Serenian religion
Serenians are traditionally polytheistic and follow a specific pantheon of gods and goddesses. They have their own myths concerning the nature of the world and the origins of life. While the throne acknowledges and honors the gods of the Serenian people, there are no religious laws and people may worship or not as they choose, though anyone who engages in acts that might anger the gods would likely be shunned or even cast out of their village so as not to bring the fury of the offended deity upon the rest of the people.
There is, however, a divide between the older, more earthy practices of the rural people, who honor local gods, and the newer practices of the city people, who tend to follow an organized pantheon with more sterilized practices.
The Old Ways
The first Serenians, those humans who mingled with the local fae and even birthed children of fae-human unions, practiced a very earth-based spirituality. They honored nature in all its forms, recognizing that nature can be both unspeakably cruel and unspeakably beautiful; it just is. It is neither good nor evil, a force incapable of morality, and it doesn't take sides. There's a very pure sort of beauty in that.
These old ways are still alive in rural Serendipity.
Rather than having an orderly pantheon, these Serenians worship the local gods of the area in which they live. Generally, these gods are the fae of the land. While some villages have several local gods, some could have as few as one, with a single powerful fae presiding over the area. In exchange for worship and sacrifice, the fae provide the humans dwelling there with rich harvests and protection. Dishonor the fae, however, and reap disastrous consequences. Depending on the fae, sacrifices could range from offerings of wheat or milk and honey to blood sacrifices. Usually the latter involves simply mixing human or animal blood in corn meal and offering it to the god, but some gods demand animal sacrifice and, though uncommon, human sacrifice. Some have even been known to demand first-born children.
Each local god has different terms that the people living on their land must meet, so traditions vary from village to village. Individual fae are also all different, some more feral than others. None are believed to be good or bad, however. Like nature, they just are; morality does not factor into it at all.
These practices survive to this day in the rural, remote areas of Serendipity, where people adhere to the old practices and honor their local gods. While there has been a push for people to abandon these traditions for the cleaner, more "civilized" ones that are common to the rest of Serendipity, many people have been resisting this push. They don't want to give up their ways; they want to worship their local gods as they always have. Rather than give up their old ways, some simply incorporate the new gods into their own spirituality, acknowledging their existence but not really paying tribute to them.
There is, however, a conflict between the new and old ways in that Serendipity's native fae populations are dwindling. Disturbed by tales of blood and human sacrifices, many of the local fae have been eradicated from the more developed areas.
The New Ways
As Serendipity grew as a civilization and as people moved to the cities, there was a push away from the old ways and toward newer, more "civilized" traditions. While Serenians still honored nature, it was a more structured, tamer version of it: they honor the beautiful parts of nature while neglecting its more brutal, feral aspects. Though Serendipity claims to be accepting of all religions it is, admittedly, uncomfortable with the idea of blood sacrifices, viewing it as dark and savage.
Those ways also specifically go against the ways of the new pantheon.
Today, Serendipity's main religion is comprised of a pantheon of gods, each with its own domain. There are temples throughout Serendipity that honor these gods, some devoted to specific deities. Many of these deities are based off of rural traditions and gods, appropriated by the city folk and turned into something new. Serendipity's principle deity, Kia, is one such example. In truth, Kia was once just a local fae who ultimately grew in power and influence. Kia aided many Serenians over the years and helped during the war with Connlaoth, but was destroyed during it. Over the centuries, Kia lived on in legend and was deified and exalted, eventually becoming the creator deity in Serenian religion.
Over the years, many new temples have been built in rural areas as priests and priestesses attempt to draw the rural folk out of their old ways and into the new.
Kia
The principle deity of the Serenian creation mythos and religion. Kia is a dual deity, possessing both a masculine and feminine aspect. In spring and autumn, she is said to exist in the feminine and is referred to as 'she'. In summer and winter, he is in the masculine aspect and is referred to as a 'he'. The word kia is Old Serenian for 'first'.
Symbols commonly present in depictions of Kia are a crown of leaves and flowers (in the feminine) and wings and a spear (in the masculine).
