Qā-Jāre (ˈqā ʤɒːre)

Qā-Jāre is the world's largest faith, centred promarily around nothern and central Iasteron, but believers can be found in areas of political and social instability in all corners of the world.

Divine Origins

The clan wars that devastated north Iasteron displaced thousands of people, pusing them south towards the mountains. The caravans of tired, hungy, ill people were predated by animals and demons alike until they were discovered by Hārte. The Lion adopted the people and their harried gods as xer own pride, healing their wounds and their minds, feeding them, and defending them on their journey. Xe led them to the yamije grassalands, where xe led the gods to defeat the evil serpent Qor, and helped the people to build a defensible city under the instruction that they welcomed all who needed help.

Cosmological Views

The main deity is Hārte, the Lion of Summer. A deity of protection and healing, xe takes the form of a winged lion, and the echo of xeir roar is said to heal the mind and souls and expel evil.
The rest of the pantheon are a mixture of Iasteroni regional deities and familiar spirits elevated to godhood:
Konyā, the Maiden-Mother, god of children, dancing girls, pregnancy, and childbirth. Hārte's first spouse, co-creator of Amayeh, and mother-goddess to the matriarchal Gesā people. Konyā is worshipped by homemakers, expectant parents, and those with young children. She is pateint and loving, but firm.
Xoraʾr, the Green, god of the harvest, soil, water, and rain. Hārte's second spouse. Xora'r was the primary god of the Rutše people, and taught them aquaculture, agriculture, and husbandry. While those who travel to foreign countries to help to the needy are following Hārte's directive, Xora'r is the god they turn to when they need to make radical social change. Like water, Xora'r is capable of both endless patience and violence.
The Unamed Watcher, god of travel, storms, war, and death. The Watcher is an incomer to the pantheon, who travelled with the refugees during their migration, and xeir presence was the cause of the stife and storms that followed the caravans. Hārte's appearance was heralded by an enormous storm caused by Hārte and the Watcher battling overhead. After defeating the Watcher, Hārte allowed xem to join the pantheon if xe turned on the refugee's pursuers. The Unnamed isn't worshipped so much as bribed by those setting out on a journey.
The dual gods, Meha the Wellspring, god of the body, and Royi, the Enlightened, god of the mind. Hārte's demi-god child/ren by the Watcher. Xey inherited both the Watcher's chaotic streak and Hārte's benevolence, fighting the demons responsible for illness but needing to be cajoled or directed by doctor-priests in order to do so.
Qor the undying serpent, god of demons. A reviled man-eater, part god and part dragon, Qor sent the demons and evil spirits that harried the refugees towards the mountains. Xer bulk filled the pass, and xe intended the demons to drive the refugees toward xem so xe could and eat them. Defeated by the gods and buried in consecreated ground under Amayeh, xe is believed to be directing demons from the afterlife, and ccatastrophic events are referred to as "Qor's last fang".

Tenets of Faith

Following Hārte's example, protecting and ministering to the disposessed and displaced is the central tenet of the faith.
Qā-Jāre are called on to be selfless, facing death and injury to save even those considered unwanted and untouchable. Though the majority are unassuming in their Works, lions are not subtle beasts and some among the faithful are called to spead the Work, arguing, bullying, and shaming community and country leaders into doing better by their people. If the leaders refuse to step up, the Qā-Jāre will and frequently do, in some cases leading rebellions and toppling dynasties.
Conversion isn't a condition of receiving help from the Qā-Jāre but it amounts to much the same thing - recipients who are in a position to do so are expected to work with the temple or mission, helping those less fortunate, in the belief that we save ourselves by saving others.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion