Jǫrðars Creed (Sylthian Religion)
Jǫrðars Creed is a polytheistic religion practiced entirely within the country of Syltheim. Only 28.4% of Syltheim's population practices the religion. Religious sites can be found in Blindvé and Mallarfjoll. Jǫrðars Creed believes that the worlds are gods, and that it is their duty to be mindful of the god they owe their livelihoods to, Jǫrðar. So far, most Sylthian religious texts remain untranslated, so their mythology is unseen by the outside world. Worship of deities takes place in temples or at shrines, where offerings are placed. Songs, chants and declarations are often used in everyday life.
Terminology
The term ‘Jǫrðars Creed’ to describe the polytheistic religion practiced in Syltheim is somewhat inaccurate. While the deity Jǫrðar is popular due to the fact that he represents the overworld, the popularity of his worship often feeds into the false idea that he is the most powerful deity, or that Jǫrðar is the head of the pantheon. It is more accurate to say that the religion is called Jǫrðars Creed not because Jǫrðar is the most important deity, but because players have a brotherhood with the world they spend so much time interacting with and relying on. The religion is sometimes called ‘The Sylthian Religion’, and in some older texts it has been referred to as ‘The Worship of the Triad’ in reference to the primary triad in the creation myth.
Texts
Most Jǫrðars Creed religious texts remain untranslated, but there are a few that have been translated: Ði Ajnundi Úfríðr, or 'The First War' is a poem describing the creation of the world as we know it today. Donorym ok ði Ains Vǫlr, or 'Donorym and the Lonley Seer' is a myth containing both prose and poetry that describes the introduction of alcohol to playerkind by the god Donorym.
Belief
Cosmology
The first thing that existed was Blyndríf, the dark rift that existed before everything, and that will continue to exist when everything ends. The creation myths tell us that the first god that Blyndríf gave soul to was Néreisar, the god of the end. Then came Sjálfhrósar, the god of the nether. The last made in the original trio was Jǫrðar, and shortly after Néreisar and Sjálfhrósar went to war, all but killing themselves and catching Jǫrðar in the crossfire. From the carnage, Brolli bled out of Jǫrðar, becoming the sea. From Néreisar came Járnsjama, the moon, and from Sjálfhrósar came Guldsjama, the sun, and the stars came from many pieces of both of them.
Deities and Beings
Major deities and beings
Néreisar
The first god, and the god who is the End.
Sjálfhrósar
The second god, the god who is the Nether.
Jǫrðar
The god who is the overworld. Everything in the overworld –except the lakes, rivers, and the sea– are their children.
Brolli
The god of the sea, who was made when Jǫrðar bled during The First War.
Járnsjama
The god who is the moon, who was made when Néreisar was scattered about.
Guldsjama
The god who is the Sun, who was made when Sjálfhrósar was butchered.
Donorym
Son of Jǫrðar and Guldsjama. god of the people, comradery, and parties. Associated with plazas and gathering places.
Fornþóttr
Child of Brolli and Járnsjama. associated with books, potions, and magic. often portrayed with a with the trident.
Merkivíf
Child of Brolli and Járnsjama. Goddess of boundaries and borders, associated with rivers, squids, and flying squids.
Hågitív
Child of Jǫrðar and a star. God of all the plains biomes, parent of all the plain biomes.
Frikko
Son of the Guldsjama and Hågitív. Associated with youth, as well as crops.
Eiðrdís
Child of Fornþóttr and Merkivíf. Goddess of oaths, treaties, and bureaucracy.
Leikinkona
Child of Járnsjama and a star. Goddess of chance, fate, and good fortune. Often invoked during games and gambling.
Syslasál
Child of Brolli and a star. Deity of the market place, money, and commerce.
Minor Deities and beings
Steuraz
Child of Fornþóttr and Merkivíf. The god of war and honor.
Regnraki
Child of Brolli and a star. God of rain, fish, and other aquatic creatures.
Lutsdís
Child of Frikko and a star. God of bees, beekeeping, and honey
Localized Deities
Djarvdís
Child of the god of dark oak forests. God of Blindvé, goes by the epithet: ”The blind god”. God of the surrounding forest and being unfearful of the surrounding dark.
Other Beings
Stars
The stars were created in the first war, and each one is a tiny fragment of Néreisar or Sjálfhrósar. They are not gods themselves, and are rarely worshiped, but they are often the parents of gods.
Folklore figures
Njal ●Brunnigranni● Loddfafnir
Njal ●Brunnigranni● Loddfafnir was a villager who walked into the nether. Njal's story was romanticized and exaggerated until it became a popular story of heroism and cunning.
Practice
Religious Rituals
Offerings
Sometimes offerings of foodstuffs, emeralds, and the occasional diamond are made at religious sites. Generally, expensive offerings are only left at larger temples, while smaller temples and shrines are only left with foodstuffs and less valuable metals such as iron. Bread and apples are common examples of foodstuffs, while unstackable items like soup are less common.
Songs, chants, and declarations
Songs and chants
There are not many known and translated songs, but a well known one that can be used for any god is the "day's dawn" chant, shown below:
| Ek rísa at dægrinns dagaj, dægrinns dagaj, dægrinns dagaj! Hrósa þú fyrir valiþ, hrósa þú æ! |
| I rise at the day's dawning, the day's dawning, the day's dawning! Worship you for well-being, worship you forever! |
Declarations
While there are many declarations that are said during may events, the most well known is used in the gambling game "Godeka Nibainin", and praises the god Leikinkona.
| Vígjada vera Leikinkona! |
| Blessed be Leikinkona! |
Religious Sites
Shrines
Shrines are usually a pile of stones with a campfire on or around the pile. There is often some decoration around the shrine that is related to what god is worshiped there. There is usually a sign that indicates what god the shrine is dedicated to, but some shrines are all-purpose and don’t have any signage.
Temples
Temples are usually dedicated to one primary god, with the central area of the temple being dedicated to their worship. However, temples are usually divided so that the left, center, and right wing of the temple are dedicated to the main triad. Sometimes the entrance of the temple is dedicated to the god Brolli, using leaving the temple as a metaphor for going out to sea.
Iconography and imagery
The main triad each have their own symbols, as well as the god Brolli. Sjálfhrósar is represented by the color red, Néreisar by the color white, Jǫrðar by the color green, and Brolli by the color blue. Each god also has an icon that is used to represent them.