Kalu Religion

Mythology & Lore

Myths told the stories of gods and mighty heroes.

Divine Origins

Before the rise of the Sarisis, priestesses ruled Kalu society. These priestesses were revered as the gods' representatives on the mortal plane. The early Kalu lived in a harsh land, one where flooding was unpredictable - as it remained throughout the existence of their people - and farming took a lot of labor to be productive. These conditions created a pessimistic people who constantly concerned themselves with the future. Many of the rituals and beliefs of Kalu religion reflect a need to please the gods and increase their power so they will be better able to restrain Menkish's evil energy. With the escalation of warfare, select men became military leaders. With their new found power, these men supplanted rule from the priestesses. Sarisis subsequently established themselves as blessed by the gods and chief priests, but work to honor them alongside the old priesthoods.

Cosmological Views

The six deities, Nugala, Geranu, Saluki, Rumisu, Amunam, and Kabula worked together to create the world one aspect at a time. They were feeling unfulfilled living in a vast, empty void and desired a greater purpose. First came the sea, and then land was raised above it. Each god took turns creating animals, plants, geographical features, and lastly, humanity. The Kalu claim the first human rose from the Azimun's banks from clay the gods shaped in their own image. After their work was finished, they rested for eight thousand years, with Kabula being chosen as the inchoate world's caretaker, with the promise he would arouse the others should any problem arise.

Tenets of Faith

In Kalu religion, there were two main tenants to follow: one must do anything one can do to strengthen the Six Creators and prevent the end of the world and one must not succumb to the influence of Menkish.

Ethics

Kalu society based its ethics around the second tenant of their religion. As Menkish was seen as the root of all evil and misfortune in the world, acting according to its will is seen as enhancing his power and thus granting him a greater chance of returning to the mortal world. To avoid what they fear so much while also giving the people rules to live by, the Kalu developed numerous law codes, which are compiled by scribes and endorsed by a Sarisi. Each city used to have their own, which were consolidated into one for the entire kingdom. A culmination of laws created from more than two thousand years before until the time of the Fifth Kalumak, it is called the Code of Nugaladani, after the Sarisi who ordered its drafting.

Worship

A Kalu prayed o the gods at any time and made small offerings on household altars. If someone had the means to travel or lives close to a city with a ziggurat, he or she gave the priestesses an offering, which usually consisted of a small amount of bread and beer for the average person. The wealthy donate cuts of meat and wine, as well as gold and silver. Each god was honored with a week of feasting and drinking. Every major hero in Kalu mythology was honored in a similar, albeit less grand fashion.

Encouraging visitors of ziggurats to offer up gold, silver, and other valuables is common practice since it serves to enrich the temple. These offerings are kept in a treasury only accessible by the high priestess herself. Some of these women have discretely opened them and distributed its contents to their priestesses or given to needy fathers, husbands, or brothers in times of strife.

Priesthood

All of the deities are worshiped by priestesses. They are appointed to the priesthood by the ruler of the patron city where the main ziggurat of each god is located. Each girl must be chosen at thirteen following their Red Blossom Ceremony and hail from a noble family, for they are the only people who possess magical abilities necessary to serve.
Only women with magic powers are allowed to become priestesses because they perceived as closer the gods than common women, who are permitted to work in the temples as servants. The high priestess of each great ziggurat is one of the wives, daughters, or relative of the Sarisi, a symbol of the ancient unions between early warlords and the high priestesses that once ruled Kalu society. This is done to maintain the religious legitimacy of the royal family. There is fierce competition among the remaining positions in the temples.

Sects

Some disagree with giving gold and silver to the gods, saying it doesn't do enough to strengthen them for the eternal battle against Menkish, preferring to give only food and drink. Unsurprisingly, the temple's official stance is that any offering benefits the gods. Over time, many in the lower class have come to see the priesthood as corrupt and self-serving.
A smaller group believed that Menkish alone should be worshiped. They argued since all six acceptable deities are needed to hold back Menkish's power, the banished deity of the void was more powerful and therefore deserving of worship above all others. A Kalu never announced themselves as a member of Menkish's cult unless surrounded by other members. To take part in a ceremony honoring Menkish or voicing praise for the god was a capital offence in Kalumak, punished by immediate execution. With increasing class tensions, the cult's ranks swelled, mainly with the poor. Upon Menkish's return, they will be spared from its wrath and made to rule over the world's remains as a reward for their faith, or so its followers claim.