Erithism

Erithism is a polytheistic religion based around the discoveries of Saint Erith of Nonnara. Its central tenant is that every race has a god that represents them and intercedes for them in the divine realm. While not every one of its beliefs is true, it is the closest to the reality of the gods, and represents and worships all of the True Gods.
Since its founding Erithism has become the most popular religion is Corvona. The majority of human nations have adopted it in some form, along with several other races. 
== History ==
== The Pantheon ==
All of the gods of Erithian pantheon have been the primary god for its species since prehistory. According to Erithism, all of those major gods are real, while the other minor gods folk religions filled their pantheons with were bastardizations of other real gods at best or complete fictions at worst. Their domain is determined by what they were celebrated as the god of in their respective folk religion. 
=== Gods ===
; Hurumos
: Patron god of the humans and leader of the gods. God of love, beauty, friendship, leadership, and magic.
; Hyptol
: Patron god of the Ashen. God of disasters, volcanos, earthquakes, fertility, and rebirth.
; Eztli
: Patron god of the Taloxa. God of the sea, medicine, history, and language.
; The Iridescent
: Patron god of the Glasslings. God of light, truth, and emotion. 
; Odecron
: Patron god of the Khothans. God of the night, scents, knowledge, and the hunt. 
; Quoi
: Patron god of the Behemoths. God of forests, beasts, and the wilderness.
=== Goddesses ===
; Uyki
: Patron goddess of the Uykimwe. Goddess of abundance and insect plagues. 
; Zephra
: Patron goddess of the Pegrins. God of the heavens, wealth, winds, and the weather. 
; Aomuwro
: Patron goddess of the Aolites. Goddess of the sun, warmth, seasons, protection, and safe passage. 
; Gaihara
: Patron goddess of the Gaior. Goddess of war, strength, honor, freedom, and metalsmithing.
; Cepe
: Patron goddess of the Cidelins. Goddess of travel, language, arts, and crafts.
; Agvra Lora
: Patron goddess of the Chrysias. Goddess of natural beauty, revelry, and drugs.
== Denominations ==
Several denominations of Erithism have taken form over the centuries.
=== Orthodox Erithism ===
Orthodox Erithism only takes the conclusions made by Saint Erith in her writings to be absolutely true, and claims that no one else has been close enough to the gods since to deliver any new and accurate information. They believe the following: 
* The pantheon which Saint Erith outlined are the only true gods. There is exactly one for each race, no more, no less. Hurumos is their leader.
* Lake Aurium is the portal to the divine realm, and the gods do not want mortals to go there. Mount Ardent cannot be confirmed as a second portal.
* Based on what Hurumos told Erith, any relationship were "everyone involved is of sure heart and sound mind" is acceptable. Interpretations may very from person to person, but generally this means that, as long as both people are really in love and both are mature and sane enough to decide things for themselves, anything is fair game, from polyamory to homosexuality to interspecies relationships. 
Any moral teachings, theories about the afterlife, and creation myths are seen as inventions of man, not to be trusted. Orthodox Erithists are encouraged to find their own moral compass to act upon until the gods give a sign on how mortals are to behave. Atheists who don't want questions about their lack of faith will often join Orthodox fellowships, since they put less behavioral demands on their followers. 
=== Humanist Erithism ===
Humanist Erithism claims that because Hurumos is the leader of the gods, humans must be the leaders of mortals, and therefore superior to all other races. It is especially popular in the Onami Empire and on the continent of Etra. They believe that morality should follow what pre-Erithian human religions required. This often includes bans on pre-marital sex, strict laws about marital traditions and gender roles, and old dietary restrictions. Non-humans are expected to follow these the same as humans. 
The Humanist Erithian philosophy is often used as justification for the enslavement of non-humans. More progressive humanists believe that enslavement of anyone besides criminals is unacceptable for anyone regardless of species, and that human mortal leadership has more to do with holding higher positions in the clergy and taking the dominant role in interspecies relationships. 
The vast majority of Humanist Erithians are humans, but enslaved races such as Cidelins and Khothans have often been converted. More progressive varieties have also become popular among the Taloxa.
==== Disciples of Erith ====
The Disciples of Erith is a variation on Humanist Eritism which considers both humans and Pegrins to be the spiritually superior races. They revere Saint Erith and her human husband Musra as messianic figures, even demigods, and believe that them being chosen to receive the truth of the divine is a sign that Pegrins and humans are both leaders of mortals. They also claim that Hurumos and Zephra are husband and wife. They base their system of morality on old journals that Erith wrote so they can model their behavior off of her, but other denominations often question the authenticity of the journal texts. They forbid any type of interspecies relationship, except for humans and Pegrins together which is highly encouraged. 
Disciples of Erith is extremely popular among Pegrin, and is even the state religion of their nation. It has also gained a following among humans in Alnea. Lately it has been spreading quickly through Levry's colonies, especially among sailors and traders, and efforts to stamp it out by the main religious authority have been ineffective.
=== Aphosian Erithism ===
Aphosian Erithism is structured around the belief that every species was made to worship their god and their god alone. While the gods of other species should always be respected and honored, a person is only expected to serve their race's god. Each god's rules is adapted from the race's old folk religion. When a race has more than one old religion with different moral standards, conflicts over which is the true will of their god are common. No one is ever expected to follow the rules of another god, and even other species will judge them on how well they follow their own gods rules.
Another core belief in Intercessory Erithism is that a person can only pray to their race's patron god. If they want a favor from another god, they need to ask their god to intercede for them in the divine realm. This means that in order to gain favor from any god, you must please your specific patron god. 
Aphosian Erithism is popular throughout Vitriste, especially in the human nations along the western coast, the Gaior kingdoms, Sileskia, and Odesk.
=== Yuniba Erithism ===
Originating in Faunlor, Yuniba Erithism is a reaction against Aphosian Erithism's strictness about racial expectations. Believers claim that all the gods listen to everyone, regardless of race, and have a universal moral code that everyone should follow. What exactly the moral code is is a topic of constant contention. There are dozens of subdivisons of Yuniba arguing with each other over minutia.