Way of the Ancestors

The Way of the Ancestors - known in the Elven tongue as Eth Ivasaar - is the religion of the Elven people.

Overview

Central View

Eth Ivasaar is centered around the remembrance and worship of honoured ancestors, who hold a place of reverence in Elven society, but are not worshiped by the majority. In most cases, these are elves who were famous philosophers, military leaders, healers, or other prominent figures. The belief teaches that the Ancestors, watching over them from the afterlife, protecting their society and their people, and offering subtle guidance in the form of various signs or portents, as well as by acting on the conscience of the believer.

Followers begin and end each day with a meditation known as Avirinza, which is fifteen minutes of silent communion with the Ancestors. Once a year, on All Spirits Day, believers read the names of these ancestors aloud, among the gathered adherents.

Holy Texts

Eth Ivasaar has only one holy text - the Book of Remembrance, which records the names of the Ancestors the religion honours. It has within it, at present date, nearly one thousand Ancestors.

Structure

The faith maintains several small temples scattered throughout the Commonwealth where Elves who maintain the tradition may go to commune with the Ancestors, each of which is maintained by a single priest and a small group of acolytes. They maintain incense burners and ritual braziers used for a variety of ceremonies. At the Temple of the Ancestors in the Elven home city of Ormindy Do, a group of priests maintain the complex which has statues of the most honoured among the Ancestors.

Status

Few elves in modern time follow Eth Ivasaar, and it is considered a "fading faith" among most of their kind. Because it is a minority religion, it is protected by Commonwealth law, and it maintains a neutral outlook towards other religions. Because it is not a militant faith, Eth Ivasaar is not looked upon with as much caution as are the orcish beliefs of the Gholorz Garan'do.