Animism is a spiritual belief common to many ancient societies, that certain natural places, rocks, rivers or mountains have a distinct spiritual essence.
Belief
This is in a series of articles about religions and beliefs.
Animistic religious practices are found throughout
The Anrel Isles has a rich polytheistic philosophy that sees the world as inhabited by many gods and willful spirits. They view all world religions as valid, but believe gods are tied to certain lands and places. Deities can therefore have separate or even conflicting mythologies, but these are accepted because they are the story of that particular deity. Gods, being non-human, can be capricious and irrational, and their followers adopt a pragmatic attitude to worship. Prayer …
Ashera is the ancient Gaal mother goddess, who under the Empire of Dor-en-Sann became chief of the many faces of the Mother of All Aspects. Ashera remained the figurehead of the Imperial Cult within the ancient church, her devotees being called Asherites. Since the founding of Ororr there have been repeated scares of shadowy figures in the
Beasts of the Apocalypseplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBeasts of the Apocalypse
The Beasts of the Apocalypse are four supremely powerful monsters said to guard the world from the chaos of the outer darkness. They feature in the ancient legends of Anrel and Miyarris, most particularly in the saga, the Tirennion.
According to myth, in the early days of the
Belief Systemsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBelief Systems
Helevos has a wide variety of belief systems. The following are categorisations used by the Rasian Academy to classify different types of faith:
* Binitarianism - belief in two equal gods. (See the Binitarian Heresy, which relates to Therism) * Deism - there is one supreme creator who is now remote from the universe.
Besoan Animism, called Focáoaa [fo-COW-waa], is the traditional folklore and spiritual beliefs of the island of Besoa, which forms the core of ceremonial and religious practice. Historically Focáoaa was the single religious practice on the island, but some modern Besoans have embraced religious practices from TheristTheristTherismTherist
Binitarianism, often called the Binitarian or Dualist Heresy is a belief within the Mother Church of Ororr that the Prophet Therion is also a god, husband to the Mother and equal to her. This belief is denied by the Church and by the writings of the Prophet himself, but it is a persistent folk belief in TherionherOrorrOrorr
Bremahk is a minor god in the Anrelian Pantheon, Lord of the Hunt and the Wild Places. He is invoked by those needing acute senses, good luck, and endurance.
Belief
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He is particularly revered in Sensatard, and by hunters, woodsmen and, unusually, thieves. He has been embraced throughout
Cheliga-Sujata [chel-EE-ga soo-JAT-a] is the traditional animist religion of Veedormim. Meaning “Spirit of the Sun, under the Shadow”, the faith is a highly ritualized form of sun worship, with public rituals to the sun performed at dawn and noon, accompanied by private mystery rites at dusk and night at resolve the inner shadow of doubts and fears.
Church of Hartrahplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigChurch of Hartrah
The Church of Hartrah is the state religion of Harthera. It faith combines ancestor worship with the principle of the god, Hartrah, who is the spiritual fusion and synthesis of all the righteous ancestors of the nation who have gone before. Upon death, your spirit begins its ascension and merging with the Godhead. During the lifetime of the family, spirits are still present and contactable, so they can provide guidance and support, and intercede with God to provide strength an…
Church of the Namelessplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigChurch of the Nameless
The Church of the Nameless, also called the Cult of the Nameless, is a subversive religious sect in the Anrel Isles. Their God is referred to as 'The Nameless One', because Anrelians believe that saying his true name attracts his evil attention. Anrel
Cult of the Hanged Manplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigCult of the Hanged Man
The Cult of the Hanged Man, also known as the Menkirians or Hangers, is a faith which flourished in the final decades of the Empire of Dor-en-Sann. It followed the teachings of the Apostate Menkirafed, who was executed and dismembered by the old Imperial Church.
Belief
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Death Breathersplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigDeath Breathers
Death Breathers are the Night-Priests of Veedormim, who use virid narcotics in their rituals. They were contrasted with the Sun-Priests, officials of the state cult.
Belief
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The name was originally pejorative but is now commonly accepted. The Death-Breather cult was at its height in the first century virid
A deital [DAY-it-ul], also called a deivat or god-spirit or god, is an elemental which has achieved a great power and a degree of consciousness from being the focus of human worship.
Magic
magic
This is in a series of articles about magic, thaumaturgy and esotericism.
Dromeism is a system of thought originating in Munatan during the Beryl Epoch, around 2000 BME. It encompasses all aspects of thought, from the fundamental nature of reality and the natural sciences, to principles of ethical behaviour and political responsibility. In its ideas about the fundamental nature of the universe, it shares some concepts with the Miyarrain philosophy of the
Eidolons of Seqalplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigEidolons of Seqal
The Eidolons of the Goddess, commonly called the Eidolons of Seqal, are a triptych of ancient statues carved into the rocky riverside at the city of Seqal in Ororr. The figures are a renowned symbol of the city, being the first thing seen by visitors travelling upriver to the city. green
Gamanang was the greatest of the Dromean philosophers. He was born in 264 BME in the town of Sejenganeng in central Munatan. Little is known about his background, but he studied Plosi astromancy at the school in Sjil. This laid the foundations for his philisophical journey.
BME
Gerod of Ben Akirplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigGerod of Ben Akir
Gerod of Ben Akir is the credited author of the eponymous Mysteries of Gerod, a series of accounts of mystical encounters with gods and spirits, revelations and prophecies. It is considered a holy codex by many who follow the Anrelian pantheon, since it describes the relationship of prayer and ritual which can be performed to attract the good graces of certain deities.
The Giftdark is an archeological civilisation in what is now the Anrel Isles, which flourished during the Celadon Epoch, approximately 3000-4000 BME. The civilisation is named for its elaborate underground temples with tactile features, suggesting they were used in darkness. It is unclear whether the Giftdark culture was a widespread belief or part of elite spiritual practice. Little is known other than the remains of its distinctive temple architecture, which uses alternating spaces o…
The Godmen were the mythical inhabitants of a landmass contiguous with the modern Natorn Archipelago, said to be the ancestors of all the Thalsic peoples of the northern Civilised World. In the Emerald Epoch they created the first great civilisation, referred to as the Realm of the Godmen. The Godmen are said to be mytho-historic, memories of an ancestor race shrouded by millennia of HartheraAnrelAnrelherherAnrelAnrel
Golden Ordinanceplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigGolden Ordinance
The Golden Ordinance is a natural philosophy which was a key element of Miyarrain culture in the latter centuries of the Celadon Epoch. The “ordinance” was thought to be a set of rules or mathematical which were intrinsic to the universe and observed in nature. Its legacy was important to many later movements, from governance to military conflict and aesthetics.
The Greymenplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Greymen
The Greymen were a religious movement in eastern Munatan, an offshoot of, or reaction to the Dromeist philosophy of change. They became infamous in Biinmos in the 10th century, where a fundamentalist cult caused the Greymen Holocaust.
Belief
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Heterodox Churchplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHeterodox Church
The Holy and Heterodoxic Church of the All-Deity, generally called the Heterodox Church, is a syncretic religion which embraces many historic traditions, believing all faiths are at heart the worship of one essential god, and that there are many routes to achieving transcendence.her
The Hexact Ordersplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Hexact Orders
The Hexact Orders are institutions which make up four of the six “pillars of the state” in nations using the Hexact philosophy of government. The Hexact Doctrine does not specify the nature or structure of the four institutions, only their goals and the services they provide. In AnrelAnrelAnrel
Ifrit are malevolent or capricious nature spirits in the culture of Ororr and the historic Occident.
Folklore
This is in a series of articles about oral traditions, tales, folk practices, and folklore.
Ifrit are seen in nature as dust-devils, sudden gusts of wind that blow grit in the eyes, or other unusual natural phenomena. Freak accidents and unlucky incidents are also believed to be the work of ifrit. In modern
Imperial Churchplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigImperial Church
The Imperial Church was the meta-institution which regulated the diverse and syncretic faiths and practices of the Empire of Dor-en-Sann.
Belief
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The vast empire had hundreds of religions, cults and local beliefs, and the Imperial Church's official policy was to find links and commonalities between all faiths, with the uniting purpose of showing that ultimately, everyone worshipped the same godhead, just in differe…
Issid Stone Godsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigIssid Stone Gods
The ancient Issid people had an animist faith, believing that spirits resided in the air and in certain rocks and holy places. They particularly revered certain shaped stones and rocks, leaving offerings and performing rituals.
The ancient Junda had a mixed religion, which developed over thousands of years. It combined ancient tribal belief in shamanic ancestor-worship with a wider nationalist mythology, in a cosmos containing a variety of gods. Latterly the Junda primarily worshipped the Storm Lord, herherherherherherlanguagelanguage
Ketrorl, or Ketrawul, is a god worshipped in the pantheon of Anrel, and to a lesser extent throughout the Natorn Archipelago.
Belief
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The Eagle-Headed Lord of Honourable Accord, he represents the principles of truth, courage, honour and justice. He is one of the gods of state, particularly in
The Melismatics were a sect of Therist mystics in the 2nd century ME who sought spiritual enlightenment through the musical recitation of holy texts. Though their beliefs were not heretical, their desire to live apart and achieve direct communication with the Mother Goddess was seen as schismatic by the Church-State. TheristTheristME
Minasaia is the mother goddess of the Anrelian Pantheon. She is Lady of Serenity and Healing, both physically and spirituality. She is said to appears in various manifestations, most famously as a hairless beautiful woman. There are legends that she sometimes appears as a mother or an old woman, to test the hearts of men.her
The people of Miyarris were pragmatic in terms of religion, and worshipped Patrician Gods, also called Guardian Spirits. These were powerful deitals or demi-gods, charged with protecting the lands of Miyarris from storms and sneak attacks by enemies.
Belief
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Mother of All Aspectsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMother of All Aspects
The Mother Of All Aspects was the Supreme Goddess of the religion of the ancient Empire of Dor-en-Sann. It was officially called the Church of the Mother of All Aspects, more often simply called the Imperial Religion.
Mutualism is a cultural philosophy deeply ingrained in the culture of Otekahré, and in particular in the polities of Kahtoyn. Mutualism emphasises the need for people and communities to work together in harmony to fulfil their common objectives, and strong opposition to hierarchy, violence and coercive control. Without a central authority to regulate the economy, non-monetary economies arise.
Namerism, or Etemuabal, was the state religion of the Grand Palatinate of Saloya, and of many Eloyoun peoples. The faith stemmed from ancient Miyarrain philosophy: that a single entity was the instigator of all life and the entire fabric of the universe. This instigator was Etemua, The Namer.
In the pantheon of Anrel, Natrawul is the capricious god of the sea, prayed to by sailors, travellers and fishermen in hopes of safety and good weather.
Belief
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He has many shrines in coastal towns and fishing ports, one of the largest being the sea-temple in the city of
Nestaia is a god of the Anrelian Pantheon, the Shield Bearer and twin brother of the goddess Minasaia. Statues, particularly old ones, often shown Nestaia and Minasaia standing back to back.
Belief
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Nestaia is invoked particularly for protection in battle, and is also the god of good order. His insignia appears in the royal coats of arms of
Oughtism is a moral and philosophical system, claiming an ancient inheritance from the moral codes of the Godmen. It continues to be influential throughout the Anrel Isles, and it's guiding principles have been the foundation of legal and religious codes throughout the
Purism is a movement in the Church of Hartrah which advocates simplicity and strict adherence to discipline and moral codes. It is often called Chelidt Purism for its origins amongst the Chelidd people of northeastern Harthera. It arose in the 5th century ME, in response to the perceived liberalism and idolatry of the
The Seborim, occasionally called the Church of Seborisand despite its areligious nature, is a secret society with a small, scattered but influential following amongst the upper echelons of many nations. The organisation promotes a secular philosophy of peaceful enlightenment through gradual social reform, and places great emphasis on the appreciation of aesthetics, and the promotion of beauty and art. Its overarching aim is to improve society through the spiritual and aesthetic enlight…
Secra are saints of the Heterodox Church, people respected for the power of their religious faith. Many secras are said to have performed holy miracles, channelling the power of the divine.
Signtism is an ancient philosophy and subculture in the Anrel Isles, one of the many Schools of Thought who found a home in the Rasian Academy. The Grand Master Belikast was born into the Signtist community of Larford, and his association with the culture and the city led to its utter destruction during the
Cultures throughout the Civilised World hold different ideas about the nature of the human soul, the animus that gives living beings life, thought and will.
Belief
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The ancient Doroun had a syncretic concept of the soul being made up of seven distinct parts, including all the physical, spiritual and psychological parts that make up a whole human being. These had been assembled from a variety of Thalsic tribal and early religi…
The Temple of the God-Mountain is a religious site and oracle on a hill east of Mount Karmoque, overlooking a volcanic lake and the mountain. The shrine is the most important site on the island for the native Kokway, who worship the mountain as a god. The voice of the shrine is said to be the voice of the God-Mountain itself.
The Final Friendplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Final Friend
The Final Friend is a personification of death in classical Issid culture, a being who brings comfort and relief to injured soldiers or the sick and elderly.
Belief
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The idea predates the Therist religion, and despite attempts to crush all rival beliefs the Final Friend is still spoken about as a metaphor for death in modern
The Namelessplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Nameless
The Nameless, or the Nameless One, is a supernatural being in the Anrelian Pantheon the personification of chaos and destruction, in opposition to the forces of nature.
The Nameless is therefore opposite to The One, who represents both creation and the natural cycle of birth, life and death. The Nameless is considered to be a malign and corrupting force that sows chaos and breaks the natural cycles of the world. He is therefore associated with war, destruction, plague, famine and …
The Oneplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigThe One
The One is the hermaphrodite progenitor deity in the Anrelian Pantheon, who gave birth to the Godmen and their human descendants, domestic livestock, and all the green plants and red-blooded animals of Helevos.
Belief
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Some believe The One represents the natural cycles of life, birth and death. The force for all life comes from the One, and returns to the One in death. Most believe the One is not a deity who is conscious o…
The Mother Church is the state religion of Ororr, which combines both religion and government in one institution. It is based on the teachings of the Great Prophet Therion, who in the early decades of the modern era raised an army that conquered much of northwestern OrorrOrorrOrorrOrorrOrorrMEMEOrorrMEMEOrorrOrorrHerHerHerHerHerHerHerHerHerher
Theurgy, also called Theosophy, Theosophical magic or holy magic, is a style of magic that instead of using the power of an ordinary elemental, invokes the power of a deital or god-spirit. Theurgy requires no understanding or even awareness of thaumaturgy or other styles of formal magic. Instead, practitioners follow a specific ritual format depending on the action required, usually involving ritual prayer, sacrifice and other activities which induce a heightened level of consciousness.…
Ton-loben, meaning “blood of the stones”, is the animistic spiritualism practiced by the people of La-Err-Rûm in the Dun Jaen mountains. The people believe the mountains are god-spirits, and that rocks are fragments of that spirit which can form a link between the spiritual and human world. Certain rocks and natural formation are revered by the native people and are integral to their ritual practices.
The Tsaarmodites were a religious sect who once lived in the Mangasor desert during the time of the Empire of Dor-en-Sann.
Belief
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They followed an animist philosophy called Tsaarmody, a descendant of traditional Thalsic animism. In particular they believed that certain rocks and rock formations contained an essential spiritual essence. These natural formations were representative of the spirit world beyond our own w…
The Twelve Paths is the religion and philosophy of the nation of Go-ám-gam in Munatan.
Belief
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All of the paths are a system for achieving self-control, enlightenment, knowledge, and balance with the spirits of the land and ancestors. Each path has a different emphasis on what is most important, with differing regimes prayer, meditation, study or physical practices. Different communities and even families are devoted …
Vetthi Churchplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigVetthi Church
The Vetthi Church, also called the Mother Church of Vetth, is a denomination of the Therist Mother Church of Ororr.
Belief
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The Vetthi Church is doctrinally very similar to mainstream Therism, but uses the Vetthi language. It also focuses more on collective worship in church temples. Ororr
Vigil of Deacon Kabeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigVigil of Deacon Kabe
The Vigil of Deacon Kabe is a mystery text significant to the animist traditional religion of Besoa. It is a first-person confession of a deacon or decan, one of the traditional ten intendants of the oracle shrine at Welvér, who mysteriously vanishes during an overnight vigil.
Virid taboo is a social prohibition against foodstuffs or any kind of products derived from virid plants and animals.
Belief
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Historically this was a natural survival strategy, since virid material is often toxic, and contains insufficient nutrients to sustain human life and health.viridviridVirid
Webrokshar is a much-fearer punishment for treachery in Harthera, traditionally used for traitors against family, Church and State. It is so feared because according to Hartheran belief and the Church of Hartrah, it condemns the victim to eternal torment.
Welvér [WELL-vair], also called the Well of Truth, is an oracle and religious site in the southeastern hills of Besoa, important to the traditional animist religion of the island.
Belief
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The site has been used by successive civilisations for many thousands of years, and is littered with ruins and ancient artefacts. The oracle itself is an underground chamber accessed by a stone shaft, believed to have been constructed by …
Welcome to Helevosplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigWelcome to Helevos
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Helevos is a fantasy world of magic and science, divided by two incompatible biologies: the Green Kingdom of humans, trees, grasses, crops and red-blooded animals, and the Virid Kingdom of toxic jungles, poisonous plants, terrifying creatures and airborne infections.
Over thousands of years humans have forged the hundred