Choranism

The Choranian Clergy is divided into 3 ranks, who each answer to the rank above them.

The Herald

Considered to be the rightful successor of Laris Choran, the messenger. He is the sole leader of the choranian clergy, chosen amongst a group of High Clerics and rules from the Great Suriat of Choran, located in the City of Aksa.

High Clerics

High clerics are the second highest rank in the choranian clergy, bellow the Herald himself. The most powerful/influencial of the High Clerics come together in the city of Aksa after the death of a Herald to chose a new one amongst themselves. They also, along with the Herald, consult amongst each other in what are called Holy Council, in order to discuss religious law and teachings.

Cleric

Clerics are the most numerous rank within the choranian clergy. All Choranian clerics are men or women aged at least 30 years of age, who work as preachers and community leaders inside the numerous smaller suriats that are located in towns and cities throughout the land. They are appointed to their post by their local High cleric, with the approbation of other clerics nearby. Many are recently retired from the Moon Knights or from the Moon maidens.  

Religious Organisation

Moon Maidens

The women who wish to devote their lives to serve the faith must do so by joining the Moon Maidens. This religious organisation, which operates from large buildings called Maiden Houses, owns and operates many orphanages, hospitals and schools in cities throughout Arros and Enaskia. Their main focus is on helping the poor and needy, as Halin teaches them to do. Although all women are accepted, the organisation favoritise Soulweaver, as their magic abilities make identifying people's ailments much easier. When a women is accepted into the organisation, they take a vow of celibacy, which is to be upholded until they leave the organisation. To leave, they must contact their local High Cleric who must decide if they can or cannot leave.

Moon Knights

This group is tasked with the protection of local clerics and their congregation, as well as protecting the High Clerics and the Herald himself. They are composed of fighting age men aged 20-50 years old who are trained since childhood for the honour of joining that organisation. They are trained to work in groups of 4, and so it is very rare to see an odd number of them guarding a suriat or escorting the Herald. Each regional High Clerc controls a regiment of Moon Knights, ready to be deployed at the High Clercs's discretion. Although all men are accepted into the organisation, provided they are true believers and take a vow of celibacy, Shapeshifters are favoritized not only because of their physical prowes, but also because of the deeply entranched belief in Choranism that protecting the innocent is their sacred duty, as described in their holy book, The Bekura.

In the City of Aksa, in western Enaskia, a young soulbound mage, by the name of Laris Choran reportedly became the first ever to succesfuly enter the spiritual plane known as The Ether.   When he came back from his spiritual travel, he eagerly wrote down what he had seen, and heard. Specificaly, he mentioned hearing a mysterious voice that revealed itself as Halin, who told him to spread his good word to the world, so that every soul may have a chance at the after-life. He began preaching in the city's public squares, specificaly appealing to other soulmages, trying to convince them of what he saw.   Very quickly, his message and later his writing became very popular in the city and in Western Enaskia more broadly, especialy within the local Soulbound Mages communities, who were being heavely percecuted at the time. Eventualy, multiple Mages confirmed Choran's findings, reaching the Ether on their own and also hearing Halin's voice. The popularity of the faith explosed even within the general population and it began to spread rapidly in both Enaskia and in Arros.

The Creation of the World and the Spread of Magic

The Bekura and the Choranian fate as a whole holds the belief that Halin created the world as a perfect paradise for all living being to enjoy. In his generosity, he gave the humans the ability to shape the world as they desired with elemental magic. However, humans proved to be too greedy and selfish, and threatened that perfect world by corrupting it. Seeing this, Halin selected some humans who had remained pure of heart, and granted them a fraction of his power, which he split into 4 aspects. These Soulbound Mages, as they are now known, were tasked by Halin with guiding humanity on a path to salvation and redemption so that their hearts may be pure again, and so that their soul might enjoy the afterlife.

How to reach the After-Life

The Choranian Fate is heavely centered on the After-Life. It is believed that after death, the soul that inhabits the body of a person; Human or mage, is brough to The Ether, where Halin takes 44 days to judge them. If they are deemed to be redeemed and their heart pure enough, they are allowed to ascend to the heavens. However, if they are not, then their souls will be cast down to the Underworld. The lakes of fire burn the corruption away from their souls, purifying it. After the cleanse, the soul is brough back to the Ether to be judged by Halin again, before finaly ascending to the heavens. However, the lake of fire not only burns away the impurity of the soul, it also burns away its identity, meaning that although the soul survives, the person does not. This is the divine punishement for allowing onesself to be corrupted. A loss of self-Identity.

Choranian Heaven: The Stary Halls

Contrary to what many people, and even less educated Choranians believe, The Ether is not the after-life, nor the Heavens. It is merely a transitory dimension which although still very mysterious, is not the Heaven that Laris Choran speaks of in the Bekura. The actual heaven is called the Stary halls, and is said to be a large marble palace floating on a sea of stars, where Halin resides, awaiting the return of his beloved sons and daughters.

There is a total of 44 tenets of faith in Choranism. Some of these are given inside the bekura, while others are from other sources, such as some of the earliest Heralds. However, in practice, most Choranians common folk only know some of them. The most important ones are collectively known as the 14 Tenets of Life. A book by the same name is in fact the mandatory to read and recite by heart for any who wishes to enter the clergy.  

1. Halin is the sole creator and the one true ruler of the world, and of everything and everyone it contains.


2. Veos is one aspect of Halin and must never be cursed


3. Laris of Aksa, guided by Halin's call, was the first blue mage to enter the Ether in mortal flesh


4. Laris of Aksa was chosen amongst all men to serve as Halin's first messenger.


5. All blue mages who have come of age must take a pilgrimage to a Hight Suriat and take part in the Ascension Ritual.


6. A blue mage's purpose is to protect, defend and guide all other humans into Halin's rightious path


7. All mages and all humans were created equal, and remain so in the eyes of Halin until their final ascension


8. All Choranians, Mage or human, must pray two times a day. Once in the morning, and once in the evening


9. All love is equal in the eyes of Halin, and it must never be denied or feined


10. Murder of an innocent is never justified in the eyes of Halin, and must be punished, in life and death.


11. Killing wild animals for sustinance is just in the eyes of Halin, but it musn't be done for simple pleasure or to inflict pain.


12. A hungry man stealing food is just, but a greedy man stealing gold is not


13. Holding on to one's gold is foolish. Seek to give it to the most needy, for the real tresure awaits in the Stary Halls.


14. Humanity's only path to salvation and eternal peace leads only to Halin and his teachings.

Daily Prayer

Choranians are expected to conplete 2 daily prayers to Halin. One in the morning, just after waking up, and another right before going to sleep. In such prayers, Choranians thank Halin for the good things in their life, and seek help against hardship. Some, mainly Soulbound Mages, may also pray to Laris Choran, the so-called First Messenger, for guidance and strenght. To pray, they must lay down a carpet, kneel on it and recite the prayer, as described here: Choranian Prayer.

Monthly Prayer

Montly prayers, for which entire communities gathers together, are done inside suriats on the 16th day of every month, during a full Veosian Moon. It is taught by Clerics that since according to the Bekura, Veos is Halin's eye, it pleases him to see the devotion of his faithful.

Worship Location

While daily prayers are usualy done at home, either alone, or with close family or friends, they can also be done inside Suriats, which are always open to the public. One can easily go inside and pray.

Holy sites

The faith has multiple holy sites around Enask, Mahador and Arros. The holiest site is probably the Temple of Choran located in the Dorroman Mountains , upon a cliffside overlooked by Mount Agadir. This mountain, which straddles the border between Paxolia to the south and Rumalia to the north, is also a holy site for Choranians since they believe that Laris Choran ascended to the Heavens by climbing to its top.

Celebrations

The Day of Ascension

This is by far the most well known and celebrated Holy day in Choranism. It marks the supposed day that Laris Choran, the founder of Choranism, died and subsequently ascended to The Ether, and then beyond, to the Stary Halls. Since the actual date of his ascension was unknown, the religion's many sects had chosen their own celebration day over the years chosen different dates.   This was mostly rectified during the 4th Choranian coucil, which took place around 600 years ago, as it established the date of his ascension to be the 14th of november. During the preceading 7 days, the people are meant to fast during the day, which is whenever the sun is out, and can only eat when the sun dissapears and Veos rises in the sky. During this period, they must only eat basic food, like bread and water. Any kind of meat is prohibited, as are dairy products and alchohol. On the 14th, they have a large meal together with family and friends, where songs and games are had.

Eremir's Day (also known as Hero Day)

This holiday is the most recent addition to the choranian religious calendar, and remains controversial with some past Heralds and current High Clerics, but has nonetheless gained immense popularity within the general population, especialy in the various shapeshifter communities and clans of eastern and central Arros.   It is a day to remember and celebrates the sacrifice of Eremir the great during his battle against the last Rekyan that plagued the continent almost 400 years ago. For many, his sacrifice as a Shapeshifters perfectly embodies the role Halin bestowed upon them, which is to be his loyal soldiers, tasked with protecting and defending those who cannot. Depending on the sect, it can be celebrated on two different days. The date that most Choranians celebrate is the 16th June. However, Raunish Choranism celebrates it one day later, on the 17th of june.

Last Moon

This holiday was imported to the Kingdom of Northengor, the Kingdom of Naurcia and the Kingdom of Alvaros from the Rumalian Confederation. It is simply a celebration of the last full Veosian moon of the year, which occurs on the 16th of December. It consists of feasts and family/community gathering. Overall, it it much more related to Magic, specificaly the soulbound kind, rather than any religion, which is why it was able to transcend regions and cultures as it expanded its reach across eastern Arros. However, some High Clerics from these regions have tried to incorporate some Choranian aspects into the celebration, to limited succes.

Only Soulbound Mages who have "Ascended" before, meaning ones that have spiritualy traveled to the The Ether at least once before can be apointed as clerics. However, not all soulmages are treated equal in this role. It is considered taboo for a Shapeshifters to ascend to the role, mainly because of the militant role they are supposed to fill for the benefit of the religion. While the same taboo doesn't really exist for Necromancers and Soulstrider, Soulweavers are overwelmingly favoured for the role.

The religion can be divided into two broad denominations, each containing sects of their own. The two main Choranian denominations are Orthodox Choranism and Reformed Choranism.

Western/Old/Orthodox Choranism

This denomination is present in the northern half of Enaskia, most of western Arros and the Tomboraan plateau in Mahador. Its main city is Aksa on the western coast of Enaskia. While Tomboraan Choranism is included within Orthodox Choranism for the sake of conveniance and for historical reasons, since its founding were of Orthodox origins, many theoligists argue that Tomboraan Choranism should be considered its own sect, independant of Aksa's Influence.

Eastern/Reformed/Raunish Choranism

This denomination is present in most of Central and eastern Arros, as well as the Vechor Islands, south-east of mainland Arros. Its main cities are Aleida, in the KIngdom of Alvaros and most importantly, the city of Raune, in the Kingdom of Naurcia. Kavasian Choranism and Vechorian Choranism are considered semi-independant sects of Raunish Choranism, but largely follow the same general rules and religious calendar, especialy since the 4th Council.