Welcome to Lunaria! Part 3
Exploring Religion and Magic
Magic and religion are intimately linked in Elemastra. Typically, people worship the god of the elemental gift they are most dominant in. So those with strong magic pray to Farrig, those with earth magic pray to Xantara, etc. But each of the gods also has special domains that they keep watch over.
Each territory in Elemastra also sees the gods and magic in slightly different ways. I will tell you a little about how Lunaria sees the gods and then how they see and interact with the different elemental magics.
The Gods
Farrig
Farrig is the god of water. He is also considered the god of the moon. His domains are the oceans, rivers, rains, and tides. But he also oversees the changing of day to night and night to day. He is associated with loyalty, grief, unity, harmony, autumn, and sailing.
Lunaria, during the period of our first trilogy, is in the midst of a religious transition. For hundreds of years, Lunarians prioritized the worship of Farrig. They attended services in his temple, gave sacrifices of coins to major water sources, and prayed regularly to him.
A recent movement, however, has shifted Lunarians’ focus from the worship of the old gods to the worship of a single creator god named Dialinn.
However, many of the old religious festivals and observances still survive. The Harvest Moon Festival and New Year’s Moon festival are two of the most culturally significant celebrations. Luna pastries–round pastries with white glaze used as decoration to represent different phases of the moon–are eaten and sold in great quantities during these festivals. The New Year’s festival is also considered the rebirth of the year and a time of great luck.
In addition, many of those in the lowest economic and social classes still worship Farrig and consider the worship of Dialinn an affectation by the nobility. The temples in the poorest districts are still seen over and attended, though the ones on the higher parts of the Hill are neglected.
Phira
Phira is the goddess of fire and the sun. She controls fires and volcanoes, and she is associated with passion, love, life, summer, justice, and war.
In Lunaira, Phira is considered a fierce goddess who must not be angered lest she bring war. However, as she is also considered the goddess of love and passion and the love of the great god Farrig, many still burn incense or candles to draw her favor when trying to court or pursue someone romantically.
There are very few temples to other gods or goddesses in Lunaria, as worship of other gods was not encouraged or tolerated depending on the King in power. However, some shrines to Phira do exist throughout the kingdom.
Xantara
Xantara is the goddess of the Earth, growth, animals, forests, and earthquakes. Her domains are motherhood, family, farming, herding, and spring.
Because Xantara is considered a healing goddess and a goddess for mothers, she is more easily tolerated in Lunaria. Temples are allowed for the training and employment of healers in the Kingdom.
Kazeh
As a god of sky/air/wind, mischief, storms, birds, and seasons, Kazeh is not taken seriously in Lunaria, except by sailors. They will sprinkle salt in the wind to appease him, tie feathers in their hair as the Tahran’s do, or hang up wind chimes.
There are no temples to Kazeh, although some followers create shrines in their houses.
Aetheron
God of the stars, space, and aether/spirit. He is associated with sleep, death, dreams, eternity, and winter.
Most Lunarians believe that aether or spirit magic is a myth and that Aetheron does not exist. Because of this, there are no temples or worshipers unless they come from Estrella. Most visitors or immigrants who worship Aetheron do so in privacy to avoid the prejudice of their Lunarian companions.
Magic
Magic in Elemastra is elemental in nature. The source, in general, is nature itself. Magic is imbued all around, and there are elementals or creatures capable of accessing source magic. Because of the way magic was discovered (see this post on History for more information), the people of Elemastra split to follow the magic of their choosing and so ended up in different territories.
Lunarians prize water magic and water elementals. They consider it the most powerful and purest magic, and many discourage the practice of any other kind of magic by their children. Although it is possible to be gifted in more than one element, Lunarians shun the use of other types of magic except for specific cases.
Wind magic is allowed for travel, shipping, and trade. Because much of the trade that is done in Lunaria is by boats, and since Lunarians, in general, like making money, they allow the use of wind magic to help their ships travel faster.
Fire magic is typically reserved for Sunanian craftsmen and smiths who come to Lunaria to trade or settle in as merchants. On solstices, fire dancers are employed as entertainment. Ultimately, however, Lunarians do not allow their own children to develop this elemental gift.
Earth magic is useful for healing, so Lunarians value this specific gift. But in the city, they do not see much use for this gift beyond this skill.
In the farms and orchards of Lunaria, the owners might employ earth movers to help with problems growing crops, caring for livestock, etc.
In general, Lunarians also don’t believe spirit or aether magic exists. However they raise their children on scary stories of the ‘spirit talkers’ who can send animals to hurt you or take over your mind. So many Lunarians are quietly afraid of this gift and its potential uses.
There is much more to magic that is not understood or misunderstood in the territories of Elemastra. But to learn more, you’ll have to read the trilogy to find out 😉
Book 1 coming this September!
So tell me, Reader. Which elemental gift would you like to have?