Credoth Pantheon
The pantheon that is found throughout Credoth comes from the early precursor cultures. Its exact origins are unknown due to much of the precursor’s histories being lost to time. The pantheon consists of 12 deity's and 4 elder gods. The 12 deity's each represent different vague domains, while the 4 elder gods each represent a different axis on the alignment scale. All 16 divine beings control their own plane of existence that embodies their domain. Each deity takes the form of a different race in their most pure form. The 4 elder gods however are supposedly otherworldly and eldritch in shape, with no known artistic depictions of them.
While these gods and their domains are universally accepted throughout Credoth, that is where similarities of the various cultures religious beliefs end. Some cultures utilize organized religion such as the Jouilat's Communion of Balance that sets outs specific worship requirements, while others use more loose and unorganized customs.
Mythology & Lore
Laggsunde
Laggsunde believe in a reincarnation cycle that involves a soul cycling through different bodies. Laggsunde believe souls are created individually by the gods to fulfill roles in each of the gods plans. The gods create a soul and begin the cycle at the lowest level of insect. The gods give the souls at these levels simplistic and basic goals to accomplish to help them. For example Arzog may place a soul into a spider and have their goal to cause fear in others, or maybe Nedmia may place a soul into a bee and set its goal to pollinate as much as possible leading to a large harvest. Once a god feels that the soul has done enough at its level it will move it up. Laggsunde believe in 5 levels to the reincarnation: Insect, Small Creature, Large Creature, Mortal, Immortal. The gods are free to move souls up and down these levels as they see fit. The final reincarnation moves a mortal being into its truest form where it ascends to live with their god on its plane. Most souls remain on this level for the rest of eternity unless it does something to offend its god, and the god may demote the soul all the way back to the first level.Otwin
The religious customs of the Otwin has begun to split and two different different camps currently exists. Traditional Otwin believed that Credoth was around before the gods, and at its center sat a giant volcano known as the plane forge. From the volcanic magma of the forge sprang the four elder gods. These gods blessed life upon the primordial origins and spawned the Genasi. Grateful for their creation, the genasi harnessed the power of the plane forge and created planes in honor of the elder gods, embodying there nature. Several centuries after the birth of the elder gods, 12 more divine beings sprung forth from the magma of the plane forge. They came one at a time, and with their birth new elements were brought to the world and the realm of Credoth as its known today began to take to take shape. With each divine being the Genasi continued to make more planes for them embodying their core elements. While these divine beings had their own planes to dwell in, they would often extend their power over of these elements in Credoth to help mortals who pray to them and leave sacrament to them. Its believed after death a persons soul is judged by the four, and based on how they acted in life, their soul is placed on one of the planes. It also thought that if a mortal is able to find the plane forge the Genasi will create them their own plane and grant them divine powers within it. On the other hand, some major Otwin areas have begun to convert to the Communion of Balance and follow their guidelines.Madja
Unlike many of the other variations, the Madja believe that the deity's are actually long gone. They believe that deity's created the world with the assistance of the elder gods and then sowed it with life before becomming apart of the world. Much of Madjan religion instead focuses on thanking the gods for creating the world for them to explore and live in. The Madjan also think that the world is made out a giant web of arcane energy, and using magic is simply pulling from this web. Too much pulling from the web will cause imbalance in the world itself, and the world will begin to come undone and cause great disasters until it stabilizes. Their is a legend in Madjan religion that their ancestors pulled so much from the web that it nearly destroyed the world completely. The survivors took an oath to never use magic again, and their ancestors uphold this oath.Jouilat
The Jouilat culture completely revolves around an organized religion that goes by the Communion of Balance. All of the churches mythology and beliefs reside in their set of holy books known as the Tomes of Balance.Cosmological Views
The exact cosmology varies from culture to culture, but most follow the same general layout. All consist of 16 divine planes and a material plane that is divided into different sections. Each of the divine planes is ruled over by one of the 16 gods and is designed to represent their domain. The material plane is split up into at least two separate sections. The outer section of the material plane is the primordial origins, which is made up of four areas containing the purest forms of earth, air, water, and fire. As these areas meet and combine, they create the natural landscapes of the the inner and main component of the material plane. This is the prime material realm, which contains the world of Credoth itself. Some variations of the cosmology include a third section found between the prime material plane and the primordial origins. This section is much wilder and more untamed then most of the prime material plane, but is calmer then the origins.
Laggsunde
The Laggsunde follow the common cosmology without any major changes.Otwin
The traditional Otwin cosmology contains the 16 god planes as well as shows that the primordial origins cooled after the elder gods supposedly sprang from the volcanic magma in the center of it. The cooled origins began to change and shape as each of the other gods sprang forth from volcano and eventually turned into the realm of Credoth, with the plane forge sitting in the center. At the base of the Volcano supposedly sit 16 cities, each dedicated of the gods and their planes. Each city has varying pathways that lead to an arcane one-way entrance to each of the planes.Madja
The Madja do not believe in the usual cosmology. They only believe that the world was created by the gods as a endless ocean waiting to be explored by the mortals they created.Jouilat
Since the Jouilat follow the Communion of Balance, their approved cosmology is defined throughout the Tomes of Balance.Tenets of Faith
Laggsunde
The Laggsunde rules and tenets vary depending on who an individuals patron god is.Otwin
In traditional Otwin religion the gods didn't leave commandments or rule for the mortals, meaning people can make their own decisions on what to do with their life.Madja
The tenets of Madjan faith revolve around making the most of ones life. Madja believe that the gods created the world as a labor of love for mortals to explore for all eternity. Because of this they actively push for exploration and giving thanks to the gods that gave them such a wondrous world. Part of this includes upholding the oath their ancestors made to swear off magic for life. They believe that risking breaking the world given to them by the gods is to reckless.Jouilat
The tenets of the Communion of Balance are defined throughout the Tomes of Balance.Worship
Laggsunde
For worship Laggsunde tribes have large tents dedicated just to prayer. This tent is used during the first coming of age rite as well when tribesmen are looking for insight from both their patron god as well as the other gods. Inside the tent is an incense burner hung in the center of the tent that the tribes men will burn various herbs and mushrooms to receive either a psychedelic or chilling effect. Tribesmen will often offer outsiders the chance to learn their patron gods in a similar ritual to their first coming of age rite. For worship inside the stronghold cities, Laggsunde typically build large wooden temples that are made solely of at least 5 different incense burning rooms, and one large waiting room.Otwin
Traditionally Otwin built large open temple parks that consisted of a large common area where people could gather and disucss topics, with shrines to each of the gods spread throughout. Whenever an Otwin had trouble in their life, they would go and pray to the gods shrine who has dominion over the problem and leave an offering that would please that god.Madja
On a day to day basis the Madja do not worship or pray to the gods due to their beliefs. It tradition for the shaman to oversee the creation of a large and intricately carved totem dedicated to a specific god when they find a new island to call home. It is usually erected during a large celebration the night before they leave. As time has gone on many islands already have a totem to each god, so instead they will create a replacement for the oldest one, and burns the old one using a special oil that chars it and makes it as hard as stone. The old one is then brought more inland and relocated into a forested area. Some islands have hundreds of hardened totems in their forest.Jouilat
Jouilat worhsip several times a day due to the Communion of Balance pushing the importance of thanking the mercy of the elder gods and everything they have done for the people.Priesthood
Laggsunde
Laggsunde do not have priests or shamans. Typically they will instead have a herbalist that is in charge of keeping up the stocks of their psychedelics used in their ritual tents.Otwin
The shrines used in Otwin religion are typically tended to by shrine maidens. The people who choose to be shrine maidens are not restricted in what they are allowed to do in their off time. The role is filled by several volunteers from the each city and they can leave the role at any time. While on duty they wear traditional robes and masks, and do not speak, this allows for a level of anonymity.Madja
Every tribe has a leader who takes on the role as a shaman. It is this shaman's duty to oversee the creation of large pillars to honor the gods whenever they stop on an island. The shaman also leads the tribe in various ceremonies throughout the year. As Maju has no written language, many of the tribes have varying rituals and celebrations for the gods.Jouilat
The Communion of Balance has a variety of positions throughout its structure.
Founding Date
Unknown
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Subsidiary Organizations
Permeated Organizations
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