Twice-Seven
Twice-Seven are an official state religion of Vhessan Empire and, to a smaller degree, Kingdom of Litheana and Kingdom of Lileth. It consists of fifteen gods and goddesses that impersonate all traditional castes (and genders) of dark elven society.
If essence of inrithism would be sin and redemption, essence of Twice-Seven would be playing your role in society. You are born as male elf of warrior caste? Be as male elf of warrior caste should be - grow strong, fight for your town and defend your Empire. You are born a slave? Be as a slave should be, and serve your owner loyally. This can be summed up to be the singular central commandment of this religion.
It is also one of surviving Elven Religions. It bears striking resemblance to religions of Despotate of Elevhia, Holy Elvharan Empire and Kingdom of Alvaena. This includes more collective approach to worship (atrophy of individual practises and prayers) and reliance on offerings to gain favour from above (rather than following religious credo, like in most monotheist religions). Other similarities include for example each god and goddess having both name and a title Lady/Lord of X.
What's more, most of them rather atrophied afterlifes, actually gaining such concepts only during late Preimperial Era, due to human influences. Those of their religious variants that actually had them earlier could be divided into two options. First were those with only hell-like places of suffering for the sinners. Second were those with rather undefined afterlife only for small part of population (hence muraekai burials of Kingdom of Ceralyn, with noble being buried with entourage to serve him in afterlife.
There is also very few evil divines to speak of. Those associated with negative things (natural disasters, plagues etc.) are worshipped 'normally', just with hopes of appeasing them to the point of not acting in the reality.
There is no centralized organization of worship of Twice-Seven gods, instead most settlements have their own rituals to the gods, with local officials (for example mayors) often doubling as priests. There is also no theology to speak of.
Gods
Contrary to the name, there are actually fifteen gods in Twice-Seven religion. The name itself comes from the fact that due to gender separation of dark elven society all gods have two hipostases, one male and one female. The only difference is the fifteen divine, which is only female, but she is worshipped only in Vhessan Empire.
Twice-Seven includes following gods:
Korath and Korathia, also known as Lord and Lady of Chains, considered a divine patrons of noble caste. They are portrayed as bleak elves in exquisite garments and with jeweled scepters. They are believed to be a vassal deities of Ember or Tyrant, depending on whom you ask..
Lelat and Lelatea, also known as Lord and Lady of War, considered a divine patrons of warrior caste. They are portrayed as dark elves wearing metal armours of herarian heavy infantry, with shields and spears. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Warmaidens or Rage, depending on whom you ask.
Azkal and Azkala, also known as Lord and Lady of Magic, considered a divine patrons of magician caste. They are portrayed as bleak elves or dark elves wearing robes and carrying staffs. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Destiny.
Ynez and Yneza, also known as Lord and Lady of Crafts, considered a divine patrons of craftsmen caste. They are portrayed as dark elves wearing commoner clothing. Various - for example a sculpt paid for by blacksmith guild will have them look like blacksmiths etc. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Hammer or Demiurge, depending on whom you ask.
Kativ and Kativea, also known as Lord and Lady of Riches, considered a divine patrons of merchant caste. They are portrayed as dark elves wearing opulent clothes (but not as much as Korath and Korathia), carrying scales or moneybags. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Capital or Corruption, depending on whom you ask.
Nihin and Nihina, also known as Lord and Lady of Life, considered a divine patrons of farmer caste. They are portrayed as dark elves wearing commoner clothing typical for regional farmers, carrying pitchforks or other farming implements. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Gardener and Shepherd.
Lalt and Laltea, also known as Lord and Lady in Chains, considered a divine patrons of slave caste. They are portrayed as dark elves wearing a variety of clothing (mostly equal to normal commoners in the area), but with collars on their necks. They are considered to be a vassal deities of Mercy.
Fifteen god is Vhessa, known also as Lady of Crown and Eternal Empress. She is a personal divine patron of vhessan empresses (seen as her voice in Real World). Her existence is a reason for despotic character of Vhessan Empire. While her cult is limited to a single person, all inhabitants of Vhessan Empire (and, in fact, Kingdom of Litheana and Kingdom of Lileth as well) know that she exist and is above rest of Twice-Seven, making her a most powerful divine being of entire pantheon. She is believed to be a vassal deity of Ember.
Theology
Creation Story
None to speak of. Vhessa (and no other god of Twice-Seven) is considered the one responsible for existence of the world. This feat is mostly attributed to the Imperial Religion mystical overgod Eldest/Allmaker. He created imperial Primeval Gods, they made the rest of their pantheon and Twice-Seven were made just somehow at that time.
History
What is now forgotten is that big part of extremely decadent dark elven society was purposefully made by their gods that way. When Xylian Dominion fell, the elves were abandoned. There was barely few thousands of them, now without purpose and lacking many skills. The only way they could survive was to outbred death. Hence the few modifications to already breeding-focused customs induced by Xylian Dominion genmaturgists.
Overtime, however, the gods themselves were rewritten by faith of now decadent elven culture, making them actually wholeheartedly approve of such behaviour. They also survived the Dawn War by throwing their lots with ascendant Imperial Religion - it mostly devoured them, but at least they are still around.
Afterlife
Out of all surviving elven pantheons, the Twice-Seven are one most connected to Imperial Religion. To the point of actually not having any afterlifes. Their afterlife is imperial Heaven and Gehenna, with Twice-Seven gods also living there as a subsidiary beings of imperial gods.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Permeated Organizations
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