Grand Cult of Natrosk

The **Grand Cult of Natrosk** is a faith that centers mostly around the main goddess, Natrosk, otherwise known by her mortal name, **Merka'vish**. The cult also includes elements of old Delvanic faith prior to the period known as "Natrosk's Flight", that bought the Telakarami to Grimur. However, many of the deities are seen below Natrosk, and are seen as "dead, irrelevant" beings upon Natrosk's ascent to godhood.

There are currently two sects of the Cult,

The Monotheistic sect of the cult which is known as the **Grand Temple of Natrosk**, which believes that the Old Delvanic faith is a remnant of the "old pagan past", and that with the presence of Natrosk, even being recorded by other mortals, that she is the only one who is the seemingly real Goddess, and should deny any other god, including the old Delvani pantheon.

The Polytheistic sect of the cult which is known as the **Natroskian** **Pantheon** believe that with Natrosk as the leader of the Gods, she made the other Gods and Goddesses of the old world kneel before her, making them serve her unification of the Telakarami, with the Telakarami being lead into Grimur with their old beliefs still intact. The Pantheon is one of the last relics that survived past the Dominion's dramatic societal shift for the Telakarami, even with the gods all being portrayed as females.

## Creation Myth

The following an excerpt from the beginning of the *Book of Natrosk*.

*So begins the tale of absolute freeze, with nothing to see, and nothing to hear. Nothing to taste, nothing to feel. This is what we call, the beginning, the start, the absolute. Before I, Natrosk, was was born, there was indeed, something before myself. For one to believe that I existed before, are naysayers, for I am the last of the mistakes that destroyed Delvani, the ones I humbled, the one I subjugated. When they recognized me, as their only master.*

*There were two beings, Ha and her partner, Ae. The Age of Nothingness is indeed it's own period, but... do we truly know what it was? What time it was in? No. We won't. But, with a miracle, these two beings were indeed floating through this... nothing. They would eventually feel eachother, and instantly, fell inlove. With one kiss, they would explode, and started a new age, which we call, the Age of the Divines.*

*Their bodies would go on to create the many stars we see in the sky. Even today, we ourselves, are fragment of Ha and Ae. With their strength, they would come to create our home, Delvani, which birthed the six goddess: Ainu, Eirak, Mezela, Naveri, Hayna and Izeraeh. We were nothing but mere sheep and rams that roamed the grazing grassy fields of Delvani, Eventually, however, we would become separate from our counterparts, with Ainu believing that we were destined to become something greater. And thus, we became Telakarami, the superior of our previous forms. We built societies, civilizations. However, we had no desire for war, for the Gods believed that Delvani was peaceful, quiet, and tranquil. **Their** ideal world... Which was a foolish mistake.*

## Traditions

### Holidays and Rituals

The Cult of Natrosk has many holidays that are all considered important to the fundamentals of both Natrosk, and the Telakarami race. An important festival known as "Ascension Day", is celebrated on the 21st of Nix. This day celebrates the very day that Merka'vish became Natrosk, achieving godhood, and is usually celebrated with the varying amounts of decorations, and a parade of the houses waving their banners, infront of the Grand Priestess, which ends with her sacrificing to Natrosk in her glory.

There are also a few other days that are celebrated, such as the "Festival of Fire", which is celebrated on the 4th of Stalis. This festival involves the celebration of the landscape of New Delvani, probably in reminiscence of Delvani also becoming in such a way, as the fauna that resembles Old Delvanic creatures are featured prominently throughout the festival. This is likely an attempt to do a harvest festival, as this appears to have old traditions that date backs to the time when they were an agrarian society.

### Marriage

Celebrations of marriage in the faith is usually celebrated in two different ways.

Under the Grand Temple of Natrosk, the two are presented with the vows of partnership, which they would both be tied down to for the rest of their lives. It appears that divorce is seen as a heavily sinful act, and against the will of the Supreme Matriarch. The only way that they are able to become divorced is through intervention of Natrosk herself. Due to the lack of men in their society, marriages also apply to another's male slaves, which means the other is allowed to use their slaves for procreation, with all records registering as the two females' child, rather than the slave in question. Males are are not allowed to marry another follower of the Grand Cult, and illegal marriages between a member of the cult and a man are seen as sinful, with their children being considered "abominations".

Due to the low population of the race, Polygamy is allowed within the faith. The more women a member of the cult marries, the more male slaves they are allowed to procreate with, which results in more children.

## Deities and Divine Figures

### Natrosk/Merka'vish

*Main article: Natrosk*

Known as the Supreme Matriarch, Champion of all Telakarami and the All-Powerful, Natrosk is known as the highest being in the cult, and is often times, the only figure that is widely worshipped by many throughout the cult, as her name suggests. Often, she is considered a divine due to her evident records in the cases of being a champion of many peoples, and displaying her divine power to others. She is often called the "Supreme Matriarch", due to her title in her former Empire being that equal to an Empress, before her disappearance.

### The Pantheon

The sect of the Natrosk Cult also includes the old Delvanic worship of the old deities, otherwise known as **The Six**. The Six are seen as the ones who came before Natrosk's time, and the original creators of the world. Today, they are seen as minor gods, though they are usually seen as Saints rather than creators, and are called "The ones who came before Natrosk's glory". Worship of them is usually considered optional among the Grand Temple.

A majority of Shadow-Marked Telakarami worship the Pantheon, referencing them over Natrosk worship due to the negative connotations left behind by the Grand Temple of Natrosk which is a more Blood-Marked based religious body.

Older records and statuettes recovered, show that the gods previously had varying genders, with Ainu, Eriak and Izerah being males. The gender change to female happened later on after the migration from Delvani to Grimur.

#### Ainu

Ainu is the Goddess of Guidance, Benevolence and Motherhood, as well as the supposed creator of the Telekarami. She is seen as a positive goddess among the Telakarami pantheon, and those who worship her, feel a sensation of joy, passion, and motivation. She is the most popular Goddess, due to her promoting peace, and prosperity among all living beings, and is said to have been the creator of the many plants and animals of the world, including Boviades. She is viewed as the mother of all Telakarami, and is said to have been the first Telakarami to have existed, and created the Telakarami in the image of her favorite creation, which was Sheeps and Rams.

#### Eirak

Eriak is the Goddess of Agriculture, Medicine and Healing. Called the "Witch Goddess", she is seen as the one who is a patron of many doctors and healers, and those who would delve into medical sciences and is favored as an alchemist's aide. She deals with the more dangerous types of poisons such as snake bites, spider venom, and other types of dangerous neurotoxins, and her body is said to be immune to many forms of pain, being able to swim in lava, drink poison, and even breath volcanic ash. She symbolizes the strong body of the Telakarami, and it is said that the high resistance to fire was also blessed upon the Telakarami by Eirak, whom Natrosk called upon to have her people become more resistant to the new landscape they had to adapt on Delvani, and eventually New Delvani.