Lo∂brok's Reformation

Lo∂brok's Reformation

The Fylkirs have a fascinating history that they mostly keep to themselves, or the Eddic faithful, but even the common Northman is relatively ignorant of the history of their religious head. They'll say "The Fylkir is the living descendant of O∂inn, the Allfather, the all-seeing one," but not know really (what that phrase means) nor how the exact relation between the Fylkir and the Allfather came about.

Ragnarr Lo∂brok was a Viking. He sailed the world raiding and pillaging. Mostly the Brittanian Isles. He had a soft spot for Christian logical systems and a fondness for Suomenusko bards. Upon being crowned the Fylkir, Ragnarr commissioned gold-leafed editions of the Greater and Lesser Eddas, the Kalevala, and the Bible. This action would forever alter the Eddic Religion, making the Eddas the "Greater Writ" with the Kalevala and the Bible the "Lesser Writ."

This decision - to sanctify religious inclusivism - would forever change the world. It changed the way Vikings treated their slaves. Previously, the Christians were considered weak because they worshiped a "dead god." It was regular to mock the Christians for believing a dead, weak man hanging crucified could be more powerful than the living O∂inn, Thor, or Frey. Closer Norse study of the Bible revealed many similarities between O∂inn and Krist. The study of the Book of Revelations - showing incredible similarities with Ragnarok - and the Book of Joshua - where Krist's ancestors, the Israelites, behave in particularly Viking fashions - eventually merged this variant of Christianity quite seamlessly into the Norse religious paradigm.

The Suomenusko had their own High Priest for the purists, but he maintained increasingly close relations with Ragnarr and successive Fylkirs. The High Priest and the Fylkir would regularly offer sacrifices and blessings in the name of the gods across the Baltic, especially when addressing the other. This practice eventually came to be adopted by higher ranking Christian Priests in the Fylkirate.

While Eddic Religion had a profound effect on the understanding of Northern Christianity (namely that the Israelites worshiped their warrior god Yahweh, a god not unlike O∂inn, Krist was a spiritual warrior, and - depending on the priest - either O∂inn incarnate, or a student of the Allfather), Christianity would have its own profound effect on the Scandinavia.