Loot Crate Magazine November 2016 Magical | Page 14

book akin to the Bible called The Seven

They have few idols, instead praying to

THE LORD OF LIGHT

who granted their fellow slaves and,

Pointed Star, and a single god with many

the sea itself, though there are some

Though there are many religions practiced

eventually, masters the release of death.

aspects (similar to the Holy Trinity in

rare humanoid figures made of driftwood

in Essos, this one is the most prevalent.

The Many-Faced God, also known as

Christianity). The seven aspects are:

that they keep around the island to

Acolytes of the Lord of Light believe in

the God of Death, is worshipped mainly

represent their god.

one true god: R’hllor, also known as the

by the Faceless Men, a cult of assassins.

Red God. R’hllor is described as a god

They believe that all religions are simply

of light and warmth and life, represented

aspects of their own and that Death

by fire. He is engaged in an endless battle

has many faces or aspects (such as

with a dark god called the Great Other

the Stranger, the Lord of Light and

(speculated to be the god of the White

the Drowned God). They offer death

Walkers beyond the Wall) — the source

as a gift to those who seek it, but they

of the “terrors” referred to in the phrase

do not choose who dies. They accept

“the night is dark and full of terrors.”

contracts to assassinate people, but

It is because of this that the Red Priests

are strictly forbidden from killing for

and Priestesses seem more concerned

vengeance or any other personal reason.

than anyone else about the threat the

They get their name from their practice

White Walkers pose to humanity.

of using the faces of those they kill as

1. The Father: Represents justice.

However, the Drowned God is not the

2. The Mother: Represents love

only god they believe in. They believe

and compassion.

their god is in constant battle with
the Storm God. Much like Vikings,

3. The Maiden: Represents innocence

the Ironborn believe that any brave

and purity.

warriors who drown are brought to the
Drowned God’s feast halls (a parallel

4. The Warrior: Represents strength.

to brave warriors going to Valhalla in

5. The Smith: Represents building

Norse mythology).

and labor.
THE GREAT STALLION

6. The Crone: Represents wisdom.

The Dothraki religion is similar to many
early religions in our own world. The

Followers of the Lord of Light, particularly

Dothraki, a nomadic civilization, don’t

the Red Priests like the lady Melisandre

Naturally, with seven gods, there are

just believe in one god, but instead

and Thoros of Myr, demand that all

seven heavens and seven hells.

believe that their god — the Great

“false gods” have their idols and priests

Stallion — is the best and strongest

burned. They also believe strongly in

THE DROWNED GOD

god there is. They believe that he

the prophecy of Azor Ahai aka The

What is dead may never die, but rises

commands a great horde (or khalasar)

Prince That Was Promised, a warrior

again, harder and stronger. The Viking-

of warriors and will one day unite all

who will be reborn “amidst smoke

like people of the Iron Islands (the bleak

Dothraki under the leadership of the

and salt” and fight against the darkness

and upsettingly moist home of Theon

“Stallion Who Mounts the World.”

with the sword Lightbringer. To that end,

7. The Stranger: Represents death.

Greyjoy) pray to the Drowned God, a
deity of the sea — which makes a lot

Though their religion lacks the

of sense considering how much their

organization of others on this list,

culture relies on the ocean to sustain

they do have strong beliefs and customs.

their reaving and pillaging way of life.

For example, a dead body must be
burned in order to join the Great Stallion’s

They believe in taking what they need or

khalasar in the Night Lands (the afterlife)

want from weaker peoples, a practice

and leaving a body to rot or desecrating

they call “paying the iron price,” as it

a corpse is akin to killing the soul. They

is considered dishonorable to pay for

also prohibit any bloodshed in their

something with gold. Their people are

city, Vaes Dothrak. They follow “omens”

baptized in the sea and new kings are

seen in the natural world and are highly

coronated by being drowned (those

superstitious, strictly avoiding what

who survive are strong enough to lead).

they refer to as “blood magic.”
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masks, removing their own identities
and becoming “no one” in the process.

the Red God has granted his followers
the ability to “see” the future in flames,
and resurrect the dead. So far, there
have been several candidates who
might be this prophesied savior, such
as Stannis Baratheon, Beric Dondarrion,
Jon Snow and Daneyrs Targaryan.
THE MANY-FACED GOD
The final major religion seen on the
show is Death. After all, all men must
die (“valar morghulis”) and all men must
serve (“valar dohaeris”). The religion
originated amongst Valyrian slaves
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