Floristanism

Floristanism was a polytheistic religion in which its followers believed that there are many gods in the world that help keep the world stable. They also believed that as many gods as possible are to be recorded and worshipped, lest the world fall into chaos. Floristanism was organised by the first Hermonian Emir and first modern High Prophet, Zacata Felis. As of recent, Floristanism has merged with the Fellowship of the Great Wheel, though most of Floristanite structure is seen in the new religion and the last High Prophet is currently a Basra Shona in it.
It was generally seen as heretical in Floristanism to undermine any of the gods’ role in the world, such as to say that there is only one God, the others claimed to be saints or only powerful people.
It was believed that each god has three forms: their divine form, their mortal body, and a spiritual presence. The first being what they appear as to other gods, the second being what mortals depict them as and can be seen as on the material plane. The third being their invisible and undetectable spirit that often floats around the material plane casting miracles and being the god’s messenger.
== Structure ==
=== High Prophet ===
The High Prophet was the leader and representative of all Floristanism, they were a prophet that has been given such a title after the previous one has either died or abdicated. The High Prophet’s word was final, they were second only to the gods in terms of leadership. There could only be one high prophet at a time, the line of inheritance usually having been Floristanite-primogeniture, the oldest child of the current high prophet that is Floristanite being the heir.
The high prophet was the only one able to initiate prophet initiation ceremonies.
The last high prophet was Emira Zacota Felis of Hermonia.
=== Prophet ===
A prophet was a priest dedicated greatly to a particular deity in the Floristanite faith, being a representative of their god. They answered to no-one but the high prophet and their god, and could to some degree order around their priests, though usually only to tell them what to do during specific events. They were the only ones besides the high prophet and bishops of their god to be able to initiate most ceremonies dedicated to their god. There could only be one prophet of a specific deity at a time.
=== Bishop ===
A bishop was a priest that managed a Floristanite holy building dedicated to their deity, also having staff for their building too. They could initiate some ceremonies dedicated to their god, and their building can become the site of a ceremony that a prophet initiate.
Priests could become a bishop if they are dedicated enough to their deity to become a prophet, but there is already a prophet of their deity, but an available holy building. A bishop was also made when a holy building is made, and there is a qualified priest to fill in the position. A bishop could not be a prophet, scriba or zealot as well.
=== Scriba ===
A scriba was a priest dedicated to recording information about Floristanism, such as people, events, buildings, towns, and other historical accounts. Priests were made scribas if they showed that they can record such information, and/or translating it into other languages to help spread the religion to other peoples. A scriba could not be a prophet, bishop, or zealot as well.
Most scribas were likely to be priests of Cloaker due to the deity’s knowledge domain, and their general wish to have things recorded.
=== Zealot ===
A zealot was a priest dedicated to fighting for and defending Floristanite holy lands, fighting mainly in crusades and holy battles. Priests could become a zealot if they show skill and/or willingness to defend Floristanite lands. As of now, there is no internal hierarchy of the zealot position.
Most zealots were likely to be priests of Inxna due to the goddess’ war domain, and their general personality in wishing to fight and defend.
=== Priest ===
A priest was a Floristanite that is dedicated to only one God, instead of the more than one that is possible being a common worshipper. Priests had obligations to join as many ceremonies to their deity as they reasonable can but were able to be nominated to being a zealot, scriba, bishop or prophet, though only one position at a time.
A worshipper could become a priest if they choose only one God to worship and partake in a priest initiation ritual. A priest could become any of the four above positions by partaking in a ritual related to such position and will gain different responsibilities depending on the position that they acquire.
=== Common Worshipper ===
A worshipper was the common worshipper of the Floristanite faith, they needed no initiation ritual nor any strong obligations, but they have close to no power within the faith. These worshippers could dedicate themselves to many deities but must dedicate themselves to one if they are to become a priest.
== Deities ==
There were many deities in the Floristanite faith, around fourteen by its merging with the Fellowship of the Great Wheel. Most of the deities now are mainly feminine in depiction, this was likely due to the Hermonian holy land being slightly more matriarchal than most other nations.
=== Nialeef ===
Nialeef is the goddess of love, birth, and marriage, she was one of first deities to have formed, having spontaneously formed alongside Cloaker while the world was still all chaos. She is depicted as an elven or human woman with fair or dark skin, depending on mood, and she wears a knee-high dress made of vines and flowers. She is also depicted as being barefoot due to the shamelessness love brings. She is depicted often as a sort of wife of Cloaker, having had at least one child with them; Florista, but has likely had many children out of wedlock.
Nialeef is credited to having a role in the creation of many races, such as humans, nymphs, and elves. She is also credited to the creation of good and evil as separate from survival instinct, as Olc and Maith were her first children out of wedlock. It is unknown as to how Cloaker and Nialeef are still depicted as married considering Nialeef’s tendency to lust over every man and woman that shows considerable dedication to her.
Her worshippers are most commonly wedding officiants, mid-wives, newly-couples, and couples with a child on the way. Worshippers often pay homage to her by showing affection to others and helping others through a struggling marriage or friendship, the result only mattering if it is the best choice. Nialeef has no divine plane, as she wanders around other divine planes doing as they please.
=== Cloaker ===
Cloaker is the deity of balance, death, knowledge, and peace, they were one of the first deities to have formed, having spontaneously formed alongside Nialeef while the world was still all chaos. They are depicted as a mist covered by a dark cloak or piece of cloth, though there is no hole in which the head would go through, there are two circular patches that seem to function as eyes. They are depicted often as being the spouse of Nialeef, having had at least one child with her; Florista. Unlike Nialeef’s actions in the relationship, deities that are not children of Nialeef but are of Cloaker are born of one deity but adopted by Cloaker, no infidelity being committed.
Cloaker is credited to having given the sentient races of the world of lot of their knowledge, such as how to control fire and how to construct buildings. Their gifts of knowledge are independent of their other domains, as they have helped humans survive occasionally, going against their death domain. Every adult Nialeef has gotten with has been cursed in some way.
Their worshippers are often funeral directors, scholars, pacifists, and necromancers, though ironically necromancy is quite looked down upon if it includes souls. Worshippers pay homage to them by recording information; myth or fact, or by paying respects to the dead. Cloaker’s divine plane is split into three main parts, for their worshippers is a library of all knowledge, ever expanding. For atheists and those that do not believe in an afterlife but are good nonetheless, there is a city in which no-one starves nor gets killed. For those that do not believe in gods or have believed in Chastaker, there is a large dungeon in which all its inhabitants are tortured until they are “redeemed.”
=== Aequalis ===
Aequalis is the god of equality, fairness, and justice, he is the artificial child of Nialeef and Cloaker, as he was created from a pool of an unknown metal within a humanoid mold. He is depicted as a suit of armour, the person beneath it not shown, any depictions showing what is are likely speculations not based in fact. Unlike most other children of Nialeef and Cloaker, Aequalis is not often seen as a close child of them, some do not know that he is, instead saying he was created as a side-effect of the chaos being tamed in the creation of the world.
Aequalis is credited to have created the first court, and precursor of the legal code, having done so protecting an adulterer from unlawful punishment, and to punish her husband for adultery too.
His worshippers are often judges, lawyers and scribes that record legal code. Worshippers pay homage to him by conducting the law in a fair and equal way, or to include a statue of his demi-goddess daughter; Glia, in any court dedicated to him.
=== Chastaker ===
Chastaker is the god of chaos, imbalance, and formlessness, he is thought to be the left-over chaos in the world after most was used to create the world. He has no concrete depictions, his gender even is just generalisation, though is most depicted as a mass of animalistic, elemental, and humanoid features.
He is credited to being that in the world that over-turns the status-quo, even maintaining it briefly because of his extremely chaotic nature. It is thought that Segra and Entropy are aspects of Chastaker, though because of the values of Floristanism, it is heavily advised against proclaiming Chastaker as either of the two.
His worshippers act underground, even within Floristanism, as chaos is not recommended to be a thing to worship. If not for his place in the Floristanite pantheon, Chastakerians would be a separate sect of Floristanism. There seems to be no pattern in who becomes a worshipper, except their disdain of authority and order, and like of anarchy.
=== Florista ===
Florista is the goddess of nature, fertility, and life, she is the daughter of Nialeef and Cloaker, and is the mother of many deities. She is thought to be the manifestation of the world as one can see it. She is depicted as a woman with green and brown skin, her hands, feet, chest, abdomen, and face are leafy and flowery, while the rest is barky. She can become any degree between humanoid and animal and can be a combination of more than one. She is always depicted in differing stages of pregnancy, any form she takes having a humanoid torso or being a mammal revealing said pregnancy.
She is credited to having created many of the animal life on the world, as well as showing humans agriculture and how to make clothes, the latter she slightly regrets doing because of her view on it separating them from nature. She is seen as very “wild” and ignorant of civilised societal standards, seeming only to wear clothes because parents spread the standard of her clothed to protect the eyes of child. In visions seen by worshippers of Florista, she has expressed the view that humans should embrace nature as a part of their culture and appreciates Hyitlia for Hermonia’s culture being quite druidic.
Her worshippers are often druids, hermits and couples that want to have a child. She promises them the skills to embrace nature, and a guarantee that should they intend for it, they will have plenty of children. Her divine plane is a massive piece of environment of all biomes that match the diverse types of biomes on the material plane except that more nymphs and animals live in it, and there is no sign of civilization more advanced than simple tents.
=== Hyitlia ===
Hyitlia is the goddess of fungi, safety, security, and innocence, she is the eldest daughter of Florista, and her first child, being the result of a spontaneous pregnancy. She is depicted as a woman made of purple fungal material, her legs replaced by a stem, she often looks thin because of the significant difference in circumference between her upper and lower torso. She also has a mushroom cap fused into the top of her head. It is thought that she could slowly move around by dragging herself across the ground with tentacles after uprooting herself.
She is credited to have created the current sole holy land of Floristanism, Hermonia, and had a part in creating humans. It is thought that she had a considerable influence over the world due to there being large mushroom forests having been present on the world, though given the lack of mushroom biomes now, it is assumed she lost that influence. Her mother has had a little influence on her personality, Hermonia’s druidic culture being seen as evidence, she dislikes wearing a lot of clothes, and her form specifically has no genitals so she can be depicted to all as not wearing any.
Her worshippers are often druids, mushroom-lovers and parents that wish safety on their children, as well as those on her mushroom islands. Her divine domain is a massive chasm and cave system made entirely of fungal material, in the centre is a large chamber in which Hyitlia dwells. It is thought that her chamber was the mushroom grove she was born and planted in, the grove said to have been removed from the material plane when an area around the size of a house was affected by Hyitlia’s growth.
=== Terra ===
Terra is the goddess of earth, spring, and over-joy, she is said to be the fourth person to have been cursed in the way she has by Selitea. She is depicted as a semi-muscular nymph woman with earthy skin, her lower legs seem to be more rooty as the rest, and her forearms, hands, head, and hair are leafier. She seems to be the youngest of the element-related goddesses, likely not even hitting adulthood when she was cursed. She is also depicted wearing a knee-high dress made of leaves and flowers that seems torn with over-use.
She is credited to being the one that maintains the appearance and transition of spring, inheriting that role from Florista when she became a goddess. Before she was a goddess, she was a tree nymph that tried too hard too often to have others have fun, often ruining the plans of who she decided to have fun with. When she interrupted a Hyitlian festival, she was made completely stiff where she was, and her bond to her tree gradually broken. After a week, she was transformed into what she was now, her name and knowledge of her prior appearance were erased from history, and she was made demi-goddess of earth and over-joy, later gaining the spring domain to become a goddess.
Her worshippers are often entertainers and those seeking joy in life. They often host parties for the sole reason of letting others have fun, and lobby for those parties to be national holidays.
=== Aqua ===
Aqua is the goddess of storms, autumn, water, and sirens, she is said to be the second person to have been cursed in the she way she has by Selitea. She is depicted as a thinly built mermaid or siren with gold, red, orange, yellow and blue scales and skin, her tail is like that of an eel. Her hair is long, tangled, matted, and looks to be made of kelp and rotted leaves, her hands look to be made of the same material. She is said to be the most noble-acting of the four element goddesses, though only in the fact that she is vain and acts like she is on top of the world.
She is credited to being the one that maintains the appearance and transition of autumn, inheriting that role from Florista when she became a goddess. Before she was cursed, she was a human noblewoman that manipulated her way in getting things. When she destroyed a temple to Florista to build a new house, she was put into a deep sleep only ended after a week when she was cursed. Her cursed transformed her into what she is now, her name and prior appearance were erased from history, and she was made demi-goddess of sirens, water, and storms. She later gained the autumn domain to become a goddess.
Her worshippers are often sirens, sailors and those looking to go up in the social ladder by any means necessary. They often help each other for their own gain by getting them higher in the social ladder.
=== Aria ===
Aria is the goddess of air, winter, snow, and anger, she is said to be the third person to have been cursed in the way she has by Selitea. She is depicted as an ice-elven woman with light-blue skin that looks to be made of ice, and white hair that looks to be made of clouds, the latter moving on its own. She also wears a knee-high dress made of clouds, and though depicted bare-foot, she never seems to touch the ground, always floating at least a foot above.
She is credited to being the one that maintains the appearance and transition of winter, inheriting that role from Florista when she became a goddess. Before she was cursed, she was an ice elven woman that was orphaned and rejected her adoptive parents efforts to re-civilise her, getting abandoned and then years later destroying a statue to Maith after not getting good fortune in farm harvest. She was gradually frozen until she was completely ice, after a week, she was cursed. She was transformed into what she is now, her appearance and prior name were erased from history, and was made a goddess of air, anger, and snow.
Her worshippers are usually ice elves, people that love the snow and the winter season, and people wishing to vent anger. They often do activities in the snow, sometimes with less clothes than recommended, somehow not catching hypothermia.
=== Ignis ===
Ignis is the goddess of fire, summer, and zealotry, she is said to be the first person to have been cursed in the way she has by Selitea. She is depicted as a human woman made entirely of warm golden-red metal, her hair resembles fire and reaches to her waist. She is also depicted wearing a fiery, almost liquid dress and lacey grey sandals. She is said to be the most uncontrollable of the season goddesses besides Aria, as her zealotry leads her to show anger to those that do not worship her.
She is credited to being the one that maintains the appearance and transition of summer, inheriting that role from Florista when she became a goddess. Before she was cursed, she was a member of a nomadic tribe, having just discovered she was pregnant when she damaged a shrine to Florista. Brief punishment before the full curse was that she got a fever, and as it got worse, she felt heavier, and gases and such coalesced in a way that made her look bloated. At the end, she turned entirely into metal as the gases escaped from her gut by bursting out, and she the curse was applied as she looked to heal. She was given the appearance she does now, memory of her appearance and prior name were erased from history, and she was made demi-goddess of fire and zealotry.
Her worshippers are often those that live in hot areas, pyromancers and religious zealots. They often do things relating to their dedication to Ignis to show off her greatness compared to other deities.
=== Olc ===
Olc is the god of temptation, misfortune, deceit, and manipulation, he is the first illegitimate child of Nialeef, a twin of Maith. Olc is depicted as a dragon with obsidian-black scales, and emerald-green eyes, another form depicts him as a very magically beautiful woman with a rotted and monstrous snake-tail replacing the legs.
He is credited to being the source of all evil and all such things, giving humans the ability to be evil, the humans Pedora and Zondo being his conduits into doing so. He was born to Nialeef when she committed adultery with a human man, and when Cloaker cursed the pregnancy that was a result of such. It caused every pregnancy Nialeef went through caused by adultery to be more painful than normal, and for the child to be cursed in said way. In Olc and Maith’s case, Olc was of pure evil, and Maith of pure good.
His worshippers now are often casino owners and tempters of all sorts, who often manipulate people for their own wishes.
=== Maith ===
Maith is the god of fortune, destiny, honesty, and kindness, he is the second illegitimate child of Nialeef, a twin of Olc. Maith is depicted as a dragon with a flat face, pearlescent-white scales, and crimson red eyes. Other forms depict him as a child wearing the clothes of a commoner and with a pair of bird’s wings sprouting from their upper-back.
He is credited to being the source of all good and all such things, giving humans the ability to be good and resist the temptation of evil, using himself as a conduit to do so. He was born to Nialeef out of wedlock after a pregnancy cursed by Cloaker, every pregnancy caused by adultery now being cursed in some way. While Olc was put deep underground in a cave by Nialeef, Maith was loved by her probably even more than Cloaker.
His worshippers are often paragons of virtue, paladins, and other generally good people. Most of what they do is to spread good throughout the world and have others resist the temptation of Olc.
=== Selitea ===
Selitea is the goddess of redemption, curses and Selitean onis, she is the first known person cursed in the way she has. She is depicted as a woman with a demonic nature, having bat-like wings, skin, hair, and eyes of shades of red, a scorpion’s tail, draconic legs, clawed hands, and legs, and scaley skin on both her hands and feet. She is also depicted wearing what is most associated with Hermonian dress, a simple crop-top and either a skirt or shorts.
She is credited to being the one both to curse people and redeem most people that need it. Before becoming a goddess, she was a selfish Litea of Hermonia, wishing to gain power from Hyitlia. At one point, she went through a week-long ritual with her eldest daughter Patricia, who hated the process. When she coerced a priestess of Hyitlia to take her to Hyitlia’s divine plane, she was cursed. Her and her court would be transformed into what are now Selitean onis, the Litea would have her name erased from history, and she would be given a choice.
That choice would be either to live in obscurity while her daughter reigned as Litea, or for her to become a goddess; getting the power she wanted, but she would need to redeem and cursed people, as well as feel the pain of all victims of crime. She chose the latter choice, becoming a goddess.
Her worshippers are often Selitean onis, those seeking redemption and those that are cursed that too wish for redemption.
=== Inxna ===
Inxna is the goddess of war, pride, and festivals, she is the first child of Olc, and one of the few deities raised mainly not by her true parents. She is depicted as a female warrior with varying colours of hair, skin, and eyes, and wearing a metallic armour that covers all but her head. Her hair is long and flowing, completely prehensile and can move according to her whim, usually they are carrying a variety of weapons, as well as a helmet.
Inxna is credited to lighting the sparks of war in any situation and being the first to host a festival. She was born to a mortal woman who was made essentially an extension of Olc after Olc kidnapped and rapidly aged the body of a girl. A piece of Cloaker’s essence was used to impregnate the extension of himself, which led to Inxna being kidnapped by Cloaker and raised by many of the other gods.
Her worshippers are often warriors, party hosts, and military generals. Those that worship her for war regularly play war-games to home their skills. Those that worship her for festivals regularly plan festivals to host.
== Practices ==
=== Epithets ===
Nobles that are Floristanite could add an epithet to their name to note any achievements, strengths, or weaknesses. An example is that the current Emira of Hermonia Zacota Felis has the epithet “Life-giver” in reference to her sudden and great recording of Floristanite lore, the momentum of such visible in this document.
=== Ascension Rituals ===
There are quite a few ascension rituals in Floristanism, each meant to have an individual ascend to a higher rank in the faith. There were five main types of ascension rituals, priest, zealot, scriba, bishop and prophet, each different in slight ways. Priest ascension rituals called upon the deity the worshipper wishes to be a priest of, as do bishop and prophet ascension rituals, scriba ascension rituals called upon both Cloaker and the deity the priest is of, zealot ascension rituals called upon both Inxna and the deity the priest is of.
It was mainly held in a circle of carpet with different things around it lecterns for scribas, amour stands for zealots and torches for bishops, though exactly four of what is needed. Around the carpet can be any amount of people, depending on the ascension ritual, there can be one or more circles of specific ranks of Floristanite.
=== Wedding ===
A Floristanite wedding was one seen as slightly traditional in many eyes. It was usually based in a temple to Nialeef or any religious buildings that have an aisle and an altar, and both the to-be-weds, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the family and friends of both to-be-weds are usually invited to the wedding.
It was usually started with the guests gathers, then decorations being spread across the aisle, then the to-be-weds walk through the aisle to the altar, and then after an officiant reads out the wedding vows, the to-be-weds will engage in the chosen simple activity (usually a kiss) to form the bond of marriage.
=== Funeral ===
A Floristanite funeral was also seen as slightly traditional in many eyes. It was usually based in a temple to Cloaker or any religious buildings that have an altar on one side in which a coffin can fit behind it. A prophet of Cloaker, the bishop of the building, or the high prophet becomes the officiant.
The funeral was started after all the invited guests arrive, then a eulogy written by at least one family member or friend will be read out by the officiant. After the eulogy, the coffin will be transported, and the burial method will be conducted.
=== Court ===
A Floristanite court was traditional and as fair as one could see it, a tradition first created by Aequalis to protect a woman from unfair persecution. In such as tradition, there was a judge, defendant, prosecutor, jury, and witness. Each position had a role in the trial, and the law above all laws is that one is innocent until proved otherwise, as said by Aequalis.
A court trial lasts until either the defendant is proven guilty or innocent, or until there are insufficient funds to pay each person employed to deal with the court case.
=== Festivals ===
==== Chastakerian ====
The Chastakerian festival is a festival dedicated to Chastaker held mainly by a prophet of Chastaker or the high prophet. As is Chastaker, the festival has only a few consistencies. The consistencies are that it has a particular spot in which it is held, it has a dress code, it has a main ritual, and it has miscellaneous entertainment.
The spot in which it is held can vary, such as a taiga, desert, or forest. The dress code can also vary, being things such as fur suits, a particular uniform, even underwear. Chastaker seems to give protections to the attendants in some festivals, a notable historical festival including people in a tundra being perfectly fine even in the dress code of underwear. The main ritual could be many things, such as the sacrifice of someone fulfilling a certain criterion, or to be heavily drunk or drugged. Lastly, the miscellaneous entertainment is anything that would happen before and after the main ritual, such as consuming drugs and drink, or playing a game of poker or Razuni plushie game.
==== Floristan ====
The Floristan festival is a festival dedicated to Florista held mainly by a prophet of Florista or the high prophet. Most people that take part in the festival are priests or worshippers of Florista. It is usually held in a forest or holy place of Florista, and those that take part in it wear only simple clothes that are usually made directly from plants and animals. It is looked down upon to wear intricate clothes or clothes made from valuable or synthetic materials like silk.
It starts with the people dedicated to Florista going to the specified place with whatever is needed, such as some wood and clay pots. A simple camp-fire is set-up in the centre of the area, and when it is lit, a clay cauldron is placed on top and water and other foods are placed in it. While the food is cooking, sometimes some priests mimic animals of several types so to get closer to nature, young worshippers of Florista that have joined the festival are more likely to do so. This is due to the nature-based magic that starts to accumulate while the festival takes place, younger worshippers of Florista are often less able to keep control of themselves when exposed to said magic.
When the food is done, it is eaten, and after it is eaten, more games are played. Sometimes, highly-respected priests or priestesses, or even the prophet or prophetess of Florista use magic to induce upon willing others a sort of trance or something of such to help connect to nature. The festival ends after a night of food and games. Often, the effects of the nature magic accumulated during the festival take a while to completely dissipate in younger members, leading to continued animalistic behaviour until it has.
==== Hyitlian Gem-Giving Festival ====
The Hyitlian Gem-Giving Festival is a festival originally held in Hermonia by any number of Hermonians. It is started by a group of priests of Hyitlia gathering a bunch of gems of any type; mainly prismarine crystals, and dyes of purple, brown, white, red, and dark green. After they are gathered to a church or holy place, a group of Hermonians volunteer to give others the gems.
The Hermonian volunteers put on a white dress; regardless of gender identity and are given baskets filled with those gems and dyes. The volunteers then go around Hermonia and give gems to other people. In exchange for the gems, the people are to use the dyes to draw something on either their dress or a part of their body. After all gems have been given out, the volunteers return to the holy place and return both the baskets and dresses, cleaning off as well. This can be done anywhere that a temple or church to Hyitlia is and can be done with any dye and any crystal.
It is said that the gems can give good fortune to those that are gifted it, and bad fortune to those who steal it or hoard more than one.
==== Hyitlian Essence Ritual ====
The target sits in the middle of a circle of mushrooms, with a prophet of Hyitlia or highly trusted priest or bishop of Hyitlia as the caster of such a spell standing at one side of the circle. The target says a verse to Hyitlia whilst praying, as does the caster. The caster will then explain to the audience what the ritual does before walking around the circle, placing a torch every two blocks around the circle.
After a prayer to Hyitlia is once again said lightning shall strike those torches one by one and the ritual will be over. The audience the whole time is allowed to form a circle but not in the way of the torches, otherwise those in the way will be affected by the essence. When the ritual is over, the Hyitlian essence will be in place.
==== Spring ====
In the spring festival, many plant-related items and such are placed around the area in which it will be held; usually a temple of Terra if there is one available, as well as many flowers. A table with plant-based foods will be put in the middle, and in the centre of the table will be a plant statue or plushie of Terra. At least one priest of Terra must be at the festival to call it such, and food will be prepared/organised by people dedicated to Terra in worship.
Occasionally, Terra may appear at the festival to celebrate the festival, either by possessing an individual, or by sending an avatar to where the festival is being held.
==== Autumn ====
In the autumn festival, rotted-plants, and fish-related items, as well as other such things, are placed around the area in which it will be held; usually a temple to Aqua if there is one available, as well as many dead shrubs and dried kelp. A table with fish-related items will be put in the middle and in the centre will be a wooden statue of or a plushie of Aqua. At least one priest of Aqua must be at the festival to call it such, and food will be prepared/organised by people dedicated to Aqua in worship.
Occasionally, Aqua may appear at the festival to join the festival, either by possessing an individual, or by sending an avatar to where the festival is being held.
==== Winter ====
In the winter festival, ice-related items and other such things are placed around the area in which it will be held; usually a temple to Aria if there is one available, as well as many light or air-related things. A table with cold items will be put in the middle and in the centre will be an ice statue of or a plushie of Aria. At least one priest of Aria must be at the festival to call it such, and food will be prepared/organised by people dedicated to Aria in worship.
Occasionally, Aria may appear at the festival to join the festival, either by possessing an individual, or by sending an avatar to where the festival is being held.
==== Summer ====
In the summer festival, metal, and fire related items, as well as other such things, are placed around the area in which it will be held; usually a temple to Ignis if there is one available, as well as many summer-related things. A table with hot items will be put in the middle and in the centre will be a metal statue of or a plushie of Ignis. At least one priest of Ignis must be at the festival to call it such, and food will be prepared/organised by people dedicated to Ignis in worship.
Occasionally, Ignis may appear at the festival to join the festival, either by possessing an individual, or by sending an avatar to where the festival is being held.
==== Olcite ====
For an Olcite Gambling festival, in a decided area, a group of priests or priestesses to Olc can set-up a place to start gambling. Whichever game is used to gamble is decided upon before getting to the area, and can be anything such as poker, roulette, black-jack, or craps. If there is anyone that wants to join, they are free to do so, Olcite worshippers that are skilled in gambling may aim to gamble with non-Olcite worshippers to exploit their lack of gambling skills. It is encouraged to gamble large.
==== Maithite ====
This festival is mainly a parade, in it there are at least eight distinct aspects of it, representing the eight virtues of Floristanism. These eight virtues are: Diligence, patience, kindness, humility, temperance, charity, bravery, and chastity.
Diligence is working hard and earning what you have. Patience is biding your time and not rushing into things before you are ready. Kindness is taking time to appreciate people and showing them acts of goodness. Humility is being humble with what you have, and not showing off as if it were more than that. Temperance is to show self-control, restraining from violent acts, being non-violent over violence. Charity is to give to others more than what you take, wanting nothing but what is needed, and what holds a lot of sentimental value. Bravery in a Maithite’s sense is one’s ability to stand up for oneself in a conflict without giving in or fleeing unless it is tactically better but ethical to do so. Chastity in this context is not the complete abstinence of sexual acts, but to moderate it, make sure there is consent, and to discuss the consequences of what they will do before committing to it.
The festival ends with the members calling upon Maith to thank him for blessing them by allowing such an occasion.
==== Selitean ====
The set-up is like a Hyitlian essence ritual, the target stands in a circle of red carpet, a circle of Selitean priests and priestesses around such. Also, in the circle is a prophet of Selitea or the high prophet, but not in the centre, more near the edge. The target must have nothing but their clothes and a dagger, but their clothes must not be too thick.
The ritual starts with the prophet calling upon Selitea to witness and help with the ritual, asking for their power to harness it to the target. After such, the prophet chants some words and both they and the target hold the dagger together and plunge it into the heart of the target. Once the target is dead, they will be revived as a Selitean Oni.
==== Inxnan ====
The Inxnan war festival is one best hosted in a time of war. There is a showcase of dedication to Floristanism, either done by a parade of warriors and weapons, or by showing the best of the holy land it is being held in and the best of Floristanism with many stalls and such. Oftentimes, war cries and such are shouted during the festival, either those of Floristanism, or the nation in which the festival is being held in, but not those that defame or denounce Floristanism or a holy land of Floristanism.
These festivals can last for a long while, and there is not really an upper-limit to how much they can last. Some have lasted for days before enough of the members left for it to decide to be ended, there has canonically been one that has lasted around a week, all the members were extremely exhausted by the end. If any members were to die during a festival, it is usually ignored until the smell impedes the enjoyment of the festival.
== History ==
=== The Creation of the World ===
In the beginning, there was nothing but a chaotic mix only vaguely resembling the four elements, an ever-changing mist, dust, ember, mud, and magma. The only constant for what seemed like forever was the existence of chaos. Then two deities appeared at the same time, either spontaneously or by some mysterious supreme being that seems to dictate rules for the deities to follow.
These deities would name themselves Nialeef and Cloaker, and shortly after their creation, something guided them into stabilizing a part of the chaos and turning it into the world. They created the world we live on by surrounding a ball of fire with a shell of earth, and around that a shell of air. They created the sun; Sol, by creating a large ball of fire and placing it in the sky, and lastly made a dimmer ball and placed it in the sky then named it Luna.
After all of that, Nialeef and Cloaker briefly rested, Nialeef then gave birth to Florista, and created Aequalis. The four deities than went to work creating some life, such as animals and plants. When Florista was the equivalent of twenty, she became pregnant for the first time, a result of her fertility domain, and gave birth in a mushroom grove to Hyitlia. When Hyitlia was older, she took part in creating humans. Hyitlia created the body of the first woman, Florista created the body of the first man and gave them life, Cloaker gave them morality and the ability to learn. Florista also gave them the ability to breed and embrace or use nature, Aequalis gave them the ability to make rational decisions based on knowledge, and Hyitlia gave them the ability to seek safety or to provide it to others.
After creating the first two humans, the woman was named Pilimasa and the man was named Polimaso, who were noticeably hairier than modern humans, they decided to create more humans, stopping at around one thousand. This ended the first phase of creation, and both humans and deities wandered the world.
=== Cloaker’s Gifts ===
Cloaker has given many a piece of knowledge to the sentient races, most of their direct gifts of knowledge happening before the births of Olc and Maith. One of the first gifts they gave to the humans were the knowledge on how to control fire and cook meat, showing it initially to a family, but letting the gift be spread to whoever wishes for it. Another gift of knowledge Cloaker gave to humans are of how to construct mud-bricks and buildings.
=== Florista’s Gifts ===
Florista’s gifts of knowledge unlike the general knowledge Cloaker gave is mainly nature-related. One of the first gifts she gave was the knowledge of basic plant-based agriculture, showing the daughter of a small family how to till the earth, plant seeds, and harvest crops. Other gifts of knowledge she gave were how to make basic clothes, and she has shown undomesticated dogs and cats to a village of humans for them to later be domesticated.
While Florista was first showing humans how to make clothes, she met a human woman named Oak, who would soon become her first and favourite consort. The oak tree in her symbol would be inspired by Florista’s love of Oak.
=== Nialeef’s Gifts ===
Nialeef is one of the three deities that had given humans gifts of knowledge before good and evil became a thing, most of her gifts of knowledge were related to partnership with animals, Florista helping with some of them. She for example helped humans to domestic sheep, cats, and dogs, Florista only interfering in a few.
=== Birth of Olc and Maith ===
Before Olc and Maith were born, humans knew not what good and evil were, only doing things based off long-term and short-term survival. They felt no shame in being nude; only wearing clothes for warmth and protection, and not for any societal norm. What helped them stay warm without many clothes was an increased amount of body hair.
However, when Nialeef committed adultery with a human man, she became pregnant, despite Cloaker’s wishes. Cloaker found out quickly what Nialeef has done and cursed her current and every other adulterous pregnancy that Nialeef would go through to be more painful than normal. Nialeef would be pregnant with Olc and Maith over the course of her giving her gifts of knowledge to the humans.
When Nialeef finally gave birth, it was to two children; named Olc and Maith, the former emanating such dark energy that Nialeef had him buried deep underground, the latter was loved perhaps more than she loved Cloaker. While Olc was young, he spent most of his time after being a wyrmling as a serpent. While Maith was young, he spent most of his time after being a flat-faced wyrmling as a child with bird’s wings.
At one point in time, Olc would give humanity the capacity to be evil, using the human couple of Pedora and Zondo as the first conduits of such an act. Olc would gain his second form to represent the initial beauty of evil action, but that the full horror at what it can entail can be seen upon a broader look. Maith would notice Olc’s actions and would come to where he had gone to give to humanity the capacity to be good.
=== The Creation of the Nymphic Races ===
A time after evil and good were unleashed on the world, a family consisting of a mother and her two daughters; the father having been beheaded, were exiled from their home village. Florista would come across that family, and that family would ask for help with surviving the wilderness, as they were starting to struggle to get enough to eat. Florista would oblige, using some magic to turn them into nymphs; creatures bound to nature. Florista would also travel to the town the family was exiled from and would both turn its inhabitants to nymphs and would cause nature to overrun the town.
Years after, a few nymphs were praying to Florista, as a nearby town of humans were attacking the nymphs of the surrounding forest. Florista would travel to the village in the form of a nymph to see how the humans would act. The humans of the village would shoot at Florista and act like she was sub-human. Florista would promptly reveal her true form, and after they apologised to her, she decided to kiss the forehead of every person in the village, making them more tolerant. This growing tolerance would lead to some humans having relationships with nymphs, their children being elves.
=== The Creation of Hermonia ===
Long after the nymphic races were created, possibly tens of thousands of years after the fact, a great disaster happened throughout the world, scarring mainly Eldham. This disaster caused a few groups of people in the area now inhabited by Razuni and eastern AWE to flee the mainland to the ocean. A significant population of the group shared beliefs close to modern Floristanism, and the proportions would mainly only grow.
Most people in the groups would begin to pray to whichever higher being they could think of to be saved, but no-one came. They kept praying regardless, they kept praying and praying, hopes never dying. A week into their praying, someone answered, Hyitlia, she would assure them that they would come across safe land. Hyitlia created an island for the groups of people to land on, and in the form of a mushroom nymph, she would help them on the island.
When everyone had been helped onto the island, Hyitlia made mushroom stew and gave it to every injured individual, changing them into mushroom nymphs. To all that who were already dead, she planted a seed in their belly button, and from each grew a myconid. This ended the creation of Hermonia, but one more main thing would be done.
Hyitlia would wander around the island for a bit, looking for someone. She would stop upon seeing the orphan girl by the name of Octavia. Hyitlia would begin to take care of Octavia as if she were her own daughter and taught her what she needed to know of to rule Hermonia. Octavia would come to rule Hermonia, the holy land of Floristanism, when she became an adult.
=== Selitea’s Descent ===
In the middle of Hermonia’s life, born of the Litea Yva, was a human who grew up to be the future Litea of Hermonia. Her birth was seen as bad, as it happened during a thunderstorm and vitifungal on her left elbow was already developed. This human grew to be very selfish and self-centred, coercing others to dress more as she saw not wearing much as helping connect to Hyitlia. How she had friends is unknown.
When she became a Litea, she felt a weight of limitation had been lifted off her, and she had a party. In this party, she would conceive of her first child; Patricia, but saw the pregnancy more as a hurdle than a wonder of life. As time went on, the Litea did start to see herself as equal to Hyitlia.
Near the end of her reign, the Litea went through a week-long ritual in which Patricia unwillingly took part in. This ritual was for the purpose of soon attempting to acquire power from Hyitlia for the Litea and probably Patricia too. When the ritual came to the seventh day, the Litea would coerce a priestess of Hyitlia to transport the Litea to Hyitlia’s divine plane to demand power from her.
However, once the Litea arrived in Hyitlia’s divine plane, she would be restrained and cursed. The curse would transform her and her court into a demonic creature that she is now, her previous name would be erased from history, and she would be given a choice. The choice was either to live in obscurity while Patricia became Litea of Hermonia, or to feel the pain of all victims of violence, and must redeem and curse others, but she would get the power she wanted. She chose the second option, and gave herself the name Selitea, combining the Hermonian words for cursed (selit) and queen (litea).
=== The Descent of the Elements ===
Selitea cursed many individuals, and gave them all unique or similar curses, depending on the nature of the action. A notable few include the elemental goddesses, all formerly mortal women that offended a deity in some way, warranting punishment. Like Selitea, all the elemental goddesses do not know their previous names, however they also do not know their prior appearances. These goddesses are Terra, Aqua, Aria and Ignis.
Terra was a nymph that enjoyed having fun and making people happy, often to the expense of others. A group of humans carved the word “overjoy” in a now dead language on her tree while restraining her, leaving a scar on her collarbone. When she was around seventeen, she disturbed a Hyitlian ritual; the straw that broke the camel’s back, and she was cursed. Her appearance was changed, and she was made demi-goddess of earth, latter acquiring the spring domain from Florista.
Aqua was a human woman that enjoyed over-indulgence and selfish action, taking unfairly from others to have for herself. She was a part of a lesser noble family, one now long dead, and whose identity only recorded likely in the Labok’diflor’ister. The final thing she did before being cursed was to destroy a shrine to Florista and in its place put a mansion for herself. She was cursed as she was put into a deep slumber, and when she was awakened finally, it was complete, her appearance was changed, and she was made demi-goddess of water, later acquiring the autumn domain from Florista.
Aria was an ice elven woman who had sever anger issues and was mainly secluded because of her unwillingness to interact in a civil manner with other people. She was an orphan from an early age, and even when adopted, those angry tendencies refused to leave her, and she would be abandoned a while after because of them. She was cursed after damaging a shrine to Maith for her supposedly not having good fortune, the start of which being her gradually freezing over. The curse finished developing shortly after, her appearance had been changed, and she was made demi-goddess of air, latter acquiring the winter domain from Florista.
Ignis was a human woman who lived in a druidic-cultured tribe and was particularly dedicated to the deity of their tribe. She was quite zealous, often being confused as to why people would not worship the deity she did, not comprehending that others may have different opinions on which deity was most important. She was cursed when she damaged a shrine to Florista a few times to undermine her work, the curse started with a worsening fever, and ended with her appearance changing, and being made demi-goddess of fire. She would later acquire the summer domain ironically from Florista.
=== Zacata’s Organisation of Floristanism ===
Floristanism’s worship all over the world would slowly fade, the mainland of Razuni being a majority non-Floristanite by the time Hermonia was created, and by the time of Zacata, it was a far decentralised minority. However, Zacata would discover Floristanism, record some of its information, and assume the highest title of High Prophet to revive the faith.
His efforts include making the basic structure of Floristanism that exists now, and adding Hyitlia and a few other deities to its modern canon. Zacata would convert many of Hermonia’s inhabitants to Floristanism. However, it was few, and despite his efforts, the momentum was not much, and soon faltered.
=== The New Age of Floristanism ===
When Zacota Felis became Emira of Hermonia, soon the momentum of Floristanism’s recording and standardisation would become apparent, as Zacota would become the new High Prophetess of the Floristanite faith. Her new speed of development would see though some backlash from anti-Floristanites, but regardless this momentum continues.
She would set in concrete the structure of Floristanism, including the bishop position, and many of the deities and rituals that are recorded in Floristanite canon.
=== Merging ===
In the spring of 293 TE, it was discovered that Floristanite mythology was incomplete, the world was not just tamed chaos, not just an existing thing all distinct. All was the Great Wheel Temalon, as revealed to two people, the Imira of Hermonia Zacota Felis, and Rohan auf Druidsson. The two then worked together to gather up all relevant info and wrote out a doctrine more accurately representing the true nature of the world, thus starting the Fellowship of the Great Wheel. With the formation of the Fellowship, all Floristanites became Wheelists, members of the new religion.
== Notable Individuals ==
=== Zacata Felis ===
Zacata Felis was the 1st high prophet of the Floristanite faith, it was him that first organised that faith into a more centralised religion, and it was him who introduced the concept to Hermonia. Some would call him a martyr for his dedication to remaining Floristanite, and to remaining under its ideals, even when arrested by his own friends, he maintained his faith in Floristanism.
Some however would say that he is a mad-man, not deserving on the titles he had in life, and that his death was deserving. The voices though from those have quietened down, and Zacata is still considered a good person, a saint even.
=== Zacota Felis ===
Zacota was the 2nd high prophetess of the Floristanite faith, she got Floristanism to where it is now, and it was her who started momentum on the recording and standardisation of the religion. Her efforts earned her the epithet “the Life-giver” (a self-given epithet), which makes sense considering the amount of work she had made on the religion.
Most of what had been written now of Floristanism (as of spring 293 TE) was written by Zacota.
== Trivia ==
[None as of yet]
== Credits ==
* SlimeCatKing (slimecatking on discord) – Writer of the whole wiki-page as of the 18th of August 2023, and came up with most of the concepts.
* Aidan (thejustaidan on discord) – Came up with the divine portfolios of all gods except for Olc, Maith, the elemental goddesses, and Selitea.
* Chaotic (__chaotic__ on discord) – Came up with the divine plane concepts for the gods that have them, except for Hyitlia, Selitea, and Florista.
Category:Religions
Category:Traveler's Era