Octarianism

Octarianism (Octarian) is commonly referred to as belief in the Old Gods. The Octarian religion is one of the oldest human religions known, and is the official religion of the Aranian kingdoms. Octarianism centers its belief around eight major deities, and its origins and teachings are inscribed in four sacred texts, with an alleged fifth book yet to be found, known as the Gatekey.

Octarian worship is done strictly through churches, with priests and clerics making up a majority of the church officials. At the head of the church are four Readers, individuals who have studied one of the four known texts their entire lives. They are seen as the experts of Octarianism, and are said to speak for the gods.

Sacred Texts
The four Sacred Texts are the four books that outline the belief and early history of Octarianism. Each book has an original and a copy, with the original only ever handled by the book's Reader. The original copies are said to be kept in a vault in an undisclosed location. The copies are chained to the readers' by their necks, and they carry them wherever they go. Readers will appoint an apprentice as soon as their master passes away, and begin an intensive lesson to groom the chosen apprentice in becoming an expert on the text and leadership of the Church. Authors of Octarian texts are known simply as Authors, though the writers of the Sacred Texts are known as Grand Authors.

The First Book
The First Book lays the foundation for the Octarian beliefs, providing the origin stories of the races. The text is rumored to be around 200 pages. The book also introduces the gods of Octarianism, and provides their roles and intentions in shaping the world. Its Grand Author is unknown.

Creation Myth
The First Book tells how in the time before time there was only one being, and it was all things (Tuva). It decided to split itself to have a companion, and in doing so created Va and Tu, Life and Death. Va and Tu desired more companionship, and created children of their own. Va created Kra (Nature), Itar (Light), and Okram (Knowledge). Tu created Zera (Tempest), Atar (War), and Nio (Trickery). Each child gave rise to an aspect of the planes, weaving together the world as we know it according to the book.

Once the weave was complete, the children of Va and Tu created their own servants to delegate tasks, one gifted from Va and the other from Tu. However, these servants were unruly and began procreating with each other without permission, multiplying and diluting the purity of their souls until they became mortal. To keep them in check, the children of Va and Tu guide the mortals through actions that bring both life and death, and mortals trust in them because they know each life and each death are of the god's design.

The First Book describes each race as being a vague descendant of either Va or Tu through one of their children. For example, humankind is said to have descended from Itar, while elves came from Kra and dwarves from Atar.

Core Tennants
The eight core tenants are what guide followers of Octarianism in their moral dealings, and they are as follows:


 * All life is sacred, and shall be treated as such
 * Do not kill of your own volition, only the gods may decide who dies and when
 * Thou shalt ask the gods and gods alone for a child
 * Thou shalt not be covetous, as all are one in the end
 * All things serve Tuva, as all things are of it
 * Protect thy neighbor as Va protects thine self
 * Thou shalt not give power to false gods
 * Thous shalt not taint Tuva with false speech

These eight core beliefs have been associated with a prayer, one of the first prayers recorded in the Octarian religion."'I pray unto the Eight, through my soul they listen. Let me be holy to others and myself, and not kill unless by thine hands. Bless my creations as creations before, and let me be pure of eyes and soul. I serve and protect to mine very best, and give power to the true gods until I rest. Keep me, use me, weave me, as I have always been Tuva, and Tuva I.'"

The Book of Haman
The Book of Haman is the second book of Octarianism, and gives the history of mortal beings supposedly beginning at the start of time and ending thousands of years ago. It is written by Grand Author Haman, who gives a firsthand account to visions he was given by angels. It is the first book to discuss the the hierarchy of holy beings.

Octarian Pantheon
Haman classifies the gods and their children, categorizing them by their supposed self given titles. Va and Tu are named the Creators, for they were the first to create children and through them, all things. Kra, Itar, and Okram, Zera, Atar, and Nio.

The One:


 * Tuva, the One God

Creators:


 * Va, God of Life
 * Tu, God of Death

The First Children:


 * Kra, God of Nature
 * Itar, God of Light
 * Okram, God of Knowledge
 * Zera, God of the Tempest
 * Atar, God of War
 * Nio, God of Trickery

Angels:


 * Era, Son of Kra, Master of Earth
 * Ara, Daughter of Kra, Master of Water
 * Ilun, Daughter of Itar, Master of Heat
 * Eysun, Daughter of Itar, Master of the Senses
 * Cura, Son of Okram, Master of Thought
 * Denn, Son of Okram, Master of Consciousness
 * Jin, Daughter of Zera, Master of Time
 * Kamth, Son of Zera, Master of Storms
 * Viol, Son of Atar, Master of Conflict
 * Thurn, Son of Atar, Master of War
 * Pheli, Daughter of Nio, Master of Surprise
 * Trea, Daughter of Nio, Master of Chaos

According to Haman, each Angel serves a sub service to their parent, and are more involved in the lives of mortals than their parents. Haman says he was visited by a type of Daemon, who brought him visions on behalf of Cura and Jin. The story tells how the various Angels had children with one another, conducting in polygamous relations. This was put to a stop at the orders of Va and Tu when they saw how quickly the Daemons were reproducing, as they feared the world would be too crowded. They succeeded only in slowing the rate at which daemons produced, until the bloodlines were diluted and mortals were born. Daemons that still retained their power attempted to keep their lines pure in order to preserve their power. Jin's daemon spoke to him, telling him of a time the world would become too crowded, at which Tu will enact punishment against the world, cleansing it so Va may breathe again.

The book also introduces instances of prayer to the Angels over different aspects of life, and teaches that none are evil as all things are done in service of Va and Tu. Though appealing to one Angel or another may gain one favor in their eyes, and they shall grant the individual preference in times of need.

The Book of Mortals
The Book of Mortals was written by Grand Authors Fairmur, Leosaius, and Desodus. It is an account of the Octarian church's founding and history, and outlines more laws and customs that must be followed. It sets the church hierarchy, with Grand Authors at the top, Readers second, Authors third, Priests next, and Clerics at the bottom. Below the official ranks of the church are common missionaries and acolytes. Below them are worshipers, and further below are nonbelievers.

It was in this period of time the church was becoming more ingrained in Aranian culture. By the end of this book's writing, the Church had a great influence on Aranian government.

Grand Authors Fairmur and Leosaius wrote the first portion of the book together, and in it created the rules of churches and what would be considered holy and unholy morals and behaviors. It banned polygamous sex, intoxication, and the study or practice of magic. Magic was still practiced, but it was under the Church's watchful eye and called Miracles. Restrictions were made so only anointed Clerics may practice magics.

Grand Author Desodus wrote the last half of the book, filling it with holy prayers and hymns. It banned the use of certain instruments and musical notes, claiming the sounds damaged the fabric of the weave that the gods had so preciously woven.

The Book of Faith
This book was the last book to have been confirmed to be written. Author Renau became a Grand Author after experiencing a vision, learning that there had been a fifth book written by an unknown man in a land of desolation. The book described how mortals could bridge the gap between this world and the world of gods, ascending and tipping the balance to force the gods to unify once more and allow all to become Tuva. According to the vision, this would bring an end to all suffering, and all would become more than they could ever know.

This book is the shortest of the four, only 56 pages long. Author Renau was unable to identify exactly where or who the man was, and records state that this missing fifth book could have been written in the past or future. The only thing he was certain of was the existence of the book.

The Book of Faith spurred a movement within the church to expand their influence. The idea being the more followers of Octarianism, the more likely one will write or find the book.

Practices
The Octarians practice many traditions and rituals based on instructions set forth by Authors and Grand Authors.

Marriage
Marriage ceremonies became standardized in the Aranian Empire under the Octarian Church, where the legal and spiritual aspects of marriage were joined together in hopes of forming stronger and more virtuous bonds rather than a legal bond between families and individuals.

Marriages must be officiated by an Octarian priest for the marriage to be considered legitimate. The priest will also sign the marriage certificate in order to bridge the legal and spiritual. It is considered uncharacteristic for a newlywed couple to go without a blessing from the Priest, in which the priest will touch the husband and wife's forehead with a thumb of blue paint.

Prayer
Octarians are encouraged to pray to the angels for guidance in all things. It is best practice for Octarians to follow the prayers of the Author Haman in the Book of Haman. Some prayers have been written in to song by acclaimed songwrites, which had to seek the approval of the Authors before and after the piece is written. These songs grew popular in church ceremonies, as it was believed that song elevated the simple words of the prayer as the choir joined voices, projecting the prayer to the heavens for all angels to hear.

Other prayers include rituals, in which incense and candles are lit and the participants drop to their knees to bow before items and relics considered holy.

Quests
Quests and missions are undertaken by clerics and knights of the Octarian Church and Aranian Empire looking to elevate their status. Officially, they are undertaking these missions to bring glory to the children of Tuva. In reality, this has been used to either send unpopular individuals on impossible or nearly suicidal journeys, where they often never return, such as recovering the armor and items of previous missionaries who never returned. Others choose to accept a quest or mission to elevate their status in society, as those who return successful are said to be blessed by the angels and of strong faith.