View source for Category:Religion

The powers worshipped throughout Avaria are as diverse as the world itself, ranging from an all-powerful creator god to pantheons of local deities to ancestral and nature spirits. The list below represents only the most common faiths likely to be encountered in the game, and is not by any means exhaustive.

= Faiths of The One True God =
Worship of the One True God is perhaps the most widespread single form of belief in Avaria, but this worship takes many different forms. The [[Yehani]] and perhaps a few other peoples have followed The One God for over a millennium, with other cultures only later building their own particular structures of belief around the same deity. The general conception of the One God is relatively uniform across these different faiths, with each believing in the omnipotence and omniscience of The One God, and conceiving of this deity as the Dreamer of all things in existence. However, certain details of The One God's nature differ from one religion to the other and they conceive of their faith communities differently, while each separate religion adheres especially to the teachings of a particular prophet whom they believe to have brought the final and most perfect message of the God.

==[[Yashani]]==

'''Yashani''' is the name for the [[Yehani]] people's worship of The One True God, guided by their compiled texts known as the '''Yashtal''', and by the revelations granted to the chief prophets '''Mari''', '''Nehud''', '''Eshul''', and '''Bithlah'''.  They worship in '''temples''' where rituals are carried out by priests called '''kohanim''', while spiritual leaders and teachers of the community are known as '''ravi'''.

The Yehani were in fact the first to worship The One True God, and they still consider It to be the God first and foremost of their own people. To the Yehani The One True God is '''Elu-Hani''', one of many deities whom the Yehani (as the ancient Yemelites) in error once also used to worship on the same level as Elu-Hani. However, thanks to the Prophet Mari the then-Yemelites were awakened to the recognition of Elu-Hani as the One True God, Dreamer of all things, and the other gods as only lesser deities who either served Elu-Hani or defied It.

The name of Elu-Hani is often rendered as Lord of the Sea, but the fundamental meaning of the words signifies something closer to the captain of a ship. The Yehani see themselves as Elu-Hani's crew, obedient to Its command and eager to carry out its directives, and indeed to live their lives according to the rules of their captain. Though Elu-Hani may at times be fearsome and seem harsh in Its demands upon the Yehani, this is because It alone knows their true course and in Its wisdom must command them in such a way as to see the ship and crew as a whole safely through existence. When the ancient Yemelites changed their name to the Yehani, this was meant not to suggest merely the people of Elu-Hani, but Its crew, those actively carrying out Its wise orders and thereby accepting Its covenant to conduct themselves safely through life.

While others are not discouraged from acknowledging Elu-Hani as the greatest of all gods and the Dreamer of the Dream, Yehani believe that The One God specifically created the Yehani to serve and love It and follow all its strictures, and that Elu-Hani in turn focuses Its chief care and attention upon them.

The Yashani faith is followed wherever the Yehani themselves can be found, most typically the lands encircling the '''[[Adelantean Sea]]''', but also in [[Marzum]] and throughout the '''[[Sea of Sala'ah]]'''. Besides Yehani, some others who spend much of their lives at sea find Yashani attractive and have converted to it.

== [[Kalentism]] ==

'''Kalentism''' is worship of the One True God by those who follow the teachings and example of the prophet '''Kalen'''. To Kalentians the One God is '''Dionos''', signifying Our God in the sense of the universal deity of all mortalkind and the Dreamer of all the Dream. Although Kalentians believe that Dionos is the singular deity of all creation, they also believe that Kalen himself is the Song embodied in mortal flesh, known in both his person and his message as '''the New Song'''.

The religious community of Kalentism is known as the '''Kalentoi''', or the People of Kalen. Kalen, who was burned at the stake but reborn from the ashes, is seen in the image of the phoenix and therefore known by the full title of '''Kalen Phoinikos''', and as lesser birds flock in the wake of the great phoenix when it makes its passage from land to land, so those who revere Kalen are often referred to as part of the '''flock''' of the faithful. Kalentics worship in '''churches''' where services are conducted by various clerics which may include '''deacons''', '''biscops''', and even '''archbiscops'''. The Kalentic church features an intricate hierarchy, reflecting the Kalentian worldview that sees each person, creature, plant, and object in the Dream having its own proper and preordained place.

The Kalentic faith features an enormous array of '''saints''', women and men who lived lives of the greatest virtue or died in defense of their religion or the Kalentoi community. Saints are revered, not worshiped, and all their powers are believed to be granted through Dionos and Kalen. They serve as intercessors between the faithful and the One True God, and even after their death are capable of working miracles. The greatest saint of all is '''Elen''', the twin sister of Kalen and the object of significant reverence among many Kalentians. Dispute over the exact nature of Kalen and Elen, and the precise relationship of each with the Song and Dionos, has been the deciding factor in the creation of various schismatic sects of Kalentism.

The Kalentic religion predominates across most of '''[[Ruvera]]''' and into '''[[Ruleska]]''' where it is part of the '''[[Kalentoi Empire|Holy Kalentoi Empire]]'''. It is also the religion of '''[[Kuslovik]]''' in '''[[Altaruleska]]'''. Divergent sects, such as Nabhetic Kalentism, are found scattered across '''[[Amunat]]''' and other parts of the '''[[Sirdabi Caliphate]]'''.

== [[Azadi]] ==

'''Azadi''' is the faith of those who worship The One True God according to the tenets of the '''Perfected Song of God''', as revealed to the [[Sirdabi]] prophet '''al-Azad'''. Azadi call the One God '''Annur''', signifying a holy commingling of pure light and harmony, and believe that It is the sole deity in the universe and the Dreamer of the Dream. Besides the Perfected Song, Azadi also consider the '''Remembrances''' of al-Azad to be divinely inspired and use them to guide their personal actions as well as the community as a whole.

The Azadi faith community is collectively known as '''the Redeemed''', as having been released and redeemed from the bondage of religious error, just as the Prophet al-Azad was released from a prison both physical and spiritual following his first revelations from Annur. Azadi have no priests or priestesses, but instead simply have prayer leaders called '''imams''' who conduct services for the faithful in '''mosques'''. Just as important as the mosque is the '''sirdab''', a garden with accompanying water features which promotes ''al-ansijam'', a fusion of internal and external harmony. The Song and the concept of harmony infuse much Azadi thinking and practice, to the point where another name for the community is the People of Harmony.

Though Azadi deny that any other gods exist, they do believe in semi-divine angels who exist as helpers to Annur and workers of various small miracles in the world. They do not have saints in quite the same sense that Kalentics do, but many do believe that some individuals and their families possess a special holiness that is similar. These are called generically ''wali'', which may also be used as a form of address, while in north [[Idiri]] especially they tend to be known as ''marabouts''.

The Azadi religion is most common in the lands of the '''[[Sirdabi Caliphate]]''', where it is also the state religion. This includes the lands of '''[[Ruleska]]''' and north '''[[Idiri]]''' as well as '''[[Zalawi]].''' Other practitioners of Azadi can be found in '''[[Jalanjhur]]''', '''[[Yalanbari]]''', and throughout the '''[[Sea of Sala'ah]]''' more generally. Although now part of the Kalentoi Empire, '''[[Cadenza]]''' also still harbors significant numbers of Azadi.

= [[Elestaarianism]] =
The followers of the God of Good Thought are known as [[Elestaarianism|Elestaarians]] after the original founder of the faith. Elestaarianism is native to the realms of the former Irzali Empire, though adherents of the God of Good Thought can be found scattered through much of central Ruleksa and other parts of the present-day [[Sirdabi Caliphate]].

The God of Good Thought is neither all-powerful nor all-knowing, but rather relies on a willing partnership with mankind to promote all that is good in the world and to strive against the evil in it. Elestaari takes an overall positive and optimistic view of humanity, perceiving mortals as worthy partners of the God and fully capable of overcoming evil in themselves and the world around them, even if it takes continual striving. They also believe that while the true nature of the God may be unknowable to mortals in life, they are able to fully understand the will of the God through their reason and their innate knowledge of good. Since the God is neither omnipotent nor omniscient, Elestaarians need not struggle with the question of why the God might permit evil to be in the world, or allow terrible things to happen even to good people. Instead, evil forces are acknowledged simply to exist in the world, and the God has created humanity to aid in combating it. Elestaarians believe that the actions of virtuous humans are necessary to the struggle, and to create the most beautiful harmony of creation.

In fundamental Elestaarian dogma, the God of Good Thought struggles only against the general manifestation of evil in the world, and there is no true antithesis to the God, no divine antagonist consciously opposing him. Over time, however, it has become increasingly accepted by many practitioners of the faith that the Unbeing is the supreme evil force against which the God of Good Thought and his followers must fight. Although this is a deviation from the actual teachings of Elestaari, the majority of Elestaarians now accept this personification of the world's evil, perhaps in part influenced by followers of the One True God and their belief in the archfiend.

Elestaarians are often described as fire worshipers, which is a misrepresentation of their reverence of fire as the visible manifestation of the God's light and warmth. However, it is true that every temple to the God of Good Thought contains a sacred flame that is never allowed to go out save as part of certain rituals involving the ceremonial renewal of the fire. Elestaarians are also rumored to be practitioners of certain types of magic involving fire and sunlight. Indeed, a flame created by the manipulation of the light from the sun is considered the purest and most holy flame of all.

= [[Nirzali]] =

Nirzali involves the worship of the goddess '''Nirzali''' as chief among deities, while simultaneously believing in and typically also worshiping other deities and supernatural beings as well. Nirzali is associated with both positive and negative domains, many of them related in some way to water or the lack thereof.  These domains include '''rainfall''', '''fresh water''', '''storms''', '''floods''', and '''droughts''', as well as '''healing''' of both body and spirit. The '''Pole Star''' is also associated with Nirzali and is believed by Nirzalites to be the goddess in her role as eternal '''Outcast''', watching over and guiding the lives of her faithful. In this capacity, '''solitude''', '''sorrow''', and '''spiritual guidance''' are also considered part of her domain.

Worshipers of Nirzali do not make up a distinct community, but instead are part of a larger pagan tradition that includes the honoring and propitiation of numerous other deities, spirits, and elemental forces. However, the goddess does have her own well-organized priesthood, with numerous distinct roles within it. Ordinary worshipers give prayers and offerings at '''temples''' and '''shrines''', while '''priests''' and especially '''priestesses''' conduct rituals at the temples and observe various festivals all meant to care for and honor the goddess.

Nirzali is chiefly an '''[[Idiri]]''' deity, and the goddess is worshiped widely throughout the continent. It has also spread from there to parts of the '''[[Sirdabi Caliphate]]''' in '''[[Ruleska]]''', though its incidence lessens the further one gets from Idiri.

= Other Deities =

== The Unbeing, the Other, the God That is Not == 
It is assumed by many that the entity known by these various names exists solely as part of the Elestaarian worldview, representative of the cosmic forces of darkness and disorder against which followers of the God of Good Thought strive. But in truth the Unbeing has existed -- in the minds of mortals if nowhere else -- for far longer than his supposed nemesis. Ancient oral traditions from millennia past speak of the Unbeing or the Other, and the earliest known written references to this strange and mysterious being go back as far as ancient Amunat. All this being so, it is uncertain how many people have ever actually worshipped this god or considered themselves its followers, despite occasional mention of propitiatory rituals and invocations of the god in matters of luck.

Despite its Elestaarian associations with evil, very little in the traditions associated with the Unbeing can in fact be classified as such. Shadows, reflections, delusions, and hallucinations all have been said to belong to the nebulous realm of the Unbeing; so do the hours of evening and morning twilight, the moments that lie between waking and dreaming, and often the world of dreams itself. Perhaps more than anything, the Unbeing embodies uncertainty and the unknown: chance, chaos, unformed matter, thoughts and ideas not quite realized,  possibility and potential -- for good or ill. The Unbeing is, in short, not so much the God That is Not, as the God That is Not (Yet).

==The Children of Dawn and Dusk==

The Children of Dawn and Dusk are an assortment of pagan deities who collectively are said to reside atop the [[Pillar of Creation]]. They are divine in their extraordinary powers and their influence upon mortals, but often human-like in their passions and ambitions. They are neither omnipotent nor omniscient, but still can perform incredible feats beyond the reach of any mortal, and likewise have greater knowledge of past, present, and future than any human might hope for.

Once one of the most widespread religions in the lands around the [[Adelantean Sea]], worship of the Children of Dawn and Dusk now persists in widely scattered locales, most notably the [[Ruvera|Ruveran]] kingdom of [[Jadniez]] and the city-states of the [[High Hinterlands]]. Other worshipers of the Children can be found in the more isolated pockets of far northern Ruvera and [[Altaruleska]], as well as in pockets of [[Ruleska|Near Ruleska]] and northern Idiri, where they often blend with local shamanic traditions. For reasons unknown to all but those who worship them -- and perhaps not even to them -- all of the Children of the Dusk save for the goddess Neiru are said to have departed from the lands they once occupied, and in their distance are no longer touchable by the prayers and pleas of the faithful.

[[Category:Lore]]