Shegid (Sheh-geed)
Shegid is a monotheistic religion that teaches spiritual wholeness through voluntary submission to the will of Shapla.
This is a Shāmaltāz title, meaning 'the Wellspring' and not a name. Shegid doesn't use a name for God. Additionally, while it's most common to refer to Shapla with masculine pronouns in Teryn and Lingua Tin'alan, that's not so in their language. Shapla is considered beyond mortal comprehension, and that includes sex, gender, and so forth. Accordingly, their language uses an epicene pronoun for references to Shapla.
It's believed that Shapla dispatched several messengers, prophets, and emissaries to guide his people at different times through history by delivering messages and teachings. These individuals started with the very first Shāmalta created, who passed their knowledge down to their children.
Prior to the fall of the First Empire, Shegid was one of the most widespread religions with historical estimates placing it at nearly half the population of Teryn. Currently, it can be estimated to be followed by only 1% of the population: the remainder of the Shāmalta and a handful of converts.
Unlike Ylfari or the Triune, which focus actively on conversion and spreading of the faith, Shegid is not a religion of conversion. It represents culture, community, and history belonging to all Shāmalta as well as their religious beliefs so they would just as soon adopt someone as convert them. Which does happen.
Mythology & Lore
In the beginning, there was only One; Shapla, the earth, and the heavens were a single unit. At his command, they were split and Creation was Created. At the end of the six days of hard work, he turned and contemplated the labors and result before declaring it 'done.' So the whole endeavor took seven days, and he made seven children for this.
Shapla created the first seven, four brothers and three sisters: Feor, Argad, Oram, Ithos, Molyna, Lumina, and Vanas. From water and clay he sculpted them, for Shāmalta are of the earth and water is life. Then he created for them spouses and equal partners, three brothers and four sisters: Zargun, Palas, Duman, Brila, Chroma, Vesta, Osme.
These first seven families were guided to a home, a paradise, where they could live in peace.
Sheltered in the earth, inside the greatest of all caverns also known as Īdnah, they prospered for many years. The immense cavern was host to its own microclimates, lakes, and rivers, including a flourishing jungle made possible by openings in the ceiling.
As the children and anointed deputies of Shapla, they were charged with maintaining the earth given to them by Shapla: to rule and govern it according to his will and wisdom.
There they developed shegda, the foundation of what later became their civilization: writing, wisdom, artifice, and culture.
But all was not paradise in paradise. Each of the vegrāhid, the firstborn, was as stubborn and strong as the earth they were sculpted from, and each had a vision of the path forward for their people. Among themselves, they bickered and argued over matters important and trivial, and their discontent filtered down to their children and grandchildren.
It was Feru who first suggested that they search for other caverns within to dwell. Ones close enough to remain in contact for trade and mutual aid but far enough each would be their own master. So the first generation began to spread to other places, taking their children and grandchildren with them.
So the people spread.
Each settled cavern was different in makeup and available resources, shaping the attitudes and cultures of its residents. Trade quickly picked up between the scattered ethisāhid, those first holds. All Shāmalta prospered during this time and soon expanded to second and third-generation holds.
With more than a dozen fully-established holds and several “colonies”, maintaining a uniform system was becoming a headache. Logistical arguments broke out over what were equivalent trades, and some conflicts broke out as essential resources were used as leverage to exploit those without them. It finally reached a point where they agreed central authority was needed to regulate trade, expansion, and defense.
Once more, Feru came forth with the wisdom of Shapla on his lips and told them: that one should become the singular source of a unifying body where that person could use their authority to rule in peace according to Shapla's will and wisdom.
They were people of logic and understood Shapla's charge and the wisdom therein, so after much bickering and debate (a beloved pastime to this day) they decided Feru should be the first. But then he said they would work together, each of them as the head of their family, and advise him on what best to do for their WHOLE family. He would only be the first among equals.
For many generations, they prospered and worked together, sometimes conflicting but coming back to the table as a family. They made friends with the other peoples Shapla had placed in other realms above the earth.
The Dumapra says only that a time of great struggle was coming. So Shapla elevated the last Regdāhid, the emperor, Thekdrolir Thekdralornu, to the position of his ancestors as Zamtha, emissary. Zamtha Thekdrolir was given the last of the revelations and wisdom that Shapla had for his children and knowledge of the coming struggle. So he prepared for the fires and floods, the quakes, and the unclean who would oppose them.
To ensure all the Shāmalta could find their way back together after the great melna, he built a great monument at Shapla's direction, consecrated as a home-on-earth for Shapla. Fittingly, the Thisragad has stood against the ravages of time and struggle.
He also created the Ath Drat Unlishar, the Oath of the Destroyer Legion, all volunteers who stood against the innumerable enemies that would seek to destroy the pious at this Ending. Zamtha Thekdrolir stood with them, showing that even the most beloved was not above their people and should do good by his people.
Shapla took those of the Drat Unlishar to the heavens with him and gave them rest. There the last zamtha sits with his ancestors and predecessors with their creator, learning the celestial wisdom that we must pass from this life to receive.
Divine Origins
As it's written, Shapla passed down all the knowledge his nascent children could learn. Each vegrāhid received a portion they would impart to their siblings upon awakening. The same was done for their spouses, the vegrāqa. This was collectively known as 'Shābalak at Shālemna', the Way and the Wisdom.
The earliest form of Shegid comes from them.
The current form of the faith can be considered a reformation or reconstruction of the primordial faith. There is a modern belief that authentic monotheism had been diluted and contributed to Shapla striking down the empire at the end of the First Age. Some argue that the ancestor cults are risking a repeat of this, but most view them as coming to the same end by a different route.
Much is lost from those ancient days, the good and the bad. What has survived in both ancient and modern forms through the long years is:
- Shapla is omnipotent, compassionate, and merciful.
- He created the Shāmalta and forged the world.
- Each will be judged upon their own merits, the righteous rewarded with paradise, and the unrighteous cast down to the infernal wastes.
- The Dumapra is the final revelation of Shapla, his last gift to the thirdborn after the knowledge and wisdom given to the firstborn and secondborn, respectively.
- Zamtha Thekdrolir Thekdralornu is his last emissary, tasked with delivering Shapla's word and ensuring the survival of the Shāmalta with his sacrifice.
Cosmological Views
In the beginning, there was only One; Shapla, the earth, and the heavens were a single unit. At his command, they were split and Creation was Created. At the end of the six days of hard work, he turned and contemplated the labors and result. So the endeavor took seven days, and he made seven children for this.
In the heavens, there is the Radiance, the celestial home of Shapla, which illuminates the world and warms it. But the brilliance is too much to stare at for long, for mortals were not made to perceive it yet. There is Īdnah where mortals live. And then there are seven other spheres that circle the Radiance to honor the seven days of creation and the seven children first made. Thus are they named for each, and thus do the seven days hold their names as well.
Tenets of Faith
The 'Seven Mountains of Shegid' comprise the core beliefs and practices and are considered obligatory for all believers. The Dumapra presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. Five of them are considered obligatory upon everyone, with charity and pilgrimage obligatory only on those able to do so. It's said that each of the seven represents one of the ancestors.
- Netra: denoting love of and devotion to Shapla and respect for the emissaries, the Dumapra, and the spiritual leaders.
- Regda: the practices of ritual purity and cleanliness, as well as the purity of mind, soul, and action.
- Bakat: those who practice Shegid have five daily prayers intended to focus the mind upon Shapla, expressing gratitude and worship. The first three are time-based, roughly following the surface morning, noon, night. The other two are action-based, done prior to the two meals of the day. Prayer is compulsory but flexible in timing to allow for the circumstances of life. Those who can pray in a designated Shāvāpar will do so, those who can't merely face the direction of the Thisragad. Prayers are always recited in Shāmaltāz and consist of verses from the Dumapra.
- Rima: a form of alms as a means of welfare, characterized by a fixed portion of accumulated wealth by those who can afford it. This serves a variety of purposes: aiding the poor or needy (captive ransom, those in debt, stranded travelers, etc), and the welfare of all Sashagda in funding universities, healthcare, and museums. There is also a form where a host is expected to provide clean water and bread for guests in a reinforcement of their brotherhood. These are considered obligatory charity (as opposed to any voluntary charity in addition) by the well-off to those in need because their wealth is seen as a trust from Shapla's bounty.
- Thaval: abstinence from food, drink, and carnal relations from the traditional time between first and last meals. It's considered obligatory during the month-long celebration of Akhap. It represents the time after Makhashakh when they began to rebuild their lives and civilization. At this time, one should express gratitude to Shapla and his emissary, atone for their sins, and develop internal discipline and restraint. Note: those of physical health unable to endure a full fast will instead refrain for the duration they are able each day with the intent to fully fast later.
- Vabāz: individual pilgrimages to sacred sites or to visit the spiritual leaders are always encouraged, but there is an obligatory (for those able) pilgrimage every practitioner is expected to take at least once in their life. This is a trip from wherever they dwell to the subterranean capital of Bartoq where their journey will be blessed. They depart the following morning to the surface and make their way to the Thisragad, the great stone-and-metal monument believed to have been placed by Thekdrolir, upon Shapla's directive, to summon all wayward Shāmalta home. The pilgrim will circle the Thisragad seven times before returning to Bartoq. The whole trip will take seven days.
- Melna: this is divided into the "Greater" and "Lesser" forms, both a lifelong confrontation. The latter refers to external threats to the faith: personal/social vices and individuals who threaten the peace of the faith. This can also be seen as a calling to arms, and those who take the Ath Drat Unlishar are considered paragons of this for their sacrifice. The "Greater" form refers to the struggle with oneself against sinful desires, character flaws, etc; essentially, the struggle of self-perfecting.
Worship
Practicing the Seven Mountains is considered part of worship, as a Sashagda should exercise their faith in all things.
There are five daily prayer periods.
- Rising: Corresponds to surface sunrise, and represents the start of their day. This time is tracked by the artificial sun, the khagathenta, in places where one is still present.
- First Meal: Before eating breakfast.
- Midcycle: Middle of the day.
- Second Meal: Prior to dinner.
- Settling: At the end of the day before bed.
Priesthood
Unlike the elves with their complex hierarchal priesthood, Shāmalta and converts to Shegid don't have a clergy mediating between them and Shapla. There are sanctioned positions in the faith, however, that fulfill many roles.
- Shadda are those who have completed several years of training and study in the traditional forms of religious knowledge and thought, but also the secular perspective of Shegid as a religion and their civilization in general. This differs from a purely secular scholar of the non-religious sciences, but there are many times where both will collaborate.
- Segab are those who interpret Shegid law and provide non-binding legal opinions that are, nonetheless, consulted by everyone from the average citizen to the government.
- Shehat are empowered to ensure the establishment of justice. Also the extrajudicial functions of mediation, guardianship of minors/orphans, and the supervision/auditing of public works programs.
- Shāvapra are those of a leadership position in the context of conducting worship services and religious duties for the community.
Sects
- Bartoq: the source of the faith and considered orthodox.
- Dhaewar: 'dark elves' who took custodianship of Shāmaltāz culture and homes in Cronodor as they died out. They converted to the faith and are Sashagda for many generations.
"Shākhepta sal raz." Peace be upon you all.
Founding Date
First Age
Type
Religious, Other
Capital
Alternative Names
Shābalak
Demonym
Sashagda
Leader
Leader Title
Deities
Location
Related Traditions
Related Species
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