The Hornlands Campaign: Religion

Most of the people living in the Hornlands are religious to one degree or another, but the overall level of religiosity is not nearly as high as, say, Europe in the Middle Ages. Many people quietly or openly profess no religion at all, with mild disapproval usually being the worst response from others. Player characters may follow any religion or none, depending on their personality and background. It is also possible for a player to design (with the GM) a religion for his or her character, on the assumption that the character is a member of some minor cult (of which there are quite a few scattered across the Hornlands). What follows is a brief description of the main "religion" of the Hornlands, and its principal "competitor."

Minashtan Religion

Most of the humans population of the Hornlands follows the practices of traditional Minashtan-speaking culture, which involves a somewhat jumbled array of various gods and goddesses, who represent and oversee various aspects of life and the world. Priests may generally be of either sex (with certain exceptions), may be devoted to all the gods or a single deity (the latter is more common in towns; many villages will have only one or two priests, who must perforce generalize), and can vary a lot in terms of social status. There is no formal, universal structure or hierarchy, though certain international orders oriented around the worship of a particular god do exist (see below for examples). Most ordinary people venerate the deities equally, favoring one or another for temporary or personal reasons, or because it is the custom of their village or region to do so. Although in many ways a traditional, polytheistic set of beliefs, the Minashtan religion (or religions) also possesses sophisticated philosophical depth, an inheritance from Annúminas and Elven thought. At its higher reaches, this takes on a very abstract, mystical character, with gods interpreted more as symbols than as realities, which satisfies those who consider themselves too "sophisticated" for simple worship of the gods. For others, the quasi-messianic cult of Agni offers a more ecstatic, redemptive appeal than the veneration of Vashtai or Dragashti might. Some major deities (by no means a complete list):

Vashtai (Father Sky): The chief god of the pantheon, lord of the sky, of weather and storms, of birds, of wanderers, strangers, guests, and warriors; also of exiles. To a certain extent, he is god of law and morality, and his servant Balakseilan wanders the skies as an eagle, spying on the world and reporting to Vashtai. In old stories, he is wont to appear in disguise among mortals, heavily cloaked with staff and hat, to test the hospitality of strangers.
There are at least two major warrior-cults devoted to Vashtai.
Dragashti (Horn): Consort of Vashtai and chief goddess of the pantheon. She oversees the earth, in two roles: goddess of the fields, and protector of the forests and wild animals (in the latter role, she is sometimes depicted with antlers growing out of her head). Farmers invoke her for the fertility of their crops, and foresters for success and safety in her woods. She is often also identified with the Horn River.
Agni (the Dying Goddess): Daughter of Dragashti and Vashtai, whose annual death and rebirth mirrors and underlies the cycle of the seasons. She is also seen by some as dying (or even sacrificing herself) for the redemption of mortals; worship of her in this aspect is especially popular in Rhulmere and the Horn River cities, and is something of a messianic cult, the focus of much devotion and art.
Cheyvistai: The trickster and thief of the gods, sometimes a brother and sometimes a cousin of Agni. He is often accused of stealing divine secrets and giving them to mortals (it is said he stole the secret of magic from Tashtirn), and of playing tricks amongst mortals. He is sometimes also accused of actually creating humans (or gnomes, or goblins, or...). He is patron of thieves, con-artists, minstrels, and bards; he is as well a "patron" of Chaos and revolution. For rather obvious reasons, he is popular with Gnomes and Goblins.
Sarushti: The goddess of knowledge, learning, and the arts; patron of scholars, musicians, artists, and poets. Various formal and informal orders, usually scholarly in nature, are devoted to her, and they often dominate scholarship and teaching in the Hornlands.
Tashtirn: Sister of Sarushti and goddess of magic, and sometimes associated with the larger moon, Tirn. She is patron and overseer of the arcane arts, and is sometimes given dominion over creatures of magic. The mostly rural order of Witches is devoted both to Tashtirn and to Dragashti (in her forest persona).
Ikushti: Goddess of fortune, and also of Fate. She is alternately seen as capricious and fickle (like Fortuna), or stern and implacable (like a Norn). She is often identified as Irlune's sister.
Irlune (Lord of the Dead, Lord of the Pen): A very enigmatic figure, of ambiguous gender (sometimes male, sometimes female, often both or neither), and with an ambiguous function: sometimes judge and overseer of the dead, sometimes merely a recorder of deeds, lives, and deaths in his/her book ("Irlune is writing your name" is a euphemism for "You are about to die"). The god is usually depicted as being blind, which is said to aid his/her impartiality.

Eshkianism and Other Religions

Eshkianism is the state religion of Ishlene, and extends outside its borders as well. It dates back some five or so centuries, and has spread from a core in Ishlene to a number of the surrounding states, where its adherents form significant minorities. It apparently preaches that the world is the site of struggle between the God of the Sun and the God of Night, and all creatures must strive to aid the Sun in the hopes of reward in the afterlife. Eshkians are notable for their belief that magic is associated with the God of Night, and hence is evil and forbidden. Its members tend to be militant and intolerant, working for the expansion of their faith under the rule of an organized Church hierarchy. A number of specialized orders exist, including the feared warrior-monks of the Orrian Order, and the Uldassic Order, which attempts to colonize wilderness regions.

As noted above, a number of smaller religions do exist in the Hornlands, many of them originating from the Moravian Empire (or said to, anyway). Some others claim their origins in Elven teachings.

Nonhuman Religion

Of the "civilized" nonhuman races, Halflings, Gnomes, and Goblins are most likely to follow or observe human religions. Halflings and Gnomes typically follow the religious practices of their neighbors. They tend to be laid-back and less fervent than their human co-religionists. Goblins, many of whom wander rather widely, are more prone to worship foreign gods and adhere to strange sects. It is widely believed that Elves and Dwarves have their own religions, but little is known about them. Elves who inhabit human communities will sometimes pay at least lip service to human deities (in the Hornlands, Dragashti (in her forest persona), Tashtirn, and Sarushti seem to be favorites), but whether this is done out of politeness, curiosity, or some abstract philosophical principle is unclear. The best guess among non-Elves is that most Elves worship nature itself, perhaps in some abstract, philosophical fashion. Dwarves tend very close-mouthed about their religious practices; some suggest that they worship mountains, or the earth, or gold, but little is known. They seem to have something of a dualistic worldview, seeing life as at least in part a struggle between good (e.g., Dwarves) and evil (e.g., Orcs). Dwarves do sometimes adopt human religions -- they seem more prone to "convert" and more fervent once converted than Elves are. One of the high officials of the Eshkian Church is said to be a Dwarf....

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Last updated 10 May 1998.