath
the earth, echoes with the clang of hammer and the roar of flames.
An insatiable hunger mirrors the fire in Logi's soul. He consumes flesh,
bone, and even the ashes of his creations, a cycle of destruction and
rebirth that sustains both his being and his divine spark.
Legends whisper of Logi's creations, each imbued with his fiery spirit.
Weapons that hum with the heat of a thousand pyres, armor that resists
heat, Töfrahringur, the enchanted iron ring he has given to his sister, the
goddess Herjia, and many others. His constellation is known as the Pyre.

Sylgrún, the Tidewalker. Beauty flows around her like the ocean's caress,
moonlight shimmering on her pearlescent skin. Her laughter tinkles like
wind chimes, yet eyes like storm clouds hold secrets as deep as the abyss.
Sailors yearn for her smile, as captivating as the sun-kissed waves,
unaware of the rows of hidden teeth it disguises.

For Sylgrún governs the tides, not just their gentle ebb and flow, but their
monstrous fury. With a flick of her wrist, she whips playful breezes into
howling tempests, luring ships onto treacherous shoals with the siren song
of her voice. Fleets vanish whole, swallowed by whirlpools that open
beneath them, her enchanting melody replaced by a bone-chilling roar as
she rises from the depths, a monstrous visage framed by seaweed hair.
Hungry for souls, she is both the captivating calm and the devouring
storm. Her power is as vast and untamed as the ocean itself, and those
who dare her wrath learn the terrible truth: the sea's embrace can be as
cold and merciless as it is beautiful. Her Constellation is known as the
Mermaid.

Thríeykir, the Tripler. Thríeykir, the Tripler, triples the stakes of mortals'
trials, weaving deadly challenges and testing the resilience of those worthy
of his attention. His trials are perilous and often unwelcome, but he can
also be generous once appeased.

Vérskauld The All-Father, Creator and Guardian of the sacred World Tree.
Known for his wisdom and foresight, he is said to offer advice and healing
in exchange for blood sacrifices. He makes sure all debts are eventually
settled by fate. The sun and the moon are his eyes, and as such, he is
always watching Midgard.

Ylgra. The wild she-wolf that shuns the other gods and seeks the company
of beasts.

Scars, etched like lightning strikes, map the battles she's fought and won,
both against beasts and those who dared trespass on her domain.

Among her pack, trust is a frozen spring, guarded fiercely. Unlike the fickle
promises of gods and men, loyalty and strength are the coins of her realm.

The Role of Sacrifices in the Voldugir Religion

Many northerners perform a ritual offering, known as blood gifting,
multiple times a year to seek favors from their deities. This offering
requires the highest quality and purity, with the sacrifice of one's firstborn
being considered the ultimate act of devotion. Sacrificing one or two
slaves for a bountiful harvest or successf hunt is common practice in some
regions, while others favor offerings of livestock or portions of their
harvest.
The ritual typically involves draining the victim's blood with a sacred blade.
A priest then consumes the blood and uses a specific tool to sprinkle it
upon the participants. Specific structures, known as "sacrificial poles" or
"offering poles," play a crucial role in these ceremonies. These poles,
adorned with sacred symbols, display the offerings hanging from large iron
rings. Depending on local traditions, the offerings remain displayed for
varying lengths of time.
The ritual often begins with sacrifices of small animals, progressing to
larger ones, and eventually even powerful beasts like oxen or horses. In
some instances, humans are chosen to ensure the god's favor for the
coming year.
Youth Baptism: Held in the summer, this ceremony marks the young
men's transition to warriors. Seeking the gods’ blessings and protection in
the coming battles, they participate in blood offerings, typically sacrificing
young bulls.

Minor Cults
The Bone Garden: Necromancers who claim to be able to reanimate the
dead, but do so only in exchange for costly favors. Bargaining with them
may provide undead servants or the return of loved ones, but the
resurrected retain obly a sliver of their original sentience, often leading to
tragic consequences.
King of Sorrows. He takes no single form, existing as a pervasive aura of
hopelessness and despair. In visions, he often appears as a multilated
princely figure.
The King of Sorrows aims to engulf Midgard in all-consuming despair,
erasing all suffering by ending all existence. Those who succumb to his
whispers risk losing their will to live, becoming hollow shells consumed by
apathy and self-destruction. His influence can twist hope into despair, ujoy
into sorrow, and love into indifference.
Appeasement. He craves no offerings, seeking only the surrender of hope
and joy. Any act of self-harm or the spread of despair strengthens him.
Resisting his whispers, finding beauty in the face of hardship, and
spreading kindness are the only ways to weaken him.
The Whispering Choir. Composed of blindfolded cultists who chant in an
unknown language, channeling an entity from beyond known as "The
Weaver." Bargains grant prophetic dreams through possession of the
bargainer's body. All eventually lose their sanity at one point or another.
The Nameless Order: Seekers of forbidden names and incantations, they
believe power lies in uttering the true names of hidden gods. Members
surrender their own names when initiated.