Jormism

= Jormism an in-depth research and exploratory deep dive into the faith and beliefs of the reclusive Jormists = Written by: Elrith Ristatori, traveling keeper of scrolls

Jorm as an entity and deity:
Jorm is the great world eating worm a massive entity that is known for sinking the nation of Rodinnbrok beneath the waves. His physical form is that of a massive worm, but he is not as single-minded as one may think. Jorm has an intricate and very advanced mind having his own personality and wants, being one of the only deities having a true physical form he is a lot more present and down to earth with simple wants and simple desires. He loves to eat and drink, partly why he currently resides within the sea of wine and mead to drink for all eternity, this has temporarily stopped his efforts to consume the world and he has taken on the role of a protector and benevolent deity for the followers of Jormism. He is commonly perceived by those that can communicate with him as a “jolly and kind fellow that just wants to enjoy life” but it is important to note that when angered jorm can become very hostile and so can his followers by association. When he is angered Jorm becomes a spiteful and unmerciful foe and his followers an extension of his will. Wreaking havoc and destroying all they come across in the name of their god. He is not easily angered but he views his followers as his family so the most common way he is angered is when many are killed.

His followers regularly do their best to make their god joyous, commonly throwing parties and festivals sacrificing massive amounts of goods, food, and alcohol to their god. This delights Jorm greatly and he commonly rewards them however he can for their kind gestures.

To summarize him Jorm is a laid back and naturally joyful god enjoying the little things but when angered he is a force to be reckoned with.

History:
Jormism is based around the worship of Jorm the great world eating worm. Those that follow Jorm believe him to be a great protector and worthy of sacrifices and worship. Jormism originates from the church of the three pleasures where jorm was first recognized, but a key difference is that the church of the three pleasures never thought of jorm as their deity, the jormism sect Denys that belief and think jorm deserves worship and gifts.

Recently Jormism has gained more traction since the sinking of rodinnbrok. With the newly founded nation of Rodinnport taking Jormism as their national religion after their return to the old rodinnbrok lands and making common pilgrimage to the site of jorms surfaceing from their capital of Northport.

The great maw:
Not too long ago Jorm consumed all Rodinnbrok sinking into the great sea of wine and mead, he left behind a child of jorm in the city of Dreyrigaurd where he first emerged. This holy being in central to the faith of the Jormists and their first ever physical link to their god. They will do anything to maintain their hold on Dreyrigaurd and the child of jorm and often make pilgrimages to it. It has been given many titles such as “The great maw”, “The mouth of Jorm,” and the most common “First Born of Jorm”. It is believed in the faith that children of Jorm are the best ways to get gifts to Jorm himself.

Beliefs and teachings:
Followrs of Jormism teach many things as prescribed by the grand priests of jorm selected by him to spread his messages to the jormite people. The teaching of Jormism comes in the great texts usually named after an aspect of Jorm.

Jorm’s Sword:
Jorm’s Sword teaches us to destroy and bring death to all those that would seek to harm our faith or that witch we care for. His Sword teaches us never to falter and to always fight for what we believe, to know that Jorm stands with us and will never allow us to truly fall.

Jorm’s Sheild:
Jorm’s Shield teaches us to strengthen our relationships with those that share our faith, along with those who do not. He teaches us to strengthen our bonds and protect our chosen friends. For Jorm knows that he who has allies by his side will not fall. Only true strong bonds can protect us in the end.

Jorm’s Tongue:
Jorm’s tongue teaches us to always be diplomatic in conversation and only say what you truly think to those you trust most. He teaches us words are just as effective as Sword and Shield and can hurt us or help us depending on how we use them.

Jorm’s Eye:
Jorm’s eye teaches us to always be observant, take nothing at face value, take nothing for granted. Assume everything is a deception until proven otherwise and always keep an eye of those you don’t trust.

Conversion
When it comes to converting people to jormism he teaches us to take a laid back approach. You can choose to follow Jorm or you can choose not to, it matters little to the great worm and thus matters little to his followers. Followers of Jorm will never attempt to violently convert people.

Sacrifices and the pilgrimage:
Jorm is our greatest protector and closest ally, and we should show him respect and reward him for his vast efforts. All followers of Jormism must at some point in their lives go to Jorm’s firstborn, in the ruins of dreyrigaurd and give him gifts, alcohol and food, riches and valuables, all should be given to him. Jorm rewards our faithfulness so all his followers should at some point return the favor.

Sacrafies to Jorm can be made at any time anywhere and it is common for an aspect of jorm to appear after a temple’s first sacrifice. Jorm enjoys alcohol most of all and it is his favorite sacrifice to receive. It is common for Jorm to reward sacrifices, but he can rarely deny them as a test of faith.

Aspects of Jorm:
Jorm influences our world in many ways, some large some small, but all are to be venerated equally.

Body of Jorm:
At some temples Jorm himself will choose to emerge a great part of his immense form penetrating from the earth before returning to it, usually this happens after a sacrifice.

Children of Jorm:
As of late Jorm has become more active and it seems he is reproducing, at spots of worship smaller versions of Jorm can appear and can be the size of a large dog to the size of an entire town. These smaller versions of Jorm can become deities in their own right but are regarded as aspects of the greater being that is jorm. Though it is noted they can have their own personality, the tenants are unique to them. Even sometimes having their own priests. The largest currently found is the First born of Jorm or Jorm’s Maw as he has come to be known.

The Priesthood:
Anyone can become a priest of Jorm at any time as long as one of Jorm's chosen anoints them. There are many types of priests though and they serve many different roles

Jorms chosen:
These are priests chosen by jorm to be his direct link to the faith. He speaks to them regularly and they are responsible for transcribing his words for the public to read. They are not just priests but friends of the great worm and can be commonly seen conversing with him about less important matters as friends would.

Warrior Priest:
These devout followers of Jorm mainly follow the tenants of Jorm’s Sword and focus on inspiring men in battle and calling upon Jorm for strength while fighting. They can be commonly spotted on the battlefield dedicating their victories to the great worm and converting soldiers in the midst of battle.

Priest:
The common priest of Jorm can be seen handing out alcohol at parties and preaching the word of jorm in his temples and on the streets

Missionary:
The followers of Jorm that make it their life's work to travel the world and convert people and nations to the path of Jorm. They can commonly be seen throwing festivals and parties to entice people to follow the great worm.

Festivals and holidays
Jorm has little concept of time and thus no concept of a true holiday but none the less he enjoys the idea of gatherings of his followers in large amounts to make merry so he and his chosen try their best to arrange these grand events anyways, but they are commonly on different dates every year due to the mentioned lack of a concept of time. Many unnamed and new festivals are commonly celebrated for Jorm and his followers enjoy any partie.

Jormsday:
This is commonly regarded as the day Jorm was discovered though it is most likely completely inaccurate jorm appreciates the gesture, nonetheless. Jormsday is celebrated by massive parties in all his churches and the great consumption of alcohol and cake.

Jormass:
This day marks an exchange of presents and gifts among the followers of Jorm and any may attend. Jorm is commonly heard laughing with joy as his followers gather around a grand fire to drink and celebrate their friendship. It is common for the chosen of Jorm to give gifts to jorm on this day and sometimes receive some in return.

The great Jormite games:
This grand festival marks a day of great challenges and rewards. Upon this day the followers of Jorm host a great series of games in which they compete in various contests such as Drinking, Boat racing, Dueling, and even fishing. All of this greatly entertains and appeases Jorm.

What is Jormism really?
So far all you have heard is the beliefs of the Jormists extracted from holy texts and from their preaching but the creature they worship was... or is very real. He has been mentioned in many religions over time but more as a living protector other than a god. There are also theories that Jorm is infact dead. We do not know what truly goes on behind closed doors for the Jormists but there are a few theories.

Theory #1 copeing:
Our first theory is that the Jormists are just extremely depressed rodinnians, devastated by the sinking of their nation bingeing alcohol and clinging to the giant worm that was so prominent in their culture... but that wouldn’t explain the mention of Jorms physical presence or at least his children's presence that seems so prominent in their beliefs.

Theory #2 The Chilldren of Jorm:
WIth our first theory being very unlikely and the tales of sailors seeing worm like beasts prowling the sea of wine and mead it is more likely that Jorm had an offspring of some kind, faster and smaller and the returning Rodinnians took this as a sign and formed their new culture around it. This seems most likely as what creature doesn't eventually reproduce? We can almost be sure Jorm or at least the first Jorm is dead. Crushed by the falling debris of the old nation of Rodinnbrok.

Theory #3 Jorm survived:
There is of course the chance that all they say is true, Jorm remains with them and protects the ones that feed him. The whole thing about Jorm talking to them is to be investigated though.

Closing Regards
The Jormist faith is an interesting one and while my time amoung them was enjoyable it's time for me to travel back across the sea of wine and mead to the mainland

Their in the water
Ever since I left the ruins of Dreyrigaurd they’ve been following me.... There's some sort of serpent like beings circling beneath the ship... what do they want?

Oh gods there's more? As more arrive they are getting larger and larger, im making full sail for shore I don’t like the look of this.

They started taking bits out of the ship.... were sinking... oh god I don’t want to go like this.

We're sinking.... This will be my final entry. Do not go into the sea of wine and mead.... They're real, they are all real, stay away from the seas. If this record somehow survives don’t follow me, don’t look for me. Stay out of the sea of wine and mead. Stay away from Dreyrigaurd. The children of Jorm.... their real.

This is the last we heard of Elrith Ristatori. May he rest in peace. As a scroll master this was his last work and we published it for him out of respect. Assume that the waters sounding dreyrigaurd are inherently dangerous. Be on the watch for Jorms offspring and assume that his Jormist followers will protect them if provoked.

Notable links:
Jorm's Biology as documented by Rodinnbrok