Discovery of Shark God
The religion of Gyllis has such a strong presence it shines through every aspect of life in the dome. Its influence is in the art, in the architecture, in funeral practices, in what genetic modifications people choose for themselves, everywhere one could think to look.
The heart of Gyllis’ religion, of course, is Shark God. The belief of Shark God got its start with the first colonists of the planet, as when the first colonists came across Shark God, they were shocked to see something so familiar to their historical records when all the other ocean life they’d observed was nothing like Earth life. Scientists from the other domes believed it to be a case of convergent evolution, but the religious in Gyllis dome decided it was simply proof of Shark God’s godhood, that Shark God followed them to an alien planet.
When newcomers enter Gyllis dome, they are welcomed by the Welcoming committee, who introduces the ignorant from the other domes to Shark God. Newcomers aren’t released into the city proper till they accept Shark God. Those dedicated to Shark God show their faith in a number of different ways. Some make art, like the doubloon statue of Shark God in the town square, or the stained glass mosaic that spans a fifth of the dome, or the architecture which mimics Shark God’s environment as well as borrows shape language from Shark God. Others choose to genetically modify themselves to mimic either more aquatic creatures, or Shark God itself, with older generations tending towards the later mutations.
The ultimate way to grow closer to Shark God however, is death. While it’s not encouraged to join Shark God early, death is seen only as the next great adventure. After death Shark God will welcome them to live with Shark God in the endless ocean in any body they want. Because of this belief, the bodies of the dead are sent outside the dome as an offering to Shark God, and when Shark God shows up to accept the offering and devour their mortal bodies, the whole city celebrates Shark God’s appearance.
The heart of Gyllis’ religion, of course, is Shark God. The belief of Shark God got its start with the first colonists of the planet, as when the first colonists came across Shark God, they were shocked to see something so familiar to their historical records when all the other ocean life they’d observed was nothing like Earth life. Scientists from the other domes believed it to be a case of convergent evolution, but the religious in Gyllis dome decided it was simply proof of Shark God’s godhood, that Shark God followed them to an alien planet.
When newcomers enter Gyllis dome, they are welcomed by the Welcoming committee, who introduces the ignorant from the other domes to Shark God. Newcomers aren’t released into the city proper till they accept Shark God. Those dedicated to Shark God show their faith in a number of different ways. Some make art, like the doubloon statue of Shark God in the town square, or the stained glass mosaic that spans a fifth of the dome, or the architecture which mimics Shark God’s environment as well as borrows shape language from Shark God. Others choose to genetically modify themselves to mimic either more aquatic creatures, or Shark God itself, with older generations tending towards the later mutations.
The ultimate way to grow closer to Shark God however, is death. While it’s not encouraged to join Shark God early, death is seen only as the next great adventure. After death Shark God will welcome them to live with Shark God in the endless ocean in any body they want. Because of this belief, the bodies of the dead are sent outside the dome as an offering to Shark God, and when Shark God shows up to accept the offering and devour their mortal bodies, the whole city celebrates Shark God’s appearance.
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