Cosmicism

Based upon the scholars work: "The Translated Cosmonomicon"
(Scholars addendum) In Regards to Origin:  
The story of Cosmicism is in many ways a reflection of the people who most follow it, those being- The Aelameri. The most obvious way in which this is expressed is of course, the predominance of the two main deities being based on the sun and moon. Where some religions had a major god subsume the domain of the sun, in Cosmicism it was rather the other way around- with the sun and moon deities subsuming a wide variety of domains from wealth to war. This rather unorthodox theological evolution can be largely attributed to the equally unorthodox circumstances. 
According to the Aelameri, at some point in time they lived on the surface, before being raised up onto a floating island. It can be deduced then with relative certainty that the Proto-Aelameri likely worshipped a larger pantheon, before those various deities domains were later attributed to the fewer remaining entities of today. The prevailing circumstances of course, having shifted so radically, would facilitate such a change. Likely, the old gods were forgotten over time due to becoming obscure and irrelevant, after all, why worship a god of the sea when the closest relevant body of water would be a small lake at most?
In this way, we can get the general idea of the circumstances that led to the genesis of Cosmicism. Of course, the whole is not completely theologically unified, but it acts as a good background when learning more.
In Regards to Creation Myth:
In the Beginning, there was the sun, the moon, and earth. All lived in harmony. The sun, Hwarun, shone and gave life to all manner of plants and animals. Selena, the moon, worked the tides and drove off the abyss of darkness while her sister was asleep. Finally, there was Tyer. The shaper of life. He had been the one to create the bodies of all plants and animals, but required his two sisters to breathe true life into them. For many cycles, the land remained this way, until Tyer came up with an idea. He had grown bored and arrogant, and so decided to make a creature in his likeness. Rather than ask his two sisters for their breath however, he instead turned to the abyss.
They met in the deepest grove of Tyer’s forest, so as to conceal themselves from the gaze of the two sisters. There, Tyer shaped a body of his own likeness, and then, mockingly, one in the fashion of his sisters. The abyss breathed life into these shells, but the souls resulting were dark and wicked. Countless times this continued, hidden from the sisters by the dense forest. 
Tyer, drunk on his folly, sought to control these creatures. But the Abyss and its grip was too strong, and what once was his refuge turned to his prison. The abyss chained him in the deepest grove of the densest forest, so that he would never see his sister’s light again.
With a strong grip and an army of mortal followers, the abyss flowed out of the forest like a torrent of ink. Noble Selena barred its path, rallying the wolves to beat back this incursion. She sent a flock of bats to warn her sister of the danger. But they arrived too late. By the time Hwarun arrived, her sister had taken a terrible wound. Desperate, the two focused their light to pierce through the abyss, and into the souls of the abyss’s army. The sister's light drove out much of the abyss’s darkness, and the souls of true men were realized. Confused, they scattered in all directions. Planting the seeds of the races we know today. 
Deprived of its great army, the Abyss retreated into Tyer’s forest. Every night when Selena's power is at its fullest, she rallies her hounds to hunt for it. 
Eventually, the races of Eldam created their nations and kingdoms. But as time went on, fewer and fewer embraced their better side, and soon the darkness in man's soul grew to outbalance Selena and Hwarun’s light. Great wars broke out, Famine and plague rocked the land. Hwarun chose a prophet, and guided him to gather the people who had not fallen to the temptations of the abyss. WIth the aid of the gods, he raised a great island to be the shelter for the sister’s chosen people. It has been so for millennia.
(Scholars notes):
This excerpt predates the return of Aelamere to the surface, of course. The clergy class has been split as to the godly reasons why. Perhaps the abyss has been defeated for good, or perhaps it has emerged as a threat to even the goddesses hm?
(Scholars notes) In Regards to Gods:
Selena: Goddess of the moon, strategy, bats, wolves and magic. (Along with too many other domains to list...)
"If one hears the howl of the wolf, or the wings of a bat. If one feels the flow of magic through all things. If one smells the scent of rain and tears. If one gazes upon the silver moon, or the silvered spear. Then one has perceived Selena." -exerpt from the original cosmonomicon
Usually portrayed as a maiden in full battle regalia, Selena is responsible for most things involving water, magic, strategy, “good” darkness… The Goddess has so many connotations that only a natural born Aelameri can parse them all. Suffice to say that she is the goddess of the moon, and her favorite animals are bats and wolves. The terrible wound mentioned in the creation myth is thought to represent the shifting phases of the moon.
Hwarun: Goddess of the sun, fire, passion, and martial might. As well as commerce. 
(In a similar case to Selena, there are more connotations..)
"The blaze of the campfire, the call of home, the clink of a coin, the clash of blades. Above all else, the Sun." -exerpt from the original cosmonomicon
A goddess that enjoyed slightly less worship than her sister, is now enjoying a rise upon Aelamere’s return to the surface. Especially since Aelamere is angling to be a trade port. It is worth mentioning that the war domains actually do not overlap, Hwarun being more associated with ferocity, bravery and soldiering. Whereas Selena is associated with precision, strategy, and any form of weaponized magic.
Tyer: God of Life, the Surface, Forests, Earth. Traitors. 
“Come, things of earth and darkness. Have I not made you? Come, into my wood.” -exerpt from the original cosmonomicon
A nearly forgotten god, only surviving due to his role in the creation myth. Has a small base following Aelamere’s return to the surface. His modern followers claim that he is repentant, and hates the abyss just as much as his sisters, if not more. The ones I have spoken to also snidely comment that, when you leave Aelamere and enter any forest. It's either Tyer, or the abyss.
The Abyss.
“...I. See. You.” - ... 
What lies beyond the veil is darkness. 
Suppose that darkness were a shadow; The question then becomes... what is it the shadow of?
Careful, do not consider such a question too closely. Lest ye be considered.
(Scholars addendum) In regards to Daemons and superstitions.
Cosmicism is not without its fair share of non-godlike supernatural entities, whether they be developed from local superstition or by being the remnants of previously worshipped gods. Note that the Abyss does not fall into this category only because it is the main villain of the creation myth, and thus holds a pseudo "deity" status. This section wll cover the most prominent supernatural entities, but is by no means a comprehensive list. With that being said, read on.
Thakdras, The living storm. Associated ideas: Change, revolution, self determination, and, of course, storms.
"What did the thunder say?" -Quote from an old Aelameri hero's chronicle.
A folly, but a respected one. Secular Aelamere scholars say that Thakdras was a wayward anomaly created from the early experimentation with sky magic. Priests instead say that it was an attempt from the abyss to breathe life into an inanimate vessel. In this case, a storm. A mistake in both cases, for in myth Thakdras proved rebellious even to its supposed creator, growing beyond its purpose and becoming something of a wild card in the mythology.
The actual existence of Thakdras is obviously debated. But it is said that if you climb to a high peak, and sing a particular tune, that the winds will quicken, and a thunderous voice will start to hum back...
Wolf Bats, guides to the routes of life and death. Associated ideas: Death, life, wayfinding, (cuteness).
A curious creature native to Aelamere, origins vary from divine beast to alchemical abomination. The connotation is that, since wolves are the messengers of the living and bats are the messengers of the dead, then a combination would be able to bridge the gap and ferry souls to the after life. Very favoured by those who particularly worship Selena.
Geraxto, The Nether Drake. Associated ideas: The Nether, misfortune, greed.
"Teeth and claws sharp like a Netherite blade, breath like the hot magma lakes below, presence like a wither skeleton stepping over your grave. The Nether, made manifest."- Aelameri Miners diary.
A Drake like being supposedly found in the nether. Interestingly, its theological basis comes entirely from Aelameri prospectors sent into the nether to gather building materials, eventually being accepted into the wider theological canon. The Clergy story is that it is somehow a manifestation of the nether itself, as if the dimension breathed life into the very rocks and magma to make it. Scholars instead say it is a fanciful illuson conjured of the miners own fears, citing its association with misfortune and greed; gathered from the various miners tales emphasizing caution and knowing when to quit.
In Regards to Doctrine, Life and rituals:
General Cosmicism asks little of its practitioners spiritually, only asking that they do not stray from worship of the twin goddesses and to try and maintain moral virtue. Don't steal, try not to lie, give to the less fortunate, etc... More specific tenants include the rule to never kill bats, and to always watch your step. (The latter rule is derived from the fact of Aelamere being a floating island.) Cosmicism is a very individualized religion, so anything aside from the broadstrokes is hard to pin down.
As for rituals, the Aelameri have few that require a large grouping of people. Most worship to instead be conducted individually, in a small church or within the family unit. There are however, a few worth noting. For example, to mark a notable national occasion, the aelameri will let loose a salvo of fireworks into the sky at precisely the time between the sun and moons rotation. As having either the sun or moon watching over them symbolized protection from the abyss, lighting fireworks at the twilight period indicates the willingness to worship the twin goddesses as well as protect themselves through briefly creating their own "Sun". It is also, frankly, quite the spectacle.
Category:Religions
Category:Eldham
Category:Traveler's Era