5001-HârnWorld/3rd Edition/33

The worship of Ilvir is scattered widely throughout Hârn but is most common among the Jarin of Orbaal. Ilvir makes few demands on his followers and gives little in return. The religion is shrouded in so much mysticism that many claim even its clerics have no idea of what is going on. Ceremonies have been known to include animal and even human sacrifice but this does not seem to be an official part of ritual. Powers exercised by the clergy or by Ilvir himself tend to be very indirect. Ilvir’s followers take nothing very seriously; there are numerous doctrines, some quite contradictory, followed by dozens of minor sects. There are Ilviran temples in Golotha, Tashal, Shiran, and Leriel, the last two being jumping-off points for pilgrimages to Araka-Kalai.

LARANI
“Lady of the Flowing Red, Guardian of Dolithor, Shield Maiden to Hyvrik, Protector of the Brave, The Unwilling Warrior, The Lady of Paladins.”

Larani is the deity of chivalry, the good goddess of battle and the reluctant warrior. Said to dwell in the “Land of the Mighty” in the fortress of Dolithor, she periodically leaves her kingdom to her constable, Mendiz, and walks among men. Those who follow Larani are expected to display courage, compassion, and unimpeachable honor; she is worshiped by many nobles and knights. Although combat for the sake of honor is permitted, as is tilting according to the rules, serious or mortal combat is to be indulged in with reluctance. Her loyal adherents are loath to take life if there is an honorable alternative. Almost all of Larani’s lay adherents and many of her clerics are warriors of some ability.

On rare occasions, Larani loses her patience and appears as the terrible “Lady of the Flowing Red.” In this guise, she bears her awesome ancient symbols: Avarkiel, her mighty battlesword; Hyvrik, her red and white checkered shield; and Angcaradina, her blood-red mail.

The pontiff of the church is the abbot or abbess of Tengela in Trierzon, who is also a powerful secular lord. The seat of the Lirrath (primate) of Hârn is in Thay. The ritual garb of the clerics varies according to circumstance and need, but the favored colors are red and white.

There are two Laranian clerical orders on Hârn, each with a sponsored fighting order. There are no real philosophical differences between the orders; they exist partly to provide a degree of competition for honor in time of peace and partly for geographical reasons. The Order of Hyvrik and the Checkered Shield confine their activities to western Hârn, the Spear of Shattered Sorrow and Lady of Paladins to the east.

“Tormentor of the Unlamented Dead, Master of the Principle of Evil, Lord of the Gulmorvrin, Wielder of the Shadow, Wreaker of Chaos.”

Morgath is the self-appointed master of chaos and evil. Of all the gods, he is the most prone to violence and insanity and the quickest to anger. He is a lord of retribution but cares nothing for justice. He is filled with an abiding hatred for all things fair and noble. When Morgath appears to men, it is usually in some ethereal form, his true shape being unbearable to behold. He is never portrayed, but rather symbolized by the Durangash, a black circle on a field of brown, surrounded by an irregular black border.

Morgath is best known as the master of the undead, who are governed by his chief demigod, Klyss. Morgath is believed to have 13 true names and it is deemed the greatest folly to utter any of them aloud.

In present-day Hârn, the faith is largely confined to Rethem and Tharda. Worship of Morgath is particularly prominent in Golotha but even there his followers are not numerous. Elsewhere, his clergy are covert. In Kanday, Kaldor, Chybisa, and Melderyn, the worship of Morgath is punishable by death.

Morgathianism is not an attractive religion. It is difficult to take much comfort from a faith that preaches “all are doomed to eternal torment in the afterlife,” although this is counter-balanced with the notion of living in worldly excess until death. Morgathian philosophy encourages the acquisition and exercise of ruthless power for its own sake, particularly among its clerics. Clerics of Morgath inspire fear whenever recognized; they are known to practice ritual human sacrifice.

Clerics or Morgath wear mostly black and brown. Their ritual dress includes hideous masks, partly to terrify, but mainly to hide their identity. The only clerical sect in the church, the Order of the Lord of Chaos, has major temples in Golotha and Coranan, the former being the seat of the Hârnic primate. The Vynkhadur (pontiff) resides in the Azeryani city of Meokolis.

NAVEH
“Lord of the Pitch Shadows, Master of Deceit and Evil Dreams, Lord of the Last Illusion, The Merchant of Death, Unseen Lifter of Lives, Trancer the Cat, Wealth’s Worry.”

Best known as the bringer of nightmares, Naveh is the deity favored by assassins and thieves. Naveh is a lord of secrets, a doer of the impossible. His main symbols

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