Cultural interpretation can always just be added on. Our cultures aren't set in stone the format I created for them was kinda' vague on religion on purpose. I wanted the cultures to be updated to fit their religions, not the other way around. Doing it this way would allow the religions to be completely fleshed out without any kind of restrictions and then we could adopt certain religions to our cultures. If we need specialized religions for certain cultures then by all means create specialized religions, I just didn't think it would make sense to have 18 cultures and 18 completely unique religions.

Yeah, every culture definitely doesn't need their own religion.

Especially since cultures will be broken down and mixed with each other to create nations. These nations may share cultural traits or beliefs, ie: the Marosian pantheon, but they may have differing festivals or beliefs regarding certain gods/goddesses/mandates

So here's some general questions here to try and get this religion stuff moving again.

We have one potential Pantheon at the moment, which cultures do we want using this Pantheon?

I think this first one should be used for a major culture's pantheon, so whatever the big one was.

Marosians of course.

The Alyrians, Hararans, Istarians, Shoshoans.

I can see the Lenosians adopting it?
The Tosians would pick it up from the Shoshoans.

Yarlindish will revolve around the Great Elk that Deci was talking about earlier.
Hing'rmin might have something related to the Yarlindish, (or maybe they'll have a parallel pantheon to the Marosians, except with animal deities.)

The desert peoples may have a strong enough culture to repel all the Marosian influence around them.

Yeah, the Lenosians are special made to absorb any foreign culture or religion so that seems fine.

And once again, I must get the ball rolling...

So I've put in a lot of basic information, but left a lot of blanks that we can fill in together.

Here's an outline for religions in general

Now, what I need from you guys. Feel free to fill in the stuff I posted in above as well. Please. Please do.

Dylia
- <Insert god/goddess>
- <Insert god/goddess>

Eratos
- Irdessa, hunting, wildlife, archery, fire (will be related to some sort of Hararan goddess)
- <Insert god/goddess>

Gwendell
- <Insert god/goddess>
- <Insert god/goddess>

Aros
- Hok, god of metals, blacksmithing, jewels, stones
- <Insert <god/goddess>

Need:

god/goddess of the sea/storms/weather
god/goddess of magic?
god/goddess of death

^Mix and match!

Everything seems fine and I can't think of much we're missing. I think as we create the religions and decide what cultures take part in what pantheons we should go back and edit in how each culture worships and celebrates. Guess that means it's probably time I build a wiki for this stuff.

Irdessa
Goddess of Hunting, Wildlife, Archery, Fire
Titles/Aliases: Feral Daughter, (Aruhia – Hararan War-Goddess of Fire)
Dominion: Patron of Hunters, Archers, Young Women, Wild Animals, The Hottest Month of Summer
Symbol: Three crossed arrows
Sacred Animal: Deer
Physical Attributes: Hararan-Faltic Features: light tanned skin, sharp jaw, brilliant copper hair, orange eyes. A fierce and athletic looking woman wearing animal skins with long orange hair kept in a sweeping ponytail. (She can be depicted wielding fire in her hands, a bow and arrow, or tending to various wild animals)
Qualities: Independence, stamina, recklessness

As usual, as we develop further, things can be added, etc

I've got a religion for my island kind of worked out and I also have a religion for the the Katyann's in mind as well. I think I probably wanna talk to whim about that one a bit though before I post it.

Name:Kyrazal (Kyrens)
Summary/History Kyrazal is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of the prophet Kyratasius. Followers of Kyrazel believe that Kyratasius was once a normal, nameless man who, after traveling on foot whilst searching for enlightenment and the meaning of true peace, ascended a great mountain and later "died" at its peak. The nameless wanderer dreamed in a state of "living death" for sixteen days before being awakened to life by the voice of God being channeled through an enormous tree with white bark and white leaves. Atop the mountain and in God's true view he was reborn and named Kyratasius. The new being that God had named Kyratasius was no longer faceless and no longer sought answers to his existence. Kyratasius had become a new being, a white haired, white bearded living vessel which possessed all the knowledge of this world and the next. God foretold that Kyratasius would descend the mountain and spread the knowledge his mind witnessed during his birth. He told his prophet that he would create a foundation through which a great church could be built and that man would make a pact through him with God that would last until the end of time. Upon receiving the knowledge of his future, God also foretold Kyratasius' eventual death. Kyratasius was to die in order to cement man's pact with God, he was to become a vessel for all of man's hatred, ill-will, and wrongdoing, he was to hold in his body not only God's knowledge and will but also his mistakes.

After much reflection and contemplation Kyratasius descended the great mountain and traveled on foot for days before he reached civilization. Upon meeting man for the first time, Kyratasius discovered that many were worshiping idols and sacrificing both animals and people to false spirits and demons which held sway over people's souls. Kyratasius began his teachings in these pagan cities and villages and quickly his word took grasp and spread like wild fire. Eventually tribesmen, peasants and even nobles from far and wide were coming to hear Kyratasius' wisdom, but Kyratasius' influence was growing far too fast and the kings in the land were feeling threatened by his teachings. The kings eventually expelled the prophet from their lands and began to persecute those who followed his teachings. Stricken by deep grief for his people's suffering, Kyratasius secretly returned to the pagan kingdoms and lead his people west to a new land where they could settle and worship without persecution. For sometime Kyratasius was able to oversee his people and continue his teachings, some of his followers even became teachers themselves and soon they were traveling to other countries and lands to spread the word of God. Meanwhile in the east many were still converting to the new religion causing great instability and a great plague was beginning to spread which the kings blamed Kyratasius for. The High King who oversaw the collection of kingdoms threatened Kyratasius and through a messenger told him he would invade and slaughter every last one of his followers in one month if he did not personally come east and answer for his crimes. Against the wishes of his closest followers Kyratasius went east alone and was pinned through the heart by a stake to an enormous tree(this being an insult to the symbol of his religion) for his crimes. Kyratasius' body was left pinned to the tree to rot but instead of rotting his body remained intact and the tree began to warp. By the sixth day the tree and Kyratasius had become one and soon after the tree grew to an amazing height and its bark and leaves had turn white. The High King ordered the tree cut down but no iron or steel could penetrate the tree's bark. He next ordered the tree burned, but the fire which was set to tree would always leap away or extinguish upon touching the bark. Finally the High King ordered the tree's roots dug up and removed, but no matter how far they dug the laborers could not find the end of the tree's roots. Meanwhile in the west many heard of Kyratasius' noble death and also of his tree. Thousands of Kyratasius' followers took up black banners decorated with his white tree and marched east to pay their respects at his final resting spot. Fearing that the group might turn hostile the High King ordered his king's armies to attack, though of his six kings four refused. The four kings who refused feared that if they attacked, the newly named Kyrens would revolt and they would lose control of their kingdoms which now had significant Kyren populations. Despite this the High King gathered what troops he could and attempted to personally march them west to meet the Kyrens in battle at the tree. Unfortunately for the High King his forces refused serve him as many blamed him for the terrible plague which followed Kyratasius' ousting. Somewhere along the march the High King's forces betrayed him, attacked him, and beheaded him. His body was dumped somewhere alongside the road and his army returned east and began unseating the other kings. Before long Kyrazal became the major religion in the area and just as God had foretold a major church was built on the foundation and teachings Kyratasius had given to his people.

Guiding Principles: Kyrens believe in a definite set of principles:
Kyratasius and Lyros/God, are the definite head of the Church.
Kyren character should be determined by how well they can follow the teachings of the holy book.
The Church is to serve the people, but in return the people are to answer to the needs of the Church and follow its teachings.
Always have concern for those who are less privileged then yourself and always treat your fellowman as equal.
There are no other gods, there is only a single Lord and through only his will can those who live find eventual understanding and happiness.

Holy Texts/Lore:The Agio Agriffa is the only holy text of the Kyrens. The holy text is split into three parts, one supposedly written by Kyratasius detailing the creation of man and the world, one written by Kyratasius' direct followers detailing his birth, life and death, and one written by the first Patriarch of the Kyrazal church which details the events after Kyratasius' death, the creation of the organized church and accounts of Kyratasius' direct followers individual lives. The text teaches the core principals of Kyrazal and include individual passages and stories which reinforce good morals and proper Kyren behavior.
Holy Sites: Asasimo Fucale (The Silver Light) is the holiest site of Kyrazal. This is the name given to the great Church that was built around the White Tree where Kyratasius' body supposedly rests. Asasimo Fucale is where the head of the clergy, The Patriarch, reigns and is where all the high bishops meet to discuss matters of religion and politics. The Church is only open to the public on certain days of the year, though the White Tree can be seen very clearly rising from the courtyard at the center of the church. The church is fairly secluded from society as the closest city is a roughly 10-15 miles west. This western city is known as Apiero(Resting) and is too considered a holy site as it is where Kyratasius' rested before he eventually crossed the border east. Many people visit this city to contemplate their past actions and future actions and it's considered good luck to always visit Apiero before traveling east.
Religious Personnel: The Patriarch and the high bishops run the church. Beneath the high bishops are normal bishops who run cathedrals and act as the heads of their respective regions. Beneath these bishops are priests who run individual churches and monks who either gather in communion for life in monasteries or travel between foreign lands and churches to spread knowledge and teachings.
Centre of Influence:Apiero, Asasimo Fucale. This religion encompasses the entirety of the Katyann cultural region along with parts of the Tosian cultural region.
Festivals/Ceremonies: (working on it)
Symbol:A white tree, a five pointed white leaf.
Deities: Lyros




I guess it probably wouldn't hurt to start drawing maps for our religions' sphere of influence so we know just how far they reach... We could also mark holy land marks and what not on it.

http://megaswf.com/f/2718265


roughly what a map would look like with my religion on it. Black lines are cultural boundaries.

edit:


I'm a bit confused Kiki, are you looking for more gods to make up the pantheon or are you looking for sub-deities like beings?

Those are all main gods, but they're only slightly lesser than the 4 ones who lead the whole pantheon for a season.

I'll add to the map and religion tomorrow.

Oh, I get it. I'll get to work on those then. Hopefully some people other than us are still interested in doing this.