Osterian Villagerism

Osterian Villagerism is a different interpretation of Villager Lore, made by the osterian people as they learned and adapted things from Villager Lore that they learn from the original population of Osteri, villagers. This religion not only includes many conceps from it's original version, but adds many elements exclusive to the way to view the world of the Osterian and how they interpretated the things teached to them by the villagers.
== History ==
The Osteri found their way through the wave into a villager town, where they were later accepted. As they lived with the villagers they adopted many of their costums and amoung them they learned about their religion. Although many things that the villagers told them sounded wrong to the osterian they started to appreciate many of the things that their host teach them. As much of the sailors had been kicked out of their original homes by war and fammine their belifes on their previous gods were weak and villagerism, at least what they could understand about it through the language barrier, gave more logic to their struggles.
=== Pre-Vanishment Era ===
As Lonely Light started to develop and the osterian population settled they began to adopt villagers. This adoption was not well recorded but is understood that the villagers were doing the best they could do to teach the lore and maintain it's values. During this era it saw little changes from it's original form and, despite being practicated by the osterian, largely dependant on the villagers to carry on any type of ceremony and to keep sacred books. As the language barrier could never be truly broken many of these books are lost to translation and are used today as relics.
=== Vanishment Era ===
As the villagers started to die of strange circusatnces the religious teachings stopped, starting a crisis of Villager Lore on the island. The osterian did their best to help the villagers, and to take religious responsibilities. Due to this the Vanishment is concider to be the birth of Osterian Villagerism, and it's golden age. It is also remembered as one of it's most tragic moment.
During this time many of the characteristics, traditions and rituals that separate Osterian Villagerism from Villager Lore developed. The main difference being the belife that souls stay on earth after they die, with a few exceptions.
=== Post-Vanishment/Osterianism ===
During this era many of the original traditons of Villager Lore, as well as some of the adopted during the previous era. This is also the time when the Osterian’s began to expand. It is consider to start since the moment of the founding of Harktlady (the osterian buildings on it), and ended somewhere after the colonisation of Hollenkreis.
== Rituals ==
=== Funerary Rituals ===
When an osterian dies their body is taken to Flower Island, where it is prepared and buried. The osterian’s that have the time to come to this even always make it, many abandoning important tasks to be at the funeral.
Once the body arrives at the island  it is prepared by the island keeper, often with the help of friends and family of the decese. It is cleaned and perfumed, to conceal the odor, and balsams are applied to maintain the body. Once the body is clean, they are dressed with their best attire or are gifted one by a friend or relative. As soon as it is prepared it is put on a metal sarcophagus and stored in a special underground room to be preserved by the cold.
Osterian sail to the Flower Island to get to the funeral. After it’s deemed by the Island Keeper, he will start the celebrations from the morning to around 8 am, until the sunsets. There are competitions, food and alcohol. On the banquet the sarcophagus is brought out from the underground and opened. At the end the banquet, everyone that so desires takes a moment to talk about the dead.
==== Burial ====
On the sunset the will is read by the Island Keeper, and is considered bad luck to protest, as a sign of disrespectful to the dead, that is considered to be there in spirit. After this a spot is selected and a hole of 3 meters deep is dug, stakes are put on the four corners, with rings to pass the ropes. At the same time, lamps are scattered across the island and the ships on the shore ignited all their lights.
At midnight the burial begans. The dead is taken out of the sarcophagus, usually by pulling a leather stretcher underneath. This is then tied by the ropes and slowly descended down into the tomb. Once it reaches ground the rope is cut, dropped down into the hole, and the stakes are removed. Then everyone gets to say some last words to the dead, usually only the family and friends, before it is covered by dirt. No markings are put to signal the burial site.
==== Transport Difficulties ====
As the osterian land grew it became more complicated to transport the bodies to the island that came from colonial lands. As it was more likely that the body would decompose on the way. To solve this the people from Hollenkreis and GrayStar had to make use of different techniques to preserve the body until it reached the island, yet complete embalming was seen as an unnatural option, as the body is expected to fuse with the earth on the island and not to be preserved. When someone dies away from the island they must be covered on balsams and wrapped on linen to help the preservation. Immediately after it is taken aboard the fastest ship available to bring it to Flower Island. On some occasions this resulted in a funeral without anyone assisting or with a leather bag to avoid the sight of the decomposed body.
== Religion ==
The original villagers believed in 2 gods and 2 pairs of dualities. The sky, one of the dualities, is a central part of Osterian Villagerism, as it was for Villager Lore. as on it live the two main gods. There is two gods of the sky, who struggle over total control of the sky force of Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam. The Earth force, on the other hand, is totally untamed and remains wild, as no one can control it.
=== Gods: ===
the Sun god Hmra
the Moon god Henu
=== Dualities: ===
===== Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam (The Sky Force) =====
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam is one of the most central aspects of Osterian Villagerism. On it live both gods and they fight for it. The sky is the only wall between Rathnir and the higher layers of existence, so it is seen as a place to ascend to, an space of order and peace. The exception for this being storms, that are interpreted as results of the battle between Hmra and Henu.
===== Hmar (The Earth Force) =====
Hmar is the untamed and wild part of Rathnir, untouched by the gods. As such is home to the work of the player, and the villagers before them. This doesn't mean that the gods won't pay any attention to what happen underneath them.
Similar to the Sky Force it is considered a wall separating Rathnir from layers below us, but not as effective on this separation, because of the wild nature of Hmar.
=== Layers ===
Osterian Villagerism belives on the existance of 10 layers, with Rathnir (and Eldham) on the center. The higher layers are thiner than the ones under the earth. The 10 layers are:
# Fifth Aether (Hmriiiii heugh)
# Fourth Aether (Hmriiiii uwu)
# Third Aether (Hmriiiii heheh)
# Second Aether (Hmriiiii o_o)
# The Aether (Hmriiiiiii)
# Rathnir (Hroruum)
# The Void (Uuuuuuu)
# The Nether (Hmaaaaam >:▭|)
# The Second Void (Uuuuuuuuu o_o)
# The End (Hmeeaaaam)
These layers are splitted into 3 sections, the Lower Layers (often known generaly as void layers), the Aether Layers, and Rathnir. The top and bottom are controlled by Henu and Hmra with Rathnir being a middle ground. They are often described as realms, with sub layers dividing them.
==== Lower Layers (Void Layers) ====
There is 4 of this layers that, one less than the higher ones, yet they occupy more space on the world, they are also considered to be the only other layers that a living person may be able to go on life, although they wouldn't survive for long. These layers, according to the villager, belong to Henu and is monitored by Hmar.
===== The Void Layer (not to be confused with Void Layers) =====
The largest layers, working as separation between the other. Their capability as separators is incredible, as any living thing that ventures into the void not only will die but won't be able to scape it. Yet there is ways to go around this. Portals have allowed to go straight to the Nether and even The End. There is also creatures and things that live there, or even worst, that can travel through it.
===== Nether =====
It is one of the most explored areas. Although it was something feared by the villagers and their religion to Osterian Villagerism it is different. The main difference is that the osteri don't believe in it as a common form of after life. This may be because they venture to it more often.
They do believe that some souls go to it, not as a form of divine punishment but because of special circumstances at the moment of death. This could be something like the use of magic weapons that bound the soul to it. Many nether creatures are then souls that were  banished to it. These souls tend to not have any memories or reason. Yet some may be able to retain this then. They believe that Holly (the original founder of Hollenkreis) was such a creature.
===== The End =====
The End is the deepest place, very rarely something with a soul exist on it. From the few thing that live on it the most well know is players that die without any xp at the moment of their dead. This become the creatures know as enderman. Is believe that this players can go back to be humans by obtaining a certain amount of xp.
==== The Aether Layers ====
These are the highest layers one can reach as a spirit. Those that venture here are considered holy and are the closest to Hmra. That is not to say every spirit that goes to the Aether layer is good however, but it has built up a reputation as the final resting ground to any soul on Rathnir. There are 5 different layers, each ascending higher into space. The higher you get, the closer you are in Hmra's presence and the more protected you become. No living creature has ever ventured here, only spirits liked by Hmra are allowed in.
=== The Emerald Guides ===
These are rule's that people suspect Hmra and Henu (sometimes) follow when determining who will enter their realms. It is said that people who follow these rules have greater luck and better lives gifted by the gods. There are generally 3 rules:
# Gods only support you if you support them. If you worship Henu most of the time, Henu will be in your debt. Same is true with Hmra. It might also work with powerful spirits like Hmar and Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam.
# Killing another player is 100% a sin in Hmra's eyes at least, but you might still find salvation with Henu. It is still not advised to commit murder.
# It is a general rule that creatures that carry EXP are to be spared unless one attacks you.
Some scholars say that these resemble Soleannen's Golden Postulates. People who bring this up are usually criticized. It is highly likely other religious ideals entered the religion after mass immigration into the area, but is unclear if these two laws are related.
# 
=== Creation Story ===
Note that most of Villager Lore literature is lost to time. As such, future followers of the Villagers Beliefs came up with their own folk tales of how Rathnir and the 9 other layers formed.
===== Formation of the Universe =====
In the Beginning, the world was nothing but molten lava and stone. Devoid of any life or spirits. Soon, Hmra and Henu were born from the molten rubble. They soon found themselves to be close friends and wanted to make the world they lived on a better place. Life was slowly introduced to the world by Hmra, filling the deepest parts with water and putting mobs and plants on the highest grounds. 
Henu, on the other hand, feared the destruction that they could cause. Henu talked to Hmra to solve this issue, but simply ignored it. Henu took matters into his own hands, creating monsters that would kill the creatures he hated. However, Hmra didn't tell Henu how the mobs worked. He filled each of them up with a life substance called EXP. This gave them the ability to pump their heart, breath, and move around. What Hmra didn't say is the EXP and Soul/Spirit were two separate cogs in the mob. If a mob were killed, the EXP would drop but the soul still remained in existence. As spirits, the dead mobs, and as such Henu's personal monsters, caused chaos among the world they created.
Hmra and Henu were forced to think of a solution. They decided to create two different kingdoms, the Aether Layers and the Void Layers. From there, they could decide which mob and monster could go to base on the system of Monsters and Mobs. This also seemed to be Henu's punishment for releasing a chaos onto the world that could not be solved. From there, Hmra surrounded himself with the spirits of Mobs and Henu was surrounded by his own Monsters.
===== Age of Deities =====
Henu soon found himself regretful for the actions he caused onto the world and blamed his own creations and the spirits they let free. While Hmra's Aether was separated based on how holy and good a spirit was, Henu's was less forgiving. He would sometimes torture the captured souls, with each layer getting worst for the poor souls that inhabited them. 
Henu still though that some of the soul of the lowest Aether layer should belong in his own realm. He asked Hmra for this change, he agreed, but he told Henu that he could not torture his soul anymore. Henu reluctantly agreed to this. But in return, he unleased monsters into the Void layers that would do the job for him.
The world layer itself, now named Rathnir, was wildly uncontrolled. Hmra had to keep track of how the mountains and clouds behaved, or else they could buckle, killing many mobs. Henu heard of this and had a solution. In the Nether layer, one spirit roamed the landscape shaping the mountains to his will. He would keep track on how the world was shaped and fix any irregularities he saw. Henu soon recruted him and brough him up to see Hmra.
Henu showed Hmra his powers and said that he could control the ground and mountains of Rathnir. Hmra was reluctant at first, the spirit (named Hmar by Henu) was mischievous and uncontrollable. Before accepting his offer, he found a spirit that could keep Hmar in check. He found Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam, a spirit that could control the skies. He told her that her duty was to keep the ground spirit Hmar in check if he ever challenged the strength of Rathnir and the Gods. With the selections picked out, Hmra and Henu threw them out onto Rathnir.
===== Age of The Sun and Moon =====
The spirits kept the world at balance, Hmar kept the land together and Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam protected the skies. If Hmar started to act out, Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam would cause violent storms that would have snapped Hmar out of his rage. Mobs were now at peace.
It wasn't perfect however, Hmar felt angrily towards Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam, starting a rivalry between them. Hmar tried purposely to mess with Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam in order to disrupt the skies or cause thunder to spill out of the clouds. If Hmar was sleeping, Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam would cause a powerful storm to wake him up.
This soon got the attention of Hmar and Henu, who didn't want to see their plan backfire. They came up with a solution, they would regularly keep the spirits in check and keep an eye on what they were doing. Each would take turns patrolling the skies one day and rule their kingdoms the next. Sometimes the gods are away for a long period of time, in which only prayer could prevent the Destruction of Rathnir.
=== Age of Villagers ===
These are tales that have been passed down by generations, first told by the Villager's themselves.
There once came a time when the god Hmra created the villager in his image. While the mobs that roamed Rathnir, they were not aware of the beings that controlled them. Hmra created the Villager as a way to spread his message to spirits and mobs across the realms. What Hmra did not expect was conflict between them. While some villagers did what Hmra asked of them, others decided to abuse their given knowledge and powers. Villagers abused the spirits, controlling their will to morph the realm, not by the spirits will; but by theirs.
===== The Villager vs Spirits war =====
The spirits were forced to move water, land, carry objects, and comit other actions such as murder. Hmra was not happy with the villager's actions. In response, he fused the hands of villagers together so that they could not harm the world anymore. But the angry spirits did not forgive them for what they've done. The spirits raided and destroyed many villages. Without hands, the villagers were powerless.
That is until a villager named Hyyhs-Ahhmwheeehhhh came. Not much is known about him except for a few stories told by the villagers themselves, the stories themselves ranged wildly across Rathnir. A few stories exist from Lonely Light, describing some encounters with Hyyhs-Ahhmwheeehhhh. One story describes how he came to Lonely Light after a terrible storm blew him to their shores. He soon learned of a Sea Serpent Spirit that was terrorizing their houses and docks. At the end of this story, Hyyhs-Ahhmwheeehhhh ends up defeating the serpent saving the town. The town gives him food and weapons before setting off towards what would be the Plagos continent.
Later stories tell of how he helped defeat a giant spirit demon and restored the relationship between Hmar and Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam. He is also credited with the invention of golemancy (the power of forming Golems). Some question the validity of some of these stories, and whether Hyyhs-Ahhmwheeehhhh actually existed. Whatever the case is, it can't be denied that golemancy helped deter spirits away from villages, ending the war of Spirits vs Villagers. Other area's that didn't have much iron used snow instead, which worked as a surprising substitute.
=== Age of Humans ===
Again, most of these stories are lost to time. Most of these are folk tales specifically from the Lonely Lights region.
While Hmra was mostly happy for his creations, Henu saw what he feared come a reality. He saw the intelligent Villager as a threat to both Henu and Hmra, and potentially all of Rathnir. During the Spirit vs Villager war, Henu was the one aiding the spirits. While Hmra was against this, he did nothing to stop it. A story tells how Hyyhs-Ahhmwheeehhhh had a confrontation with Henu, where he convinces Henu to stop aiding the spirits. By the end of the war, Henu's perspective on Villagers changed.
However, Henu still wanted a being that could keep track of the Villagers. In which the Human was born.
There were a few special characteristics about humans:
# They had two separate arms, this allowed them to build and fight for themselves. This is designed similarly to the early form of the Villager. Some scholars speculate that Henu used live villagers to make the human.
# They had significantly smaller brains. This is not an insult; it is said that Henu purposely made the skulls of humans smaller so they could not have the same knowledge that the Villager had. As such, while a human could understand and follow Villagerism, a human couldn't interact/see with the Spirit world without becoming a spirit or without the aid of special potions, which recipes are lost to time. This makes it near impossible for humans to communicate with the spirit world, even when visiting the void layers.
# Humans have a significantly smaller nose. It is unclear why this is, but it is likely for the gods to distinguish what was human and what was villager.
# Humans have the unique ability to respawn after death. The ability is still yet to be explained, but it prevented the human from becoming a spirit. Instead, humans leave their deceased body behind while there being is regenerated by where they last slept. Villagers figured out the god Henu created the human through this fact, because only mobs made by Henu spawn at night. It seems that humans can only truly become a spirit once they mentally except death, but sometimes a human can be banished by Henu himself based on reasons that are not fully known but involves the morphing of physics and abusing the spirits of Rathnir.
In creating the human, Henu hoped that introducing them to Rathnir would allow both Villagers and Humans to coexist and make up for all of the bad things he has done towards Hmra. He was, in fact, very wrong.
The humans acted very differently than the villager. Instead of forming small communities that would sometimes communicate with each other, humans instead made vast empires and constantly traveled in search of new lands. Some humans enact trade with Villagers with emeralds, a stone used for trade most often because of the villagers believing that it reflected the sun the most. The rest however took the advantage to kill and destroy villagers and their villages.
As empires popped out of Rathnir, the villager population started to drop drastically, until they went extinct. Some were saved by Hmra, who sent them straight to the Aether. Others are/still roam the spirit world. While he was angery at Henu, Hmra understood where he was coming from and forgiven him for his actions. He allowed any spirit of villager, and as such, any follower of villager lore a chance to come to Hmriiiii Heugh (The 5th Aether) to be protected by Hmra and become the most holy being in all of the universe.
Hmra soon accepted the humans as his own. Making humans one of the only mobs to be controlled both by Henu and Hmra. It seems that the spirits of Villagers also forgive the humans for their misdeeds, as they can sometimes help humans through difficult journeys. It is said that when it rains, or when there are heavy waves, or when the ground shakes, that it is Hmar and Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam mourning the loss of the Villagers who looked up to them. 
Category:Lore
Category:Cultures
Category:Traveler's Era