Kalekhom

The religion of Kalekhom is widely known in Eleanor, originating amongst orcs and being the main religion within Quldafjord. Many stories and poems have been written of the mythology and many bodies of art have been made in tribute to these stories.

Mythology & Lore

The mythology of Kalekhom (the word of Khom), can be split in separate pieces: the creation of the world (the brothers Khom and Khehr), the myths of the early world (the 'Ekhwol), and the myths of orcs (the family of Khensel, the first orcs).

On Creation (Mnsha)

It is said that, in the beginning, the world was fashioned on a great plain by the twin brothers Khom and Khehr. Khom enjoyed creating and change, but Khehr preferred stasis and acquaintance.
The twins did not have physical forms, so to speak, but they simultaneously did. Khom prefered to shift and change their shape depending on how they wished to adapt. Khehr meanwhile took a shape humanoid, with four arms, three heads, and six legs akin to a spider.
When they first came together, their first act was to fill the world with water, the purest element to the twins. The water shifted and changed which pleased Khom. Kher, however, took the shapes that were made and the most beautiful he saw he frozen in place. Eventually, the frozen water became muddy and mirky, and formed into the world we see.
Their second act was to light the world and so Khom filled the world with an every changing light, that cycled through the colours. Khehr did not like the randomness and asked for Khom to at least make it a predictable pattern. So Khom formed the first rainbow.
Khom then created the wind, and made it strong in places, and slow and but a whisper in others. Khehr found the wind would shake the land and ripple the water and he began to resent Khom constant changes. Khehr so created peaks that could test against the winds and buffet them to protect those lands he preferred.
But Khom was not done, he then created earth and dirt, and scattered it to the winds. Sand appeared and sprinkled itself all over. Khehr dusted the sand into great areas of desert, but still fumed at Khom’s interference.
The last straw was when Khom created the plants and the animals. He boasted great seeds that he scattered, and babies across the world. They were untameable. Khehr could not control them as he wished. He became angry.
Khehr then fashioned a knife and made a plan to kill Khom. But Khom was adaptable. When Khehr came to stab him as they observed the world, Khom managed to avoid a lethal cut, and only received a flesh wound, his blood falling upon the world. In return, Khom cut Khehr’s hand from his body and it fell to the earth, buried in the earth.
Khehr then diminished and left Khom alone to his plaything.

On Formation (Kal'Ekhwol)

The tales of the 'Ekhwol are longer, and give an origin story to the sentient species in Eleanor. Their tales are inspirations to many pieces of artwork, and also inspire the orcish tradition of associating with animals.
The twelve 'Ekhwol are twelve animals that were given sentience. At first, they are given gifts by Khom that changed the world for the better. However, they betray Khom by feasting on flesh and hence Khom punishes them with changes to the world. The eating of pork and pig flesh is blasphemy in Kalekhom for this reason.
The twelve 'Ekhwol are:

• Khensel the pig, referred to as the father of orcs and spirit of plains,
• Qerdel the monkey, often considered the father of humans and spirit of trees,
• b]Nosrel the eagle, considered as the father of the birdfolk and spirit of skies,
• b]S’omundel the salamander, considered the father of the lizardmen and spirit of deserts,
• b]Moa’esl the goat, considered the father of dwarves and spirit of mountains,
• b]‘Ornobel the hare, considered the father of elves and spirit of woodland,
• b]Dodhoel the frog, considered the father of gnomes and spirit of water
• b]Leonkabul the spider, spirit of darkness
• b]Dubel the bear, spirit of snow
• b]Dhebel the wolf, spirit of community
• b]Namrel the tiger, spirit of self
• b]Slohofal the tortoise, spirit of age

On Orcs (Fjokhensel)

The further tales in the mythology deal with the first orcs; Khesnel and his sons, Khesgue and Khest’ash, and the further family hierarchy that extend thereafter. These stories often tell of the morals and life lessons that are then quoted in religious gatherings. Various rituals and holy days are explained by these stories.

Type

Religious, Pantheon