Giriþan

The Giriþan religion is a unique form of the Dre'an faiths due to its lack of influence from outside sources. While most of the modern Dre'an religions were influenced by the Oleandrois ethos and world outlook (and Golynien is definitely influenced by a variety of pre-Orentesh religions), the Giriþan religion seems to trace itself back to Dre'a with a minimum of outside influence. This does not mean, however, that Giriþan is unchanged from its ancestral form, as it has seen some influence from the religion of Rusirr, and some practices associated with the Voðeren have found their way into the Giriþan faith, though usually in a negative light. One example is the practice of Seiðr, which the Voðeren see as a holy practice but the Giriþan see as evil witchcraft and akin to making pacts with devils and evil spirits. This rejection of so-called evil magic extends to fields such as necromancy and other fields often viewed with suspicion by the civilized world.

The Giriþan religion is notable for having a plethora of war gods, only some of which are shared with other Dre'an religions. It's believed that the Giriþan religion developed this way due to the continuing tribalism and primacy of war within Giriþiudan society, or vice versa. Such importance given to war gods has also influened the development of the Giriþan version of the Dre'an cosmology. In the Giriþan version, the usual heaven is replaced with a hall of war, in which those who fell in battle or in doing their duty are treated to an endless feast, only interrupted by riding out to confront the forces of evil. Meanwhile, those souls who enter purgatory must fight evil to achieve their place in the hall of war, while evil souls are enslaved by devils and evil spirits to fight the gods. These corrupted spirits may even take the form of demons and attack the living.

Besides the war gods, who form the main pantheon and most of the common idols, there is also a secondary pantheon of non-war focused deities. These gods and goddesses take a more passive role in people's lives, since they don't have large and prominant temples or highly dedicated priests. It's expected to pray to these gods when one needs their assistance with a specific manner, and not in the more structured worship of the War Gods, all of whom receive nationwide sacrifices and cermemonies on important dates and when entering wars. These gods are just as important to the common people, and often see major revivial in their worship during peaceful times, especially before the rise of the Voðeren but after the Giriþiudan tribes became centralized.

The Giriþan are notable because they practice a form of ancestor worship, especially related to Gauririþar and Teiws. It's up for debate whether these deities are considered mortals who ascended to the divine, or simply gods who the Giriþiudans descend from. Either way, this feeds into the Giriþiudan claim that the blood of the divine runs through their veins, which is why they believe themselves to be the superior people.

Giriþan War Gods:

• Wodar: chief god, so of course he is assumed to lead the gods into battle against evil
• Fairbadar: chief of the war gods, Wodör's lieutenant
• Varfeitar: god of courage, valor, gallantry, honor, favoring those who fight against hopeless odds
• Guþriks: god of authority and power, seen as the god of warrior-chieftains. A symbol of their authority during battle
• Aulwulthar: god of heroes and light, god of war to protect one's clan, and a symbol of defense and safety (brother of below)
• Ranethar: god of vengeance, revenge, vigilante justice, and slaying of monsters and evil (brother of above)
• Hegkere: god of glory, especially glory in battle, and ideal male form (a warrior)
• Gewennor: god of barbaric or 'primal' war, wrestling (or equivalent), nature (in a combat sense), and madness
• Krisguþ: goddess of women in wartime, including those who have to fight but also as a 'guardian of the home front'
• Risilguþ: goddess of spying, trickery, guile, and especially in its use during combat
• Leifsrungar: goddess of honorable death, protector of the dead and guardian of the hall of war
• Hestaud: goddess of non-honorable death, jailor of the dead and leader of those in purgatory
• Vohlþar: goddess of naval conflict, whirlpools, and sea monsters
• Anþrener: god of knowledge, magic, and tactics
• Gauririþar: god of the Giriþiudans, and a mythical "first Giriþiudan", seen as a leader of mortals and sign of Giriþiudan superiority
• Teiws: the sword of the gods, lord of weaponry and smithing, and the son of Gauririþar

Lesser Gods:

• Salamandon: sun god
• Manilorr: moon god
• Tempar: god of storms, thunder, and lightning
• Jotrahlent: god of virtuous innocence and boys
• Vestudron: god of judgement, law, and order
• Scharmundon: god of the oceans and rivers
• Vurdegut: goddess of wisdom
• Geþurdigun: goddess of treaties and diplomacy
• Darme: goddess of the ideal female form and girls
• Fraugketorn: goddess of clemency, mercy, and medicine
• Darnegen: goddess of giving, luck, and change
• Merus: goddess of oceanic travel, calm seas, and benevolent ocean creatures
• Rehsdbeng: goddess of the earth, nature (beautiful), farming, and tranquility
• Abjora: goddess of love and trust
• Nanusorn: goddess of motherhood and the household

Evil Spirits:

• Ablsundor: evil spirit of refusal, scorn, and mistrust
• Njulurt: evil spirit of trickery, thievery, and winter
• Frewalarþ: evil spirit of nature as an enemy to man
• Hel: evil spirit of magic and witches
• Kauvas: leader of the devils, chained by the gods