Faith of Aiwa

**Aiwanism**, or more formally the **Faith of Aiwa**, is an extinct monotheistic religion that was practiced mostly in the historically Umic lands (around Ume City, Palus Urbem, and Goruid). It worshipped the sun goddess, Aiwa, who was represented in the flag of Ume (and then League of Palus) with the yellow sun disc. The faith had multiple peaks and troughs throughout the history of Umic civilization. Its institutional power supposedly peaked during the era of the Holy States or the Paludumian Republic where the Grand Temple (the institution that governs the faith) acquired control of the state.

Settlements across Goruid worshipped Aiwa, though amongst several other deities in an informal polytheistic, iconoclastic belief system (merely known as the Thornian folk religion) that also incorporated indigenous deities. The Faith of Aiwa saw a significant decline across Great Thornia in the aftermath of the Thornian Civil War. By the time of the Coup of the Moderates, laws proclaimed by rebel administrations throughout Thornia had effectively brought the faith to an end. The few temples and chapels belonging to city governments had become makeshift army bases.

## Etymology

Throughout most of history, Aiwanism was simply called *Aiwanism*. Through 2019 and 2020 (as the Umic states consecrated the leadership of the faith), the name of the organised religion became the *Faith of Aiwa*.

In Thornia, Aiwa was worshipped as one of many deities as the Umo-Thornian elite integrated into indegenous society. Aiwa, the deity, retained her name formally until the Order of the Golden Trident gave the deity Aiwa the Thornian name of *Aegadaia* (or *Aega*). Aegadaia remains a popular name throughout Goruid.

## Leadership

In 2019, the council of state leaders that reformed the ancient Umic empire as the Holy States agreed to consolidate all branches of Aiwanism under one High Priest. However, no High Priest was ever elected. Today, Aiwanism is largely leaderless.

Bircan Aiwanism was largely led by the leader of Umia, and was the predominant religion in the western half of the Umic League of Palus states. Black Sun Aiwanism and Thornian folk religion was largely under the purview of the Crown of Great Thornia throughout Great Thornia's territories. After the destabilisation of the Thornian monarchy the Order of the Golden Trident was formed to consolidate Aiwanism and Thornian folk religions. The Golden Trident gradually lost all relation to religion and became a secretive club of members of the Thornian elite.

As of 2022, Aiwanism is no longer an organised religion.

## Sects and branches

* **Orthodox Aiwanism**
	+ Originated from Ume City, from a forgotten time. The sun itself is regarded as Aiwa, and is deemed immortal. Aiwa is considered the giver of life.
	+ Considered to have gone extinct between the Evacuation of Ume and the Thornian Civil War.
* **Bircan Aiwanism**
	+ It is the oldest branch of Aiwanism, and incorporates water into Aiwa's wordly purview. Temples built in quartz are the main places of worship. It is the most anti-iconoclastic branch of Aiwanism. Originated from Bircalanium, then returned to Ume City.
	+ Considered to have gone extinct shortly after the Evacuation of Ume, though its art style remains prevelant in Cataracta.
* **Black Sun**
	+ A branch of traditional monotheistic Aiwanism that incorporates more apocalyptic messages into their beliefs and worships in churches rather than temples. It also believes that Aiwa is a (long-lived) mortal and that she will one day pass, bringing the whole universe with her. Originated from Palus Urbem. It was the most popular sect of Aiwanism in Palus Urbem and Elysia (partially incorporated into Thornian folk religion).
	+ Considered to have gone extinct during the Thornian Civil War.
* ***Thornian folk religion***
	+ Aiwa is worshiped as one of many deities in most of Thornia. However, iconoclastic attitudes mean that no symbols of her, whether in the form of statues or temples should be built. Black Sun Aiwanism informs the Thornian view of Aiwa almost completely.
	+ Aiwa was removed from the pantheon of deities and banned by various native groups across Thornia's colonised lands during the Rebellions of 2022.
* **Order of the Golden Trident**
	+ Evolved out of the Black Sun sect and followers of Thornian folk religion. It transformed Aiwanism into a far more open faith, albeit also somewhat militaristic. Its heavy involvement in politics saw it spin away from its religious origins and into a secretive organisation that largely steers Thornian domestic policy.
	+ Religious elements of the sect disappeared by the time of the Coup of the Moderates.