Theology/Culture [Post Kingdoms Theology Here]

[Al'Mamlaka Farsaan]

Theology of the Nations of the World is specific to each and diverse as the cultures that create them. Each one plays host to a Rich mythology that can go back for millennia, explaining everything from war to farming. Use this thread to post any information about your Nation's beliefs or Culture.

Example:

Empire of Lochaber -

-Worships Graham, God of War.
-Believes in (blank) Afterlife.

[United Tribes of Ejrahk]

Ejrahk

The Ejrahk are a monotheistic people where religion permeates their day to day lives. It is not optional to believe, and it is not optional to follow the laws set down by their god.

Chalava- The god of Sacrifice. She is portrayed in an avatar among the Ejrahk as the mountain lion. Because oral lore is prominent among them, there is some variation on what she actually is. Some believe she was truly a mountain lion, others believe that in her time on earth she was a human so proud and fierce that nothing but the cougar could correctly portray her. It is unanimous that she is a supreme god, a jealous one. Her children are blessed, and her children are Ejrahk. Stories abound of her brief time of earth, and her time with the prophet, Ydrek. She taught him the sacred way, and charged upon him the heavy task of finding a people to be hers. She is a harsh god, and is quick to anger and punishment. Despite the fact that her people are blessed, they are sinful and demons dwell among them, sometimes even dwelling in them. Sacrifice and cleansing through pain are the only way to keep demons at bay.

Her teachings are simple in nature, but their interpretation and execution can be a subject of debate. Ydrek mandated her teachings in four pillars of belief, from which he then constructed the unforgiving demands of Ejrahk life today.
1. Sacrifice is the greatest power on this world. It's avatar of combat brings no greater joy or glory.
2. Remain vigilant, for demons stalk among you and look for souls to devour. Cleanse yourself in blood, sacrifice, and discipline.
3. Anyone who gives themselves to the strict life of Chalava's disciples are blessed. They are her children, and nothing is fiercer than a mother who defends her child.
4. As children of Chalava, it is honor to her to show strength and glory in combat. It is a sin to turn upon another child in anger, or divide her people.

Priests memorize the entire collected teachings of Ejrahk and Chalava, along with stories of Chalava's life. All together this knowledge would take up several massive books, and it takes an initiate years to learn the teachings and become a true priest.

The distinction between blood and sacrifice among these people is a fine line. They believe that shedding blood, ritual self mutilation, beatings, and war are all things that please Chalava, but it is the shedding of blood and not the blood itself that is sacred. The sacrifice made from pain and the drip of blood is what pleases the god. As such, woman are considered sacred and superior to men in the sacrifices made by their bodies every month and during childbirth.

Spreading religion isn't a priority among the Ejrahk. They are confident in their ability to uphold Chalava's sacred words, and find that few are willing to listen or follow the strict guidelines set down. Demons have taken them, and thus must be left to wander into oblivion.

There is also a very solid distinction between murder, death in combat, ritual sacrifice, and a death punishment. To kill another while fighting them in a fair fight is honorable and glorious. To die in combat is the ultimate sacrifice, and is surely rewarded with a kind afterlife in Chalava's home. To kill another for a petty spite is abhorrent, and constitutes immediate sentencing to death. When put to death for a crime, there is no honor, and there is no sacrifice. Breaking the law will bring Chalava's wrath, and death through her wrath is hardly a death at all. The damned tend to be mutilated and burned.

Tattoos are commonplace among the Ejrahk. Most tend to scar themselves then highlight the scars, making some of the elder Ejrahk look distorted and hideous to outsiders. Another popular tendency is to tattoo pictures of past victories or tattoo war scars, making their bodies strange tapestries.

Not all among the Ejrahk are warriors. Only those who excel and graduate from Kresh are considered warriors for their people. It is not dishonorable to be a Shepard or a more mundane task, as long as it is approached with passion, zeal, and pride.

Tribal Life
A tribe among the Ejrahk is merely a self-sufficient band of individuals. It is easy to form a tribe, and it is easy for a tribe to become lost due to death, assimilation with another tribe, and other circumstances. To become a named, respected tribe from whence you can trace your bloodline is another matter entirely. It requires generations of producing powerful warriors and priests, and remaining prominent in the ever changing politics of the Ejrahk.

It is impossible to know the exact number and structure of tribes in Ejrahk. The conservative estimate is fifty, the realistic figure it probably closer to seventy-five.

There are 5 critical tribes among the Ejrahk, and twelve major ones. Together they form the seventeen Principle tribes of Ejrahk. These are the seventeen that make decisions for the nation of Ejrahk as a whole. Combined they account for sixty percent of the population. The other minor tribes account for the other forty percent.

Critical Tribes
Walking Mountain- They are the only tribe to pierce their noses, and so are rather easy to tell from other Ejrahk. Rehal is Walking Mountain tribe.
Black Hoof- Their horses are superior. To barter for a Black Hoof stallion for your herd is expensive, but worth it. Gran, Warleader of the Ejrahk, hails from Black Hoof. It is considered a small point of contention, that a Black Hoof is considered the most powerful warrior.
Crazed Spear- The warrior tribe of the Ejrahk. They pride themselves on having the most, the fiercest, and most skilled warriors. Of all the tribes, they are one of two major ones to dye their hair in bright colors.
Dark Stag- There is little special about this tribe currently, other than the quality of their storytellers. They also die their hair.
Ej'Ydrek- Most of Ejrahk's spiritual leaders and priests come from Ej'Ydrek. They trace their lineage directly from the prophet Ydrek himself. They generally live in and maintain Kresh.

Major Tribes
Ej'Har
Bear Tongue
Various others

Each of the seventeen tribes of Ejrahk are distinguishable. There is little difference in facial structure or hair color of the Ejrahk. A combination of the quality and style of tattoos, hair style (and whether they dye it), along with the style and make of their clothing determine tribal descent. These combinations can be subtle and confusing even to the natives. It is virtually impossible for an outsider to be able to tell what tribe an Ejrahk might hail from, aside from the several major, flashier tribes.