Urbnata Church
The Urbnata Church is one of the most far-reaching religions within the Remnants of Diaghal. Founded during the Dark Ages by the Mitotlan woman Itzcuintli (also known as Isabelle I in Unimical Urbnatism), the religion underwent a schism early in its history, and now holds two large centers of worship in Diaghal - one in the very west of the Remnants, and one in the very east. The most practiced forms of Urbnatism – that being the Unimical Urbnatism of the west and the Itzcuintlian Urbnatism of the east – are based around the worship of Erathis, the goddess of law and civilization, and her children. Two closely related faiths – the Hulderil faith of the halflings and the Kikanuti faith of the Bhuka Goblins – were often considered denominations of Urbnatism, though they differed in many ways from the more popular sects. Urbnatism was recognizable for the practice of offerings and sacrifices to its deities, its focus on hierarchy, its ancestor worship, and its belief in the relationship between the deceased soul and the body.
The symbol of the Urbnata Church is known as the Amautux. It represents the rising sun, an aspect of Erathis within the faith. In Unimical Urbnatism, the four points on the outside of the cross represent Erathis’ four children, with the center point representing Erathis herself. Since Itzcuintlian Urbnatism does not recognize the worship of Zehir, their depictions of the Amautux forgo the central point, instead representing Erathis as the western point - her cardinal direction within the denomination.
Unimical Urbnatism is the most common form of Urbnatism practiced in Tuatha. The nation with the most Unimical Urbnatists is its birthplace of the Crown-Republic of Fonterre, where it is also the state religion. Itzcuintlian Urbnatism is most commonly practiced in the continents of Lurean and Ysen Tei, with the region of Makutu holding the largest number of congregants, mostly amongst the human Mitotlan ethnicity, which the founder of the faith belonged to. Hulderil Urbnatism is the traditional religion of the halflings, while Kikanutism(organization) is the ethnic faith of the Bhuka ethnicity of goblins.
Tenants
- Work with others to achieve your goals. Community and order are always stronger than the disjointed efforts of lone individuals.
- Change is inevitable, but it takes the work of the faithful to ensure that change is for the better.
- Lead with kindness, compassion, and mercy. Inspire others to unite in fellowship.
Deities
Erathis, goddess of law and civilization, is worshipped as the head deity of the Urbnata pantheon in a majority of Urbnatist denominations. Her daughters, Yondolla, goddess of agriculture, and Avandra, goddess of fortune, are also revered in most forms of the faith. In Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, Erathis’ son Nerull, god of pestilence, is worshipped, and Erathis’ other son, Zehir, god of trickery, is worshipped in Unimical Urbnatism. Urbnatists also practice veneration of their ancestors. Itzcuintlian Urbnatism pays respect to many other nature spirits, and the psychopomp Urogalan is venerated in many Urbnatist faiths. Historically, the gods Pelor and Orsil were also worshipped, but current doctrine believes them to be dead, and therefore worship of them would be futile. While Urbnatists held Erathis as the highest deity above others, they were expected to pray and pay respect to all the deities of their pantheon.Erathis
Erathis - goddess of law, civilization, community, and tamed animals - is worshipped as the head deity in the Unimical and Itzcuintlian denominations of Urbnatism. In Urbnatist belief, she is also viewed as the goddess of water, war, magic, and daytime, among other aspects. Along with Yondolla and Avandra, she makes up part of the syncretic deity Kikanuti in Kikanutism. With her now-deceased husband Orsil, she gave birth to all of the primary deities of the Urbnata pantheon. Her priests in Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism are known as the Clypeumi (singular Clypeum). Unimical Urbnatism depicts her as a blindfolded human woman, holding either scales, a sword, a double-headed axe, a shield, or a combination of the two. Sometimes, she was depicted in armour, usually plate or half-plate. Itzcuintlianism, meanwhile, depicted Erathis as Itzcuintli, whom they believed to be the Eternal Hierophant. Unimical Urbnatists believed the Hierophant of the Unimical Church to be Erathis’ divine representation on Crith. Erathis’ holy day is Oralia, the final day of the Uranysia holy period.Yondolla
Yondolla - goddess of agriculture and fertility - is one of the primary five deities in Unimical Urbnatism, one of the primary four deities in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, one of the two deities of Hulderil Urbnatism, and one of the syncretic parts of Kikanuti in Kikanutism. In Urbnatism, she was also viewed as the goddess of nature and wild animals. She was depicted across most denominations as a dark-skinned halfling or human, dressed modestly, and holding either a cornucopia or a bundle of the local staple crop. Her dedicated priests in Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism were the Scacerthia (singular Scacertha). Yondolla’s holy day is Noslia, celebrated on the 24th of Chauntar. Noslia celebrated the end of the harvest, and a festival was usually held on the day.Avandra
Avandra - goddess of luck, travel, wealth, and trade - is one of the primary five deities in Unimical Urbnatism, one of the primary four deities in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, one of the two deities of Hulderil Urbnatism, and one of the syncretic parts of Kikanuti in Kikanutism. In Urbnatism, she was also viewed as the goddess of winds, charity, and sorcery. She was often depicted across most denominations as a red-haired human or halfling with a green cloak, holding a gold coin and equipped with a golden shortsword. Her dedicated priests in Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism are the Votyurs. Avandra’s holy day is Tylia, celebrated on the 4th of Ocanair. It was considered an auspicious day for travel and luck, and festivals on the day often included games of chance. In Fonterre, it was also the day that a new Prime Minister was sworn in for their four-year term.Nerull
Nerull - god of pestilence - is one of the five primary deities in Unimical Urbnatism, and one of the four primary deities in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism. In Urbnatism, he is also viewed as a god of healing, medicine, undeath, and destructive nature. It was he who determined when each person should die. He was known as Nerull Caduceus in Unimical Urbnatism. Itzcuintlians, who knew him as Nerull Mictlani, also believed him to be the judge of the dead. He was depicted across denominations as a humanoid skeleton or as a humanoid wearing a skull, garbed in red clothes that obscured his form. His dedicated priests in Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism are the Mortifex. Nerull’s holy day is Murlia, on the 13th of Eldair. On Murlia, people remembered those who died, and gave sacrifices to their ancestors.Zehir
Zehir - god of thievery, murder, and secrets - is one of the five primary deities in Unimical Urbnatism, and an antagonistic deity in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism. In Unimical Urbnatism, he is also viewed as the god of fire, lightning, and change, and fulfills the role of messenger for the gods. He gave the gods of the Urbnata Church the Sanctity of Sacrifices after venturing into the Abyss. In Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, Erathis took the Sanctity of Sacrifices away from him after he supposedly betrayed her and killed his father during the Dawn War. Urogalan then ate him, subsuming his essence and most of his roles. In Unimical Urbnatism, Zehir watches over the evil dead in Carceri, while in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, he is imprisoned there. Zehir is depicted across denominations as a hooded humanoid man with either an obscured face, the head of a snake, or the head of a monstrous jackal. In Unimical Urbnatism, his dedicated priests are the Carci, and his holiday is Tamlia, observed on the 28th of Siamair. During Tamlia, Unimical Urbnatists ritually cleansed themselves of their sins. In Fonterre, it was also the day of elections for Prime Minister after the current one’s four year term was coming to an end.Urogalan
Urogalan, also known as Xolotl to Itzcuintlians, is the black dog psychopomp of the Urbnata Church. In Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, he consumed Zehir and became the deity of fire and lightning, and fulfilled the role of messenger of the gods. He has no dedicated priesthood, but Itzcuintlian Urbnatists believe that those struck by lightning or who were immolated and survived to be divinely blessed by him. Scholars believe Urogalan and Xolotl to have been separate deities with the same religious root. They were then syncretized into becoming the same deity again. In Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, Tamlia was instead held as a festival celebrating Xolotl’s devouring of Zehir.Kikanuti
Kikanuti is the patron goddess of the Bhuka Goblins. She is a syncretic goddess made up of Erathis, Yondolla, and Avandra. She is often depicted as a full-figured goblin decorated ostentatiously in jewelry. Matriarchs, the female leaders of the Bhuka clans, acted as priestesses of Kikanuti, as well as the divine representation of, and living idol to, their goddess.Beliefs
The Sanctity of Sacrifices
Urbnatist scripture tells that Zehir went into the Abyss and tricked Pazuzu and Pale Night into giving him the Sanctity of Sacrifices, which Zehir then gave to his family. The Sanctity of Sacrifices teaches that only the deities of the Urbnata faith can gain power from sacrifices given to them, and thus, the Urbnatist deities are the most powerful deities on Crith. Itzcuintlian Urbnatism teaches that Erathis took the Sanctity of Sacrifices away from Zehir after he killed his father during the Dawn War. In Unimical Urbnatism, each deity has a sacrifice associated with them - food for Yondolla, coin for Avandra, incense or aromatics for Nerull, and blood for Zehir. Erathis can benefit from any of these sacrifices, though church authorities view blood sacrifices to Erathis as heresy. Itzcuintlian Urbnatism shares the Unimical sacrifices for Yondolla, Avandra, and Nerull; Itzcuintlian Urbnatism forbids blood sacrifice. Kikanutism practices sacrifice, but does not follow the rules set out by the other two sects - sacrifices in Kikanutism are ritualized by giving valuables of any type to the matriarch. Hulderilism does not practice sacrifices. Some scholars theorize that this doctrine was influenced by the value placed on sacrifices to the gods on Hariwana, the Mitotlan’s original continent.Authorities of the Faith
Urbnatist doctrine taught, more so than other religions, that religious leaders had authority and understanding on spiritual matters over the common layfolk. Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism held a hierarchy within their churches. Kikanutism and Hulderilism, on the other hand, had the head or heads of their community act as their spiritual leaders.Evolution of the Faith
Urbnatists believed that the beliefs and rituals of their faith should develop and evolve with the progression of time and the cultural context of the present. In Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, matters were brought up to the Vestals, the highest ranking priests in the church, and they debated on its relation to Urbnatist canon. In Unimical Urbnatism, the decision made by the Vestals was then approved by the Hierophant and adopted into canon. In Hulderilism and Kikanutism however, these debates occurred only when two spiritual leaders would meet, and would be a much less ceremonial affair. Hulderilism and Kikanutism also believed change occurred when an Elder (in the case of Hulderilism) or Matriarch (in the case of Kikanutism) died, and a new individual took up their post.View of Supernatural Beings and Other Gods
Urbnatists usually believed their deities to be superior to the gods of others, though this perception varied depending on the denomination and the individual. Unimical Urbnatists believed in the deities and lesser idols of their canon above all others. To this end, they usually gave aspects to their deities that they were not usually associated with outside of the Urbnata Church – for example, Erathis was given providence over water, and Zehir was given providence over fire. Itzcuintlian Urbnatism still believed in the superiority of the Urbnatist deities, but were more lax with other gods when compared to their Unimical brethren. Itzcuintlianism had a sizable list of approved deities and lesser idols - provided they were seen as subservient to the primary Urbnatist deities - known as the Idols in Fellowship. Kikanutists saw their deity, Kikanuti, as the supreme goddess, but still held awe for and paid respect to other supernatural entities. Hulderilism was unique among the denominations as they did not see Avandra and Yondolla as superior to other deities; they merely saw them as their ancestral gods.Death, the Afterlife, and Undeath
Urbnatists believed that when they died, they were led to the outer planes by the psychopomp Urogalan, who took the form of a black dog. To Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatists, most dead went to Arcadia, where Erathis lived, but those who were particularly sinful or evil in the eyes of the gods were instead sent to Carceri. In Arcadia, the dead would live peaceful lives, taking pleasure in farming, fishing, or other calming activities. When 555 years had passed since their death, the soul would fade away and become one with the world. In Hulderilism, the dead were led by Urogalan to the area of Mount Celestia known as the Green Fields. Those Hulderilists who were considered evil would be abandoned by Urogalan, and were forced to make their own way to the Outer Planes, lest they become a ghost. Kikanutism believed that an individual’s soul rejoined with the world after their death. Urbnatists also believed that the soul could send messages and omens to those still living. In addition, by remembering the person who died, the soul could live beyond its lifespan of 555 years, and vice versa if a person was forgotten about before then. Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatists believed that the actual state of the body was important in this remembrance, and as such, often mummified their dead. Hulderilists did not put so much importance on the actual state of the corpse, and instead buried their dead. Kikanutism was the most unique denomination in its ritual associated with this belief. Kikanutists cremated their dead, then had the ashes consumed by their matriarch. They believed that, as long as the Matriarch lived, the soul of that deceased would live through them. When a Matriarch died, her ashes would be consumed by her successor, bringing all the souls to that body with her. Urbnatists did not have as much of a negative view of undeath as other religions did. As a result of the focus on the state of the body after death, many Urbnatists believed that undeath actually helped preserve the memory and soul of the deceased. Intelligent undeath, such as mummies, were only created with the explicit permission of the individual whose body was becoming undead. However, most Urbnatists still decried undead that required feeding off the souls of others to continue existing, such as Liches. Unlike other sects, Hulderil Urbnatists often detested undeath in all of its forms.Practices
Baptism
Urbnatists placed a great value on the ritual of baptism. Its importance is cited in Urbnatist canon with Erathis baptizing the halflings to give them physical forms in the Material Plane. Baptismal fonts exist within every Urbnatist church, and were constructed to be large enough to house two humanoids of average size at once. In Urbnatism, baptism was the ritualization of the passing from one stage of life to the other, and was performed at naming ceremonies, coming-of-age rituals, weddings, and funerals. Erathis was viewed as the patron deity of baptism.Veneration of the Dead
Ancestor worship is practiced in all forms of Urbnatism. Ancestral spirits are called Lares in Unimical Urbnatism, Teteo in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, Kurapiir in Kikatutism, and “those lo’ken” in Hulderilism. Urbnatists of all denominations believe that a person who has died can send messages to their descendants provided that some part of their body remains on the material plane. They believed these signs could come in simple ways, like feeling a slight breeze in a certain direction, or finding something that you had lost. Urbnatists paid tribute to their ancestors in many ways. Offerings, such as food and incense, were laid out for ancestors during Uranysia, Dulich, Shinog, Murlia, and the day of their death. An individual may also lay offerings when they were looking for guidance from a particular ancestor. These offerings could be given at the ancestor’s grave, a shrine made for that ancestor, at the church, or at the family shrine that many Urbnatists had to represent all of their ancestors. Urbnatism also paid respect to the “Greater Ancestors”. These individuals were canonized by the Vestals of the Unimical or Itzcuintlian church, or recognized by the spiritual leaders of Hulderilism and Kikanutism. These individuals were seen as saints, and would be spiritually considered ancestors of all worshippers, allowing them to be prayed to for guidance.Charity
Urbnatists held value on giving to those in need. Charitable organizations, such as trusts for alms or shelters for those in need, were overseen by Votyurs, who provided for the needy through Avandra’s aspect as the patron of those in poverty.Rituals
Congregation
In Unimical, Itzcuintlian, and Hulderil Urbnatism, worshippers congregated in churches on the morning of Eralath. After entering the church, congregants are expected to wash themselves at the baptismal font before being seated at the pews. The parish priest of Erathis will then lead the congregation in prayer, selecting a passage from each of the five books of the Urbna (Hulderilism would only take from the Yovandula). If a specialized priest attended the church, they would instead choose the passage of the book belonging to the deity they were devoted to and lead the congregation in that prayer. If an individual’s Ligtum Adcaelest or Tuaris Emuneran happened to fall on the day of Eralath, that ritual was then performed for them. Afterwards, the priests will then give a final sermon. The congregants were then expected to participate in private prayers, such as going to the idol of one of the deities and sacrificing to them, or paying respect and tribute to their ancestors. The congregants would then go home, where they were expected to undergo a day of rest. Bhuka Goblins are nomadic, and as such, do not often have a church that they can pray at. Instead, matriarchs led the clan in a short congregation each morning, choosing one passage from the Kiitana.Private Prayer
Urbnatists prayed at all times of the day, but formal prayer was usually set aside for mornings. During prayer, the worshipper would (in the denominations that practiced it) offer a sacrifice as determined by the deity they were praying to, then touch their forehead, then stomach, and then hold their hand or hands to their heart. The worshipper would whisper their prayer to the deity, ending the prayer by removing their hands from their chest. Urbnatists also said grace at meals, which they dedicated to Yondolla.Ligtum Adcaelest
Ligum Adcaelest, which comes from the Gralua phrase for “Tied to the Gods”, is the naming ritual of Urbnatism. Ten days after the birth of a child, the parents will take the child to a priest, where the priest will tie a shaft of the local staple crop around the baby’s right wrist, chanting rites asking for Yondolla to bless the child with health and fertility, and asking Nerull to not bestow the child with illness nor hindrances. The priest will then place a coin in the baby’s left palm, asking for Avandra to bless the child with fortune and righteousness, and asking Zehir (Unimical) or Xolotl (Itzcuinltian) to not bestow the child with poverty nor wickedness. The priest will then baptize the child through aspersion in a baptismal font, chanting rites to ask Erathis to bless the child with strength, charisma, and intellect, while finally speaking the baby’s full name. In Hulderilism, Yondolla is the only deity invoked during the tying of the shaft, and Avandra is the only deity invoked during the placing of the coin. Instead of Erathis, both sisters are invoked at the same time to bless the child before speaking the child’s name. In Kikanutism, Kikanuti is invoked during all parts of the ritual. If no water could be found when the ritual was supposed to be undergone, the matriarch would then give the child a dry baptism using earth.Tuaris Emuneran
Tuaris Emuneran, which comes from the Gralua phrase for “Bestowing of the Gifts”, is the coming-of-age ritual for Urbnatism. On the first Eralath after the child has reached their culture’s age of maturity, the young adult goes to the temple with their parents and four other relatives who have gone through Tuaris Emuneran, two of whom are men and two of whom are women. First, the young adult is baptized via immersion in the baptismal font, while the priest announces the young adult’s rebirth to Erathis. After the young adult has been dressed and dried, the two female relatives will approach them. One will offer the young adult a meal, usually a simple one made of grains, and recite prayers to Yondolla, asking her to bestow many more nights of satiation for them. The other will then offer the young adult a purse of coins, and recite prayers to Avandra, asking her to bestow many more days of fortune for them. Afterwards, the two male relatives will approach them. One will offer the young adult a pouch of aromatics, and recite prayers to Nerull, asking him to protect them from suffering throughout many days with a disease. The other will then offer the young adult a dagger, and recite prayers to Zehir (Unimical) or Xolotl (Itzcuintlian), asking him to protect them from suffering throughout many nights in poverty. Then, the parents will approach. The father will clasp a cloak around the young adult, and the mother will place an amulet around the young adult’s neck, and both will recite prayers to Erathis in unison, asking for them to bless the young adult with acceptance in the community, as well as strength, charisma, and intellect. The priest will then say a final prayer, accepting the young adult as a full member of the church. If the child has no relatives alive, the role will be undergone by another member of the congregation, who would be ritually recognized by the priest as the young adult’s relative. Tuaris Emuneran is also used in this way if an individual wishes to be initiated into the church. In Hulderilism, Yondola is invoked during Nerull’s prayers, and Avandra is invoked during Zehir/Xolotl’s prayers. Yondola and Avandra are invoked in unison during Erathis’ prayer. In Kikanutism, Tuaris Emuneran is undergone the first time after the young adult’s birthday that the clan finds a body of water big enough to immerse the adult. Kikanuti is invoked at all times during the ritual.Nutialem
Nutialem is the wedding ritual for Urbnatism. It comes from the Gralua word for wedding, and is always monogamous. The couple would have been previously engaged through the exchange of engagement rings. Before the ceremony, the couple sign a remptias, a document proclaiming their marriage into law. Some days afterwards, the ceremony will then begin. The couple swears a vow to each of the gods of the Urbnata pantheon that they worship, and a vow to take care of their spouse within that god’s portfolio, each time while offering a sacrifice to that specific deity. Each spouse would then make a sacrifice and a promise to one of their partner’s ancestors, one that that partner had chosen. Then, the priest will baptize them together via immersion in the baptismal font. After the two were baptized, the priest would then declare them married.Semitira
Semitira, which comes from the Gralua phrase for “the path onward”, is the funerary ritual of Urbnatism. A wake is first held. Visitors enter through the front of the temple and leave through the back. Afterwards, the funeral is performed. Friends and family perform eulogies. The priest takes the body to the baptismal font, and performs the final baptism via affusion. The priest then calls for Urogalan/Xolotl to take the soul of the deceased to their resting place. The body is then taken in a casket to the local tomb or mausoleum, where a mortifex mummifies the body with a combination of chemicals and magic. When the process is finished, the mortifex places two coins on the eyes of the deceased. The deceased is then fully placed in its spot in the tomb or mausoleum. If the family of the deceased cannot afford a mummification, then the deceased will be buried and/or have a fetish made in their image. Within Unimcal and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, cremation or sky burial was seen as taboo. In Hulderilism, the body is buried instead of mummified. In Kikanutism, the body is cremated, and the matriarch consumes the ashes, calling to the soul of the deceased that they can now watch over their loved ones from the afterlife.Uranysia
Uranysia was one of the most important holy periods to Urbnatists. It began on the 2nd Eralath of Amaunoth, which was called Tighin, and ended on the 3rd Eralath of Amaunoth. During that week, Urbnatists fasted and gave sacrifices to the gods and the ancestors. This fasting period was to meditate on and remember the death of Orsil, Erathis’ spouse and father to the primary gods of the pantheon, as well as the period of difficulty that the faithful went through before the birth of Itzcuintli. On the final day of Uranysia – Oralia, which was Erathis’ holy day – a great festival was held, and Urbnatists celebrated and gave gifts to each other to be thankful of what they had. Hulderil Urbnatism was the only Urbnatist denomination that did not celebrate Uranysia. Kikanutism celebrated Uranysia, but it was instead to remember the hardships and oppression that the early faithful of Kikanuti underwent.Holy Texts
The holy text of Urbnatism was known as The Urbna. It was a collection of five books: The Daonna, also known as the Book of Humans, which described the early diaspora of humanity, as well as myths related to Pelor and Orsil; The Yovandula, which compiled the myths of Avandra and Yondolla; The Veaitanola, which compiled the myths of Nerull and Zehir; The Erathna, which compiled the myths of Erathis; and the Isabellana, which followed the life of Itzcuintli/Isabelle I and the emancipation and migration of the Mitotlan. The Urbna was formally compiled during the latter half of Itzcuintli’s life. Hulderil Urbnatism used only one book of the Urbna, the Yovandula. Kikanutism used their own liturgy, known as The Kiitana. This was usually kept orally, though some clans had a written copy of it.Temples
Unimical
Unimical churches are commonly composed of a hexagonal structure with a long hallway on one side. Congregants enter the church through the hallway leading to the hexagonal portion. In this hallway, the pews for the congregation are located. Inside the hexagonal portion is the baptismal font and idols to the five gods. After congregants have cleaned themselves using the baptismal font during the beginning of congregation, the baptistmal font is closed, where it doubles as a pulpit. On the walls of the hexagonal chamber are idols to the five gods, each having a position associated with them: Nerull to the bottom-left, Yondolla to the top-left, Erathis to the top, Avandra to the top-right, and Zehir to the bottom-right. Each wall has a representation of the deity, as well as an altar for offering sacrifices to each deity. Older churches have statues representing each of the deities, as was popular for the time, but most newer churches have stained glass windows representing the deities, as was popularized by the Thyans upon becoming part of Fonterre. A room dedicated to the Lares, with shrines to families and particular saints, is kept either behind the wall of Erathis or on the second floor of the hexagonal structure. The highest floor of the hexagonal structure of a church housed the pryton, an open hearth that was supposed to be lit at all times. The pryton was a representation of Zehir's role as both the god of fire and the messenger of the pantheon. When congregants were to be called to prayer, a priest would change the colour of the flames to blue, using either the thaumaturgy spell or by other means. Unimical churches often have either a catacomb kept beneath the church itself or a mausoleum in a separate building on church property. Unimical cathedrals sometimes held housing within the church for its attendant clergy, usually either above the main hallway or behind the wall of the deity that a priest attended to. Most churches are constructed from either wood, stone, mortar, or a combination of the three. Early Unimical cathedrals were often open-air structures supported by columns, inspired by old Imperial Faith temples.Itzcuintlian
Itzcuintlian churches often took inspiration from the pyramids of the old Mitotlan religion. They contain a minimum of three tiers. The lowest tier was the catacombs, which often extended underneath and beyond the foundation of the pyramid. The second tier – or second-highest tier, if the pyramid had more than three tiers – was the ancestral house, where shrines to Teteo, saints, and Idols in Fellowship were kept. The highest tier held the baptismal font and the idols to the four deities. Inside the highest tier, pews were arranged around the perimeter of the room, with the baptismal font in the center of the room. Like their Unimical brethren, Itzcuintlian fonts could close and double as a pulpit for the priests. Each deity had a depiction and an altar against the wall that faced the direction associated with them: Erathis faced west, Avandra faced south, Yondolla faced east, and Nerull faced north. Erathis was associated with the south because of her aspect as the goddess of the rising sun. The most common depictions of the deities were on painted stelae, lintels, or statues carved out of the walls. Above the highest tier was the pryton, which was used in the same way as it was in the Unimical church, though it represented Xolotl as opposed to Zehir. Some architects designed the prytons to have a hole in the center, which, combined with methods used to redirect light, illuminated the pulpit from above with sunlight during congregation. The outside of the pyramids are often decorated with stories from the Urbna or with statues that ward off evil spirits. There were a variety of different shapes that Itzcuintlian pyramids used, but the most common were circular, square, or octagonal. Itzcuintlian pyramids that held more than three tiers often used those tiers as housing for the clergy or for dedication to an important local saint or idol. Some pyramids have developed complicated pulley systems in order to help disabled or elderly congregants reach tiers of the building without too much difficulty.Hulderil
Hulderil churches are often simple wooden buildings that double as gathering spaces for the community. Apart from the baptismal font and depictions of the goddesses, there was no unified architecture for Hulderil churches. Hulderil churches often also had a cemetery on their property.Kikanuti
Bhuka are nomadic, and as such, do not construct churches. The domicile of the matriarch acted as a temple when one was needed. Some clans had an idol or representation of Kikanuti, but this was not needed, as the matriarch was considered not only the divine representation of Kikanuti on Crith, but also a living idol of the goddess.Priesthood
Priesthood in Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism was formal and hierarchical. Priests would be educated at a seminary typically for three years – two years for generalized study then one year for specialized study. If they could not go to a seminary for whatever reason, they could instead train under a priest as a Deacon. They would then be assigned to a congregation by the church. Individuals that are particularly knowledgeable in the rites and theology of the Urbnata Church are allowed to take an exam. High performance on this exam granted ordination into the church. Priests within the Urbnata Church, with the exception of Mortifexes, are not required to take a vow of celibacy.Clypeumi
Priests dedicated to Erathis are known as Clypeumi (singular Clypeum). They make up the main body of the Urbnata clergy. Clypeumi dress in blue and white vestments, which they also adorn with ceremonial metal armor. Their vestments also contain symbology which identifies their rank within the church. Clypeumi are permitted to perform the rituals of the specialized priests of the Urbnata Church if none are present. Clypeumi are expected to be able to cast the spell ceremony. The lowest level of Clypeumi are the Deacons. Deacons assist the parish priest with their duties, and are often not considered full priests in their own right. Deacons are usually made up of acolytes who did not go to a seminary, and instead are training to become a priest by assisting their local church. After Deacons, the next rank of Clypeumi are the Curates and Vicars. Curates and Vicars are given the eponymous clypeum, a small gauntlet-shield on their left arm, as a symbol of their initiation into full priesthood. While technically of the same position in the hierarchy, Curates are priests that have no congregation of their own, while Vicars have a congregation that they attend to. Curates are more common in congregations that have a Clypeum of higher rank attending to it. The next rank of Clypeumi are Bishops. Bishops are priests that oversee a diocese, such as a city or small region. The next rank of Clypeumi are Primates. Primates are similar to bishops, but instead serve a much larger region, such as a province or large region. The next rank of Clypeumi, and the highest rank achievable within the Itzcuintlian Church, are the Vestals. The Vestals are a council of dignified priests that debate on and address the issues and canonicity of matters faced by the church. In Unimical Urbnatism, there are ten Vestals, while in Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, there are eleven. The highest rank of Clypeumi in the Unimical Church is the rank of Hierophant. The Hierophant acts as the head of the church, an eleventh Vestal, and the divine representation of Erathis on Crith. Hierophants are selected from birth to serve the position. When a Hierophant still lives, they will declare one of the Vestals as their Requater. When the Hierophant dies, the requater will receive visions of a child who was born at the same time as the previous Hierophant’s death. The vestal will search for that child, and bring the child and their parents to Isainne. The child will then be raised to become the next Hierophant. As of 1365 MT, the current Hierophant is the male Dornish Rathin human Pierre Dullac, who has taken the name Hierophant Quintilian V. He is 50 years old. His Requater is Vestal Maxima Vrinn, a 200-year-old female drow.Specialized Priests
Apart from Clypeumi, priests dedicated to the other deities of the Urbnata pantheon were also ordained within the church. These priests usually served specialized functions related to the portfolio of their deity. Each priesthood, with the exception of Carci, had four ranks. Individuals of the highest rank of their order were allowed to sit in and give opinions on the matters debated by the Vestals. Within Unimical and Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, there are three orders of specialized priests: the Scacerthia, the Mortifexes, and the Votyurs. Within Unimical Urbnatism, there is also the Carci. Scacerthia (singular Scacertha) are priests dedicated to Yondolla. They serve functions related to births, weddings, and the blessings of crops. Scacerthia are permitted to perform Ligtum Adcaelest and Nutialem rituals. Compared to the other forms of specialized priests, they were more common in rural areas. Some Scacerthia also performed sacred and ritual prostitution as a blessing of fertility. Scacerthia are dressed in simple clothing, woven jewelry, and a flower crown. The ranks of Scacerthia, from lowest to highest, are the Sitori (singular Sitorus), the Ceretals, the Bylirexi (singular Bylirex), and the Thesmorams. Scacerthia are expected to be able to cast ritual spells of the first level. Mortifexes (singular Mortifex) are priests dedicated to Nerull. They serve functions related to death and burials within the church. They also act as doctors for worshippers, and are expected to be highly knowledgeable in medicine. Mortifexes are permitted to perform the Semitira ritual. Mortifexes are dressed in robes that obscure their forms, and masks shaped as animal skulls. Mortifexes do not wear masks shaped like humanoid skulls, as they believe that is only permitted for Nerull himself. Higher ranking Mortifexes wear gloves with decorations of skeletal hands on it. The ranks of Mortifexes, from lowest to highest, are the Zagrans, the Gypsemi (singular Gypsemus), the Persephexi (singular Persephex), and the Ophrilisi (singular Ophrilis). Mortifexes are expected to be able to cast the gentle riposte spell. Votyurs are priests dedicated to Avandra. They serve functions related to charity, change, and the blessings of travelers, wealth, and for luck. Votyurs often travel through the domains of the church, performing rituals to those who need it. Unique among the other specialized priests of the Urbnata Church, Votyurs are permitted to perform all major rituals of the Urbnata Church: Ligtum Adcaelest, Tuaris Emuneran, Nutialem, and Semitira. Votyurs are dressed in a green hooded cloak and a medallion with a coin tied to it. The ranks of Votyurs, from lowest to highest, are the Cailexi (singular Cailex), the Atrans, the Maturexi (singular Maturex), and the Aumatenies (singular Aumaten). Votyurs are not required to have any spellcasting abilities. In Unimical Urbnatism, Carci are priests dedicated to Zehir. They serve functions related to change and executions - the later of which Urbnatists consider to be sacrifices to Zehir. Unlike other specialized priests, they only have two ranks: Carci, and the Vocatex, who serves as the authority of all things related to Zehir’s portfolio within the church. Carci are permitted to perform the Nutialem ritual. They are dressed in hoods that cover their face and wear a dagger at all times. Carci are not required to have any spellcasting abilities. In Itzcuintlian Urbnatism, the Carci’s role as executioner is instead served by Mortifexes (which is not considered to be a sacrifice), and their role in rituals associated with change is instead served by Votyurs.Community Leaders
Hulderilism and Kikanutism do not have formal clergy. Instead, the community leaders serve an additional role as spiritual leaders. In Hulderilism, this role is served by the community’s Elders, while in Kikanutism, it is served by the Matriarch.Asceticism
Asceticism is discouraged in Urbnatism. Most forms of asceticism related to Urbnatism are considered to be Urbnatist mysticism or esotericism, rather than as an aspect of the canonical doctrine of the church. Monasteries and hermits that follow Urbnatism typically focus on the mystical link between the body and the soul, and through exploration of that, discovery and understanding of the meaning of life and the truth of the universe.History
The earliest form of the Urbnata Church arose from the Rathin Empire. In 470 TE, Empress Patronia undertook a religious survey of the empire, which was finished 17 years later in 458 TE. Rituals and doctrine based on this survey became the official faith of the empire, known as the Imperial Faith or Patronian Faith. Erathis, who was the patron deity of the Rathin ethnicity, was viewed as the highest deity and protector of the empire. The emperor was seen as the mortal hand of Erathis, and the leader of the church. Being one of the empire’s majority species, much of the Halflings’ religion was adopted completely, and as a result, the Hulderil practice became seen as a sect of the Imperial Faith.
When the Rathin Empire fell during the Strife of Olicana, the organized structure of the Imperial Faith fell with it. Most practitioners either converted to new religions, or continued practicing a version of the Imperial Faith without a unified theology.
This changed when a Mitotlan woman named Itzcuintli sailed into the Larillean Sea. Claiming to be an avatar of Erathis, she proselytized her interpretation of the Imperial Faith, which soon became widespread throughout central Tuatha. In 158 MT, at the age of 39, Itzcuintli officially founded the Urbnata Church, and was proclaimed as Hierophant Isabelle I, its first leader.
According to Unimical belief, when Isabelle I was near death, she was concerned about one of the Vestals in her service, a female Lyudian Air Genasi known as Vestal Celesete Noliene. Isabelle knew that Celeste was power-hungry, and worried that Celeste would try to take power after her death. As a result, Isabelle made a declaration. She said that she would not reincarnate, but that when she rejoined with Erathis, she would send a vision to one of her Vestals of a child who was born the moment that Isabelle died. That child and their family would be taken to Isainne, where they would be raised to become the next Hierophant. Isabelle named her longtime companion, the Vestal Perrin Leafglide, a male halfling, to be the first Requater. After her death, Perrin received a vision of a baby Nimadu human girl in Khidiana, who later became Hierophant Octavia I. After his death, Perrin became a Greater Lares, as St. Perrin, patron saint of guides and the lost.
After Itzcuintli’s death, the Church had a schism. The Mitotlan, who had converted to Itzcuintli’s version of the Imperial Faith when she was still a teenager, had multiple issues with the church based in Isainne. They believed that they had a better idea of Itzcuintli’s philosophies, since she was Mitotlan and not Rathin. The distance between Isainne and the Mitotlan’s new home of Makutu also provided issues with communication between the two regions, even during Itzcuintli’s time. When Hierophant Octavia I declared Zehir, a god worshipped by the Yuan-Ti who enslaved the Mitotlan, as canon to the religion, the Mitotlan officially split from the doctrine of the church and founded their own form of the faith. This Mitotlan interpretation of Urbnatism became known as Itzcuintlian Urbnatism. The form of Urbnatism practiced in the Larillean region then became known as Unimical Urbnatism.
During the early years of the church, missionaries in Makutu attempted to convert goblins on Lurean to the Itzcuintlian faith. This only partially worked, and the goblins developed their own form of the religion, worshipping a syncretic form of Erathis, Avandra, and Yondolla that they referred to as Kikanuti. Their form of worship was seen as heresy, and a majority of the goblins fled to southern Tuatha. These nomadic goblins became known as the Bhuka.
Urbnatism was outlawed in Hitochi. Originally only the Itzcuinltian denomination was illegal, but with time the Unimical denomination was outlawed as well. Hulderil Urbnatism was accepted, as the government of Hitochi saw it as both a separate religion and as the traditional faith of the halflings. After the War of the Three Sisters, Jinhan became a haven for Urbnatism.
When King Gilduin de Nerue established the Kingdom of Nerue, Isainne kept its sovereignty. In 768 MT, when King Fontaine formally created the Crown of Fonterre, Isainne was recognized as a sovereign city-state as part of the Declaration of Regleconne.
Sects
There are four primary Urbnatist sects: Unimical Urbnatism, Itzcuintli Urbnatism, Hulderil Urbnatism, and Kikanuti Urbnatism.
