Faith of the Firstborn
The Chosen of Enä/Eänyr is the ancient religion of the Äälar and Äälyn, the only race believed to have been directly created by Clērātas. According to their sacred traditions, the first of their kind emerged fully formed from the Pool of the Ancestors deep within the hidden mountain kingdom of Dölgyd.
Unlike other peoples of Naplica, who were shaped by many gods or arose through war and necessity, the Äälar and Äälyn believe themselves to be the direct children of divine creation. This belief forms the foundation of their culture and identity, fostering a quiet but powerful sense that their people were intended for a higher purpose within the world.
Central to their faith is the belief that Enä/Eänyr created them not only as living beings, but as keepers of knowledge and harmony, destined to safeguard the wisdom granted to them at the dawn of their existence.
Guiding them in this early age was the divine emissary Seppä, who bestowed language, craft, and understanding upon the newborn race. Many believe that Seppä still dwells somewhere within the depths of Dölgyd, continuing his quiet watch over the people he once taught.
Divine Figures
Enä/Eänyr
Creator of the Äälar and Äälyn.
Enä/Eänyr is revered not simply as a god but as the origin of their very existence. Unlike many religions where gods are distant or symbolic, the Äälar and Äälyn see their relationship with Enä/Eänyr as deeply personal: they were shaped by the divine will itself.
Enä/Eänyr represents order, wisdom, creation, and the harmonious structure of the world.
Seppä
Teacher of language, craft, and knowledge.
Seppä is believed to have served as Enä/Eänyr’s emissary in the world, guiding the newly created people in their earliest days. He taught them how to speak, how to carve stone and metal, and how to understand the deeper workings of the world.
Some traditions claim that Seppä never truly departed and that he still resides somewhere within the hidden halls of Dölgyd, observing the fate of his students.
Sacred Origin
The Pool of the Ancestors
Deep within the mountains of Dölgyd lies the sacred spring known as the Pool of the Ancestors. According to their oldest stories, the first Äälar and Äälyn emerged from these waters at the dawn of the world.
The pool is believed to contain a lingering fragment of Enä/Eänyr’s creative power. Pilgrimages to the site are considered one of the most sacred acts in the religion.
The waters are said to reflect not only the sky above, but also the memories of the ancestors who first stepped from its depths.
Branches of the Faith
Though united by origin, the faith eventually developed into two major traditions after the division of their people.
Äälyn Tradition
Guardians of the First Waters
The Äälyn, who remained within Dölgyd, see themselves as the true custodians of the divine origin of their race.
To them, the sacred duty of their people is preservation—protecting the Pool of the Ancestors, maintaining the ancient teachings of Seppä, and safeguarding the harmony established by Enä/Eänyr.
Key beliefs include:
Dölgyd is the spiritual center of the world.
The Pool of the Ancestors must never fall into foreign hands.
Seppä’s teachings must remain pure and unchanged.
The Äälyn tend to be deeply traditional and often view the outside world with caution.
Äälar Tradition
Seekers of the Wider Design
The Äälar, who left Dölgyd to explore the wider world, interpret their divine origin differently.
Rather than seeing their role as guardians of a sacred homeland, they believe that Enä/Eänyr created them to spread knowledge and understanding throughout the world.
For the Äälar, leaving Dölgyd was not abandonment but fulfilment of their purpose.
Key beliefs include:
Enä’s creation must be understood through exploration.
Knowledge is sacred and must be shared.
The wisdom of Seppä should guide the shaping of the world beyond the mountains.
This branch tends to be more outward-looking and engaged with other cultures.
Practices & Traditions
Pilgrimage to Dölgyd
Both branches regard pilgrimage to the Pool of the Ancestors as a sacred act, though it is far more common among the Äälyn who live nearby.
Craft of Seppä
Artisans and scholars dedicate their work to the teachings of Seppä. Metalwork, stone carving, and scholarly learning are considered sacred pursuits.
Ancestral Reflection
Ceremonies are held beside pools or reflective water, symbolizing the connection between present generations and the first ancestors who emerged from the sacred waters.
The Naming of the Firstborn
Children are often given names believed to echo those of the original ancestors who first rose from the pool.
Beliefs & Philosophy
Divine Origin
The Äälar and Äälyn believe themselves to be the only people directly created by Enä/Eänyr, a belief that quietly shapes their sense of identity and destiny.
Knowledge as Sacred Duty
The teachings of Seppä established the pursuit of knowledge, craft, and wisdom as spiritual obligations.
Two Paths of Purpose
The division between the Äälar and Äälyn represents two interpretations of Enä’s will: preservation of the sacred homeland, or expansion of knowledge across the world.
Memory of the First Waters
All life among their people traces back to the moment their ancestors rose from the Pool of the Ancestors, a memory that continues to define their place within the world.
At the heart of the faith of the Chosen of Enä/Eänyr lies the story of the First Emergence, when the earliest children of Enä/Eänyr rose from the sacred waters of the Dölgyd.
From the depths of the Pool of the Ancestors came four beings who would become the foundation of all Äälar and Äälyn lineage. These figures are revered not merely as ancestors but as the first bearers of divine will, chosen to guide the newly born people into the world.
The First Four Ancestors
At the heart of the faith of the Chosen of Enä/Eänyr lies the moment known as The First Awakening, when the earliest children of Enä/Eänyr rose from the sacred waters of the Dölgyd.
From the Pool of the Ancestors emerged two figures at the same moment: the brothers Eero and Kyost. Their simultaneous awakening is considered a sacred symbol of balance within creation—two halves of a single beginning.
Shortly afterward the waters stirred again, and from the pool came the sister-wives who would complete the first generation of their people: Káre and Irmeli.
While other children followed. These four became the leaders of the Äälar and Äälyn and the first bearers of the divine purpose granted by Enä/Eänyr.
Eero
The First Speaker and the Fallen Founder.
Eero is remembered as the first to speak the language taught by Seppä, giving voice to the newborn people as they stepped into the world.
Among the Äälar traditions, Eero is seen as the spiritual father of those who would eventually leave Dölgyd to explore the wider world.
However, Eero’s life ended in tragedy. During a conflict with raiders from Scyltheld, he was slain defending his people.
Kyost
The Eternal Guardian.
Kyost, brother of Eero, became the protector and ruler of Dölgyd after the death of his sibling. Where Eero represented the outward voice of their people, Kyost embodies endurance and guardianship.
He continues to rule the mountain kingdom, serving as both monarch and living link to the first moment of creation.
To the Äälyn, Kyost represents the fulfilment of their sacred duty: to remain in Dölgyd and protect the birthplace of their people.
Káre
The Keeper of Memory.
Káre is remembered as the one who preserved the earliest stories of their people. After Eero’s death, many traditions say it was she who ensured his deeds would never be forgotten.
Through her songs and teachings, the memory of the First Awakening and the sacrifices of the early age were preserved for future generations.
Because of this, historians, storytellers, and scholars often dedicate their work to her.
Irmeli
The Mother of the People.
Irmeli is remembered as the one who nurtured the first communities of their race. While Kyost guarded Dölgyd and Káre preserved memory, Irmeli guided the formation of families and traditions that allowed their people to grow.
She symbolises unity, compassion, and the stability of society.
Many of the ceremonial traditions surrounding family and lineage are attributed to her teachings.