The Waesws ('Way-soos')
Mythology & Lore
The God of the sun, Dyőssmőt, was bored of floating in the eternal blackness of the heavens, so he created a platform and thought. His thought was to bring light to the heavens, and in doing so, he took his power, and created the sun! However, the sun was unstable, and from it came the other gods of the Waesws, and even the Abreth Gods. The Waesws created the plants, animals, oceans, and skies, while the Abreth went to hiding, getting ready.
The Waesws would live on Namiend with the people, to bring them comfort as best they could, however, the Abreth looked to end that all, so they corrupted the people, and there was a great war between the Waesws and the Abreth, which the Waesws barely won. From there, the gods of the Waesws took a lighter touch in ruling over the people, allowing them more freedom than before.
Cosmological Views
Depending entirely upon the region it is worshipped
However, there is one thing that consistent throughout the different groups and philosophies.
They all have a deep love for their environment, whether that be the sea, the forests, or the mountains.
They all have a deep reverence for the four 'sacred' elements. Air/Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth. They believe that they are to be kept free from defilement.
They believe in at least four different realms, the realm of the Heavens, where the gods live. Within the Heavens is the Realm of Death, where the souls of the dead go for either their eternal punishment or eternal joy. These two are purely good realms. Then, there is the Realm of the Living, Namiend, which is the land that is split between the good and evil, where all mortals live. Finally, there is the Underrealm, this has been completely corrupted by Evil. If the Realm of the Living were to fall to evil, then the realms of good would fall to evil as well, however, if Good were to succeed in the Realm of the Living, then the Underrealm could be defeated and returned to the good.
Those were the basic beliefs that define the cosmology of the Waesws, however, the traditions are thus:
[1]Human
The Afespían have strict religious laws, the differences between the theological and the legal are thin. Spiritual qualities can and oftentimes are considered in secular settlements. Their faith and culture are almost one and the same. They tend to exclude foreigners from their practices because of how communal their version of the faith is. Similarly to the Afespí, their wise-ones follow a strict esoteric life, that is not forced upon their subjects. They reject temples, believing them to distract from the creation of the world, often they arrange the stones their creators gave in an attempt to please them. These megaliths are integral to worship.
The Afespí have a far stricter dogma than most others. Dogmatic adherence to past traditions, restrictions, etc. support the strength of the faith. The rituals are not believed to be only symbolism, but can literally conjure (in a sense) the divine. The wise ones adhere to very esoteric lifestyles, although this life is not forced upon anybody of the layman (though it's promoted), the wise-ones are supposed to seek knowledge and understanding of the world they live in, in an attempt to discover the mysteries of the gods. Finally, worship of the gods is glorified and shared in the community. There are great festivals to honor the many gods and deital figures.
Elves
Dwarves
Recheepa
The Cin
- Albastí
- Ōnentarí
- Alora
- Shaunan
- Therinle
- Mendeek
- Mo'orth
- Gause
- Min
- Wah
- Etes
- Efentees
Ethics
Sins in the Waesws faith are dictated by culture, however, being kind unto others is an important aspect, and rejecting the teachings of Ankan.
Things that are seen as morally wrong would be harming another for the mere pleasure of it, or even to get information out, very rarely is harming others seen as justified.
Worship
It depends on the culture of those following it.
The Afespí culture lights a candle, pours water into a small bowl, and touch their head to the ground. This is to represent the different elements
In Elven culture, you go to temples, and sing, and have a good time.
In Dwarven culture, you have little idols up in your house which you pray towards.
In Recheepan culture, you have a flame which resides in a gazebo-like area, this flame is kept lit at all times, and you pray towards the fire.
Priesthood
It varies depending on the culture.
In Mainland Afespían culture, it is the "Wise One," who listens to the sky, the wind, and the streams. They are truly mages, and you are selcted to be one if you have the gift of controlling magic, and wish to be one. There is nothing that truly distinguishes them from an average human.
In Island Afespían culture (Also called Afespí ), the priests are those who wish to spend their lives studying the history of Namiend, the other cultures and Species, and train in magic. Their job is to teach the young. They can be identified by their deep blue metal badge they wear on their shirt.
Most all Elven cultures have a similar technique, the priest before takes a child as their ward, and will teach them all they know, and then some.
Dwarves do not have priests, they reject the concept.
Similarly to Dwarves, the Recheepa do not believe in priesthood, you must guide yourself through the faith.
Sects
There are millions of different sects, cults, schools, philosophies, etc. Within the many different cultures that worship in this broad grouping. However, the cultures all have distinctive aspects, for example, most all dwarves believe heavily in the worship of idols, and the worship for their ancestors. Idolatry and ancestor worship is common throughout all of the Dwarven groups. As well, Elves all consistently have a large belief in the Sanctity of Nature and to a varying extant in hedonism. Although it differs from group to group, especially so in the far western groups and far eastern groups, they are still very similar and distinct from other Waesws followers.
Founding Date
This religion began at the dawn of time, when the gods created the four species.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
The Good Gods
Demonym
Waesws
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
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