The Two Worlds

For the typical inhabitant of Eyru two worlds exist: the world in which they live their daily lives and the "Otherworld". The Otherworld is a land of powerful magics and miracles inhabited by the ancient ancestors of the Eyrian people. This world remains inaccessible to most normal Eyrians.

If the people of Eyru could be said to have "gods" then these ancestors are just that.  By re-telling the tales of these long dead ancestors, the people of Eyru hope to bring good fortune into their own lives. To ensure victory in battle, tales of victorious ancestors may be recited. To give strength to marital bonds, tales of love and companionship will be relayed. In each case, the people seek to draw upon the same strength and power that led the ancestors of the stories to triumph over their obstacles and adversaries. But the Otherworld influences Eyru in more direct ways.

There are paths which lie between the Other and the real; gaps where the "seams" of the physical world are torn and freely mingle with that of the Other. Oftentimes, physical boundaries in the real world represent places where the gaps are weakest. A quiet river ford, an ancient barrow, a trickling stream, even a man-made road. Powerful events in the past have usually consecrated these boundaries. Places where heroic and the seemingly "otherwordly" events have happened right in the mundane world and imparted helped rip open a pre-existing seam or create an entirely new one.   

Here at these physical boundaries, the magic of the Otherworld permeates into the real. This mingling of forces brings about the existence of all sorts of supernatural beings. The eccentric faye, the brutal giants, evil witches, and cunning demons are all counted among these mistrusted and often feared creatures (though they all don't deserve the reputation, see the section on the Faye for more information.) 

Once this understanding was an everyday part of Eyrian existence. In recent times, this knowledge has slowly been relegated to superstition. As the people have turned their worship to more recent ancestors and the heroes of old have left to be replaced with bureaucrats and self serving rulers, the connection has weakened. Heroic deeds, slaying of monsters and wielding of powerful magics have all been forgotten and the "seams" have begun to stitch themselves back together.

Rumor has it that the Wood Between may hold the secrets of this lost link with the Otherworld. Perhaps this is true, though superstition and fear of that magical past has left few brave enough to test these rumors. Those few heroes who possess the courage to brave the unknown are normally mired in the never-ending cycle of wars between the High Clans and the endless politics. 

The Elder Gods (Click for cleric information)

There are still some Eyrians that hold to the old ways. Thier tales speak of ancient beings and heroes who walked Eyru millennia ago.  Many of these ancestors are of the Tuatha de Danann who came from over the sea and wrested Eyru from the Fomorian witches and warlocks. Some are from more recent times, just prior to The Divide. These Elder Gods are often  misunderstood by the general populace though the true Druids maintain a tenuous connection to them. Dedicated worship of these gods is increasingly uncommon. A cleric who elects to worship one of the elder gods may expect a wide variety of reactions among the clans; from adoration to outright fear.

The Founders (Click for cleric information)

These are the ancestors whose worship has slowly replaced that of the Elder Gods. Each of the four High Clans has its own patron ancestor, that of the clan's founder. These four leaders and their memory have dominated clan politics for five hundred years, ever since the departure of the one High King. The background section has a detailed description of each of these clans and their founding. This section details the benefits granted to the clerics of these clan founders.