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The Religion of Zormite
As recorded, and appended by Chaokir Jhanaki Windspirit, Celestus Matthew White XVII, and Pater Matthew White XVIII.
Eons ago, when the archipelago was one single continent, the fish people lived as one with the groundlings, and worshipped their gods, this is of a time long forgotten.
Great wars between the gods of the humans split the Earth, and cleft it in twain; in fact, all that remains are the few scattered altars of the gods remaining on the centremost part of this land mass. The once great cities honoring the gods themselves burned, and fell. The war raged on until nearly all humanity was wiped from the face of the land.
Eventually, the brutal chaos ended, with the gods wrath being confined to their realm by ancient priests long forgotten. The tumult of the war eventually caused the land mass to split, and break apart, leaving five separate islands, eventually to become known as Main, Dustari, Samurai, and Forest, as we know them today.
During the brutal wars, the fish people retreated to the sea, taking with them a select few humans who had been loyal to them. Thus, those humans were blessed with the ability to breath water, by the goddess of the fish people, Okiara.
When the tumult settled, the fish people decided to return to the land, but were shunned by the new human rulers, who had forgotten them. To the humans, these strange fish were aliens, and were to be driven out.
Thus, Okiara decided that since the fish people, and the humans who had befriended them had become used to a life of both sea and earth, that she would stir up the ocean floor from its rest and bring forth a mightly cloud of seaweed, silt, and sediment.
The fish people continued to watch in awe as this process continued for hundreds of years. They lived on, wondering what their goddess had planned for them, as they lived in the sea, looking up at the world that had betrayed them.
After a great many years, the tumult settled, and what Okiara had done had become clear. A large land mass, comprised of beaches, fields, flowing rivers, majestic mountains, and a beautiful coast had been formed.
The fish people were curious about this land, and they and their human companions started to surface, and take refuge on the new land. Eventually, this land became known as a word that was taken both from the fish language, and the humans'; Zormite.
When the people of Zormite had finally settled the land, and built up the castle, Okiara herself ascended from the depths in the form of a marlin. She appeared to a lone fisherman, sitting on the coast of what is now known as Rederil.
She passed unto him a holy orb, containing the essence of all that is Zormite. The sea, the air, the very threads that hold the nation above the depths from which it came were contained within this crystal, Okiara then gave that man - or woman, as the records have been lost - the divine right to rule over Zormite, and solidify relations with the humans of the other nations.
When Okiara returned to the sea, she promised that she would return one day when the entire world could live as Zormite does; in harmony. With that, the ruler took up arms to defend against injustice, and spread the message of peace from Zormite.
When the person, now known as the Lost Emperor, took seat on the throne of Zormite, he was given a message by Okiara that a person would be chosen to represent her, here on the surface. This person's name is lost, however, all religious leaders have been directly genealogically linked to him, or her.
So Zormite lives on to this day, waiting for the return of Okiara, and the dawn of the Sea.
The current religious system appoints priests to spread her peace. And a leader to act as a medium between her and the priests.
Until the day Okiara returns, religious leaders will always be appointed following the death of an existing leader. The name, or title may change as language does, but the institution is unchanged.
Until that day, Zormites continue to look to the sea. |
01-04-2006, 09:16 AM
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