Askeviryan Faith

"One day, the world will no longer imprison us within suffering..."
The Askeviryan Faith is a nontheistic religion founded in Halinn around 30,000 years before the enlightenment of Askevir and his ascendance, now being based in the city of Enyonggeku-yo within Yun Tsau (Akashiro). It is a nontheistic religion based on the teachings of the grand ancestor Muqin whose teachings were preserved by his great grandchild, whose name is Askevir, also known as "The Preserver," in the faith.
==Narya-ga Unoanwo (truth of the ancestor)==
“As the years passed over his death, the people never seemed to grow wary over the loss of their great father. Nonetheless many turned to the worship of the false idols, these “Deities” whom we do not recognize nor were we instructed to follow. 
For his heart wept for his people he came for them, he fed and nourished them out of his love and mercy. 
But his time was not infinite. For the last time he came I bore witness that his words are the truth, and his actions are the truth hence I shall make sure all that he had made remain for time beyond my existence. 
his children will learn of him, praise him, and venerate him for he is deserving of it all. May Our ancestor rest, may all beings be liberated from the never-ending cycle of pain, death and rebirth.”
-Askevir, the preserver
The Truth of the ancestor is the main central doctrine of the Askeviryan faith, the belief in the three truths of the ancestor is considered key in order to truly understand the world as it is and to make oneself closer to the path of enlightenment, the three truths are considered: 
# All beings whether conscious or not experience all suffering and all death. 
# To hold onto physical desires is to willingly continue treading upon the path of suffering. 
# There exist not higher beings than the four Anoare Anu (holy spirits) for even the "gods" themselves are not immortal and will experience both death and reincarnation. 
Together these three principles are considered the main foundation of the faith also referred to as "Bushui" in the Shangian canon.
==Faith hierarchy==
The hierarchy within the Askeviryan faith is based on a merit system by the choosing of the Tsang clan of formerly independent Yun-Tsau dynasty, as well the other clans who do hold some religious authority but are not the same level as the Tsang.
Askeviryan faith religious hierarchy
Rank 	Title 	Work	time/Requirements needed to attain 	Is allowed to	Is not allowed to
The First 	Tahonaga 
(Head holy Master/Priest)	
*Overlooks the keeping of the Temple of Marble
*Manages religious affairs and relation with other faiths
*Keeps in check the main orthodoxy of the faith	Spiritually hereditary (Every new one is a Reincarnation of the previous)	
*Establish new religious rulings
*Banishment from the faith (not excommunication)	
*Marry after becoming High priest
*Consumption of intoxicants
The Second	Yuban yunangerya
(Teacher of the faith)	
*Teaching the faith's tenants and beliefs to lower ranks and laymen believers
*Assists the Tahonaga	Must have been in the faith for 20 years. (in lore)
Must've studied and attained all possible knowledge about the faith.	
*Take control of temples if lower priests are incapable
*Establish learning center for teaching the faith	
*Marriage
*Establish new religious rulings
*Banishment of lower ranking members of the hierarchy
*Disobey the High Priest
*Consumption of intoxicants
The Third 	Yuhyo-ga tsangwokiu
(Low ranking priest)	
*Manage and ensure the best state of shrines, temples and pagodas
*Assist the Yuban Yunagerya
*Missionary work if needed	Must have been in the faith for at least 10 years.
Must've had prior knowledge of the faith and have worked as an initiate priest	
*Missionary work for atonement of previous bad deeds
*Creation of new temples
*Enforcing new religious rulings
*Marry but only to other Askeviryens	
*Create new religious rulings
*Disobey the Teachers of faith
*Consumption of intoxicants
The Fourth	Amash shansa
(initiate Priest)	
*Help the lower ranking priests with Missionary work
*Aid in construction of new temples
*Becoming the head of faith in small villages if there is no priest present	Must've been in the faith for at least 5 years. 
Must have studied under a teacher of the faith. 
Must have gotten a 2-4 non-Askeviryens to convert to the faith.	
*Marriage but to only Askeviryens
*Conversion of non-Askeviryens to the faith	
*Disobey the previous ranking ones
*Consumption of intoxicants
The Fifth 	Yuninu-ga (Student/laymen)	
*Donating to the creation of new temples and shrines and Pagodas
*Aid in the construction of the previous	Must have been formally converted by an initiate priest 	
*Marriage to Askeviryens and non Askeviryens
*Consumption of Intoxicants (in low amounts)	
*All the previous.
Members of the priesthood are also known to follow a strict code of law alongside special obligations such as dying one's hair dark red, brown, black and orange, as well as training within the traditional martial arts.
The hierarchy is regularly checked and overlooked by the Tsang clan considered to be one of the most faithful amongst the Tsau and the other noble clans in the religion.
==Creation==
The creation belief in the Askeviryan faith primarily comes from the third holy book, The chronicles of Gold, religious poetic writings from the first generation of Muqin's children which stims from Muqin's teachings after reincarnating multiple times in the mortal world in order to aid his people and save them for suffering. 
“Holy revered four rising from Chaos,
Great and powerful they were and supreme. 
The first came Wurion from the west, warrior of the sun and moon and their great spears.
Second came Kulukin, he who holds upon the waters and flesh of the world, singing the hymns of beautiful songs that calm the waves, for his blessings are to those who hold him a great reverence.
Third came Yarosin from the east, the spirit of the sun with the eyes of pure gemstone and beauty.
Fourth and finally came Muransk from the west, the spirit of the moon and the earth, in creation he aided and brought forth an age of pure ones.
But amidst the great spirits came a thunderous evil, a spirit of darkness and hatred.
Taking the title of the highest it claimed, yet in truth it was only equal to the first four and its denial was a mistake.
Cast into the void it was for its evil, and the great four spirits sealed it away to uphold harmony.
No longer shall all evil remain, between the beings who hold consciousness and those who are above them within the heavens.”
-Realms Sutra
Alongside the Anu chaos birthed other minor Anuga who are lesser spirits who usually act as intermediaries for the Anu themselves as messengers, but a few distinct ones play more a major part in the faith itself. 
==Anoanre Anu==
Wurion (Sa-hado nesaga patawo-a): Spirit of the north and the first among the Anu to have formed from primordial chaos and inhabits time itself, he is the spirit patron of warriors, lords, generals and all those who dwell within the world of war and violence and grace. He is represented by smokeless fire as he is mostly untainted by Chaos. revering Wurion is generally seen as a way in order to gain power or dominion over something. He is depicted as a carrying two spears of the sun and moon and wearing the armor made of obsidian.
Kulukin (Sa-hainga patawo-a): Spirit of the south and second among the Anu and inhabits all bodies of water, he is the patron spirit of the sea, sailors, flesh and rain. He is represented by flowing water as from him arose creation for he granted them flesh and is like his fellow Anu mostly untainted by Chaos. revering Kulukin is often done by sailors in the sea or those afflicted with weak flesh and body in order to heal them. He is depicted as wearing pure blue silk robes and carrying an Erhu, a string instrument that is often played to calm people down as he uses it to calm the sea when it is violent.
Yarosin (Sa-hantoga patawo-a): Spirit of the East and the third among the Anu and inhabits the sky, he is the patron spirit of saints, priests and the sages and all those who hold faith. He is represented by the sun for he is ever shining in the temples of the Askeviryan faith and fully untainted by Chaos. He is interpreted as the Anu of the clergy for many of them hold strong reverence for him. He is depicted as wearing a red shenyi, a ceremonial piece of clothing worn by the High priests of the temple of marble and holding a book in which light shines from.
Muransk (Sa-haraga patawo-a): Spirit of the West and the fourth Anu and inhabits the earth, patron saint of magicians, sorcerers and all those who use supernatural power. He is represented by the moon as he reflects the shining light of his fellow Anu, Yarosin. He is like him in many ways except that he does not shine his own light, his glory comes from being the one to have molded creation and gave them a part of his spirit alongside Kulukin. He like Yarosin he is also depicted wearing a golden shenyi and atop his head is the lotus of souls, said to have been where all souls of beings came from. 
None of the Anu are considered to be gods nor are worshipped, instead reverence is what most of Askeviryens do for them and they're usually depicted with no facial features in paintings as that goes against the rulings of the book of Bronze. 
==Rotan Taranyuga (Wheel of reincarnation)==
The Rotan Taranyuga is the concept of the cyclical death and rebirth and is one of the main pillars of the Askeviryan faith. For non-Askeviryens the world may seem as a pleasurable place yet to those who hold belief in Muqin and his teachings believe otherwise as the world to be a prison that itself was born from primordial chaos as well. 
It is simply a never-ending cycle in which believers are tormented by pain and suffering, and it's escaped through attaining Sunara (Enlightenment) where the soul of the being is freed from the reincarnation and has attained nigh-omniscience alongside permanent seating within the realm of Sunaratenu (The Enlightened ones), a place where only those who have achieved it can go to and freely move from different plains of existence and reality. The Rotan Taranyuga is mentioned in both the Golden and Bronze chronicles. 
The Rotanga Taranyuga may not occur to certain souls which are trapped or sealed within inanimate objects such as souls sealed within magical items or trinkets. Souls also may not receive a well enough vessel if their soul energy is too strong, and an incompatible soul could potentially destroy the body it resides within although that may be prevented by using seals written in magical Shangian which is a modified script of Shangian used for magic and divination, in which that case the souls will not be reborn with new bodies and it is considered a worse fate than ending in one of the five purgatories. 
==Sunara (Enlightenment)==
Sunara or Enlightenment in voyager's tongue is the concept of attaining dominion and victory over the wheel of vessels, to attain such state one must rid themselves of all worldly attachments and forsake all that is good or evil, instead one must the follow the middle path and all those who decide upon it may not be guaranteed Sunara yet as long as one's soul continues to detach itself from all worldly affairs it may just one day achieve it. Those who attain enlightenment are able to then move onwards into the realm of the enlightened ones, where there is no suffering, pain or death and only the glory of those who have liberated themselves from this world. Unlike the west heaven however, those who become enlightened become eternally so. 
Muqin is regarded as the first of his kind to gain enlightenment and using his power would willingly reincarnate into the mortal world once more to guide his children who came after him. Enlightened ones may reincarnate back into the world of the living but are not affected by the cycle of death and rebirth and are immune to the suffering of the world of the living. 
Other people who are known to have achieved the state of enlightenment are Askevir the preserver, the three Tsau sages (Mizura,Kikazura,Iwazura) and Asekvir's third born son, Tak who would later on from his bloodline be founded the Tsang clan. 
==Veneration of the great ancestor==
Veneration of the great ancestor Muqin takes a variety of traditions and practices which differ from every household within the faith as veneration of him is seen as a virtuous act which heightens one's piety. Different ways of veneration of the ancestor include:
Mourning, in which believers of the faith would pass upon the temple of marble's burial section where it is said that both Askevir and Muqin were buried and there they would pray for hours on end, not to worship them but to venerate and respect them for they are the ones who did not leave their people or this world to become corrupted in ruins and despair.
Funeral rites, where an altar is periodically replaced and put upon Muqin's grave where visitors may pay their respects through placing lotus flowers upon the altar. Other flowers may be placed but it is recommended it may be a lotus and especially a white lotus for it symbolizes the purity of Muqin.
Fasting, where a believer may fast for days to honor the sacrifice of Muqin and Askevir and meditating without food for hours or days, although priests recommend the consumption of water in order to not fall unconscious from thirst. 
==Realms of heaven, hells and physical world==
The West heaven and five hells are realms which have been born from primordial chaos itself alongside the Anu. These realms are where souls of unenlightened people go in order to wipe their memories of past lives and their misdeeds if they end up in one of the five hells, whilst the West heaven is where souls of good nature and those who were unfortunate to die too young before the age of matureness end within in order to wait until their next rebirth. 
Haraga heavenly realm
Described as the time it takes the rain to drop onto the lands If rain took a year per droplet of water (200-500 years). Inhabitants of the realm are known to minor Anuga made of light and the emotion of happiness itself who serve the temporary visitors to the heavenly realm, it is the nearest thing to the realm of the enlightened ones, yet death still exists within it.
Tega hell of thieves
Described as the time it takes the sun to set if the sun was pulled by a crippled beast of the earth (1000-2000 years). Inhabitants of the realms are said to be minor Anuga made of fire and the emotion of hatred, those who are transported to their realm have their hands cut off and reattached over and over again alongside their stomachs being pulled from their abdomen for eating food with stolen wealth, it is believed the nether is simply the upper most plain of this realm and the other hells.
Tebuhyoga hell of transgressors and liars
Time spent within the realm: Described as the time it takes the fish to migrate to the sea from the river if the fish were tied to rocks that had fallen from the heavens (4000-6000 years). Inhabitants are said to be Anuga who are made of soulfire which is stronger than normal fire and burns hotter and brighter, those who are transported to this realm have their tongues ripped from their mouths and molten iron is poured into their throats and their eyes plucked out for their transgressions against people.
Tekaga hell of murderers
Time spent within the realm: There is no mention of the time, but it is thought that it is at least 9000 years. Inhabitants are known to be demons known as Asura (malevolent spirits) who are said if released upon the mortal world would destroy it in the matter of three days and three nights. Those who are transported to this realm are made to weep a sea of blood from their eyes as needles of smoldering ember are pushed within them and the apparitions of the victims continuously taunt them and make them feel more regret thus crying even more.
Tekanyaga hell of deserters and oath breakers
Time spent within the realm: Described as the time it takes to pick up flakes of snow from the peaks of the mountains if the mountains themselves reached up into the heavens and beyond (20,000 years). Inhabitants are known to be Rekashi who are said to chimeras of wolves, bears, vipers and vultures. Those who are transported within the realm are made to wander in a plain covered in all directions by soulfire and they're hunted by the chimeras for deserting their families, allies during battle or deserting temples and shrines, where their bodies are mutilated beyond recognition as the wolf part of the chimera tear through their flesh, the bear part at their bones, the viper part filles their blood with venom capable of killing an entire city with one droplet and the vulture part consuming what remains of them.
Tekonuga hell of matricide and patricide
Time spent within the realm: Described as the time it takes to take out a wheat seed from a barrel if one only took out a single seed every hundred years (100,000 years at minimum). Inhabitants are known to be manifestations of the hatred those who have been killed by their own kin themselves although appearing as giants. Those who are transported to this realm are committers of the worst sin in the faith, which is killing one's own mother or father, the bodies of the transgressors are said to be torn apart, over and over again by the giant manifestations and they're dragged through the fields of knives and swords which are covered in the blood of their mother or father whom they have killed.
Neshkari, the overworld
The Neshkari is the name of the overworld within the shangian language as it means mortal prison so in which it is seen as a prison of suffering that must be escaped by gaining enlightenment. It is also known that in every realm resides within a ruler known as "Kings of life and death" or Yanu Tazaya-wo Tazyn in shangian who are known to hold dominion over the west heaven, hells and the overworld but however like the rest of other beings are not immortal and change once every few thousands of years by means unknown.
==Teachings of Muqin==
The teachings of Muqin are wide and varied within Askeviryen texts however they have been categorized into three main "paths" in which these paths are seen as valid ways of achieving enlightenment and while some other methods may also exist to gain enlightenment the Askeviryen faith only recognizes the ways of ancestor and generally other ways are not seen as wrong but also not correct but in a way in the center of both right and wrong, which allowed the faith to have a mostly tolerant view of other religion except those who worship this world itself gods or other entities. 
====Path of righteousness====
The path of righteousness includes following the moral code of the great ancestor down to the letters. It is of great importance for the followers of this path to not make haste of their acts and work otherwise problems in their lives may arise. The path of righteousness was set in stone in the book of Bronze, followers of the path may not be allowed to enjoy any part of this world for themselves for righteousness is for others and for oneself, but righteousness is greater for others than oneself. The five principles of the path are: 
# No matter how one may live their life, it shall always contain an element of suffering or displeasure for the curse of mortality is inflicted upon all those who have not ascended.
# Taking the soul of a brother (i.e: murder) without proper reasoning will only make one's path to spiritual ascension more difficult and painful for the soul you forced back into the wheel of reincarnation will curse you to feel the same pain as it felt. 
# Running after the worldly desires will only hinder one's progress to escape the Wheel of reincarnation and ascend and free their soul from the curse. 
# Selflessness and hard work benefit one's physical world but spiritually one must remain focused on the goal of Askevir to release thy soul from pain and suffering. 
# To venerate one's ancestor makes it easier for one to likely gain enlightenment more especially after death although it can also still be achieved during life.
====Path of struggle====
The path of struggle is to fight one's way to achieve enlightenment, unlike the other two paths the path of struggle can also be the way of those have to kill (warriors) can follow and through the path of struggle can also achieve enlightenment. The path of righteousness was set in stone in the book of Bronze, followers of the path of must adhere to the rules of this path in order not to fall astray as in doing so may instead begin to commit unspeakable sins which could hinder their path to enlightenment. The three principles of the path are: 
# During war, warriors must avoid the weak, the child and the woman for they are not able to hurt others and are to be left alone for they pose no threat. 
# Despite beliefs about the nature of this world one must not destroy or desecrate it for it may be valuable for others and is to be kept in the way it has been since creation. 
# Warriors who fall short or break the rules of the faith may be heavily punished for their transgressions. 
====Path of wisdom====
Path of wisdom is the path which priests and scholars follow; it is the path in which wisdom is valued over all in gaining enlightenment and one must preserve themselves in the library of books and scrolls of knowledge in order to gain as much as possible. The path was set in stone in the book of Bronze, followers of the path may not lose themselves to the temptations of this world and leave their study for that is considered deviation from the true path and by the path may one come to gaining enlightenment, one must also not hold knowledge only for themselves but also share it to the commonfolk in order to liberate more souls from the wheel of reincarnation that causes pain and suffering. The four principles of the path are: 
# Knowledge is sacred and must be memorized and cared about for it may be the reasoning to one's eventual enlightenment from reincarnation. 
# There are two types of Knowledge that one must uphold to not only help themselves to gain enlightenment which are knowledge of oneself and the knowledge of the ancestor. 
# For one to hold the sacred knowledge to themselves they shall return with all shame to the Wheel of vessels when they pass away. 
# Knowledge once gained must be taught to those who do not know so that they may perhaps pass it on and aid in the liberation of more souls from the wheel of reincarnation. 
==Sages of magics ==
The Teka-Yupe Gezanu (three sages in voyager's tongues) are the three sages of Askeviryan faith magics which are split between the ways of the three sages being Mizura (see no evil), Kikazura (hear no evil) and Iwazura (speak no evil), together they created the way of magic in which through the air, hands and tongue using shangian, one can also cast the magic of the faith alongside the usage of Ryazu, a bell in which is used to mainly summon spirits from the other realms that exist. The most proficient of users of the three sages' magic are known to be the monks with the most fervor in their faith in which they are able to summon powerful spirits of their own ancestors to aid them in matters of life and death. 
==Prayers and Rituals==
=== Prayers ===
Temples and shrines are seen as one of the best places to perform prayers which include long meditation and the paying of respect to the ancestor as veneration. Ancestral altars may also be erected in order to honor the ancestor and Askevir. Festivals and celebrations are also considered ways of prayer and honor such as the festival of bygone spirits in which people celebrate the ascension of the ancient ancestors who followed the faith by making smalling talismans engraved with the names of those ancestors which are believed to bring in good luck and good fortune. 
=== Rituals ===
Rituals of the faith include the crowd meditation within temples, lighting of incense and the performance of chants and more which are found within the Book of laws.
==Conversion==
There is no specific method of conversion within the Askeviryan faith however it seen that if one may follow the rules and teachings of the ancestors alongside the observation of customs of the faith, they may consider themselves Askeviryen although there also the way of being converted to the faith by an initiate priest through means of rituals which are found within the Book of laws.
==Scripture and Oral tradition==
===The Shangian canon===
The Shangian canon is the main scripture of the Askeviryan faith, it is the canon that contains all the sutras which are believed in which include:
* Realms Sutra
* Paths Sutra
* Three sages Sutra(s)
* Anu Sutra
* Dandelion Sutra
Alongside the sutras, the Shangian canon also includes the Book of Laws, another piece of scripture in which it covers more guidance alongside the sutras, guidance to Askeviryan prayers and rituals and the commandments and rules set in stone by Askevir the preserver. 
=== The Oral tradition ===
Alongside the Shangian canon, the oral tradition is an important part of Askeviryan faith belief as stories, myths, legends and epics are passed down through generations of the great ancestor, Askevir, the sages and other important figures of the faith. The oral tradition is often passed down from Teachers of faith to laymen believers often to give moral examples and as means of giving guidance. 
==Fifth Anoare Anu==
The fifth Anoare Anu also with the epithet of "Upholder of all evil" is an entity warned of in the sutras. 
The most information known of it is its place where its full power and nature are sealed in a realm simply known as Kowa or the end in voyager's tongue.