Lore & Setting > Religion in the Empire
In the beginning, there was the Void. Endless pool of dark energy waiting to be used. Then the Hikai came along- elemental spirits, that built the world together, especially the continent of Heibesu, home of the gods. Then time passed, and the work of the Hikai, their magical grace, lingered on, in everything, mystical energy in every single thing. This energy, said to come from the Void, manifests itself in the form of countless different spirits, the Reiki. Some places, cities or items are especially sacred and shrine grounds are often established nearby to house said Reiki. Mountains, forests, rivers, great cities, artefacts, and the sites of great events such as battles or the birth of national heroes tend to be typical places. Reiki can take many forms. Oni are Reiki who abandoned their duty, and became evil spirits. Onis are prone to appear in areas of grief and destruction, such as the sites of great battles. Technically speaking, good Reiki are also known as Kami.
The Reiki have their shrines, but so do the Hikai, around which religion is based.
The Chantry and the Faith of the Void
The Chantry is a state-controlled organization dedicated to the Hikai and Reiki. It controls the approved state religion, the Faith of the Void, and maintains its shrines. It is organized in three branches, each tasked with a specific goal : the Ministry of Rites oversees the maintenance of shrines and day-to-day operations; the Arcane Consort is in charge of collecting knowledge, training mages and managing Arcane academies; the Hand of the Void is tasked with dealing with outside influences and heresy. The Chantry operates everywhere on the Heibesian mainland, and in most nations on the Wild Mainland.
The Hand of the Void is usually composed of Inquisitors devout to the religious order. The Arcane Consort is equally made of Totori and Sokomo members, and oversees all Arcane research in the empire. In recent years their influence over Arcanists has waned, and research has become less religious and more independent.
The Chantry does not require followers to be institutionally integrated : one does not need to profess their faith. However many consider it primordial to visit shrines, and not doing so may warrant, especially in rural areas, exclusion from the community.
The Shrine is where most religious activity is held. There are many Shrines, both in cities, villages or even in the countryside, each dedicated to one Reiki or Hikai. High-ranking members of the Chantry used to reside in the Sokomo Academy of Arcane, but now live in Mikani Shrine in Heibesu City, the biggest of its kind. There is a Head Priestess (today Hineko Okami), and Shrines are more or less free to follow their own beliefs in accordance with the deity they worship, though the Ministry still issues official doctrines to be followed.
Shrines have particular importance locally, and Shrine Maidens often offer education, assistance and labour in the community they operate from. Some sanctuaries, though, are off-limit : the Shrine of the Void, on Sokomo Island, is one such place. Marriage happens in shrines and under the blessing of the local deity, though the Chantry does not encourage monoamory or chastity.
Doctrine and Three Tenets
The Chantry upholds the worship of Reiki and Hikai, as well as values derived from it. Encompassing the worship of Reiki, the Chantry upholds the Three Tenets of Harmony : Motion, the notion of wisely living one’s life and carefully planning one’s goals; Agency, the notion of tenacity, perseverance and independence; and finally Purity, dictating humility, compassion and restraint in enjoying one’s hard-earned rewards. Just like the Hikai themselves created the world and set an example, mortals should so behave. The Three Tenets, in effect, tend to show the enterprising side of Heibesu culture, and seem to have been added to Reiku beliefs far later, in another book of the Chantry canon. The Chantry acknowledge the existence of other planes.
The Reiki have their shrines, but so do the Hikai, around which religion is based.
- Sholanee - Hikai of Wind and Movement. Associated with willpower and resiliency.
- Mora’ko - Hikai of Earth and Gravity. Associated with stubbornness and physical strength.
- Shigeki - Hikai of Fire and Heat. Associated with passion and creativity.
- Inari - Hikai of Water and Flow. Associated with flexibility and enterprise
- Shon’ta - Hikai of Illusion and Enchanting. Associated with elusiveness and evasiveness.
- Ginko - Hikai of Light and Healing. Associated with benevolence and compassion.
- Daalika - Hikai of Chaos. Associated with random outcomes, gambling and uncertainty.
- Innur’ko - Hikai of Growth and Nature. Associated with patience and inevitability.
- Vaa’sha - Hikai of Blood. Associated with anger and aggression.
- Kawanari - Hikai of Matter and Wealth. Associated with diligence and greed.
- Yuuriko - Hikai of the Void. Associated with wisdom and knowledge.
The Chantry and the Faith of the Void
The Chantry is a state-controlled organization dedicated to the Hikai and Reiki. It controls the approved state religion, the Faith of the Void, and maintains its shrines. It is organized in three branches, each tasked with a specific goal : the Ministry of Rites oversees the maintenance of shrines and day-to-day operations; the Arcane Consort is in charge of collecting knowledge, training mages and managing Arcane academies; the Hand of the Void is tasked with dealing with outside influences and heresy. The Chantry operates everywhere on the Heibesian mainland, and in most nations on the Wild Mainland.
The Hand of the Void is usually composed of Inquisitors devout to the religious order. The Arcane Consort is equally made of Totori and Sokomo members, and oversees all Arcane research in the empire. In recent years their influence over Arcanists has waned, and research has become less religious and more independent.
The Chantry does not require followers to be institutionally integrated : one does not need to profess their faith. However many consider it primordial to visit shrines, and not doing so may warrant, especially in rural areas, exclusion from the community.
The Shrine is where most religious activity is held. There are many Shrines, both in cities, villages or even in the countryside, each dedicated to one Reiki or Hikai. High-ranking members of the Chantry used to reside in the Sokomo Academy of Arcane, but now live in Mikani Shrine in Heibesu City, the biggest of its kind. There is a Head Priestess (today Hineko Okami), and Shrines are more or less free to follow their own beliefs in accordance with the deity they worship, though the Ministry still issues official doctrines to be followed.
Shrines have particular importance locally, and Shrine Maidens often offer education, assistance and labour in the community they operate from. Some sanctuaries, though, are off-limit : the Shrine of the Void, on Sokomo Island, is one such place. Marriage happens in shrines and under the blessing of the local deity, though the Chantry does not encourage monoamory or chastity.
Doctrine and Three Tenets
The Chantry upholds the worship of Reiki and Hikai, as well as values derived from it. Encompassing the worship of Reiki, the Chantry upholds the Three Tenets of Harmony : Motion, the notion of wisely living one’s life and carefully planning one’s goals; Agency, the notion of tenacity, perseverance and independence; and finally Purity, dictating humility, compassion and restraint in enjoying one’s hard-earned rewards. Just like the Hikai themselves created the world and set an example, mortals should so behave. The Three Tenets, in effect, tend to show the enterprising side of Heibesu culture, and seem to have been added to Reiku beliefs far later, in another book of the Chantry canon. The Chantry acknowledge the existence of other planes.
Afterlife
After death, it is said that all souls return to the Void, the essence of the world. However, it requires spiritual attunement which can only be reached through upholding the Three Tenets and inward meditation. Individuals who have specially attuned to a certain Hikai or Reiki return as Reiki themselves, and ward over the planet and its wonders. Oni worshippers, though, often become Oni themselves or even worse - they could become Liches and become undead.
Returning to the Void, be part of a whole again, and reincarnating as a Reiki is often the hope of many worshippers. Resurrection does not occur at all, though it is said that casting a spell with Void and Light runes can bring a recently deceased individual back to life - but even so, the targets of such spells only remember a vague feeling of bliss at being part of the Void, and resurrection remains a very rare feat, only available to the most powerful of mages.
Undeath is seen as evil, but it is very possible. The undead are magically reanimated creatures that remain, for all intents and purposes, dead. Many a reanimation spell failed and created yet more ghoulish fiends. It is believed the Elves once employed undead agents as the keepers of their sanctuary and in battle, and the Unseelie used them as mindless, and therefore controllable, slaves. To the Chantry, they are an abomination. Undeath is conducted through necromantic rituals, which involve the trapping of souls - one of the worst plights to endure, as the soul never returns to the Void and is instead tormented and twisted into an undead fabrication. The body is also sacred - it is the vessel of life, and part of the critical cycle from the Void and back again. The thought of using a dead loved one and turn them back to life is thought to be particularly horrible to bear. To defile the body and soul in such ways is nothing short of the worst possible fate one could ever suffer - usually at the behest of a particularly malevolent lich Oni, though perfectly alive mages and other Outsiders can also summon undead. Beyond the moral issues around undeath, there is also the practical threat caused by undeath. Undead do not feel pain, are relentless soldiers with no need for supply lines and can potentially outnumber the living - not to mention the fear they instill in the living, and their converting the dead to their ranks.
The Reiki and the Oni
Reiki and Oni are spiritual beings that manifest in the world in many different forms or shapes. Reiki (also called Kami) are good spirits, said to be the children of the Hikai, and sent over to protect and nurture the world. There are Reiki for many different things and of many different shapes; many shrines are built to their name. There is even said to be one Reiki that watches over each home.
Oni are a different thing. Either they were unprepared for death, either they were former Reiki who became corrupted and who decided that destruction was more rewarding than creation. They are, in all cases, bad omens and appear in areas of massive destruction, grief and death. Many Onis flee to realms beyond the Void itself, but many other stay as accursed ghosts. Many Onis are believed to be undead, but they are actually Void-born outsiders - twisted Reiki who, on occasion, do dabble in necromancy.
It is important to realise that while Hikai have never been witnessed outside their Planes of existence if ever (though some argue the Awakening was Yuuriko showing herself to the world), Reiki and Oni are tangible manifestations. The Chantry doctrine remains but one interpretation, albeit probably the closest one to the truth. Some other religions see Reiki and Oni as good or bad reincarnations of dead individuals or manifestation of a Creator's will.
Enforcement
The Chantry does not enforce attendance or public affiliation, though it has often opposed different ideas. Outside influence, especially religious influence, is fought vehemently. Oni worshippers are also considered to be heretics. In older times, the Chantry was hostile to other ideas. Ton'keena sorcerers (and High Manes in general) were often hunted down in the early days of the Empire before being “redeemed” and offered high positions in the Chantry. Blood and Void runes were banned for a long time, and many still have an issue with summoning outsiders, resurrection or soul binding. Even today, there are Inquisitors that are genuinely concerned that the influence of the Chantry is waning and consider several groups to be heretics. The Chantry still believes its interpretation is the most correct one, and while henotheist cults tend to enjoy tolerance, those in direct contradiction with basic Chantry beliefs, or contesting political power, are considered heresy.
Common Rituals
The Visiting Ritual consists of bowing at the entrance gate, washing hands, and ringing the shrine bell.
Donations are accepted, even meagre ones, after which one must bow and hold their right hand close to the heart. The Cleansing Ritual, meant to purify the soul before coming within vicinity of holy grounds, is a common ritual, where a Priestess shakes a paper-adored wand, the Onusa, over the person or object of the ritual. Talismans are also common, and used to ensure one's wish or desire gets fulfilled, and as wards for protection of the home.
Chantry Corpus
Religion is not centred around a book but instead a collection of folk tales and history texts integrated into volumes. The major ones include A Dance in Heavenly Fire (creation myth), Record of Myth and Glory (setting up the Empire and Chantry), of Creed and Crows (a book on Tengu), Chronicles of the Empire, Arcane Unveiled, The Oni Affliction, or A Treatise on Ninth Century Heibesu.