Shahru

The Religion of Liberation

O Mother in Heaven, blessed is thy name; May you ever fly; May you never die. Cloak us in your warmth, and shelter us under your wings; That we may never stray from your light. Lead us not into the clutches of our foes, but deliver us from evildoers; And purify our souls in your fire, that we may never fall to sin. For yours is the flame that brings redemption, and ever shall it burn.

— The Firebird's Prayer

Shahru is the dominant religion within mainland Pretheya. It is the largest monotheistic religion on the continent, and one of two major Pretheyan religions; the other being Gaulir. It revolves around the worship of the phoenix Rukhmar, known within Shahru as Rukhmar the Firebird; who serves as the religion's one and only chief deity.
Worship of Rukhmar first began in around the 6th century Re, where it was practised by the people of the Kingdom of Rastilo residing within the Holy Valley; whom referred to the phoenix as the Firebird. It continued to develop over the following centuries before evolving into its present form in the year 915 Re, whereby the tenets of Rastilan Firebird worship were syncretised with Pasdjitan beliefs about Rukhmar. This event came to be known as the Great Founding, and marked the official creation of the Shahru religion and the establishment of its primary creed. The religion would continue to grow and change in the following centuries, but major shifts in doctrine became gradually less and less common, until by the 14th century the majority of its central tenets had been developed.
The foundation of Shahru occurred as part of a wider chain of events, beginning in the 9th century Re with the death of Forfir the Wyrm Lord and the The Battle of Pasdjit, escalating to the the Ashborn Invasion of the Grannrormrlen in the early 10th century, and culminating in the foundation of the The Blazing Empire in 915 Re; a central part of which included the creation of the new Shahru religion. As a result of the circumstances of its founding, opposition of the Wyrms would go on to become an inextricable part of Shahru's identity; and it rapidly came to be seen as a religion for all those who wished to free themselves from the yoke of the Grannr. This connection gained prominence in the following century, and eventually lead to Shahru's moniker of 'The Religion of Liberation.'
The Blazing Empire's conquests saw Shahru spread all across the continent; from Grestvyt in the west all the way to the eastern coast. Even after the empire's eventual collapse in the 11th century, Shahru would continue to experience meteoric growth; continuing to spread across Pretheya region by region, until reaching its zenith in roughly the 15th century. In the present day, Shahru remains the dominant religion in almost every Pretheyan country and region.

Part of a series on

Shahru

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1. Shahru
2. Rukhmar
3. The Firebird Church
4. Doctrine of Shahru
5. Intercession
6. Rukhmarite Mythology
7. History of Shahru

Shahru

Founding Date: Commonly given as 915 Re, although the matter is still debated
Age: Under 1,000 years old
Followers: Tens of millions
Followers Denonym: Rukhmarites
Size: Dominant Pretheyan religion

Characteristics

Present In: Every part of the Pretheyan mainland
Worship Type: Monotheistic
God(s): Rukhmar the Firebird
Centralisation: Heavily centralised
Ruling Body: The Vestaltir

Belyria is generally considered to be the heartland of the Rukhmarite faith

The institutional arm of Shahru is known as the Firebird Church. The church operates in all Rukhmarite countries, and is responsible for the operation of various religious facilities, as well as the training of priests and the creation of new scripture. The Firebird Church is itself subordinate to The Vestaltir; an organisation representing the physical and temporal domain of Rukhmar in the mortal world, which rules over the rest of the faith from its seat in Flame's Providence.

Core Beliefs

(For main article, see: Doctrine of Shahru)

The central tenet of Shahru is the worship of Rukhmar the Firebird. Rukhmarites believe that the Firebird is an omniscient and omnipotent being, responsible for the original creation of the world and all of the life upon it. Humans, in particular, are considered to be Rukhmar's chosen children; having been entrusted with the inheritance of the earth after the three original races - the Ormr, Fyrstbairn, and Leskeln - all betrayed Rukhmar and abandoned the path she had set for them.
Rukhmarites believe that they are charged with enacting the will of their goddess within the mortal plane. The specifics of Rukhmar's plan are believed to be impossible for humans to know, and this intentional vagueness is also considered an integral part of said plan. In lieu of direct instructions for her children, the adherents of Shahru are told to act in ways that express the core values of Rukhmar herself. This idea in turn is commonly divided into two halves, beginning with the values that Rukhmarites should attempt to embody in all that they do:

Rukhmar

Rukhmar herself is perceived as a benevolent goddess who shows unconditional love towards humanity; continuing to care for them despite their innumerable failings and their fundamentally sinful natures. It is thought that she resides in a realm located far above the mortal world known as the Heaven of Flames, which is described as a paradise beyond imagining that exists away from the concept of death. The creed of Shahru states that those who worship Rukhmar faithfully, hold to her tenets, refrain from sinning, and work to enact her will are guaranteed a place in the Heaven of Flames after their deaths.

• Kindness & Charity: Rukhmarites are encouraged to show warmth and compassion to their fellow human beings; whether or not they are also followers of the Firebird. They are expected to do what they can to help others; particularly if it comes at a cost to themselves, as doing so is considered a most righteous act. This is one of the most central tenets of the faith, and is represented in the culture of giving and charitable donations that can be found throughout the Rukhmarite world; as well as in the hospitality offered by Rukhmarites to travellers and pilgrims.


• Mercy & Forgiveness: As Rukhmar forgave the Rastilans for the sins they committed against her, so too are humans to forgive those who do wrong to them. Rukhmarites are told to foster patience, restraint, and above all forgiveness. When others do wrong to them, they must try and find it within themselves to forgive them for their misdeeds, and to refrain from falling to spite or resentfulness. They are also told to be merciful when doling out punishments, and to avoid inflicting unnecessary suffering beyond what is justly required.


• Temperance & Chastity: Excess is the pathway that leads to the sins of greed and gluttony. Although the world is filled with delights, Rukhmarites are taught not to over-indulge in them; to refrain from eating more than they need to, and instead give what they can to their neighbours. They are also told that they must never indulge in the pleasures of the flesh, for they inevitably lead to the dire sins of adultery and immodesty.

The other half of proscriptions about behaviour relates to that which Rukhmarites must not do. In most cases, it is specific actions or behaviours that are forbidden, but attitudes are also warned against in some cases. The majority of prohibitions stem either from an action or behaviour being considered to embody a sinful characteristic - for example wrath, or lust, or greed - or because it breaks a specific tenet of the faith. Many things within the religion are forbidden, but the most important commandments are as follows:
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The Tome of Flames

(For main article, see: The Tome of Flames)

All of the most important information about Rukhmarite belief and doctrine is contained within a single book known as the Tome of Flames. While not the only holy book in Shahru, it is by far the most important; being considered to contain all of the information necessary for a person's soul to be saved from damnation. The Tome is written only in an ancient dialect of the Ashborn tongue of Vortheht, and it is forbidden to be transcribed into any other language; thus heavily limiting the ability to read it to only members of the clergy, all of whom are trained to speak Vortheht. Laypeople must therefore rely upon priests to read to them from the Tome, which constitutes the primary responsibility of the Firebird Church.
Each Rukhmarite priest requires a copy of the Tome of Flames in order to work, and this has resulted in it becoming the most reprinted book in Pretheya. The books can thus be found all over the world; in houses, places of worship, libraries, workplaces, and in some cases verses from the

A copy of the Tome of Flames that has been embellished with gold filigree

Tome may be etched into walls or other locations as a form of decoration. Copies of the Tome are considered sacred, and the act of destroying or otherwise defacing one merits death as a punishment in all Rukhmarite countries.

The Sanktulo

There have been many figures throughout Pretheyan history who have committed exemplary acts in service of Rukhmar, or otherwise displayed a truly rare and inspirational level of devotion and faith. These individuals are sometimes recognised by the Alight as being cirkaubrakita de fajro, lit. 'surrounded by fire'; an acknowledgement of their virtuosity and confirmation of their presence in the Heaven of Flames alongside the Firebird. The people recognised in this manner are referred to as Sanktulo, and are regarded with deep respect and reverence by members of the faith. Sanktulo can only ever be recognised posthumously, and are most often figures who died in battle fighting against heathens or who were recorded to perform mighty invocations of Theos.
It is commonly held that Sanktulo are able to perform miracles on the temporal plane even after their death, and for this reason, it is common for Rukhmarites to direct their prayers at local saints for assistance with minor issues too insignificant to bring before the Firebird. Sanktulo are generally associated with specific aspects, such as forgery, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, and other examples, and people generally pray to them when they require assistance with these activities. It is also common for many of the most well-known Sanktulo to have their own holy days in which people will rest and avoid working.

Structure of the Firebird Church

(For main article, see: The Firebird Church)

The Firebird Church has a number of ranks and positions within it, which encompass both the main priesthood and other staff whose services are required for the institute's functioning. Examples of non-priest members include the many labourers that the church hires on a temporary basis to maintain its properties, as well as the many monks and nuns who work to produce medicine and engage in theological debate.
The priesthood of the church is organised in a hierarchical fashion comprised of five tiers of seniority, which ranges from unordained priests still in training all the way up to The Alight; who is the head of the Firebird Church. The first rank consists of Fledgelings; a term used to refer to priests who have not yet finished training and become ordained, while the second rank - Nestkeeper - refers to the first level of ordained priests. Nestkeepers are the most common priests of the Firebird Church, and each will be assigned to a single village in order to minister to the population there.
The third rank of Flockbearer consists of senior priests within the Firebird Church who have been selected to advance beyond the rank of Nestkeeper. The role of a Flockbearer is to oversee and to serve as a spiritual advisor for a group of Nestkeepers within their province. There is only ever one Flockbearer in each city, as opposed to Nestkeepers of whom there can often be multiple in large settlements; although two or more Flockbearers can, in rare circumstances, share a province. A Flockbearer is also always stationed in an Eyrre.
The fourth rank of the Firebird Church, and the last one that can be considered potentially attainable for ordinary people, is that of Parotia. Parotias are technically equal in seniority to Flockbearers, and are in fact ones who have been selected to be a part of the Alight's inner circle; known as the Simurgh. At any given time, there are always exactly 30 Parotias present within the Simurgh, whose role it is in addition to their normal duties to advise and counsel the Alight on matters of great spiritual importance. At times of great upheaval within the faith, they may be summoned to the heart of the Vestaltir within Flame's Providence in order to participate in ecumenical councils.

The Alight

Places of Worship

Most religious activities within Shahru have a designated location in which they are performed, and cannot be carried out anywhere else. The majority of these locations are indoors, but some specific rites and observances can or must be performed outdoors; often in forests or other places where species of sacred birds can be found.

Lanh

The most common dedicated building for worship within Shahru is the Lanh. Ubiquitous throughout the Rukhmarite world, every village boasting more than a single family will have a Lanh built somewhere within them. Places at higher elevations are considered to be closer to heaven, and therefore are seen as more sacred than the lowground. As such, where possible a village's Lanh will be constructed at the highest point in or around the village; commonly a hill or rock outcrop if there is one nearby, but otherwise it may be placed upon a raised platform if no other options are available. Lanhs are generally considered the most important building in a village, and so are traditionally built out of stone to signify this. In many small villages, the Lanh will be the only building to have been built from stone; with all others constructed from wood or clay. Each Lanh is staffed by a single Nestkeeper, who serves as the village priest and takes care of all the spiritual needs of its inhabitants.

Eyrre

Eyrres are, in essence, larger and more ornamented Lanhs. They serve identical purposes to their smaller cousins, and the main difference is that they are run by a Flockbearer rather than a Nestkeeper. Despite this, they are considered incredibly prestigious: The requirement for a town to be considered a city within the Rukhmarite world is that it must have an Eyrre constructed within it. Owing to their size, it is not always convenient to build an Eyrre on a raised surface, and so the majority of these buildings make up for it by having multiple floors; sometimes as many as three or four. Their designs can vary greatly depending both on who constructed them and the budget available for the project: While most Eyrres remain in the same square or rectangular shape as Lanhs, some have been constructed bowl shapes meant to resemble nests.