The Faith of the Thirteen

The Faith of the Thirteen is centered on the idea that the founders of the seven kingdoms were of a supernatural, god-like origin. Since they had unnaturally long lifespans, performed feats that no mortal man could ever dream of, and set down law and order in the kingdoms, they are worshiped as though they are gods. There are some who say that the gods still walk among the people, though there have been no definitive sightings of any of the Thirteen in a very long time.

The Faith has a number of moral strictures to which its followers are expected to adhere. It preaches against theft, adultery, siring or bearing bastards, incest, and kinslaying. Those who point out that the Thirteen themselves engaged in all of these activities are admonished that the Thirteen were divine beings who lived in a very different time. It should also be noted that the Faith takes on different "flavors" depending on the Kingdom in question--in the Stormlands, for example, theft and adultery are the only moral strictures emphasized, while the North puts a heavier emphasis the stricture against kinslaying. The High Tredecon and his council of Most Devout try to reconcile these differing emphases, but rarely get far.

Priests of the Faith of the Thirteen are referred to as Tredecons, while Priestesses are referred to as Tredeca. All of the Greater Houses have at least one Tredecon and Tredeca who live in the House's keep, and often have more either in the keep or at a nearby sept. Most of the Lesser Houses have either a Tredecon or a Tredeca who lives in the House's keep. Tredecon and Tredeca alike train for five years in a central sept of their Kingdom. The high sept of the religion is located in Oldtown, and is known as the Starry Sept.

While all Tredecon and Tredeca are conversant with all of gods of the Thirteen, they frequently devote themselves to a single one of the Thirteen, in the form of an Order. Some of the Thirteen have more than one Order devoted to them. The Order that a Tredecon or Tredeca chooses influences the vows that they take. All orders take vows of obedience to their rulers and service to all. Most orders take vows of chastity, but some encourage their members to have families. Few orders take vows of poverty. Some orders have unusual special vows that their members take--for example, one of Deirdre's Orders, the Silent Sisters, take a vow of silence that cannot be broken.

Benedict - The Swordmaster

     The god of many of those who take up arms, the Swordmaster is a stern and exacting god. His followers strive for perfection in their own lives, particularly in martial matters. Most revered in the Kingdom of Mountain and Vale. His colors are orange, yellow, and brown.

Eric - The Judge

     The Judge is called upon to distinguish guilty from innocent and right from wrong. He is appealed to by those who have been wronged as well as those accused of wrong-doing who believe themselves innocent. Eric is most revered in the Kingdom of the Stormlands, but finds followers wherever justice needs to be invoked. His colors are black and red.

Corwin - The Wanderer

     Corwin is said to have visited every portion of Amber during his lifetime, and may even have traveled outside of the kingdom. The Wanderer is invoked before most journeys, whether they be by land or by sea, as it is said that Corwin has influence even over the gods of the sea. He is most revered in the Kingdom of the Stormlands. His colors are silver and black.

Deirdre - The Warrior Maiden

     Warrior maidens are not common in Amber, but there are some women, particularly in the Stormlands, who have found that taking up arms is necessary. They make their prayers to Deirdre, the Warrior Maiden. Even for those women who do not fight with weapons, the Warrior Maiden is a reminder for women to be brave and strong mentally and emotionally, as well as physically, despite stormy circumstances. Her colors are silver and black, like those of her brother and lover, Corwin.

Fiona - The Lady

     The Lady is the goddess of mothers and families. She is the goddess to whom people pray for the good of their family--good marriage matches, prodigious numbers of offspring, and safe childbirth number among those areas dear to her. She is most revered in the Kingdom of the Rock, where her descendants have long had large and healthy families. Her colors are green, lavender, and purple.

Bleys - The Trickster

     The Trickster is a god of pranks and mischief, though he also is the god who people pray to when they want to know if they are being tricked. He illuminates the truth for his most devout followers. He is most revered in the Kingdom of the Rock. His colors are red and orange.

Brand - The Shunned

     Although the Shunned may seem like a god that few would worship, particularly in the wealthy Kingdom of the Rock, Brand is just the one to hold that title. He is prayed to by those who are in desperate straits, who have nowhere to go but up.  He is surprisingly not followed widely by the smallfolk, many of whom follow gods who promise greater earthly rewards. But the Shunned is the one who people pray to when no other god will hear their pleas. His color is green.

Llewella - The Seaborn

     Llewella, born of the sea, is rarely revered on the mainland of Amber. In the Kingdom of the Iron Islands, she is seen as a lesser goddess, a subject of the Drowned God. She is, however, the subject of prayers for those on the mainland who must travel the seas as passengers, instead of crew. Her colors are green, lavender, and gray.

Caine - The Captain

     Caine, The Captain, is the god revered by those who take to the sea for employment. As such, some sailors in the Iron Islands revere him in secret, but he is most revered by the coast dwellers in the Kingdom of the North, particularly fishermen. His colors are black and green.

Julian - The Huntsman

     For those warriors who do not excel at swordplay, the Huntsman is often the god to whom they turn. Julian is the master of the hunt, and hears prayers related to hunting, riding, archery, and animals. He is most revered in the Kingdom of the North. His colors are white and black.

Gerard - The Warrior

     The Warrior shares some areas in common with his brothers Benedict and Julian, but Gerard is the god of physical strength moreso than finesse or skill. He is most revered in the Kingdom of the North. His colors are blue and gray.

Florimel - The Beauty

     The Kingdom of the River Lands holds beauty in high esteem, so it is no surprise that their foremother, Florimel, is worshiped as the Beauty there and elsewhere. She is the goddess of the arts as well as natural beauty. Though few people direct prayers to her, she is praised when things of beauty come into being. Her colors are green and gray.

Random - The Fool

     Few in Amber revere the Fool, but all know that he has his place--it is he who says what cannot be said by others, it is he who points out that his betters are behaving foolishly. Despite this, as many of those in the Reach claim descent from Random, they revere him as their ancestor. He is also popular among the young, who have been known to use their worship of him as an excuse to subvert conventional morality. His colors are orange, red, and brown.