Thallism

Thallism is a religious movement founded by Asek the Poet (IGN PotatoLizerd). The religion is centered around the worship of the sea and the divine being Thallas, god of the ocean. The followers of Thallism believe in a cycle of endless death and rebirth, starting with land rising from the water and ending with the Flood.

Beliefs
Thallists worship for two main reasons: greed for knowledge, or fear of death. Thallism emphasizes that all things that can be understood can be overcome. This includes life, which Thallists see as a never-ending cycle in which you die and are reincarnated. Knowledge and foresight are important principles in Thallist culture. The Thallist accepts the natural cruelty of life and seeks to learn how to overcome it, for all things are possible if you understand them.

The primary god of Thallism is the titular Thallas, the god of the sea and bringer of the apocalypse. He is often portrayed as the god of cycles and knowledge as well. Thallas is known as a cold and indifferent god, acting on his whims and sowing chaos in the world. He brings storms to wreck the shoreline and tsunamis that destroy cities. His alignment is one of chaos and destruction, detached from mortals. However, for all the chaos and unpredictability he seems to bring, it always follows patterns. Thallas seeks to watch civilization rise and fall. He is the constant reminder that nothing is permanent.

The most anticipated event in all of Thallism is always the Great Flood. This is the apocalypse brought about seemingly randomly by Thallas himself. During the Great Flood, the earth will be reclaimed by water, with rain pouring from the sky and tsunamis pushing the land underwater. The ocean grows until the entire world is submerged. The priests of Thallas watch for signs of the Flood such as increasingly heavy storm systems or higher earthquake activity. Precursors to the Flood always occur. Some of the past ones have included the Comet hitting Rathnir and the Jagdasian Crisis.

Thallist priests are often very hostile to other religious groups. This is due to the belief that other cultures lack the knowledge that the Thallists have accumulated over their lifespan. This is how Thallists justify their hate towards other congregations. Despite being relatively new, Thallists see themselves as the most clear minded. Only they understand the sadistic nature of Thallas, and only they understand how to harness the waves of his hate.

The final primary belief of Thallism is the concept of reincarnation. Thallists believe that everything is a cycle, including life and death. When one perishes, they will always return in another form. Nothing is permanent. However, according to many Thallists, one will never remember their previous life in the new one. To continue growth throughout multiple lives, some Thallists have adopted the practice of Lifebooks, detailed more later.

Practices
The ways of worship in Thallist society are unique, ranging from ritual writing to sacrificial cleansing. Practices are varied throughout different regions.

One worship that is common throughout all Thallist spheres of influence, however, are Lifebooks. First written by Asek the Poet himself, these are an attempt to preserve one's life so in the next life, you may understand what you knew previously. They essentially work as journals. Asek the Poet attempted this technique and preserved three generations of his own knowledge, carrying with him his knowledge from one life to the next. He exists today as a living legend and "proof" of the effective strategy of Lifebooks.

Many Thallists participate in the practice of fishing. This practice has no particular root in history, though it may have evolved from the ancient belief of Thallas as a benevolent food-giving god. This view of Thallas has now splintered into several other different religions.

Temples and altars to Thallas are often crude structures. The worshippers of Thallas are often poor, downtrodden people who want to learn how to have a second go at life with the same memories. These people cannot always afford the resources to build lavish temples. However, there are exceptions. Wealthy aristocrats seeking knowledge may occasionally order the creation of beautiful seaside monasteries or altars. The architectural design varies between areas and builders.

Worship to Thallas often includes the reciting of poetry and verse. Several Thallist hymns have been written and are often sung at the altar. Worshippers are expected to worship individually, and praying is not a communal event. However, sometimes larger groups of Thallists will emerge and found their own town or city. This is a goal expected of Thallists holding government positions. A Thallist must always further the knowledge of others.

Elders in Thallist communities are aware of the inevitable death that comes soon for them. A common practice is sacrificial offering to Thallas. Elders volunteer to be drowned in the Holy Waters (underground aquifers). Some elders believe that this will help them into the next life, but most just offer themselves as tradition. The natural end for a Thallist's life is to sacrifice oneself to Thallas in old age. It is a tradition spanning the earliest days of the cult.

Thallas is a god that does not often take physical form. It is believed that Thallas puts his spirit into various sea creatures for months at a time, allowing him to glimpse the world in a way he cannot usually. Some believe that when Thallas becomes a fish, it is possible to find him in the ocean. Oftentimes a Thallist will make it their life's work to find and catch Thallas. Reasons for doing this vary. The most common one is the desire to be close to Thallas so he can watch over prayers. People who practice this keep bowls in their house for when they catch Thallas. Thus far, no one has ever caught him.

Hierarchy
Thallism is a very loose religion when it comes to social hierarchy. Most churches follow a system of high priests that found the church and care for it. They conduct the elder sacrifices. High priests also act somewhat as monks, often leaving to study parts of the world and returning with greater knowledge Below them are acolytes who pray daily and are charged with church upkeep. Some churches have no structure whatsoever and rely entirely on a system of unification and solidarity.

The founder of the religion, Asek the Poet, still lives today through a series of reincarnations. He goes on pilgrimages throughout the world to various monasteries and churches to educate those of the ways of Thallas. He is somewhat of a prophet to the Thallist community and passes the knowledge that he has gained throughout his various lives.

High priests that reside in a church often appoint several of their most physically strong members as templars. The templars serve as protectors of the temple and as a steady source of warriors during crusades. In some rare cases, a person is both a high priest and a templar.