Religion and the Gods
The most popularly honoured gods in Valdraeth tend to be the Jester, the Celebrant, the Traveler, and the Shadow. Though people also hold their own personal choices close depending on their lifestyles, for instance a Lorekeep may honour the Scholar, a healer the Hearth, a mage the Muse, etc.
The Gods are not seen as a thing to be kept separate, but part of the everyday. You thank the Traveller for getting you back home safe from a long journey, you toast the Jester to drown your sorrows when something goes hilariously wrong, you give a crumb of your bread to the fire for the Hearth. They are not seen as towering unknowable beings separate from the world, but part of the familiar essence of life that makes things colourful.
Of all the professions in Valdraeth the closest to the gods tend to be Lorekeeps though people find ways to express religious devotion through their stories as they do for so many aspects of Valdraeth culture.
A Lorekeep’s priestly devotion tends to be either non denominational, or devoted to their own chosen god, but they fulfill their roles of service in the community regardless of other people’s stance on religion. They do not go out to preach, but invite people in to listen. A Lorekeep will advise you, record your story, see your vows written or broken or fulfilled, and guide your soul to the other side. If you want to make them happy, gift them knowledge for their deep tomes.
Those who spread stories in Valdraeth are commonly devoted to The Jester or the Celebrant, but some are known to work in a third or fourth deity for personal flavour. Whilst a lorekeep will record your story, spreading it is equally encouraged and doing it with flair is important to the people. Spreading stories is a common way to prepare people for festivals and kick off merriment, as well as help people work through laments.
This practice is not limited to drumming up cheer in feast halls and taverns, for instance those who are found on the front lines earn the name battle-callers, as they fiercely weave song and inspirations over those about to fight to prepare them for the violence ahead.
