Holidays
The Great Silence
The citizens of Ionadis fear solar and lunar eclipses, because when it occurred, Solara gave birth to the gods that would eat and consume them. They lock their doors and stay quiet, in fear of angering them.
Amorina
This day celebrates the goddess of love, Amora. People celebrate this day by holding festivals, parades, getting married, spending time with loved ones, and giving each other gifts.
Martos
Celebrated on the first day of winter. It honors the dead and those that were taken too early.
Kins Day
A day that celebrates children and motherhood. Patron saint of this day is Toris, the child of Unas, and patron saint of children. The other Patron Saint is Solara, the first Mother.
Unification Day
Celebration of when the Ionadis was unified as a single empire. The Masonians, and many Nightwalkers do not celebrate this day. It's a day filled with patriotism, parades, and celebration of their (hopefully) benevolent rulers.
Week of Victory
This is a week dedicated to strength and victory. Patron Saint is Unas, and celebrates his victory over the gods. For a whole week, contests of strength and power are held at the capital, and the winner is given a symbolic torch as victory, fame, and of course untold wealth. The one that oversees the matches is a young woman that symbolizes Debella,goddess of war and Strength who gives the winner of the feats of strength and power a flower wreath.
The Great Feast
Occurs the day before the Week of Victory begins. The great feast symbolizes the defeat of the gods. Much drink and food is had… and plenty of orgies....
Sarasa
Celebration of the Princess of the Sea by those that live near water, and the People of the Sea. People hold boat races, cook fish, and visit the beach. Parades are held celebrating the gift of higher thought given to the King and Queen of the Seas by Prima.
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Obligations, Rituals, Organizations
Followers of Solara pray every day to her at noon, hoping that she answers their call. They tend to come during the first day of the week, during high noon.
Followers of Lunos only pray during a full moon. They come at night, on full moons, or on the last day of the week.
All followers visit temples given to various gods. They burn offerings of meat to appease them so that they won't kill them. Originally the meat of criminals were used, but in modern times they use animals.
Temples of certain gods are found in certain places. For instance, temples for the goddess of water are .. found near the water....
People with certain jobs or live near certain areas tend to favor some gods over others. Sailors or people who live near the ocean follow the goddess of water. Farmers follow the god of fall, spring, and of life.
Followers of this religion wear a star pendant around their necks. It's made of gold.
During weddings, many people go to a temple of Amora, and ask for a priest's blessings. During the ceremony, the couple's hands are tied together by the priest in a giant knot, symbolizing their unbreakable bond. After they kiss, he/she slices the knot with a sword( symbolizing the one Marth used to kill Unas' daughter), that shows only death can separate them. After the marriage ceremony, the wedding guests sing and dance around the new couple in a circle. An umbrella is made from wood, or an umbrella frame is taken. The guests then shower money on them, sticking the many bills onto the frame, onto their shoulders and back.
During funerals, simple black clothes are worn. Many beautiful flowers adorn the body(symbolization of Toris' death), and after all the visitors have come to visit and say goodbye to the body, it is buried. Warriors are instead burned on a pyre, symbolizing the strength of Unas and Debella.
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Superstitions,Beliefs, Effects of Religion
It is a common belief that lying will make your teeth fall out, and a lie told to children.
Since Solara is the most popular and loved of the gods, women are more revered on Ionadis. Rape is punishable by death. Women have higher roles in government and in power. Only a woman can run the empire.
This has also turned into some strange forms of sexism. Men are said to "only think with their lower halves, so they are stupider, and not as smart as women, and need guidance".
Since the death of Toris is a major part of their religon, abortion is illegal in all of Ionadis, and in some parts even birth control. Many orphans and street children wander the streets.
It is believed that people have feelings of love in the stomach because of "butterflies" when in love, and anger in their heart because their chest hurts. "My heart is warm", is a common saying, which means "I am angry".
The people of Ionadis do not see sex before marriage as sinful. In fact they are quite open about sex and believe that it is good especially since it brings forth children and is a celebration of life. Also explains why rape is given the death penalty because its seen as a descreation and insult to women, and therefore life.
Slavery is totally fine, especially since being powerful is a trait revered in Ionadian society.
Some believers are only meat eaters, feeling that they can better emulate the gods better that way. Some believe they must abstain from meat entirely because it was the downfall of the gods. Both are a minority, and seen as odd.
It is believed that during solar and lunar eclipses, the bridge between the mortal world and heaven is connected. One can visit heaven, and partake in the feast that the gods are having under The Red Tree.
Ionadis has a giant reverence for nature, especially since Solara created the ocean and vegetation.
Polyamory is totally legal but not widely practiced in Ionadis. In some places it's encouraged. Not popular because women can only give birth at once, and in a matriarchal society it makes little sense for a woman to have many husbands. Some do it for clout to show off their wealth.
Those originally known as DayWalkers are known as NightWalkers and vice versa. Dark skin is now equated with evil, while paler skin is equated with purity. Racism ensues.
Because of openess with sex, prostitution is legal, and regulated.
Religious texts are read at temples all over the Empire, and are easily obtained, even given away for free. Everyone has a Book of Dawn in their homes, and there is a copy at every hotel. Masonans have a different version of the Book of Dawn, because of the split between the Kingdom of Masona and the Regal Empire. Visiting the Temple of Solara at the capital, Rex, at least once, is also required within one's lifetime.
Followers of Amora see volunteer service as required, and is done at least once a month. Extremely helpful in the society of Ionadis because there is no social safety net.
Followers of Marth are a cult that worship death and murder. They gain stronger power through more people that they kill and sacrifice to Marth. They are banned throughout all of Ionadis, and the government makes a concerned effort to imprison them or administer the death penalty.
Priests of different sects gain different related abilities. For instance, a priest of Sarai can breathe underwater, a priest of Unas is not burned by fire, etc.
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Sects, Cults, Heretics, and Acknowledged Religions of Ionadis
Cults
Followers of Marth: They celebrate Death and all of its glory. They wish to die a warrior's death so that they will meet Marth in the afterlife. Sacrifices are common, killing is encouraged, and if found to be a part of this cult, death or slavery is the punishment.
Apprentices of Isolda: A secret society dedicated to finding the objects in which the gods were trapped inside. Many believe that the gods being trapped inside objects were metaphors, but it is what truly happened. The Apprentices work in the shadows to protect Ionadis.
Heretics
Daughters of Glaciei: Many are Masonans, who believe that one day Glaciei will return, and defeat the false descendants of Unas (the des Regalis family). They worship Glaciei, and her descendants are their kings and queens.
Lunarians: Worship of the god of the moon, Lunos, is banned in much of the Empire. Many still believe in the areas near Masona, where it is allowed. Most who still believe are the rural poor, Nightwalkers, and Masonans. Some who felt that Solara had abandoned them converted to this sect. He is also patron saint for the rebel group, Sons of Stars.
Acknowledged Sects
The First Sons: Descendents of Unas(or those that claim to be). Warriors, knights, and various nobility make up this group. They focus their life to strength, honor and vengeance.
Daughters of Debella: Sister sect to the First Sons. Deblla was the daughter of Unas, and is goddess of war and strength.
Solarians: Most of Ionadis worship Solara, the goddess of the Sun and Motherhood, and is the Empire's official acknowledged sect, and that of the capital as well. The Mother Empress represents her on Earth, leads the Solarians, and she is respected in kind.
Sarains: Sailors and fishermen worship Sarai, Princess of the Ocean and Safe Passage for sailors. She is the daughter of the First King and Queen of the Seas.
Amorians: Amora is the goddess of love. Most Amorians spend their days spreading love and kindness. The passionate are obsessed with a different kind of love. In the early days of this sect they endorsed free love, with anything and anyone. Problematic at best. In its modern form they espouse equality for all, equality of the sexes, and legality of homosexual male relationships on Ionadis.
Many powerful Amorians are focused on civil rights.
Infinite Wisdom: These followers are very small, but fervent. They worship Infiniti, the god of the future. Their leader is a woman who is born every generation, one who can see into the future. Many think that their leader is a hoax, but only time will tell.