Wayfarers' Shrines

[Dyl 2088]

Wayfaring Shrines

 

Rhenyari pilgrims coming upon a holy site in Ba’as.

Origins:

 

 

Old tales from the nomadic days of the Rhenyari tell us they often made long treks to locations of religious importance. It is believed the practice originated from the Rudrani, who used the stars to guide them. They believed that the constellations were the deities of their pantheon, and by following them as they rose and sank, the path the Rudrani were to follow would be revealed. Along the way, the Rudrani erected shrines which served as religious sites and markers for any lost. It is a common Rhenyari belief that the placement of the Wayfaring Shrines corresponded to the path the Rhenyari walked, and that by following the shrines, one would find the Rhenyari no matter where they were. 

 

Upon the formation of the Old Kingdom of Rhen and the birth of the Rhenyari people, the practice of the Rudrani came to be adopted by all the Rhenyari. The shrines also saw a change during this time. The Magians, as warriors, venerated their ancestors and this belief bled into the Wayfaring Shrines. Soon shrines depicted scenes from epics, songs, battles, and legendary people, not just the gods they revered. Further change came upon the arrival of Canonism to the Rhenyari, with the arrival of fervent Canonists came the destruction of some shrines deemed an affront to Canonism, and shrines were rededicated to saints or outright destroyed. Eventually both Canonist shrines and shrines dedicated to the Arcane Zodiac came to be accepted as pillars of the Rhenyari culture. 

 

The shrines can differ based on who constructed it and for what purpose. Some shrines may be small- akin to a rock painting and a few candles, others can be grand structures. It was not uncommon to make trees and rock formations into shrines themselves.

 

Types of Shrines:

 

Religious Shrines

 

 

Religious shrines serve as a pillar of faith for many Rhenyari, Canonist or pagan. The faithful come here to pray and have their voices heard. Canonist shrines are normally dedicated to either a saint or prophet, but events of religious importance can be engraved into shrines. The shrines dedicated to the Arcane Zodiac serve as religious sites for the Rhenyari who adhere to the old ways, but serve as historical shrines for those who are Canonist for it is possible for a shrine to be in multiple categories. 

 

Historical Shrines

 

Shrines which detail an important event or person in the history of the Rhenyari. These shrines speak of the past endeavors the Rhenyari had to endure. Oft engraved into these shrines will be a people of great importance and the deeds they were able to accomplish in their lives .Historical shrines will also display moments which elicit great emotion from the Rhenyari, pieces of history wish not forgotten.  With the arrival of Blessed Fyodor Carrion in the Fifteenth Century, shrines began to depict the history of Raev and of the Exalted Siegmund. These shrines are also known to be the ones which detail the path of the Rhenyari.

 

Epic Shrines

 

Epic shrines depict scenes or great heroes from various epics. Many early historical shrines are also epic shrines due to the intermingling of history and epics, but both serve to teach and carry on the legacy of the heroes of the past. These shrines normally depict a hero in his or her greatest triumph or their greatest folly. Songs and poems are typically engraved onto stones nearby, as they were mediums of these epics normally.