Religions
The Sages
The Sages, sometimes referred to as Guardians, is the most widespread belief across the entire known-lands and one nearly everysingle Raj believes in. The Sages and what they truly were is unknown, but it's believed to be a number of Creators that helped shape the world as it is now, where each Sage being responsible for their own aspect of the world. They are not consiered gods, but they aren't known to have anyone ranked above the seven of them. Their most famous creation is Deep Magic, which is believed to be the ground law of all magic and magical prosperities and the creators of the Crests. Some of the responsibilities they have are day and night cycles, skills and talents, order and law, magic and the rule of life and death.
It's also the belief that the world had a beginning and will soon have an end. The Religion has aspects and ranks valued more than others, values they believe the Sages are responsible for. It is believed if they pray to the Sage, they will be blessed. Each Sage is also thought to have their own star sign, represented in painted glass in churches and temples.
Shrines and Prayerstones are scattered all across the country, each dedicated to a Sage. Temples have been built in larger cities where they worship all the known Sages, and wolves will often go there to be blessed or pray. There are seven sages.
However, there is one sage that has been banished from the worship and count of Sage; he is known as Iathe. Very little is known about this Sage. Believed to have gone mad and abandon his Sage duties. He is used in stories and told to pups to behave or Iathe will come and snatch them from their mothers, and many use him and his name when something bad happens or as a curse word. Its believed that he was a fake Sage and not a true one, however some cults worship him as a Sage. All worship, practice or prayer to Iathe is strictly forbidden.
It's also the belief that the world had a beginning and will soon have an end. The Religion has aspects and ranks valued more than others, values they believe the Sages are responsible for. It is believed if they pray to the Sage, they will be blessed. Each Sage is also thought to have their own star sign, represented in painted glass in churches and temples.
Shrines and Prayerstones are scattered all across the country, each dedicated to a Sage. Temples have been built in larger cities where they worship all the known Sages, and wolves will often go there to be blessed or pray. There are seven sages.
However, there is one sage that has been banished from the worship and count of Sage; he is known as Iathe. Very little is known about this Sage. Believed to have gone mad and abandon his Sage duties. He is used in stories and told to pups to behave or Iathe will come and snatch them from their mothers, and many use him and his name when something bad happens or as a curse word. Its believed that he was a fake Sage and not a true one, however some cults worship him as a Sage. All worship, practice or prayer to Iathe is strictly forbidden.
The old Sun Religion
One of the oldest recorded Religions, it speaks of the legendary fire that once burned their land, and they worship the sun and fire. The religion is fairly widespread but not often talked about. It does not have shrines or temples, but all across the country one can find large flat circular stones, written in runes and prophecies. Some have are so old the nature has taken over, but some are still found. While some of these circles are small, there are some that stretches on the size of an entire city. What these rune carvings mean or say is not known, but fear and superstitions surround these stones and this belief. Scholars have come to a consensus that the runestones speak of the end of the world by one wolf rising to power and devouring the sun, killing the light and setting the world on fire once again and rebirth the world, starting the eras anew.
The Old Belief
A very common religion amongst elders and Northerners. The belief that their world was created by two Gods; Agedria the serpent and Thyrei the wolf. They don't speak of it often as it is more of a belief they have and are taught to their youngster to know about. They don't have priests or worshipers, making it mostly local. They have shrines built for the faithful who wish to pray. There are little laws to the religion and many sees it as a joke.
God of storms
The only and main religion of the Basir species. Their legend speaks of a great deity sleeping on the horizon of the sea and will devour anyone that ventures too far from land. They believe this beast is what gave birth to their species and granted them the Noble Elements to protect themselves against the monsters of the earth. They treat and worship the sea like a living being, an entity with a consciousnesses and are careful to not offend the sea or upset it. Temples are built where they will gather to pray and listen to the priests who will interpret a collection of sea kelp and bones to predict their future and how they lie in terms of the sea's forgiveness. These priests are said to be able to predict the future with these collections by reading shells, decapod shells and the weather. The religion has strict laws, their most holy one is to not touch their dead. If a person dies, the priest must handle it and prepare the body for the funeral by washing it in the sea d letting it lie in the shallows in preparation. When it is ready, they will send it out on a raft that the family will build for their fallen member where it is sent out to the sea and never be seen again to give back to the entity. The family must then grieve in silence for a whole day out on the ocean before returning home and throw all of the dead person's belongings into the sea, and items that person saw as important to them. If the body survives and floats to shore, it is believed that the dead's ghost will haunt them and their living family is usually banished from the Tribe. This is their most sacred law, and if this ritual is disturbed or someone touches the body they will shun that person for disturbing the spirit and the sea, and many who breaks this law may leave their home to wander. This religion are also somewhat superstitious, as they believe in ghosts and the wrath of storms and the sea.
Folkores, Rituals and believes
Prayer to the dead
A somewhat rare folkore, with only one known tradition. Those who believe it will always put aside part of their meal for a dead family member or friend in belief of keeping them company in meal times despite their passing. They will simply put part of their meal in nature or by a dedicated tree, hanging or laying it in the branches or laying it on a stone for nature. It brings peace for them and is an act of respect and courtesy.
The Cold One
This folkore co-exist in the north along with the Old Belief and is the spirit of cold and winter. This belief is that the cold winters and harsh weather conditions are a curse if one was to break an oath or promise made in the name of the First Gods. This Entity is pictured as a faceless, tall pillar that will sometimes appear in certain locations if the conditions are right as an bad omen. It is believed it appears when there's snow covering the floor in strong sunlight and cause the unwary to become snowblinded. This belief has no physical shrine or prayerstones, and passes from word of mouth. If one is to disrespect this faith they believe they will see the Statue and become blind or become fatally ill.
Lady of Night
More recent belief, common in the north, it bloomed as a counter of hope to the Cold God religion. They believe the sky pattern and the boreal lights is the Night Panther's fur dancing over the skies and watches over them, bringing the faithful peace and protection against the Cold God. She is the symbol for forgiveness, peace and honor. She has several shrines built for her, dedicated to her blessings where they will touch the paws of her statue to pray.
Spirit of Fertility
Associated with love, brothels, wine, and pups , the spirit of Fertility is one of the more friendlier believes. It's represented by a statue of a wolf-rabbit-dragon hybrid holding eggs in her paws. Temples and brothels have been built, where priests dressed in red will light candles and incenses to a haze-like atmosphere. Visitors will offer eggs and wine in her temple for a plentiful and good year for both crops and their own bodies. The priests will preach her words of fertility, love and motherly-love. These rituals include eating special dishes, drinking wine and spending time with one's partner with light candles and incenses. Regular followers usually do not participate in these rituals, but simply offer and drink wine in her name.
Idols and Ghouls
Ghouls are spirit or beings with evil intentions. Very little is known about this belief, but strange shrines have been built with strange figures, and mostly serves cults and taboo rituals. Many followers are tricked into this cult, and are forced to perform rituals. More of this is unknown, but the side-effects of offering food or stealing from shrines have known to be horrible and shunned, and those who have been cursed by these Ghouls are unwelcome everywhere.
Witches
Amongst the most hated and shunned of the occupations, witches are rare and uncommon. They practice evil and dark magic that has been banned and tabboo, such as creating immotal bodies or plagues. They are adept at magic and medicine, but nobody trusts a witch. It is said a witch is created if they eat their own first-born and mix their blood with herbs. In recent years, more off-springs of witches has appeared with unnatural powers and mutated bodies, and a lot of witches have been recorded as the result of incest.
The Hidden People
The Hidden People is a very feared and little known folklore, but those that believe it has increased. Similar to demons, the Hidden People are figures hidden in the dark and in evil places, waiting for someone to stumble across them so they can kill them to join their ranks. Nobody truly knows what they are. The figures have no physical form, and people close to dying has talked about seeing pale figures when others could not see them and they are often talked abou being seen in dreams and as wolves wake up. They are believed to click their jaws rapidly when they sense fear of death, but there's no physical evidence of their existence. They will reach for the living, appear in the side-views and try drag them into the bottom of rivers or push them off cliffs. This lore passes from word of mouth, and mothers often tell their pups to behave or Hidden People will come and take them away. More about this folklore is unknown, but many can feel an unnatural and dreadful presence in specific places. Those places are then avoided, classified as haunted.