(Introduction by James Chokey)
Among most other Hârnic churches, however, there does seem to be general agreement that the souls of the dead will transmigrate to the dwelling-places of their respective deities (assuming, of course, that they died in a state of divine favor). Thus, the souls of the dead go to different places, depending upon which gods they worship: Agrikans go to Balgashang, Haleans to Corsilea, Sarajinians to Talagaad, Siemians to the Blessed Realm, etc.
This document addresses Peonian and Laranian conceptions of the afterlife, or as they sometimes call it, "Heaven". The material presented includes:
"Peoni dwells in the enchanted meadows of Valon where it is forever spring. Valon is an impossibly verdant field of flowers, rich in delicious nectar, able to regenerate themselves overnight. This is the heaven of Peoni's worshippers. Here, in humble but pleasant cottages dwell those who have laboured hard in life. The common belief is that Valon is on Yashain."It is widely held that the meadows of Valon are four in number, but they are variously differentiated from each other by different groups of believers. Some take the view that there is a eternal repeating sequence to life in Valon, of which mortal life is but a poor reflection:
[GoH, Peoni-1]
"Just as in the mortal world a single year is comprised of four seasons, and just as a mortal's life may be seen as a progression of four seasons, so it is in Valon. Yet how much more wondrous it is in that place, such that excesses and immoderation are unknown, and a life does not die to give birth to another, but lives on forever in its purest form."This brief statement, while generally sufficing for the majority of lay adherents, raises as many questions as it answers. Generations of priests have puzzled over the grander implications of Harbraen's above passage: Are children born in Valon? If so, where does their "life" come from? What happens to the bodies after winter? Are they rejuvenated? Reborn? With the same form they possessed previously? Answers to these questions remain elusive.
[Saint Harbraen, c. 430 BT]
"Larani dwells in Tirithor, which may be translated as the Kingdom that Guards or the Land of the Mighty. Tirithor is probably located on Yashain and is constantly at war with the realms of Agrik and the other evil deities. Tirithor is organized as a feudal state; Larani is the Queen; her barons are demigods, her knights are slain heroes. The fertile countryside is divided into manors and worked by yeomen and a virtuous peasantry. Tirithor is the feudal ideal."
[GoH, Larani-1]
"The heart of Tirithor is the legendary castle of Dolithor, seat of the goddess and haven of her followers. It is said to be the fairest structure in two worlds, and the strongest fastness, although followers of Agrik claim the latter distinction for Balgashang. Dolithor stands atop a hill and from its parapets the goddess may view the whole kingdom and marshal her forces for its defence."
[GoH, Larani-1]
A fairly common view among followers of both Larani and Peoni, is that the land of Tirithor is either surrounding, or a part of, the Fields of Valon.
In a 4th century manuscript from the Peonian temple in Cherafir, an ambitious illuminator even provided a map of the two realms:
This map is interesting both for its debt to historical symbolism
and for the illuminator's creativity. It seems clear that whoever was
responsible for the representation had access to, or well remembered,
a copy of Saint Vellian's tales of early Peonian martyrs, Unto
Heaven Called.
The most remarkable feature of the map, however, is the skillful use of the so-called "Mountains of Sorrow" to provide the boundary between Valon and the dominions of Agrik where Tirithor does not reach (on account of its crescent shape). It is debatable whether this is an accidental or purposeful imitation of the legend of St. Pelen:
"While still a young man, Pelen heard the call from the Goddess, and left his fields. He wandered far, searching for a person to show him how best to serve the Good Mother; but wherever he went, none would teach him, for they saw that he was more holy than they. And because of this, as he traveled, he was followed by many people, priests and non-priests alike, who had adopted him as their guide and mentor. Pelen was distressed at this, for he did not regard himself as worthy of disciples, telling those who followed that they should answer their own call. Few listened to his words, and the number of his followers grew.A few scholars and theologions have suggested that Tirithor and the Fields of Valon might be different names for the same realm, in which both Larani and Peoni live, but this view is not widely endorsed-- especially by Laranians:"It happened then that Pelen came to the foot of a mountain, beyond which lay more mountains, and he called out to his disciples that he was intent to climb this mountain. Whereupon some of the disciples turned back, and followed no longer; but many did not, and went with their master up the mountain. The way was hard, for the mountain was very steep, and. . . . . [to be finished later]" "
"Tirithor cannot be Valon, for their natures are wholly different. The Kingdom that Guards does not guard itself, but rather another place, which is Valon. The ravages that this mighty land suffers, though it stands eternally, are not to be thought of in the Fields of Valon, where all is harmonious due to the very actions of those who dwell in Tirithor. To consider that those who dwell amid eternal spring are subject to the deprivations of Agrikan soldiery is anathema."
[Alraxis of Naris, Laranian Ethelanc, TR 618 ]
The heresy itself is the supposition that there exists, in addition to the four fields of Valon, a fifth, designated especially for those people deemed especially worthy (or, in some variants, especially damned). This runs directly counter to the standard belief in equality for all souls.
The following passage is part of a sermon made by Dalfo to his assembled followers on the hill near Jothet, three days before he was captured and executed:
"... And I say to you that there is not one heaven for all those who follow in Our Mother's wake. For many of those who say "yea" with their mouths, cry out "nay" with their hearts, and the Good Woman is grieved, and wishes such to dwell far from her. But those who are true in their beliefs, and who fight for the Gentle One's sake, are Her most beloved servants. For these, and these alone, is granted the highest honour, to dwell forever beside the Nurturer, and to know without any doubt that they are truly blessed, and in the company only of those who are similarly blessed.""So I say to you not to stand idle, but to use your strength, so that you might not be shamed by living wretched in a pale shadow of the real Heaven, that is reserved for those of true heart and spirit. Rise up, my people, rise up and fight against those who would see you oppressed, and prove your courage. Do not be dissuaded from your path by those destined for the four meadows of Valon; for it is only you, if you flex your might, who will come to the fifth field, the true place of bliss and eternal life."
[Dalfo, Peonian Heretic, 687 TR]
Page last updated: May 31, 2002 by James Chokey