Traditions of /haha/
The people of Selenium has not known proper peace ever since it's unification. Even then, small conflicts emerged as if the state needed to appease the population.
It’s religion, although poorly document in the past, has most likely been adapted to suit the people's need for blooded iron.
The Blessed, the Unfulfilled and the Cursed.
Goddess Selen gave a breath of courage to the Old Dragoons in order to fight their enemies. A debt that can never be paid, not after everything She did to them even when they doubted her authority.
And so they try, oh they attempt to pay their personal sin with Selen, a debt paid only when enough of their blood is spilled.
There is no distinction in rank or title: a swordsman who sacrificed himself in order to allow his comrades to retreat is seen as a hero and a martyr for that particular war, while a king that committed unspeakable massacres against a brave enemy is guilty of the highest treason.
The Blessed
Death is not only carnal, but in soul. A Blessed death becomes a martyr for the cause a person was fighting at the moment. When a Blessed death is decreed by the clergy, it means that the Selenist is officially forgiven by The Goddess herself. Rarely someone survives after committing a heroic deed worthy enough to be bestowed upon with a Blessed death, but those that do live have a legitimate chance in becoming a clergyman, and by extention, a noble without hereditary ties to nobility.
Enemies are not exempt from Blessed deaths, as it's said that they have been touched by Selen Herself. A deceased Blessed enemy that fought heroically against Selenists are eligible for a proper burial following Selenist tradition, albeit not a cerimonial one. Even more rarely, a Blessed enemy might be captured. Those are absolutely not to be harmed; they are given a chance to convert to Selenism or face jail.
Decisiveness and courage plays a major role into Selenium's culture, as it was her first Gift into the Dragoons. She urges them to fight, against all the nefarious elements in the whole world.
Heaven and forgiveness from Her lies in a Blessed death; caused by courage, altruism and bravery; just as She instructed.
Blessed Erik II of Folkstad. He was a horseman in the Unification Holy War who was knocked off his horse during a retreat and refused to surrender after fighting against an overwhelmingly large enemy column on a narrow bridge for hours. He was beheaded, had his body impaled and burned by the enemy forces.
The Unfulfilled
An Unfulfilled death is when a Dragoon passes away without committing any noteworthy deed, but not something sinful enough. By far the most common death, it comes from all walks of life. It is not something that the deceased's family would be ashamed, but it is not a reason to proud themselves either.
The Cursed
Cursed deaths are the quickest way of irreparably losing your entire social upstanding in a single moment. To have a Cursed death means that the person must've consciously committed a great sin. Ranging from cowardice to avarice, there are no shortage of unspeakable sins that can ruin a person.
It is common for a Cursed to be alive before being apprehended. From there, brutal forms of torture are applied in order to make it as painful as possible for the prisoner. Hereafter the prisoner is killed and has their body tied to a stake on top of a large campfire for all to see.
Artist's rendition of the Kiruna Massacre. A crime family and all of it's subordinates were publically executed by the Royal Guard. Public outrage against that family was so massive that it is reported that an enraged group of civilians ran to the remaining survivors and killed them.
Superstition
As any natural development of religion, superstitions are bound to prop up. Selenium is no different, especially after merging other cultures from integrated tribes during the Unification Holy War.
Left-Eye Covering
As a result of cultural merging from Dragonists and Selenists some years after the Unification War, it was common for people to put their left hand over their left eye to represent reverence. After the Dragonian Civil War, however, that practice was banned. That gesture is now considered a symbol of heretism by many citizens. Decades ago, on the height of Dragonist attacks, covering your left eye in any way was grounds for being imprisoned.
Elding
One superstition that was officially adopted into Selenism as a result of its popularity was the Eld. Elding meant killing by burning particularly hated Cursed people, incinerating their charred body and burying them with their ashes stored in an iron box, as to not let it escape.
Elding someone means that a person is so hated that even their ashes are not allowed to be spread into the air, or to be mixed with the soil.
Artist's depiction of two criminals being burned to death. They were to be Elded shortly afterwards.
Dragons
Dragons are particularly sacred for Selenists. Selenism itself has nothing to say about dragons, but they are seen as a representation of the Goddess herself. Thus, they are not be harmed in any way.
Supposed ancient depiction of a blue dragon. Dragons are born with a variety of colors. They are extremely reclusive creatures, and only go out to hunt. If that illustration is to be believed however, it means that dragons are older than all of Selenism.
Holy Sites
Pilgrimage is a common theme around Selenists, especially due to the amount of devotion sites spread throughout Selenium. Selenists go on pilgrimage according to their needs, for example: if one needs fortitude, a pilgrimage is bound to occur at the last battle in the Great Expedition of the Unification in Rjukan.
Near Mount Ember, in the village of Norra, a shrine for courage was destroyed by Dragonists. Thus, any pilgrimage sites near Mount Ember were either relocated to Kalmar, or had their security increased.
Temple built over the Battle of Rjuyan. The mythical status of this battle makes it a definite go-to spot for pilgrimage for all Selenists.
Main Places of Worship
The Most Serene Metropolitan Cathedral of Kalmar is the first thing that comes to mind to a Dragoon when thinking of a holy site. It was built by Johannes II in 890, intended to unite all Selenists throughout Selenium. It quickly became the main church of the kingdom due to its grandiose architecture and it's collection of Blessed heroes' equipment.
The decisive battle near the village of Saafeld during the Unification War is the sign of faith in Selen due to it's significant loss of life on both sides when the enemy forces broke through the left flank of Selenist forces but were saved by a flanking manouver of General Carl Pomusfelt's cavalry. Pilgrimage to Saafeld means belief in Selen even when all hope is lost to a Selenist.
Holy relic located in the Cathedral of Kalmar. It guards the bones of a Blessed commander from the times of the Unification.