Legends of Belariath

Dark Elves Religion

Beliefs

The Moriel are all considered Kirva's Children and worship her as their goddess. Yet only the most fervent concentrate on her alone. Most worship her through one of the Thilari, who act as patron deities to cities and Houses. Some are quite powerful and are revered by many, while others draw their worship only from small local groups... especially the male Thilari, whom no female will worship.

Few deities intervene so directly in the life of their people as those of the Moriel. The Dark Elves are not mindless puppets and will for a great deal be allowed to follow their own courses, but should one rebel against the deities, cruel punishment will soon find them... unless they choose exile, in which cases even Kirva has been known to pass up revenge, for reasons that none can be certain of.

But often certain Moriel will be used as pawns in the greater plans of the deities. These dark plots are intricate and beyond even elven comprehension. The Thilari are treacherous, toward each other and even their mother Kirva, but never letting their rivalry become destructive. Ultimately, their common goal is to eventually find a way to crush all surfacer races under their might, and elevate themselves and the Moriel as absolute rulers Above and Below. How far or near they are to fulfill that plan, no one knows...

Politically, priests and clerics of a certain Thilar obviously have higher authority in places where that Thilar is worshipped with particular fervor. The followers of Kirva are the most powerful of the clergy, and their authority touches every Dark Elven city. Likewise, the highest Moriel military commanders are often Dark Paladins.

Dark Elf Rituals

Birth: Birth is not celebrated in Dark Elf society, unless it is a daughter to a Matron. Male births are even less noticeable, usually no attention past birth is given. Birthrates in Dark Elf society are rather high for elves, as they need to replace the losses they suffer due to the amount of deaths resulting by infighting. Newborns that display birth defects are usually killed in ritualistic sacrifice.

Worship rituals: Occasionally Matrons or even other Priestesses of Kirva will don their ritualistic armor, which clads them from top to bottom in cloth lined with chain and velvet. During these rituals it is not uncommon to see representative spiders of Kirva, called mirlochar. The robes are heavy because a bite by a mirlochar or soul spider means certain death.

Marriage and engagements: These two things are unheard of in traditional Kirva-abiding Dark Elf society. If a female wishes a male, she will simply have him brought to her chambers for her pleasure. If the male pleases her, and she is a matron mother, the male will be granted the status of patron until he displeases her and is sacrificed

Known Rituals of Kirva:

Cleansing of Soul:

Moriels are really all about causing chaos to have a form of control and an established power over weaker dominions. Yet when this foundation is tested within a Moriel and they are found to be swaying towards a weaker way.. of smiling, petting, giving away to an unknown without any real need of gaining something in return, Kirva would look upon them as to be pitied but to be brought back around. At this time, the Moriel might run into a bit of hardship, or bad luck. Perhaps a favored slave had run off, or their horse had mysteriously been killed. Kirva is not a gentle task Mistress.. she believes in tormenting those that live will bring them back to her particular road of darkness. Once a Moriel had slipped off the path and now recognizes that their Goddess is kicking them back upon her path, they will need to quickly find something that is most precious to them. Be this, alive..(though I do not recommend this for PC's period.. perhaps for a pet they bought or were given or trapped but nothing graphic. If it is destroyed, its dead, permanently) a bit of jewelry, a favored hat, or a magical Item.

Alone, they will travel within a place of acute silence, be it very early morning within a forest or an unused cave or perhaps even the side of a mountain. They will bring with them a bottle of wine, a pouch with their treasured item within, tea leaves, and a water flask or cup that is empty. Upon finding their spot, they are to find anything they can to build a small fire. And before lighting it, they must put their precious item within what will burn. A circle must be made. A stick they found on their way, either ripped from an Ash tree, or found as some believe that the very smoothness of this tree and defiling it is something Kirva would smile upon. With this stick they make their circle upon the earth. All clothing is removed, the wines poured to the ground and then left open by the fire and Kirva offered the first drink. The one performing the ritual goes first, followed by the second. Then you must light your fire. If the Item you brought is destroyed.. Kirva has NOT accepted you back into her fold, nor will she accept your apology. If it has NOT been destroyed then the Moriel can consider themselves forgiven and must quickly keep to the track the Goddess has always laid out to them.

To determine if the Item is destroyed or not, with Dice, roll a !r 1d10 5 and above, the Item is destroyed. Anything Below five, the Item survived. So be very careful how you chose the item.

Honoring the Night:

This ritual is made at least twice a Year. One, usually within a group, the other alone, because night is a time where the Dark elf may flourish and sweep away their enemies, because the Moriel needs no light to guide them in their path. And because the night affords them cover and the warm embrace of the Goddess herself, twice within a year’s span will a Moriel bow to their Goddess. This ritual is really overtly simplistic and yet the darker measures that lay about the Moriel like a cloud of whispers hold true to them until the next ritual is done. This gives no benefit other than making them feel empowered; yet who would not have an ego boost from a night of true debauchery. A night where slaves are traded and shared, where the fruits of their labor is brought and shared with those that come, and half is as always favored and given to Kirva herself. Yet some claim to gain memories, or the touch of Kirva is what gave them these memories of when their time, as a race began, or perhaps when they had been given life, or when they will die.

To determine this outcome, in dice, roll a !r 1d4 1-2 a subtle fuzzy memory that if picked through might depict the life they could have, or the life that will be snuffed out. 3-4 a memory a solid flashback of when the first elf wandered from its brethren into the caves themselves and first heard and felt the touch of Kirva and the sanctuary presented.

Blood Swan Moon

The name itself is laughable, given from Kirvas sweetly cruel lips to the ears of her most trusted High Priestess. The thought had grown and grown within the dark Goddess that her children so gifted, so cared for in her own twisted way, seem to have grown fat and lazy. Their collection of slaves, the assurance of few enemies and great numbers to deal with them below. The abundance of odd funguses that helped cure the sick and made grand scents when boiled and then left to burn in the middle of the large caverns. The many wards to keep out what was light.

They weren't displaying what they should, they had grown less and less reliable on her gifts as newer slaves from above were brought downward and shared their knowledge’s. Angry, wanting to see her children laugh and play in the anguish of others, she called to her Zo'lel, a rather fiercely loyal Priestess and let her words touch to the sharp tipped ear of the black colored woman. "My essence shall be blown to you, my Priestess, and you shall spread my disease, my care, my anger and retribution. You shall share it with others of your like mind; let them spread it through all my caverns. To all those that remember where they came from, it was I that gave them first life. And it is I that will dictate to them when their violence must be at their peak. Go now... "

"

She'd leaned forward, placed cold hands to the cheeks of her Priestess and breathed into her the very cruelty of the Mother from her black heart and evil essence. Then she sent her off with a snap of a fist... and sat back to watch.

The cruel twist of the Blood Swan Moon was that it sounded more a freak of humor. The races of above took it as a joke when rumors began to spread. How could one shake and quiver at the name... Swan.. when the Swan was the true beauty and innocence of the calm lakes? They laughed, flicked it off. Felt as Kirva did. These Moriel knew nothing anymore of true wars. They only sprinkled their hatred upon their lands. Not poured it. They were soon to find out the joke was on them. For the Goddess of the Dark, had known they'd but laugh.

Once a year, the High Priestess or Priests to Kirva, gather into Her temple, fall to their knees and drink what is called 'Kas'eli' A mixture of Bloodwine and moon flowers crushed. The hallucinogen hits the bloodstream quickly, leaving the High Priests and Priests alike into an uncaring zone of full worship. They cry out for Kirva to give them the strength and the fierceness she so craves to see in her followers. They ask for her judgment to be passed upon land dwelling rivals. They sway and writhe until the sun shone upon the upper reaches of the land they live on, and fall into an un-wakable state of dark dreaming. The blood moon rises, and so to, does Kirvas blessing to all her Moriel. A touch of insanity; a thorough need for violence, chaos, they thirst for it and the Priests weave the magic outwards from their very inner dark souls, releasing it into the night sky to be tasted by those within a 30 mile radius. All Moriel.

The Moriel breath in the very essence of their Mother; they writhe and near choke upon the need and then set out with sword to magic’s at the ready to do as bid.

The first night is utter violence and chaos unhinged. The second day is tamer, the Moriel seems almost normal until the skies darken and the richness of their ruby hues shines with their need again. It only lasts until past the Witching hour and then they must eat.. they must rest. The third day finds the Moriel twitchy... easily set off. Going at friends and lover alike with no real reason until their lust for that violence is curbed.

Once the essence is drained from their system, the Moriel WILL sleep a full day. They must replenish what was lost. And they must relinquish what was given... but they will rise again. Renewed in their faith and of what they truly are. Moriel. A gifting from the Dark Mother Kirva.

OOC note. For the Priests of Kirva. You should begin your Ritual In June on (The 5th) Prepare yourselves. You may bring nothing with you. No weapons. Nothing to drink or eat. This will literally put you down until night falls. Once woken, and you will wake sharply. You will quickly leave the temple and move through the Inn, Town, Unigo and forest to spread the 'essence' of Kirva to the others. It ONLY lasts three days. No more, no Less. And it will begin on Tuesday night (the 6th)

Any Moriel may participate or ignore at their choosing. In no way is this automatic ooc consent for anyone’s death. In no way is this ooc consent for raping. These rules still apply. However, if you deliberately go out of your way to incite the Moriel further, you are giving willing consent for whatever follows. Implied consent rules apply. So mind yourself.

Above all have fun with this. This will be a Yearly Ritual. Goddess help you all

Pantheon

As noted, there are many more Thilari, of greatly varying fame and power recognized through out the different house of the Dark Elf race. Contained within the annals of Dark Elf history there are a relative few that are mentioned with consistency in both name and nature. The following are those deities that are acknowledged in the entire Nethergloom.

Kirva

The Spider Goddess, Dark Mother of the Moriel. She is the final authority to all things, the one all Dark Elves owe their lives and servitude to, and who will in time bring them to the greatness they deserve. She is extremely harsh and cruel, feared as much as loved. Her symbol is a spider upon a web.

Keltor

The god of male power. He is revered by all males, even those who follow other Thilari as well. He stands for what power lies in the male body and mind and can be put to the service of the Moriel cause. He is one of the more accepted male Thilari. His symbol is a black staff in front of a triangle.

Shevar

The goddess of darkness, secrecy, and magic. She is revered by the practitioners of arcane secrets, but also by those who value stealth and cunning. Her symbol is a black, expression-less mask.

Sireya

The goddess of death and revenge. While Kirva and some of the more powerful Thilari all have some power over the spirits of dead Moriel, Sireya guards the Dark Elven gate between life and death. Many assassins are devoted to her. Her symbol is a portal with bones as bars.

Tilresh

The goddess of pleasure, mistress of all from the most civilized to the most debased enjoyments. Her most devout followers are often those who take their pleasure from others, without caring about the latter’s condition. Her symbol is a feather within a circling chain.

Vithia

The goddess of physical strength and battle-skills. Revered by many knights and warriors, as well as those who like to solve their problems through brute force. Her symbol is a fist within a flame-circle.