Sigmar

Sigmar, also known as the Lord of Light, the God of Flame, is the central god in Borinth, but has only a few followers in Amar, where he is more commonly known as the red god. His symbol is a down-facing hammer with a blazing sun behind. Sigmarites lead prayers to Sigmar at red temples.   The religion is based on a dualistic, manichean view of the world: Sigmar and the phanteon of classic gods, and Sigmar's antithesis Ivri, the god of ice and death and the Ruinous Powers. They are locked in an eternal struggle over the fate of the world; a struggle that, according the ancient prophecies from the holy books, will only end when the dragon knight, the messianic figure, returns wielding a flaming sword called Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and brings the dragons back from their long-lasting slumber.   His nemesis, Ivri, whose name may not be spoken, is known as the Lord of Darkness, the Soul of Ice, the God of Night and Terror.   The red priests of Sigmar associate fire with life. They see shadows as creations of the Lord of Light, who are the servants of light and the children of fire. According to some Sigmarites, the Lord of Light cherishes innocent and beautiful people and items, making them the most precious sacrifice.   The religion of the Lord of Light is found primarily in Brigon. Sigmar is worshipped throughout all of Borinth and red temples can be found everywhere. The Temple of the Lord of Light in Brigon is exceptionally large, said to be the greatest in all the world.  

Prayers

  Followers of Sigmar pray before sleep and Sigmarites before a nighfire, thanking Sigmar for ending the day, while beseeching him to bring the dawn and banish the darkness. The nightfires are lit at sunset, and the prayers continue for more than an hour afterwards. Fires are also lit each morning at first light, where the Sigmarites welcome the sun. Other priests might attend to their fires during the entire night. A common phrase of prayer is "the night is dark and full of terrors". An example of a prayer sequence is:   "Lead us from the darkness, O my Lord. Fill our hearts with fire, so we may walk your shining path. Sigmar, you are the light in our eyes, the fire in our hearts, the heat in our minds. Yours is the sun that warms our days, yours the stars that guard us in the dark of night.   Lord of Light, defend us. The night is dark and full of terrors. Lord of Light, protect us.     Sigmar who gave us breath, we thank you. Sigmar who gave us day, we thank you.     We thank you for the sun that warms us. We thank you for the stars that watch us. We thank you for our hearths and for our torches, that keep the savage dark at bay.     Sigmarites may also pray before combat:     Lord of Light, look down upon us.     Lord of Light, defend us.     Lord of Light, protect us in the darkness.     Lord of Light, shine your face upon us."   Before a trial by combat, a Sigmarite will traditionally recite a prayer:   "Light your flame among us, Sigmar. Show us the truth or falseness of this man. Strike him down if he is guilty, and give strength to his sword if he is true. Lord of Light, give us wisdom. For the night is dark and full of terrors."    

Marriage

  During a wedding ceremony, a Sigmarite recites ceremonial prayers, which are answered by the wedding guests. The priest and groom await the bride by a ditchfire. The bride is escorted to the priest, who first asks the bride to identify herself, and next asks who comes to claim the bride. Both bride and groom are asked whether they will share their fire with their spouse-to-be, to warm him/her.  

Visions and Magic

  Sigmarites are trained to see visions in the flames of their nightfires. These visions could be about the past, the future, or things happening far away from the location of the priest. Visions cannot always be seen in the flames, however, and even though they believe their visions are never wrong, it is not always easy to see the vision. It takes years of training to see the shapes beyond the flames, and even longer to learn to distinguish visions about the past from visions about a certain future and a possible future. Even after such long training, it remains difficult, and priests might still err in their interpretation; many priests have been brought down by such incorrect interpretations.   Sigmar is also said to give his priests the power to see through falsehoods, as "the Dark Lord's servants oft hide black hearts in gaudy light".