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(The
Shamans of the Balazarings tend to be priests as well. They usually
worship Votank as their main god while offering worship as well to a
variety of local spirits. Many of the older Hunters of Foundchild
switch to the worship of Votank in their old age).
Where did the world come from?
The world was created long ago by the Creator who
was assisted by the First Four Companions, Turtle, Loon, Otter, and
Sea Eagle. Creator made the world but then lost interest in it and
leaves us alone. After a long golden period when berries were on
every bush and there were no hills something went wrong. Cold Wind
slew the Sun and threw the world into Darkness. All was lost and
dying in Darkness until Hearthmother found a baby which she fed her
famous three meals to. This baby was Foundchild who taught us how to
hunt. Foundchild was the father of Votank who taught us the right way
to live. Votank's ten sons are the founders of our tribes.
Where did I come from?
In the golden age prey and predator were the same.
During the Darkness we were lost until Foundchild told us how not to
be prey. Now we are predators and we eat of the prey of the world.
Votank gave us laws and wisdom to live by and this makes us humans.
Why am I here?
Once long ago men and women were one creature
until they were separated by Squirrel the Trickster. Since then men
and woman always try to become one creature again. They always fail
but every attempt is a holy summoning, inviting one of our ancestor's
spirits to live again. You are, were and will be a Balazaring and
Votanki until the end of the world itself.
Why do we die?
We die because that is the lot of prey and
predator alike. Without death there can be no prey and no predator.
What happens after we die?
When we die our spirits return to the ghost
hearths of Votank's sons to be reunited with our ancestors. There we
wait until we are called back to this world again.
How do I do magic?
Magic comes to us from the spirits, small magic
from the small spirits and big magic from the big spirits. Outsiders
call these big spirits gods and say they are different than spirits
but we know better. The big spirits also give us small magics along
with their big magics. Different spirits offer different magics.
I have heard of other powers. Can you tell me
the truth about ...
...Aldrya?
Aldrya is our enemy and our friend. Our enemy
because her forests wish to cover the plains we love and our friend
because she too hates the dark men (trolls) and those who would build
stone tents. We treat her people with the respect they deserve but
always remember that the Balazarings have killed the people of the
trees and burnt the forests in the past and we can do so again.
...Chaos?
Chaos? Do you mean the spirit of Cannibal whose
name should not be spoken? You must not refer to Cannibal by his name
as you do not have my magical protection. Rather you should refer to
him as the old friend of the Votanki who is always cold and hungry.
This is the hunger that exists to break the laws people hold dear and
wishes to devour the world itself. It is the source of all evil.
Resist its lure, destroy it when you can and flee when you have to.
...Ernalda?
Who? Is this another name for Grandmother Earth or
the Wild Mother? Grandmother Earth is a goddess women worship. She is
very important but I know nothing of her worship and but little of
her many names. The Wild Mother is source of wild animals and plants.
We offer her thanks for her bounty.
...Kyger Litor?
The Mother of the dark men is our foe. Her people
claim to hate the Cannibal spirit as do we but her people eat ours so
they are clearly contaminated by Cannibal. No alliance between the
Balazarings and the dark men has ever benefitted us for long. We have
used them against the other not men in the past and may do so in the
future. Trust them not but fear their might.
...the Lunar Goddess
The Red Goddess was brought to our land by the
outlanders who conquered Elkoi. She brings strange ways and beliefs
to our land. She is not to be trusted any more than any other outland deity.
...Magasta?
Who?
...Monotheists?
You seem to know the names of peoples and gods
that I know not. Have you perhaps been listening to the missionaries
of the Lunars?
...Mostal?
This is the god of the stone men. They are our
enemy because their way of life is so alien to us. Fortunately they
have no interest in us or our land. They know much that is strange to
us but fear the open air we love. Beware their weapons and magic.
...Orlanth?
We know this one as Cold Wind. His worshipers once
came in large numbers to our land but do so no longer. They are
outsiders like the rest, no better and no worse.
...Spirits?
All the worlds are full of spirits if you have the
eyes to see them. Many are our friends and allies but some are enemies
...Yelm?
This is what outsiders call the sun. Since he is
now dead and deaf we have no need to worship him. Warriors and
chieftains worship his son Yemalio.
Balazaring Gods
Votank, Rulemaker and Ancestor
Votank is the son of Foundchild. He taught us the
rules we use to live by and gave us our tools and weapons. He taught
us how to be people and through him we contact our ancestors thus
keeping our ancestral wisdom fresh.
Hearthmother, Woman's Goddess
Hearthmother is our woman's goddess and very
important. She has at least three faces, maiden, woman and crone
(Flower Maiden, Hearthmother and Grandmother Earth) and may show more
to women. She discovered Foundchild during the Darkness when we
couldn't find plants to eat and he taught us how to hunt.
Hearthmother teaches women their special skills. She also teaches
women the special song they need to sing in order not to offend the
spirits of plants when they are harvesting them. She knows all the
attributes of plants.
Foundchild, the Hunter
Hearthmother found Foundchild and he taught us how
to hunt so we could eat. He also taught us how to tell the difference
between people and animals so we can avoid Cannibal's lures. He
brought Brother Dog to us to be our helper and companion on the hunt.
He fathered Votank on the Hearthmother and he in turn taught us how
to be who we are. He also fathered Rigtaina, she who wed Balazar on
the Wild Mother
Yemalio, God of Warriors and Chieftains
Balazar the founder of our kingdom brought Yemalio
to us. Warriors and chieftains worship Yemalio as he offers special
wisdom and magics to them. His father was the Sun who now rolls
mindlessly through the sky.
Brother Dog, Helper and Friend
Brother Dog went to Foundchild in the Darkness and
said he'd rather be our friend and help us put prey in the cookpot
than go in there himself. Since then we have offered him worship in
return for his loyalty and friendship. On his sacred night people and
dogs can talk to one another.
Wild Mother, Goddess of Nnature
The Wild Mother is the source of all the plants
and animals we depend upon. We offer her worship for this reason and
because her wrath is fearful to behold. She may be another face of
Hearthmother or Aldrya. Her daughter Rigtaina is mother of the
hunting nymphs, or vila who protect the wilderness.
This page last modified May 12, 1998
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