Post by lemongrass on Dec 1, 2019 22:36:22 GMT -6
Religion of Tailia
Faith, destiny, and a sharp sword. Here is where you'll find Tailia's many different beliefs.
Religion varies wildly in Tailia, with some citizens opting to be atheists and keep their belief in their quick hand and sword, while others are devout followers of numerous gods, to the point of taking month long pilgrimages to shrines or temples. The three main islands of Tailia share the same ocean, however they have been affected by culture in many different and strange ways.
Sallah
Sallah perhaps hosts the most flashy and monothestic believers of all the islands. The citizens of Sallah tend to keep their faith solely in the tigers that run their government, and their coin. Their lives are grand and vast, and large temples are built around the streets of Citadel to worship their striped rulers, and the sun they represent. However it is usually used for profit. Perhaps you’ll be offered entry to a church for a price, or maybe you’ll be sold “the teachings of Sunspire” on a loose sheet of palm leaf. They believe that their leaders, the tigers, are the closest thing to the sun, which is god in their eyes. While the tigers themselves are not immortal, their presence is taught to be something of such a grand scale, that they are treated as such. Tigers are spoken to represent the sun, the most pure deity as believed by the citizens of Tailia. Residents often adorn their clothing with a symbol of the sun. The religion is so influential that Sallah's very own flag boasts a yellow sun. The sun represents warmth and prosperity, and the tigers of Sallah, who live closest to the sun, are the vessels for its worship. From government under the tigers, came profit, and from profit, came contentment. Treated well, with their bellies full, Sallah has no trouble worshipping the tigers of Sunspire alone, as any need for other gods or deities is pointless.
Deity: The sun, and by expansion, the tigers that represent it.
Type: Monotheistic
Ways of worship: Attending a church, donating to the poor, reading religious texts.
Influence: Sun-adorned items are found on clothing, jewelry, and represent Sallah on a country-wide scale.
Yumi
By far the most religious of the three main islands, it is tradition to worship and exalt the Ancients. It was believed that the Ancients were the great golden dragons who walked before present day. They were cunning, excellent, and incredibly beautiful. It is said that if a citizen of Tailia is to gaze upon an Ancient, they will be blessed with a year of good fortune, as their beauty is said to bring pure luck. Shrines for each of the Ancients reside around Raitoshi, However it is widely believed in Yumi that the Ancients themselves reside at The Grand Tamuke, a large temple that sits on Yumi’s “tail”, an isolated portion of the island. The only way to reach this temple is via land, as the shores around The Grand Tamuke are vast cliffs that rise into the sky. Sailing next to them would be fatal. The Grand Tamuke means “The grand farewell” in Japenese, and is said to be the final gift left for those in Yumi by the Ancients. It is a tradition that every child born in Yumi must make a month-long pilgrimage on foot to The Grand Tamuke once in their lifetime. Faith in the Ancients can vary from high key to low key. Those who shun the Ancients and refuse to believe are views as scoundrels by all of Yumi. Due to the reverence that resides around eastern dragons, it is commonplace to bow and avert your eyes when speaking to one, as eastern dragons are believed to be sacred in Yumi. However western dragons are seen to be false leaders and are openly shunned. There are twelve Ancients, each representing a key value that Yumi exalts.
1. Intelligence
2. Confidence
3. Wisdom
4. Integrity
5. Loyalty
6. Discipline
7. Decisiveness
8. Honor
9. Diligence
10. Perseverance
11. Ingenuity
12. Tenacity
A good leader and spouse is said to possess all of these qualities. If a child is lacking a quality, it is quite normal for a parent to send their offspring to the shrine of this specific quality, hoping that they will learn from the Ancients to be poised and diligent. The rulers of Yumi are said to be the offspring of the ancients themselves. It is very rare when a gold dragon is born in present day, and due to the gold dragon's resemblance to the Ancients themselves, he/she will often be referred to as the "thirteenth Ancient."
Deity: The Ancients, golden dragons who represent the key values of Yumi
Type: Polytheistic
Ways of worship: Pilgrimage to The Grand Tamuke, meditating at a shrine.
Influence: Dragons are said to be the only beings who can lead Yumi, due to their resemblance to the Ancients, society is governed by the twelve key values.
Far Reach
A large mix of cultures from all around Tailia, Far Reach hosts the most atheists out of all the islands. Filled with criminals and alley-men, room for gods and worship has no place in their dark lives. The leadership of Far Reach doesn’t see much need to rely on the ethereal either, as their cunning and wit has pulled them through before. Places of worship will be difficult to find here, but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. A citizen will just need to look in between the cracks of Far Reach’s back alleys. Anything can be found in there. Oftentimes those who do hold faith to an off-island god, and are open about it, find themselves a target for a mugging. In Far Reach, you’re either strong, or you’re dead. It is common for believers to be seen as pansies on this island, as things like wit and cleverness are valued higher than loyalty. However when the two mix, it leads to things such as voodoo finding place on Far Reach. A dark art for a dark place. The citizens of Far Reach hold much value in strengthening oneself, and believe black magic and the dark arts can enhance this. Openly accepted and encouraged, potions and spells will be sold on the streets of Far Reach, each animal hoping to unlock some sort of hidden potential within themselves. The result is a varied, mixed island with fearless worshippers of their resolve and wit. Some of the bravest pirates and warriors can be found here.
Deity: Varied, but mostly self-magic
Type: Varied
Ways of worship: Spells, potion brewing, sacrifices
Influence: Lawless and mixed, Far Reach is diverse and cultural, no religion has been strong enough to take a firm hold here.
Faith, destiny, and a sharp sword. Here is where you'll find Tailia's many different beliefs.
Religion varies wildly in Tailia, with some citizens opting to be atheists and keep their belief in their quick hand and sword, while others are devout followers of numerous gods, to the point of taking month long pilgrimages to shrines or temples. The three main islands of Tailia share the same ocean, however they have been affected by culture in many different and strange ways.
Sallah
Sallah perhaps hosts the most flashy and monothestic believers of all the islands. The citizens of Sallah tend to keep their faith solely in the tigers that run their government, and their coin. Their lives are grand and vast, and large temples are built around the streets of Citadel to worship their striped rulers, and the sun they represent. However it is usually used for profit. Perhaps you’ll be offered entry to a church for a price, or maybe you’ll be sold “the teachings of Sunspire” on a loose sheet of palm leaf. They believe that their leaders, the tigers, are the closest thing to the sun, which is god in their eyes. While the tigers themselves are not immortal, their presence is taught to be something of such a grand scale, that they are treated as such. Tigers are spoken to represent the sun, the most pure deity as believed by the citizens of Tailia. Residents often adorn their clothing with a symbol of the sun. The religion is so influential that Sallah's very own flag boasts a yellow sun. The sun represents warmth and prosperity, and the tigers of Sallah, who live closest to the sun, are the vessels for its worship. From government under the tigers, came profit, and from profit, came contentment. Treated well, with their bellies full, Sallah has no trouble worshipping the tigers of Sunspire alone, as any need for other gods or deities is pointless.
Deity: The sun, and by expansion, the tigers that represent it.
Type: Monotheistic
Ways of worship: Attending a church, donating to the poor, reading religious texts.
Influence: Sun-adorned items are found on clothing, jewelry, and represent Sallah on a country-wide scale.
Yumi
By far the most religious of the three main islands, it is tradition to worship and exalt the Ancients. It was believed that the Ancients were the great golden dragons who walked before present day. They were cunning, excellent, and incredibly beautiful. It is said that if a citizen of Tailia is to gaze upon an Ancient, they will be blessed with a year of good fortune, as their beauty is said to bring pure luck. Shrines for each of the Ancients reside around Raitoshi, However it is widely believed in Yumi that the Ancients themselves reside at The Grand Tamuke, a large temple that sits on Yumi’s “tail”, an isolated portion of the island. The only way to reach this temple is via land, as the shores around The Grand Tamuke are vast cliffs that rise into the sky. Sailing next to them would be fatal. The Grand Tamuke means “The grand farewell” in Japenese, and is said to be the final gift left for those in Yumi by the Ancients. It is a tradition that every child born in Yumi must make a month-long pilgrimage on foot to The Grand Tamuke once in their lifetime. Faith in the Ancients can vary from high key to low key. Those who shun the Ancients and refuse to believe are views as scoundrels by all of Yumi. Due to the reverence that resides around eastern dragons, it is commonplace to bow and avert your eyes when speaking to one, as eastern dragons are believed to be sacred in Yumi. However western dragons are seen to be false leaders and are openly shunned. There are twelve Ancients, each representing a key value that Yumi exalts.
1. Intelligence
2. Confidence
3. Wisdom
4. Integrity
5. Loyalty
6. Discipline
7. Decisiveness
8. Honor
9. Diligence
10. Perseverance
11. Ingenuity
12. Tenacity
A good leader and spouse is said to possess all of these qualities. If a child is lacking a quality, it is quite normal for a parent to send their offspring to the shrine of this specific quality, hoping that they will learn from the Ancients to be poised and diligent. The rulers of Yumi are said to be the offspring of the ancients themselves. It is very rare when a gold dragon is born in present day, and due to the gold dragon's resemblance to the Ancients themselves, he/she will often be referred to as the "thirteenth Ancient."
Deity: The Ancients, golden dragons who represent the key values of Yumi
Type: Polytheistic
Ways of worship: Pilgrimage to The Grand Tamuke, meditating at a shrine.
Influence: Dragons are said to be the only beings who can lead Yumi, due to their resemblance to the Ancients, society is governed by the twelve key values.
Far Reach
A large mix of cultures from all around Tailia, Far Reach hosts the most atheists out of all the islands. Filled with criminals and alley-men, room for gods and worship has no place in their dark lives. The leadership of Far Reach doesn’t see much need to rely on the ethereal either, as their cunning and wit has pulled them through before. Places of worship will be difficult to find here, but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. A citizen will just need to look in between the cracks of Far Reach’s back alleys. Anything can be found in there. Oftentimes those who do hold faith to an off-island god, and are open about it, find themselves a target for a mugging. In Far Reach, you’re either strong, or you’re dead. It is common for believers to be seen as pansies on this island, as things like wit and cleverness are valued higher than loyalty. However when the two mix, it leads to things such as voodoo finding place on Far Reach. A dark art for a dark place. The citizens of Far Reach hold much value in strengthening oneself, and believe black magic and the dark arts can enhance this. Openly accepted and encouraged, potions and spells will be sold on the streets of Far Reach, each animal hoping to unlock some sort of hidden potential within themselves. The result is a varied, mixed island with fearless worshippers of their resolve and wit. Some of the bravest pirates and warriors can be found here.
Deity: Varied, but mostly self-magic
Type: Varied
Ways of worship: Spells, potion brewing, sacrifices
Influence: Lawless and mixed, Far Reach is diverse and cultural, no religion has been strong enough to take a firm hold here.
