Limkian Religion

The **Limkian Religion** - referred to as **Llothé e Loka** or the **One True Faith** by its adherents - is the traditional religion of the Limkas, followed by the overwhelming majority of the Limka populace. It is a dualistic, duotheistic - or, accoridng to some interpretations, tritheistic - religion which was historically unorganised and largely uncodified, but its scriptures were collected together in a singular text known as the Lloth ("Truth") in response to the arrival of Christianity in the 15th century AD.

Though Limkas make up the vast majority of adherents, there are small communities of believers amongst non-Limkas which are most prominent in Onshitama, Avamorica and Raskev. The religion found greatest success in Onshitama, where the dualistic nature of the religion syncretised with the semi-dualistic nature of pre-Kanidite Atonaki.

## Theology

Limkian religion divides the universe into two aspects, *meeka* and *kied*, neither of which have a clear etymological origin. *Meeka* is associated with light, order, perfection, unity and justice, whereas *Kied* is associated with darkness, chaos, variance, diversity and mercy. Critically, neither aspect is explicitly good nor evil; both have the potential for virtue and wickedness. *Meeka* and *kied* are both contrasted against *zheothån* (literally "hunger-void"), the aspect of death, destruction, suffering and rot. *Zheothån* is considered to not be of the universe, but rather a foreign force that attempts to devour the universe.

Each aspect has a deity ruling over it and associated with it. Akshe is the god of *meeka*, Malleng is the god of *kied*, and an unnamed entity known simply as the Devourer (*Åfzhenshe*) is the god of *zheothån*. Akshe and Malleng are presented as competing brothers; though they are in opposition to one another and are locked in a constant conflict for dominion over the universe, they never forget their familial bond and will make peace on certain matters, and always put aside their differences against the Devourer and the forces of *zheothån*.

Just as neither *meeka* nor *kied* can be described as inherently good nor evil, Akshe and Malleng are also neither good nor evil themselves, but rather have both virtues and vices. A balance between the power of Akshe and Malleng (and consequently the power of *meeka* and *kied*) is always the most desirable, as this reaps the bounty of their good aspects whilst minimising the evil; if one brother conquers the other in a given area, the good of their aspect shall shine the brighter, but so shall the evil of their aspect be all the more destructive.

Even the Devourer is not, strictly speaking, evil. Whilst *zheothån* inflicts great suffering upon mortals and the universe, the Devourer has no choice but to obey his nature as the embodiment of *zheothån*. Whereas Akshe and Malleng are presented as fully conscious beings with distinct emotions, feelings and the ability to reason, the Devourer is presented as a beast acting on instinct, unable to truly rationally understand the consequences of his actions. This makes the Devourer of Limkian belief very different from the evil devourer god present in the Common Inecurian Mythology, which is always presented as a truly evil being who is wicked out of choice, as they have the capacity to be good but always prioritise their own greed, pride and lust for power.

The origin of the gods remains debated amongst Limkas, and it remains the only unsettled matter of doctrine in Limkian religion. Whilst most Limkas accept that the Devourer is merely a manifestation of *zheothån* and is little more than the personification of this cosmic force, Limka communities across Inecuria remain divided on whether Akshe and Malleng are also manifestations of their aspect, or whether their aspect is a manifestation of them - in other words, whether the aspects created the gods or the gods created the aspects. Those who believe that the gods created the aspects are again divided on where the gods came from; some believe Akshe and Malleng are perpetual beings who have always existed, whereas others believe they are the sons of a precursor entity which is typically named the Primordial Spirit.