Aquos

Aquos is the dominant common religion of Geltisch Handelsrijck, not all citizens follow it. It is a polytheistic religion with eight gods who control everything that can happen. Some myths talk about other characters, but most of those are regional. Believers refrain from using the term 'Aquos', because they believe their religion is the only possible truth.

History
Aquos originated from sailor stories that were first spread among the inhabitants of southern Einsiedeln. These residents later moved to the Geld because of a famine and took their religion with them. They chose the Geld because according to the myths of Aquos this is the promised land. When the city-states of the Geld were advancing, Aquos was the only thing that connected them. Many myths are about this long and turbulent period.

Hans van Eerst used Aquos as a way to convince the leaders of the city-states to make him king. The other kings also used the religion to strengthen their bond with the inhabitants of the Geld.

Main beliefs and practices
The religion of Aquos in its foundations is based on the fact that the gods created everything, including the thinking being. The gods control what is going on and punish or reward appropriately, like the Geld creating for the (nowadays) Gelts. All gods should be treated with respect. Some people of certain professions are more closely attracted to certain gods, but every god has a use in everyone's life.

Creation
'Nor came out of nowhere and had three children. Kredon, Rayja and Gonar made the world on Nor's shield and after this Rayja and Gonar had children, who took care of the sun, animals and the moon. Rayja and Kredon married and also had children, who took care of the crafts, resources, diplomacy and war. As a final thesis, the gods together made the thinking being.' - The Foliant

Gods
Nor - God of wisdom and the universe (Animal form: Turtle Carrying the World): This god is the all father. All gods come directly or indirectly from him. He is the carrier of the world and is worshiped for his wisdom and counsel. From his egg came Kredon, Rayja and Gonar

Kredon - Supreme God/God of weather, tides and disasters (Animal form: A kraken): He is the son of the god of the universe and married to the goddess of love and fertility. He caused oceans and rivers to flow out of the dry area and brought the rain and the wind.

Rayja - Goddess of Fertility and Love (Animal form: A mermaid): She is the mother of the gods and has ensured that the land became fertile, she also takes care of the love between people. She is the daughter of the god of the universe and wife of the supreme god.

Gonar - God of time and life (Animal form: A jellyfish): He is the son of the god of the universe and is responsible for time. It keeps track of how much time passes and which people go over their allotted time. He judges the rebirth of a mortal and has 2 children with the goddess of love and fertility.

Fonyr - God of the sun and travel (Animal Shape: Merman): in a cart pulled by seahorses Son of the god of time and goddess of fertility, brother of the goddess of animals and the moon. This god travels through the sky during the day and gives light. He makes the journey from the sky to the ocean every night to tell the other gods what is going on in the world.

Otun - Goddess of the animals and the moon (Animal form: An angelfish): Daughter of the goddess of love and fertility and the god of time, sister of the god of the sun. This goddess takes care of the animals and life in nature, every night she swims to the sky to give light to the people. Because of this she can't help the animals and dangerous monsters appear.

Ornir - God of war (Animal Form: A Hydra); Son of the supreme god and the god of fertility, brother of the god of the arts. This god is a true warrior and will always fight to the end, because he is the god of war. Soldiers summon him for his willpower, but also for his intellect. All things they need on the battlefield. He appears as a Hydra because “War has many faces”.

Idona - Goddess of poetry, theater, music, peace, art, blacksmithing and alcohol (Animal form: Water Nymph): Daughter of the supreme god and the god of fertility, sister of the god of war. She is the polar opposite of her brother, while he is a real hothead she is very calm. Her task is therefore to represent all art forms and crafts. All the entertainment is at her expense. A well-known story about her is that she thought that humans could not make enough beautiful things, so she decided to give them minerals. Man started to use this to make tools and beautiful images.

Eight holy laws of Aquos
An important part of Aquos are the eight holy rules of Aquos, the idea is that every god has a rule that everyone should adhere to. The rules are in no particular order.

Keep the world like it was intended by the Gods (Nor)

Do not deny the will of the Gods (Kredon)

A marriage is sacred (Rayja)

Do not decide about life or death (Gonar)

Respect the right to travel freely (Fonyr)

Respect a contract (Ornir)

Do not steal someone's craft or items (Idona)

Respect the animals (Otun)

Notable Religious Sites
The monastery of Kopemonde

Temple of Ornir (on the highest mountain of the Geld)

Temple of Fonyr (near Traveler's respite)

Functions in Aquos
Hoebetprest (Head priest)

Head of the religion, is responsible for the great worships within Aquos. He is the leader of the monastery of Kopemonde. Only the gods are above them. The Hoebetprest is Hendrik Visscehre.

Hoecheprest (High priest)

Each high priest has the responsibility to worship some gods. The high priests enforce the sacred laws and ensure that the believers are appropriately punished in case of transgression.

Hoecheprest of Nor and Idona - Willemijn Tusanki

Hoecheprest of Gonar, Ornir and Fonyr - Piet GoldenMaen

Hoecheprest of Rayja, Otun and Kredon - Ashur van Papania

Prest (Priest)

Priests are responsible for a temple or a place of worship in a town. They must answer to the high priest of their temple or the high priest who lives nearby.

Monch (Monk)

Monks are persons who live in a monastery and fully focus on life according to Aquos, some monks are also priests.

Stoerlinch (Missionary)

Missionaries are ordinary believers who have a proven track record of supporting Aquos. They have received a mission from the head priest to further spread Aquos.

Erloefer (Believer)

A believer is someone who believes in Aquos and lives according to the rules established within Aquos.

Cults and side groups
Aquos fundamentalists

The Aquos fundamentalists are a group of Aquos believers who take the basic principles of Aquos very closely and do not add extra figures besides the gods.

Heptagon of Rayja

The Heptagon of Rayja are a group of Aquos believers who worship Rayja, the goddess of fertility. The Rayja Druids have a small sub-pantheon which consists of nature spirits that are believed to possess powerful druidic magic.

Norists

Norists are a group of Aquos believers who see Nor as a creator and the other gods as a part of him. They believe that Kredon can only be the leader because Kredon has to represent Nor's head.

Sons of Ornir

The Sons of Ornir are a military order in Aquos. They believe its their duty to keep the world safe and they are a purely defensive force in Aquos. Their name comes from the myths of the real sons of Ornir, like Vultar, a sea serpent who lives in the water temple nearby the Geld.

Myths
There are a lot of local myths which you can read in local libraries and the high priests can delight you too with some.