The Belief of the Ancients

The Belief of the Ancients is the oldest and most widespread spiritual system in Whenua. It is not a unified religion, but a shared understanding of the world’s sacred origins—all Tapu trace their essence back to The Eternal, the first being, the breath of creation. From this common root, countless local traditions have flourished.

Cosmological Views

Before time, before form, there was only The Eternal. Neither god nor creature, The Eternal was the origin of all balance and potential. From its essence came the first Tapus—powerful spirits of nature shaped by elemental ideas and primal forces. Some resemble animals, others seem to become a mountain, a river, the sun or moon. They are not metaphors—they are real, if elusive, beings who walk the land unseen, hidden from common eyes.

To behold a Tapu is to witness sacred reality made flesh.

Tenets of Faith

Each Tapu is tied to a natural rhythm, place, or truth. The Tapus of the 12 Moons are the most widely known, and form the foundation for many seasonal rituals. However, these are not greater than others; they are simply older and more widespread.

Across Whenua, villages, families, and regions may honor their own Tapu—local guardians whose influence shapes the land and people. Some may worship the Tapu of a nearby volcano, others revere a Tapu born of the sea’s anger or a deer-shaped Tapu that guards their forest.

There is no heresy in the Belief of the Ancients—all Tapu come from the Eternal, and all worship flows back to that source.

Core Principles:

All Tapus are sacred—none greater than the rest.
The Eternal is not worshipped but remembered.
Each Tapu reflects a truth of the world.
To know your Tapu is to know your path.
The Cycle must continue, but its shape is ever-changing.

Worship

The Belief of the Ancients has no central temple, no codified scripture, and no clergy. It is lived through:

Storytelling—myths, chants, oral traditions.
Rituals tied to nature, seasons, and local Tapus.
Personal reverence, where individuals leave offerings or mark sacred days.
Guardianship, where communities protect the sacred sites or relics linked to their Tapu.

Each group may have its own customs, sacred animals, or taboos. Some Tapus prefer silence and shadow, others revel in song and feast. It is a faith of relationships, not rules.

Subsidiary Organizations