Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 13 Feb 2004 to 14 Feb 2004 (#2004-41)
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Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion

There are 2 messages totalling 213 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

 1. Ancient religions of Mystara (2)

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Date:    Sat, 14 Feb 2004 16:04:35 +0000
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Ancient religions of Mystara

Hi all,

I've been playing for some time with some ideas on the evolution of
religions in Mystara. Here are some thought and some open problems.


History of the Religions and Cults of Mystara

For this discussion, I'm using the terms defined in Giulio's
Ethnographic History of Mystara.


Prehistory (before 5000 BC)

At this point, there were three main human groups, the Tangor, Neathar
and Oltec Men. IMO, they had three different pantheons, along these lines:

Tangor Man:  Korotiku
Oltec Man:   Ka, Ixion
Neathar Man: Verthandi, Odin, Valerias

The first two are simply derived from canon sources. My interpretation
of the original Neathar pantheon requires a longer explanation, which I
will provide in a future post.

Then, there were the Elves, protected by Ordana, who also was patron to
other woodland creatures, together with Faunus.
Kagyar was emerging as the Brute-Man Immortal, while Ka and The Great
One where the patrons of reptilian races.
Terra was a general patron of other races, including perhaps the Giants
and Dwarves (the most linked to earth).

There were also some entropics, Thanatos, Hel, Nyx, and Demogorgon.

An early offshot of the ``Neathar Man'' (Brunians) was the Lhomar
people. Here is my first question: what was the evolution of
Lhomar/Lhomarrian religion?


Rise of Blackmoor (5000 BC to 3000 BC)

This is an important point in history. In these two millennia, many key
Immortals are born.

First, a split in the Neathar group creates the Ahonians that evolve
into the Thonian people. Little is known of their religion. From the
Blackmoor module, we know of an organized church in Thonia, but we don't
know any Immortal patron. Ahonian-Thonian religion remains an open problem.

During the Blackmoor Age, two Thonians/Blackmoorians reached
Immortality: Asterius and Khoronus. I think both of them had small cults
in Blackmoor, which survived in later Blackmoorian remnants, such as
Taymora. Rafiel is the last Blackmoorian to reach Immortality.

The second group of Neathar, Aharians, evolves in part in the
Skandaharians. These still follow the proto-Norse pantheon, Odin and
Verthandi. They may still know Valerias as Frigga.
Other Neathar are still primitive, and their pantheon does not evolve
much. However, a member of this people, Djaea attains Immortality.

The Oltec Men splits in may groups. We know the Afridhi worshipped an
obscure god, never mentioned after the GRoF. Perhaps this Immortal was a
native Afridhi, and died when the last Afridhi were destroyed in the GRoF.

I know little of the Valoin. The History of Littonia does not discuss
the Valefolk pantheon, nor the current Littonian pantheon. Ideas?

The Peshwah pantheon is not known, but if we consider the Ethengar as
descendants of the Peshwah, then Ixion is certainly the central figure
in Peshwah religion. The Peshawah/proto-Ethengar Cretia reaches
immortality during the Blackmoor age.

The main Oltec group still worships Ixion and Ka. Rathanos is an Oltec,
and reaches Immortality at this point.

The Beastmen appear during the Blackmoor age. They are created by Hel
(who is certainly known to the Neathar and Blackmoorian people). I
suppose Terra took an interest in them. (BTW, what Immortals do the HW
Beastmen worship, if any?)

In Old Alphatia, Razud becomes Immortal.


The Third Stone Age and Bronze Age

During this age, the new Immortals lead their followers in many
migrations and create new civilization. Also, new Immortals are created.

At this time, the Neathar tribes occupy most of eastern Brun.
Antalian, Dunharian and Maharian groups are quite different by this
time. The first follow the rising Norse Pantheon (Thor, Frey and Freyja
attain Immortality during this age, and replace Valerias and Verthandi,
who disappeared at some point).
Dunharians are followers of Djaea and Odin, thought the cult of the
other Norse will reach them (mostly through Antalian invasions and
migrations).

Oltecs spread through Skothar, and Jennites (followers of Rathanos) and
Teslans are established (what Immortals do the Teslans worship,
Giulio?). Tarastia achieves immortality.
Western Oltecs (proto-Atruaghin, Savage Coast Oltecs) still worship Ka
and Ixion, while Proto-Ethengar worship Ixion and Cretia.

Other followers of Rathanos do not cross the sea, but merge with Neathar
tribes. They are the Nithians.

The Goblinoids create Urzud. They are followers of Terra, and from the
local Oltec-derived people (related to Ethengar and Huleans) take the
cult of Ixion. Kaarash may be born in this age.

Thonian remnants in Taymora follow Asterius and Khoronus, but especially
Nyx. They also include Ordana and Wayland in their pantheon, from the
Giantish and Elven pantheon. Thanatos corrupts the Taymorans, causing
their destruction.

Elves, meanwhile, have moved from Evergrun to Brun, following Ilsundal,
who becomes Immortal at this time. Also, Rafiel and Atzanteotl begin
creating a following among the Shadow Elves.


Nithian Age

By this time, the Nithian pantheon includes Rathanos, Ka and Ixion from
their Oltec background, and Odin from the Neathar. Also Protius takes
some interest in them. Pflarr, Noumena and perhaps Maat emerge as new
Immortals.

Due to the Goblinoid invasion, the Ethengar pantheon is modified, and
Terra joins Ixion and Cretia. The goblinoids leaders Wogar, Yagrai and
Bagni reach Immortality, and begin displacing Terra and Ixion.

Jennites worship Rathanos and Tarastia.

Maharian tribes (Urduk) and Oltecs have merged into the Sindhi nation,
with a large pantheon including all Neathar and Oltec Immortals.

Trantalians and Thantalians, under Nithian influence, develop their
pantheon to include Ixion and Protius as well as Odin, Valerias and Thor.
Due to the Gnoll invasions in the Traldar lands, Halav, Petra and
Zirchev reach Immortality and the Traldar pantheon is formed.

Atruaghin joins Takhati Stormtamer as patron of the Atruaghin Clans.

Eyrindul reaches Immortality and wrestle control of some elven clans
from Ilsundal. By now, Ordana is worshipped only by few elves.


Well, that's all for now. Comments are welcome, as always...
-- 
 di nuovo come un tempo sopra l'Italia intera
       urla il vento e soffia la bufera

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Date:    Sat, 14 Feb 2004 13:09:11 -0800
From:    "Ohad Shaham (Morphail)" <morphail_o@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Ancient religions of Mystara

> History of the Religions and Cults of Mystara
>
> Then, there were the Elves, protected by Ordana, who
> also was patron to
> other woodland creatures, together with Faunus.
> Kagyar was emerging as the Brute-Man Immortal, while
> Ka and The Great
> One where the patrons of reptilian races.
> Terra was a general patron of other races, including
> perhaps the Giants
> and Dwarves (the most linked to earth).
> The Beastmen appear during the Blackmoor age. They
> are created by Hel
> (who is certainly known to the Neathar and
> Blackmoorian people). I
> suppose Terra took an interest in them. (BTW, what
> Immortals do the HW
> Beastmen worship, if any?)
and-
>> Due to the Goblinoid invasion, the Ethengar
pantheon
> is modified, and
> Terra joins Ixion and Cretia. The goblinoids leaders
> Wogar, Yagrai and
> Bagni reach Immortality, and begin displacing Terra
> and Ixion.


Why shouldn't the beastman worship their creator Hel?
Ixion doesn't strike me like someone who whould
support re-incarnations of evil men.
It is said somewhere that Hel left the beastmen for
their own but it could be that they continued to
worship her untill some more devoted immortal came
along (Wogar and co). Or they could have worshipped
demonic creatures (demagorgon maybe).

Morphail

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End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 13 Feb 2004 to 14 Feb 2004 (#2004-41)
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