Batu Shamanism

Batu Shamanism
Batu Shamanism is a religion native to and primarily only practiced within the land of Batu.

The Mirza
The religion is split into houses, which house you adhere to influences what Spirit of Batu Shamanism you follow. While Mirza are ever-changing as families rise in power and decline in prominence, current Batu society is dominated by the following 4 major Mirza, representing the dominant lifestyles of the practitioners of Batu Shamanism:

The Altercast Mirza:
Born from centuries of conflict over the scarce resources of the tundra, the Altercast are highly skilled warriors. Preferring to always be prepared for any situation, the Altercast have a tendency towards living in highly fortified settlements and always training for battle in their free time, they work as a security force of Batu, watching the borders for threats in their grand towers and keeping the peace within Batu itself. Altercasts worship Ama'rah, known to favour warriors, protecting them in battle and guiding their swordarm. Ama'rah often makes itself known as a glacial wolverine. There is also Arron, brother to Ama'rah. Arron also serves as a patron spirit to the Astercast Mirza. Arron often manifests itself as a falcon, and is said to be embodied in the fierce and agile warriors that the Astercast Mirza often host.

The Rickerstein Mirza:
This family is known for the prominence of its architects, the bravery of its miners, and the skill of its smiths. The Lords of the AundaIine, or Underlands in common speech, the Rickerstein were molded by the great caverns of their ancestral home, filled with buried treasures and ancient ruins from empires of days gone by. The Rickerstein tend to be warm and welcoming to travelers seeking refuge in their hearths due to their commitment to the importance of family and kinship. Rickersteins worship Chet'a. Favouring craftsmen, burrowers and bravery. Chet'a is known for taking the appearance of an arctic fox, often causing trouble among the spirit guardians with its mischief and trickery.

The Eriki Mirza:
Known for the influence of its merchants in international commerce, as well as the fertility of the lands where their farmers produce their crops, the Eriki are influential suppliers of essential supplies for the Khaganate. This family is known for having a tendency towards isolationism and protectionism, often finding themselves arguing against the belligerent attitudes of other Mirza. The Eriki are warm and welcoming to fellow Batu, however they have found themselves being accused of being cold to foreigners. The patron spirit of the Eriki is Gan, Stout and proud, they serves as the Patron Spirit of the Eriki Mirza. Gan often manifests itself in the form of a Moose, often protecting and guiding merchants in their travels and watching over the fields of farmers. Gan is known for being reclusive, and often disappears from view when seen by others.

Ukok Mirza:
Made up primarily of religious functionaries, wisened scholars, and gregarious diplomats, this Mirza feels most at home socializing with foreign individuals and teaching them about their faith and culture. Members of this Mirza typically prefer to maintain friendly relations with their neighbors. Pass-times of this Mirza include drinking and socializing with folks, as well as eating good food over an interesting conversation around the meal table. They may have a propensity to being on the heavier side. The Patron Spirit of the Ukok is Kutsal, known for its fierce love of its family and congeniality towards those whom aid them. Often seen as a white bear, is highly defensive of its cubs, and is never seen roaming the tundra without them following close behind.

The Spirit World
Batu Shamanists believe that the world is split into two planes, the human world and the spirit world. They exist in tandem on our planet, but in separate dimensions. The spirit world is a lot more volatile, chaotic and unpredictable, with loose rules, while the human world is much more calm and peaceful. The human world is inhabited by spirits, while the human world is inhabited by humans. As far as Batu Shamanists know, it is possible to be in-between worlds, but no human has ever been fully in the spirit world. Spirits however have much more freedom, some even staying primarily within the human world. A myriad of evil and dangerous creatures live in the spirit world, which inspire stories of bravery and triumph, as well as fear within the Batu culture.

Spirits
Spirits are entities that primarily live in the spirit realm, but they sometimes do visit the human world. As the Mirza spirits have been listed above, this list will be dedicated to spirits unaffiliated with any Mirza.

Aput
The most famous of all spirits in Batu is Aput, the Ice Maiden known to roam the frozen landscape that is the traditional Batu homeland. Aput is viewed by the Batu as a defender of their home, protecting them from foreign invaders, however her wrath towards those who destroy the tundra is the subject of epic tales of blizzards and avalanches wiping out villages in the night. Aput was the spirit who called the Batu tribes to the tundra in the first place, using one of Khutsyamna's songs (who is elaborated below). There is a temple dedicated to Aput at the cultural heart of the Batu tundra. Although she is not necessarily the most powerful, she is worshipped more than any other.

Khutsyamna
Khutsyamma is the spirit of the stone, art, music & poetry etc. He was dug up by the old batu people. They used the stone to build their town and a temple to him. He taught them stone carving and painting, ancient songs which are still sung around batu today, he taught them knowledge of where to find ores and how to smelt. Then how to turn ingots into shovels and plows with intricate designs. He admires humans making great structures with stone, but using his stone/ores and perverting it into weapons of war and destruction he hates. Knowledge of him was lost after he brought an avalanche to destroy the humans within Old Kragpeak (called Yammamir) as he essentially “buried himself” with them. After ETC disbanded, the upheaval caused his calling song once again to be heard by Shadowed, a travelling foreigner who was tasked with rebuilding his temple.

The Ellyllon
The Ellyllon are a tribe of spirits, the remains of a long forgotten human tribe that became spirits upon their demise. The Ellyllon like to kidnap and enslave humans in order to their dirty work. For this treachery, Aput cursed the Ellyllon by trapping them in between realms. They physically are in the spirit realm, and visually they can only see the human realm. This was very dangerous for them, as the spirit realm is a lot more active and volatile than the human one. They learned to adapt by creating a special ointment (which the Batu call Lygad Ointment) that would let them see the spirit world. They've also learned how to trap people in between spirit realms like Aput did to them, and they use this to trap humans even more efficiently. Ellyllon are also able to appear in the human world as humans, as that was their original form, although time in the spirit realm has moulded them dramatically. They are incredibly vile to look at, as can be seen in the adjacent image. Batu people tend to see the Ellyllon as boogiemen. They teach their children that if they stay out too late the Ellyllon will get them, etc. People are often accused of being Ellyllon if they are disliked, as anyone around you could secretly be one, even a nations leader.

Saken
Saken is the guardian of the swamp, similarly to how Aput is the guardian of the Tundra. Her domain is the large swamp in eastern Batu. Shamanists believe that Saken was a member of a long lost civilisation in the swamp, and died, becoming a spirit. She wandered the ruins until new settlers arrived. Saken is more in tune with the human world than any other documented spirit, often visiting events and even performing rituals, which let her see the future. The settler Yanzi brought her to Hagusaki, a settlement built by the new arrivals at the swamp. Saken foresaw the fall of Hagusaki, but specified that an individual would rebuild the town, the citizens of Hagusaki disregarded this prophecy. Later, the town of Hagusaki, which had become prosperous through trade, went to war with with few neighbouring towns, leading to the death of Yanzi. She destroyed a majority of the swamp, destroying Hagusaki's economy, making the city lose the war. Saken can predict the future but only for one person at a time, she is very skilled in combat, specifically in the art of the sword. She has blessed the Yonzani family with immortality. If mortally wounded, she will take time to heal herself, and won't be able to spend time conducting prophetic rituals.

Cwninod
Cwninod is the spirit of fairness, which usually takes the form of a large rabbit, with reports of it being up to 8 feet tall. It is most well known for its appearance in the classic Batu legend; "The History of Rabbit Cheese", in which Cwninod curses all rabbits to not be able to produce dairy anymore, as punishment for humanity on its unfair treatment of rabbits, and nature as a whole. Cwninod can see through the vision of every rabbit alive, but it can also feel their pain, making the spirit highly protective of its 'family', although the specific nature of Cwninod and all rabbits relationship is a mystery. Do not break a deal with Cwninod, as he will take revenge until he deems it fair.

Temples
Temples are religious sites in Batu, each dedicated to a spirit (or more) and has a Shaman that keeps it operational. Rituals are almost always practiced exclusively in these.

Temple of Aput/Goleuad
The temple of Aput, built on a mountain, is the only religious building dedicated to Batu Shamanism. It is regularly visited by nearby worshippers of Aput, and tourists, as the building itself is quite beautiful, although it is also quite mysterious, as there are ridiculously many floors beneath the first. It is rumoured that there might not be a bottom floor, only the Shaman, Carado Akitut, who built and operates the building, knows the truth about the temple.

Temple of Khutsyamna/Kragpeak
Kragpeak temple, located in Kragpeak, Batu, is a Batu Shamanist temple dedicated to Khutsyamma, the ram spirit of the rock, ores, music, art, poetry etc. Kragpeak was once a bustling underground town know as Yammamir. In the ancient past (no one knows how long ago) a calamity buried the place, and knowledge of Yammamir, the citizens, and Khutsyamma himself were lost. In recent times, on the very day Batu gained independence from ETC, a stranger arrived, apparently called by a ram’s song to rebuild the temple to Khutsyamma. The temple now stands above ground on the spot it once was, rebuilt by a Shaman knows as “Shadowed”. The temple has been used for rituals, most notably the ritual from the Jigar Shaman Carado, to make Shadowed a true shaman of Batu Shamanism. The temple also contains underground sections where Shadowed himself enacts the ancient rituals once performed by the people who lived here many years ago. There is also a very small brewery; an intimate building where the Shaman of the temple mixes ingredients to create spiritual concoctions used in recreation or rituals.

Shamans
Shamans are the trusted experts of Batu Shamanism. Their job is to educate the populace on the spirits, what to do to gain their favour, and to eventually become a spirit in the spirit world. They carry out many different types of rituals for many different purposes.

Carado 'Spheniscidae' Akitut
Carado runs the Temple of Aput/Goleuad. He is dressed in a blue robe. He is the son of Loic Spheniscidae, although he much rather likes to go by his new adoptive family name, Akitut. He keeps his physical identity hidden under his robe. He is also often seen wearing a warped wooden mask, especially for rituals and other religious events. Carado has written 'Tale of Bryn', which is an ancient story passed down through oral tradition, only now finally put into a book. He has also written the poem 'Farewell Imperium', which is about leaving behind his past life, and moving to Batu.

Shadowed
The Shaman of Kragpeak goes by the name “Shadowed” due to his allusive past and common absence in public events. It seems he once had a title in some form of magical society, and so in some of his writings his signature reads “Shadowed, Mage”, but it seems he has forgone his past to live this new shamanistic life. He can often be found delving into ancient architecture around Batu and trying to ponder and piece together the nation’s past. He seeks to learn about the spirits, and discover the mystery of the nation. He was called to by a beautiful song carried on the wind, called to follow to the spot in the craggy mountains of Batu. His task came from a spirit knows as Khutsyamma. Khutsyamma gave Shadowed the task to rebuild the spirit’s temple which once stood in that spot many years ago. He is still rebuilding and discovering the hidden secrets of the once populated area. He has written Spirit’s Vessel which lays out the Shamans original story of how he was called to Batu. He's also written On Batu Spirits; As Shadowed learned more from the Jigar Shaman Carado, and was taught more by Khutsyamma, He wrote in this book about his findings and ponderings. His latest poem is titled From Stone, it is a piece of poetry infused with the thoughts and laments of Khutsyamma. Talking of the beauty of man’s creation with stone and ore, but also the danger of man’s destruction of the earth and evil of war.

Pryswyl
Pryswyl was a Shaman in ancient Batu, and makes appearances in many stories. She is most famous for helping Bryn save Mari from the spirit world, and her documentation of the Ellyllon and the spirit world. She has only one eye, after an encounter with an Ellyll. She died under mysterious circumstances.

Tafid
Tafid is an even older shaman than Pryswyl. According to Batu scholars, he was the founder of rabbit cheese, as stated in the legend of "The History of Rabbit Cheese". He learned how to milk rabbits, possibly with the help of spirits, and also how to turn that milk into cheese, which was the most delicious delicacy in all of Serrona, before Cwninod rendered all rabbits unmilkable. He spread this information all across the continent, as he beliebved everyone should be able to enjoy the delicacy.

Rituals
Rituals are a core part of Batu culture and Batu Shamanism. Shamans perform these on other people for a myriad of reasons. here are some examples of the more popular rituals that may be seen in temples across the tundra.

Initiation Ritual into Batu Shamanism
This ritual contains the consumption of Batwar of Aput, and Brew of Khutsal. Then the initiate will receive a task by a magical telepathic axe, and once this task is complete, they will officially be coveted by Aput, and be defended as any other part of the Tundra. This will also help initiates become a spirit in the afterlife, although it does not secure it completely.

Initiation Ritual into becoming a Shaman
To become a Shaman, you first must build a temple dedicated to a spirit, then within that temple, the Jigar Shaman will perform a ritual on the initiate, which will involve a quiz to test their knowledge on Shamanism. It also involves the consumption of Batwar of Aput and Brew of Khutsal.

Gened
This ritual consisted of keeping the child away from the parents, readings of sacred texts to bless the child, giving the child psychedelics and alcohol, and bathing the child in a myriad of different liquids, depending on which spirit the family worships. The child may only be named once this ritual is concluded. This ritual is a long dead tradition now.

Religiously significant items
Shamanism will obviously contain a lot of consumables, drugs, psychedelics and alcohol to fulfil rituals. Listed below are the most well known/widely used.

Batwar of Aput
The Batwar of Aput is a liquid/broth type substance, taken from icy pools in the Tundra that Aput is known to bathe in. The Batwar is known to provide specific properties based on the nature of the person, only a trained Shaman could deduct what each effect could mean. The Batwar of Aput is used in most rituals.

Brew of Kutsal
The Brew of Kutsal is a highly alcoholic drink used in most rituals. It is said that Kutsal herself raises her own cubs on this drink, and that's how it gained it's name. It is very dangerous to take without a shaman to supervise, many have died from consumption.

The Screaming Snowball
The Screaming Snowball is a relic kept at the Temple of Aput/Goleuad. It was originally a teardrop from Aput from an ancient battle where she entered a rage. It's said that whoever holds the snowball can still hear the screams, which could be from Aput, but most likely her enemies.

Lygad Ointment
Lygad Ointment was invented by the Ellyllon to bypass Aput's curse given upon them, letting them see the spirit world. The recipe is unknown to humans although it does also work on them. Some shamans claim to have this rare commodity in their temples.