Carchardon Religion/The Old One
The carchardons are primitive and simple race, and honor their gods they worship as the Old One. In actuality, this entire religion has been slowly curated by the ancient Old God, En'Raka, who for thousands of years has slowly curtailed the race of carchardons into the ideal tools to spread her darkness.
Structure
There is little to no true organization within carchardon society, and this extends to their religion as well. Warfare and tribal conflict is seen as a natural testing ground, and the tribal shamans serve to inspire the tribes as well. However, prophets and shamans are to not be harmed by rival clans, and they generally infer to the Kshakanan, the most powerful prophets of the Old One. The Kshakanan serve in the Mother-Den, the secret location of En'Raka's prison and the holiest site to all the carchardons. Here the servants of the Crone-Mother listen to hear whispers, growing in power and they direct others within carchardon society.
History
The worship of the Old One began thousands of years ago, when the original race of aqui, the predecessor race to merfolk and carchardons, began to split. A sect of aqui on the outlying periphery of their civilization heard what they said was "the call of the Old One" and slowly they migrated to the west, around the ancient island of Mentalin. The Old One, En'Raka, taught them dark magical arts, and very slowly over many generations sculped and reformed the aqui, who renamed themselves the ca'chardons.
During the Golden Age of the Ca'chardon Empire the worship of the Old One was codified in the Church of the Crone-Mother, but following the destruction of the ca'chardons' imperial power and the breaking of Mentalin, this organized worship evaporated. The new carchardons were divided and weak, but held onto their faith, and began worshipping the Old One in tribal and local ways, often through sacrifice. Thus it has remained so for thousands of years, with priest-like figures and elders of tribes keeping the old ways and stories alive, and continuing to make the carchardons one race under her rule.
Mythology & Lore
The original myths of carchardon society are varied between regions and tribes. They tell of an old age, when the Old One was yet young, and she stirred the soup of water below her feet. From this she created the first island, and formed landmasses, oceans, and all life. The Mother-of-Us-All, as she is sometimes referred to, gave birth to the gods and deities of other lands, and watched as her children spread far and wide, but grew disgusted at their laziness and foolishness. She called forth the strong, and the ancestors to the carchardons answered, thus making the carchardons her favored and blessed race.
A large collections of legends
Besides praising the Old One and exonerating her commands, the tribes all favor tales about Skarrrsaf the Pink-Scaled. Every tribe claims the Skarrsaf came from their line, and has a unique variant about his origin and deeds. However, all agree that he was the greatest champion of the carchardon people in their entire history, and he is revered as a great mythological hero and even more to some tribes. Skarrsaf is what all carchardons aspire to be, the very pinnacle of their ideals and values. There exist countless legends about him, that he was born from the coral itself, how he slew seven chieftains with one hand, his tale of hunting the great leviathans in the deep, and all manner of miraculous journeys, adventures, feats, and events.
Tenets of Faith
As the religion of the carchardons is not organized, the exact nature of worship, faith, and what constitutes true religion to them is a bit fluid. There are however, a few major aspects that all adhere to. First is that the Old One is the greatest god of all, and that her children are the carchardons. The world is a harsh and cruel place, and only through further strength and cruelty can any succeed. To pray for mercy is foolish, for the Old One only grants power to those who have the ambition to wield it. The carchardons are exemplified to pursue greatness and weed out the weak, and embrace trials, torment, and pain.
Worship
The Old One is revered and worshipped, just as her prophets and figures of great importance are (namely Skarrsaf). Her name is invoked in pacts and vows, and to offer strength in battle, as well as in spells and curses. Most carchardons have crude symbols and idols they send prayers and worship to, and at the end of the day they are expected to offer something, usually blood or flesh to these altars.
Most tribes offer sacrifices, usually animals, but also weaker carchardons, slaves and prisoners, and anything of great value. These sacrifice are community events and are off great importance to the carchardons.
Priesthood
There are no exact priests who spread the teachings of the Old One, but rather the position of tribal elder or shaman often serves that role. They are given the duties to tell the younglings of ancient deeds and heroes, and how the world fits under the Crone-Mother's rule.
Every now and then a carchardon will be overwhelmed by a vision of the Old One, and will go mad, but in their madness gain clarity to the great plan of the Crone-Mother. These are known as Kuanskuloloo "The Forgone Prophets." Clad in white mark tattoos and wandering the islands, they give cryptic advice to the leaders of tribes and communities, though they might not always be sane of mind. They follow their own unknowable logic, but have offered important visions of the future and ultimately serve as the agents of the One One, bringing about her final plan. They gather around the holy site where En'Raka is kept imprisoned, a location so secret few among even the carchardon's are aware of. They work to bring about her total freedom, and see their people let loose upon the world of Telarith.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The power of the Old One is absolute, and cannot be questioned by anyone within carchardon society. What the her prophets tell must be obeyed, and the Kshakanan priests can command the entire gathered tribes, telling them of the will of the Old One. They wield enormous magical and political power, able to depose chiefs, unite them on raids, and prepare them for En'Raka's return.
Sects
There are innumerable cults and various sects that worship the Old One in an even more aggressive and fanatic manner than others, which ebb and flow in strength like the tides themselves. These groups can vary in size, goals, location, and other ways, but all are generally fanatical and ultimately serve to aid the Old One, in some manner or another.
Type
Religious, Other
Alternative Names
Cults of the Old One
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