Ronsolari

Ronsolari is a polytehistic religion that originates from the Kingdom of Ariefell, Eldham. Ronsolari revolves around the worship of 2 Deities: Rona, The goddess of Love, Life, light and the sun. And the Shroud, God of war, destruction, chaos and death, who has a stronger presence during Ronas rest, her light shining in the Shrouds cloak of darkness, creating the night. The religion incorporates ancient shroud belief from the old mystics of Shroudsfort and old Soleviel customs from Valrean influence, however Ronsolari is wholly different from either religion.

History
Ronsolari can have most of its roots traced back to the first peoples of Shroudsfort, who historically have worshipped The shroud since the times of ancient Shianrein. After the collapse and disbanding of the Shianrein tribes, worship of the Shroud diminished but still surviced, being past down in different surviving Shianrein clans. The last surviving clan, The Arietis Family, Founded the city of Shroudsfort, reviving the religion to a local level. After approval from the ruling Valrean leadership, Wilhelm Arietis, Head of the family at the time, also grew in political prominence in Valreach, and founded the colony state of Ariefell. During the last days of the Valrean Empire, internal political struggle saw the Arietis family out of power and replaced by a incompetent Leadership backed by Vix, who subjugated the fallen Arietis clan, who in return rebelled in their claim on Ariefell. Ronsolari was founded by the Arietis family, and the last surviving true members of Valreach, who left after being discontent with the poor leadership decisions and political corruption of the new leadership. Ronsolari first incorporated the beliefs of sun and moon of the Soleviel and Soledom faith and then intergrated other customs of the arriving Arieans, localising into the current faith.

Background Beliefs
Worshippers of Ronsolari (Ronsalians) believe that all life was created by the Goddess Rona, who gave birth to all life and land, and guided the people of Rathnir to Eldham. The Shroud is believed to been created before Rona gave life to all sentient beings, who rose in prominence after life without the pureness of Rona's heart was created. The Shroud embodies wickedness and darkness. Before the creation of life, the land created by rona was forever reflecting the light given by the goddess, even during her rest, however the Shroud grew in power and eventually eneveloped the land in darkness during Rona's rest. Even during her rest, Rona's light illuminated the darkness of the shroud, guiding the pure and the faithful as the moon and stars. By the end of Eldhams creation, Rona had completed her work and took rest, blossoming into the sun of day and the moon of night.

Ronsalians treat both gods in equal respect, and have created holy sites and churches worshipping both gods. Even though Rona represents good nature and is the creator of life, Ronsalians (through different teachings by the church) still respect the Shroud and wish not to anger or incurr his wrath, therefore many rituals involving sacrifice or intense worship of the Shroud may occur during plagues and war to please the Shroud and end his trail of chaos. Equally important is the worship of Rona, where Ronsalians may offer up physical possessions in long rituals for grace and blessings or releasing her will and the reward for carrying out that will.Ronsalians also believe in a series of mythological or divine creatures, such as the Raven, the holy bird that represents the religion. It is fabled that the crow is the messenger between mortal and god. Such as the first destruction cycle was warned by Rona through Ravens, Trails of destruction left behind a Army also creates a trail of Ravens who witness the war and destruction, which may please the Shroud. Another creature is a beast known as the "Pale horse" or locally known as the "Cum Horse." (see Mythological beliefs)

Devotee's of Rona
Ronsalians that are of more purity may join the Devotee's of Rona group, who are a extreme conservative orthodox group who pledge their life to the pureness of the goddess, Rona. Here devotee's will undertake a oath of celibacy, a oath of simplicity and live on the fringes of Ariean society, creating small communities of simple villages who pray, preach, and follow in the good nature of Rona.

Heretical groups of the Shroud
There are also multiple groups considered heresy by the official Ronsolari church. These mostly are fringe extremist groups who devote themselves to empowering the shroud through forbidden and ancient rituals or carry out the will of the Shroud through mercenary work, mass murder, terrorism, and producing as much chaos in territories who do not support Ronsolari.

Practices and Rituals
Teachings of the religion are often carried out in ceremonies by Priests in churches or other sites of worship. Some practices carried out by the traditional Ronsolari church include:


 * Inauguration of new followers of the faith: A process where new members (converts) of the faith go through baptism by the pure rivers graced by Rona and the ash smoldered from the trail of fire the Shroud leaves. The converts will then take a oath of faithfulness and a binding vow of where they will remain faithful until their death. This process is usually carried out at a holy site, churches or riverside temples by priests or higher ranked members of the church
 * Blessing of New Life: Natural Life and Death are perceived as gifts by Ronsalians, who practice a baptism-like process where newborns will be baptised at a river, and celebration by the family occurs, celebrating the gift of Rona's life-formation. Usually carried out by the family elder or clergyman if related to the child. If the child results in the death of the mother or comes from unexplained circumstances, it is a priests duty to bless them in the waters of purity and christening of ash, to purify the child and to temper the wrath of the Shroud. This process only occurs at churches and cathedrals.


 * Union of two: If a Ronsalian has not taken a oath of celibacy, they may partake in a marriage that has been blessed by the church. Ronsalians view marriage as a important and pivotal moment in a individuals life, replicating the union of the 2 Deities. Usually, both members of a marriage follow Ronsolari, however, as long 1 person of the marriage is a faithful Ronsalian, the church is obligated to bless their union. Traditional weddings are hosted in churches, riversides or cathedrals where a priest or higher member of clergy will perform the ceremony. However in recent years lower members of clergy or even well respected elders of either family may partake in performing the ceremony. The ceremony usually ends in a procession of festivities, small worship and game, celebrating the life gifted by Rona, and a worship to the Shroud to bless their union and show mercy in their marriage.


 * Worship of Rona: Carried out in churches, cathedrals and temples worshipping Rona, Priests or higher ranked clergymen may call for a worship of Rona if there is believed anger or dissaproval by Rona. Sometimes these ceremonies may also have other purposes, such as cleaning the attendees of impurity, receiving the message of the Gods (usually through crows) and giving up on physical possessions in return for gifts of divine power. Historically, Worships of Rona also occur during harvest, festivals or during a crisis, where Rosalians may plead for Rona to bless the land in gifts of life and pure light.


 * Worship of the Shroud