Erebonian Folklore/Volume 1


 * -|English= Volume 1

Considering the size and history of the Erebonian Empire, it should come as no surprise that it has a wealth of folklore, perhaps more than any other nation on the continent.

This is the first in a series of three books that will introduce a small number of the legends and traditions in Erebonia.

It is my wish that this series will stimulate new interest in the rich history and mythology of this great nation.

[Animism]

Animism is a religious belief native to the land of Erebonia, disconnected from the teachings of the Septian Church. There is no single type of animism; some animists believe that objects in the natural world have a spirit, while others emphasize the reverence of one's ancestors. The animist traditions of the past continue to live on in a number of ways in Erebonia, with the Summer Festival being just one.

While animism may be disconnected from the doctrine of the Septian Church, it does not specifically refute the church's teachings, and in many regions, animist traditions have been incorporated into the beliefs of the Septian Church. Many animists have, thus, been converted to  worshiping the Goddess Aidios while retaining their  traditional beliefs.

Furthermore, the people of the Nord Highlands to the north east of the Empire revere the wind as a spirit, and share many fundamental aspects of their religious outlook with the people of Erebonia.

[Fiend]

An evil creature that differs from the 'monsters' that we know. Most are said to cause harm to humans, and while they are fundamentally similar to the devils which appear in the teachings of the Septian Church, the existence of neither fiends nor devils has been proven.

[Fairy]

Fairies are inhabitants of another world, separate from both spirits and fiends. Descriptions of them vary amongst different traditions. Some liken them to young winged girls, while others characterize them as small people. A number of believers also portray them as being represented by small animals. One thing they all have in common, however, is that they enjoy pulling pranks on people.

-J. Arendt
 * -|Japanese= 『上巻』

【精霊信仰】 七耀教会の信仰から外れた帝国土着の信仰. 万物に宿る霊や、祖先の魂など、捉え方は様々だが、『夏至祭』などの形で帝国では一般的に根付いている. 七耀教会も否定はせず、「空の女神」信仰の一環として組み込んでおり、巧みに習合されている地域も少なくない. なお、帝国の北東・ノルド高原においては「風」が精霊と同じような存在として信仰されており、その在り方は帝国人の宗教観と本質的には近いものがある. 【魔物】 いわゆる「魔獣」とは異なる、悪しき存在. 人間に害を為すものが多く、七耀教会で伝えられる「悪魔」と本質的に似ているようだが、どちらも実在するかどうかははっきりしていない. 【妖精】 精霊でもなく魔物でもない、異界に棲むという存在. 伝えられる外見は様々で、羽の生えた少女的なものや小人、小動物などもいるが、悪戯好きなのは共通している. Ｊ・アーレント