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Tharda is a strange place. Unlike most of Hârn, they openly recognize that there are 10 gods and that more than one may have a place in an individual's life. Of them all only Siem, and Sarajin have no direct bearing in Thardian religion but they are not exculded. Instead the gods are all seen as part of an imutable force that controls the destinies of each and every Thardian. Children are brought up believing some gods can be bribed (Halea and Naveh), some tricked (Peoni, Larani, Sarajin, Agrik and Save-K'nor) and others are just best left alone (Morgath, Siem and Ilvir.)

The gods, in brief, are:

Thardians refer to the gods by one of their many given titles instead of their actual name. This stems from a belief that, if you say a god's name - he (or she) will hear you. The belief does not promise any divine interaction, but even the threat of the wrong god looking in at the wrong time (i.e.: when you blaspheme) is enough to keep people using the god's titles instead of their names. In this article, for clarity however, the god's names shall be used.

To quote Steve ________________'s poem on the gods:

    "And if I offend, stand back! Lest ye get caught in the blast."

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Daily Life

From a young age children of the republic are taught that religion is a private thing. People do not causally discuss religion. Religious symbols are worn beneath the clothes, and only priests may openly proclaim their religion. The Republic has long made a habit of trying not to judge its citizenship on its choice of religions.

The different castes tend to worship different gods:

Caste Agrik Halea Ilvir Naveh Larani Morgath Peoni Sarajin Save-K'nor Siem
Slave     2 5   6 1 7 3 4
Freedman   1 3     7 2 5 4 6
Citizen 2 1 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10
Equestrian 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Senator 2 1     3 4 5 6 7 8

Table Notes: The permissible religions are listed in order (1 - most common, 10 - least common.) Any religion left blank is not normally applicable to that caste of society. As per HârnMaster Character Creation rules, each character must select a religion in accordance to their moralistic beliefs. (i.e.: their morality stat.)

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In the Legion

Religious tolerance in the legion goes only so far.

"No legionnaire is asked his religion upon entering, and unless his faith is a reason to avoid duty, it will never be asked."

Recruitment saying

Soliders are expected to serve as soldiers. Most fortifications have a shrine to Halea and/or Peoni. A few towns may have proper temples or road-side shrines that are visted often. But most soldiers keep their religious observances to when they are off duty. Wearing religious symbols (so long as they are small) is permitted, but blatant signs of your devotion (colors, symbols or special clothes) are forbidden. The legion is aware that most folk base their opinions on others according to their religion. It is considered bad form to inquire or spread gossip about someone's beliefs or relgion in general.

The legion respects Peoni, Halea, Larani and Agrik in that order. There is a strong dislike of Naveh and Morgath. So strong that its practioners would be wise to avoid service. The legion will not forbid someone of those faiths from entering. But there are a few urban legends about the Navehian who was discovered by his bunk mates. The tale differs greatly, depending upon where you hear it - but the short of it is that the Navehian doesn't survive the night. Tales about Morgathians tend to be more grizzly, but otherwise quite similar. The legionnaires have not forgotten the Balsahn Jihiad nor its aftermath. And most pay a coin once a year to Morgath to keep him away. Naveh is ignored as much as possible, and his followers are hounded from any civilized area.

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In the Senate

The senate works hard to maintain a religious neutrality. Non-denominational prayers are used to open and close the Senate sessions. Senators are asked to limit the use of religious-tainted language while in session, and most pray in private or secluded temples. Only three senators in the 718TR Roster openly speak on the churches and religions in Tharda.

# 26 Shenlaw Wejik of Coranan (Consolidationist elected in 695) openly supports Sister Anna and Brother Timmothy's attempts to keep the poor, the ill and the infirm healthy in the City of Coranan. He is careful to always support their actions, rather than promote the Peonian church in Coranan; but the distinction is sometimes lost. Most believe him to be either a devout Peonian or, perhaps a devout Laranian. Surprisingly this has not hurt his popularlity.

# 42 Lythem Baral of Geminost (Imperialist elected in 716) openly supports the Agrikan church's presence in Tharda. His arguments regularly border on religious fanatacism. He claims that since the Agrikan church is so popular in Azeria, and was at its peak on Hârn during the Corani Empire, it makes sense to allow the religion more lattitude in the Republic. He is the leader in talks with the Order of the Eight Demons (???) in an attempt to bring Themeson into Tharda, and thus expand his province. His own religion is a question. He's been seen in both the Peonian and Halean temples as well as discussing matters with known Agrikans. Could he possibly be trying to worship 3 gods? Most believe this to be such a folly that it is immediately dismissed.

# 58 Baroga Turistas of Parnan (Monarchist elected in 692) is rumored to be a Navehian or Morgathian supporter. He never brings up religious topics, but argues feverantly against any that others bring up. His general attitute towards religion seems to be dangerously flippant. He does not believe the state should involve itself in religious matters at all. He even opposes the non-denominational prayers that open sessions.

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In the Guilds

The guilds are careful not to interfere with religions. Their members may choose their own religions (although Navehianism is strongly disliked due to its link to theft). Guildmembers are more often seen wearing badges of their guild or office than their religion. Like most Thardians, they feel religion is a private topic.

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The Official Views

J. Chokey has done the leg work for me. Here then is the Hârnic offical version of the attitudes, and worship of the gods in Tharda. As always, this is IMC.

Post-Theocracy Tharda (588 TR to 720 TR)

Taken directly from "A general history of religion in Hârn" by J. Chokey

With the fall of the Theocracy of Tekhos, the religious history of western Hârn diverges on three separate paths. Since these three paths more or less correspond to the development of three new states-- The Thardic Republic, the Kingdom of Kanday, and the Kingdom of Rethem-- the religious history of each kingdom is treated separately.

With the power vacuum left behind by the Theocracy's collapse, "Tharda fell into three decades of chaos [as] dozens of petty states vied with one another to establish or resist a new empire. Large bands of brigands operated unchecked [and] the distinctions between bandits, mercenaries, raiding tribes, and legitimate armies became academic" [Hârn 27]. Order, however, was eventually restored. After a failed attempt to revive the old Empire, the city of Coranan established a stable oligarchical republic in 621. Shiran followed suit in 625, and Moleryn a few years later. In 636, Coranan and Shiran established a close alliance (the Thardic League) for joint military protection. After a number of expansionist military efforts, including the annexation of Moleryn, a unified Thardic Republic was established in 674 with Coranan as its capital.

A Return to Religious Toleration

The city-state republics formed during the 620's were ruled largely by mercantile families who had survived the ravages of the Theocracy. Looking back on history for a model of stable government, they remembered that the Empire had flourished during the days of religious toleration, and that decline and collapse had followed the fanaticism of Saurach and the anti-ecclesiastical policies of Shorka/Workol. They also recalled the horrors of theocratic rule and the chaos that had followed its collapse. For reasons then, that were as much pragmatic as nostalgic, these republics made the remarkable decision to estabish a secular state, one that granted freedom to all churches-- even to the hated Morgathians-- and gave special priveleges to none. When these oligarchies became a unified republic, the principles of secular tolerance were preserved.

This is not to say that the Thardic government is wholly disconnected from religion. At the start of each Senate meeting, "[t]he Chaplain of the Senate pronounces a non-denominational invocation to ask the gods for their blessing" and the Republic's Haruspex (an official interpreter of omens) gives a report on recent signs of import [Tharda 6]. What makes the Republic remarkable in Hârn is not that it is an irreligious state, but that it is a non-sectarian one.

Haleanism in Tharda

In the Republic's atmosphere of religious freedom, the Halean church quickly rose to dominance. Halea, whose worship had gained in popularity among the mercantile classes of the Corani Empire following the arrival of first missionaries from Karejia around 410 TR, continued to be cherished in secret by guildsmen even during the Theocracy. When these same guildsmen came to power in the new city-states of Coranan, Shiran and Moleryn in the 620's-- and even greater wealth when they used this new-found power to obtain land for themselves outside of the cities-- the restored Halean church prospered. Within a few decades, it became the most powerful and wealthiest church in all of Tharda. Although the Thardic Republic remains officially secular, the Halean church has come to wield a substantial (albeit informal) political influence, particularly in Shiran province. There are some Haleans who feel that their faith gain should possess a more 'official' status, but most church's officials see little advantage in changing the current arrangement.

Other Faiths in Tharda

Even during the Theocracy, the reverence of Peoni remained popular among peasants and large segments of the urban poor. The church quickly re-established itself after the restoration of order in the 620's. Since then, however, the church seems to have lost some ground among both urban laborers and wealthier peasants, many of of whom are gradually embracing Haleanism. The Peonian church still commands the loyalties of the overwhelming majority of farmers, of course, but it remains poor and wields little political influence.

Recalling how followers of both Agrik and Larani had both defended their cities against the jihadists and later warred against the theocrats, the Thardans welcome the return of both churches in the 620's and 630's. Both faiths still enjoy moderate popularity in Tharda (particularly among legionnaires and fans of the Pameasani Games), but the tendency towards zealotry displayed by both churches, combined with their close associations with rival states (Kanday for the Laranian church, Rethem for the Agrikans) has caused many Thardans to become increasingly wary of these martial faiths. The seizure of Themeson keep by the Agrikan fighting order of the Red Shadows of Herpa in 708, and the Laranian's repeated calls for "a return to the Imperial system and the introduction of hereditary feudalism" have not helped either faith's reputation in the Republic [Tharda 8].

The church of Save-K'nor attracts a limited number of adherents from urban families; temples of all three of its orders are found in Coranan. "The Hyn-Aelori maintains archives and takes little interest in politics. The Rydequilyn satirize political life in the Republic and act as social critics. The Shea-Al-Aecor exerts a subtle influence in Thardic politics" and many of its members "hold influential posts in government or with wealthy clans" [Tharda 8].

In Tharda, the "church of Ilvir is poorly organized and has few adherents", as is typical in western Hârn [Tharda 8]. The Order of Seafarer Ibenis in Shiran maintains a small temple that serves as a staging area for the handful of Ilviran pilgrims who pass through the city on their way to Araka-Kalai. The order also helps to procure Ivashu for the Pamesani Games, although "an intinerate faction of the church regards this practice as sacrilegious, and may be responsible for the release of Ivashu held for the Shiran games" [Tharda 8]. There are no Ilviran temples in Coranan, Moleryn, or the Republic's other major settlements.

The church of Morgath has few adherents, but maintains a sizable temple in Coranan. Although it is legal in the Republic as a whole, the church of Naveh is technically banned in many individual settlements. The proscription is never enforced and does not seem to [weaken] the Navehans. Indeed, there is some evidence to suggest the church actually supports these bans, which help to preserve its secrecy-- not to mention enabling it to avoid paying taxes.

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