Portuzian

**Portuzian** is a major religion in Enadia. Based mainly on shamanism, Portuzian is distinct from other major religions in Enadia in that there is no large-scale moral binding to its followers from the Portuzian Holy Scripts, though some basic laws regarding everyday life have been mentioned. Many forms of Portuzian have arose over the many years that it has existed.

## Beliefs

Portuzians generally accept that Ponderao, a panther from Machia, was trapped by Nadians and Threphans in a large cave that is now known as the Cave of Portuzia. Within the cave, Ponderao predated on the spirits of deceased Enadians, obtaining all the knowledge that they once possessed during their life. Ponderao became so knowledgeable that he ascended the cave, and learned Machian to cry out for help. 30 Nadians and 30 Threphans heard the cries and lifted the large stones blocking the entrance of the cave, releasing Ponderao to the world. Having consumed all the knowledge of the deceased, Ponderao and the 60 Enadians built a large stairwell into Heaven, where Ponderao established himself as the king of both the Heavens and Enadia.

As Enadians died, their spirits were consumed by Ponderao, increasing his knowledge and power. The 60 Enadians who saved Ponderao were granted some of the powers Ponderao, and were then called to be the heads of Ponderao's world. Since that date, only the descendants of the 60 original shamans are able to become shamans, thus, to communicate with Ponderao, Portuzians must consult the shamans to convey their statements.

With each passing day, Ponderao grows stronger and stronger, and will one day return to Enadia to kill and consume every non-believer and active practicer.

#### Afterlife

Most Portuzians believe that the afterlife is possible by fulfilling the main tenants in the Holy Scripts. Deceased Portuzians descend into the Cave of Portuzia until they reach the underworld, where their' souls are stripped from them, and then delivered to Ponderao for consumption. After the soul of the deceased is stripped, a new soul is inserted from a dead animal into the deceased, and then the deceased Enadian arises from the cave and into the Heavens every year on The Day of the Rising via the staircase that Ponderao and the 60 Enadians constructed.

When in the Heavens, the deceased arrive with a soul devoid of knowledge, and with animal instincts. Deceased Enadians must gain the knowledge and temperaments that they once had by the next Day of the Rising. Should the deceased still engage in animal activities, the deceased are banished from the Heavens, where they are locked into Enadia for eternity as Rorschachian Monkeys.

#### Holy Scripts

Allegedly, Ponderao called the 60 shamans together to create the Portuzian Holy Scripts which details the history of Portuzian and the morals and customs that Portuzians follow. However, unlike other religions in Enadia, the Holy Scripts lack major day-to-day commands and customs for Portuzians, instead only commanding that Portuzians contribute 10% of their salary to their local shaman, must heed all shamanic orders closely, and must serve as a slave to their local shaman for 1 month per year.

#### Palsas

Palsas combines elements of Portuzian and Luarist religions. Palsasians believe that Tiverleanson, the panther cousin of Ponderao, killed and consumed Treilenay, the god of both Old Luari Pantheon and Luarism. Subsequently, Tiverleanson became so powerful that he began to desire power over the Heavens. After murdering and consuming Ponderao, Tiverleanson then proclaimed himself king of the Heavens.

Shamans on Enadia resisted Tiverleanson's rule, and used the power Ponderao gave them to shield Portuzians from Tiverleanson. Angry, Tiverleanson locked the Heavens for all Enadians, locking them eternally in the Cave of Portuzia.

Followers of Palsas believe that Tiverleanson will destroy all of the inhabitants of Enadia, including themselves. With the souls in the void that was once Enadia, Tiverleanson will then pick apart the believers from the unbelievers. Those who believed will be allowed to enter the Heavens and become one with Tiverleanson. Those who did not believe will be consumed and destroyed by Tiverleanson.

Because of its end-of-time beliefs, many doomsday Palsasian cults and sects have arose across Enadia.