Santeria

**Santería** is one of the Religions practiced in After the End, also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, it is an African diasporic religion that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa, the Roman Catholic form of Christianity, and Spiritism. Santería is polytheistic and revolves around deities called *oricha*. Deriving their names and attributes from traditional Yoruba divinities, they are equated with Roman Catholic saints. Each human is believed to have a personal link to a particular oricha who influences their personality. Various myths are told about these oricha, who are regarded as subservient to Olodumare, a transcendent creator deity. Santería is part of the Afro-Syncretic religious group.

## Description

> "*Santería, translating roughly to "devotion to the saints", is an Afro-Cuban religion that can be traced back to the Yoruba people of West Africa. Believers worship three aspects of one god: Olodumaré the Creator, Olorun, who manifests as the Sun, and Olofi, who directly communicates with the Orichás - or "Saints" - and grants them spiritual energy to act as intermediaries between man and God, as well as to help mankind live moral, harmonious lives.*"
> ― In-game description of Santería
>
>

## Gods

* **High God:** Olodumaré
* **God Names:** Changó, Obatalá, Ochún, José Martí and Yemayá
* **Evil God Names:** Echú
* **Scripture:** Versos de Patakí

## History

Santería began, like many of the Afro-Syncretic faiths, when the Ancient European powers brought slaves from Africa to the Caribbean. Santería, much like Vodun, was local West African religion mixed with Catholicism. Santería was spread mostly to the Spanish colonies, and was only a minor local religion compared to Catholicism. But by 2666, Santería had spread throughout Cuba (sans Gitmo), Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, various Lesser Antilles, and the Republic of Miami. While not the official state religion of the Caribbean Empire, it is by far the most widely practiced.

## Holy Sites

* **Havana**
* **Sierra Maestra**
* **Santo Domingo**
* **San Juan**
* **Miami**

As of 2666, all Santería Holy Sites are controlled by Santeros, albeit they are all vassals of the Rastafaria Empress of the Carribean Empire.

## In-game features

* Rulers cannot demand conversion
* Priests (Temple Holders) can inherit titles
* Priests can marry
* Religion allows women to own Temple Holdings
* Fleets can navigate major rivers
* Rulers can raid infidel neighbors for loot
* There is (And can exist) no religious head
* May go on vision quests with the aid of sacramental herbs.
* Homosexual Santería rulers are allowed to marry other homosexual characters
* Santería rulers may sacrifice animals to the Orichas.

As of 2666, Santería has a 45.0 moral authority. A temple holder of the Santería faith is called Santero (Santera for females).

## Playable Santería characters in 2666

All Santería rulers in 2666 begin as vassals of the Caribbean Empire

### Vassals of a Lord of Different Faith

* Marquis Arsenio de Mazariegos of Las Villas
	+ Earl Danilo Dacosta of Sancti Spiritus
* Marquis Ricardo Arnaz of Oriente
* Marquis Jaime Báez of Dominica
	+ Earl Antonio Luperón of La Vega
	+ Earl Oscar Báez of Puerto Plata
	+ Countess Clara Báez of La Romana
* Marquis Mario Vilella of Puerto Rico
	+ Earl Jorge Vilella of Abacoa
	+ Earl Jesús Vilella of Mayagüez
* Lord Proprietor Vidal Castellanos of Miami
	+ Patrician Batista Ibar
* Earl Castro Contreras of Artemisa
* Earl Pedro Cachao of Havana
* Earl Felipe Veguero of Pinar del Rio

## Trivia

* Like many other religions in the game, Santería is an existing faith.