Uma Atai

Uma Atai is a polytheistic religon that originated in The Crownlands of Yaszuma, and a successor religon to the Eriszetsu faith. The faith is typically practiced by the Yaszumatti, however small groups may be found dotted around Eldham. It revolves around the "flow" of energy from the stars that comes down to our world, and then leaves and rests in the void.

History
The first records of this faith where found to be thousands of years old. These texts date back to unknown empires and lost legacies of people that history books have no recollection of.

Due to the efforts of Benkei N'Theth, the religon has made a major resurrgence in The Crownlands of Yaszuma. The religion is now the official state religion of Yaszuma, with a majority of its citizenry following this new faith.

Beliefs
The stars are massive sources of energy. One that isn’t akin to something like electricity, but something far more spiritual. This energy flows down onto the material plane from space, giving life to everything in the world. This energy moves through people and animals, as well as water and earth. It eventually flows through the material world and ends in the void. The void is a place of stagnant emotions which pool together in large clumps akin to whirlpools. All energy loses its value here, as it is ground up into its simplest form. However, sometimes energy with certain qualities gets deposited into the void faster than the void disposes of them, resulting in horrendous beasts that have unquantifiable power, as it directly correlates to how much energy they receive.

Goals
However, most of that is secondary to the religion's primary goal, to stop the end of the world. An ancient tome that was found in a dusty old library holds knowledge of people from previous worlds. It is the church’s goal to find a way to prevent the inevitable reset, using the knowledge in the book, and if they cannot, write the knowledge they found down within the pages to try to save the next.

Hierarchy
As many religions have, there is a structure of order within the faith of Uma Atai, this show it going from those who have the least influence within the faith to those who have the most influence.

Uncleaned
These are individuals who are not in the faith. These people are typically viewed as heretics, some people of the religion tolerating them while more extreme groups wish to “safe them,” which can range from things like converting them to things like murdering them in ritual sacrifice to a Void Beast.

Pure
These are people who have been inducted into the church. They are called “pure” due to being “cleansed” of the filth that had polluted the natural cycle, such as other gods or beliefs. Most followers of the religion will be in this circle, as other circles are for far more influential figures.

Initiate
These are people who have begun to work their way to priesthood or knightdom within the church. They study under a priest or templar for a year (1 week irl) to attain contact with the stars and the void. At this stage they may have dreams of Void Beasts whispering secrets into their ears so that they may more quickly obtain priesthood/knightdom.

Chevalier
These are the knights who have passed their one year of training, but have not yet earned the title of templar, as very few do. These make up the primary fighting force of the church, being composed of moderates to religious zealots.

Priest
These are individuals that run small monasteries and are responsible for what occurs at these moastaries. They will also have the job of converting people into the religion, as well as taking on apprentices in the form of Initiates.

Templar
These are the zealous religious warriors of the church. Majority believe that the stars and void chose them to purge heretics and things that would threaten the church. They rule over small regiments of Chevaliers, being small captains of guard that will move from church to church to assist in the matters there.

The Chosen
This is a group made up of select Priests and Templars that manages the entire religion. This is an elite group made up of those directly chosen by the Dark Prophet. Many of these people can now freely speak with Void Beasts, and some choose to make contracts with them, as the beasts favor those within The Chosen, and lessen the price of their deals.

The Prophet
This is the one person at the head of the church, as well as the ultimate authority that everyone must answer to. The prophet is a divine vessel that can easily communicate with the void, they are typically granted immortality, which will only end when the universe is reset.

Deities
Uma Atai has no divine entities that they worship. Instead, they worship creatures that live in the void, and are the embodiement of emotions. These creatures have been given the title of Void Beasts.

Sha-N’theth, beast of lust and desire
Sha-N’theth is a beast composed of multiple tentacles sprouting from an unseen core, each being filled with multiple eyes that hold a vile green color. Deals involving Sha’N’theth typically involve getting someone you love to fall for you, or creating the perfect person for you.

Tze’Shi’Kai, beast of knowledge
Tze’Shi’Kai is a beast with the same depiction of biblically accurate angels. Deals typically involve the gaining of long forgotten and forbidden knowledge that can and will drive most who try to learn it mad.

Aniteren, beast of greed
Referred to as one of the three fallen gods, Aniteren feeds off the greed that fills the void. It is depicted as a large, golden toad surrounded by its hoard of wealth at all times. Aniteren’s deals typically consist of someone getting a one time, incredibly large amount of money, but they cannot gain anymore, as all of the money they would gain goes to Aniteren.

Kirutawa, beast of war
Referred to as one of the three fallen gods, Kirutawa feeds off the violence that fills the void. While it used to possess a very regal disposition as a well kept red fox, it is now commonly seen as a large, fire red wolf, with constantly ruffled fur, as it always is in combat with other gods. Deals will typically grant the person making it incredible combat prowess, however they may not rest when they pass, as they become a member of Kirutawa’s armies in combat.

Netsukaru, Beast of cunning
Referred to as one of the three fallen gods, Netsukaru feeds off of the deceit that fills the void. It is depicted as a large, dark blue raven with a third eye in the middle of its head. Deals with Netsukaru typically involve things like trickery, planning, and persuasion.

Ta’renek, Beast of Vengeance
Ta’renek is a large, incredibly muscular red demonoid figure with large spiralling horns. While they were far less notable originally, due to Kirutawa’s absence from the void for a period, Ta’renek absorbed the energy of war as well, and now battles Kirutawa for the domain of war. Contracts involving Ta’renek will result in vengeance being done, with the person's soul being conscripted to join Ta’renek’s armies to assist in the fight against Kirutawa.

Ther-Renen, Beast of Stagnation
Ther-Renen is depicted as a large, humanoid fly. He possesses numerous cancerous growths and ulcers as well as numerous cuts oozing pus constantly. Deals will be made with Ther-Renen in order to prevent change, typically coming at the cost of the deal-makers life, through an excruciating disease of some sort.

Customs
While customs haven’t really developed yet due to the faith being so new, many different people have started to develop local traditions that help allow them to better worship the faith in a more communal area. Majority of these “festivals” are communication ceremonies where priests, templars, chosen, or even the prophet themself may hold a public event in which they try to communicate with a Void Beast. These are very jovial celebrations, however they are held with little to no light. This is due to the common wise tale that the light hurts a Void Beast’s eyes, and they see far better in the dark. So many people, young and old will decorate beautifully during the day, and party during that time, and stay silent during the night and when the actual ceremony takes place, so the beast may better observe the decorations without distraction.