Lycanism

Lycanism is the predominant religion within the Ni'rral Empire, once a polytheistic pantheon that has now devolved into the worship of a singular god. As the empire declined over time, so did the faith in its old gods, eventually coalescing into a unified belief system centered around this singular deity.

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Lykania

Lykania is the remaining deity of the religion, with the others having faded into obscurity. She is known as the creator who guided the original imperials on their journey to what would eventually become the Ni'rral Empire and a part of that legacy is her association with knowledge, guidance, expansion and protection. Her symbol is associated with a radiant sun, symbolizing enlightenment and divine guidance.
The Faith revolves around the worship of Lykania , the remaining official deity. She was the leader of the pantheon prior to the faith being lost in the other deities, leaving her as the sole remaining deity officially sanctioned by the church.  

Appearance

Lykania is typically depicted as a Khonesh with silvery fur and a scar across a blinded left eye, though outside of the Empire she has begun to be depicted more as the local people, as such, within Forwire she is typically depicted as an Ilunit. She is usually depicted either wearing golden armor like that of an imperial general, or a long dress with a cloak like that of a common imperial woman, depending on if the context is related to her role as a protector or as a guide to show the people the way.  

Divine Origin

Said to have existed since before creation itself, Lykania first revealed herself to the ancestors of the imperial people when their ships landed near what would today be known as Chipal. Here she guided the people to the fertile Trewkilni Plains that would become a part of the imperial core and she showed them how to work the earth. She continued to guide the people of Ni'rral, becoming an advisor to their leader who would always have her divine protection even in the darkest period of their history.  

Symbols and Iconography

Lykania is associated with several symbols, as fitting to her multiple domains. In particular there is the radiant sun which stands as a beacon of her enlightenment and divine guidance of the people, casting rays upon the faithful and illuminating their path to wisdom.
In additional, there is the symbols of the sword and shield. The sword representing her strength, honor and courage and the righteousness of the Empire's conquest. Conversely, the shield symbolizes her determination in defending the people in times of peril, serving as a bulwark against chaos and tyranny as she upholds the Empire against the brink of ruin. Together, the sword and shield represents her martial side: The defense of her people and the pursuit of righteousness through conquest and expansion.  

Priesthood

The priesthood of the imperial church has a relatively simple structure, focusing on the divine prophet as the head of the faith and with the priests and priestesses acting as the regular clergy and lastly the acolytes as the priests in training.

• Divine Prophet: Acting as the intermediary between Lykania and the followers of the faith, the Divine Prophet is within the holy cathedral attached to the emperor's palace, where they act as an advisor to the Emperor and the faith itself, while being shielded from the dangers of the world. The Divine Prophet is said to be chosen by Lykania from those coming of age the day after the previous Divine Prophet dies, with them being marked with a scar manifesting over a blind eye. It is unheard of for the Divine Prophet to be a man, as such as only happened once ever since the first Divine Prophet was discovered.
• Priest/Priestess: The rank and file of the faith. Most everyday duties are taken care of by the priests and priestesses and they are the ones to teach the faithful about the religion during church sermons. Both men and women can become priests and priestesses.
• Acolyte: Acting as both healers of the injured and apprentices of the faith, the acolytes serve as an essential part of the church as they maintain the churches and take care of the wounded. Each priest can have up to three acolytes, with the acolytes being eligible to become priests if they have completed their training over the course of five years, takes the vow of faith and finds an acolyte of their own. As with priests and priestesses, the acolytes can be both men and women.

 

Tenets of the Faith

1. Devote ones faith to Lykania.
2. Seek enlightenment and guidance: Through prayer, meditation and study, seek insight and align ones actions with Lykania's divine will.
3. Stand with honor against the darkness: Act with honor and courage in the defense of the Empire's values and the expansion of its borders.
4. Act with righteousness: Reflect upon Lykania's will, and act only with fairness, moral integrity and justice in mind.
5. Always extend the hand of mercy: Practice charity and compassion towards those in need, whoever they might be.
6. Strive to bring harmony: Foster unity and harmony with each other and the world, so that everyone may be stronger.

 

Sects and Heresies

A variety of sects and heresies have been established and died down again over the years, and which are one of the primary reasons for the existence of the Order of the Radiant Blade. While various sects are looked skeptically upon, the true focus of the inquisition are the heresies, such as that of the Old Light tradition.   The Old Light tradition is considered a heresy by the main church, and primarily exists in more isolated, rural communities and among older families. It blends the belief in Lycania, with older ones from the empire and the lands that it has conquered. One of the more significant differences between the Old Light tradition and Lycanism, is that the old gods are still revered as saints and holy beings under Lykania's authority. The tradition does not have one unified source, but are scattered around and often kept alive through oral tradition, with the priests in the affected areas often turning a blind eye to the worship, rather than risk the ire of the locals.
Some of the common practices known about the tradition, is their storytelling including the old gods, now saints, when telling stories about Lykania and for their chapels and shrines to not only feature sun iconography, but also others such as the moons, stars, plants and other symbols belonging to the saints.