[HCO Lore] Immortals Influence and Religion

[Aegis]

Religion Overview and Traditions

Overview

Religion in Yaralon has had a contentious past, but holds an interesting place within the lives of most ordinary Yari citizens. There has never been an institutionalized religion in Yaralon. Instead, it has always been a hodgepodge of Immortals worshiped in various degrees. The most prominent of Immortals, Aeva, Chamadarst, Raskalarn, and Ethelynda, have been held in a fairly steady high esteem, which is why their temples were built. Every other immortal, and a few mortalborn, have been in a state of flux, in terms of worship. What this means is that the views of the other Immortals constantly shift and change based on recent events that have directly affected Yaralon and its people.

For example, in the arc 322, Lissira became a well liked Immortal. This was due to the fact that while several mercenary companies were assisting Nashaki in fighting off local rebels and bandits. The fighting was hard, but eventually the enemy was defeated by plague and disease instead of tactics and blades. So Lissira grew in favor. However, 45 arcs later, she fell from grace. This came about because a merchant emperor had established a method of growing crops inside his warehouses, using a water based system instead of the corrupted soil beyond the city's walls. It flourished, and with it, Yaralon's food stores grew, and for a time, people were a lot less hungry. Until a blight hit, and wiped out the entirety of the crops, and the surge in population was balanced out by a collapse. People immediately turned against Lissira, and her shrines went unworshiped, her followers fell from grace.

The practice of worship varies from individual to individual, but the majority worship through the use of shrines. Shrines are littered throughout the entirety of Yaralon and the surrounding villages. Nearly every home and business has a shrine to the patron saint of the head of house or business. Some people prefer to give offerings to the shrines, others simply pray to them. Some give food, others donate blood, others silence. Some speak to the shrines as if they were the Immortal to which they are dedicated. And in Yaralon, so long as the worship doesn't bother others, there's no wrong way to do it.

The majority of the shrines are mundane, in that they are simply carvings, statues, or other structures. However, a small minority of them have been touched by their Immortal, and have acquired special properties or abilities. Sometimes this manifests in the offerings given to the shrine disappearing within them. Other times, a shrine might give out a boon, or hex, to a worshiper. Some Marked individuals have claimed that touching one of these blessed shrines allows them to speak directly with the Immortal. The effects are widespread and varied, and are by no means universal. These shrines tend to be the most popular for followers, while avoided avidly by those with a conflicting deity. One common feature of these blessed shrines though, is their longevity and durability. They are nigh indestructible to most mundane attacks, though attacking one is often a wonderful way to have a whole host of people challenging you.

The other primary form of worship comes in living their daily lives with small moments dedicated to their Immortal. Common forms of this are displayed through saying thanks to Chamadarst after a successful exchange of goods or services for money; never saying Vri's name aloud; asking "What's Ralaith think?" instead of "What time is it?", etc. These are the traditions that are often most confusing for and mistaken by foreigners. And forgetting these traditions will at the very least get a foreigner strange looks, avoidance, hostile words, etc.

[Aegis]

Immortals Influence & Religion

Highly Admired Immortals

The highly admired Immortals are those that heavily respected by the vast majority of the Yari population. These are the Immortals whose worship

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Raskalarn	Rasklaran's Temple	Raskalarn is probably the most contentious of the Immortals worshiped in Yaralon. Many support her claims to the world, see her as the one true commander, and relish the day that Yaralon will see the Eternal Empire in battle. On the other hand, many do not forget the stories passed down from their ancestors, of how Raskalarn displaced them through invasion. These latter people tend to view her as the greatest threat to Yaralon, and wish to see her defeated before the day of battle even comes. Raskalarn has a large temple dedicated to her at the Spear Gate on the north side of the city. This allows those entering Yaralon from the Eternal Empire to see the splendor of her temple. Further into the center of the city, Raskalarn also has a palace dedicated to her, complete with a full staff to cater to her every whim. She visits a few times an arc, usually when Karem kicks her out of Korlasir to take a break. While in Yaralon, Raskalarn's presence invites a festival in her honor, complete with contests of strength, skill, and tactics. It is during these festivals that the anti-Raskalarn people try to strike down her followers in honorable combat. Rarely, Raskalarn herself will participate, particularly when someone has caught her eye.
Ethelynda	Ethelynda's Temple	Ethelynda is nearly as contentious as Raskalarn, for those that are against Raskalarn are typically for Ethelynda. Her Yari followers tend to believe she helps to fortify their walls and empower their shields for the upcoming war against the Eternal Empire. And yet, there are those who fear her presence will mean Yaralon will lead to the Yari people hiding behind their walls in fear from Raskalarn rather than meeting her in honorable battle.Ethelynda has a large temple near the Shield Gate at the east side of the city. This allows those coming from the Eternal Empire or the Hot Lands to see the her magnificent temple first and foremost. While Ethelynda doesn't keep a palace of her own in Yaralon, it is said she has her own home there, a simple one. She visits from time to time in her human form, preferring to keep a lower presence. Occasionally, there will be small festivals in her honor, typically centered around a performance piece involving shielded combat that is just as much a dance as it is beautiful combat prowess.
Chamadarst	Chamadarst Temple	Chamadarst is probably the most unanimously worshiped Immortal in Yaralon. As the city is so heavily dependent on foreign trade, much more so than many other nations, the coin became one of the most powerful tools of the city. And following Yaralon's agreement with Raskalarn and the Eternal Empire, as well as their placement in an extremely hostile environment, Yaralon enjoyed its isolation from much of the outside world. The Mercenary Companies will also hire themselves out to anyone who has the coin, for they are neutral in a true sense. They have no genuine allies nor enemies.Chamadarst's temple is the largest of the four, and it sits at the Gold Gate to the south, as the entrance from the harbor. It can be seen by distant ships on their approach, a realization that soon, they would profit heavily. In addition to the temple, nearly every Merchant Prince keeps a shrine to Chamadarst in their private residence, and in the businesses they own. Chamadarst doesn't keep a private residence in Yaralon, and will occasionally be found wandering through the various markets and shops. He particularly enjoys watching the haggling and bartering of the Yari people, discerning the subtleties of such transactions. There are no particularly festivals to Chamadarst, but prayers over a completed trade agreement are so often uttered, that failure to do so is often viewed as a heavy slight against the Immortal. Transgressors may often find merchants less willing to trade with them because of this.
Aeva	Aeva's Temple	Aeva is heavily worshiped in Yaralon, for her domains touch all three of the major facets of the city. The Craft Guilds worship her for guidance and blessing over metal working and innovation. The Mercenary Companies worship her heavily for without the equipment made in her domain, for without the skill of her craftsmen, they'd be without the arms and armor to fight. And finally, the Merchant Princes worship her as the secondary patron to Chamadarst, for she is both neutral and the goods made are worth quite a lot of money.Aeva's temple is not the largest of the four, nestled to the west near the Hammer Gate, but it is the most ornate and finely crafted. It isn't large enough to be seen from beyond the walls, but those approaching from Volantis and Rharne will often come across the ornate temple first within the confines of the city. Most craftsmen keep a shrine to Aeva in their workshops, often made of their own hands, of their own craft. Aeva keeps a private residence within the heart of the temple that none but herself have access to. She visits Yaralon both openly and hidden as a human, watching others work and toil, sometimes giving out lessons or tips in passing. As her temple is a show case to the most finely crafted objects, she can often be found in there looking at them with grand appreciation.

[Aegis]

Mildly Admired Immortals

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Audrae	N/A	Audrae is generally well received among the populace. Yaralon's businessmen, as well as its mercenaries, are not above deceitful practices, particularly toward foreigners. With power and influence in Yaralon in constant flux, those that can keep their own secrets safe, and find those of their rivals or enemies, will find themselves on the rise. But it is respect of innate fear that makes Audrae most well received. Yari people are not fools that claim to have no fear. Fear keeps the Yari people alive. And anytime that instinct is recognized, and used in a way to save a Yari's life, a prayer of thanks to Audrae oft follows immediately.
Faldrun	N/A	Faldrun is oft praised heavily when the rainy season comes to an end and the sun returns to Yaralon. While the dry season is often tougher, it is a welcome respite from half an arc of rain. Though this is a double edge sword, for during the peak of the dry season, food and water are more scarce, and savanna fires more common. But the Yari people take this bad with the good that Faldrun brings, chalking it up to the Immortal's inner turmoil expressing itself across their lands.
Karem	Various Shrines	Karem is worshiped as a lesser extension of Raskalarn. Additionally, she is occasionally credited with possibly have been supplying the First Company aid while first settling the corrupted lands that would become Yaralon. She is worshiped more beyond the city's walls among the outlying villages, for their survival is always in question and hinges heavily on hunting down the beasts that roam the wilds. Usually each village will have a shrine dedicated to her, often touched by each hunter before they set out.
Qylios	Various Shrines	Qylios is worshiped by a few of the Mercenary Companies, as well as an extension of Ethelynda. Those who find brotherhood and bonding through combat, who fight to protect their friends and family at their sides. Those who choose to lead by example instead of by domination and brutality. She is worshiped more beyond the walls, in the guarded villages that feel they need more protection or leadership, or a different kind of either.
Valtharn (MB)	Various Shrines	Valtharn is worshiped by a few of the Mercenary Companies in Yaralon. Those that are known for their more brutal tactics, shock and awe campaigns, and killing with pleasure are almost guaranteed to be followers of Valtharn. Sometimes these companies will keep a shrine to her among their guarded villages, as well as giving a prayer to her after killing a person.
Vri	N/A	Vri isn't so much as worshiped as he is well respected. With death being such a heavy constant in Yaralon, both in the city proper and beyond the walls, people speak of him with only the utmost respect. Marriages are often done in Vri's name, for it is a vow to fight and die together, in true love.

[Aegis]

Neutral Influence Immortals

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Aelig	N/A	Aelig is considered neutral, for while he offers little practicality to the Yari people in terms of his domains and influence, being stuck in a chaotic region, some consider him benevolent for allowing them a harsh world to thrive in, while others curse him for the same thing.
Ashan	N/A	Ashan is considered neutral, but on the more positive side of it. Freedom is the most common association made with the Immortal, and the Yari people respect their own freedom highly. Typically any hint that a Yari citizen, native or earned, denied their freedom abroad, in any fashion, will trigger a reaction from other Yari people.
Chrien	N/A	Chrien sits in an interesting place among the Yari people. Whenever a storm comes, thanks is given to her, for storms bring the cycle of water to Yaralon, as well as test their people's strength. However, the Yari people do not typically believe in things such as luck, and do not believe she has any influence over their lives in this regard.
Ilaren	N/A	While Ilaren isn't held in a particularly high or low esteem within the walls of Yaralon, when the Yari people visit Rharne, their favorite vacation destination, they will praise her just as loud as the natives. When in Rharne, the Yari people truly let their hair down and cut loose, a chance to relax a bit more than they might in their homeland.
Mastes	N/A	One thing new arrivals find different in Yaralon, compared to some other nations, is that there is no such thing as an illegal or forbidden substance. If you have a vice, and the coin to support it, you can likely find it here, and typically a small thanks is given to Mastes before partaking.
Moseke	N/A	Moseke isn't held in particularly high or low esteem, as the nature of the Yari wilds is twisted and corrupted, yet its those same features that help make the Yari people strong.

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Cassion	N/A	Cassion is not noticeably acknowledged among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Daia	N/A	Daia is not noticeably acknowledged among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Delroth	N/A	Delroth is not noticeably acknowledged among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Famula	N/A	Famula is not noticeably acknowledged among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Pier and Pre	N/A	Pier and Pre are not noticeably acknowledged among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Ralaith	Shrine	Ralaith is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Sintra	N/A	Sintra is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Syroa	N/A	Syroa is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Thetros	N/A	Thetros is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Treid	N/A	Treid is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
U'frek	N/A	U'frek is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Vhalar	N/A	Vhalar is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Ymiden	N/A	Ymiden is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Yvithia	N/A	Yvithia is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.
Zanik	N/A	Zanik is not noticeably acknowledge among the general populace of Yaralon. While they may be worshiped by individuals, there is no wide spread sentiment for them, positively or negatively.

[Aegis]

Mildly Disdained Immortals

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Kata	N/A	Kata, for the most part, is looked down upon by the Yari people. They often view her as what happens to those who are to weak to be victorious over their enemies, literal and not. Those who go insane, especially mages, are often thought of as Kata's sheep, too weak to be predators, warriors, useful. Yaralon, as a town where every individual determines their own justice, any cry of injustice is viewed as the cries of those too weak to change their own fate.
Lisirra	N/A	While the Yari people know the food shortages are caused by the corruption spread through the lands, often Lisirra's name takes the blame, doubly so if a shipment of food went bad. But there are several mercenary companies, particularly those that spend much of their time abroad, that respect Lisirra for the advantages she can give them over their enemies. But she's rarely every truly liked.

[Aegis]

Highly Disdained Immortals

Immortal	Place of Worship	Description of influence
Edasha	N/A	Edasha is heavily despised, often viewed as weak and useless. While physical beauty in people and objects can most certainly be appreciated in Yaralon, beauty solely for beauty's sake is sneered at. If you're beautiful, you best be functional as well. And adultery is a sin of the highest degree in Yaralon, where your lover, spouse, etc isn't just who you're in a relationship with, but the sword that guards your back. Adultery is a breech of loyalty, and beyond unforgivable.
Xiur	N/A	Hope is one of the dirtiest words to be used in Yaralon, and with that cursed word, Xiur's name follows with an extra amount of venom. Hope has no place in Yaralon, it is for the foolish and the weak, for those unable to control their own destiny. He is worse than useless in many Yari minds, he is detrimental to strength and will.
Ziell	N/A	Ziell is the laughingstock of Yaralon, his name often said in jest. Yaralon needs war in order to survive, to thrive. An end to the many conflicts across the globe would begin the starvation and collapse of the mercenary city. But the Yari people have a saying, "Where there's more than one person, there's war soon to come." War is a constant, a necessity, and peace is nothing more than a joke.

[Aegis]

This Lore Article is now approved. Like all Yaralon Lore Articles, it is open to peer review. Any questions, suggestions, concerns, across any of the topics herein, including grammar, wording, lore consistency, etc are to be posted within this thread. I will answer each and every single one of them, and if the information is not present here, or elsewhere, I will proceed to add it. Thanks, and enjoy!