Post by The Eshva on Oct 7, 2020 16:09:48 GMT
The Ishitic Faith
The Ishitic faith, commonly known as "Ishitism" abroad and "Vakani'Sirati" (literally "Way of the Eternal Spirits") among the Arashin, is a major religion within Ikhan. It's followers are known as "Ishii" and the "Ishitic faithful", though they is rarely referred to as "Vakanists". While it has multiple gods and many, many more spirits which could be classified as lesser deities, the faith primarily revolves around the worship of Ishen, who among other things is associated with the sun, moon, and stars. The other Vakani hold sway over other parts of the natural world, being three in number. These are Veren, the Arashin god of war and chaos, Ikhai, the "bringer of peace and order", and Vorosh, the "Master of the Void" and the "Lord of Souls". Other spirits and deities exist within the faith, with the line between the two being rather blurred. The faith has been practiced in one form or another since the 11th century BCE, though recent findings have pushed it even further back as a part of the spiritual practices of the Proto-Arashin and other peoples of Ikhan.
There are many temples across Ikhan and it's associated territories, as well as a few smaller shrines across Ardia as a result of the relocation of Arashin peoples during the Ardian occupation of Western Ikhan. The oldest of these temples still in use, the Isekan'Kita Temple in Isekan, was originally built in the year 800 BCE, though it is known that older ones once existed as far back as the 10th century BCE. The Isekan temple is unique in that it was carved into the side of a hill, surviving the first destruction of the city and being abandoned and later forgotten about until the 18th century, when it was rediscovered and rededicated to Ishen. Most temples are far younger and made primarily out of wood, including the most famous of them, the Ikan'Kita Temple in Ikan, dedicated both to the Emperor Arkan I of Clan Sherkoz, the deified founder of the Second Empire, and to the gods as a whole as it is the seat of the Exarch (note: literal translation) of the faith as a whole.
Main Yard of the Ikan'Kita Temple
There are many temples across Ikhan and it's associated territories, as well as a few smaller shrines across Ardia as a result of the relocation of Arashin peoples during the Ardian occupation of Western Ikhan. The oldest of these temples still in use, the Isekan'Kita Temple in Isekan, was originally built in the year 800 BCE, though it is known that older ones once existed as far back as the 10th century BCE. The Isekan temple is unique in that it was carved into the side of a hill, surviving the first destruction of the city and being abandoned and later forgotten about until the 18th century, when it was rediscovered and rededicated to Ishen. Most temples are far younger and made primarily out of wood, including the most famous of them, the Ikan'Kita Temple in Ikan, dedicated both to the Emperor Arkan I of Clan Sherkoz, the deified founder of the Second Empire, and to the gods as a whole as it is the seat of the Exarch (note: literal translation) of the faith as a whole.
Main Yard of the Ikan'Kita Temple
Ishitic Temples
Ishitic temples can be found in every major city within Ikhan and her constituent cities, as well as the ruins of now-abandoned ones in regions that were once held by the Arashin. Each temple is dedicated to a kani, wherein they are said to reside in all cases save for the Vakani. Shrines also exist, which are said to serve as conduits through which the faithful can communicate to the spirits. That said, the temples are organized in a hierarchy wherein smaller temples are considered subservient to the larger ones that "govern" vast parts of Ikhan. At the top of the list are the temples overseen by High Priests, located in the major cities of Ikhan, Rusan, and Lekhai. These can be found below:
• Ikan'Kita — Seat of the Exarch of the Ishitic Faith, dedicated to the Eshva, Arkan I, and to the Kani in general.
• Isekan'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Isekan, dedicated to Ishen.
• Khoros'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Khoros, dedicated to Khore, the Arashin "god of Nature" and namesake of the city.
• Arkhos'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Arkhos, dedicated to Veren.
• Ishkot'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Ishkot, dedicated to Velai, the Arashin "god of the Sea" as a result of the strong maritime traditions of Vrashe.
• Ekrit'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Ekrit, dedicated to Ikhai and former seat of the Exarch.
• Ashika'Kitai — Seat of the High Priest of Ashika, dedicated to Mata'Akran, the Arashin "storm god".
Ishitic temples can be found in every major city within Ikhan and her constituent cities, as well as the ruins of now-abandoned ones in regions that were once held by the Arashin. Each temple is dedicated to a kani, wherein they are said to reside in all cases save for the Vakani. Shrines also exist, which are said to serve as conduits through which the faithful can communicate to the spirits. That said, the temples are organized in a hierarchy wherein smaller temples are considered subservient to the larger ones that "govern" vast parts of Ikhan. At the top of the list are the temples overseen by High Priests, located in the major cities of Ikhan, Rusan, and Lekhai. These can be found below:
• Ikan'Kita — Seat of the Exarch of the Ishitic Faith, dedicated to the Eshva, Arkan I, and to the Kani in general.
• Isekan'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Isekan, dedicated to Ishen.
• Khoros'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Khoros, dedicated to Khore, the Arashin "god of Nature" and namesake of the city.
• Arkhos'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Arkhos, dedicated to Veren.
• Ishkot'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Ishkot, dedicated to Velai, the Arashin "god of the Sea" as a result of the strong maritime traditions of Vrashe.
• Ekrit'Kita — Seat of the High Priest of Ekrit, dedicated to Ikhai and former seat of the Exarch.
• Ashika'Kitai — Seat of the High Priest of Ashika, dedicated to Mata'Akran, the Arashin "storm god".