Oltari

Oltari, also known as Oltarism or as the Oltaran Faith, is a polytheistic religion that originated within the Telkevan Union, where most of its practitioners can be found. Oltari is founded upon the teachings of the eponymous Oltari Clan, a kingdom of deific beings led by the God-King, Oltavar, who established the Blood Covenant with Arkevan Kaiser Telkevon I and Kaisiren Kilune. Oltari's teachings are recorded in the Keltular, the Oltari holy book, with some denominations adopting additionally supplementary texts. Though the reigning Kaiser or Kaisiren is traditionally regarded as the leader of the faith, they hold no official sway over individual communities; likewise, even after seizing power, the Telkevan Armed Forces made no effort to consolidate the faith, which has contributed to the vast number of denominations which have since developed, some of which have amassed a following outside the Union.

Oltarans believe that creation is enveloped in the Unbreaking Cycle, an endless cycle of creation & destruction in which the world and its gods are inevitably destroyed by a new generation of gods, who then create a new world in their image. The current cycle was created by the Builders, who later sacrificed themselves to slay the monstrous Oroganu, the lone survivor of the previous cycle's destruction. Control over the cosmos subsequently fell to the Builder's children, including the Oltari, who chose the Telkevon to act as their mortal ambassadors; those who live a righteous life will join the gods in the afterlife and will fight alongside them during the coming Dusk, an apocalyptic battle believed to determine the ultimate fate of their world cycle.

Unbreaking Cycle
The Unbreaking Cycle is the perpetual cycle of creation and destruction that dominates the cosmos. The cycle begins with formless chaos. This chaos then gives birth to a race of god-like beings who then dominate the cosmos until they and their creations are inevitably overthrown by a new generation of gods, plunging the world back into chaos and beginning the cycle anew. A cycle can delay its end, and some beings may even survive into the next cycle, but destruction is both inevitable and, according to some, necessary to maintaining the natural order. All of existence, with the sole exception of the Five Scribes, is bound to this cycle.

Because all things will end and eventually be forgotten, life has no inherent meaning; existence exists simply because it is the natural way of things. Thus, Oltar and the Telkevon have been left to give meaning to their existence. For the Telkevon, this means honoring the Blood Covenant, through which one can life their life to the fullest and leave behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. This is best exemplified in the story of Dusk, where it is said that both Oltar and the Telkevon, though they know all is lost, will fight to the bitter end to spite their foe and ensure that they are not soon forgotten by the next generation.

The cycle has instilled a fatalistic mindset in the vast majority of Telkevon. Though they will fight to the bitter end to protect their nation, they also know that the universe will eventually catch up with them and that even the empire will succumb to chaos. They do not fear death, understanding that death is simply a part of life. Those who do fear death are regarded as cowards undeserving of a spot on the battlefield.

Deities
Main page: Oltari Deities

Mythology & Eschatology
Main page: Oltari Mythology

Blood Covenant
The Blood Covenant is the oath established between the Oltar Clan and Telkevon and Kilune in which the two mortals and their descendants were bound to the Oltar clan by mingling their blood with Oltavar, imbuing the Repzork with a tiny, imperceptible portion of the god-king's essence. The covenant is regarded as the single most important aspect of the Oltavaran Faith, as it is through this oath that the Repzork found identity and purpose in an otherwise meaningless world. By honoring the oath and following the precepts of the Oltar Clan, the Repzork will receive blessings from the gods, maintain honor among their brethren, and bring fame and glory to their bloodline.

The Oltavaran code has 10 core precepts:


 * Treat others with respect and humility. Only when they seek to bring harm is action to be taken.


 * Be truthful and responsible. If one says they will do something, then they must do it. If they make a mistake, then they must likewise own up to it. Do not lie about the task, or of any other action, for it is easier to tell a hard truth than it is to mend the scars of a lie.


 * Show loyalty to superiors, family, and to the gods. Superiors, do not look down upon your subordinates with disdain, for you stand atop a set of pillars that can at any moment turn on you.


 * Show compassion; feed the hungry, protect the vulnerable, shelter the homeless, and heal the sick.


 * Strengthen both the mind and the body. Weakness and cowardice are unacceptable. Let one's mind be like liquid, willing to adapt and to learn.


 * Abhor the sluggard. A period of rest is good for the soul, but one must work if they are to achieve a life worth living.


 * Honor oaths and debts. An oath must be carried through to the end, while a debt must be repaid in full.


 * Waste nothing. To waste material goods is to take the transient world for granted. To waste the lives of those around you is to summon wrath from their ancestors and the gods.


 * Do not steal unless you absolutely must. If you do, it must be repaid with a replacement or an item of equivalent value.


 * Do whatever is necessary to defeat the foe; but if they surrender, spare them, for there is no glory in striking down an unwilling combatant.

These laws apply both to Repzork and to their alien neighbors; however, with the exception of the final precept, they do not apply to the Repzork's enemies. The Repzork are thus free to employ whatever tactics are necessary to defeat their foe until the enemy surrenders or is destroyed.

Because all Repzork contain a fraction of Oltavar's essence, blood, also known as lifeforce, is considered one's greatest commodity. As such, the act of shedding blood is in and of itself of great significance. Blood can express, ardent support, staunch opposition, and elevate one's declarations.

Animism
It is believed that all individuals, animals, plants, artificial constructs, and locations have a spiritual essence of some form or another. It is possible to communicate with and to coerce these spirits to do one's bidding through the use of magic. All spiritual entities possess magic and theoretically possess the means to utilize it, but it does not come naturally; magic must be deliberately tapped into. There are several types of magic:

Ancestral Reverence
Just as all Repzork and are connected to Oltavar through their blood, so too are they connected to their family & ancestors, without whom one would not exist. All are expected to revere their ancestors just as they would their patron gods, for ancestors can grant one the strength needed to persevere through hardship. To honor one's ancestors and bring glory to the family name is considered to be one of the greatest achievements one can attain; conversely, to offend one's ancestors, or worse, to bring shame upon their name, is a grave offense from which one may never recover unless they perform an exceptional act of redemption.

Given that they are the progenitors of the Repzork species, Telkevon and Kilune are revered by the empire as a whole and are considered to be spiritual guardians similar to Hruthvar and Hruthvair. As a result, they are sometimes mistaken for true gods by foreigners.

Astrology
Much like the runic alphabet, each god is associated with a constellation, and certain times of the year are dedicated to a particular set of gods depending on which constellations dominate the night sky. Sects dedicated to the solar deities believe that one's fate, their personality, and even their future can be partly or entirely divined by studying the positions of these celestial bodies at the time of their birth and other notable moments in their life. Astrology, unlike other practices, was never a mainstream belief as only the Fates are known to have such intimate knowledge; even Xitav and Faea have a vague and piecemeal view of future events at best. Following the Second Exodus, astrology began a rapid decline as the Repzork were now separated from their homeland and thus their celestial maps. The few dedicated followers who remain use ancient archival maps to continue their practices.

Magic & Calligraphy

 * Runes - The alphabet to the empire's lingua franca, Kyrgalon, is comprised of a large set of runes which act as one of the preeminent means of performing magic. Every rune corresponds to a particular god, and when inscribed on an item, opens a link between the mortal and spiritual planes, imbuing the object with properties corresponding to the rune's deity. For example, inscribing a set of armor with the runes of Oltavar and Visar is believed to improve the armor's defensive capabilities and provide the user with a clear mind in tense combat situations. Runes can also be combined and be altered through chants. Runes need to be kept clean and undamaged if they are to continue working properly, while users themselves must adhere to the Oltavaran code, or else their runes will turn against them and become their downfall.


 * Vocal - Words have innate power that can be used for magic. Prayers, incantations, poetry, and songs are the most common forms of deliberate verbal magic and are oftentimes used in conjunction with other forms of magic. At the same time, any word or phrase that stirs one's spirit can be considered magical in its own right; as such, an inspiring general or charismatic politician is as much of a magic user as a priest. Vocal magic can also be used to curse others.


 * Dance - Ritual dance is believed to channel one's spirit towards their desires, thus helping them come to pass. Dancing is particularly common among devotees of Yinve and Akla.


 * Shamanism - Among the oldest and most esoteric forms of magic, shamanism intends to place one in an altered mental state so that they may commune directly with the spiritual realm. This is achieved by mixing blood from ritual sacrifices with specific substances, such as herbs, into a drink. The practitioner then drinks the mix while those around them either chant the runic alphabet or perform dances.

Shrines
All communities possess at least one shrine, which serves as a public place of worship and as a museum describing the history of the community, prominent individuals, and any and all notable artifacts. Most shrines are dedicated to all of the gods, but in especially large communities it is common to have multiple shrines, each dedicated to a different god or group of gods. Public shrines are maintained by a local priesthood led by a high priest or priestess, who is selected either through inheritance or by election within the priesthood. How one worships at a shrine varies on the community, but in general involves communal worship and prayer, burning incense, offerings, and performing magic in its various forms. Priests often lead these ceremonies, though this is not a universal rule. In most circumstances, visitors are expected to remain quiet and reserved, as it is considered disrespectful to interrupt ongoing ceremonies or rituals. Aliens are permitted to visit some shrines, but they can by no means interfere in its activities. Families also have private shrines that are often kept in a secluded room within their home. These shrines are dedicated to that family's patron gods and to their ancestors.

Akla is a notable exception among the gods as he explicitly forbids his followers from constructing shrines in his name. The wild god instead dictates that his worshipers convene in nature so that they may connect with the natural world and with their inner primal being.

Sacrificial Offerings
Ritual sacrifice is among the oldest practices in the Oltavaran faith as well as one of the most important for its use of blood. An animal will be placed on a specially-built altar, and after a prayer is recited, will have its carotid arteries severed. The blood is allowed to flow freely upon the altar as the animal dies. The carcass is then cooked, divided up among those partaking in the ritual, and is consumed. Sacrifices are often a public affair and are conducted either by priests or chaplains depending on the context, but they can also be performed privately. There are several forms of sacrificial rituals:


 * Forgiveness Offering - If one has angered the spirit world or the gods in some way, they can offer an animal as a means of seeking forgiveness, with the animal's blood serving to take the place of their own. What animal and how many must be sacrificed depends on the offense. Forgiveness offerings can also be performed by two parties locked in a dispute so as to settle the matter without violence.


 * Requests - Requests offerings ask for favors and blessings from either the gods or from one's ancestors and can vary from finding one's love to finding victory in battle. Like forgiveness offerings, the offering itself depends on the request being made.


 * Gratitude Offering - Gratitude offerings simply express one's thanks for having been blessed. In the military, victorious armies will at times use prisoners of war as gratitude offerings in place of animals. This practice dates back to ancient times when the Repzork regularly fought the Nezriim. Only particularly brave and mighty prisoners are marked for sacrifice, for Oltavar will reject cowards and fools. In modern times, though some armies continue the practice of offering prisoners, others have abandoned the practice, preferring to instead use prisoners as bartering chips and as a means of establishing a population for future client states.

Oaths
Oaths in the Oltavaran context are agreements and promises in which one or both parties explicitly swears upon their honor, their ancestors, or the gods. Particularly significant oaths, such as marriage oaths, involve shedding blood from one's hands as a means of signifying their determination to follow through on their word. Those who uphold their oaths are blessed in the afterlife and endow their family with honor. Those who break their oaths tarnish their personal reputation and smear their family name; if a blood oath is broken, the offender is liable to face harsh retribution in the afterlife unless they swiftly seek to make amends. Oaths play an important role in modern society, with individuals having their social reputation affected by whether or not they honor their oaths. All soldiers and politicians are required to take an oath of loyalty before being allowed to serve.

Oaths are to be upheld until they have either been completed or one party has broken their end of the agreement. This includes oaths made with aliens and even enemies. A soldier who makes an oath with an enemy and then later breaks it is regarded as a deceitful coward.

Funerary Rituals
When an individual dies, their body is to be cremated to symbolize their body's return to the primordial chaos and the spirit's ascension to the next world. These ceremonies take place in open-air funeral pyres. Before the deceased is cremated, friends and family are given time to gather together and to leave valuables around the body as offerings; these offerings typically reflect upon the deceased's livelihood and social status. Once they are ready, the body, as well as the offerings, are burned while onlookers and priests recite prayers for the departed. Once the body has been burned, the ashes are collected into an urn which is then either dumped around the deceased's property or kept in the family shrine depending on their final wishes.

When a soldier falls in battle, all of their equipment is collected for salvaging with the exception of one part of their armor. This part, chosen by the soldier following recruitment, is to be sent home along with their identification tag. This piece is sent home regardless of condition, and thus could either be a near-perfect helmet or a barely recognizable hunk of scrap metal. If it is in good condition, the piece is demilitarized before being shipped. If the armor in question cannot be recovered, then the military will default to either a glove, boot, or shoulder plate depending on what remains.