THE OLD GODS: RELIGION OF THE OLD EMPIRE
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Originally the officially religion of the Old Empire, The Old Gods is in truth a new name for the old religion. With the fall of the Old Empire this faith was reinterpreted by the so-called New Empire. Originally it is believed that Nocte and Ignis existed as night and day. When they came together they gave birth to the mortal world as well as three other gods; Mortuus, Caelum, and Aquae. When the world came into existence so did the original humans. These humans came into existence with all of the knowledge of civilization. Finding themselves at the junction of three rivers they constructed their capital. These people would, over time, expand to unite all of the Western World into a single mighty empire. This empire eventually fell, leaving the survivors disconnected, lacking the priesthood of the Old Gods, and trying to reclaim what was lost. Due to the chaos surrounding the fall of the Old Empire, the Spelunca Empire isn't certain of the names or spheres of their gods. Instead they have tried to piece together the lost faith through interpretations of the various depictions and statues found in the ruins of the once great Empire. The Ningo also follow this religion, though their version is truer to the original faith. It still isn't exactly the same, as it is more of the faith outside of the old priesthood. As a result, the Ningo have only a layman's understanding of the religion; such as the names of the gods, their spheres of influence, and the general mythology.
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THE PANTHEON OF THE OLD GODS
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Nocte Nocte is the king and father of the gods. He is also the god of nature and the night according to the Old Empire and the Ningo. According to legend, he granted the Old Empire the gifts of; resource gathering, the right to eat the plants and animals of nature, farming, domestication of animals of the land, knowledge of the production of garments, pottery, and knowledge of fermentation. Known as Rex to the New Empire; he is viewed to be the king of the gods, but has no domains beyond that.
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Ignis Ignis is the queen and mother of the gods. She is also the goddess of the day and fire according to the Old Empire and the Ningo. According to legend she granted the Old Empire the gifts of; knowledge of fire, cooking, and knowledge of wedding ceremonies. Known to the New Empire as Regnatrix; she is believed to the queen of the gods, but has no other domains.
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Mortuus Mortuus is the son of Nocte and Ignis, and the brother of Caellum and Aquae. He holds domain over intelligence, wisdom, and the afterlife according to the Old Empire and the Ningo. According to legend he granted the Old Empire the gifts of; strategy, code of laws, cartography, knowledge of funeral ceremonies, medicine, philosophy, architecture and construction, and education. Known to the New Empire as Doctus, he is believed to be the god of wisdom and education.
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Caelum Caellum is the son of Nocte and Ignis, and the brother of Mortuus and Aquae. His domain is the sky and war according to the Old Empire and the Ningo. According to legend he granted the Old Empire the gifts of; weapons, armor, tactics, forging, training beasts of war, training war mounts, and the right to eat the animals of the skies. Known to the New Empire as Bellum, he is believed to be the god of war.
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Aquae Aquae is the daughter of Nocte and Ignis, and the sister of Mortuus and Caellum. She holds dominion over the waters of the world and also desire. According to the Old Empire and the Ningo she granted the people of the Old Empire the gifts of; recreation, desire, sanitation, how to transport water, art, fountains, the laws regarding brothels, the right to drink water, shipbuilding, and entertainment. Known to the New Empire as Tentigo, she is believed to be the goddess of lust and sex.
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Apricitas Apricitas is the god of the sun according to the New Empire. He does not exist in the original pantheon of the Old Gods.
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Flumen, Fluvius, Flovios, and Profundum Profundum is the god of the sea according to the New Empire, he does not exist in the original pantheon of the Old Empire. Flumen, Fluvius, and Flovios are said to be the gods of the three rivers that connect at the capital of the Old and New Empires. These are the names of the three rivers, though. There are no gods associated with the rivers in the original pantheon of the Old Empire.
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Venatio Venatio is the goddess of the hunt according to the New Empire. She does not exist in the original pantheon of the Old Gods.
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THE ANCESTORS: THE TRUE FAITH OF THE WEST
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This is the religion of the religious off-shoot of the New Empire, the Nation of Caesitas. They believe the Old Gods abandoned the Old Empire and that is why it fell. As a result, they believe one must place their faith in what is truly known to exist; one's ancestors. One simply prays to their Ancestors for what they need, and if the Ancestors have not been angered and feel the request is worthy, they will guide events to lead to the result desired. There is another type of Ancestor as well; the Living Ancestors. Living Ancestors are special individuals who contribute to the Nation of Caesitas in such a profound way that that individual is believed to be an Ancestor who has come into their power while still alive. These individuals, by tradition, found a new noble House regardless of their caste. This new House will then establish a new settlement to expand the power and territory of the Nation of Caesitas. What constitutes a profound benefit to the Nation is determined on a case by case basis by a council of scholars well versed in the history and traditions of the Nation of Caesitas.
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THE ANCESTORS
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Ancestors The souls of the dead. One's direct ancestors from either side of their family line are counted as one's Ancestors.
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Living Ancestors A Living Ancestor will take all followers and settle in a new place. It is traditional that a statue be erected in the likeness of that individual to stand in the heart of the settlement as a reminder of who founded it. If the act of reclaiming a settlement that has been lost justifies the leader being declared a Living Ancestor, then a second statue might be erected to commemorate this.
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THE GOD-KING: FAITH OF THE KRAKEN'S FLEET
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The Religion of the Kraken's Fleet, those infected with the Kraken's Curse, follow the Kraken as their king and also worship it as their God. This faith is a compulsion for those with the Curse, as it is both a command from the Kraken and also to a degree gratitude to the Kraken for their new state of being. No one is currently known to follow this faith who is not one of those infected by the Kraken's Curse, nor is anything about this faith is known to anyone outside of the Kraken's Fleet.
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THE GOD-KING
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The God-King The God-King of the Kraken's Fleet is the same Kraken from the Isles legend of The Golden Trident and ferocious Kraken. The beast survived the battle it is famous for, and though seriously injured, vowed revenge. Using the bodies of the dead, the Kraken is assembling an army to spread the Kraken's Curse to all of humanity everywhere.
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