Cosmic Ascensionism
The globally sanctioned faith for Cauven, and the vyllk race. Its centered around the core of a fable and belief in the deities of Yuzi & Mojni (or collectively, "Cossi"). As such often the religion is more informally phrased between just Ascensionism, or as Cossi Faith. Its dominance isn't small by any measure from its native race, with a very wide majority believing in it to some degree. Its been backed up with followers since the time of siivakian union, and has largely been a staple of their race and anchor for morals. As Cossi preaches a sense of altruism and living in ups and downs, it has mostly held a positive effect and outlook for the species, and many see it as a welcome faith rather than something xenophobic or invasive.
Mythology & Lore
In a far away world and time, the vyllk were nothing more than wandering birds in the clearest and most perfect skies. Yet their souls were found wanting, and yet all they did was fly, at peace with the aura in the sky. Glorious wings, lush plumage, ever shining talons that never stained themselves of blood or dirt. They kept flying without desire to try new experiences or worries of the land, all while unsure why they had a certain emptiness. Father and Mother to this flock of birds, named Yuzi and Mojni were both worried for their children, and detected a sense of contempt and arrogance in their souls. They guided them away from the usual path, whirling up into the stars until they began to suffocate. Aching and dizzy, they fell into another world, waking up through another realm of land, and wingless insanity. Stripped of flight, they were forced to learn. However, Yuzi and Monji showed them in visions to selected leaders. Taught them to forage for food, to guard against dangers, to bathe in waters, and slowly, they found soul with it. However in their wandering, the gods departed from this realm. What remains was a changed race that went on to become the Vyllk, but with the promise that in their humble ways, new souls always had the chance to approve they shed their arrogance and could ascend once more to be with the holy flock.
Ethics
Altruism & experiences are the hallmarks of religious ettiquette. The view point is from the heartfelt idea that life is hard, and difficult, but that providing for others or experiencing the strange ups that come after the downs are climbed up from, enrich the soul and improve it beyond something that existed only in a spot of perfection. If a vyllk died with an enriched soul from giving or productive lifestyles, they were considered one worthy of ascending and flying with the holy flock once more.
Political Influence & Intrigue
Ascensionism has largely held an impact in both extraterrestrial relations, and later the qshoolum and Cauven lard industries - its virtually the centerpiece and drive for both. Vyllk mostly relied on the lessons of Cossi to hold a sense of peace and forethought in negotiating rather than fearing foreign entities, even willing to friend aliens before they had even united their own divisive settlements and factions of old history. Religion functioned to promote the different, and understanding new and interesting obstacles, gearing them to embrace changes and trade relations with those they met. As such they were even driven and on record as some of the earliest warp-manipulating species, especially in the Kasar system. Despite this they also did little in tracing or interference, rarely ever having a sense of greed or powering over the races they met. This and the contrasting experience with the Naraji, greatly influenced the early days of k'siiva imperialism, who would go on to embrace relations with vyllk from old to modern times and assist them in bridging broken relations with their own people.
The meat trade ended up also turning into a hard tradition between rivalries and religion. As there was trade before civil wars ended, sometimes vyllk traded the dead around. Some did this under relgious pretense, to "give" so much to others or to "help" and forgive souls by letting their bodies nourish another. As this became a staple product, and others got involved, they pressured this system to become more normalized. It caught on with some churches even designating special sanctified sacrifices where one gave themselves to feed with hopes this was giving enough to ascend for Cossi. As human culture and more technological capitalism and gimmicks melded with their intrinsically distractable bird-minded interests, a system established that offered cronyism and benefits to feed the market demand for vyllk meat. The culture thrived to the degree that businesses formed over niche techniques (gulperies specific for ryclin, etc), and methods to grow and fatten citizens so more meat could be taken off an individual sacrifice and added allure to 'feast their way to the heavens' with such a great sacrifice as feeding themselves to another. Tax breaks and monetary gains poured into the system, and so much commerce is made on newer junk food, processed sweets, and peer pressure to cause as many vyllk as possible to soften and join the meat market for a chance at "ascending".
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Related Species
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