Mirjiini Polytheism

The Mirjiini Religion is among the more organised religions in Alter. There is a high temple in central north M'dia to each of the deities of the pantheon. Each high temple oversees a number of low temples and shrines which are described as 'in communion' with them. The High Temples are overseen by high priests who are titled Exalted Mother/Father along with a team of deacons who are titled Blessed Mother/Father. The low temples are managed by priests who are titled Holy Mother/Father who are served by acolytes who are titled Revered and who are subservient to the High Temple.   The separate High Temples are not very unified. To lessen this, the Great Council of Ikralam in 14BU agreed that each High Temple would send an emissary to each of the others. Therefore, now, while the low temples are committed completely to one deity, the High Temples have shrines to each of the other gods as well as the principle god of that temple.   The temples also work together in other ways. They collectively run schools throughout central northern M'dia and new clergymen train in temples to each of the deities before 'specialising', so to speak. They also send representative to the courts of any kingdom who will accept one. These representatives act as mystical and moral advisers to the rulers they serve.

The true origins of the Mirjiini Pantheon are pre-Amalorian. As early as 2000BU, Espirion natives of central northern M'dia worshipped a pantheon of hundreds of gods. When the Ancient Amalorian Empire expanded across northern M'dia, a syncretist pantheon formed in which prominent Mirjiini gods where associated with Amalorian gods. After the fall of the Amalorian Empire a religious crisis swept the former empire. The empire was supposed to be under the direct protection of the gods and therefore unable to fall.   While many of the modern northern M'dian faiths feature Amalorian influences, the Mirjiini faith is the only one which is considered a direct continuation. The Mirjiini priesthood justifies this thus: the Amalorian gods fell because some of them became corrupted by the vices of mortals and went to war with the true and just gods. The Mirjiini Temples claim to worship only those gods who did not become corrupted. These just gods were cast away by the evil fallen gods but eventually returned, focussing their divine influence in the north central kingdoms because they were the only ones who kept the faith.

The Mirjiini believe that the 19 primordial gods created the world. The gods particularly favoured the Amalorians, hence the success of their empire. However, the Amalorians became greedy and decadent and the King of the Gods himself fell for their evil ways. Of the 19, 12 were corrupted. The corrupted tried to turn the remaining 7 gods but the 7 just gods turned against the fallen. The just gods, led an uprising of the Amalorian people against the corrupted gods and overthrew them, imprisoning them in a prison in the spirit world.   The 7 just gods were greatly weakened by the battle. The fall of the Amalorian Empire had caused much of the former empire to turn to false gods. The just gods escaped to the north central M'dian kingdoms where many had turned back to the old Mirjiini faith. Because of the syncretism which occurred under the empire, the people who had nominally turned back to the old Mirjiini faith were essentially still worshipping the Amalorian gods.   The Mirjiini gods are considered to be incarnate, at least most of the time and at least as avatars. The gods are thought to live physically in the sanctuaries of the High Temples, only communicating directly with the high priests. The gods tell the high priests the secrets of the universe. Because of how dangerous this knowledge is, the only way for a High Priest to step down is to die.   The Mirjiini gods, who have supposedly been seen by the high priests, are depicted in statues, based on the descriptions of the high priests, which are given pride of place in each of the temples. Unlike the other religions of M'dia, the Mirjiini gods are depicted as monstrous and terrifying. This is explained as a side-effect of their attempted corruption by the fallen gods. The worshippers of the Mirjiini pantheon believe that by praise and adoration of their gods, they will renew them to their former glory and bring about a new golden age, like the Amalorian Empire.   In some sects, the gods are depicted in their 'former state' in Espirion form without monstrous affectation to encourage worshippers to focus on the goal of adoration rather than the current state of their deities. This is particularly true of the Hinterlander version of the Mirjiini Faith which is sometimes called the Hinterlands Pantheon but which is actually the same pantheon but with the just gods depicted in their uncorrupted forms.

The Mirjiini Temples teach that the 19 original gods emerged from the primordial chaos and ordered the chaos to form the world. They watched the world for a time rarely intervening in matters from their seat in the spirit world. They eventually decided to descend to the world to be with their chosen people, the Espirion, to guide and rule them.   They led the Espirion up the peak of their civilisation, the Amalorian Empire but 12 of the gods were corrupted by the sins of their people. The just gods led an uprising of the Amalorian people and overthrew the fallen gods, imprisoning them in the spirit world.    Now the just gods are resting in the High Temples slowly regaining the strength that will one day allow them to rebuild the golden age of the empire under their just rule.   Deities The 7 Just Gods are listed by their ancient name, and most important titles. The gods are briefly described. The most common understanding of the gods is explained. There are regional differences in their interpretation however.

• Vaaiiz - The Lord of Passages

Vaaiiz is the vast lord of passages. He is a hooded figure, cloaked in a floor-length purple robe. He has no face under his robe and no arms ever emerge from his robe. He does have muscular, long digitigrade legs however which are sometimes seen under his robe. A dark smoke surrounds him further obscuring him from view. The Lord of Passages oversees all journeys, both physical journeys and also metaphysical journeys such as the journey of the soul. He is also related to trade and is invoked to provide safe passage through dangerous places. It is said that he has the power to make clear or obstructed any journey even so far as to level mountains to ease his passage before raising back up behind him.   In his uncorrupted form, he is a handsome man who wears a travelling cloak and carries a lantern.  

• Usiion - He Who Maintains the Walls

Usiion is a huge muscular man. He has four arms and two legs. He also has a long, scaled tail. He has one large eye in the centre of his head and his mouth reaches almost all the way around his head. He maintains the walls between the physical world and spiritual world, he also maintains the walls of the prison in which the fallen gods are sealed. In Mundane life, he maintains the walls of temples and homes and the city walls. He is invoked frequently to protect the city from attack. He also maintains the hedges and fences around fields and is invoked to protect livestock from predators. He is said to have the power to make anything place unreachable or to make any barrier passable.   In his uncorrupted form, he is smiling blacksmith wearing an apron and holding hammer.  

• Naakreiss - The Custodian of the Black Keep

Naakreiss is the heavily armoured custodian of the Black Keep, the prison which holds the fallen gods. Only his single eye is visible through the gap in his helmet, otherwise his whole body is covered thick metal armour which looks like large scales. He wields a huge metal key. He protects the world from the destruction of the fallen gods, from natural disasters, plagues and famines by keeping the fallen gods sealed away. He is prayed to for protection from disasters but is also associated with justice in the physical world. He is thought to help maintain order in cities and to keep prisons safely sealed. He is said to use his great key to strike down the unjust even in the afterlife.   In his uncorrupted form, he is a noble knight who holds a ring of keys.  

• Uuluon - The Burden-Bearer

Uuluon is the six legged bearer of burdens. He has a form similar to a centaur. His face has no features. His arms and legs are huge and muscular and his skin leathery and grey. His tail is snake-like and scaled. His body is covered in scars and he is always carrying boxes and packs on his back. He carries ancient and valuable artefacts with him. He also carries messages for the gods and is the guardian of messages. He is also prayed to for help bearing emotional burdens as well as physical ones. He is said to be strong with limits.   In his uncorrupted form, he is a traveller who carries a pack and walks beside his pet, a gentle-natured ox-like creature.  

• Paasetluu - The Taskmaster

Paasetluu is the many-armed taskmaster. His body is bony, with leathery skin and with many long arms with claw-like digits on each hand. The Taskmaster has many eyes, many ears and many nostrils on his tall face. The Taskmaster oversees the maintenance of the proper order of things, including organisations and governments, but also the season and the stages of life. He is also related to the maintenance of law and order and to proper discipline. It is said that the Taskmaster sees all things, gently nudging them towards his intended plans.   In his uncorrupted form, he is a wise magistrate who carries a pen and a scroll.  

• Kelytaan - The Guardian of the Threshold

Kelytaan is the tentacled guardian of the threshold. He has many tentacles with a mass of central eyes and a large mouth. He clutches poisoned daggers in his tentacles. He is a protector deity. He oversee the threshold between life and death, including overseeing birth and death and other metaphorical thresholds like marriage. He also oversees the threshold of the home and is invoked for protection from burglary.   In his uncorrupted form, he is an elderly man with a fatherly nature who holds open his arms in a welcoming manner.  

• Saniiot - The Chain-breaker

Saniiot is said to have led the uprising against the fallen gods. He has a humanoid (of Espirion-oid more properly) torso with leathery skin and a snake-like tail instead of legs. He wears a rusted breast-plate and carried a chain-flail and a sword in the other. His mouth oozes poisonous saliva. He is a representation of justice and fair leadership. He is a patron of leaders. He also oversees war and soldiers. He is sought to settle conflict and to protect the weak and vulnerable. Amongst the common people, Saniiot is the mostly widely worshipped god.   In his uncorrupted form, he is a noble man holding a broken chain a raising a sword in a call to arms.

Each of the 7 gods have a single High Priest or Priestess based at the High Temple of that god. Each high temple also hosts an emissary of each of the other 6 gods. The High Priests have around 10 deacons working under them to maintain the temple. The lesser temples have a Priest or Priestess and 1 to 4 deacons working under them depending on the size of the congregation.   There are also travelling priests who visit rural settlements on a rota.