Ishitism

"Ishitism", also known as the "Ishitic faith", is a religion native to Ikhan. It's followers are known as "Kani'etai", or "Spirit Followers". Ishitism is polytheistic and revolves around spirits known as the "Kani". These kani are divided into three categories, those being the "Nikani" (lesser spirits, often associated with nature and various sites), Eikani (Greater spirits, associated with various phenomena and parts of society), and Vakani (the gods, supreme entities over their spheres).

The Kani are worshiped at household and family-shrines as well as public shrines. The latter are often staffed by priests who perform services, oversee offerings, and maintain the history of said shrines. They often take part in the Kani'Sakra festival, during which they dress in robes and masks and go around the cities, performing rituals to purify the streets.

## Deities

There are several deities in the Ishitic faith, those representing individual locations and objects notwithstanding. They are as follows:

### Vakani

The Vakani, or "Eternal Spirits", are the gods of the Ishitic faith. They are four in number and are as follows:

#### Ishen

Ishen is, in the Ishitic faith, the creator-deity and the head of the pantheon. He is often associated with life and energy as well as the sun, moon, and stars. In some traditions, he is perceived as the god of the skies or cosmos as a whole.

#### Veren

In Ishitism, Veren is seen as the Murai war-god, representing Humanity's urge to conquer and to control, as well as chaos. At the same time, he is seen to represent honor and loyalty, traits that the Murai viewed in times passed as important in a warrior. He is occasionally represented by the falcon in artwork.

#### Vorosh

Vorosh is viewed as the Murai death-god, governing the underworld and those who die by non-violent means. He is represented in art as a sickly-pale man on a horse and a raven.

#### Ikhai

Ikhai is seen as being diametrically opposite to Veren, representing peace and freedom, as well as order. Ikhai is represented in art by the jackdaw, which are seen as her messengers.

### Eikani

The "Eikani" are the greater spirits of the Ishitic faith, being below the Vakani and above the Nikani. They include "Mata'akran", the Murai storm-spirit, Va'Ikhet, who is said to be the one to destroy the world according to the faith, and Velai, the Murai sea-spirit. Though they are numerous, the Eikani are still less plentiful in Arashin mythology than the Nikani. Eikani are often represented in art by a variety of mythical creatures including Dragons, Phoenixes, and Sea-serpents, as well as, on occasion, by humans and humanoid creatures.

### Nikani

The Nikani are the lesser spirits of Ishitism, representing specific objects, locations, and geographic features. They are said to take different forms based on what object or natural formation they inhabit. For instance, a river-spirit might be said to take the form of a dragon, whereas a mountain-spirit might take the form of a wolf or a leopard or, in the case of the highest peaks, an eagle. There are a multitude of shrines to these spirits across Ikhan and lands that it once controlled, though those outside of Ikhan are likely to be in disrepair if not privately-owned.