Eclipsism
Eclipsism is a religion built on on an ancient legend of a Moonkin and a Maned Cats sharing the same vision. The two came together and founded the religion building its core tenants on the vision they shared. They viewed a world where the two work together in harmony to build a brighter future for both species. This core belief led to the dichotomy in their society, with the Cats as the craftsman and the Moonkin as the ones to work the fields. They also heavily promoted a truly equal society with a culture built around mutual respect and honor.
But as the years went by these core ideal have been exploited with the Cats reinterpreting the text to imply that they were the only ones chosen to be the ruling class. As one would expect this led to a period of severe exploitation of the Moonkin, with the process getting worse and worse day by day.
The Moonkin have developed a misinterpretation about Eclipsism's original purpose as well. Where they believe that they were meant to eventually surpass the Cats that they where the one's who were originally intended to be in power. This has led some groups to cite these original texts as the source of their revolution.
Mythology & Lore
Creation
A world once made of cold,
twas cursed by gods of old.
Then by my bright gleam,
broke through the dark dream.
But the world was still empty sans life,
Till Luna rose and became my wife.
We caused the nothing to tremble,
And only then living, it was full.
The legend of creation according to Eclipsism is simple, the universe was empty and nothing truly was until the Sun came into being, while its life was enough to form the planets, and the stars it could not breath life into the world. For that it needed a motherly touch, and thus Luna came into being and brought life into the empty world.
Its first creations were the the ancients, a mighty people that ruled over Noviderra for as long as they reigned. They prospered until the creation of the Engines of Creation where they became prideful and thought they could overthrow the sun and moon, leading to them being cursed and wiped away, all that remains are the Soul Crystals of today.
Divine Origins
Came from an ancient alliance between 2 "Brothers" a Moonkin and a Maned Cats, where they both shared the same vision.
Cosmological Views
Sun Father and Moon Mother, created all else in the universe.
Tenets of Faith
Shared Practices
There are several things that both sides of the religion share, the first being that they are both supposed to be built on a mutual respect for their common man, that is the Moonkin should respect the purpose of the Cats and vice versa. This does extend to the other races, though this tends to be a lesser focus than respect towards the two main races.
There are also some days where their celebrations overlap, such as the Lunar and Solar eclipses where both races are to attend the celebration and the events attached to each. While total eclipses are a rare occurrence in the same location from year to year, the faith does specify that at some point in one's life that they must make a pilgrimage to witness a total solar eclipse even if the eclipse is viewed outside of the nation.
Maned Cats and the Sun
For the Maned Cats the Sun is at the cornerstone of their part of the religion, with the Sun being the source of their might. The Maned Cats have days of worship centered around the solar cycles, with the summer solstice being at the core with it being the longest day of the year.
According to the original texts the Cats are too be artisans, essentially processing the goods that the Moonkin produce. However the current rulers of the Nines Republic has led to reinterpretations of the texts believing that they also state that they should be the only leaders of the two peoples. However the intention of the original authors is for it to be a collaboration between the two races.
Moonkin and the Moon
For the Moonkin all things are centered around the Moon, seeing it as their source of peace. Similar to the Cats, the Moonkin have their worship based on the cycles of the Moon, with the winter solstice being the most prominent day of their year.
The original texts for the Moonkin designate them as plowers of the field and extractors of base materials, essentially leaving them to take the raw resources out of the ground. Again the Moonkin have misinterpretations of the law believing that the power should alternate between the two of them and because the Cats have been in control for too long and they believe they can only reinstate the proper order through a revolution.
Ethics
Don't be a butt
Remember the Sun
Remember the Moon
Worship
Active prayers and praise.
Special holidays focused around one or the other (I.E. Solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, Full/New moons, equinoxes, solstices
Priesthood
Maned Cat believes in centralized power
Moonkin believe in dispersed Autonomy
Are eiteher chosen by the sun/moon or by the some kind of rite of passage
Granted Divine Powers
Maybe
Political Influence & Intrigue
Maned cats use religion to exploit Moonkin
Moonkin use religion as a means to escape cat control
Sects
Maned Cat have their belief
Moonkin have theirs
Both say they are the one true religion
has a few cults who believe they are the true, true, religion free of Moonkin or cat influence
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