Nijera

The entire universe was an orderly, fixed whole in which all the parts were integral to the whole, including man himself. Man was descended from the Gods, but so were the rocks, so were the animals, so were the fish. Thus man had to regard the rocks, the fish and the birds as his relatives.

In Rivain, belief in the Maker is not particularly common unlike the rest of Thedas where such belief is standard. Ever since the end of the war with the Goliaths that took place in Rivaini lands, belief in the Maker has been on the steep decline. Instead, many Rivaini have begun worshipping in some form of animism. One specific polytheistic, animistic belief is known as Nijera.
In truth, Nijeran culture may hold many of the answers sought in the rapidly changing world of Thedas. The spirit of huesca– being in the presence of and sharing the essence of life – teaches lessons of peace, kindness, compassion, and responsibility to future generations. These lessons are expressed through chant, music, dance, arts, and cultural practices. Some of the oldest of chants describe the inextricable connection between the fertile lands of Rivain, the spirits that inhabit them, the forces of nature that shaped them, and all the living things upon. This sense of connection is the foundation of Nijeran culture: understanding that everyone has a mandate to care for their environment and for one another.
Somewhat hypocritically, people of this culture rarely share such open, warm, and genuine hospitality to outsiders. More often, they see outsiders as direct threats to their system of beliefs.

Mythology & Lore

This religion is polytheistic, with several different entities playing key roles in its make-up. There are the two deity-like progenitors: Saveasu-Txulo and Mantico. Other deity-like being exist, but they interact with the world on more regional levels. Beneath them in power are guardian spirits and people's ancestors; these spiritual entities exist to help facilitate the connection between the physical world and the "invisible world".

Saveasu-Txulo & Mantico

The two deities serve as the central powers of this religion. The first's most common name is Saveasu-Txulo, but other regional dialects will have different names for her such as Akelarra or Tezcatlluna. She embodies the vast and mighty seas surrounding Rivain.
The second is Mantico and he also has many different names depending up the area, such as Savituché or Tio Gorta. He embodies Rivain's active volcano. Saveasu-Txulo's is symbolized by a kraken, while Mantico is symbolized by a dragon.
Exact origin stories differ from region-to-region about these two, but the existence of these two powerful entities has left little room for question due to their sheer size, magnitude, and unrivaled power. One origin story is that Saveasu-Txulo is the queen of all krakens, octopi, and squids while Mantico is a reclusive, yet incredibly powerful dragon that lives beneath the lava of the volcano it resides within.
Contrary to how most other civilizations would depict a "volcano god", Mantico represents new beginnings, fertility, forgiveness, and passion. Saveasu-Txulo, on the other hand, represents chaos, unpredictability, survival through hardship, unrelentingness, and the unknown. It is believed these two entities share a great fondness for those of the Rivaini lands, but dislike and distrust outsiders.

Regional Entities

To believers of this religion, powerful entities manifest all throughout the world. An example of this would be a spiritual entity ensuring that a river that cuts through the land and is crucial to many villages does not dry up. There is no formal group of deities that make up this portion of the hierarchy.
To believers, deities include nature spirits, ancient legendary heroes, humanized stars, enlightened humans who became immortal through focus, and influential priests. It is considered foul to provide offerings to these deities, as it is seen as bribing them. However, not all of these deities see the world as the same. Some accept offerings and grant fortune in return, but such an attitude is generally considered the signs of a corrupted deity who will soon be supplanted by someone worthy of worship.

Guardian Spirits

Every village has its own guardian spirit, referred to as that village's iturri. This entity manifests in the physical world as beasts with whom the village directly interact with.
A great coexistence exists between a village and its guardian spirit. The guardian spirit is a being of the "invisible world" which manifests in the physical world, requiring help and protection in a land it is non-native in. In return, the guardian spirit helps its villagers in the "invisible world". The job of the guardian spirit is to petition the regional entities, and sometimes even Saveasu-Txulo or Mantico, for their benevolence and mercy towards the villagers.
A village's guardian spirit is often displayed on the village's heraldry. Some examples of guardian spirits would be a pool of sharks that form at the base of a nearby coastal cliffside, a swarm of fireflies that illuminate the otherwise dangerous night, and an unkindness of ravens that are fed by the victims of a war-mongering village.

Ancestors

Family is viewed as a closely united group of living and dead relatives. Thus, ancestor worship plays an important role in this religion. It is believed that deceased family members have a continued existence, that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look after the family, take an interest in the affairs of the world, and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living.
Unity of the group is reinforced through ancestor veneration, offering of various kinds help to keep the ancestors happy in the spiritual world, who, in return, will bless the family. Ancestor worshipping is not asking for favors, but to fulfill one’s family duties. The act itself is a way to respect, honor and look after ancestors in their afterlives guaranteeing the ancestors’ well-being and positive disposition towards the living, as well as possibly seeking the ancestors’ wisdom, guidance or assistance for their living descendants. By upholding these values, an individual can receive the aid and cooperation of deceased relatives. Misfortune, a sign of displeasure by the deceased, indicates that the proper rituals have not been followed.

Priesthood

Amongst the Rivaini common-people, there are those that are believed to have higher spiritual connections. The old Rivaini language had two words to describe these people: males were referred to as sensino while women were referred to as sensita. This title doesn't have one central facet. Instead, it changes based off where the person is from. Sometimes it may just be used to refer to someone who is akin to an Avvar shaman and is able to commune with a village's guardian spirit, while sometimes it may just be used to refer to people who has great sensibilities and the grand respect of those around them. Other times it may refer to one blessed in a field of otherwise very esoteric, but incredibly practical knowledge.
Often Rivaini will categorize sensinos and sensitas under one of a few common "branches":

• healers of the mind and body,
• finders of locations sacred to regional beings,
• ones who practice "evil sorcery",
• oracles,
• studiers of natural phenomena such as wind or rain,
• architects,
• performers of sacred rites,
• masterminds of battle-based tactioning.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Relation with the Chantry

Worshipping of idols such as sticks, stones, sharks, dead bones, ancient gods and all untrue gods is prohibited. There is one Maker alone. She is the supreme being for you to worship. Your ways of old are forbidden: the chant, the songs of pleasure, foul speech, and dying rituals.

— A Chantry proclamation to the people of Rivain.

Despite their best efforts, the Chantry was never able to fully stomp out this system of belief. Though the Chant of Light reached the ears of the largest cities, wandering missionaries found it difficult to reach the many small villages that dot Rivain's landscape. In the modern day, belief in the Chantry is almost non-existent outside of Dairsmuid.
One interesting similarity between the two religions, however, is the existence of a Black City that exists in the non-physical world. Some claim to have their thoughts wander to such a place in their dreams. To the Chantry, this Black City was once a paradise but which was ruined by mankind's ability to sin. To this religion, the city of the "invisible world" is indeed black but is by no means corrupted. Instead, it is understood that such knowledge is just unknowable to those of the physical world. Beings of the "invisible world" are able to perceive this paradise and it is where all benevolent beings one day end up. After death, one's ancestors are supposed to greet them at the gates of the city. Those vile or malicious entities instead wander the vast plane outside the city, always having to live with their atrocities and the knowledge of what could have once been.

Saveasu-Txulo

Mantico

Type

Religious, Other