Arosianism

Arosianism
Arosianism is a Polytheistic religion centered on the worship of a Solar Deity, Aros. It began in Axum, and is today one of the most popular religions in Alamayn. Adherents, known as Arosians, are required to perform a number of rituals. These include “greeting the sun” three times every morning, and conducting animal sacrifices at Altars to the gods. These rituals vary across cultures and geographic locations. Arosianism is a culturally diverse religion, as gods from different geographical regions were incorporated into the Arosian pantheon. Creeds of Arosianism generally believe in the divinity of Aros, Feresi, Bahiri, Hoggoth, and Zenobi, though the nature of Zenobi in particular is the source of contentious debate. Arosianism has its roots in early Axumite mysticism, and grew over time as oral traditions were codified into religious texts.

The most important of these religious texts is Song of Saifu, an ancient Epic detailing the founding of Axum and the creation of the original Arosian pantheon. Axumites claim that the original Arosian prophet, Saifu, was the founder of Axum, and that his descendants comprise the ruling family of Axum today. This belief in the divinity of the royal family is most popular in the Axum’s capital, Adwa, and is heavily disputed by other Arosians, especially adherents of Arosian-Lumenism.

Mythology of the Gods
Aros is the giver of life, the creator of the universe. He represents warmth and growth, and is considered a bringer of justice. He is said to journey across the sky each day in a flaming barge, descending each night into the realm of Hoggoth to do battle against her wickedness.

Bahiri is a god of the seas, created out of the mud to exercise dominion over the lawless Bado. He is seen as the patron of fishermen, brewers and sailors, who often pour out a beer to him for luck before a long journey.

Feresi is a god of warfare, created when many animals were mistakenly combined together during the beginning of time. Seen as a shapeshifter, many Arosians embrace him as a patron of the natural world, and give thanks to him after a hunt in case he was one of the animals slaughtered.

Zenobi is the mother of the gods and goddess of the sky. Created from reeds, she helps carry Aros on his long journey through the sky, and watches over the world at night while Aros is battling Hoggoth. Some sects claim the true name of Zenobi is Moloba, and that Song of Saifu is a heretical text.

Hoggoth is the goddess of the underworld and a bringer of death. She inhabits an area called Initoropi, leading some scholars to consider her merely an Arosian personification of the ancient goddess Entropy. Worship of Hoggoth is expressly forbidden by Arosians, and no churches offer sacrifice to her (at least, not publicly).

Ancestor veneration: Arosianism teaches that the dead have a continued existence, and influence the fortunes of the living. Special emphasis is placed on the veneration of ones own familial ancestors, and it is believed that ancestors are able to act as messengers between the living and the gods.

Creation Myth
Arosianism teaches that the Universe began as an endless primordial ocean called the Bado. Aros created himself out of Bado by uttering his own name, at which time he pulled land up out of the ocean and began to order the universe. The full account of the universe's creation is found in the book Dealings of Aros.

Song of Saifu:
When Aros created the Amilaki dynasty, he blessed them to radiate forever with his Power. And the first King was Bazen.

--IN THE BEGINNING--

>When Bazen had lived 100 years, he had a son in his own likeness, and his own image. And he named him Zoskales.

>When Zoskales had lived 105 years, he became the father of Nzabes.

>When Nzabes had lived 70 years, he begat 4 sons. And these sons became the founders of the 4 tribes, and the 4 tribes became Axum.

>The greatest of these sons, Saifu, was journeying one day into the desert when he was struck dumb.

>He languished on the verge of death for the space of many days.

>Then Aros came to him in his dreams, and told Saifu he must unite Axum, for he had prepared a land for their descendants.

>Aros! How mightily he shines! His light outshines all other powers.

>Saifu was of the tribe of Amilaki, and so was an enemy of the Mursi, who were mighty!

>But Saifu knew that Aros was with him. And so he went down unto the Mursi, and he asked to break bread.

>A hundred horsemen of the Mursi came upon him, riding hard.

>Saifu was not afraid, for he Believed. And he lifted up his hands, and a great column of fire fell upon the Mursi.

>And so the Mursi were conquered, and so too were their gods, and their idols.

--END CHAPTER ONE--

THE DEALINGS OF AROS

>Hoggoth! The Goddess of death! Ruler over all that once walked Rathnir. All will Go to Her in death.

>Now when Hoggoth saw the Hundred of the Mursi, and beheld their burns, she saw at once the power of Aros.

>Hoggoth went up into the sky to speak to Aros, and to ask why he had sent her those souls before their time.

>At once Aros explained, that Saifu was his chosen vessel, that he was to lead Axum to its promised lands.

>And Hoggoth was much angered, for in those times Gods had promised to leave mortals to their affairs.

>Hoggoth desired to destroy Saifu. And so she went away from Aros, and went down to the lands of the mortals.

>There she took the form of an arrow, and sought out a Sheko archer.

-END CHAPTER TWO-

SAIFU AND THE SHEKO

>Saifu had conquered the Mursi, and went now to gather in the Sheko.

>At this time the Sheko were cast far and wide, and only came together on the longest day of the year.

>And this was in celebration of Zinabi, Mother of Rain & Sky.

>Thus Saifu travelled far, to reach the Oasis where the Sheko were to be gathered.

>But Hoggoth was against him. A great & terrible storm came upon him, and the dust began to blind him.

>And so Saifu covered his eyes, and his face, and wrapped himseld until his true face was obscured.

>Thus when Saifu came at last upon the Sheko in the night, they did not see him for who he was. And an archer of the Sheko took up the cursed arrow of Hoggoth, and fired at Saifu in ignorance.

>Saifu despaired! For he saw his death coming towards him.

>Aros! Why did he forsake Aros! For if he had called upon him, the arrow would have been stopped. In his fear his faith abandoned him, and he cried out.

>But the Sheko were loved by Zinabi, and so she watched them night and day.

>And when she saw the arrow of Hoggoth, she carried it away on the wind. For she knew that Saifu was the vessel of Aros, and she loved Aros like the reeds love the rivers.

>When the arrow was carried away, Saifu again Believed.

>Then the Sheko came upon Saifu, and marvelled. For they knew he was chosen of the Gods.

>Saifu gathered them up, and blessed them, and told them of his journey.

>And so the Sheko were gathered, and Zinabi became the wife of Aros, and mother of all the world's creatures.

-END CHAPTER THREE-

SAIFU & THE TEMBARO

>Saifu had gathered in the warriors of the Mursi, and the wandering Sheko, and he now went up to gather in the Tembaro.

>The Tembaro were fishermen, and farmers, and delighted in all the things of the earth.

>At this time the Tembaro were in pain.

>For their nets were empty, and their fields lay bare. And there was no rain, and the sun baked the ground.

>The Tembaro had forgotten their gods, and so Hoggoth came upon them in their weakness, to destroy them.

>Now Saifu came up into their lands, and he saw their plight.

>And he saw at once that they did not Believe.

>Saifu called up to Aros, and to Zinabi, to ask forgiveness for the Tembaro.

>And the Gods heard his pleas, and their hearts were softened to the Tembaro.

>They sent their children down to save their people.

>Thus became Bahiri, the father of the seas, the son of Aros. And he raised up his trident, and he bid the fish fill the nets of the Tembaro.

>And Feresi came also, he being the God of the Mursi, the father of all horses.

>His horses ran through the fields of the Tembaro, and wherever their hooves toucehd, there was Life.

>The Tembaro delighted in this, and they knew now that Aros was the mightiest of all the gods, and that Saifu was his chosen.

>Saifu gathered in the Tembaro, and the four tribes became one.

-END CHAPTER FOUR-

SAIFU AND AXUM

>Now Saifu gathered all the tribes in the lands of the Tembaro.

>And the Amilaki made peace with the Mursi, and broke bread.

>Saifu stood before his people, and saw the fulfillment of his dream.

>And he gathered the people in prayer, and they became Axum.

>Then they went down to the waters, and into the boats of the Tembaro to begin the great journey from Saifu's dream.

>For a hundred days and a hundred nights they journeyed, and they did not fear Hoggoth.

>Because they Believed.

>Saifu lead Axum across the sea, to the lands he saw in his dream. And when he came to the place Aros had prepared, he began to weep.

>And his tears began to grow, until they filled the lands with their water. And so the people of Axum were never again without water.

>Then Saifu ruled for the rest of his days in peace, and the people of Axum gloried in Aros forever.