Zìa̰nka Chorìn

Zìa̰nka Chorìn, literally "Divine Harmony," is the state religion of the Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰. Though practitioners can be found worldwide, the majority of worship is limited to the western Sidhai.
Originally composed of a myriad of oral traditions from the area, Zìa̰nka Chorìn codified into a centralized religious organization under the Tzelzìan Empire.

Theology

The Tzelzì are polytheistic, and largely consider the world filled with supernatural beings of great power. This includes their four primary creator deities--A̰zultza̰n, Chorrìtzu, Katzuphìm, and Tzashushìn--as well as myriad lesser deities, creatures of significant power, and the pantheons of other cultures. Outside of those four major deities, collectively known as the Nitza̰nuk, there exists little hierarchy among the supernatural entities. Importance of individual deities often varies both by region and personal taste, with a number of smaller sects devoted to the particular worship outside the Nitzanuk. The only constant feature is that all gods come in sets.
Duality, or facets of being, is a defining point of Tzelzì theology. Every deity has one (or more) balancing figure(s), as often depicted as being a twin, parent, child, or spouse. The Tzelzì focus on finding the ways that these deities work together toward a harmony, or "neutral ground" between their exaggerated selves. In this, it is also notable that the Tzelzì are adamant about the fallibility of their gods. The divine beings on their own, after all, are seen as extremes, and many Tzelzì myths surround the notion of terrible things happening when one deity has lost it's corresponding balance.

Structure

Both a part and separate from Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰ society, the Zìa̰nka Chorìn abide largely by their own rules and regulations set forward by the current Chorìnoshka̰, or head of the temples.
Keeping court in the captial city of Nìtza̰pha̰ta̰l, the Chorìnoshka̰ is a semi-elected offical who, upon gaining their position, keeps it for life. It is the Chorìnoshka̰'s prerogative to monitor Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰ politics with an eye toward the religious implications of policy, serve as personal confidant and advisor to the heads of state, make final decisions upon issues which concern the Zìa̰nka Chorìn as a whole, and preside over the most important ceremonies and holidays.
Upon death, a new Chorìnoshka̰ is chosen by consensus among their direct underlings, the myrtzako. Though this selection often seems from outside eyes to be a matter of popularity, the priesthood claim it to be divinely influenced.
There are # myrtzako, one for each major city-state in the Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰, whose job it is to enforce the Zìa̰nka Chorìn 's laws and regulations within their region. They directly supervise each temple within the area, pass down edicts from the Chorìnoshka̰, and may attempt to resolve internal disputes at a local level before bringing them before the Chorìnoshka̰.
A Myrtzak does not usually keep their own temple. Rather, they make rounds to each of the temples within their region, and are assumed to speak for and with all gods within the accepted Zìa̰nka Chorìn canon, rather than beholding themselves to the worship of a single deity.
However, individual temples usually are reserved for one deity, or a dominant deity with small concessions given toward the others. Each major city has four large temples, one for each of the Nitza̰nuk. Smaller temples, dedicated to the multitude of lesser deities, often cluster the grounds of these temples, and can also be found throughout the city and countryside.
Temples themselves are run by tutzako, among whom one is generally marked as "tienh," or "first." The Tienh is charged with keeping the tutzako of their temple organized, handling financial matters, and taking the primary lead during religious ceremonies.
Alongside the tutzako, a temple may also include a number of tutzaka̰o, or acolytes, training to be annointed.

Public Agenda

The Zìa̰nka Chorìn exists to guide the Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰ along the Mìtzinh pan Chorìn or "path of harmony." Their dedicate their lives not only to enriching the lives of their followers, but in guiding the Tzelzì into a future where they will never again be subjugated.

Cosmological Views

The accepted canon of Zìa̰nka Chorìn myths is that the Nitza̰nuk have existed from the dawn of time. They were lost aimless, and scattered; pushed to their most extreme selves.

Filled with unfettered rage, Katzuphìm eventually turned in on themself, becoming a mass of fire. This is how they were found by A̰zultza̰n. Sensing Katzuphìm's distress, A̰zultza̰n tried to cool their sibling with their breath. Though the embers which flew from Katzuphìm's body remained lit and burning within the void around them, this worked for a time.

Katzuphìm and A̰zultza̰n decided to stay together. Each time Katzuphìm would descend into their rage, A̰zultza̰n would blow them out again. In this way, they spread the stars across the sky.

But one day A̰zultza̰n had had enough. They had spent millennia tending to Katzuphìm's mood, but nothing ever seemed to change. And so, the next time that Katzuphìm fell into a temper rather than blow them out, A̰zultza̰n began to smother them instead.

Though Katzuphìm fought, A̰zultza̰n was stronger. Katzuphìm grew cold and still beneath A̰zultza̰n's might. When finally A̰zultza̰n looked at what they had done, they realized they had gone too far. Where their fiery friend had been was now only a sad, desolate lump of earth.

Desperate not to be alone again, A̰zultza̰n began to dig. They flug pieces of earth off into the starry void, digging down until finally they found the tiniest spark of fire deep within. Though joyful, A̰zultza̰n knew that this ember was but a small piece of Katzuphìm. The rest remained solid, useless.

Then, Tzashushìn appeared. They had been drawn by the bits of earth and star A̰zultza̰n and Katzuphìm left behind. Seeing the mess the other two had made of themselves, Tzashushìn thought for a long time and finally proposed an idea.

Together, Tzashushìn and A̰zultza̰n covered Katzuphìm's fire once more in it's protective shell. A̰zultza̰n laid themselves around Katzuphìm as Tzashushìn cried healing tears upon the earth.

The earth slowly became malliable, and soft. It began to move.

As the earth warmed beneath them, Tzashushìn and A̰zultza̰n were surprised when, rather than becoming Katzuphìm once again, the earth revealed itself as a forth who had interceded to save Katzuphìm's life.

Chorrìtzu had sensed A̰zultza̰n's anger and known they would not be dissuaded from their course. A̰zultza̰n was devastated that their short sighted actions had put someone else in danger. But, proposed Tzashushìn, had this not brought them all together? Perhaps good things could be born of anger.

So it was that the four agreed to stay together.

Over time, they decided to use what their struggles had taught them. Together, they gathered pieces of Chorrìtzu's body and used Tzashushìn's tears to mold them around Katzuphìm's fire. When they were done, A̰zultza̰n breathed life upon the surface of the world. Here, they thought, was a place that they might live. Here is a place that they might raise their children. Here, they would never again be alone.

Tenets of Faith

Nitza̰nuk

The Zìa̰nka Chorìn's primary pantheon, known collectively as Nitza̰nuk, consists of four major deities:

A̰zultza̰n, Deity of Air, Chaos, and Emotion.
Katzuphìm, Deity of Life, Death, Fire, and Health (both good and ill.)
Chorrìtzu, Deity of Earth, Order, & Knowledge.
Tzashushìn, Deity of Life, Death, Water, & Health (both good and ill.)

Each deity is seen as a counterbalance to its fellows, with some relationships being more obvious than others. Though dominions overlap when looking at the broad strokes, it should be noted that each deity is considered to have rather specific shades to their personality. For an example, while both Katzuphìm and Tzashushìn are deities of death, Tzashushìn is generally considered more subtle and patient than the firey Katzuphìm. Therefore, they hold primary dominion over slower, less obviously painful deaths than their balance.

It should be noted, however, that the deities sometimes switch positions depending on who is speaking or what is being discussed. A sailor, for example, may consider Katzuphìm the kinder death as said sailor is all too familiar with the terror of drowning.

All deities in the Zìa̰nka Chorìn pantheon are anthropomorphized to some extent; they are assumed to have sentience, preferences, and are capable of showing favour and displeasure. However, being depicted in a humanoid or traditionally beastial form is rare for the Nitza̰nuk. Typically, these four are shown as amorphous beings of energy, light, and/or shadow. Similarly, they are never given gendered pronouns.

Mìtzinh pan Chorìn

Officially the "Path of Harmony," but sometimes translated as "The Path of the Gods," this phrase references the Zìa̰nka Chorìn desire to understand the neutral balance of nature. While they believe that true evil and true good do exist within the world, both are rare and often the result of something gone out of true with the balance of things.

According to the Mìtzinh pan Chorìn, wisdom and peace are found not in focusing one's attention or efforts upon these extremes, but in accepting that everything has a place within this world, and that there are always consequences to one's actions. The importance of the latter cannot be understated.

Zìa̰nka Nitzar

The "Divine Balance," zìa̰nka nitzar, refers to the twin concepts of action and consequence that are heavily entwined with the Zìa̰nka Chorìn world perspective. While everything is, technically, morally permissible, by their own reckoning there must be a balance.

Therefore, "Zìa̰nka Nitzar" is shorthand for the notion that all actions have direct consequences. By committing an act of any nature, the actor must accept responsibility for whatever unfolds afterward, even if the precise nature or scope of the consequence was not previously known to them.

There is some slight controversy over what merits as acceptable consequence, however.

The dominant school of thought maintains that long lasting consequences, such as continued distrust for ancient enemies, are perfectly acceptable--though often with stipulations regarding the nature and severity of the affront. A growing minority argue that actions, even largely "negative" ones, ought to be forgiven and forgotten once more concrete and/or immediate consequences have been felt.

Major Pantheon

• A̰zultza̰n
• Katzuphìm
• Chorrìtzu
• Tzashushìn

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Permeated Organizations

• Nìtza̰pha̰ta̰l
• Tzelzìa̰n Myrinosha̰

Deities

• A̰zultza̰n
• Chorrìtzu
• Katzuphìm
• Tzashushìn

Related Professions

• Zian Priesthood

Related Ethnicities

• Tzelzì