Bambism (Rathnir)

Origins and Introduction
Bambism is a religion created by the Phagosian Federation in the south of syltor. The Bambists believe in the purification of Rathnir and the purge of sinners. Bambists believe in the "greater world", a massive realm that is the home to the divine gods, one of which is Shibata, the god of Bamboo

Known Gods
Tianlong - associated with water and rebirth, dragon of the heavens

Xara - associated with sacrifice and honor, god of agriculture, monk who journeyed to the west to bring back sacred scriptures

Guanyin - associated with compassion and mercy, goddess of mercy with a thousand arms

Lyndar - associated with indulgence and pleasure, god of joy and pleasure

Shibata - associated with holy bamboo, god of bamboo and music

Fuxi - associated with creation and rebirth, creator of humankind

Nüwa - associated with the balance between nature and civilization, godess of nature

The Bambism Church

 * 1) Menaphos, central church, Volandia
 * 2) Akuro, secondary church, Phagosia

Origins of Shibata
According to legend, the god of Bamboo, Shibata, was born in the "Greater World," a mystical realm where all the divine gods reside. Shibata was born to the god of Agriculture and the goddess of Nature, who were charged with the task of creating a plant that would provide food, shelter, and resources for humanity.

Shibata's birth was marked by a powerful storm that swept through the Greater World, shaking the foundations of the divine realm. As the storm raged, Shibata emerged from the earth, his body formed from the very essence of the earth and sky.

As Shibata grew, he quickly gained a reputation for his strength and resilience. His leaves provided shelter for animals, his stems were used for construction, and his shoots were a valuable source of food. Shibata became a symbol of the harmony and balance that could exist between humanity and nature.

As time passed, Shibata became increasingly important to humanity. His popularity grew, and people began to revere him as a god. They built temples and shrines to honor him, and he became a central figure in many religious and cultural practices.

Today, Shibata is still revered as a symbol of nature's abundance and generosity. He is often associated with strength, resilience, and flexibility, and his image is used in art and design around the world. Many people continue to view bamboo as a sacred plant, one that connects them with the divine and reminds them of the power and beauty of the natural world.

Creation of Rathnir
Legend has it that the god of Bamboo, Shibata, created a magnificent bamboo stalk that grew from the deepest parts of the Greater World to the top of the heavens. On this enormous stalk were hundreds of realms, each with its own unique features and inhabitants.

One of these realms was called Rathnir, a land of endless forests and pristine lakes. The people of Rathnir were known for their love of nature and their deep respect for the divine. They saw the towering bamboo stalk as a symbol of the connection between the heavens and the earth and believed that it held great spiritual power.

As the bamboo stalk grew, it became a beacon for people all over the Greater World. They marveled at its beauty and were awed by its size and strength. Shibata became revered as a god of immense power, one who could bridge the gap between the divine and mortal worlds.

The people of Rathnir, in particular, saw the bamboo stalk as a symbol of hope and a path to enlightenment. They believed that by climbing to the top of the stalk, they could reach the heavens and commune with the gods.

Over time, the bamboo stalk became a pilgrimage site for people from all over the Greater World. They traveled from far and wide to marvel at its splendor and to seek the wisdom and guidance of the gods.

Today, the bamboo stalk is still revered as a symbol of the divine connection between heaven and earth. Its image is used in art and architecture, and it continues to inspire people to seek out the beauty and power of the natural world. The people of Rathnir still view the bamboo stalk as a sacred place, one that holds the key to their spiritual enlightenment and the secrets of the universe.

The Divine Burn
In the mythology of the Greater World, the god of Chaos, known as Ablion, had always been a disruptive force. His powers were vast, and his motivations inscrutable. He had long harbored a deep-seated animosity towards the divine order of things and the sacred plants that were so revered by the people of the world.

One day, Ablion decided to strike a blow against the gods by targeting the sacred bamboo stalk. He saw it as a symbol of everything that he hated about the divine order of things: its strength, its resilience, and its ability to endure through the ages. He plotted to destroy it utterly, and in so doing, sow chaos and destruction throughout the world.

Ablion began by summoning a raging inferno, one that consumed everything in its path. He directed it towards the bamboo stalk, intent on burning it to the ground. But the gods of the Greater World were not so easily defeated.

They rallied their forces, summoning powerful winds and rains to quell the flames. They called upon the power of the earth and the sky to hold the bamboo stalk in place, even as Ablion's fury raged around it.

For many long years, the battle raged on. Ablion refused to give up, his hatred and rage only fueling his determination to destroy the sacred bamboo stalk. But the gods were equally determined to protect it, and so the battle continued, each side locked in a seemingly endless struggle for supremacy.

In the end, it was the combined efforts of the gods that saved the bamboo stalk. They worked together, using their powers to create a barrier around it that protected it from Ablion's wrath. And so, the sacred bamboo stalk survived, a testament to the enduring power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit.