Hyrkanian Gods

## Other

###  Implementation in-game

Vanilla Ymir religion as placeholder. Any horned helmet can be used as typical for this cult.

**Decoration:** drums, banners, braziers and torches.

**Regions of Worship:** Hyrkania, Turan

The Leader of the Hyrkanian Gods, the Everylasting Sky, Ulgen is the creator of all there is. He lives at the summit of the divine mountains according to scriptures.

However, for Hyrkanians cosmos have multiple layers, all connected by some spire, be it a tree or a mountain. Their religion is one of nature and animistic, considering souls and bodies to be separate entities and spirits to walk the world around men, living in all things.

Key points to this believe:

* The sky itself is a spirit-god with a soul.
* To the north of Patenia lies the land of evil gods and unseen forces, named *Kanum Kotan*.
* Hyrkanians also believe in astral projection, which can be dangerous, since certain powerful objects can trap souls. The northern Hyrkanians believe the “man on the moon” is a shaman who flew too close to the moon and became ensnared by it.
* The moon is analogous to the Land of the Dead or underworld for most of these Hyrkanians.

## **Deities/Pantheon**

* Eke-otuken (the earth-mother)
* Emegelji Eji (wife of Everlasting Sky)
* Ongot (the collective household gods, ancestor spirits)
* Qurmusata Tngri (originator of fire)
* Sulde (ancient spirits of military)
* Tarim (avatar of Erlik)
* Thutala (trickster)
* Ulla (moon-goddess)

Followers of Erlik call any foreign god “Thutala” or his minion.

The Hyrkanians believe words create reality if said with conviction. Melodies and songs carry words of power, and the drum is the primary instrument.

Fire is a purifying force for the Hyrkanians and is sacred to the point that anyone who can control fire (such as a smith) is seen to have magical powers. Hyrkanians believe it is rude to stamp out a fire, put rubbish in it or douse it with water.

## **Rituals and Beliefs**

The sites of Hyrkanian worship are cairns of stones with a single vertical pole sticking out of the center where prayers and sacrifices are performed.

The Hyrkanians make idols of their household gods and place them on the sides of the tent-doors.

Hyrkanians always offer these idols the first milk from their flocks.

Usual type of life sacrifice for Hyrkanians is pole-offering, when humans, horses or game meat are suspended from poles and dedicated to the gods. In the first spring after marrying, a man must sacrifice a light coloured horse to the gods. The sacrifice is made in a birch thicket. Women are not allowed to be present; unmarried girls may partake of the feast at the sacrificial location after the ceremony is concluded.

## **The Priesthood**

Most Hyrkanian shamans are man, but women are not forbidden by any means. The Hyrkanian shaman is a master of ecstasy and usually has a magical specialty as well as spirit helpers. Most nomads become shamans because they had a near-death-experience (like being hit by lighting or taking a great fall). Many report dreams of their organs being consumed by spirits and replaced — thus being reborn as shaman.

Shamans traditionally wear white clothing, an apron of multicolored cotton strips, leather belt with mirrors and helmets with horns or red silk headcloths (around patenia). They use drums which they believe make a sound that frightens evil demons and drives them away.