Haizkeim

Haizkeim is a polytheistic religion originating from the midjorisk tribes with many interconnecting beliefs. The faith contains many different elements from animism, ancestor worship, and cosmic cycles. The religion has 7 gods with each playing an important role in the divine order. Haizkeim has mostly stayed within the culture midjor and remains relatively unknown to the rest of eldham.

## Äsyyrsk

Äsyyrsk is the core defining belief in Haizkeim and is an integral part of every belief. It's so important that various sects were created due to varying interpretations of Äsyyrsk. Äsyyrsk is a belief in a cosmic cycle that acts as the defining rule of existence that defines how reality operates on a fundamental level. That cycle being creation and destruction, life, death, and rebirth playing out repeatedly till the end of time. Something is brought into existence, it grows, thrives, falters, decays, and eventually destroyed until something new comes from the ashes beginning Äsyyrsk anew. This cycle applies to all of existence and can appear in many different ways as it isn’t some form of a circle of life. How Äsyyrsk is used as a concept varies not only on different sects but individual people. Generally though it's often used as a way to talk about someone's life, as a way of understanding history, and Aldjorsk.

Äsyyrsk is split into multiple parts with each splitting further into subsections. There is Äsyyrsk which is split into Yäzyyr and Vasyyr and those are further split into the birth, growth, preservation, corruption, decay, death and rebirth. Birth, growth, and preservation are under the Yäzyyr, corruption, decay, and death are under the Vasyyr, and rebirth is connected to neither. Being a cycle there is technically no being but there is an order, the order of which step being mostly self explanatory, birth, growth, preservation, corruption, decay, death, and rebirth.

Aldjorsk is the belief that the present land life inhabits was not the first and will not be the last. Under Äsyyrsk the world goes through a cycle where life finds new land, grows and prospers, struggles and decays, and eventually comes into conflict leading to irreversible damage or outright destruction of the land itself. What remains is submerged by the sea and new land emerges which life then settles. This process repeats for all of eternity.

## Gods

The gods are an integral part of Äsyyrsk and represent different sections. Each god(Äsyyrsk) is an important part of existence and are split based on if they are part of the Yäzyyr or Vasyyr and each step, with each step being tied to a singular god.. Every god is linked to a specific concept that articulates each step of Äsyyrsk they represents and also can be used independently from Äsyyrsk. The gods themselves are all important parts of the cosmos and are all “good” gods. Still some gods are more favored than others despite each being important to the faith and therefore can not be ignored. Each god is worshiped by Ädakjeims and is important to their faith and general lives. Each god is prayed to for their unique traits that will help them through their lives or specific field of work. Still some Ädakjeims may choose to take on a patron deity and focus their lives and faith on a particular god. This does not mean they give up their worship towards the other gods. It simply means they now try to embody the teachings and the best qualities of their chosen god.

### Odenum

Odenum is the god of life and sister of Vallenir. He was created when the primordial being Yuno tore his own arms off with one becoming the great father. He would usher in creation with his sister and like his own creator tear his own limbs off to bring two gods into existence, Baughorn and Elyyruh, as extensions of himself. Odenum is the Yäzyyr of Äsyyrsk. Odenum is creation, life, family, and love, associated with the first part of Äsyyrsk, birth, and is tied to Odesk. Odesk is the way parents protect their children, by both protecting them from harm from others or themselves, and keeping their innocence. The ways a parent shows love and comfort to a child and tries their hardest to keep the evil’s of reality out of reach so that they may grow freely. While each god is important Odenum is generally revered the most from Ädakjeims and is prayed to for many things but distinctly for Odesk for their loved ones, good luck, guidance, and happiness.

### Baughorn

Baughorn is the god of wisdom and is the second god of the Yäzyyr of Äsyyrsk.. Baughorn is associated with the second part of the Yäzyyr, growth, and is tied to Lakäzod. Lakäzod is guidance down the righteous path, it is knowledge and teachings that show someone how to live a moral life. Lakäzod is not restricted to simply just refer to theological ideas and can any way a person or argument might try to lead someone towards a better path. Lakäzod doesn’t simply have to appear as moral quandaries or a sage's advice and can appear more mundanely; a parent having a heart to heart with their child or advice from a friend on what to do with their lives. Baughorn is generally revered more by artists, Ädaimsks, and philosophers and is prayed to for guidance, wisdom, and inspiration.

### Elyyruh

Elyyruh is the god of (defensive)war, heroism, nobility and is the final god of the Yäzyyr of Äsyyrsk. Elyyruh is associated with the final part of the Yäzyyr, preservation, and is tied to Ironóde. Ironóde is to defend someone or something from harm both in a literal and metaphorical sense and can be used interchangeably with protect. It is also used to refer to defending something pure, holy, and/or good from malicious/evil intentions and could appear as dramatic as a holy warrior defending the people against invaders or to defend innocence from unfair punishment. Ironóde can finally also pertain to rooting out evil, to reveal and stop corruption or to stop an enemies invasion. Elyyruh is generally revered by warriors, activists, and enforcers of the law and prayed to for protection, strength, and health.

### Slyzein

Slyzein is the god of prosperity and is the first god of the Vasyyr. Slyzein is associated with the first part of the Vasyyr, corruption, and is tied to Izlyn . Izlyn is a state of being when a subject takes things for granted and becomes entitled to fortune and desires. It’s lust, gluttoney, greed and generally any excessive form of desire and can come from or create in a subject arrogance, contempt, and jealousy. Izlyn comes from a form of entitlement, that good fortune and pleasure is not simply something found or earned but a right. That one can indulge and take as much as they want for it is all for them. Slyzein is generally revered by merchants, cooks, and farmers and is prayed to for good fortune, luck, and fertility.

### Theodyn

Theodyn is the god of war(offensive), justice, and strength and is the second god of the Vasyyr. Theodyn is associated with the second part of the Vasyyr, decay, and is tied to Ädyn. Ädyn is overwhelming distress with feelings of wrath, fear, and despair and is most often seen in hatred and anxiety. Ädyn is a state of constant movement and stress that leads a subject to rash decisions in order to resolve that issue that is causing Ädyn or to try to find some form of comfort. It’s generally with a some idea of cracking as the subject is put under furthering stress and pain until a breaking point occurs. Theodyn is generally revered by soldiers, activists, and laborers and is prayed for for strength, fortitude, and justice.

### Vallenir

Vallenir is the god of death and the brother of Odenum. She was created like her brother by the primordial being Yuno from one of his dismembered limbs. She would help usher in creation with his brother and like her creator would tear her own limbs off to create two gods, Sylzein and Theodyn, each an extension of her. Vallenir is the Vasyyr of Äsyyrsk. Vallenir is the end, death, calm, and peace and is associated with the last part of Äsyyrsk, death, and is tied to Alenyr. Alenyr is a state of emptiness in a subject as Alenyr has seeped into their being metaphorically or literally. Alenyr sometimes pertains to a subject that is dying by say famine, disease, and age but more often means a state of hollowness. A subject has become empty through an eventual decay leaving them in a ruin as all that is left is a husk of what they once were and what last remains. Vallenir is generally revered the least from most Ädakjeims and is prayed to for a short number of things with those being peace and love toward the departed.

### Laukaz

Laukaz is the god of knowledge and is the god of the middle of Äsyyrsk. Laukaz was spawned by Yuno's blood as it settled across creation making the seas and rivers of the world. Laukaz is the god of the sea, intelligence, and history and is associated with the middle part of Äsyyrsk, rebirth, and is tied to Ithkard. Ithkard is to look back and investigate the past, to understand recontextualize what has occurred, and to connect it to the present. It’s an attempt at trying to learn about what came before so that we can do better in the present. Ithkard is personal reflection and that reflection can come from many things from looking back at one’s own experiences or looking at one’s forefathers. Laukaz is revered by scholars, alchemists, and mathematicians and is prayed to for knowledge, memory, and intellect.

### Ancestor Worship

Ancestor worship is an important part of Haizkeim and is the veneration and worship of one's ancestors. There are three types of ancestors and each is important for differing reasons.

The first variety of ancestors are those that still exist in living memory. They are people who have since passed on and can still be remembered by at least one family member in life and don’t have any mythical powers or require some form of worship. Family members will mourn their loss and pay respects to them in various ways. How a family might show respect varies widely from family to family, some families will hold extravagant celebrations generally celebrating all those that have since passed on while some might tell stories about their adventures in life. Generally though the tone is much more energetic and positive than quiet and sad.

The second variety of ancestors are Eimvylga. Eimvylga are heroic figures that act as the family's guardian spirit and as a weird mascot. They are people that accomplished great feats in life from winning an important battle in war or being a highly successful merchant. Generally whatever the family is oriented the household spirit will also be based around it; so a family of soldiers will have a warrior household spirit while a family of scholars will have a household spirit whose a scholar.. Eimvylga protect the house and family from evil spirits and guide their descendants. Family members will pray to them for protection, guidance, and whatever skill or talent they are associated with. A family member might pray to their household spirit if they were a warrior for martial skill while if they were a scholar a family member might pray for help on a test.

The last variety of ancestors are powerful ancestors . These ancestors are mythical figures that achieved extraordinary feats that no mere mortal should ever be capable of achieving and act much like mini gods. Each ancestor has a certain dominion that they are specialized in and pertain to whatever outlandish achievement they accomplished in life. These can range from holding dominion over the stars and all celestial objects to shoemaking. These ancestors are worshiped not by singular families but entire communities, cities, and even the faith as a whole. Ädakjeims pray to them based on their dominion so if they wanna make them some shoes they pray to an ancestor who holds dominion over shoemaking.

## Beliefs and Practices

### Names

Names all hold importance no matter the faith or culture they hold extra important in Haizkeim. Names are not simply titles or prefixes given to a person but ties to the important people in their lives with each tying themselves to a specific group. A last name ties someone to their ancestors, giving them their legacy, with all the good and bad that brings. A middle name ties someone to their parents and in other cultures would be considered someone's first name. Just like most people their names are given by their parents and gifts from the parent to their child and mean different positive traits the parents will hope their child will have. They are usually very general from good health to strength. A first name ties someone to their community and are given to them by Ädaimsks. Someone gets their first name when they become an adult and go through Kjadväkäda. A person's first name is a representation of who they are and are not never inherently positive or negative. They could be specific traits, attitudes, or personalities a person might have. A first name is considered formal and a person is referred to by their first name during formal events or religious rituals. A second name is considered informal and is used by family members and close friends.

### Animism

All living things have souls in Haizkeim including not only humanoids and animals but plants and the land itself. What separates humanoids apart from other forms of life is their connection to the gods. During the beginning of creation the blood of Odenum and Vallenir mixed with Yuno’s in order to create the various races that walk the earth today like humans and elves. Due to their lineage they hold power of creation like the gods if to a lesser extent; they have the ability to shape the world and change history. Importantly though humanoids do not have the right to do so and so Ädakjeims must still pay respect to the various forms of life. Special importance must be taken when treating the land as the spirits that represent it are seen as inherently selfless and benevolent beings and so it is seen as immoral to damage and strip the land without reason.

### Sacrifice

Sacrifice holds great meaning and importance in the faith and is deeply tied to what is known as Yun’s sacrifice. In the creation myth Yuno was the primordial being that existed before everything and in order to bring about creation sacrificed himself in order to achieve by allowing his own body to be used to make the entire cosmos. This act is seen as the most important and selfless act that ever occurred and Yuno revered is due to that. Sacrifices are performed in order to pay homage to Yuno and show respect to the various other diving beings in Haizkeim but unlike other religions sacrifices are not performed in order to gain favor or boons from the divine. Sacrifices are done during rituals, celebrations, and holidays with new years being the most important event when it comes to sacrifices. New year is the day to remember and pay homage to Yuno’s sacrifice and symbolically bring about the next year by doing a sacrifice of their own.

## Index

Äsyyrsk: The defining belief of Haizkeim. An esoteric belief that reality works in cycles and is tied to ideas creation and destruction and decay and renewal.

Äsyyrsk: A God

The Yäzyyr: One of two sections of Äsyyrsk. Focuses on the side of creation and growth in Äsyyrsk.

The Vasyyr: One of two sections of Äsyyrsk. Focuses on the side of destruction and decay in Äsyyrsk.

Aldjorsk: The world goes through continuous cycles where the land life inhabits today is not the first or last and through a series of events will eventually be destroyed and a new one brought into being.

Protection (parental): The care protection, guidance, and care a parent gives to their children.

Lakäzod: Moral advice and guidance.

Ironóde: To defend. Has multiple meanings depending on the context and intent.

Izlyn: A state of entitlement to one's desires.

Ädyn: A state of extreme emotion usually punctuated with feelings of anxiety and stress.

Alenyr: A state of hollowness.

Ithkard: To reflect on previous events.

Eimvylga: A household spirit that helps their chosen family.

Demigods: Important ancestors that hold dominion over certain phenomena and talents.

Ädakjeim: A Ädakjeim of Haizkeim.

Ädaimsk: A Ädaimsk of Haizkeim.

Yóngreimsk: A Ädakjeim before becoming an adult and going through the Kjadväkäda.