Religion

Short descriptions of different religions which exist in All is Chaos

The Church of the Seas
The Church (must find a better name) is the largest family of religions in the West. Instead of worshipping gods as such, the church worships the world as such, the seas in particular. The church also recognizes many saints in a form of ancestor worship.

The Church of the Sea is the dominant religion in Hartland, with the majority of the population following its teachings. It is a monotheistic religion that worships a single, all-powerful deity known as the Sea God. The Sea God is believed to have created the world and all living things, and is associated with the sea and the natural world.

Contemplationist
Basically the most common version. Churches are organised along self ruling exarchates that federate into a few large compacts that mostly try to keep in communion with each other. Very "render unto Caesar" in spirit, would rather not interfere with worldly politics

Millenarianist
Regroups many more agressive/involved schisms over the ages with the common goal of building a heavenly kingdom on earth. Typically a millenarianist sect will flare up every few centuries or so, declare a general crusade before slowly petering out of stem leading to infighting, dissolution or transition into a small more conremplationist-like denomination

Contemplationist-Reflectivist
A current that can be traced to a group of monks in the early days of the church. Basically mostly practiced by hermit monks which believe they can wash away the sins for all of humanity through meditation and asceticism.

Lay Church
Another early split, the lay church believes that after an early church reform council and schism there are no more legitimate clergy on earth and as such divine communion must be upheld by the faithful themselves. Incredibly reactionary in dogma but with a very democratic church structure. Members take turns working at the temple and major decisions are taken by vote. They were and still are persecuted by most other branches and only survive in frontier areas.

New Synod
A Contemplationist splinter with different enough functioning to be worth mentioning. Basically a reform movement that took off during the age of sail and the start of bulk trade, New Synod churches do away with many old Contemplationist traditions that strictly separate the faithful according to social status and instead treat all of the faithful equally.

Crow Prophecies
Followers of the Crow Lord whom the faithful believe to be the adopted father and mentor of humanity. According to most denominations the Crow Lord has taught humanity through the intermediary of seven prophets that he sent to earth, although the identities and number of prophets tends to vary, specially with more esoteric sects.

Old Gods
Although mostly abandoned, the worship of the cruel and spiteful gods of the early ages is still practised by some more reclusive communities like the Silvermen or the Adizheans. The gods of the Silvermen and Adizheans are very similar and share a common cosmology. Their gods are revealed through the ancient epos known as the Nart Sagas, an orally transmitted epic poem with many regional variations.

Silvermen Narts
The Silvermen worship a pantheon of ancient dour and morose gods much like their Adizhean cousins. Important figures include Sosrikwe the trickster warrior hero, Satanaya the monstrous chimera and mother of Sosrikwe, Hantsegwashe the spiteful goddess of Blizzards and the Lord of Disease known as The Goer or K’werer.

Adizhean Narts
The Adizheans worship strange gods similar to those of the Silvermenn such as Sozeresh the lord of disease and bullet wounds, Mezgwasche the lady of the forests that strangles any man that lays his eyes upon her and Thashxue, "the One everyone asks, but who doesn't answer back".

Cult of Stone
The Cult of Stone is a polytheistic religion that worships a pantheon of gods and goddesses associated with various natural phenomena and elements. The Cult of Stone is prevalent in the mining and quarrying communities in the states of Birkenbruk, Moelven and Sagbruk. Its followers believe that the gods and goddesses can be appeased through offerings and sacrifices, and that they can protect and guide those who honor them. The Cult is a small but influential religion that worships the earth and the mountains, seeing them as eternal and unchanging. They often hold rituals in ancient stone circles and other natural formations. They believe in reincarnation and hold the belief that the earth is alive and conscious. They are mostly seen as symbiotic with the Church of the Sea

In the Hartlands the Cult of Stone is a local religion that worships the land and the earth, specifically in the form of the Tarankow Hills which are sacred to them. They believe in reincarnation and that the spirits of their ancestors reside in the hills. They have a number of rituals and ceremonies that are tied to the land, including the Harvest Festival and the Festival of the Dead.

The Stone Cults are based around ancestor worship centred around large white stone monoliths scattered around the continent. Many are engraved with ancient symbols lost to time and many more were engraved by the Brotherhood of Carvers, a medieval order of blind monks that knew how to elegantly engrave the monolith with pious imagery and texts. Unlike the ancient eldritch carvings, the carvings of the blind monks can still be understood today. The monks had their heyday during the Marble Renaissance but have went nearly extinct since. Some of the more important monoliths in the Hartlands are:
 * The Monolith of the Brine: Located on a rocky shore in the eastern state of Eidsvool, this monolith is covered in intricate carvings of sea creatures and other marine life. It is said that offerings placed at the base of the monolith will be carried to the deeps by the spirits of the sea, and that the monolith itself has the power to calm rough waters and protect sailors from harm.
 * The Monolith of the Wilds: Located in the heart of the Sagbruk Forest, this monolith is surrounded by a ring of standing stones and is carved with images of animals and plants native to the region. It is a place of pilgrimage for those seeking guidance and protection in the wilderness.
 * The Monolith of the Ancestors: Located in the city of Ronnenberg, this monolith stands in the center of the city's oldest cemetery and is carved with the names and images of the city's most illustrious ancestors. It is said that the spirits of the ancestors are able to communicate through the monolith and offer wisdom and guidance to those who seek it.
 * The Monolith of the Sky: Located on the highest peak of the Kjeldor Mountains, this monolith is carved with images of the stars and the constellations. It is a place of contemplation and enlightenment for those seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe.

The Stone Cults are also the main religion of the Four Hulun in the far east.

The Four Huluns would likely be a loose confederation of tribes that come together for mutual defense and to coordinate trade and other relations with external powers. Each tribe would likely have their own internal politics and leadership, but would come together for important decisions affecting the entire confederation. The confederation might also have a council of elders or other respected leaders who serve as arbitrators and mediators in disputes between the tribes. In times of war, the tribes would likely unite under a single leader or war chief chosen from among their ranks. The confederation may also have strong ties to the Stone Cults, with the monoliths serving as places of worship and centers of tribal life.

Seutonseuta is the central hub of the Four Hulun's scientific and spiritual pursuits. Located in the heart of Ula territory, this ancient observatory is a place of great reverence for the Hulun people. The observatory was built by the Hulun's ancestors, who were said to have been gifted with divine knowledge of the stars and their movements. The current generation of Hulun astrologers and scholars continue to study the heavens and record their observations at Seutonseuta, seeking to unravel the mysteries of the universe and understand the will of the gods. In addition to its scientific importance, Seutonseuta is also a place of great spiritual significance. Many Hulun make pilgrimages to the observatory to pray and offer sacrifices to the gods, believing that their petitions will be heard more clearly from this holy place.

The cold steppe is also dotted with stretches of bare raw rock, which are said to be alive. These stone outbursts and the Seutonseuta are holy places for the Hulun version of the Stone Cult.

The stone outbursts are known as "The Heart of the Steppe" and are thought to be the physical manifestation of the divine on earth. They are often adorned with intricate carvings and offerings. The Seutonseuta observatory, built on top of one of these stone outbursts, is a place of both scientific and spiritual importance. It is said that the priests who maintain the observatory can communicate with the gods through the movements of the stars and the rhythms of the earth.