Arnorian Culture

Religion

• Overall

Arnorians were atheists, if you overlooked their thanks to ˝someone, something˝ (which refers to luck), when they faced something, beyond their strength or ask for help, this ˝luck˝, for what they are going to face. However it has become only a custom of the past. Many Arnorians (especially soldiers) started to praise Sisters of Blood as Demigoddesses. This was caused by their power, deeds on the battlefields (where deployment of Sisters usually saved many lives) and missguided propaganda.

The Arnor is technically a secular state and no religion nor it´s believers are persecuted. However, the Yáraitalë is the only supported and officially recognized religion.

• Yáraitalë

Yárcarniel, the two faced goddess red as blood is worshiped by Arnorians. They made a state religion around her and the Sisters became seen as her adopted daughters and true demigoddesses. She is the manifestation of Arnorians themselves as she was born from their collective psyche projected into Sub-dimension. She bears two faces as even chivalrous Arnorians have a dark side. Hidden deep lies feeling of superiority of their culture and desire of protective supremacy. The hunger of the Sisters is also felt in her and Arnorians adopted willing voluntary sacrifices to save sanity of their goddess.

Yáraitalë is centralised matriarchal religion lead by Ainaneth, the Holy Maiden. Every year on the Red day, new Ainaneth is chosen by Yárcarniel herself. She is marked by her hair, which turns unaturaly red and lightly glows. Ainaneth is for the year granted powers equal to the Living Saints and joins the Sisters of Blood, later to be enhanced. She is chosen to facilitate connection for visions and act according to that. This means deciding time for sacrifices, urging or calming spread of the faith and, if the Scarlet Chapter fails, calling for war with overgrown cults. She is also responsible for priestesses as their superior.

The Edenith are a priestesses of Yárcarniel and usually one of who are chosen as Ainaneth, although even common woman may be chosen. They are marked with tattoo of a drop of blood on left cheek. The tattoo is made firstly black. Ainaneth then decide, according to her visions, if the novice for Adaneth is worth it. Adaneth, the Mortal Woman, is a broad term for any priestess. Their occupation is however distinctive from one another. There are official names for these occupations, however, to call any priestess Adaneth and priestesses Edenith is a common practise.

Edenith are most commonly found amongst military or Chapters where they follow standard roles. These Edenith Nardû are exempted from several duties and instead boost morale, be it with prayers or leading by example. They tend to the dying and mortally wounded and when stationed on foreign world, convert local populace. Edenith Verya are wandering pilgrims and usually lone wolves. They are traveling from place to place and solve local problems with monsters, brigant and thug parties and occasionally something less important. They spread faith on their travels and even though they don't usually stay long enough to convert local population, they give a good impression on it. Edenith Dur are the last type of priestesses. These priestesses are caring for sacred groves and temples or are sent to establish them. Adaneth Dur is a priestess who is most likely to actually convert and cement the population to Yáraitalë.

The common practices of faith are however highly decentralised and individual. Good thought of one can rival hours of praying of other.

Those who are considered by one of the faces to be true Arnorians will be offered on their deathbed to join her in the Sub-Dimension as Maiar. Maiar are strong spirits without bodies. They serve her and fight other gods under her comand. Being sacrificed is to be send to Sub-dimension with your body for Yárcarniel and to be consumed by her. As a reward, even non-true Arnorian is accepted as a Maiar even thou lesser one.

The greatest honor is to be chosen as a Saint. To be a Saint is to receive a part of Yárcarniel to your body. As a Saint, you are the emissary and champion to other universes and worlds. Where Maiar have to possess someone or something to leave universes of Sub-dimension, the Saints can enter with their bodies. They are usually granted Sainthood by Yárcarniel in their deaths, but there can be very rare exceptions, of the Living Saints.

"By the blood, we are bound, By the might, we are found, By the honor, we are judged."

  - Prayer and battle chant by Sainor Gomben

"Oh, Yárcarniel, righteous and just, Protector of our people, in you, we trust. Guide us with your unwavering light, Through the darkest of days and the blackest of nights. Grant us strength to stand in the abyss, To smite our foes with vengeful hiss. In your name, we seek honor's grace, For in your presence, we find our sacred place."  

- by Dúvendaer Renior 

"Yárcarniel, fierce and bold, as the tempest's call, In your strength, we rise, unyielding to all. When battles loom and darkness gathers near, You grant us courage, banishing our fear. Bless our arms with the power to smite, With courage unyielding, we'll fight the fight. In your name, we march forth, bold and brave, For your might empowers us, our spirits you save."  

- by Mormeriel Galad

"Oh, Yárcarniel, whose compassion knows no bounds, Heal our wounds, mend our broken grounds. In sickness and suffering, we turn to you, Restore our health, make us whole and true. Bless the hands of healers, the hearts that care, Grant them wisdom, make their remedies rare. In your name, we find solace in pain, For in you, Yárcarniel, we're whole again."

- by Horthion Aeg

The holy orders of Yáraitalë

> Holidays <

All former Arnorians are citizens, unless you are total stupid, so other classification worked very mostly only for immigrants.

Denebolian solar system

An international agreement provides for existing names and Arnor respects that. But, as Arnor is no longer a nation that follows SHIELD´s mission, new naming was established internally for Arnor and so Arnor now uses both nameings.

Denebol 1 is Melkor, Denebol 4 is Yavanna and Denebol 7 is Irmo 

Genetics and Ethnicity

Arnorians and Denebolians are, in their core, the same people, for they come from one origin.

Colonial ethnicity was always predominantly western slavic, nordic and germanic, but after Barbarian invasion and death of more than three-quarters of colonial population, Arnorian population is purely made out of these three mixed ethic groups.

Both deliberate and unintentional genetic changes made by Arnorians are purely biological. The bodies were encouraged and supported by proper nutrients to make those changes. No cybernetic or synthetic augments.

After the enhancement, healthy Arnorian can genetically live up to around 200 years, however, the few most sensitive to Subdimension, can with Yárcarniel´s blessing live up to 500 years. Arnorians are ageing very subtly and are at peak of their condition for a long time. It is once they pass a certain point in their middle ages when they suddenly start rapidly deteriorating and eventually dying.  An average height among the Arnorians is somewhere around 2m. They are 2-3 times stronger and 1,5 times quicker with an average reaction time about 165 milliseconds. They have also better eyesight and perception. Health and ability to survive wounds, poisons, toxins and some minor level of radiation is to reasonably enhanced. The female fertility cycle is extended to a quarter of a year and pregnancy to 11 months. 

Arnorians might also be a little bit smarter thanks to higher brain activity, even thou this is very individual and not always tru. Some natural capabilities of the brain, gained by evolution, were hindered by the enhancement and further development slowed as opposed to Denebolians. Thou gifted with increased reflexes and speed of thinking, Arnorians are unable to rival Denebolian brain capacity for such as equation solving, eidetic memory, language learning or grasp of greater things. The only thing that makes Arnorian scientists still at least somewhat keep up is their unnatural intuition gained through Sub-dimension. It is hardly enough to replace the physical capabilities of the brain, but this spiritual subconsciousness counts for something.

It turned out that genetic changes deepened ethnic traits after a while. This means more pronounced eyes, paler skin and so on. It was all the more pronounced with the Sisters of Blood, who are as pale as the walls and have a hint of red eyes. The Sisters are one of the fairest and tallest Arnorians reaching sometimes even over 2,5m. The Sisters have also grown new set of teeth, replacing the old. This new set is perfectly grown and has slightly larger and more pronounced canines, leaving a bit more carnivore like look.

Additional improvements, surpassing low stable level were however disastrous. Many undesirable effects showed up, namely aggresivnes in men and lust for human blood with madness in women. With this knowledge, Arnorians did not surpass stable safe level in general public and buried most of further research. In fear of others not being so hesitant, Arnorians didn't share this with their allies and are keeping it in secrecy.

National Symbols

Arnorian star

The star is directly descended from the Star City Empire. In an effort to promote more autonomy, Dúnedain designed a sigil that differed from official. The star was then associated with army group Arnor and later became main symbol of the High kingdom.

Flag of Arnor

The flag is blended Arnorian star. It appeared as a consequence of reforms that came with defeat of Barbarians. It was supported by newly formed senate in an effort to promote democracy and replace the Arnorian star which represented old order of monarchy. High king let it pass, but the flag never catched in public and the star remains main symbol of Arnor.

Gondorian Tree 

The original tree was symbol used briefly by Durion and his gondorian rebellion. It was actually forest on hill. With absorption of army group Gondor the symbol of the tree was changed to a White Tree (because it was first planted in Gondor), but black and in green field to represent its regrettable past while giving hope of better future.

White Tree

The White Tree called Nimloth that is weared by Praetorians was created during genetic experimentation before it was forbiden. It is combination of birch, oak, cherry, athelas and linden to name a few. The Tree is also Arnorian national tree as Arnorians associate its strength with themselves. It is very hard to plant, because of low nuber of seeds in fruit, and not many of them is around. However, once the tree grows it's almost impossible to take down by conventional means. The tree has hardest wood and is not very flamable. When it does burn, it burns with blue flames. That is why it was given nickname the "steel tree". 

The tree has smooth white bark, light green heart-shaped leaves and its flowers have two tulip like layers. The inner layer is yellow with red traces and outer is white with silver lining. Nimloth´s fruits are cherry like grapes that grow in clusters of around 20. They lightly glow with blue purplish color at night. The fruit is sweet and juicy, but poisonous in large quantity.

Being the national tree, Arnorians naturaly hold it in high regard. Maybe as reward for her existence or just a good will, Yárcarniel blessed the trees with her power. This means that the trees emits small aura of "positive energy". Its not something incredible. Sitting under the tree for a while just clears and calms one's mind. Groves with Nimloth became almost holy places, but are generally used as any other place of peace.

Black sun of Harondor

The Black sun was originaly red and it was a local symbol in southern parts of the colony. Harondorian forces adopted it to boost moral. Exactly year after tragedy in Nûrneled forest there was a solar eclipse and Harondorian veterans petitioned goverment to honor their loss by changing colour of the sun to black.

Silver lily

The Sisters took silver lily for its association with noble deeds and because silver is held in high regard by all Arnorians. Lily was later placed on red field and three drops of blood, for each kingdom one, were added to it. This transition came to emphasize their allegiance to Yárcarniel.