Draiden 319 Share Posted December 8, 2017 The Tome of Paragons Commonized from Old Norlandic for Layfolk Preface The Paragons of the All Father are those select figures of the All Father’s children who embody singular virtue and service far beyond the norm. These figures are those who have performed the highest level of service. A paragon is raised from the ranks of the ancestral spirits that have joined the ranks of the All Father. This ascension is then conferred unto the ranks of the clergy in the form of a series of vividly realistic visions concerning the feats and deeds of the risen ancestor. Each paragon serves as an aspect of a specific virtue prized by the Father in the pursuit of his great mission. The following compendium details the pantheon of Paragons acknowledged by the Holy Hearth. Paragons are not necessarily virtuous in nature, however. Every Paragon has been raised to the Father’s service due to extreme virtue or through undeniably grand feats of skill, will, strategy or power. These virtues and feats can be either positive or negative in nature. The All-Father recognizes both, as peace and chaos are both sides of the same coin, for good cannot be known without seeing evil, and evil does not exist without a greater good. Both contribute to the harmony of Norlandic society, and the world as a whole. Addendum Foreword In accordance with the precedence set forth in this document, the Hearth Council, upon moot, has mediated and confirmed a shifting in the status of the Paragons. The promulgation of this addendum is effective immediate from the day this addendum is released. For the purposes of Paragons being supplanted, all faithful who have already chosen them as their paragons may still worship them and will still receive the boons of offering to them as long as an offering of recognition is offered to the paragon that supplants them. This grace period has been determined to be five years from the day this promulgation takes effect via arbitration of the Hearthsmoot. After such grace period has ended, the supplanted material of this codex will be stricken from the record indefinitely as to not cause confusion. As it stands, the following addendums are to be promulgated effective immediately following the release of the addendum: -The All-Father added as a person of worship with attached article of explanation -Ancestors added as persons of reverence with attached article of explanation -Elle Noctuid added to supplant Astrid the Maiden -Donovan Ruric added from the Nordengradic Codex -Arthas Ruric added -Tyr Faretto added to supplant Jeorg the Storm Rider -Uther Grimlee added from the Nordengradic Codex to supplant Hjarn the Ox -All supplanted paragons added to an Afterword article -Gunthrum the Hammer Hand stricken from the Paragon Codex -All preferred prayers being stricken from the record to be added to Book IV: Tome of Prayers -Minor changes to preferred offerings and Orthodox interpretations The addendum detailing is sourced from Norlandic legend, the writs of High Keepers Arthas, Tyr, and Solvi, and over 200 years of Norlandic history between the inception of this Paragon Codex and the present. It is also worth noting that the addendum is in respect of, but not subject to, the Nordengradic “True” Paragon Codex. This addendum is written with express permission of High Keeper Alisa Camian with concurrence from the Hearth Council. On Worship, Prayer and Communion with the Paragons Worship within the embrace of the Father is a very involved affair. As the All Father is occupied with the grand purpose the appeals of individuals cannot garner his attention on their own. In lieu of direct prayer or appeals, children of the All Father have a variety of options before them when wishing to appeal to the higher powers of the faith. It is worth noting that it is best to appeal to different paragons for different tasks. The wordsmith will provide very little assistance in a conflict while the lover will provide no assistance in war. Therefore when making an appeal you must consider the relevance of each paragon to the issue at hand. The first option involves communal worship, wherein a community of the Father’s adherents gather together within a temple and attempt a communal appeal to the All Father. This option is typically used during times of dire need as direct appeals to the All Father are resource intensive. In attempting this the local Keeper will lead the community through a series of prayers and ritual sacrifices in a hope that the All Father will hear the appeal and act accordingly. The rituals and prayers involved differ for each paragon therefore it is best to refer to your local keeper or priest in determining the appropriate paragon, prayers and rituals for a specific appeal. The second option is that of mundane prayer. Before delving too deeply into the theological intricacies of this method it is important to distinguish and define the two different forms of ‘prayer’ available to the All Father’s children. To the Holy Hearth a prayer is considered to be a conscious appeal to the All Father or a relevant paragon concerning a complicated issue. This endeavour is oft conducted in a quiet, sacred environment. However for those with a more pressing need the option of an invocation exists. While not as influential as the prayer the invocation can be used in any location, at any time, to any paragon. It is a direct attempt to garner immediate support in the form of courage or strength. As such invocations are held as the favoured method of appeal by the warriors of the faith. While direct individual prayer to the All Father has almost no chance of succeeding, appeal to a paragon is significantly more likely to succeed. An appeal to a paragon can be performed anywhere to any paragon, however there are a number of variables and influences that one must be aware of when attempting to ascertain whether or not to perform a prayer. When an individual is inducted into the ranks of the All Father’s children they are tasked with choosing a patron paragon. As a result direct appeal or invocation of one’s patron is significantly more likely to succeed than an appeal to a different paragon. This is due to the unique bond formed between a patron and an adherent during the cleansing ceremony. It is also worth assessing the environment wherein the prayer or invocation is conducted. The ideal place to conduct either is at the personal shrine of the relevant paragon. Following this any sacred flame is preferable to nothing. However in this regard the Hearth Fires of a Hearth Temple are superior to the Flamebrands of ranking priests. The final variable worth considering when performing a prayer or invocation is the difficulty of the request. In the case of difficult requests it is often prudent to sacrifice an article of value that is proportional to the appeal. Due to the wide variety of paragons the specific rituals, shrines, prayers and offerings will be covered on an individual basis below. On Ancestral Prayer and Communion with the All-Father. It is worth noting over time that there has been and continues to be prayer made directly to the All-Father. There has also been prayer and reverence directed at the faithful’s deceased family members, despite them not achieving the status of Paragon. For this reason, we’ve added them both to the Codex despite the All-Father being a divine being and not an exceptional mortal soul and our ancestors not necessarily being worthy of being Paragons. Offerings made to the All-father are considered universal offerings, being perfectly acceptable offerings to make out to any Paragon. It should be noted, however, that offerings to the Paragons ought to be tailored to the Paragon to whom they are offered. The All-Father God of Order and Chaos Virtue: Duality Emblem: A flame in the dark Summary: The Father is the Flaming Lord to whom the Norlandic people owe their lives; It was he who answered Thoromir’s pleas for salvation and it is from him that we receive the flames of the Hearth. He is the light that guides us through the darkness, our shield against the abyss, and the warmth that consoles us when we are weary. He is the embodiment of good, his light standing in eternal contrast to the dark of the abyss. The Father is a being of justice and flame; Of order and chaos. It is from him that we must learn the delicate balance between the two. Without this balance, there is only destruction. A fire left to burn wildly will consume all in its path, but a world devoid of the chaos of flames would be frigid and lifeless. Preferred Offerings: Alcohol, Blood, Animal Pelts, Items of great personal value, Wooden artifacts for the flame. Ancestors Shepherds of their children Virtue: N/A Emblem: Family crests Summary: Although Paragons hold particular pull and dominion over their respective spheres of influence, your ancestors hold sway over your family’s name, clan and livelihoods, albeit to a lesser extent than a Paragon. As our ancestors are the ones to whom we owe the things we have today, they are worthy of our respect. Additionally, our ancestors also serve the ever-important role of aiding the Father in the defense of our mortal world from the Long Dark. While ancestors are not meant to be worshipped the same as a Paragon, they are to be, at the least, remembered for their deeds. Preferred Offerings: Offerings made to the ancestral spirits are made very personally-tailored to the ancestor in worship. To attempt to describe what each deceased person in Norland would prefer as an offering would fill volumes upon volumes larger than any library in the world. Thoromir “The Herald” Virtue: Loyalty Emblem: Ashwood Tree over shield Summary: He was the first Ruric chieftain of the Norlandic people and had received the Father’s Holy fame while freezing to depth in the midst of a deadly blizzard. Due to this gift of fire and flame and he as the chosen to wield it against the long dark. His blood became known as the Heralds blood. Throughout his life he continued to receive revelations from the All Father until he passed of old age on a mountain’s peak. He was also renowned for his construction of walls and obsession with defending his people. First of the Ruric lineage. Orthodox Interpretation The Holy Hearth holds Thoromir as the highest of the pantheon of Paragons. Husband to Æthelflæd of the Hearth, Thoromir serves as the right hand of the All Father. Thoromir’s virtue of protection represents his bearing of the first flame as well as his fondness for shields and walls. He serves to protect the children of the All Father from insidious forces using his flame to protect them from the cold chill of a dark night while his shield is used to protect them from insidious creatures of a more tangible nature. Thoromir’s parable delves into the origin of the Red Faith wherein the All Father granted him the First Flame. This parable represents the first enlightenment experienced by man, as the All Father relieved Thoromir’s blindness and brought him into his embrace. It is at this point that humanity was conferred a portion of the All Father’s sacred presence in the form of the Hearthfire, serving as evidence of the contract between the Father and his children. Preferred Offerings: Metals, tools, well-masoned stonework Elle “The Justiciar” Noctuid Anticipated by Astrid “The Maiden” Virtue: Justice, Revenge Emblem: Flaming Torch Summary: Elle Noctuid was a woman known for exacting the Father’s Justice with unprecedented efficiency and dedication. The most well-known of her exploits was her consistent vengeance against Javier and Jevan Ruric for abandoning the Father and the Faith, burning their clanhall to the ground on several occasions. She was also known for her rabid defense of the High Hearth Monastery from outside interference, often scaring away women of ill repute from corrupting the monks that lived there. Preferred Offerings: Tobacco Edvard “The Terrible” Ruric Virtue: Hubris Emblem: Upright sword over Ashwood Tree Summary: Edvard was a bloodthirsty ruthless King who founded the Red Brothers in honour of the All Father. He pursued his goals with a pious fury repeatedly struggling against foreign powers in an attempt to secure safety and independence for the Children of the All Father. After seeing his people defeated during a great battle he fled to the mountains of Avar, freezing to death in the depths of a blizzard. Orthodox Interpretation The Holy Hearth holds the parable of Edvard as a warning regarding the excesses and dangers of wrath. While the folk of Norland are a folk more prone to violence than a good portion of their Vynlandic kin, Edvard’s parable serves to demonstrate the folly of such action. In his extreme aggression Edvard cast his people into conflicts and wars they had no business involving themselves in. Edvard is very rarely taken as a patron by any, he is viewed as the patron of hopeless causes and forlorn hopes. Preferred Offerings: Broken weapons Eirik “The Great” Ruric Virtue: Diplomacy Emblem: Crown over Ashwood Tree Summary: Though his legacy is controversial, Eirik’s deeds of significance are remembered by all. Succeeding his brother, Edvard I, Eirik inherited the tumultuous political landscape that his brother had left behind. In this position, he was left to navigate the troubled political waters by whatever means he could. Through his acts of diplomacy, he managed to right the ship, though it was under his reign that Norland first fell under an emperor’s dominion. Because of this, his legacy is remembered in a number of very different, conflicting tales, each rendition changing from telling to telling. Preferred Offerings: Heraldry, swords, wax Donovan “The Bastion” Ruric Virtue: Defense, Governance Emblem: Shield and Crown Summary: Donovan Ruric is considered by many to be the best military strategist and defender of the Norlandic people, successfully thwarting two Dwarven assaults on the Krag while being overwhelmingly undermanned, underequipped, and outnumbered. Under Donovan’s leadership, Krag remained untaken and the people flourished. For this, he is remembered as the greatest King of his time. Preferred Offerings: Objects of Defence, Anti-dwarf curios, Ales, Horseshoes Snow “The Flame Singer” Virtue: Mysticism, the Unknown Emblem: Four-pointed Star Summary: A youth blessed by the All Father. Snow communed with the All Father through his Holy Flame with beautiful song. He used this to great combative effect and to amaze the crowds. Snow was the first to delve into the mysteries of the All Father’s holy flame. Legend holds that he fell into the hearth fire as a mere toddler and was not burned, however this is believed to be a simple legend and naught else. Orthodox Interpretation The Holy Hearth holds that Snow’s mystical abilities were merely gifts from the All Father. He is used as an example of what one with extreme faith can accomplish with the assistance of the All Father. Preferred Offerings: Spiced wine, glassware, coal Arthas “The Patriarch” Ruric Virtue: Piety Emblem: Burning Book Summary: High Keeper Arthas was perhaps the most renowned leader of the Red Faith. He is credited with documentation of many previously unwritten practices of the Faith. He was the leader of faith during the reigns of Javier and Jevan, and was credited with guiding the faith through the tumultuous schism of the time. Preferred Offerings: Blank scrolls, Written scrolls, Pen and Paper. Myro “The Wordsmith” Virtue: Lore, Writing Emblem: Quill Summary: Myro was known for his way with the art of writing, he is one of the Founders of Norland, and one of the only people that prefer the pen over the sword to be well respected among the people. It wasn’t until after Eirik’s Reign that he became a Paragon. It is said it was he who first translated the holy scripture from old Norlandic to common. Preferred Offerings: Quills, Parchment Vykk “The Builder” Virture: Labour, Craftsmanship Emblem: Hammer Summary: Vykk is the only member of the ranks of the Paragons to still walk among us. An extremely dedicated soul that spent countless hours ensuring the children of the All Father were properly sheltered despite the harshness of their early years. He was the architect of the first Hearth Temple during his time in the settlement of Fynor. Throughout Norlandic history, he has reappeared at pivotal moments to offer advice and assistance. Orthodox Interpretation The Holy Hearth holds Vykk in high esteem. He stands as a representation of hard labour and dedication to his adherents. Vykk is often chosen as a paragon by labourers. Furthermore he was instrumental in supporting Thoromir upon his early assumption of the First Flame. He is one of the first Paragons. Preferred Offerings: “Just buy me a drink when I’m in town” -Vykk Volaren Bjorn “The Berserker” Rayeckson Virtue: War Emblem: Axe Summary: Beorn was an imposing figure with an incredibly violent disposition from a young age. As a child, he was constantly embroiled in conflicts. Once he came of age he entered the ranks of the Red Brothers. From there he quickly ascended the ranks, becoming the Red Brothers’ first Champion and leading them in many conflicts. He repeatedly found victory in both war and single combat. However he was not to find a glorious end on the field. After returning from a campaign he was slain by his jilted lover whilst he slept. Orthodox Interpretation Bjorn the Berserker is a patron that is beseeched very often from the Faithful during times of conflict, regardless of whether or not he is the member’s patron. The virtue we take from Bjorn is that war is hell, and that in order to see victory against vicious and monstrous foes, we must search inside ourselves and become more of a nightmare to them than they are to us. Faithful who take Bjorn as a patron dedicate themselves to becoming experts at violence and all of its implementations, and are typically warriors of Norland. Preferred Offerings: Whiskeys/Bourbons, weapons, armor Uther “The Old” Grimlee Virtue: Harvest, Farming Emblem: Scythe Summary: A veteran of the Krag, who during the times of strife, fed the nation with his bountiful harvests and dedicated reaping of crops. Without him and his skill with the plow the Krag might very well have starved during its sieges. His harvests were regarded as the biggest and most bountiful in the land where nay a halfling could even compare. He provided all of Norland with his magnificent meatloaf and haggis for the troops during the times of war. Preferred Offerings: Crops, Farming tools, Mead Athelflaed av Hurth “The Weaver” Virtue: Family, Child Rearing Emblem: Child’s Doll Summary: Aethelflaed was the wife of Thoromir. In her mortal life, she was renowned as a motherly figure, not only to her own children, but to all children of the Father. She is given the title “The Weaver” for her talent for storytelling, known as she was for entertaining and educating the children of Norland with her stories of days past. Orthodox Interpretation Like the tapestries of time, our stories, scripture and oral tradition weaves our history for all to see. Those who take the Weaver as their patron typically dedicate themselves to the art of storytelling, often writing about history, politics, poetry and fairy tales, preserving the culture and spirit of Norland. Preferred Offerings: Knit goods, homecooked meals, toys Sven “The Bard” Ruric Virtue: Music, Poetry, Festivity Emblem: Lyre Summary: The second son of Eirik “The Great” Ruric, Sven is renowned for being a great bard, creating numerous works of art of all varieties, including the written word, poetic verse, or depictions. He also rallied the Norlandic levy to defeat the treacherous Beo “The Betrayer” who had attempted to seize the Norlandic homeland on Avar. Preferred Offerings: Instruments, poems or songs, cups. Aelfwynn av Vuttelund “The Fleet” Virtue: Hunting, Nature Emblem: Drawn Bow Summary: Legend tells of a huntress outmatched in speed and skill with a bow. Going by the name of Aelfwynn she rode through the forests on the back of a bear she had raised from a cub. She considered herself to be the protector of the forest, and defended it vehemently against unsuspecting bands of vagabonds hoping to hunt animals for fun and sport rather than for food and production as it should be. One day, a bandit king entered the forest, hoping to claim her as his own. He set fire to the forest in hopes to smoke her out into the open, where he would take her as his wife. They soon found that she was a hunter of more than just game. One by one, these bandits fell to arrows, deadly booby traps, and her dagger in their throats. Before the bandits even knew they were under attack, she had thinned them out from two score men to less than half a dozen. She was never seen, but the screams of the bandits that were left were heard for miles around as she gutted them like the pigs they were. Orthodox Interpretation The main virtue one can take away from the story of Aelfwynn is that willpower alone will not see you through to your goals, and that prosperity and victory can only be achieved through constant training and preparation. Those who take Aelfwynn as a patron dedicate themselves to constant rigorous training in all their endeavors, striving for perfection in performance. Preferred Offerings: Bows, flowers Tyr “The Raven” Faretto Anticipated by Jeorg “The Storm Rider” Virtue: Passion, Freedom Emblem: Bird in Flight Summary: Tyr is credited for assuming the mantle of High Keeper after the assassination of Aeyn Ruric I. He launched expeditions into infested lairs to fight undead and black mages, and safeguarded the Faith’s principles through the tumultuous dissolution of Norland and the founding of Pinemarch. He’s known for being a passionate man with a love for women, wine and song. After his long pilgrimage he reappeared to find his wife Solvi had taken up his mantle as the High Keeper. The family reunion was not long to last,however, as he met his end soon after. Preferred Offerings: Artisan tools, Ashwood alcohols, and daggers Afterword: Paragons of Old Though they may no longer be beseeched, let the Norlandic peoples never forget who they were. -Astrid the Maiden -Jeorg the Storm Rider -Hjarn the Ox -Gunthrum the Hammer Hand -Beowulf the Betrayer Writ av First Keeper Arthas Keeper Tyr Faretto Addendum av Keeper Jager Faretto 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzYmandi 647 Share Posted December 8, 2017 "The pretty part of Norland." Ginger muses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
_pr0fit 2944 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Sven sad from the all-fathers embrace cause his name was not on the pretty paragon paper... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draiden 319 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 (edited) I’m Draiden_Kaid, and I don’t know how to delete posts. Edited June 17, 2019 by Draiden Voided Actions 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draiden 319 Author Share Posted August 6, 2020 Addemdum added 18th of Snow’s Maiden, 1780 in accordance with the Hearth Council convened in the Sun’s Smile of 1777. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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