Pikiism

Pikiism, sometimes referred as Chichism, is the native religion of the Pikulik people. Its legendary creation is placed at the spring of 76 TE, although it existed much earlier in more primitive forms.

Pikiists believe that the known World is controlled by one God - Piki, who runs it via his subordinates - the 8 Totem Spirits. If the Gods become angry, terrible disasters and misfortunes will haunt all people, thus they must be appeased via sacrifices and rituals.

Currently, the bulk of the Pikiist population reside in the nations of Askaru, Caeli and Cazonia.

Piki
Piki is the head deity of the Pikiist faith, also referred to as “Bōg” in the Pikulik language, which is a translation of “God”.

It is unknown what the true form of Piki is, all sightings either report a blinding light or a Chihuahua, considered a holy animal in the faith. It has been noted that Piki prefers to take the form of the aforementioned dog, after which very important events in Pikiist history occurred.

He rules over the entire physical and metaphysical World, however, for the physical World where mortals reside, He sends Totem Spirits to fulfil His will. Piki has the power to alter the perception of the surroundings as well as the speed of time, which He uses during communication with individual people in desolate areas.

Piki is appeased by sacrifices of important materials into the Sacred Stream, like enchanted tools, artefacts, armour as well as very rare commodities. Alternatively, Piki will also show His good will to those which actively live their lives around Him. This is most commonly achieved by placing the shrine in an important public centre.

Totem Spirits
There are 8 Totem Spirits in the Pikiist faith, 4 stemming from the Blue Flame, and 4 stemming from the Red Flame. The Red Flame represents the physical World, and, by extension, life, daylight and so on. The 4 Totem Spirits are:


 * Creature, ruling over all living animals. The deity of food, fertility and farmers. It is appeased by throwing crops into the Sacred Stream.

The Blue Flame represents the metaphysical World, and, by extension, the Human psyche, death, the unknown and so on. The 4 Totem Spirits are:
 * Nature, ruling over all greenery. The deity of forests, grasslands and herders. It is appeased by throwing bits of wood into the Sacred Stream.
 * Underground, ruling over all that's hidden. The deity of ores, darkness and miners. It is appeased by throwing gold ingots into the Sacred Stream.
 * Surface, ruling over all lands. The deity of settlements, daylight and landlords. It is appeased by throwing diamond tools into the Sacred Stream.


 * Power, deciding the fate of nations, their lords and their rulers. It holds power over the fates of governors, generals and other figures. It is appeased by sacrificing a cow in front of the Sacred Stream.
 * Peace, the patron of simple citizens, merchants and diplomats. It is appeased by sacrificing a sheep in front of the Sacred Stream
 * Conflict, the patron of mighty warriors, strategists and spies. It is appeased by sacrificing a pig in front of the Sacred Stream.
 * Afterlife, the patron of the deceased, ancestors and the unknown. It is appeased by two sacrifices: Sacrificing a chicken on the Sacrificial Table and throwing its remains into the Sacred Stream, or by sacrificing an important relic belonging to a passed individual by throwing it into the Sacred Stream.

Divine Objects
The Pikiist faith believes that a number of objects are connected to the Totem Spirits, Piki or the metaphysical World. By either owning these in large quantities or sacrificing them to the Sacred Stream, one may be favoured by the Deities.

Gold
Gold is the most important object. Because of its beautiful appearance and high price, it is connected with a multitude of Deities. By sacrifice, one gains blessing from Underground, Power and Conflict, as it comes from the deep mines, is a symbol of power and quickly begins bickering among people.

Diamond
Diamonds, though less mighty than Gold, are still considered important, they’re connected with Deities such as Creature, Surface and Peace. By sacrifice, one gains support from these Deities, as it resembles the scales of great fish, the beautiful reflections in water, so important in the deserts and a symbol of care and prosperity during peace.

Lapis
Lapis is the third most important object in the Pikiist faith, as it has the ability to change properties of tools, foods, books and more. By sacrifice, one gains favours from Nature, Afterlife and Piki. It represents the majesty of the various shapes and forms that nature takes, the magical properties connected with the metaphysical World and, because of being the only one of a kind - an exceptional connection to Piki.

Shrines
The Shrine is the basis of the Pikiist belief, as it’s the only place considered appropriate for making sacrifices. Pikiist shrines follow a basic set of rules on what elements they should have and how certain constructions need to appear, such as:


 * The Entrance, made up of a smaller statue of Piki on its right and left sides and an arch in between.
 * The Flames, lit on top of pillars on the right and left side of the primary statue. The one on the right is Red, while the one on the left is Blue. They are usually connected by a small bridge to allow for the initiation ritual.
 * The Sacred Stream standing in between the two Flames, it is the place where all sacrifices are given. It may be surrounded by simple walls or by a small hut structure.
 * The Sacrificial Table is made out of polished stone with a fence in between. It's usually placed in front of or somewhere by the side of the Sacred Stream. The usage of this element comes down to the sacrifice of animals.
 * The Main Statue sits on top of a pedestal in the middle of the shrine, representing Piki in his Chihuahua form. Under the head of Piki, located near the front of the pedestal overlooking the other elements is a lectern from which the Kapelōn (Priest) leads sacrifices and rituals.
 * The Flooring around these elements can be made out of various materials, with all the elements surrounded by a dotted line of chiselled stones one block from them. People can only enter inside of this line during rituals and sacrifices, while non-believers cannot ever enter it.
 * Surroundings include all non-mandatory elements of the shrine. It can be surrounded by a simple fence, lines of trees and flowers, market stalls or all at once.

Sacrifice of Animals
The sacrifice of animals is used to appease the Totem Spirits belonging to the Blue Flame. Each Totem Spirit has a preferred animal and a preferred tool for sacrifice. These include:


 * Sacrifice of a cow to appease Power, done by tying a cow to the Sacrificial Table and smiting it with a sword. The remains are then thrown into the Sacred Stream. During the process, the whole crowd must chant the prayer.
 * Sacrifice of a sheep to appease Peace, done by tying a sheep to the Sacrificial Table and smiting it with an axe. The remains are then thrown into the Sacred Stream. During the process, the whole crowd must chant the prayer.
 * Sacrifice of a pig to appease Conflict, done by tying a pig to the Sacrificial Table and smiting it with an axe. The remains are then thrown into the Sacred Stream. During the process, the whole crowd must chant the prayer.
 * Sacrifice of a chicken to appease Afterlife, done by tying a chicken to the Sacrificial Table and smiting it with a sword. The remains are then thrown into the Sacred Stream. During the process, the whole crowd must chant the prayer.
 * Prayer for the Totem Spirits during the rituals: “O, Spirit, servant of the Blue Flame, we are offering You this humble sacrifice and plead for your gifts, please accept our offering”

Sacrifice of Objects
The sacrifice of objects is used to appease the Totem Spirits belonging to the Red Flame. Each Totem Spirit has a preferred object to sacrifice. These include:


 * Sacrifice of crops to appease Afterlife, especially golden carrots or golden apples by throwing them into the Sacred Stream. Each member of the crowd must throw one crop on the Sacrificial Table, from where the Priest throws them into the Sacred Stream. During the ritual, all involved recite a prayer.
 * Sacrifice of lumber to appease Peace, especially oak logs or birch logs by throwing them into the Sacred Stream. Each member of the crowd must throw one piece on the Sacrificial Table, from where the Priest throws them into the Sacred Stream. During the ritual, all involved recite a prayer.
 * Sacrifice of gold to appease Power, especially golden ingots or golden blocks by throwing them into the Sacred Stream. Each member of the crowd must throw one on the Sacrificial Table, from where the Priest throws them into the Sacred Stream. During the ritual, all involved recite a prayer.
 * Sacrifice of tools to appease Conflict, especially diamond pickaxes or axes by throwing them into the Sacred Stream. Each member of the crowd must throw one tool on the Sacrificial Table, from where the Priest throws them into the Sacred Stream. During the ritual, all involved recite a prayer.
 * Prayer for the Totem Spirits during the rituals: “O, Spirit, servant of the Red Flame, we are offering You this humble sacrifice and plead for your gifts, please accept our offering”

Sacrifices & Rituals for Piki
Due to His special position as the leading deity in Pikiism, Piki has original sacrifices and rituals to appease Him. These differ from the uniform and repetitive sacrifices to the Totem Spirits. The most prominent include:


 * Sacrifice of valuable items - very well enchanted tools, rare artefacts, netherite armour and tools as well as much more. These are all given by the crows onto the Sacrificial Table, from where the Priest proceeds to throw these items into the Sacred Stream while the crowd recites a prayer.
 * Rituals to summon Piki, such as dancing around the pedestal of the shrine, while attempting to make circles in the air or other formations.
 * Consumption of alcohol and meditation in the shrine. Alcohol is said to have divine capabilities of connection with Piki in one’s mind. Particular kinds of alcohol may result in short visions or conversations with the divine, though not all are genuine.

Initiation into Pikiism
To become a true follower of Pikiism, one must pass the initiation ritual. This may be done under the supervision of a high ranking Pikiist either during a gathering or individually. To pass, the following steps must be complete:


 * The future follower enters the pedestal together with the Priest.
 * The follower walks into the Red Flame, then into the Blue Flame, then jumps into the Sacred Stream.
 * The Priest and the follower recite a prayer “I, plead You, the true God, Piki, to accept my body and my soul into the path of Pikiism, as I have accepted Your body and your soul into mine.”
 * The follower climbs out of the Sacred Stream and is declared a true follower of Pikiism.

Hierarchy & Titles
Pikiist religious hierarchy is very tight and centralised, with all positions being granted by the Priest. The situation is very similar regarding titles - very few followers ever manage to achieve those, but if they do, they are to be greatly respected among other Pikiists.

The Priest is the highest ranking position in Pikiism. The only way to achieve it is to be either marked as the successor by the Priest in power or be given it by divine intervention of Piki. The Priest holds total and unquestionable power over the entire religion.

The Clergyman appointed by the Priest is the individual responsible for running local Clergies - spanning multiple Pikiist churches over a region. They must follow the Priest’s orders, however, they may hold rituals and sacrifices as they please. The Clergymen also have the power to initiate newcomers into the faith.

The Follower is the day to day Pikiist practitioner, gaining the rank after passing the initiation ritual. The follower’s basic duty is to partake in Rituals. If a follower shows an exceptional devotion to the faith, they may be given special titles by the Priest.

The titles include:

The Warrior is a follower who has distinguished themselves by actively protecting Pikiism and their fellow worshippers, even if their life was at risk. These Warriors may be tasked with protecting the Priest or the Clergymen during Rituals.

The Builder is a follower who has distinguished themselves by planning out and building an exceptionally grand or beautiful Pikiist shrine.

The Missionary is a follower who has distinguished themselves by encouraging and bringing in a large amount of new followers. These people are the first to be considered for spreading Pikiism to distant regions.

Beliefs & Values
Pikiism has a fairly complex and robust set of beliefs, values and even philosophy. The most popular and characteristic doctrines include


 * 1st Pikulik Shrine.pngCommunity, seen as the foundations of civilised life, spanning from singular towns to whole regions. They are the true homes of their inhabitants, their motherlands and fatherlands. Communities are tied with nature, time and traits, making them an important part in connecting these.
 * Nature is considered as one of the most important parts of the World. It is said that the metaphysical World of the Afterlife is devoid of all human structures save for minor dwellings. Nature is closely tied to communities, as they very much rely on it for their identity, survival and prosperity. To change nature is to destroy this harmony, which is wrong.
 * Time is seen as both a friend and an enemy in Pikiist philosophy. Although with time, cruel tyrants die and oppressive empires fall, so do great people pass and the times of glory come to an end. Pikiism puts a strong emphasis on history and the past, commonly seen as better and simpler times, when Humanity was closer to the divine.
 * Traits are elements that determine how the life of an individual, and by extension their community develops. Traits can be either negative or positive, using them for individual gain is frowned upon, while supporting and sacrificing oneself for the community is seen as righteous.
 * Foreign Faiths are most commonly seen as based upon deceit by persons who use their abilities for individual good. Pikiism as well as its deities are considered the only true ones, and the only way for a foreigner to save their soul is conversion.

Holidays
Pikiist worshippers have two main holidays every month.

On the 27th, the founding of Pikulia as well as Piki’s revelation to Pikulov is celebrated. On this day, Pikiist are free from work as they spend their time drinking, chatting, singing and having fun. In the evening, a cow is milked and the milk is sacrificed to Piki together with honey. As milk and honey are considered symbols of prosperity.

On the 17th, the rebirth of Pikiism is celebrated. The worshippers spend their time partying in the streets, while the Priest makes a short lecture about one of the Pikiist legends. In the evening, a sacrifice of leather and bones is made to the Gods, symbolising a new body for the faith.

Arts
Pikiist arts include poetry, literature, paintings, architecture and so on. They’re an extremely important part of the religion - a majority of its knowledge and reforms can be understood from things like literature and poetry.

Poetry can be written by any member of the faith to praise the Divine. Poetry is an umbrella term for all hymns, songs, prayers, praises and so on.

Literature covers more extended topics, such as legends, stories, and general history of Pikiism. It can be written by anyone, however, to be considered official, the Priest must approve of it.