Follows of Raema are called Raemana. Like Yaeani, Raema's pantheon of gods represents aspects of the natural world. However, Raemana gods are far less abstract, having canonized human forms and "chosen ones." Interestingly, Yaeani and Raema have quite a bit of overlap, likely from the eons-old collision of the Xihthilan and Thaebaean cultures on their original home continent. Marine creatures are important symbols in Raema.
Table of Contents
- Pantheon
- Mythology & Lore
- Ceremonies & Rituals
Pantheon
Primeval Gods
Raem, the namesake of the Raema religion, is the goddess of the sea and life. Raemana believe that she created all the lesser gods and humans. When she is pleased, the sea is calm and bountiful, and when she is irate, the world storms and the sea thrashes. Additionally, Raem represents the moon, due to its effect on the tides. The full moon and summertime also serve as her symbols, and she is represented by the color blue. It is customary to pray to her for large and small miracles, as her domain is not limited like the other gods', though she is paid special attention by sailors, shipwrights, fisherfolk, and those with child.
Oñ is the deity of the sun, the land, manual labor, and autumn. Faer symbol is the sun, and faer color is red. Raemana pray to faer for bountiful harvests, fair weather, and swift completion of manual work.
Ukoth is the deity of time, the cycle of life and death, leadership, and wintertime. Faer symbol is the sea turtle, and faer color is white. Raemana pray to faer for good health, the passage of souls to the afterlife, and for easy transitionary periods. One of Ukoth's duties is to catch the souls of the departed and lead them into Raem's embrace. Raemana souls that are judged to be worthy are reborn as marine creatures, while those thought to be unworthy are discarded into the ocean's depths by Raem herself.
Mauth is the god of springtime, the arts, philosophy, relationships, family, and tradition. His symbol is the otter and he is represented by the color brown.
Lesser Gods
Forming the basis of the thirteen months of the year, the Lesser Gods were once humans who were chosen to ascend by the main pantheon, corresponding with their seasonal domains.
Awuth, the first month of the year and of spring, is the deity of luck. It is thought that they bring good fortune for the year. Their emblem is a pinecone.
Oñfeytli is the deity of childbirth, family, and the symbolic birth of new artistic works. Faer emblem is a bluebird.
Ginu is the deity of knowledge and invention. They are the last month of spring, and their emblem is a hammer.
Tufe, the first month of summer, is the deity of storms and intense weather. Their emblem is a lightning bolt.
Nuoth is the goddess of pleasure of all kinds, and is believed to watch over secret lovers. Her emblem is a rose, and those who display it choose specific colors to mean different things.
Søga the final month of summer, is the goddess of medicine and good health. A healthy family going into the autumn will remain so until the year is done. Her emblem is a snake.
Ippu the first month of autumn, is the deity of the hunt. Their emblem is the orca.
Duk is the deity of the harvest and good food. Faer emblem is a stalk of wheat.
Adu the final month of autumn, is the god of charity and community. It's during this time that followers are expected to give to the less fortunate so that everyone can make it through the harsh winter. His emblem is a bumblebee.
Døpo is the first month of winter, and the goddess of war and strife, symbolizing the hardships of winter. Her emblem is a boar.
Tah is the deity of trade and fortune (though not always monetary). Their emblem is a citrine gemstone in the shape of a tridecagon.
Aeup is the god of light and hope. His is the final full month of winter, signifying the end of the sun's shortened time in the sky. His emblem is an open flame.
Piri, the final month of the year, is the deity of dreams, nightmares, and prophecies. Fae are the most elusive and mystical of the gods, like the domain fae represent. Dreams are sacred to Raemana, often thought to be premonitions or visions into the inner self. Faer emblem is a bird in flight.
Mythology & Lore
The Raemana believe that before Eiros existed, there was only the sea. No light, no life, no land. Only Raem. Everything else was created by her, including magic––an element that the Raemana originally had no word for, as old-school Raemana still believe the practice of magic is a blasphemous attempt to wield Raem's power. Modern Raemana often don't hold this belief, though mages are not idolized the way they are in the Yaeani religion.
Creation Myth
For eons,
Raem was the only being, but being alone gets tiresome. For this reason, she chose to create
Oñ, and the world exploded with sunlight. Oñ created masses of land to walk upon, for fae were not a fan of swimming.
Raem and Oñ thought to populate their world, so Raem formed sentient beings out of the sea foam that surrounded her. Oñ grew plants for them to forage. But something was still missing. The creatures grew tired of the monotany, they sought new experiences––but there were none. Raem realized that they were missing something she'd never desired: time. So she created
Ukoth, the god of time and the afterlife. Ukoth's birth allowed for new opportunities, stories, and experiences. Raem gifted her sentient beings the ability to reproduce, and they soon became fairly self-sufficient––so independent, in fact, that through their practices and beliefs, a fourth deity sprang from their faith:
Mauth.
Ceremonies & Rituals
Funeral Rites
All Raemana souls are to be returned to the sea. This may be in the form of ashes or as a body, though the latter is preferred. Typically, the body is either placed in a heavy casket or is weighed down with rocks so that it doesn't float. The casket, rocks, and body are painted with religious and personal symbols. It is then thrown into the water (preferably a sea or lake––if a smaller body of water or river, then spread ashes are more customary) following a small ceremony.
The Raemana believe that a soul not laid to rest is cursed to wander the earth as a kkus––a demon of sorts. Even those who did evil in life are not left to this fate. Instead, they are simply not reincarnated, and their memory is lost to time.
