Orthodox Adenism
In the beginning, there was the sea. The sea stretched from horizon to horizon, surrounded by the dark nothingness of the universe. Unlike the sea today, the water was still and placid for there was no wind to move moves. The only disturbance on its surface was the ripples created by a floating lotus flower. The flower drifted for an eternity in a single second, for time had not yet been created.
At the end of eternity, two petals fell from the lotus. The petals drifted in the endless sea and transformed into Nimel and Laeril, dual gods who were both aspects of the same flower. They held hands as they floated, still clinging to the time when they were one, but both of them sought escape from floating endlessly on the sea. They agreed to leave the surface of the water, and let go of each other's hands to flee. In that moment, discord ran between them and two gods fled in opposite directions, both thinking their twin was right behind them.
Nimel fled to the heavens, to the empty air far above the cold sea. In the barren sky, she created the sun for warmth and the clouds to rest her head upon. Laeril fled downward, swimming deep into the quiet, dark, and stillness at the sea floor. He folded his legs and settled into the mud, and his breathing caused turmoil in the sea and began the waves.
The pair, who had once been one, were irrevocably separated. High above, Nimel created the heavens, the stars, the moon, and the wind. In the depths, Laeril pushed mud to the surface and created land to interrupt the endless sea. He pushed mountains through the earth and pushed waves against the coasts. But no matter how much they created, the space between the horizon kept them forever apart.
So Nimel poured a piece of herself into a new creation, and sent life down to Laeril's land. And when that life died, the piece of herself sank into Laeril's embrace, uniting them, in a small way, once more. This was the only way for them to connect, and so Nimel continued to create more and more complex forms of life until all of Laeril's land was covered in plants, animals, and humans. Life flourished, all to end as the great gift from one god to another.
Adenism, coming from an ancient word for 'balance', is a widespread religion that originated in the semi-tropical grasslands and forests of southern Cuyania. Its northward expansion was hampered by the Iceforge Mountains to the west and the dense jungle to the north, so it primarily took hold across Armorca in southeast Cuyania.
Aproximately 1,300 years ago, a revised version of the religion that focused on the worship of a third, neutral god branched out of Adenism. Disputes between the two religions have led to discrimination, abuse, and outright war multiple times throughout history. Revised Adenism eventually became the state religion of the Valaran Empire. Currently, the two forms of Adenism have roughly equal numbers of followers, and relations between them vary from group to group, but are generally strained.
Aproximately 1,300 years ago, a revised version of the religion that focused on the worship of a third, neutral god branched out of Adenism. Disputes between the two religions have led to discrimination, abuse, and outright war multiple times throughout history. Revised Adenism eventually became the state religion of the Valaran Empire. Currently, the two forms of Adenism have roughly equal numbers of followers, and relations between them vary from group to group, but are generally strained.
The Deities
Nimel and Laeril are worshiped jointly, with both receiving equal veneration. They are each thought to have domain over opposite but complimentary aspects of existence.
Nimel
The goddes of life. She has domain over birth, fire, light, war, fertility, chaos, the sun, summer, the sky, and loveLaeril
The god of death. He has domain over water, darkness, tranquility, illness, healing, the moon, the night, the ocean, wisdom, and dedication. Suffering and evil happen when someone is out of balance and leans too heavily toward one or the other.Afterlife
Upon death, a person's soul is sent to Laeril as the final gift. Dying and taking one's piece of Nimel to her beloved other half is the ultimate fulfillment of a person's reason for living. There is no conscious thought after death; the soul joins with Laeril and becomes one with him.
Structure
The head of the church is titled the Cenobiarch. When Nimel send pieces of her life to Laeril, she occasionally chooses to create a life out of a piece of her heart, and this life is born wiser and more in-touch with the gods. One of the chief duties of the Cenobiarch is to find their successor, who will be a child with a piece of heart as their soul.
Below the Cenobiarch is the council of Great Seers, the wisest of priests who are spread throughout the regions where Adenism is practised. Very few people can afford to travel all the way to visit the Cenobiarch in person, so they serve as stand-ins for him or her and have authority in their various regions. They are responsible with supplying the Cenobiarch with potential successors found within their regions. Their title reflects how they see the truth and have increased wisdom.
The abbots are below them, and are in charge of running individual monasteries that serve as the centres of worship for cities or a collection of nearby towns.
Answering to abbots are deacons, who study and worship at monasteries and attend to individual practitioners.
Below the Cenobiarch is the council of Great Seers, the wisest of priests who are spread throughout the regions where Adenism is practised. Very few people can afford to travel all the way to visit the Cenobiarch in person, so they serve as stand-ins for him or her and have authority in their various regions. They are responsible with supplying the Cenobiarch with potential successors found within their regions. Their title reflects how they see the truth and have increased wisdom.
The abbots are below them, and are in charge of running individual monasteries that serve as the centres of worship for cities or a collection of nearby towns.
Answering to abbots are deacons, who study and worship at monasteries and attend to individual practitioners.
