The Gods

Admittedly one of the most controversial topics I’ve covered in my long career as a fishis, it’s also one of the most fascinating. I say this because all religions and religious beliefs explored by the cloth and examined through historical organizations lead back to the same stories.
These stories are shared among races, both of light and dark, uttered in reverent whispers and quivering fear. From the Creation of Elämä to divine beings providing flesh to mortals, these stories and sparse evidence have convinced me that such beings do, indeed, exist. That all the materials now in my possession are connected by a core set of truths.
Yet most importantly...that all sources, including the Apocrypha, should be included free for the reader to consume and decide for themselves.
Thus I would first apologize to those of the faith. These words may spark not only controversy but hurt and angry feelings due to my crude and seemingly blunt representation of what they hold most sacred.
Please know this is not intended to offend, but to do my best in gathering and organizing facts and findings to the best of my ability.
To Brother Gibbins at the Church of TGII, who taught me as a youth about why we are here: …don’t get pissed.

Avoiding the Religious Box

With all that religion can provide a people, there are five common mistakes and habits which prevent one from learning truths the Universe seemingly presents. To be clear, this isn’t confined to those of any particular religion, but in any field of discovery or belief, be that scientific, political or social. They are:

• We assume we understand what we discover;
• We assume what we find is all there is;
• We look at things as we are and not as it actually is;
• What we cannot understand, we place in a box of our making so we can;
• We take what supports our personal narrative and ignore/reject the rest.

I bring this up because the subject of ‘gods’ has a stigma attached to something I believe we should be more free and open to examining. That like any species we encounter, we can only capable of understanding according to revealed information to our capacities.
It is my intent here to present what information I have available to the reader without attaching any particular ’twist’ promoted by any one church or people.

Definition of ‘god/gods’

god / gäd / gahd

noun

1. (according to the Brotherhood and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
   
2. (god) (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity: a moon god | an incarnation of the god Situuli.
   
• an image, idol, animal, or other object worshiped as divine or symbolizing a god.
• used as a conventional personification of fate.

3. (god) an adored, admired, or influential person.
   
• a thing accorded the supreme importance appropriate to a god: don't make money your god.

These may be the most common definitions used among the races, but they only convey a general idea of what ancient scripts, glyphs, and oral stories hint at. We know for a fact, just by the presence of the Lanthya and Ithari, as well as the threat of Mahan and the The Unembodied that there are beings beyond this world who have a direct interest in the affairs upon this sphere. Some who threaten our very existence, while others who defend it, and us, from those very threats.
I suggest a more accurate definition might be:

god | gäd | gahd

noun
A being of higher intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and power, interacting with lesser beings by using their knowledge for the benefit and/or detriment to those beings.

These terms have been used, at least initially, as a sign of respect. We are in awe of the divine, of those who exist in a higher sphere than our own. However, we also use these very definitions to separate us (mortals) from these same beings as if we are insignificant.
…but that is the exact opposite of what the first 'gods' intended us to believe.

The Legacy of the Nocturi

Of all the people of this world, we owe the greatest historical debt to the Nocturi. Their love of the truth allowed them to ‘see as they were seen’, growing line upon line in every aspect of life, lifting their society closer to the ‘gods’ than any other people, including the Brotherhood.

They tried to teach us. They tried to warn us—even while they sacrificed their own people for the sake of other races in the war against Mahan. Yet we would not listen to the truth, seeking other paths and acting upon our own perceptions, instead.
Throughout the ruins of Väthinerä, including their holy temple, ancient glyphs can be found, speaking of races not of this world. Beings who have walked among us, helped us, and who took a direct hand in the organization of this world.
These writings and beliefs, held so close to the hearts of the Nocturi, continue to be ignored by those professing to be historians, as well as the most respected of mägo. Writings which explain not only the creation of this world, but also the beings which organized all that pertains to it.
…including us.

"Peace be unto you, High King Gaston.
Sent in greeting and respect to the will of the neuvo-kuisa, my vow must be kept. This demands my faithfulness in delivering unto you the truth before us all.
All kingdoms have a law given, and there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
Thus unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.
All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified. For unto all Kingdoms is this one law eternal—that all who desire to come unto Pääjumä must walk Heavens Gate.
Of this, I have spoken in counsel, yet you would not listen. And for this, our people have suffered, though they look to us for guidance in this time of darkness.
For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence.  Wisdom receiveth wisdom.  Truth embraceth truth.  Virtue loveth virtue and light cleaveth unto light.  Mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.
Pääjumä comprehendeth all things, and all things are before Him, and all things are round about Him; and He is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by Him, and of Him, even the jumälät, forever and ever.
Know my dearest brother, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.
That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.
This is the gift I yet give unto thee, to cast off Mahan and bind him, not by magic, but by truth.
Yet what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?
Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
Thus I have shaken my garments of the blood of this generation. For truth has been given. The choice is now yours, and I shall abide by the united will of the neuvo-kuisa.
I Remain, As Always, Your Brother in Peace."

— Lord Soturi
Chancellor of the Nämäton

What do ancient writings reveal?

A wealth of knowledge has been revealed by the Nocturi. In 3288s they sent their ‘Viisäs’ (wise men) from Väthinerä to roam the world in search of the fragments of truth. Things hidden, things distorted, things lost about the creation, why we are here, and where we will all eventually go.
Those fragments revealed a story of a pre-existence, of a grand plan, of gods, the building blocks of creation…and us.

äolen [AH-oh-len]

‘I AM’ of intelligences, drawing truth and light unto itself.

jumälät [YEW-mah-lah]

The name of ‘gods’- referring to a race or community of unified beings.

vähänät [VAH-hah-naht]

One who could ‘become’, or a little/child god.

Pääjumä [pah-YEW-mah]

Head God, the one who leads and directs without compulsory means.