Aunarism

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Aunarism
AunarismSymbolGold.png
Basic Information
Founded 2020-11-02
Founder Agaric Thelyn
Holy City Darfix
Realms Avenor

Aunarism is a religion on Dwilight. Its adherents consider fire sacred, and they worship a primordial, elemental deity called Urharran. Furthermore, Aunarists believe that fire is a purifying agent by which they can cleanse their souls from impurities and weakness. By regularly purging themselves from any imperfections through the ritual use of fire, Aunarists aim to strengthen their souls so they will become more capabe of attaining their personal goals - regardless of whether those goals are spiritual or material in nature.

Deity

The main, and only, deity of the Aunarist faith is Urharran, the Eternal Flame. He is the primordial, cosmic embodiement of the element of fire, which he rules over with absolute authority. Befitting his status as the sentient personification of one of the fundamental forces of nature, Urharran is said to be unpredictable, impatient and opportunistic like a wildfire. Nonetheless, his faithful believe there is method and logic to the Flamelord's actions - even if it might be alien and incomprehensible to human minds - and that he has a clear plan for the fate of the universe.

Urharran's abode is Narambar, a plane of existance beyond the mortal world, which is thought to be built entirely ouf of fire. He is not confined to his everburning home, however, and his worshippers consider every flame to be a literal part of their god's body and rever it accordingly. As such, Aunarists generally do not make a distinction between fire as a (divine) concept, and fire as the physical presence of their deity.

Although his nature is singular and specific, the worship of Urharran is not. Depending on the situation (and the personal morals of the individual faithful), he is revered as the comfort of the hearthfire, the revitalising flame that burns away the old, the light that drives off the darkness or the glorious inferno of war. Most commonly however, Urharran is worshipped as catalyst for the purification through fire.

Day-to-day Life of a Follower

One of the most peculiar aspects of Aunarism is that the faithful strongly prefer to eat food that is as hot as possible. Cold or uncooked food are by contrast avoided. This behaviour stems from the belief that the heat represents the touch of Urharran, and by ingesting hot food, an individual can come closer to the Flamelord. Beverages are not excluded from this preference either. In fact, Aunarists are credited with the creation of a type of hot, spiced wine that they consume frequently and that has gained some popularity even outside of the faith.

Because of this preference for hot food, cooks are seen with some favour by Aunarists. However, no occupation is as respected as smithing. The process of taking a base material, heating it in fire, removing all impurities, and strengthening it by tempering largely mirrors the core idea of Aunarism and is consequentally seen as a semi-divine act.

Impact on the Lives of Noble Followers

According to Aunarist believe, a pure soul inevitably leads to success. Because of this idea, many faithful strive to amass wealth, power and knowledge as proof of their devotion. This is especially true for noble Aunarists, who are expected to regularly host lavish feasts, dress in the finest clothes or otherwise display their prosperity - and through it, their piety.

In reverse, those who have already shown success in their ambitions are seen as having a particularly pure soul. People in positions of power, for example, are greatly respected by their subordinates and considered rightful examples to be emulated. This makes Aunarist society very hierarchical, and fosters both loyalty as well as arrogance. As a side effect, Aunarist nobles tend to be even more conceited than their peers, as they can legitimise their superiority not only through their bloodline, but also through divine favour.

Afterlife

The concept of an afterlife is largely absent from Aunarist belief. The faithful of the Firelord conceptually see their lives as flames, that, once extinguished, simply cease to exist. Because of this, Aunarist theology is more concerned with what one can achieve in life, rather than with what comes thereafter.

That nonewithstanding, the Aunarist faith holds extensive funeral rites during which the bodies of the dead are cremated. To leave a corpse to rot instead of burning it is considered one of the greatest insults to a deceased's bereaved.

Rituals

Aunarist faithful pray to Urharran three times a day. Each morning at sunrise, believers thank the Firelord for bringing dawn and a new day. At noon, when the sun burns brightest, Urharran's glory and splendour is praised. At sundown lastly, the Eternal Flame is asked for protection from the darkness of the night.

Furthermore, a great ceremony is held every year on the first day of summer. During that day, bonfires are lit and the faithful gather to celebrate the arrival of the hottest season in the local temples. The ceremony usually ends way after sunset, and only after a great many of sacrifices have been burnt in Urharran's name.