Covenant of Kaiho

Summary
The Covenant of Kaiho is a religion primarily followed by the Sorradi people, derived from Ancestral Worship in Anoshphey, the idealization of cultural pillars, and local influences, the Covenant of Kaiho has a powerful faith rich with culture and history. The faith is a trinity of the Prophet, the Ancestors, and the Great beasts, among other flavors of local folk tales and beliefs. The Faith is based primarily in the Consulate of Umiho, where the faith is enforced for all residents, due to its history as a crusader state, however many faithful live all over rathnir.

For more details on the behind the scenes of the faith's creation, see this page here, to contact the main developer.

Presence
The Covenant of Kaiho is not isolated to Umiho, while the theocratic nation does house the clergy and many important functions of the faith, many nations and groups worldwide follow the religion.


 * 1) The Holy Consulate of Umiho, a nation located in western Sparwood.
 * 2) The Duchy of Anoshphey, Yimmu-Audal, located in northeastern Alteniqiua.

The Trinity
The trinity consists of the Ancestors, the Prophet, and the Great Beasts. They represent the cornerstones of the Faith, almost all parts of the faith stem from the actions of the three. While it is called a trinity, each piece of the faith receives adoration differently, some faithful choosing particular saints over that of the prophet herself. However they are all ultimately united.

The Trinity is also known as the Kaiho, with which the faith is named after.

The Ancestors
The Ancestors make up the stars in the sky, they are the righteous, pious, and compassionate individuals who watch those they left behind and guide them through their journey of life. When family members ascend, they form constellations in the night sky, showing their bond to their family left below. Not all stars are the same, however, and many of the brightest are saints or unsung heroes, there is only one sun, however. The sun is the Prophet's star, which guides our people with her light long after her death.

The Ancestral Council
The Ancestral council is a council of Saints, past leaders of the faith, and former Sirkeri. The Ancestral council guides the people more directly, by talking to their leaders regardless of location, however they rarely step in in such a manner. They often regulate the spirit worlds as well, and are responsible for keeping ancestors and old souls in line. They are housed on the moon, and keep watch for the prophet while she rests.

The Saints
Not all Saints end up on the Ancestral council, on account of their numbers. Despite this, many saints receive the adoration and worship of local peoples. Each saint is unique in some way, attributed to something different, they provide explanations for anomalies or represent a historic event.

The Prophet
The Prophet, Erissa lead the people during their time of great migration and displacement. She built them cities, she guided them, built a nation for them. Not all were pleased with this, and the Naidez swallowed her works, driving her to a breaking point. Without her Guidance, the people were lost, but the Great Fox and the Great Raccoon lead them to safe havens. The Prophet then rose to the heavens as the sun herself, basking her people with light stronger than any Naidez, however she is unable to commune with the faithful, even at the strongest points where clear communications should be possible, this is the price that she payed for ending her own life, a deed which usually disallows any ancestor from ascension.

Eclipses
The Prophet also oversees eclipses, these are periods of time when either the prophet or the ancestral council are unavailable, in which case they would fill in for one another. When the moon eclipses the sun, the Ancestral council is watching the faithful, and when the moon turns blood red in the night sky, Erissa is watching the faithful.

The Great Beasts
There is a multitude of great beasts, however the one's followed primarily in the faith is the Great Fox, the Great Raccoon, and the Great Wolf. They appear in times of great need to guide the people when the very sky itself is blotted out, however each of them have their own personalities and characteristics. All but three of the great beasts lack the ability to have their own avatar, this makes signs from them that much harder to read, as to the untrained eye they could be see as any other wild animal, or any wild animal could be seen as a guardian. Only the Great Fox, the Great Raccoon, and the Great Wolf have their own bodies, the rest must posses the bodies of an animal of their species.

The Great Fox
The Great fox has an honest, caring, and diligent personality. A short haired female red fox, spotted with white spots of fur, the great fox is typically seen in jumping or climbing peripheral vision before approaching. The Great Fox cares for all its followers, and will lead them to safe warrens, making sure all are accounted for.

The Great Raccoon
The Great Raccoon is fickle and care free. A chocolate brown male raccoon with a tail that fades into orange at the tip, the great raccoon is stealthy and is often not seen before approaching. The great raccoon will lead its followers to places with a lot of food, it doesn't seem to have a particular interest in guiding the people, however it is known to care for the young of the faithful.

The Great Wolf
The Great Wolf is callous and untiring. A female wolf with pure white or black fur, always with deep sapphire eyes, the Great Wolf can be heard howling and running before approaching. The Great Wolf will lead its followers to lush and plentiful lands.. with people already there. It only cares to get to the destination as fast as possible, uncaring if a few followers get lost, however it is incredibly aggressive to those who seek to harm its followers.

Heresies
The covenant, while a decently young organization, has had to deal with three great heresies in their time as an entity these are as follows.


 * 1) The Wyrm Heresy. The Wyrm heresy is a heretic belief in the Naidez, believing that in freeing the Wyrm, they will be given a chance to rule once the end that they themselves intend to bring about occurs. Twice the heresy has nearly achieved its goal of replacing Erissa with the Wyrm as the sun, the Wyrm, still trapped in its beacon, reaches out to those nearby to corrupt their beliefs. Only those with the strongest wills and the blessing of a Sirsean can withstand its presence. Followers of the Wyrm are executed on site.
 * 2) The Church of the Pale Horse. A heretic faith housed in the northern lands of Umiho, they worship a rotting, animated corpse of a horse. Their center of worship was offensive enough to the Great Mare, however the actions of the followers, inflicting violence and resisting all forms of communication, has left the cult in a zero tolerance situation. Followers of the faith are dispatched with haste, usually during large executions, as they are seen as evil and enemies of the light.
 * 3) The Heresy of Ayano Ikari. Ayano Ikari, once a prominent Cleric, claimed to have found the 'truth,' preaching a lie of balance between the Asah and the Ancestors. She made a desperate attempt to split the faith and take power for herself, even writing a book, "The Truth of Balance." Her teachings state that the ruling light of Erissa and our ancestors are as dangerous as the Naidez or the Wyrm trying to replace Erissa. Claiming that the light of Erissa, if she so pleased, could be turned against the world regardless of the Wyrm or Naidez, and the only way to achieve balance is to have the ancestors remain in the night sky and replace the day sky with the Asah. Her execution was ordered, however she slipped away with a small group of innocent brainwashed followers, her whereabout are unknown but her heresy is still active. All copies of 'The Truth of Balance' are to be burned, and all suspected followers are to be apprehended.

Holy Figures
The Covenant of Kaiho has a long history, and with it comes a mountain of Saints, clergy, and other important figures in the faith. The holy figures of the faith are often intertwined with one another, and a large amount of these holy figures are made up from past, and long dead saints and influential people and clergy.

Saints
Saints are a vast but important part of the faith, they are the source of many relics and help provide explanations to the people. Their stars are often brighter than a regular ancestors star, and on occasion they can end up on the Ancestral Council. Saints, in many cases, are not only historical figures but syncretized gods from other faiths, incorporated over years of exposure.


 * 1) Saint Neì of Sarell. Saint Neì of Sarell is attributed with leading the few faithful before Erissa's birth. She led them from the north, and raised Erissa herself. She is represented as the North Star, the brightest star in the sky besides the sun itself, she is often called Mother Neì.
 * 2) Saint Millie of Easterom. Saint Millie of Easterom was a great miner, she is attributed to teaching the sorradi immigrants how to work and learn complicated trades, allowing the Sorradi to enter the workforce of Anoshphey without having to work dead end jobs.
 * 3) The Sword Saint. The sword saint was an accomplished warrior who gave up his life defeating Thárut, sealing himself and the fallen saint, and leaving the Flicker Wyrm's Beacon to the Kinohai.
 * 4) Saint Meori Halu of Vírtèr. Saint Meori was the founder of the pathfinders, while now a shadow of its former accomplishments, the Pathfinders were instrumental in the guidance of the people. Meori is attributed to many acts of bravery, and a phrase of her speaking is commonly used in practice in the modern day.
 * 5) Saint Somìt Vajh of Marletto. The founding Sirkeri of the faith, they united the believers under one clearly defined religion. They are attributed to the overall founding of the Covenant, while the faith itself was founded by Erissa. Now dead, they are buried in Shizumori with no known relics in circulation.

Constellations
The faith has a multitude of constellations which are deemed to be Holy. Constellations are formed from family members and relatives ascending to become stars, they light up the night sky together to form constellations, shining down light and guidance to their family below.


 * 1) The Esoradi Constellation. The Esoradi constellation is the most holy constellation, being the family of the Prophet Erissa herself. The constellation is commonly represented on the flag, also known as the Esoradi, and its a commonly seen pattern. The constellation itself is a simple gathering of the stars, but is often revered mentioned and can be the center of worship for many followers.

Notable Clergy
The clergy of the faith has a long and drawn out history, many names brought up and lost to history. The clergy and the saints often collide, however many clergy do not reach sainthood. The Clergy is organized rather typically of an organized faith.


 * 1) High Cleric Nezùha Nashìrà of Kozukahara. Nezuha is the founder of the city Kozukahara, as well as one of the founding members of the Consulate of Umiho. She currently has a seat on the Holy Council, while not a direct function of the Covenant, still holds weight in the faith.
 * 2) Sirkeri Somìt Vajh of Marletto. Somìt founded the Covenant, uniting the believers in one name. Now dead, they are buried in Shizumori with no known relics in circulation.
 * 3) Sirkeri Sénna Somì of Shizumori. Sénna is the second Sirkeri of the faith, currently reigning as the Sirkeri. She has a seat on the Holy Council of Umiho, and was a direct student of Somit.
 * 4) Anhuà Sèyráh. A famed architect and Sirsean, she's overseen many constructions of the modern Kaiho era, and has worked her way onto the Holy Council of Umiho.
 * 5) Zoàrhk Shèn. A high cleric, writer of the book "Calamity," his visions tell of the end of the world.
 * 6) Minori Itikani. A member of the holy council of Umiho, she is the sister of Mashuruo Itikani, a notable Plymerath and a High Cleric of the faith.

Order Figures
The holy orders of the faith, while low in numbers, has many leaders and influential members who are considered to be among the more pious of the orders.


 * 1) Élisa Amíras. The Grand Arbiter of the Order of the Crimson Lock, she is rumoured to be the daughter of one of Erissa's few relatives, making her have the blood of the Prophet. Despite her title and prowess in combat, she is caring and entirely sick of war, often committing to charities and other acts of peace.
 * 2) Mashuruo Itikani. Mashuruo is a Plymerath in the Order of the Crimson Lock, he is incredibly strong willed and have a burning hatred for heretics. He is known to lynch and imprison people on a mere suspicion of heresy, he is also the writer of the book, "Dear Heretics," which is a work of literature addressed to those who deny his faith. He is the brother of Minori Itikani.

Profane Figures
The faith has been through many events throughout rathnir's history, while many holy figures come of this, so do enemies of the faith as well.


 * 1) Thárut, the Fallen. Thárut is the Fallen Saint of Lersa, he discovered the flicker wyrm beacon which silently corrupted him. Preparing the ritual, he was stopped by the sword saint, interrupted in the middle of the ritual, Thárut burst into flames. Instead of burning to death, he used the power of the flame to combat the Sword Saint. The two fought for some time before the sword saint trapped himself and Thárut in the isle of the ritual.
 * 2) Ayano Ikari. Ayano Ikari is the leader of a group of heretics who aim to replace Erissa with Asah to take the mantle of the sun, and restore a false balance to the day and night sky.

World Views
The faithful share many world views, while some may be outdated to a sorradi's perspective, holy sites and the workings of the spirit realm are widely acknowledged by all who fallow the faith. While some Sorradi may still believe the myth of the world ending at each spirit gate city, it's widely recognized as false. Thanks to the efforts of the Umari archives and the Kinohai, the world and understanding of it is much more available to the faithful, however watered down they may be.

Holy Sites
The Covenant of Kaiho has five major holy cities, each holy city has a varying level of importance, ranging from the most hallowed place in existence to an abandoned and nearly forgotten city. Despite this, each city is important in its own way to those who follow the faith, as man clergy and faithful debate this topic fiercely.

Spirit Gate Cities
Spirit Gate cities are cities that act as gates to the Spirit realm, allowing one to converse with ascended ancestors. These cities are on the Easter, Western, Northern, and Southern borders of the world according to the primarily stationary Sorradi clergy. However, this is an outdated belief, and while these cities are still considered to be the home of Spirit gates, they are not seen as being at the edge of the world by most educated faithful. Despite this, naturally, these specific sites are incredibly well protected.


 * 1) Shizumori, the Eastern Gate. Shizumori is the seat of the Clergy and holds the title of the eastern gate to the spirit realm.
 * 2) Serafaint, the Southern Gate. While not in Sorradi hands, the city is the southern gate to the spirit realm.
 * 3) Prisma, the Western Gate. Prisma holds the World Peak, and was once a safe house for the Sorradi, being the western gate to the spirit realm.
 * 4) Arce Chaureste, the Northern Gate. Believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Erissa, as well as being the northern gate to the spirit realm.

Prophet Cities
Prophet Cities are cities founded by the Prophet, Erissa, which still stand to this day. While not many of these cities are left, those that still exist are coveted by the faithful.
 * 1) Shizumori, the Resting place of Erissa. Founded by Erissa, it is where she is believed to be buried.
 * 2) Asylias, the birth place of the exodus. Asylias was founded by the Prophet, but was torn down by the Naidez, prompting the Sorradi to look for a new home.

Consecrated Cities
Consecrated cities are cities that are significant for holding things such as burials of saints, or other important figures, as well as the birthplaces of these figures.


 * 1) The city of Marletto is the burial place of Saint Siíma Nàsò of Marletto, and the city is a common spot for pilgrimages.
 * 2) The Isle of Lersa Vopta is believed to be the burial site of the sword saint, as well as the site of the sealing of Thàrut, as the modern description of the island fits the legend of his death.

Spirit Realm
Despite the limited access to the realm, much of its workings and structure are believed to be understood by the clergy and the faithful. The Spirit realm is the only other realm to exist according to most faithful, realms such as the nether are seen as nothing more than myths, or to those who've seen them, unholy openings to the spirit realm. Kinohai Wardens are often sent to remove these portals, as they are seen as dangerous and forced tears into the natural world.

Asah & Naidez
The Naidez are represented as all flames in the mortal world. They are the rotten souls, the tarnished and the intolerant, souls so dastardly that they came back to the mortal realm to burn homes, ruin lives, and scar people. Fire represents destruction, chaos, and are pretenders to the light of the Prophet's sun and the light of the Stars. They have little cunning and have a tendency to run wild. Asah can quickly become Naidez if left unchecked, however Naidez may never fully become Asah.

The Asah are flames made by the likes of men for use in daily life. They seek to tempt the faithful to forgo the sun and the stars for their more available, however destructive, use. They are very capable of spiraling out of control like any Naidez is, however they take the place of lanterns, campfires, torches, and a means to light up ones home. Being surrounded by them and the temporary comfort they provide is what the virtuous should strive to avoid.

Old Souls
Old souls are the souls of the unordinary, the non believers, and the redeemed Naidez. Their souls are recirculated into the world itself, giving life to the dying or helping the growth of the young. After enough time, these old souls can finally become an ancestor, however few can often forgo this potential and join the Naidez. Old souls are the primary source of fire for the more practical uses of fire that every society requires, they are the soul campfires and soul fire forges that are rarely used.

The Ancestors
The Ancestors make up the stars in the sky, they are the righteous, pious, and compassionate individuals who watch those they left behind and guide them through their journey of life. When family members ascend, they form constellations in the night sky, showing their bond to their family left below. Not all stars are the same, however, and many of the brightest are canonized saints or unsung heroes.

Holy Orders
The Covenant of Kaiho has a small number of Holy Orders, some modern and some before the centralized era.

The Order of the Crimson Lock
The Order of the Crimson Lock, a militant radicalistic group of zealots who carved out the Consulate of Umiho following the Paradise Tovarisha war. The Order of the Crimson Lock is named after the fabled Crimson lock, a red lock of hair from the very Prophet herself. This item is often idolized despite its general confusion as to its whereabouts. The Order was mostly absorbed into the Consulate of Umiho as their acting military, however small break-off groups still operate on small scales.

The Pathfinders
The Pathfinders was an order of hunters, travelers, wild men, and explorers. They had a particular connection with the Great Fox, venerating her, and often spending their entire lives following the vixens, they are mostly non-combatant but are fierce fighters when necessary. They acted as a group of druids or mystics, leading the people in the absence of the Prophet, on behalf of the great fox. Once the faith was centralized, and their overall goal was complete, the Order has fallen into relative obscurity, many of their ranks joining the early clergy.

The Kinohai
The Kinohai is an order of wandering wardens and scribes alike, tasked with the collection, protection, and transcription of the quotes, phrases, and relics that litter the archives. They function in the Umari Archives, however diligently train and send wardens to the far corners of the world to collect artifacts, lost transcripts, and other pieces of significance, usually by force if they must. The scribes then process these new discoveries and add them to the archives, displaying the more tame relics and occasionally holding public readings of quotes. The Kinohai usually wear long cloaks and full face helms, valuing anonymity and silence over boisterousness, once a person is initiated into the order, they must not show their face to outsiders of the order, except for high clergy or if they are a scribe.

Umari Archives
The Umari Archives is a collection of quotes, phrases relics, and short prayers stored in the Archives of Umari. The Umari Archives is located in Umiho, and also houses the Kinohai, a holy order of wandering wardens and scribes alike, tasked with the collection, protection, and transcription of the quotes, phrases, and relics that litter the archives.

Quotes
The Umari Archives has a grouping of quotes spoken by people of importance. While these quotes are not dogmatic in any way, many Faithful swear by these quotes.
 * 1) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. An excerpt of Nezuha’s writings. ”A day will come where the ancient lands of withered authorities come together from the rot of their history. A race of runaways and beggars. A day will come where the light of the sun and the stars are cast into the annals of our history, and in their place will be fire. A blaze that will separate the earth from the sky, and render the ground we walk to ash.” -Nezuha Nashira, Consul of Umiho.
 * 2) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. Excerpt of Elisa's discourses. "Sparks are fascinating. The spark of revolution, of war, and of fire. Each commands the heart and soul to fear the sickening sound of drawn blades, unending cannonades, and battle cries of men. Zealous ones cry for endless wars, only at the expense of the compassionate. Why must they be so foolish? Why must the peaceable be thrown into battles where they will surely die? As a nation born from war and strife we must endure these things. But I can only imagine how wonderful the peace must be.” -Elisa Amiras, Grand Arbiter of Umiho
 * 3) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. An excerpt of Nezuha’s writings. ”It is a fact if life that there is war and there is peace. One represents stagnation and rot, the other progress and fire. No great names were made during times of peace, no stagnant king yields the respect of his peers. Only through the flames of war can a society progress, for the new ages are always marked with new weapons, more effective ways to kill one another.” -Nezuha Nashira, Consul of Umiho.
 * 4) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. Excerpt from 'Dear Heretics.' "Some say the dead cannot interact with the living, only facsimile reconstructions of their bodies raised by dark sorcerer's and blasphemers. Why then, pray tell, do the Ancestor's still to this day speak to some, like the appointed Sirkeri, Sénna Somì? Why do the stars give out warnings of future disasters, alerting their descendants of danger? To say that the Ancestor's are not real is to deny empirical truth, one held by many not only of our religion but of many others. To such naysayers I can iterate only thusly: When you perish and your soul turns to Flame, you will look up and see the Sun, and your sight will be taken from you. But then you will look up and still see the stars, and realize your folly. Do not keep Her waiting, friend." -Mashuruo Itikani, Plymerath of the Order of Crimson Lock.
 * 5) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. A piece of the book, “Calamity.” ”A beacon lit to the common folk will shower false light upon the world. When the illumined council crests the western sky in crescent shape and all the great stars begin to weep, the pretenders sun shall reap their stature and stand for all to see forevermore. No great beast, no ancestor nor saint may triumph. In this era of false light, those few who remain will be given a final choice, whether to abandon faith for their lives, or abandon their lives for their faith. A decision forevermore.” -Zoàrhk Shèn, High Cleric.

Phrases
The Umari Archives has a grouping of phrases commonly used in prayer or during temple times. These phrases are generally rooted in the pre-centralized time, many phrases still pop up with proper attributions.


 * 1) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. Common Phrases. ”Return unto they the blaze of soul, and the heavens gaze again.” -Unknown Pre-Centralized Acolyte.
 * 2) Covenant of Kaiho, Umari Archives. Common Phrases. ”O spotted vixen, deliver us our refuge.” -Meori Halu, Pre-Centralized Pathfinder, Saint of Vírtèr.

Relics
The Umari Archives has a section of holy relics, both new and old often used for special temple times, such as weddings, funerals, or canonization rituals.


 * 1) Umari Archives, Relic Inventory. The Crimson Lock. Having a Holy Order named after it, the Crimson Lock is a lock of the prophets hair, which was undeniably red. Before her burial, this lock was cut off to serve as an heirloom, before falling into the hands of the Order. This is one of the few remaining pieces of the Prophet, other relics of hers still being lost to the modern faithful. The Crimson Lock is used to this day in important ceremonies, including the canonization of saints and mass baptisms.Crim Lock.png
 * 2) Umari Archives, Relic Inventory. Saint Neì of Sarell’s Kimono. Saint Neì of Sarell is considered to be one of the most important saints to the faith. She is represented as the North Star, her deed was guiding the original faithful to the south, as well as being attributed to teaching and raising the Prophet. Her Kimono is all that is left of her physical legacy, her remains long since lost to history, however it is unknown if more relics of hers are still in circulation. Kaiho Sword.png
 * 3) Umari Archives, Relic Inventory. Sword Saint's Sword. The sword saint is a nameless Saint, predating even Saint Neì of Sarell, the Sword Saint was a hero who protected the first Sorradi to walk the world. Long before the seeds of the Faith were even planted, they walked the earth of their original home, before Umiho was even a name. The Sword Saint carried an ornate blade which has survived into the modern Era, it saw regular use until it was recovered by the Kinohai during a recovery raid. The blade has been re-sharpened over the centuries, however the sword and scabbard remain in great condition. The sword saint is attributed to having sealed away the Fallen Saint Thárut, during his betrayal due to the temptations of the Flicker Wyrm's Beacon, this however, cost them their life. The location of Thárut's seal is believed to be on the isle of Lersa Vopta, along with the burial site of the sword saint, however the Flicker Wyrm's Beacon has been recovered.Wyrm Beacon.png
 * 4) Umari Archives, Relic Inventory. Flicker Wyrm's Beacon. The flicker wyrm's beacon is a corruptive artifact of the Naidez, the origins of this relic is unknown, however it is clearly a creation of accursed flame. Inside the beacon swims a young wyrm, which can be seen if close enough, it is however not recommended to get so close. The wyrm beckons those with which it can corrupt to free it, which leads many to theorize that it will be the harbinger of the end, due to these concerns, the Kinohai keep this beacon under careful watch. The wyrm convinced a former saint, Thárut, to betray his people and attempt to free it, however he was stopped by the Sword Saint. Thárut was banished and sealed on the isle of Lersa Vopta along with the Sword Saint, and with the death of the Sword Saint, the Beacon was left in the possession of the early pathfinders. The early Pathfinders hid the lantern in a cavern with instructions for future generations to recover.
 * 5) Wailing Dag.pngUmari Archives, Relic Inventory. The Wailing Blade. Discovered in a heretical shrine in the north, the seemingly simple amethyst blade holds some unique, and unnerving qualities. For seemingly random and unpredictable periods of time, the amethyst blade illumes a soft purple light. As further research was conducted on the blade, it was discovered that the blade could sing, only heard by randomly attuned Sorradi, the blade sings a sad song. It is described as a young feminine voice longing to escape and find a home. The Kinohai can only speculate as to the origins of this relic, and it remains in heavy discussion whether or not this item is profane or blessed.