Blóm, the Goddess and Life and the North
The northerners of Dutoria and sometimes those of Pruina worship the likes of the all-mother Blóm, goddess of the north, life, and rebirth all in one. Blóm is rarely ever recognized outside of Dutoria and the Merosian city-state of Pruina, aside from sometimes in Xocrium where Blóm and their god - The Phoenix - are compared in their similar aspects and principles. Blóm is usually depicted as a young girl with bright, icy blue hair, a crown of yellow primroses atop her head, and a pair of icy wings with feathers that resemble petals.
Principles & Associations
Transparency - Being open about yourself to others and being able to vent out your emotions. Blóm frowns on the idea of bottling up emotions due to it only ever making situations worse than what they have to be. Not lying or being deceitful is also smiled highly upon by Blóm.
Peace and Tranquility - Being calm in all situations and always striving for a state of peace. One should always try to find a peaceful solution to every situation they may get into and be a great example to others.
Understanding and Compassion - Having compassion and understanding for everyone around you, even those who seem not to be the best people to you.
Protection or Heroism - Protecting all those around you and doing everything in your power to care for them, especially if they cannot care for themselves. This also extends to those who are strangers to you or perhaps even an enemy.
Life - Just enjoying life for what it has to offer you and adoring the nature that surrounds you.
Peace and Tranquility - Being calm in all situations and always striving for a state of peace. One should always try to find a peaceful solution to every situation they may get into and be a great example to others.
Understanding and Compassion - Having compassion and understanding for everyone around you, even those who seem not to be the best people to you.
Protection or Heroism - Protecting all those around you and doing everything in your power to care for them, especially if they cannot care for themselves. This also extends to those who are strangers to you or perhaps even an enemy.
Life - Just enjoying life for what it has to offer you and adoring the nature that surrounds you.
Worship
Blóm has been seen as the all-mother of Dutoria for quite a long time. In many of the old texts, Freyer - Dutoria’s lesser god and Blóm’s brother - was the original main god that Dutoria worshipped. This dated back even long before Lady Iris founded Dutoria. It was said that sometime after the birth of Freyer, Ásdís The Primordial - who is seen as the universe personified and seen as the old creator of all things - had another child who would soon be named Blóm. It was said that the original dutorians and even other beings of life were created from the sounds of her young laughs.
No matter who they are, their history, or what crimes they have ever committed - all dead are given the same burial rites and are sent to Blóm’s realm at the edge of the world the same way. Even those who are from Hovell, are given the same burial rites by the children of Blóm - who actively made it their mission to collect every dead body and make sure they got the burial rites they deserved.
Shrines and statues of Blóm are built in many of Dutoria’s cities and several places in Pruina. One can always find worshippers gathered around these holy structures usually hosting community prayers. There are also small kirks of worship within many cities and towns just in case the weather outside is not the most favorable. There is one place of major worship for Blóm in Dura called, The House of Life. This sainted cathedral is home to a good portion of Children of Blóm, The Head Priest/Priestess, and is always welcome to everyone so they may worship Blóm in the sanctuary.
While most of Dutoria and those in Pruina celebrate Blóm, they sometimes disregard some of her key principles in the belief that they are outdated for the modern world. Most are somewhat loose on their beliefs and don’t mind the coexistence of deities from other civilizations - though they will always hold Blóm in higher regard.
No matter who they are, their history, or what crimes they have ever committed - all dead are given the same burial rites and are sent to Blóm’s realm at the edge of the world the same way. Even those who are from Hovell, are given the same burial rites by the children of Blóm - who actively made it their mission to collect every dead body and make sure they got the burial rites they deserved.
Shrines and statues of Blóm are built in many of Dutoria’s cities and several places in Pruina. One can always find worshippers gathered around these holy structures usually hosting community prayers. There are also small kirks of worship within many cities and towns just in case the weather outside is not the most favorable. There is one place of major worship for Blóm in Dura called, The House of Life. This sainted cathedral is home to a good portion of Children of Blóm, The Head Priest/Priestess, and is always welcome to everyone so they may worship Blóm in the sanctuary.
While most of Dutoria and those in Pruina celebrate Blóm, they sometimes disregard some of her key principles in the belief that they are outdated for the modern world. Most are somewhat loose on their beliefs and don’t mind the coexistence of deities from other civilizations - though they will always hold Blóm in higher regard.
Celebrations
The Spring Festival (March 20)
A celebration that commemorates the end of winter and the start of the spring season or ‘the season of new life’. This is a giant festival hosted in just about all parts of the kingdom to celebrate the new season and to give thanks to Blóm for bringing new life as she usually does throughout the year. One can expect to see most people wearing more comfortable and more colorful attire.
The Winter Ball (December 21)
A celebration that commemorates the start of the winter season. This ball is hosted across the entire kingdom, some just being hosted in town squares if the weather is not bad and is quite favorable. One can expect to see most people wearing their most elegant attire, with most choosing to wear white to represent Blóm bringing in the winter winds. The ‘main’ ball, however, is hosted in Dura and everyone (Including dignitaries being the Princes/and Princesses of Meros and Lords/ Ladies of Xocrium -And the rest of their nobility if they so choose to attend) are invited for a good time.
A celebration that commemorates the end of winter and the start of the spring season or ‘the season of new life’. This is a giant festival hosted in just about all parts of the kingdom to celebrate the new season and to give thanks to Blóm for bringing new life as she usually does throughout the year. One can expect to see most people wearing more comfortable and more colorful attire.
The Winter Ball (December 21)
A celebration that commemorates the start of the winter season. This ball is hosted across the entire kingdom, some just being hosted in town squares if the weather is not bad and is quite favorable. One can expect to see most people wearing their most elegant attire, with most choosing to wear white to represent Blóm bringing in the winter winds. The ‘main’ ball, however, is hosted in Dura and everyone (Including dignitaries being the Princes/and Princesses of Meros and Lords/ Ladies of Xocrium -And the rest of their nobility if they so choose to attend) are invited for a good time.
The Children of Blóm
The priests and priestesses said to be sent by Blóm herself to enact her will upon the world. They closely follow Blóm’s principles, acting as artists, teachers, poets, writers, etc. of Blóm. Some Children of Blóm, usually being the high priest/priestess, become trusted advisors to the Lords and Ladies. Children of Blóm can be identified through their long veils with embroidered flowers on them. It is even rumored than some high priests/priestesses drink a potion that slowly turn their skin color to a soft purple. No one knows why they do this or if it is even true.
The High Priests/Priestesses
The selected leaders of the Dutorian priesthood and those said to be closest to the northern goddess herself. They are tasked with keeping the priesthood together and being role models for Dutorians and even other Children of Blóm. The head of high priests is High Priestess Adaira Daylily, who has also been serving as the head advisor to Lady Verda Primrose and Lady-Regent Hilda Primrose since Verda’s crowning as Lady at the age of 5.
The North-Touched
An ancient practice said to be only known to be practiced in secrecy by the Children of Blóm. The ‘North’s Touch’ or North Touched is said to be a beautiful blessing given directly from the Goddess Blóm. This blessing has pretty much been the reason the priest/priestesses that serve Blóm call themselves her ‘children’.
While the process itself is kept a very guarded secrets from the rest of Dutoria and the rest of the realm, the stories told by priests and priestesses who have already been granted the blessing from the goddess mark the experience as ‘liberating’; As a process that gets you closer with true yourself and with Blóm as well.
While the process itself is kept a very guarded secrets from the rest of Dutoria and the rest of the realm, the stories told by priests and priestesses who have already been granted the blessing from the goddess mark the experience as ‘liberating’; As a process that gets you closer with true yourself and with Blóm as well.