Cavianity

**Cavianity** is the belief in the Goddess **Cavi** *(the goddess of Caves and the "Below")* and affiliated gods/goddesses. Cavianity is currently mainly worshipped in the town of **Varshaad** by the local populace, and lately has been made the main state religion of the Faltirvars. The official symbol of the religion or the "Offering" is two gold blocks and 3 circles representing the triplane and offering to the "villager".

## Overview & History

#### Origins of Cavianity

The origins of the Cavian religion can be traced to the town of **Varshaad** in which the player **Eldron\_99** founded the faith and created the first shrine to the goddess Cavi. According to the Cavicom, Eldron (referred to as the "*villager*" in the Cavicom) had discovered the existence of Cavi when he was mining in what was once the areas Cavi's old followers had inhabited. This caused Cavi not to be pleased with Eldron's presence and so chased him out. Eldron ran back to his home, but then later came back, trying to find wat he had thought was a ghost in order to investigate it. This time Cavi did not chase him out, and when Eldron came out of the cave, he was met with a massive hole **("The Cavity")** that lead to **"The Below"** (the void). Eldron investigated the cavity but was then being ordered by Cavi to repent for his sins by jumping into the cavity and sacrificing himself, as if he did not do this, he would be forever damned. Scared for his life, Eldron jumped into the cavity, hoping he would be spared, and he was. He was spared by the goddess and at the area in which the cavity lies, 2 blocks of gold were now present to commemorate the sacrifice Eldron made. Eldron decided to make a shrine around the gold and over the cavity, declaring it sacred, and declaring the mines sacred, under the goddess' protection.

#### Growth of Cavianity

Cavianity has grown to be worshiped in many places around the world, with the first place outside the Sentinels to have begun to follow Cavianity being the town of **Yorgenhiem**. This had been caused by the missions of S.I.B Markius to spread the faith having been highly successful in the town, causing the town to become a stronghold of the Cavian faith, something of which has stayed to this day causing Solaris to have a large Cavian community. This growth in the religion has also occurred elsewhere, with towns in Faltírvars, primarily those of the Varsic Human community now following it.

#### Cavian Deities

Cavi is seen as the main and most powerful deity, she is the goddess of the Below and the Caves, having created the deepest of darks, the gold, and the worlds below. Meanwhile, other deities include: **Heirca**, the god of the Skies and the Sun, he controls the clouds, the weather, and the day. **Hotaran**, the god of the Night, he controls the moon, the night, and the undead. **Ravayas**, the goddess of the seas, she controls the seas, and is said to give good luck to sailors who pray to her. **Mórgúil** the god of nature, a god thought to potentially be Cavi's husband.

## Key Dotcrines

The Cavian Éníbal has set out a list of key doctrines of which build the foundation of the Cavian faith, acting as a basis for the views on the gods and their places, worshiping of gods that are not Cavi, and cosmology teachings of the Éníbal. The following are the main doctrines in said list:

**Three Realm Cosmology**

**Cavi as Revealer of Truth**

Love for her arises, she dispenses her Will

**Enlightened Memory**

So long as Cavi is remembered, the way to the void is open for all who would show her worship, if not reincarnation remains inevitable

**Transmigration of the Soul, and Ensouled Projection**

Travel between worlds can happen so long as a deity allows it, primarily by utilizing bridge worlds, with the only exemptions being between the Below and Mortal plane via the Cavity, however access to some bridge worlds is still possible without the overall approval of deities, but access to such supernatural powers is often hard to obtain

**Semi-henotheism**

Cavi expects to be worshipped before all others, but worship of other Gods in the Pantheon is acceptable so long as the hierarchy of worship is followed

**Cavi allows all who she deems worthy to stay with her in the below**

**Whole versus Divided soul**

The Material Soul which recognizes only the gifts but not the origin is divided along lines of semblance and passions. The Purified Soul however is total, whole, undivided, and it’s strength is what enables it to pass gently into the void. It is the aim of all Cavians to purify their soul as much as possible, or else they will potentially reincarnate on the material plane, or get lost on one of the Bridges. Ritual offerings are less ‘The Goddess demands matter’ and more ‘What are you willing to give up so that your soul may be simple and pure?’. Of course, there does exist an element of devotion through this, Cavi is aware of the sacrifices made to her and recognizes them.

## Cosmology Teachings

### The Triplane

The Cavian church teaches of 3 different worlds/planes of existence, the *Mortal world*, the *Spiritual World*, and the *Below.*

#### The Mortal World

The Mortal World is seen in the Cavian religion as the world in which most physical creatures, and people live in, this world is the area of which is influenced the most by the deities of Cavianity. This world is believed to have been created after a dispute between the dieties of the spirit world over some deities complaining that other deities were interfering with their *sub-worlds*, this then caused the dieties to instead agree to destroy the *sub-worlds* and instead create one world in which all deities were free to influence, with the catch that they could only influence certain aspects of this world, thus why most deities can only have power over specific aspects of the mortal world.

#### The Spiritual World

The "first plane" or the spiritual world is the origin of the deities, whilst it is unknown how exactly any of the deities were created, the spiritual world is seen to be one of the most difficult worlds to access for a mortal being, due to the policy of the deities to specifically prevent mortals from interfering in their home. Not much is known about this world as of now.

#### The Below

The Below or as many know it, the Void is seen to be one of the most peaceful worlds of them all, and the area in which people get to fully navigate and rest in upon their death. While it is possible to access this world before death via the direct gateways or "cavities" made by the goddess Cavi to the mortal plain, most will be sent out near instantly as it is usually to be done as a quick symbolic visit of sorts to the below, in order to show your loyalty to Cavi.

#### The Bridges

The bridges whilst not being necessarily full worlds or planes, act as in-between, bridge worlds. The nether being a bridge world between the mortal and the below, and the end being one between the mortal and spiritual worlds. These worlds whilst not necessarily giving actual access to most worlds, do indeed act as a middle ground between certain worlds, and sometimes can directly lead into other bridge worlds, or can lead even closer to another world it whilst still remaining in the same world, these are called Sections of a Bridge World. For example, above the nether is the "Lacónin" which is believed to be the closest part of the nether to the below, thus having solidified the theory that the nether was one of the closer worlds to the below, whilst it is impossible to get from there to the below, it is one of the closest things to being in the below for as long as you want and being free to explore really anywhere within it.

## References

1. ↑ "And she was pleased, letting the ***villager*** live on another day" *- Extract from the Cavicom*
2. ↑ "The *villager* would **sacrifice himself to the below**, to the void, to *Cavi*. And she was pleased, letting the *villager* **live on another day**" *- Extract from the Cavicom*
3. ↑ "When the *villager* returned, he saw **gold** left for him, and a sign to commemorate this great sacrifice." *- Extract from the Cavicom*