Zdutlel

Zdutlel is the belief system primarily practiced by the Vlektso species of the Vnirkh empire. It spans across the west to east coast of the Noomar continent. As a religious empire, with their emperor operating as the head of both state and religion, the tenets permeate every action of the Vnirkh people. They worship no god; rather, they believe that all things must learn to live, grow, and die in harmony with their soul. Their faith centers on a “no harm” philosophy. This philosophy once directly contradicted the Noomar war. Overtime, however, religious leaders were able to weave justification into their teachings by stating that humans were sent to this world to interrupt the natural harmony of the world. Zdutlel adherents call the native phasma who reside in their empire, Khvashna, which means children.

The Three Eternal Aspects

The people of the Zdutlel faith believe that on the unseen level, the world is made up of three aspects. Jor, Zruf, and Okh.
Jor
Jor can be best translated as the “soul”. That is, the innate being of an every species. All plants, animals, and people from Kuvonee (that is Phasmatum) possess a jor. Although most beings have only one soul, it is possible to possess more. One such example of this is the “Jordakh” or Dyad Soul. This is when an animal spirit and human spirit combine into one and began their transcendence to wisdom while still maintaining their physical body. However, if dissonance souls combine into one, it seeps into the Okh, which causes chaos.
Okh
Okh can best be translated as the inanimate energy that permeates through living and unliving matter. It is the force of life that causes sustenance. It cannot be killed or transformed. Rather, it is the jor which is molded according to action. Zdutlel adherents believe that the sun, which consists of the Khvashna who ascended to illumination, ensures the okh provides each zruf with the energy needed to live—and later to die—when it is time to reform.
Zruf
Zruf can best be translated as the physical containers which encapsulates each jor. (The bodies of the people, animals, plants, and inanimate objects.) Zdutlel adherents believe that the moon, which consists of the Khvashna who ascended to illumination, ensures that the zruf is not damaged. Although the zruf is eternal, it can also be physically harmed. If it is damaged enough, the jor can break free and the zruf cannot easily rebind with it.

From Ignorance to Illumination

Death and Cycles
The Zdutlel followers do not believe in a god of creation or death. Instead, they believe that upon their deaths they will bind to a new zruf. According to their actions in life, each being has the ability to ascend upwards to a new level of wisdom, regress into a new level of ignorance, or stay static in their current level of knowing. Followers regard plants and animals to be their forefathers, that is Ichisk. And regard the phasma or spirits to be their children, that is Khvashna. Ichisk possess ignorance. Khvashan possess wisdom.
There are certain animals which are believed to be on the cusp of knowledge. The Vlukela are said to be one level below sapience and when they bind with a Vnirkh rider, they are able to ascend to the level of knowing upon their next life. Conversely, the Brar animals of the trees is purported to be the incarnation of a person who has regressed into ignorance.
The Khvashna (children) are also subjected to the way of right action. If they utilize their wisdom to do harm, they will regress. And since they ascended so high to wisdom, they will topple to the bottom of ignorance. And if the Khvashna utilize their wisdom to the best benefit of the world, they will ascend into the sky as stars. Those Khvashna who did the most positive action join the Joroja of the sun or moon. Joroja can be loosely translated as “infinite souls”.
Regardless the level of ignorance, knowledge, or wisdom of each living being, Zdutlel adherents believe it is their duty to do no harm to any. To do so will lead to ignorance.
Illumination and Dissonance
Above ignorance, knowledge, and wisdom is the final ascension to the sky: Illumination. However, even those who have reached illumination are at risk of falling. The Zdutlel followers believe that a fallen star is one who has fallen, even below the ignorant beasts.
The sun and the moon represent those who have reached the ultimate ascension: joroja. The sun and the moon are mirrored joroja. Yet both are equally of the highest order of right action. It is the jorojas' duty to ensure the natural flow of the world continues without opposition.
The two jorojas are able to fulfill their roles with struggle for most of the time. However, eclipses are thought to be especially dangerous. It is when an eclipse begins that the world is most at risk of fusing. That is, jor breaking free from their zruf and fusing into one. The one can only know dissonance because it is not meant to be together. Zdutlel followers believe that dissonance can flood into the world during these ecplises. One such example is the Uncharted Swamplands, where no Vlektso will ever step foot. The only rumor of the reason behind their adment choice not to enter is a natural posion which harms even the naturally disease resistant Vlektso. Nobody know what this plant it.
Intent vs. Results
The intent of an action does not matter; rather, the results do. Thus, if Zdutlel follower was to accidentally eat meat (not including the meat of the Dakh Jor ritual) than they would fall ill. This is action manifesting as consequence. However, the consequence will be double-fold for the next life. In this way, an individual has the ability to move upwards in life if they choose positive actions as the okh will bestow their zruf with positive results. Any action taken will return to the individual three times. One time in their current life and two times in their next manifestation.

Jordakh

Jordakh as Shifters
Shifters in the Zdutlel religion are called Jordakh — that is Dyad Souls. Few people are called to this life. (Though it can be argued that perhaps a bit more are called since the Noomar Wars began.) A Jordakh is considered to be both man and beast, with each of their aspects straddling the line between knowledge and wisdom. Upon their death, the two souls will complete their ascension into wisdom, reincarnating as a Khavshna.
A potential Jordakh is called by an animal's jor to ascend. Only those who have lived with right action are able to hear the call. Upon receiving a blessing by the religious leaders, the individual will release the animal's jor by cutting open it's zruf and consuming its flesh. This allows for the two body's zruf to merge into one. The head and the organs are burned and the ashes are collected. This allows for the individual to carry the animal's jor until the merger is complete upon their death. The bones of the animal are buried in a place only the individual knows. This allows for no other person to manipulate the okh in order to control the individual or the animal. After the ritual, the individual is able to shift between Vlekto and beast at will so long as he carries the ashes and wears the hide. It is easy to recognize a Jordakh, for they are the only Vnirkh people who wear animal hide. The animal hide allow for them to shift into the skin of the animal.
Emperor as Jordakh
The succession of emperor is not necessarily linear. Rather, the emperor’s family is considered to be on the cusp of wisdom. They do not only rule, but also create religious mandates. The line of succession is dependent on the wisdom of his or her children—sometimes nieces and nephews. Only a Jordakh can become Emperor. The Vnirkh people are materlineal and monogamous. However, any child born to a mother, even outside of marriage is considered to be a full heir so long as they possess the mark. Thus, sometimes female monarchs are preferred as they can take on multiple male concubines (often human) to increase their chances of pregnancy. Controversially, some male emperors and others in the ruling families began choosing human wives to increase the probability of pregnancy. To curtail what many citizens considered the ultimate blasphemy, the most recent ruling family declared that any Vnirkh woman married into a ruling family may choose one human woman to act as her surrogate after five years of barrenness. It should be noted that this law only pertains to those in the ruling class.

Relationship with other Sapient Species

War Justification and Pathway for Humans
Many Zdutlel adherents adamantly opposed waging war on the humans before the first conflicts began. However, the religious leaders of that time mandated that because humans were not of Kuvonee and because they were sentient beings without the Mark, they did not possess jor. And without jor, harm was not only permissible, but mandated, because humans were interrupting nature’s cycle of jor. Thus, Zdutlel adherents do not believe in the very humanity of humans; instead, maintaining that they are a virus who arrived to inflict the planet. Religious leaders hold vigorous debates about whether their allies in the Turtle Island Nations possess jor. Common belief, however, now state that those humans who live an unblemished life may be able to earn jor upon death. Their phasma are present in order to bestow jor to humans upon death, in this way allowing humans to become Jordakh in their next incarnation. However, they will not reincarnate is shifters. Rather, they and their chosen phasma will begin from ignorance in hopes of one day ascending to illumination.
Humans as Dissonance
During the First Noomar War, a new belief emerged among the Zdutlel adherents. It states that when humans arrived into their world, they began to disrupt the flow of the okh (or energy). Furthermore, their continued presence risks destroying the zruf (containers). If the zruf are torn apart, every jor will fuse throughout the okh. However, because of the dissonance of opposing jor, the result will be eternal and endless chaos. The belief states that without destroying the humans which live in their world, this will be the inevitable conclusion. However, there is hope . . . if humans can earn a jor in their lifetime, they will no longer break the flow of okh, instead becoming part of it. This has caused Zdutlel adherents to maintain a: kill or convert mindset in regards to humans.

Non-Vlektso Adherents
There are some non-vlektso populations who practice a variant of the Zdutlel religion. Including the Kałceba people, who live on the western coast of the Vnirkh empire, and the mixed-species colonies on the Sunniva continent. For those adherents who are carnivores, such as the Kałceba and the Nyütlo, eating meat is permissible; however, they must be devoted to taking only what is required.

Religious Leaders

Religious leaders of Zdutlel are positions afforded by birth or by "calling". Many Vnirkh people seek roles within the religious community as it can afford a person with a better life: both in this incarnation and the next. There are three primary levels of religious leaders in Zdutlel. And each level has two primary orders: within and without. As a general rule, those orders "within" are afforded with more safety, as their religious practice is typically done within the walls of the empire. However, those orders "without" are compelled to leave Vnirkh kingdom in order to share their beliefs.
Although all Vlekto people are herbavores by nature, Zdutlel religious leaders are strict fruitarians. Even still, there are those religious leaders who are so committed they will only eat the fruit which falls to the forest floor.
Level One: Instruct Those with Knowledge
Within: Only those of the ruling family by birth are able to join this order. Their primary duty is to instruct fellow Zdutlel adherents about right action and how they can ascend to wisdom.
Without: Held in high regard by the empire, second only to the ruling family. Many join this order by right of birth; however, there are especially talented people who joined by their own merit. Thought by some to be the most harrowing of orders. Their primary duty is to interact with other Vlektso cultures and sentient species in hopes of converting them to Zdutlel. They spend most of their time outside of the Vnirkh empire. They are also charged with setting up local leadership in Vnirkh colonies and ensuring the leadership stays loyal to the emperor.
Level Two: Instruct Those Fauna with Ignorance
Within: This order's primary function is the care and domestication of the Vlukela species. The Vlukela are thought to be one step below knowledge than Vlektso; the order ensures that receive this knowledge before before their Bonding Ceremony with a Vnirkh rider.
Without: This order's primary function is the care of all other animals within the empire and the world. Nicknamed the wandering hermit's order, they live among the animals: helping them learn how to better regulate their emotions. They travel throughout the Vnirkh empire and the world.
Level Three: Instruct Those Flora with Ignorance
Within: Those in this order are tasked with caring for the plants and trees which grow in the Vnirkh empire. They achieve this most often by guiding flora to grow into beautiful objects. Although the order does not have the power to compel a plant to grow faster, they can help guide the shape in which they take. Practically for the Vlukela empire, this helps create beautiful living tree homes and shrines. Vnirkh do not cut down trees; the only wood they use is what they can find gathered on the forest's floor.
Without: Those in this order are another wandering order. However, they will often travel in small groups. They care for the plants outside of the Empire and will also traval towards manmade destruction is occurring to plead on behalf of the flora. This also also classifies new plants.

Places of Worship

to be written

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Location

Vnirkh Empire

Related Ethnicities

• Vnirkh

Author's Note:
This is a work in progress. Please let me know ways that I can improve what I have thus far.