Althavism is a minority religion in the House.
The largest population of Althavists live in the Union, with smaller populations in the Ivory Empire and among the Freestaters throughout the House. Althavists form a minority within all nations where they are present.
Althavists believe that the Abyss and by extension, the House, is eternal. In Althavism, there is no ultimate beginning or end to the Abyss and its reflections, and there is no creator deity in Althavism.
Although in Althavism the Abyss is eternal, it is cyclical in nature. The Abyss progresses through a cycle of four ages, ultimately resulting in a grand renewal of the Abyss. Althavists see Ragnarok as the end of the previous cycle and something that will happen again in the far future.
Prosperity and Stagnation
Althavists are concerned with the rivaling states of prosperity and stagnation.
Althavists are known for their particularly intense focus on hygiene. Althavists often bathe twice a day, washing away the "stagnation" before sleeping and after waking up.
Souls and Reincarnation
To an Althavist, the existence of "an eternal, ever-surging soul" is a truth that does not need to be proven. The mere existence of Essence is equivalent to the existence of a soul.
Following death, the soul returns to the Abyss to enter the cycle of reincarnation. The soul of a child or righteous person remains at the surface of the Abyss and is reborn in short order, while a soul weighed down by sin will sink to its depths to be buffeted by the Abyssal currents.
Burial Practices
Death is seen as the embodiment of stagnation to Althavists. Following a person's death, the relatives and authorities are informed and the body removed. A series of ritualistic practices are performed to cleanse the area of the stagnation caused by the death. Water poured between two basins is believed to capture any stagnation in the room, washing it away with each pour.
A wake occurs the night following the last of the cleansing rituals. This wake is hosted at the house of a family member or a public building for those who lack family. Attendants to a wake often offer condolence money to the host/hostess, though this is usually a nominal amount. Immediate family is seated closest to the front of the room with other guests seated behind them. Often the closest relatives or friends will keep vigil over the dead for the entire night.
Following the wake, the body is cremated. The ashes and remnant bones are gathered into an urn for transportation. This urn is then taken to the nearest large body of water believed to be connected to the Abyss, and the ashes scattered over the water's surface.
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