Erebonian Folklore (エレボニアの伝説・伝承, erebonia no densetsu tenshou) is a book series that can be collected in Trails of Cold Steel.
Volume 1
[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
Volume 2
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 second 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.
[Unicorn]
Sacred creatures, pure white in color, with a single horn that is said to be capable of curing any illness. Legends state that only virgin maidens are able to touch one, and as such, it has been adopted as the symbol of St. Astraia Girls' Academy.
[Gnome]
Granted the people of old the knowledge of steel. A staple of ancient legends, giving heroes the weapons they need to overcome the trials ahead of them.
[Witch]
Practitioners of witchcraft and black magic who are said to live among us. Various legends regarding their nature remain all over the continent, and both good and evil witches supposedly exist.
[Vampires]
Vampires are powerful fiends said to suck the blood of humans. There are many tales that exist regarding them, with some stating that they turn to ash in sunlight and others suggesting they have no reflections, but all concur that they have significant enough power to be known as 'the king of fiends.'
-J. Arendt
Volume 3
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 last 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.
[Dark Dragon]
An evil dragon said to have emerged from beneath the earth in Heimdallr during the early Dark Ages. It is said that the miasma it exhaled turned the capital into a city of the dead, resulting in Erebonia's center being temporarily moved to Saint-Arkh to the south. Though no hard evidence exists to verify these claims, according to the legends, it was eventually vanquished by the emperor and his knights.
[Great Knight] A giant knight claimed to have appeared on the continent on numerous occasions since even before the Erebonian Empire was founded a thousand years ago. Existing descriptions of it are vague and differ between regions, suggesting that its existence is mere legend.
[Immortal King] Terrifyingly powerful fiends which exists in many tales across the country. Said to wield a staff and have a skull for a head, they are rumored to steal the lives any who witness them. The origins of these particular creatures are unknown, and some provinces regard them as no different from the Grim Reaper.
[The Crimson Demon] A fabled devil said to wield a thousand weapons. Accounts describe it as wreathed in flames, but only a small number of reports exist, all found in the areas surrounding Heimdallr.
-J. Arendt
