The Trinity of Albion

One month before the Cataclysm many Harts travelled to the Mists to choose a new Trinity. These were bound to the land and the Pendragon throne with the items of Arthur I – the items that bound the ancestors to Albion many hundreds of years ago.

Most of the people of Albion now follow the Trinity as a whole, although it is a few that follow one of the three as their own patron.

Nethras

Nethras is the Mother Goddess of Albion. She believes that all her children are equal and have a right to be safe regardless of their strength. She also believes that all have a duty to protect each other, with the strongest having the greatest duty to protect those who are weak.
She teaches Toil, struggle, faith and perseverance as the means with which to overcome any adversity.
Nethras is also the patron of Vengeance, and like a mother who has been slighted she will do all within her power to bring those who have wronged those within her care to justice.
Finally she teaches people to live life to the full, to seize every moment and to make sure that they die a good death.

She appears as the wise crone, the bloodied handed hag, The Crow, the Grandmother of the People of Albion, the Mother of the Hunter or the Warrior Maiden.

	We are all born equal; regardless of race, sex or social class. Such notions are lies that The Empire told to separate us from the truth of who we are as a people. A man who is in pain should be comforted as if he were my brother; a woman who has been wronged should be avenged as if she were my sister. Do not expect of others that which you would not be willing to undertake yourself. Those who are weak in spirit seek to reassure themselves through false strength; of arms or of words. They oppress others so that they may hide from the emptiness inside themselves. Those of them who can hear reason should be brought back to the fold, but for those who will not listen only blood will wash away their sins. All life is passing. We cannot choose the time of our death, but it is up to us how we face that time. To die in old age surrounded by family and friends is a good death; to die in youth elbow-deep in the blood of your enemies is a good death. Each of us must chose our way carefully, for that is how our children will remember us

Nethras is the mother of Albion. Her calling is to protect the children of Albion, to nurture them and to protect them. Nethras was once the oldest Goddess in Albion, but she was forgotten for many years, chained from her land by great magical rituals performed by the Empire. People do not know why these chains of magic were broken, but Nethras awoke. Confused and angry at the people that chained her away from her followers. When she first awoke she found kinship with the wild places… those places and creatures that were closest to what Albion was like many, many years ago. At that time, worship in Albion was split. Worship of the Mother was fading with people looking to other ancestors for their belief. In the east the worship of the Mother still held strong due to the faith and devotion of the nobles that followed her teachings. However, in the west, many people committed foul and heinous crimes in her name. In Cornwall the people turned to Igraine, as the Mother of Cornwall. Calling upon her to protect all her children. 

It was decreed that the ancestors would not survive through the cataclysm without great pain and hardship on their followers. So it was said that the people of Albion would choose. During the civil war with Cornwall, the goddess Igraine made a deal with the Mother and Nethras that she would sacrifice herself to their cause if the people of Cornwall were kept safe. The sword of Ages – the symbol of Cornish Unity – was reforged with Excalibur at the sacrifice of the Goddess Igraine, so Cornwall and Albion would be forever one , under one king with no claim other than that of a duchy under the Pendragon Throne. Worship of the Mother and Nethras split the country... with York and Winchester showing fealty to the Mother, and Keswick and Gloucester to Nethras. They each have their champions in the royal court, but an Elf by the name of Yollo ap Carwyn, was the voice of Nethras at the choosing of the Trinity. The Imperial representatives at that time slew Yollo in the name of the Mother and the Pendragon. It was his martyrdom that united those in their cause of Nethras and so the Mother bowed to her and it was Nethras' name and aspect that became the patron of Albion itself.

 Nethras is worshipped in three forms, just as Igraine and the Mother both were. The Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. With Igraine the maiden was the primary aspect, with the Mother, her Mother aspect was dominant. With Nethras, her dominant aspect is that of the crone – the goddess of wisdom.

 The Maiden
As the Maiden, Nethras is a strong and ferocious warrior. Protecting all those who she considers her children, irrespective of their birth, blood or race. It is the warriors of the Maiden that preach protection of those who cannot protect themselves, as well as training those who can bear arms to help their villages and towns to help protect themselves. She is the goddess of battle and the protector of the weak and innocent. For such things are more important than politics or status.

 The Mother
As the Mother, Nethras is the lynchpin of the community. From treating wounds, bringing people into this world, or giving council when needed, those that preach in her name are always treated with great respect. She teaches that people should be content with their place in life and all have a duty to do. It is through blood and sweat and tears that they shall serve Albion. It is the idle and the selfish who hold back Albion, be they lord or leper – everyone has a way of serving.

 The Crone

 The most feared of her aspects, and the most misunderstood, it is in the aspect of the Crone that Nethras is most comfortable. She is the keeper of wisdom as well as the lady of the dead. This does not mean that her following attracts murders and soldiers, but it is the place of her priestesses to make sure the patterns of those who fall are laid to rest and placed back into the cycle. Unliving and corruption of the pattern are foul things that act against all she believes in. It is in this role that she is goddess of wisdom – and people will pilgrimage. 

As for name, to be it matters not. It is how you live your life that matters. Some may call upon Nethras, some up the Mother, some upon Igraine, upon the maiden, the Goddess, the Crone. I believe the Celtic people have a different name for the Goddess – and there is talk that she is even worshipped by the Viper nation. 

If an ancestor is worthy of worship – then it will know what is in our hearts – and be above wars and arguments over what we choose to wear or say. 

Vengeance
I often hear word that Nethras is a lady of Vengeance. This is a common misunderstanding that this is an aspect that you can worship her in. To this I agree completely and believe those that do are the weak-minded 

I often hear my lady compared to a female wolf – one that protects her cubs. This simplistic view is at least vaguely correct. She brings them into this world; she protects them, teaches them to protect themselves, heals them when hurt, and then takes care of them when they die. But to give herself completely to vengeance would be after a last resort. If you need to resort to vengeance, then you have nothing left to live for, everything your life was dedicated to has failed and you feel you only have one recourse left. I have admiration for people who will throw all away for a single cause, and I'm sure the goddess will help them if their quest is worthy… but these are broken people who have failed… and they are worthy of our pity.

Saul D'Arby

 

The Hunter

The Hunter is the spirit of the people and the land and he teaches that they must be in balance.  He guides his followers to work hard and to gain strength through  toil and effort.  He teaches people to work as one, to protect their comrades and their families.  He also is a ruthless enemy when crosses who teaches that morality is a fiction and when it comes down to it there is only predator and prey – and all other considerations must come second.

The Hunter is known to have four common aspects, The alpha (hunter/leader), The consort (dutiful husband, son and father). The respectful woodsman and Jack o' The Green (the trickster).

IIt is also believed by many that the Horned Rat worshipped by the Skathen is the Hunter, although there is some controversy about this.

 

	Man was given gifts that he might choose his own destiny; will to lead (alpha), language to cooperate (consort), empathy to understand (woodsman) and cunning to overcome (trickster). All of nature was set before him; not only as dominion but as provider, teacher and - when necessary - punisher. Those who accept these gifts become predators striving to fulfil their potential. Those who do not are prey and fall by the wayside. Nature is a thing of both beauty and danger. Respect it and prosper by its bounty. Fail to do so and your pride will be your undoing. Stand strong as a pack behind a single alpha. Where one leads all others should follow, and woe betide those who would stand in their path. Those who will not stand with the pack will surely die alone. Those who would challenge the alpha had best be sure they win for such challenges are always answered in blood. Morality is the hiding place of the fearful. Those who lack the will to act seek to justify their cowardice by teaching others to do likewise. Guilt and conscience are merely other names for fear.

Tenets of the Hunter

Nature is a thing of both beauty and danger. Respect it and prosper by its bounty. Fail to do so and your pride will be your undoing.

Do not take The Hunter’s realm for granted, respect the fertility of the soil and the life blood of the animals that feed you.

Stand strong behind a single Alpha

The Pendragon Throne rules Albion and as such is the Alpha that all should back in accordance with The Hunter’s will.

It can be argued that this is about the strong leading the weak and to a certain extent it is. What must be born in mind is that there are different types of strength and in a civilised society it does not all boil down to who can best the other in combat. The nobility rule over the peasantry for they are the stronger, their strength comes from knowledge of how to act and how to use power effectively. The nobility also swear to the Pendragon Throne therefore recognising it as the Alpha.

Morality is the hiding place of the fearful. Those who lack the will to act seek to justify their cowardice by teaching others to do likewise. Guilt and conscience are merely other names for fear.

This is where a lot of contention occurs with the worship of The Hunter, the lesser races perceive this as an excuse to do what they will regardless of consequences and brand those that do not act in their uncivilised manner as cowards. This is not so. This tenet requires us to put aside our own personal opinions and do what is right in the eyes of The Hunter. It may include helping an unliving abomination if its goals coincide with The Hunter’s wishes. This would be morally distasteful to many of Albion’s people but serving The Hunter is about putting his requirements first. Others use this tenet as an excuse for assassinations and murder but having the will to act does not dictate the actions you take; only that action must be taken. If someone is a threat to the Land then they can be taken into custody or challenged over it instead.

The Four Aspects of The Hunter

Alpha

The Leader: Often this avatar is in the form of a bestial pack leader but has also manifested in the form of a ranked soldier or huntsman. The Alpha aspect teaches us to follow good leadership and that a good leader can make the difference in any given situation

Consort

The Son: In this aspect The Hunter is the son of Nethras and teaches us the responsibilities of familial duty. For whilst all under the rule of the Pendragon Throne are one pack your duties to the pack begin with your duties to your family.

Jack of the Green

The Trickster: The Hunter teaches that tricking the enemy is often a prelude to their defeat. This is true for armies as well as individuals. Many great Albione generals have forced the enemy to engage them on their terms using scouts to harass and ambush them so they are worn down before a final confrontation.

Woodsman

The Provider: The woodsman shows us the bountiful nature of The Hunter and educates us in how to live off the land so we do not take to much and leave land infertile or herds culled beyond the possibility of replenishing.

The Pendragon

The Pendragon is believed to be the oldest ancestor of Albion.  He is the guardian of the land of the people and teaches that power comes from unity.  He teaches the people that the living owe a debt to both the land and the future, and hold the land in trust.   

He also teaches that order, fairness and justice are more important than a subjective morality.  Honour should be given to all those who serve, and all of Albion should serve to the best of their ability.
The is also the guardian of the souls of the dead of Albion, and keeps them safe from corruption, although some believe that he sends the dead back at times to help the living and teach them of what they have forgotten.

	Albion is greater than just an area of land or a group of people; it is a spiritual whole from which we are all born and to which we all return. The living have a duty to both past and future generations; to preserve the legacy of what went before and to pave the way for what will come after. Morality is subjective; notions of good and evil are not absolute and cannot be relied upon. Order, fairness and justice however all exist above and apart from simple morals, and these are the virtues to which a society should aspire. Strength comes from unity; a truly united people wield power far beyond the sum of their individual worth. All who serve the land and people have value in their own way; whether they lead, guide, defend of feed their fellow man. Those who serve only themselves diminish their own worth and should be educated by example.

He is worshipped as the Once and Future king. He is represented by the royal line of Albion although often is represented as a knight dressed in white, a soldier in a white tabard or even a White Dragon.

IIt is believed that many that in his form of a White Dragon he was worshipped before the coming of the Empire and this is his darker side that he appears in to bring death and war to those that threaten his people.

The Pendragon is associated throughout Edreja with Law, but his most intimate connection is with Albion.  The descendant of Arthur, his first and greatest servant sits upon the Pendragon Throne, rules by the laws he dictated and wields his sword, Excalibur.  The Pendragon ensures the people and land of Albion have a strong structure to grow within, allowing all to know their duty, and allowing the best and brightest of Albion to rise to her defence.  He is Albion's ancestor of change, ensuring that where change is needed it happens with the least chaos, so limiting the upheaval and associated dangers to the people, land and throne.

Key to this is the structure and traditions of Albion society.  Noble houses protect their people from the dangers of the world, and the people provide them with the goods and services they need to do so.  The Throne watches over all, reigning in over mighty nobles and acting as the judge over disputes between the people.  This pact ensures all can contribute to the safety and improvement of Albion as they are best able, while preventing abuses of the system.  While Nethras and the Hunter watch over the people and the land, the Pendragon ensures the structure stays strong, rewarding the virtuous and punishing transgressors. 

For this structure to work for Albion, it must be freely entered into.  A free man will work honestly and hard, knowing that as he does so he contributes to his own safety and improvement, and that of his neighbours, while under duress no man shall work to his full capacity.  The freedom of the people must therefore be protected and where his people are in bondage they must be released.  He will not stand for any that might, through their needs or nature, enslave his people to his will.

At the great choosing of the Trinity of Albion, the Pendragon was strengthened by those present with one of the aspects of his ancient form amongst Albion, the Bringer of War.  For his people he brings war to challenge them, to show the weaknesses amongst the people of Albion and strengthen them, hardening the people and their protectors.  He grants his followers order in the chaos of battle, allowing their minds to be clear in the most dangerous of games.  To the enemies of Albion, he brings war red and bloody, to break them on the cold fury of his anger. 

To ensure the strength of Albion, Pendragon has given it Law, structure and order, he tests it in the cauldron of battle and draws the skilled to him.  It his throne we serve.

Robert Mortimer

Paladin of the Pendragon

As well as the Trinity, many people of Albion follow their own personal ancestors.