Brythunian Variant Religions
Brythunia is a Hyborian nation. As such, the people primarily worship Mitra. He is regarded as the one true god, followed by a legion of saints and a celestial host of angelic beings. The religion of Mitra has a heaven and a hell and followers are suspicious and intolerant of other cults, especially in the rural villages and towns. Mitran temples are only basically decorated, with a minimum of pomp, yet they still manage to be elegantly strong in their simple designs. Unlike other Hyborian Age religions, the Mitrans frown on depictions of their god and allow only one in each temple, for Mitra’s true form was unknowable and awesome, and the idea that a man or woman might be able to capture his divinity is blasphemy. In some backwoods areas of Brythunia, Bori is still worshipped, but that is uncommon at best. Bori is a primitive warrior god from their early polytheistic Hyborian origins. Near the Zamorian border, many Brythunians worship the Zamoran gods, careful not to be found out by the Mitrans, who deem that anything worshipped by the fiendish Zamorans must be a demon. Both Bori and the Zamoran gods usually require some sort of blood sacrifice in their worship. The hillmen of the Kezankian Mountains have their own ancient gods to worship. These gods seem to be aligned with the four elements. Their religion involves geometric designs and ideograms. One of the holiest of symbols is a cross with arms of equal length exactly aligned to the four directions. At the end of each arm is a circle. Each circle has one of four ideograms of the ancient gods, secrets signs of the four elements. Brythunian scholars tend to be rather sorcerous. Most Brythunian scholars have the Noble Blood feat (from Conan: The Scrolls of Skelos), otherwise the character has to labour for a living and never has a chance to become literate or the opportunity to lead a leisurely life of books and study. Many of these scholars no longer own land; they sell their land for their tomes or for their training. Others are sent by their families to become members of the Mitran or Amalian clergy, depending on whether they are from the south or the north, respectively.
Brythunian scholars are much like every other scholar in their skill selections. Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (nobility) and Perform are usually chosen as background skills. Bluff and Perform are usually chosen as adaptive skills.
Brythunia
Brythunian Heresies Amalias Pluvius The temples of Sargossa proclaim Amalias Pluvius to be the chief god of the Brythunians, worshipped there in complete defiance of Mitra. This god is featured heavily in Leonard Carpenter’s Conan the Savage. The proclamation of divine supremacy is spurious at best, wishful thinking on the part of the Sargossans. Amalias is worshipped as a reliever of droughts and a bringer of rain. His temples have many statues and ornate temples. His followers believe in omens and signs. During the hallowed Feast of Amalias, gambling for profit is illegal. It is a high holy day and all vices are illegal and profane. Blasphemers breaking sacred law are sent to the mines to work. Another high holy observance is Naming Day. On Naming Day, which occurs on whatever day a travelling priest appointed for an appearance visits a given locality, the circuit priest names all the virgin children of a mature age, entering their names in the church register, and allowing them permission to pursue marriage or concubinage. The virgin’s forefinger is cut with a copper knife and the resulting blood is used as ink to pen the name into the register. A copper sacrificial knife is ritually worn by priests of Amalias around the neck. They dress in elaborate grey robes. From birth, Amalias’ faithful are taught the Amalian Laws, Prophecies and Divine Revelations, including myths of the Brythunian race’s origin, as well as the names and histories of the pantheon’s lesser gods. Many of their priests are charlatans and do not know real sorcery. At best they tolerate local shamans and healers but are quick to hang a witch if a scapegoat is needed. Requirements of Worship: Obey priests of Amalias and his pantheon; promote Amalias as the chief god of the Brythunians; promote Sargossa as the capital of Brythunia and its king as the King of Brythunia; tithe 4 sp/level/ month to the local temple Benefits of Worship: Faith, Atonement
41
