Thesis on the Scyfling Rite

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ON THE SCYFLING RITE 

Or a Study on the Beliefs and Practices of Hanso-Scyfa Canonism 

 

 

Written and compiled by 

  

MILODRAG THE SCYFLING 

  

ON THIS DATE 

7th of Owyn’s Flame, 1995

 

- 

 

I humbly dedicate this work in service to my ancestor, Sanctus Carolus, Selfless Servant, Protector of Children, Protector of the Scyflings, and Martyr. With that, I compose this Prayer of Saint Carr:  

  

O’ Saint Carr, Black Raven of God! Thou messenger of Canon! Thou shield of the Faithful! From the bliss of this world we turn humbly to thee again.  

  

O’ Saint Carr, Selfless Servant of God! Keep free from us selfish desire, from evil, temptation, sin, and the other deceptions of Iblees.  

  

O’ Saint Carr, Protector of Children! Into thine hands is placed the safety of our youth. For the young know naught of the world. Guide their hands and ease their pains, for they shall fault. But the wounds of their faults shall heal as scars, and in those scars the memory of right and wrong.  

  

O’ Saint Carr, Martyr of the Faithful! where there is need you shall provide. As thine shield rose to defend the Adrians, raise it now to defend us.  

  

Grant to us Saint Carr the wisdom, strength, and discernment that we might live today in His Glory by doing that which is right.  

  

So Say We All.

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

or  

Introduction to Scyfling Religious Tradition 

 

 

Saint Carr of Carrenhall 

  

From the earliest days of their society, the Scyfling People can be characterized by their strong kinship networks, superstition, their reverence for traditional figures, and high level of respect for human accomplishments and death. Many of the major beliefs and practices of the Scyfling Rite derive from the pre-Canonist period but have since merged to form an interesting blend of tradition and the Northern Canonism introduced by Saint Carr.  

 

The Scyfling Rite is composed of four major tenets: the family covenant, spiritual connection, self-determination, and reverence & respect.  

 

 

I.  

THE FAMILY COVENANT 

or  

Mirroring the Covenant Between God and Man 

  

“And I have also breathed life into your heart, and the hearts of your children. And I have given you life: I am your father and the father of all things. And I shall guide you in a theater of virtue, and the virtuous shall not life except by My word.” 

-Scroll of Spirit 1:5-7 

 

The Covenant between God and man is a sacred agreement outlined in the first lines of the first scroll, the Scroll of Virtue. In the Scroll of Spirit, God communicates an expectation of a virtuous and faithful lifestyle in return for granting life. God also presents Himself as a father of children, expecting the faithful to obey Him as the patriarch of a household.   

  

The Scyflings hold the Covenant in high regard, viewing it as a model for the relationships between individuals, especially family. For Scyflings, if the Covenant is satisfactory to maintain the relationship between man and the Divine, it is certainly satisfactory to govern the relations of man. Because of this, the creation of covenants between individuals is seen amongst Scyflings as the glorification of God through the creation of a virtuous and faithful society.  

  

The best-known example of these covenants in Scyfling tradition, other than The Covenant between God and man, is the relationship between members of a family. Family covenants build off the deep traditional importance of kinship in Scyfling culture, derived from the pre-Canonist rural tribal society that forced individuals to rely on others for the resources necessary for survival. Because of this, Scyfling worship is family-centered, with Canonist ceremonies taking place amongst members of the family, in specially designated family chapels. Obviously, for these reasons, kinship betrayal in Scyfling families is extremely rare and greatly frowned upon when it does occur.  

  

  

II. 

SPIRITUAL CONNECTION 

or  

The Connection with God 

  

“So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of my Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not desire the wealth of this world, nor the wealth of others, but the wealth of the spirit.” 

-Scroll of Virtue 2:10 

 

The Scyfling Peoples are a superstitious lot, to say the least, and have been since their early Clan Period. When Saint Carr converted the Scyfling clans to Canonism in the 15th century, superstitions carried over to create an interesting blend of Northern Canonist teachings and traditional beliefs. One of these, which shall be discussed later, is the veneration of elders and ancestors for their wisdom and relationship with God, acquired and built over many years, respectively.   

  

Just as with all Canonists, the most common mode of connecting with God is through prayer. In Canonist teaching, prayer is used as a method to connect with God through songs of His praise, confession of our sins, giving Him our thanks, and asking Him for our needs and desires.   

 

PRAYER 

Below I have listed what are called the “First Four Scyfling Prayers”, the prayers associated with the four tenets of the Scyfling Rite. 

• Cofhenent Bonn | "Covenant Prayer”, or Prayer of the Family 

• Iljusni Bonn | “Illumination Prayer”, or Prayer for Spiritual Illumination 

• Valkani Bonn | “Valkan’s Prayer, or Prayer for Great Challenges 

• Elderni Bonn | “Elder’s Prayer”, or Elder's Prayer for Blessing 

 

 

III. 

SELF-DETERMINATION 

or  

Anadanism vs. Valkanism: The Rejection of Predeterminism 

  

“For I have created the pains of the world, and I have given you their cure. And you shall know the trials of this theater of virtue, and know that they shall strengthen you.” 

-Scroll of Virtue 4:6 

  

The Scyflings traditionally accept the idea of self-determination, or the idea that all events and actions are NOT decided in advance. The basis of this belief, again, lies in the Scroll of Virtue, which says God invested man with the ability to cure the pains of the world. This does not challenge the fact that God reigns supreme in all things, but instead shows that He does allow for some sort of leeway in the determination of an individual’s life.  

 

THE BROTHERS ANADAN & VALKAN  

The Scyfling beliefs surrounding self-determination are best illustrated by the ancient folktale of Anadan the Wise and Valkan the Reckless. Valkan was the impetuous and self-righteous older brother of Anadan who romanticized the ideas of fate and destiny as God’s divine plan, an ideology that came to be called “Valkanism.”   

  

As the story goes, Valkan died by recklessly rushing against an enemy host during the early Scyfling Wars of Unification, believing God had a plan for him and that he was thus impervious to harm. However, some, including the Eldar House of Valkonen, whose name derives from Valkan, assert that Valkan’s actions should rather be viewed as heroic, as his sacrifice laid the groundwork for his brother's eventual unification of the Scyfling clans.  

 

 

Anadan the Wise 

  

As a firsthand witness to his brother’s reckless death, Anadan’s philosophy, eventually referred to as “Anadanism,” revolved around the view that God allows some leeway within His Vision for individuals to determine their own path in life. Anadan’s philosophy was in stark contrast to that of his brother’s, believing that predeterminism is an insult to God’s vision.  

 

IV. 

REVERENCE & RESPECT 

or 

Reverence and Respect for Ancestors, Elders and Traditional Figures 

  

“For I have ordered your station and birth, and I have established the order of things.” 

-Scroll of Virtue 6:6 

  

In comparison to other societies, Scyflings possess a higher level of respect for death and human accomplishments. During the pre-Canonist period, the rural and tight-knit nature of Scyfling society forced communities to rely on wise and experienced individuals called “elders” to perform acts like administering medicine, sharing ancient wisdom, and even telling the future. It is because of this that the wisest and most experienced members of the community often serve as leaders, advisors, and mentors in Scyfling societies.   

  

Following the Scyfling Conversion, the Scyflings gravitated towards the revelations of the Prophet Sigismund, whom God had blessed with divine wisdom. These Scyflings would make the association of knowledge and skill with a divine relationship, thus tying this traditional reverence to Canonist teachings.  

  

In the modern House Colborn, the elders are represented by the members of the Council of Colborns, each of whom serves as advisors to the head of the house on various subjects. However, none are more sought-after and praised for their abilities than seers and warriors.  

  

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES  

In Scyfling culture, the achievements of individuals during their lives are celebrated. Because of this, the different phases of life are celebrated, and eventually mourned, by the Scyflings. For more information on wedding traditions, see Anabel Colborn, “Scyfling Culture: Wedding Traditions”.  

• Nattrvaskr | The Coming-of-Age Ceremony   

• Forlovi ag Wedi | Engagement and Wedding  

• Wedi bridlop | Tour of the Bride  

SEERS  

Deeply superstitious people from the earliest days of their society, Scyflings continue to put a lot of trust in traditional figures like the female “seers”. Given the belief that individuals like seers can perform acts like looking into the future, it is unsurprising that they have often stepped into the place of family priest to do everything from saying the prayer before feasts to seeking the wisdom of God through visions. According to tradition, seers are always female but are not necessarily religious figures. This is because visions and fortune telling are most often associate with women, who Scyflings view as the only one’s granted God’s miracle of giving life.  

  

WARRIORS  

Scyflings traditionally believe that traits such as strength, skill with a weapon, protectiveness, and honor are highly valued in a Scyfling warrior. The value of this tradition is evidenced by the longevity of Scyfling knighthood, House Colborn has provided many knights, including the first knight of Haense, St. Carr of Carrenhall, whose life is the role model of many Scyfling males. This is commonly referred to as the “Path of Saint Carr”. 

 

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Even in his most silent of days Davyd was brought to a smile as his cousin's writings were finally published.