Arivunic Dualism
Arivunic Dualism is a naturalistic religion originating from the continent of Epax. Its origins can be traced back to ancient druids that worshipped the very abstraction of nature before it ever had a concrete God attached to it. Arivunic Dualism is perhaps one of the oldest religions in all of Terramor, owing back to a time before the collapse of the Ecleans when the world was in a much more primal and simplified state. To believers of Arivunic Dualism, nature exists in a constant ebb and flow of balance. Where there is light, there must be darkness. Where they is hope, there must also be despair. This concept of balance has permeated Arivunic Dualism religious texts for centuries.
At the heart of Arivunic Dualistic beliefs is a prophecy that began as an oral legend passed down by druid shamans of old to the priests and clerics that would eventually transcribe it. The prophecy foretells of the arrival of two beings, each connected to the other that would bring about a time of untold prosperity for the world. Encompassing this concept of a natural balance, the pair, referred two as the "twins of legend", would each embody a different dualistic component of nature. One, designated as "The Heart" would embody all that was good and positive about nature. They would usher in beauty, growth, harvest, and good fortune. The other, referred to as "The Wrath" embodied the more destructive and negative parts of nature. Typhoons, storms, drought, and destruction would follow in their foot steps. Together, the Heart and the Wrath would coexist together and propel the world closer to its former state, a world one with nature.
Over time, the religion began to change. As trade and general knowledge increased, believers of Arivunic Dualism began to adjust their beliefs accordingly. The biggest change was the adoption of gods into the religion, a departure from the druids of old. With this change, Arivunic Dualism effectively converted from a nontheistic religion to a polytheistic one. Currently, there are three gods that are worshipped in tandem: Faldir (representing The Heart), Raiju (representing The Wrath), and Nariel (representing cosmic balance between the two). In recent years, the nation of The Iben Republic has began using a modified version of Arivunic Dualism they call Arivunity. The overall nature of Arivunic Dualism is generally preserved, however it has been noted that in the last century or so, as the republic's crops began to flourish and trade relations improved, that the practitioners of Arivunity have begun to appraise Faldir in a slightly unbalanced way.
Mythology & Lore
The fundamental mythology of Arivunic Dualism centers around the idea of the world as simply one big forest. All creatures live within this forest the dualists contend, and all must learn to coexist. Both life and death are natural elements of this cycle, and by accepting this, one can find a sense of inner peace.
To the dualist, magic is a very natural part of the world's order. It should not be corrupted or constrained, but rather be allowed to set free. The druids of Arivunic Dualism have often had their magic compared to the very forces of nature themselves.
Divine Origins
While there are some disputing pieces of evidence, most contend that Arivunic Dualism likely orignated in what is now modern day Eshos in a time before the area was formalized into a proper nation. Originally, Arivunic Dualism began with a series of independent druid circles interspersed throughout the land. Over time, the druids began to make contact with each other, and through their exchange of their own beliefs, Arivunic Dualism was born.
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