Rexan Polytheism

Traditional rexan religion incorporates polytheism, ancestor worship, imperial cult and mystery religions, both native traditions of the Rexans as well as customs adopted over time from others subjects of Resak. Certain concepts, such as the importance of the four elements, ritual combat, animal and especially human sacrifice, are common in all these religious traditions, while others such as headhunting and endocannibalism (the former practiced by North Hótics and South Hótics and the latter by Tingreni) are forbidden.

Creation myths

There is no unified story about the creation of the world in rexan mythology, instead virtually every deity's cult has its own creation myth which often contradict each other. A common theme is that the world has been destroyed and recreated multiple times before taking its current form.
The most popular version is heavily influenced by jatrilnúxan mythology, where the world has gone through four ages: in the first age, Age of Air, gods and humans were equals living in heaven; during the Age of Fire, humans were still powerful but now lived on the surface; by the Age of Water, humans had lost their superpowers but were still immortal; and in the current age, the Age of Earth, have lost their immortality as well, but can regain their powers after death assuming they've lived a good life.

Notable deities

Galranía

Galranía is goddess of the night, magic and revenge, who sends furies to torment criminals and deserters. Pardi in particular are sacred to her, as their black coat dappled with white is associated with the night sky by the rexans.

Jatargus

Jatargus is god of the sky, rain, thunder and lightnings, and closely associated with the pakran god Joxas, who has similar roles.

Knatarus

Often referred to as the sun wolf, Knatarus is the sun god and patron deity of the rexans, who's accompanied by the souls of those slain in ritual combat in amphitheaters, helping him battle all kinds of monsters on his way across the sky each day.

Naltirka

Naltirka is the main fertility goddess of the rexans, who's associated with waterfowl, particularly geese. In some traditions, she's described as a divine goose who laid an egg, from which the world hatched, and her main temple in Arkis has tamed geese wandering around the sacred precincts. Their behaviour is closely observed by oracles, believing it can foretell such things as victory in battle and whether the next harvest will be bountiful.

Teskalíus

Teskalíus is at once feared and respected in rexan society, as he's believed to observe everything one does and thus chooses one's place in the afterlife. Souls of the dead must look into his polished gold and obsidian mirror, which reflects one's actions in life; those who only see themselves are granted good afterlife, others must answer the god's questions truthfully or be cast down into the abyss.

Ætúas

Ætúas is goddess of the underworld and trading, whose shrines are located at every crossroad and bridge connecting the different settlements of the empire. In each shrine is a deep hole in the ground, where travelers offer blood (sometimes their own) to the goddess to gain her protection, and as thanksgiving for safe journey.

Mystery religions

Several different mystery religions exist within Resak, many of which are either centered around foreign deities brought by merchants or, in the case of the South Hótics of Atal-Ódolalx, syncretic cults that had been established long before rexan rule. It's not uncommon for rexans to be members of multiple mystery religions.
The most prominent mysteries are the Cult of Hjekatus -divine bull and protector of merchants- and Cult of Þrálkus, god of storms and warfare. The former originates from Vagalkan, beyond the Akral Sea to the south, while the latter was adopted from the nomadic Nalóxans of the Nómek Plain to the northwest.

Funerary rites

As with other aspects of rexan religion, funerary rituals vary depending on a person's status, beliefs and home province, though cremation is is the most common custom. Ancestors are honoured with offerings of food, drink and occasionally blood, but rexans are generally more concerned with the world of the living rather than the afterlife.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Permeated Organizations

• Resak