Arternaia

Arternaia is the state religion of Anglunia. It is a paganistic, polytheistic religion centered around the pantheon of the Arterna. It is only practised in the Kingdom of Anglunia.

Pantheon

 * Azeras, the all-father, god of strength and ice
 * Ilonnis, goddess of beauty and pride
 * Tollan, god of diligence and humility
 * Nefaren, goddess of envy and wealth
 * Klarien, goddess of fertility and growth
 * Otsall, god of agriculture and artisanship
 * Melzina, goddess of the sea and the sky
 * Ikall, god of fire and war
 * Omarnis, god of commerce and trade
 * Belana, goddess of light and wisdom

Heroes

 * Arternion Chelodine: Dawnbringer, Son of the Arterna. Defeated the Celestials and founded Alunthayal. Was eventually tricked and killed by Ilonnis.

Creation Myth
According to Arternaia, the Celestials created the world. These shapeless, lifeless beings moulded the world into shape and placed creatures upon it for their amusement. They soon left their creation behind, and the energy they left behind birthed both the Arterna and life itself. All this poses the eternal question: who was born first? Who was based on the other? Is life made in the image of the Arterna? Are the Arterna made in the image of life? To this day, Anglunian scholars still search for the eluding answer to this question. A frequent Anglunian saying is also: "It is the eternal question." This saying is said frequently in reaction to a question of which the answer is not known.

The Arterna balanced the chaotic energy of the world, bringing order to what was once a swirling mass of energy. The heavens and the earth were separated by a great wall, also separating the humans and the Arterna. Though organisms aren’t able to travel to the heavens, the Arterna can travel to the earth and return.

History passed, life gained consciousness, and forgot about their divine counterparts. This would place all life in jeopardy. A great myth named the Chyweld Byd speaks of these events.

Chyweld Byd
In the myth, the Celestials return to the earth. They see, they feel, they hear, taste and smell what is wrong with the world and decide to recreate it, a proper image for themselves. Great storms, floods, earthquakes and eruptions raptured the earth, killing much of what lived.

Eventually, a great hero stepped up. His name was Arternion Chelodine (translated as Dawnbringer, Son of Arterna by Johnny D. Jackson). He rebelled against the unstoppable force. Many battles were fought, and with the Arterna on his side, they won. He fought with his mystical axe, named Irdanor in the ancient scrolls, staunchly defending all he held dear to his heart. For Arternion was born and raised on the soil of the earths and he would not let them take his home.

Yet he was not strong enough to defeat the great power that formed the very ground he stood on, and he fell. His blood streamed over the ground, coating Irdanor in his own blood. He would not give up. Arternion stood up and faced the Celestials once more. With the proof of his life, his blood, his flesh, he cut through them. The Celestials, unknowing of things such as flesh and blood, were bewildered. They dispelled, fleeing into the heavens, as they were frightened by what they had created.

Arternion Chelodine
Arternion grew weary of war. Shortly after his victory, he decided to settle a city named Alunthayal. It grew to the ends of the earth, covering it in creatures of all sort.

But Arternion, still burdened by the flaw of sentience, grew arrogant. His hubris led him to seek a place among the Arterna. Yet he was refused. He tried again, bringing a great boar with him and burning it as a sacrifice to the Arterna, yet he was refused. He didn’t give up. Again, he asked for a place in the heavens, burning a forest and all in it for the Arterna’s sake.

This time, however, his offer brought fruition, Ilonnis, goddess of beauty and pride, answered his call and offered him a chance. He told him this: “This I offer you, in flesh and blood, that you shall find your place in the heavens if you find what I seek. I have searched the ends of the earth, yet I cannot find this medallion. Find it, and you shall enter the heavens.”

Arternion accepted the offer and searched everywhere. His path led him through forest and desert, snowy plains and ocean. He searched for a thousand years and he gave up. He stood still in a snowy forest, with trees covered in white dust that fell off in droves as soon as you touched one of them. The snow that fell somehow moved while locked to the ground, converging to a small spot in front of a pine tree.

And so he decided to dig. With his bare hands, he unearthed the ground beneath him and formed a mountain behind him. This mountain would come to be known as Mount Arros, the mountain from which the three Great Founders first looked over their nation of Anglunia.

He found the medallion, covered in dirt. As he wiped it away, a strange realization came over him. The still strong, muscular arms that reached out to the medallion were now thin and wrinkled. There was no stopping it. Before he could lift a finger, Arternion’s body had turned into dust. And Ilonnis laughed.

Daily rituals
Every day after waking up, followers of Arternaia dust off their beds to keep Entalar away. The origins of this tradition are unknown, but it is suspected it comes from the fear of sneezing. Sneezing is seen as extremely taboo in Anglunian culture and dusting off a bed would reduce the chances of sneezing.

Following this, people burn a candle at a shrine they have in their home. All followers of Arternaia have a small shrine to their patron god in their home. Worship of gods is extremely divided. For example, Myrtle’s patron god is Otsall and Isaz’ patron god is Omarnis. Cats and chickens are extremely important to Arternaians as well, as they ward off Entalar. Cats are said to be creations of Ilonnis and chickens are said to be creations of Klarien.

Holidays
Harvest Day is an important holiday in the Arternaia religion, as it is the day where all crops are harvested, supplying Anglunia with food. Practicioners pray to Klarien before celebrating the day with mead and bread.